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Underwhelmed. That’s the word that rippled through the journalist ranks on the eve of EICMA 2026.
There are more pre-EICMA parties than there are espresso bars in Milan. I was at one such event when fellow journalists rolled in from Yamaha’s pre-show presentation. The Japanese marque had just unveiled three adventure scooters (RW350, RW700, and RW700 Explore), two electric scooters (Xenter E and NMax E), and one mid-size ADV prototype (Ténéré 4 Concept) — all to a mild reception. The online response was even more disapproving, with many commenters decrying the lack of Ténéré 900 news. On Yamaha’s official live stream, no less.
Ducati didn’t draw the same ire from the crowd, but its World Première 2027 wasn’t a show-defining moment, either. The Bologna firm gently revised entrants from its Diavel, DesertX, Panigale, and Streetfighter families, while also providing a sneak peek of the upcoming Desmo250 EDS.
EICMA 2026 started less with a bang and more with a yawn, but, as usual, highlights hailed from both familiar and unfamiliar territories.
Adventure on
Honda’s refreshed Africa Twin lineup spearheaded the adventure developments at this year’s show, but it was far from the only update. The newcomer in the category, Royal Enfield’s Himalayan 750, also made some noise — much of which issues from its 743 cc parallel twin.
The air/oil-cooled mill powering the middleweight Himmy benefits from a bigger bore than RE’s existing 648 cc twin. That extra capacity pushes the model’s claimed output to 55 horsepower (at 7,000 rpm) and 46.5 foot-pounds of torque (at 5,000 rpm). More than just the brand’s first 750, the Himalayan is also the first Enfield with cruise control, customizable ride modes, and a six-axis inertial measurement unit controlling the traction control. My riding impressions are coming soon.
The new Himmy might occupy the 750 cc segment, but its power profile is closer to that of CFMOTO’s new 550MT and 550MT-X. As the successor to the 450MT (Ibex 450 in the States), the new line houses a 527 cc parallel-twin engine listed at 54 horsepower (at 8,500 rpm) and 38.4 foot-pounds (at 6,000rpm).
The new nomenclature also points to the Chinese manufacturer splitting the model into two distinct variants. The standard MT is now a touring-ready ADV with cruise control, a rear-facing radar, an eight-inch TFT, and a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheelset. The MT-X, on the other hand, specializes in trail riding, thanks to long-travel suspension, an Off Road mode, and a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel.
The 550MT may qualify as an ADV, but it falls in another category that was popular this year at the show: small bikes.
All the small things
Entry-level motorcycles dominated the news cycle in the weeks leading up to EICMA. Triumph announced the T40 Bonneville. BMW rolled out the F 450 RR. Moto Guzzi debuted The Trip. Even Harley presented the Sprint before the Fiera Milano Rho doors opened. Even so, more 450-class bikes cropped up at the show. KTM’s 450 RC led that pack.
Team Orange disclosed that the new RC will feature a twin-cylinder engine, replacing the brand’s 399 cc single, but it stopped short of revealing the powerplant’s claimed figures. Surrounding that twin is a very KTM package composed of WP APEX suspension, WP brake calipers, and Pirelli Diablo Rosso 4 tires. The tech suite will consist of cornering ABS, traction control, and a five-inch TFT display.
Norton’s new 450 Urban also favors the premium treatment. At its center is a 454 cc single-cylinder engine rated at 47 horsepower (at 8,000 rpm) and 33.2 foot-pounds of torque (at 6,000 rpm). Beyond that thumper, there’s KYB suspension, ByBre brakes, cornering ABS, traction control, and an eight-inch TFT. The entry-point Norton even comes standard with a quickshifter.
Of course, small bikes aren’t the only reliable EICMA subjects every year. So too are concepts.
Things to come
Here at Common Tread, we passed up the opportunity to report on Kawasaki’s weird, hydrogen-powered horse-thing, the Corleo. It isn’t exactly a motorcycle, after all. We weren’t even sure if Kawi was pitching the quadruped robot to motorcyclists, either. With the Corleo’s appearance at EICMA, there's no mistaking it now.
The Corleo touts a 150 cc hydrogen engine with its fuel canisters stored near the vehicle’s hind haunches. Users control the four-legged vehicle by shifting their weight, similar to riding a horse. Standing next to the machine only strengthens those comparisons, as the Corleo is nearly as tall as a steed. Still, Kawasaki is tracking toward releasing the model by 2035.
What I hope arrives sooner are Honda’s concept bikes. Big Red displayed its collaboration with Japanese sneaker maker Onitsuka Tiger, which is a fully-faired version of the CB750 Hornet. The project illustrates what the new Hornet could look like in sport bike form. But much of the crowd's attention, for the third year in a row, went to Honda’s V3 E-Compressor.
The Japanese OEM finally rolled out the planned production version of its V3R 900 E-Compressor, but it still hasn’t provided full specifications, estimated availability, or established a production start date.
Yes, it’s another step forward for Honda’s V3, but it’s a baby step There’s just one problem. There are no such half measures when it comes to the Chinese competition.
A very Chinese time in the industry
I didn’t just witness model unveilings at EICMA. I didn’t just see next year’s bikes in the metal. Being at EICMA also showed me the growing influence of Chinese manufacturers. The booths for Voge, Benda, Morbidelli, Benelli, and QJ Motors were every bit as extravagant as the traditional manufacturers. Sometimes, even more so. There was a real fervor around their products, too. That’s especially true for CFMOTO.
Of the three presentations I attended, theirs drew the largest crowd by far. One girl was even sitting on some guy’s shoulders like it was Woodstock ‘69 or something. That's to say the audience wasn’t just present; it was engaged.
Applause felt obligatory at Royal Enfield’s and Suzuki’s presentations. It felt authentic at CFMOTO’s. I’ll put it this way: Someone screamed when the cover dropped on the V4SR-RR. I won’t say such a reaction was warranted, but the firm’s first superbike is an impressive bit of kit. Its 997 cc V4 reportedly produces 210 horsepower. It also sports Öhlins suspension, Brembo brakes, Pirelli tires, and an Akrapovič exhaust. But more importantly, it’s the first production bike with active aero.
That’s just one of the five motorcycles announced by CFMOTO. It also introduced the aforementioned MT550s, a World Champion Edition 675SR-R, and the track-focused V4SR-RR Carbon Black. No wonder the company is drawing so much attention.
Chinese-made bikes have long been cast as inferior products. If EICMA 2026 showed me anything, it’s that those days have come and gone and perceptions are changing. I can tell you one thing: The word “underwhelmed” sure didn’t ripple through the ranks of journalists, content creators, or influencers after that presentation.
