Jamie

I'll be there tomorrow, invited by my nearby Yamaha dealer (more on account of personal relations, rather than my short-lived 1700cc V-Max ownership). I'll dutifully report back here if anything new turns me on.

A bike that already turns me on, BTW, is the Aprilia 1000cc V4 superbike (and 2009 World Champion, with ol' Max Biaggi at the helm) . With more power for 2011 (BMW having drastically raised the 1000cc HP ante). Not compatible at all with today's riding environment, supposedly, let alone my own 1949-vintage, physical limitations, certainly, but a hell of a bike to DREAM ON about

Jamie

Speedtrip

The Aprilia superbike is a great Italian beauty!

Jamie

New bikes unveiled today (in theory reserved for the "press" and the "pros" --I had been given a Yamaha badge-- , but the "general public" soon merrily outnumbered them) at the Milano show:

Aprilia: A limited edition V4 superbike, with the same Alitalia-inspired graphics as on Max Biaggi's bike (which was on display). Goodness me, it looks (and feels, just sitting on it) like a lean 600cc. Claimed HP remains @180, whereas an increase to 188 for 2011 (?) had been rumoured at the recent German show, supposedly to challenge the BMW 1000 RR dyno (and track?) supremacy.

Aprilia bis: A "naked" V4, called "Tuono", as its Rotax-powered V-twin predecessor. 160 HP (a 20-25 HP detune). Gorgeous.

MV Agusta: A 675 cc triple, the "F3", à la Triumph Street Triple. Exquisite styling. This world premiere was in a semi-private hall, with a bodyguard-looking dude checking incoming visitors. And, more than making up for him, a couple of sex bombs...ooops... hostesses.... ooops... female "customer relationship facilitators" inside .

Ducati: the 1200cc "Diavel" (from "diavolo" = "devil"). A "monster bike" , in the V-Max 1700cc league. 162 HP. Looks kindda weird to me but who cares? Beautiful hostesses there too. So stunning that Casey Stoner's GP bike just seemed to be.... abandonned a few meters away .

(sorry, pics were only allowed to "press" badge holders)

VIVA L'ITALIA


Apart from that? Novelties already seen @ the recent German show: The Beemers in-line 6 (GT and GTL , both "baggers", the GTL being the real luxo-bagger, in a teutonic sort of way) and the Kawasaki "Ninja+" Z10. Horsepower was finally disclosed (or claimed, at least) @ 209, with ram air boost. Another hard-pressed BMW/Aprilia rival in the superbike class, no doubt.

Kawasaki aside, the three other Japanese brands were conspicuous by the... mediocrity of their show. Except for a surprisingly distinct display featuring the 2010, Fiat-sponsored, Yamaha GP bike, be it that of Rossi or Lorenzo or, more likely, a spare mount.

By way of contrast, Triumph had a splendid exhibition, arguably lower on staff sex-appeal but certainly higher on staff competence , featuring the -relatively- new Tigers, new Bonnie and T'Bird colors (matt black as on the "T'Bird Storm" still looks godawful to me, BTW) and both the new-for-2011 Speed Triple and 675cc Daytona "R" .

Gonna cut some zzzz's now. Have sweet dreams, maybe.

Ciao.

Jamie

The Prophet

Jamie,

Consider yourself lucky that you get the opportunity to actually SEE a Triumph show display.

Here in the States, for whatever reason, Triumph has chosen NOT to participate in shows for at least the past 7 years. The "biggie" I'd wager is the "Cycle World International Motorcycle Expo" or some such name, which in the Chicago area is every mid-February. Triumph has been the only consistent "no-show" manufacturer for quite some time.

That said, their sales and profitability are assumedly better than most, so maybe they're on to something.

At any rate, it would be nice to see a display booth by our fearless trumpet brass, but I doubt it, considering the economy, etc.

Here in Chicago, I'd say the biggest, most outrageous display is by Harley, then maybe Honda, and then a tie with Yamaha, BMW, Suzuki. A slight notch down in size would then be Ducati

All the rest have smaller sized displays, understandably.

Ride Safe,

Bob

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• A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~Lao Tzu
• Motorcyles are not my whole life, but they make my life whole. ` me

motowebmaster

I looked at the floorplan for the Dallas IMS on November 11-14; which is now called the Progressive Motorcycle Show. I guess Cycle World is out of it, but regardless:

• Suzuki
• BRP
• Harley-Davidson
• Kawasaki
• Honda
• Star
• Yamaha
• Ducati

In addition, Progressive and Allstate will have primary and strategically-located sublocations. A women riders association will be there, along with one of the more popular dealers for the Dallas area. Ducati has announced the unveiling of two new models at this show.

If it's like previous years, the Triumph Truck will be at a respective dealer closeby. Folks usually plan to do both if they are interested.

I'll admit that some would have to be displaying interesting versions of existing models to be interesting. The BMC Dealer for the Dallas area just shutdown a couple weeks ago, so the only half-interesting cruisers would be at the Harley area unless a Victory dealer shows up.

So if I go, I'd be spending most of my time sitting on Italian hardware and then jumping around at whatever else was interesting. If the Triumph Truck did end up being in town I'd probably do a couple test rides, but Triumph needs to be showing that new Tiger.

Attached Files

924_01_Dallas_flrpln.pdf (1.97 MB, 30 views)

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My Photos

The Prophet

It's interesting that BMW is also a "no-show" this year, as they were also absent last year.

Given that they are introducing the 6 cylinder mega-tourer this year, it is additionally puzzling. I salivate openly over that bike .

Triumph introduces a "suspiciously similar to a BMW F800" model, which IMHO should be a winner, BMW decides not to participate... hmmm... sounds like an industry conspiracy!!

Regardless, we always go to the Chicago one, as it's a great way to spend a freezing Illinois February Saturday afternoon. My niece and her husband own a Suzuki Dealership, so we get freebie tickets anyway.

As stated prior, Harley has the largest and most elaborate Chicago booth, and I have to admit that it is ALWAYS packed, has the most people looking at... stuff, and it seems like the "lifestyle" druids come out in droves (Druid Droves?) to check out the doo-rag scene.

Last year they (HD) added alluring sales-girls to the mix, which my two twentyish son's thought was great (as did I, but in a "fatherly" way), and we have pics in the family album of the various "Harley" girls and my son's, sheepish grins intact.

As I clearly recall, I was sitting on a pretty nice HD XR1200 when one of the sales-chicks approached me. We chatted awhile - well, in as much as a 58 year old slightly balding, middle-age spread challenged guy, and a twenty year old svelte, blond, surgically enhanced, scantilly clad model could possibly have in common - and she eventually asked what I "ride". When I replied "Triumph", she admitted that she had never heard of them... "are they new?"

In the end, good, clean, wholesome fun, and we look forward to it again come February.

Ride Safe!

bob

Jamie

The Triumph display in Milano I just reported on was nothing short of outstanding , quite frankly. Bikes were nicely displayed AROUND a spacious dialogue/ business center-type forum, as opposed to being merely... parked. Everyone could freely hop on circularly-displayed bikes, without being instantly assaulted by display operators. But without being totally neglected by them either.

And the few Triumph display guys and gals I conversed with, KNEW what they were talking about.

First class, I'd say

Jamie

Jamie

The Triumph display in Milano I just reported on was one of the largest ones. Nothing short of outstanding , IMO. Bikes were nicely displayed AROUND a spacious dialogue/ business center-type forum, as opposed to being merely... parked.

Everyone could freely hop on circularly-displayed bikes, without being instantly assaulted by display attendants. But without being totally neglected by them either.

And the few Triumph display guys and gals I conversed with, KNEW what they were talking about.

First class, I'd say

Jamie

The Prophet

LATE BREAKING NEWS!!!!

I just recieved an Email this morning from Triumph. In it, they are touting the new 800 bike, and also announcing...


Triumph will, for the first time, be displaying their bikes at the "Progressive" (no longer "Cycle World" as Moto stated earlier) International Motorcycle Show.

That's the good news. Possibly bad news is that they will only be showing in Long Beach, CA, New York, NY, Cleveland OH, and Chicago, IL.

Finally!

Ride Safe!

Bob