Top 10 EICMA Show Bikes You May Have Missed

Tom Roderick
by Tom Roderick
There’s no cave deep, mountain high or rock heavy enough to have thwarted news of Ducati’s 1199 Panigale superbike launch at the 2012 EICMA show in Milan, Italy. And a few models such as Honda’s NC700S and X, Kawasaki’s Versys 1000 and CRP’s Energica were unveiled without heavy prior fanfare, but gasps of surprise weren’t heard when the wraps were taken off Triumph’s Tiger 1200 Explorer, Husqvarna’s Nuda or MV Augusta’s F3 675 among others, whose existences were revealed months in advance of the show. What we’ve comprised below is our list Top 10 Bikes unveiled at EICMA that didn’t receive top billing but are certainly worthy of your attention.

The Borile B450 Scrambler looks more the part of an old-school enduro bike than does Husky’s MOAB, and its 450cc single-cylinder engine is especially interesting. Based off the rear cylinder of an air-cooled Ducati V-Twin but with a shorter stroke, it features a reverse cylinder head orientation and uses a bespoke cassette-style transmission. Production is slated to begin in early 2012, but good luck finding one in America!
Although the B500CR has existed for about 10 years, this latest version uses the clever Ducati-based single-cylinder motor seen in the Scrambler. The CR is a beautiful, stripped-down roadster we wish was coming to America.
The DB10 closely resembles Ducati’s Hypermotard, but Bimota’s version features a version the company’s kickass DB6 Delirio chassis, a hybrid of tubular-steel trellis and aluminum components that contribute to the bike’s minimal 370-lb weight. Power comes from a hot-rodded version of Ducati’s air-cooled V-Twin boasting 98 hp. Several billet-aluminum pieces and lightweight OZ wheels cap off the exotic maxi-motard.. No prices or U.S. importation were listed, but, rest assured, it won’t be cheap or easily available.
Explorer was an Ossa model from nearly 40 years ago the company is reviving for 2012. The Explorer bridges the gap between trials bike and MXer, with an intention by the Spanish manufacturer to be used on narrow, single-track trails littered with technical sections. The Explorer is powered by 272cc, dual-injected two-stroke engine and is said to weigh just 164 pounds dry. Production is scheduled to begin in February. No word on U.S. availability.
Known mostly for its trails bikes, Ossa made a splash at EICMA this year by introducing the aforementioned Explorer and this Enduro model. Available in 250cc and 350cc two-stroke sizes, the Enduro features a reverse cylinder head, fuel injection and a cassette transmission.
Benelli’s Tre-K Amazonas is set to make a return in March of 2012 after a bit of a hiatus. Powered by a TNT-sourced 1130cc Triple, it’s a contender for Ducati’s successful Multistrada 1200. Changes to the Tre-K include a new fork and shock and a lower seat height compared to the previous model.
Yamaha gave the iconic VMax to three different customizers, Ludovic Lazareth, Roland Sands and Marcus Walz, to up the ante of the already attention-grabbing stock VMax. The three were tasked with tweaking the super-streetfighter while also retaining its recognizable profile. Lazareth’s version (pictured) features heavily industrialized accents to the over-sized air scoops and mufflers.
Powered by a BMW 650cc Single, the Husqvarna MOAB concept bike is a modern interpretation of Husky’s classic scramblers of the ’60s and ’70s. Named after Utah’s Moab desert to signify its off-road presence, Husky’s MOAB features a front disc brake, inverted fork and number plates. Some form of this might make it to production.
The 250cc four-stroke Fantic Caballero features a host of top-shelf performance components. It’s unique in the off-road world by having a mild trellis frame. It scales in at 238 lbs, and it can also be built in a two-stroke version. Like most other bikes in this list, U.S. availability is unlikely.
Named after an arid region of Brazil, the BMW Sertao, with its aluminum bash plate, spoked 21-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels, conspires to make this model a more off-road-centric version than the standard G650GS with its cast-aluminum 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels. This one’s coming stateside early next year.
Tom Roderick
Tom Roderick

A former Motorcycle.com staffer who has gone on to greener pastures, Tom Roderick still can't get the motorcycle bug out of his system. And honestly, we still miss having him around. Tom is now a regular freelance writer and tester for Motorcycle.com when his schedule allows, and his experience, riding ability, writing talent, and quick wit are still a joy to have – even if we don't get to experience it as much as we used to.

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