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What else we saw at EICMA: more neo-retro, concepts and a Royal Enfield V-twin

Nov 07, 2018

While the big releases steal the show at EICMA, smaller stories can get lost in the shuffle. Don’t sweat it. Gathered for your consideration are some of the best other stories to come out of EICMA this year.

Honda CB650R
With around 95 horsepower, the CB650R should be a very capable street machine. 2019 Honda CB650R

Honda CB650R

The CB1000R and the CB300R were big moves for Honda in the last few years, so the arrival of the CB650R was no surprise at EICMA 2018. Honda’s neo-retro lineup now features entry-level, middleweight, and liter-class offerings, thanks to the missing link. The new model is lighter, more powerful, and a bit more sport-oriented than its predecessor. Styling also gets a huge update over the 650F. 

Honda CB125M
Looks like a good time to me. Honda CB125M concept. Honda photo.

In other Honda news, the CB1000RR picks up some new mapping and settings, while the CB500X gets a proper 19/17 wheel combination. They also showed off a sweet little 125 cc supermoto concept.

Triumph Ace and Diamond
The Diamond edition (left) and Ace (right) are awfully photogenic. Triumph photo.

Triumph releases two limited editions

Triumph teams up with the Ace Cafe of London for another round of special editions for their venerable Bonnie. The Bonneville T120 Ace comes blacked out tire to tire except for Ace Cafe branding on the covers. Triumph’s also releasing a limited “Diamond Edition” 60th anniversary bike, another T120, in much more classic trim.

Aprilia RS 660
The Aprilia RS 660 is a shape-shifter. Aprilia photo.

Aprilia RS 660

It was only a matter of time before someone did it, and now that someone is Aprilia. The RS 660 concept uses Aprilia Active Aerodynamics, or A3, to adapt the motorcycle’s bodywork while riding. Extra downforce, coming right up. Powered by an Aprilia 1100 sawed in half, the RS 660 takes racing’s obsession with aero to its obvious next step. While active aero probably won’t do much for you on the street, half an RSV4 would be fun to try. 

Royal Enfield KX bobber concept
Royal Enfield gets back into V-twins. That's a hefty-looking engine, displacing a little less than a Sportster at 838 cc. Royal Enfield photo.

Royal Enfield goes V-twin

Royal Enfield continues to step out of their comfort zone with the latest bobber concept, called the KX. Wait, Kawasaki had the KX name first, right? Not so fast. Royal Enfield apparently made a KX model in 1938, and they used that forgotten bike as the inspiration for their bobber study. The new concept couldn’t be mistaken for the original, but they matched the crankcases pretty closely, which is a nice touch.

Previewed last week, almost no one expected a V-twin from RE, but here it is. Is Enfield just showing off, or will they actually start making V-twins to compete with smaller Harleys and Indians in other markets? 

MV Agusta Superveloce 800 concept
MV Agusta Superveloce 800. It's just fun to say. MV Agusta photo.

MV Agusta Superveloce 800 concept

Built around the F3 800, the Superveloce 800 concept drew plenty of attention at EICMA with its classic good looks and sporty aspirations. Carbon fairings, a tweaked MV triple, and top-shelf parts throughout suggest the Superveloce could ride as fast as it looks. How about those wheels?

That just about wraps up our EICMA coverage, though one of our staffers is organizing his thoughts on a certain Kawasaki release. Keep an eye out for one more EICMA piece coming soon.