American Honda has not included the recently revealed NC700S and NC700X models in its 2012 list of offerings, but it looks like the two motorcycles will be available in Canada.

Honda Canada has not made an official announcement but a dealership in Kelowna, B.C., has published a press release that appears to have come directly from Honda Canada saying the two models will be available in Canada in the summer of 2012.

(EDIT: Honda Canada has confirmed the NC700 models will be at the Toronto Motorcycle Show Dec. 9-11 for what will be the North American debut for the two models.)

Honda unveiled NC700S standard and NC700X adventure bike debuted earlier this month at the 2011 EICMA show in Milan, but were absent from a list of 2012 models announced by American Honda. That doesn’t mean they won’t  still be announced at a later date however. Continue Reading »

The two-wheeled orgasm that is EICMA is over, and now comes the waiting for the sexy new machines on display to arrive. You’ve seen our EICMA 2011 coverage (and if you haven’t yet, tsk, tsk!), read the juicy details and gazed longingly at the photographs. But how do these new models look in motion?

While we still have a little while to wait before seeing these new motorcycles (and scooters!) up close, the manufacturers have released some promotional videos to show off their new models. We’ve compiled a number of these videos and created a top 10 list of new bikes from EICMA 2011. Continue Reading »

Here’s an EICMA highlight for you, readers. Italian police officers seized a Chinese-made scooter from the showroom floor for copyright infringement.

Authorities seized the three-wheeled Yiben YB 250 ZKT under grounds of copyright infringement and falsification because it too closely resembled a Piaggio MP3.

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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.

According to a post on CycleNews.com visitors to EICMA 2011 voted Ducati’s new Panigale superbike the “Most Beautiful Bike of Show” in a vote organized by the Italian bike magazine, Motociclismo.

The new Duc collected 53% of the votes from nearly 14,000 participants. The MV Augusta F3 Serie Oro collected 15% of the vote for second place, with 3% of the vote going to Husqvarna’s Nuda 900R for third.

Make sure to read our EICMA coverage in this special EICMA section.

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Ducati 1199 Panigale Forum

Vespa has built a reputation for classic, retro-styled scooters, trading on its iconic styling. The Quarantasei concept unveiled at EICMA however is a look toward ahead, and possibly the most futuristic looking Vespa ever.

The Quarantasei is named for the number 46, which represents the year Vespa first began producing scooters. (UPDATE: The Piaggio Group has quietly decided to rename the concept scooter the Vespa 946. The new name is much easier to spell and pronounce for non-Italian speakers, making it easier to market – if Piaggio ever decides to bring the 946 to production …)

Designed by the Vespa Pontedera Style Center, the Quarantasei maintains classic Vespa lines established from the original 1945 MP6 prototype, the “Wasp” that became forefather of all Vespas.
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Alongside the Honda NC700S at EICMA comes the NC700X, a “crossover” model with better off-road capability.

Like the NC700S, the 2012 Honda NC700X is powered by Honda’s new 670cc parallel Twin engine. Honda designed the engine to be highly efficient, with optimal performance at speeds up to 87 mph and the engine revving up to 6000 rpm, a range Honda’s research found accounts for 90% of an average commuter’s uses. The NC700X’s engine has been tuned to offer more power and torque than the NC700S, with Honda claiming 51 hp at 6250 rpm 45.7 ft-lb. at 4750 rpm (compared to the NC700S’ 46.9 hp at 6250 rpm and 44.3 ft-lb. at 4750 rpm figures. Like the NC700S, Honda claims the NC700X gets 63.5 mpg, enough for a range of 235 miles.

Like the NC700S, the Honda NC700X will be available with or without a dual clutch transmission system and combined ABS.

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Honda unveiled a new mid-sized naked standard using the 670cc parallel Twin engine and second-generation dual-clutch transmission.

The new Honda NC700S is powered by the same 670cc Twin engine as the Integra motorcycle/scooter crossover and the NC700X. Designed to be lightweight and fuel-efficient, Honda claims an output of 46.9 hp at 6250 rpm and 44.3 ft-lb. at 4750 rpm, while getting 63.5 mpg. With a 3.7 gallon tank, the NC700S should get a range of about 235 miles on a full tank of gas.

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Moto Guzzi unveiled two new models from its V7 line, joining the already released (and recently reviewed right here on Motorcycle.com) V7 Racer. The new Moto Guzzi V7 and the V7 Scrambler will make their public debuts Nov. 8 at the 2011 EICMA show in Milan.

The Moto Guzzi V7 range will all use a new 750cc 90 degree V-Twin engine, mounted longitudinally in true Guzzi style. Detailed specs haven’t been released but Moto Guzzi claims improvements in power (with a 10% improvement), torque and fuel economy and fewer emissions compared to the previous V7 engine.

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Hot on the heels of the release of full specs for the F3 675 supersport, MV Agusta has unveiled the naked version featuring the same engine and MVICS electronics package and a claimed weight of 163 kg (359 pounds).

The 2012 MV Agusta Brutale 675 is the smallest member of the Brutale line, but it’s also the most high-tech. The Brutale 675 gets the same ride-by-wire throttle control and traction control system as the new F3. The MVICS (Motor & Vehicle Integrated Control System) gives riders a choice of  eight levels of traction control and four selectable engine maps (plus a fifth customizable map).

Powering the new Brutale is the high-revving 675cc three-cylinder engine used on the F3, but toned down a bit. Instead of the F3′s claimed 126hp, the Brutale 675 peaks at 113 hp at 12,500 rpm. Torque is said to be the same 52 ft-lbs at 10,600 rpm as the F3. According to MV Agusta, the engine offers linear power delivery while the torque curve is more like that of a literbike than a supersport.

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