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Your Definitive Guide to the 2015 EICMA Show

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We are already feeling the early effects of the EICMA show in Milan, Italy – easily the most important trade event for the motorcycle industry.

EICMA is where many of the next year’s new models are released, not to mention the show serves as a platform for much of the yearly business that occurs in the motorcycle industry, especially in Europe.

For us in the media, EICMA is a cross between a marathon and Christmas, a plethora of days where articles surge as we see the launching of so many new models. It can be a lot to take in, but it is always exciting to see what the manufacturers have been working on for the past year(s).

To help you keep track of everything, and to help guide your expectations, we have put together this exhaustive list of all the models we expect to see at EICMA. Let the holiday season begin!

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Bikes

Here’s Your First Look at the BMW R nineT Scrambler

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It looks like one of BMW Motorrad’s video of the upcoming BMW R nineT Scrambler has leaked ahead of schedule, thus giving us the first glimpse of the production scrambler model.

As expected, the R nineT Scrambler looks almost identical to the BMW Concept Path 22, sans surfboard of course. At its core is the air-cooled boxer-twin, found on the BWM R nineT; and thanks to the nineT’s modular design, BMW has been able to add a flat leather seat, and high-mount double exhaust to complete the scrambler look.

An attractive design, it appears that the 2016 BMW R nineT Scrambler will be the jewel in BMW Motorrad’s EICMA crown. Expect the Scrambler to debut next week in Milan, Italy.

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Bikes

BMW to Show Five “New” Models at EICMA

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The EICMA season is clearly upon us, with the first fruits of the Milan show to debut on Monday, an actual day ahead of the expo’s doors opening. Dozens of motorcycle will debut in Italy, from all of the major brands.

BMW Motorrad will of course be at EICMA, and the German brand has telegraphed that five new models will debut at the show, including one world premiere.

The big news for BMW is that a new R-series model will be unveiled, which will almost certainly be the BMW R nineT Scrambler.

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BMW R nineT Scrambler to Debut at EICMA

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In addition to the electric BMW eRR and learner-focused BMW G310R that we will see at the upcoming EICMA show, BMW Motorrad has confirmed that the highly rumored and expected BMW R nineT Scrambler will become an official model, debuting at the trade show in Milan, Italy.

“With the countless possibilities for individualisation offered by the BMW R nineT and the BMW R nineT Scrambler, we see tremendous potential in the US market, in particular,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Board Member of BMW Motorrad.

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Bikes

2016 BMW G310R Debuts for New Riders

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When BMW Motorrad showed us the BMW G310R Stunt concept, we knew that a small-displacement model from the German company was just around the corner, and sure enough here is the 2016 BMW G310R street bike – project undertaken by BMW with help from India’s TVS Motors.

A 313cc single-cylinder engine with four valves and a dual-overhead cam, the BMW G310R makes 34hp, and tips the scales at 350 lbs. Of note, the cylinder is racked rearward and has been rotated 180° from normal, with the intake facing forward, and the exhaust ports facing rearward, like some more advanced thumpers on the market.

The frame is made-up of tubular steel, with a long swingarm used for better handling characteristics. Suspension is done by upside down forks, and a linearly mounted rear shock, the latter having an adjustable preload. ABS is of course standard.

All-in-all, the BMW G310R should be ideal for the A1 tiered license structure found in the European Union, and the G310R should slot in well with its small-displacement counterparts for markets like the USA.

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BMW eRR Electric Superbike Breaks Cover

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BMW Motorrad is ready to get into the electric motorcycle world, and as such has debuted an electric superbike concept, the BMW eRR.

Built in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich, the project explores the German brand’s options when it comes to electric motorcycles.

BMW Motorrad is pretty light on details when it comes to the eRR, and even states that it will announce technical details on the BMW eRR at a later date.

Considering how much vaporware is already in this space from up-start companies, it is a little surprising to see some coming from BMW, a company that is normally very forthwith on its plans.

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BMW, Honda, & Yamaha Collaborate on Cooperative-Intelligent Transportation Systems

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Insert the obvious SkyNet joke here, but the future of two-wheeled transportation is constantly moving ahead of us, to a place previously held only by science-fiction.

We have talked here at Asphalt & Rubber a great deal about connected and autonomous vehicles and its related technologies – insert a massive number of links here – and today we just got a little bit closer to all those concepts becoming realized.

Announcing their latest collaboration, BMW, Honda, and Yamaha have agreed to develop cooperative-intelligent transportation systems (C-ITS) for motorcycles, the first step in adding vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication to motorcycles.

The three companies will work together to establish a a consortium named Connected Motorcycle Consortium (CMC), which aims to have C-ITS devices on the three motorcycle brands from 2020 onwards.

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BMW Concept Stunt G 310 Hints at 300cc Models to Come

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At EICMA this year, BMW Motorrad is expected to unveil its first of many 300cc motorcycles that it is developing with Indian partner TVS. While we have known about this news for some time, the German company is just now giving us the official nod, showing today the BMW Concept Stunt G 310 in Brazil

At the core of the Stunt G 310 concept is a single-cylinder engine, likely punched out to 310cc in capacity, given the name. Making things interesting, the cylinder head has been reclined back towards the rider, and rotated 180 degrees in order to create a super-short wheelbase, with an extra-long swingarm, for the concept.

Also of note is the placement of the exhaust silencer, which is mounted vertically, right next to the rear shock. BMW says this is to protect the exhaust can from getting damaged in a crash, though we imagine it’s at the expense of suspension fade.

We doubt much that BMW will keep much of the Concept Stunt G 310’s colors and styling when the German brand’s small-displacement bikes arrive, but clearly BMW Motorrad has younger riders on its brain with the design. Having Chris Pfeiffer help one last time hock the company’s wares helps too.

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BMW “Cornering ABS” Now Available on Older Models

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Last year, BMW made the Bosch MSC “cornering ABS” system available as a retrofit for the BMW HP4, branding the advanced safety feature as ABS Pro. Now BMW is making the ABS Pro safety package available as a retrofit to a number of BMW model that came with an ABS unit.

Most excitably, the upgrade kit can be used on the 2012-2014 BMW S1000RR, with the 2015-2016 BMW S1000RR kit in development as well. The addition of the ABS Pro on the 2015 S1000RR will include the “Race” riding mode, as well. The slip threshold and brake pressure gradient have been set at a higher level for use on roads with high friction coefficients compared to the “Rain” and “Sport” modes.

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Stunt Rider Chris Pfeiffer Retires

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Perhaps one of the most well known names worldwide for motorcycle stunt riding, Chris Pfeiffer has decided to retire from the sport. This marks an end to the 45-years-old’s 20-year career, which has seen him perform around the world at thousands of shows.

Largely responsible for legitimizing stunt riding beyond just hooligan antics, the BMW-sponsored Red Bull rider announced his retirement on his Facebook page yesterday, much to the dismay of 270,000+ followers.

One of the greats in motorcycling, Pfeiffer says he is leaving stunting to the next generation of riders. His message to fans is after the jump.

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