The New York International Motorcycle Show always lands at the end of the year, so there tends to be no major reveals or big surprises. However, it is an excellent opportunity to see all the new metal from 2018 under one roof. Find event information and buy tickets here.
BMW
It’s been a busy year for BMW. Between the release of a pair of new middleweight adventure bikes – the F 800 GS and F 750 GS – and the all-new, redesigned S1000RR, the German brand had its hand full this year. BMW’s crown jewel, the S1000RR, gets an all-new engine with a 14,600 redline, a valve-timing system that helps create the bike’s 207 horsepower and loses three pounds for 2019. On the design front, BMW decided to ditch the asymmetrical headlights in favor of a more conventional approach. When it first landed 10 years ago, the BMW S1000RR changed the game with this absurdly advanced superbike — BMW is looking to solidify that top spot. The R Nine T family also gets a few stylish updates with new paint schemes, too.
Ducati
Ducati brought a total of nine new bikes to the show this year, chief among them the insane, MotoGP-inspired Panigale V4 R. But given the recent adventure bike popularity surge, the Multistrada 1260 Enduro will be an important bike for the brand going into 2019. The Scrambler Ducati brand is also leaning hard into the rise in flat track racing popularity by putting more energy and creativity into the Full Throttle Scrambler trim. The Scrambler line hasn’t seen any major mechanical updates but it’s good to see a restyling and new color schemes across the lot.
Honda
Honda had the biggest reveal of the show (quite literally), taking the covers off its new pure sport Side-by-Side – taking the fight to Polaris and Can-Am. The Talon comes in 1000R and 1000X flavors; the 1000R comes with a wider track, more suspension travel and focuses on more hardcore, fast driving. The 1000X has a narrower wheelbase but that makes it better suited for tight trails. Both iterations get the same engine, however, which is the same 1000cc twin-cylinder found in the Africa Twin. Thankfully, Honda cranked up the power and added the Africa Twin’s dual clutch transmission too: leave it in automatic or change gears with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. Honda also brought has the vintage style Monkey and Super Cub on display.
Indian Motorcycle
It was exciting to see Indian Motorcycle finally put the flat track-inspired FTR 1200 into production. It’s even more exciting to see all the new various trims and styles Indian came up with. It has the same sort of vibe the Scrambler Ducati had when it initially launched, and that’s a good thing. The more FTR 1200 the better. The Sport, Rally, Tracker and Touring lines come with slight differences between them but each seems to have its character of its own. The Touring, for instance, comes with a lower seat and can be optioned out with a higher windshield, luggage racks and waxed canvas saddle bags.
Triumph Motorcycles
The recently announced Scrambler 1200, a bike we’ve always wanted from Triumph, looks so damn good in person. But, despite the hype and excitement around the beefed-up vintage off-roader, the all-new Speedmaster is awesome. It’s Triumph’s second swing at hyper-stylized classic and keeping in mind how successful the Bobber was, it’s no surprise Triumph wants to double down. Even motionless on the stand, it looks like another win for Triumph.
10 Best Cars of the 2018 LA Auto Show
The 2018 LA Auto Show kicks off this weekend, and there are head turners and important launches all over the show floor. If you’re heading to the convention center, pick up tickets and read up on the whole show here. Check out our top picks below whether you’re heading to the show or not. Read the Story
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