Top 5 ‘future’ and concept bikes coming soon

Concept’ bikes or show special prototypes designed to gauge public reaction are nothing new, of course – but what was this year was the sheer number of finished, or very nearly finished, prototype bikes the road-going versions of which we can expect very soon.
So say hello to the Harley-Davidson Bronx, Honda CB4-X, Aprilia Tuono 660, Ducati Desert X and BMW R18-2. With a bit of luck, we might even be able to see some of them at the upcoming Motorcycle Live! at Birmingham’s NEC.

Harley-Davidson Pan America & Bronx – Harley’s all-new future

Although not yet shown in public, Harley-Davidson used the opportunity of EICMA to release the latest details (and pictures) of some of its all-new, liquid-cooled, middleweight V-twins, which are a massive development for the previously conservative and traditional American company – with the first two being the Pan America 1250 adventure tourer and the Bronx 975 super-naked, with both due to be launched in late 2020. At both bikes’ heart is Harley’s all-new, liquid-cooled ‘Revolution Max’ V-twin, which will come in 1250cc/145bhp and 975cc/115bhp forms. Can’t wait!

Honda CB4X – the sport-adventure one

If its looks are anything to go by, the CB4X concept bike unveiled at EICMA sees Honda going into the ‘sports adventure’ bike sector for the first time, as currently occupied by the likes of BMW’s brilliant S1000XR, Triumph’s 1050 Tiger Sport and KTM’s Super Duke GT. If it ever goes into production, that is. It’s been created as a one-off design study by Honda’s Italian design studio and combines a traditional Honda transverse four-cylinder ‘CB’ engine (Honda aren’t saying which but it looks like that from the CB650R); sporty single-sided swing arm (from the CB1000R) but with an upright, adventure bike posture complete with adjustable screen.

Ducati Scrambler Desert X – the Cagiva ‘Lucky Explorer’ one

Another surprise concept bike unveiling at EICMA was by Ducati, who displayed not one but TWO new prototype variants of its Scrambler – the supermoto-inspired ‘Motard’ and, even more interestingly as far as we’re concerned, the ‘Desert X’. Both bikes had recently been revealed as ‘concept sketches’ recently but Milan was the first time they’d been seen in the metal. The latter, based on Scrambler 1200 running gear, is basically a retro/adventure bike restyle inspired by the Dakar Rally-winning Cagiva Lucky Explorer, as ridden by Edi Orioli. And, with faithful red and white livery, enlarged all-round proportions and even knobbly tyres it had us chomping at the bit.

Aprilia Tuono 660 – the exotic middleweight twin

Italian firm Aprilia were one of the talking points of the EICMA show, mostly due to its new RS660 middleweight sports bike which is powered by an all-new 660cc parallel twin developed from the firm’s 1100 V4 engine. But perhaps even more exciting still was the news that an upright, ‘naked’ Tuono version would be following soon behind. In the big bike class, the Tuono 1100 is rightly regarded as probably the best super naked of all, even though the sportster on which it’s based has fallen a little behind. With around 100bhp, light weight, no doubt great handling and brilliant electronics plus lashings of Italian style, we can quite easily see this 660 version being just as good.

BMW R18-2 - the all-new German cruiser

Another bike we knew was on its way – BMW’s all-new, air-cooled, 1800cc boxer cruiser – but these latest pictures released to coincide with EICMA give our best views of the near-completed bike yet. It’s aimed, unashamedly, at the huge US cruiser market, draws its styling cues from historic BMWs and is the German firm’s first new aircooled Boxer engine since 1969. Likely to come in a variety of forms, this latest, near-production ready version seems to be a more hot rod variant, complete with headlamp cowling, cast wheels and sports suspension. We expect the production version to be unveiled later in 2020.