Can nostalgia for the past, with its relative revival operation, really get along with the rush towards the future of technology? Proof of the little miracle comes from Milan. Thanks to the motorcycles. Those who populate the Eicma, the world exhibition of two wheels reached the remarkable milestone of the seventy-sixth edition. All the big brands have adapted well to the revival operation. The classic shapes of the old motorcycles monopolize the attention, not only of the lively and slightly elderly motorcyclists, but also of the young and the very young. Only the shape is old, of course. Because the substance hides the whole race for technology rather than pure performance, which, moreover, is not lacking. Thus also (and above all) electric mobility is growing, not only in the conquest of spaces in the pavilions but also in strategies, in marketing, in the imagination of applications, in the promises for the future. Old and new, not forgetting some muscular displays. Here's a rundown.
EUROPE IN THE FRONT ROW. THE TRIUMPH CASE
They may have gotten into trouble with Brexit, but the British are enjoying the motorcycle revival marked by the mix of old and new very well. Triumph, an ancient British coat of arms that later collapsed, is consolidating its resurrection. It has a reference market in Italy, with excellent sales. Now he ventures even further: the new 1200 scrambler, built around the maxi-twin cylinder that already pushes the road models, wants to compete directly with the Teutonic queen, the BMW GS. In the meantime, the strategists of the English company are not at all ignorant of two other key sectors: the medium bike, capable of satisfying almost everyone without missing out on anything, and the world of very high performance. On the first side there is the new edition of the Street Twin, powered by the reinvigorated 900 cm³ twin-cylinder that gains 10 horsepower reaching 65. Easy to handle, not too pushy. But able to give great satisfaction, especially between the curves, even to a cheerful motorcyclist. The world of sprinters? In support of its brand, Triumph boasts a masterstroke: with its very peppery three-cylinder engine of almost 700 cubic centimeters (derived from the road super sports car) it won the tender to supply the one-make engines for the Moto2 world championship from next year, collecting the relay from giant Honda with its four-cylinder 600.
HIMALAYAN, THE ENDURO MOTORCYCLE FOR THE PRICE OF A SCOOTER
Indians, but holders of another noble British brand of the past: Royal Enfield. The engineers over there did a good job. Labor is cheap. The idea is the right one. After the chugging old-fashioned motorcycles (even in technology) here is the 411cc Himalayan enduro. Sufficient finishing, a nice look from the past, more up-to-date components and a decidedly bargain price. With 4.590 euros it is the alternative to a simple city scooter. But it's a real bike, capable of getting everywhere even if it's calm, given the scarce 25 horsepower. The Indian company also presented a family of medium-displacement twin-cylinder bikes, very close to the look of the old English bikes. They mimic (from a distance) the Triumph. The bargain price will help.
THE CHINESE ALSO LOOK AT THE INDIANS
For those who want to save even more, here is an enduro that looks very much like the Himalayan. It's the 125cc Brixton Felsberg, which comes from China. At 2.999 euros it offers decent components, in line with the high end of the many oriental creations of this type. To check the dealer network and assistance.
THE “DEL POPOLO” MOTORCYCLE BECOMES A VINTAGE LUXURY
Diametrically opposite sensations come from the giant Honda. Vintage? Why not. The trend must be ridden. At the cost of some obvious contradictions. Honda does not neglect anything in the differentiation of the range. And here is the birth operation for two sensational successes of all time, protagonists of mass motorization also thanks to the low prices, especially in Asia. Who have even become style models. Deservedly. Welcome then the versions modernized in technology of the high-wheeled scooter Cub and the mini-bike Monkey, spread in millions of specimens since the 60s. The new engine is in common, a very modern 125cc. Which takes the place of the traditional fifty. The components are simple but modern. The aesthetics are the same, beautiful, as always. The price? Definitely contradictory, as an amateur. In both cases, the threshold of 4.000 euros will certainly be exceeded. People's motorbikes at luxury prices. Let's venture a bet: it will work.
ELECTRIC, EVEN THE VESPA REALLY BELIEVES IT
The body is that of the latest Vespa 125. Inside there is a latest generation electrical system, complete with an app for remote management with our smartphone. From the prototype to the fully commercial version, the Piaggio group has done things right. The electric Vespa is ready. It works beautifully. It is capable of traveling up to 200 kilometers on a single charge, in the extended capacity version. It is certainly expensive: 6.390 euros. But Piaggio also offers a formula with a monthly fee.
SCOOTER IN SILENCE, ITALY AS A RECORD
The very Italian Askoll had the wonderful intuition of transforming its virtues and components and synchronous electric motors (for washing machines, for example) into the challenge for clean mobility. Over the years she has become a leader here too. Her scooters have been chosen by the major sharing companies operating in urban centres. Its creators do not stop ensuring new progress. The small scooters approved as mopeds now have greater autonomy and host the most advanced control applications via app and mobile phone, and are also available in a "cargo" version for urban deliveries. In sight a larger scooter, equivalent in performance to a 125cc. It will do – they announce – 90 km/h, will travel up to 100 km with a recharge that can be done from any electrical socket in 5 hours.
ELECTRONIC DELIVERIES, SOON AN OBLIGATION
The "cargo" electric motorbikes do not only ignite the interest of Askoll from Vicenza. The future of mobility also passes through there. Proof of this is the flourishing of oriental achievements but not only. Here too Europe plays its part, for example with the Spanish Rieju. They spur the new environmental constraints announced by the administrators of all large and not so large cities. And the application synergies with individual means of transport are all there: after all, it is enough to transform the space for the passenger into a nice large container and the game is done. We go further, with the prototypes of electric sidecars for transport or even for trailers.
THE BATTERY-POWERED BIKE, THE ADULTS MOVE
The now classic electric bicycle, or rather "pedal assisted", is no stranger to great racing. Small and large manufacturers can count on components that offer ever more advanced solutions, with the tendency to keep the classic hub motor (front or rear) for the simplest and cheapest bikes, while for the more sophisticated ones the solution of the motor incorporated in the central part and integrated with the pedal-crown group. Even the motorcycle giants, such as Kawasaki, are not deaf to the call.
A RECORD EVEN FOR THE "HACKERS"
Can the motorcycle show ever forget the more specialized and ardent public, that of super sportsmen who love the thrill of speed as much as possible? Here they are satisfied, even provoked. The Milan salon sets the absolute record here too. It is due to our Ducati, multiple world champion. Who presented an authentic super-monster, in a good way because he is a lover of motorcycle technology in a bad way for those who will be tempted not to use it more than carefully. It's called V4R: four V-cylinder, 1000 cm³, all the most advanced technical devices: ABS, latest generation traction and stability controls. And so far we are at the top but nothing unique. Performance is an absolute record: the horses are 221, the torque reaches 11.5 kgm (112 Nm), the maximum speed is not shamelessly heralded but we are certainly over 300 kilometers per hour. These are racing superbike figures, not far (about thirty horsepower less) from a MotoGp prototype. In fact, the V4R is nothing more than the pseudo-road version of the new superbike which, starting next year, will take the place of the famous but now outdated high-performance Ducati twin-cylinder in the world championship. Pseudo-road because it will be homologated and sold like this, but it will take undoubted courage to ride it dutifully resisting the temptation to open full throttle, even on the track, after having shelled out the beauty of 39.990 euros.
FOLLIE: THE BEE BECOMES A DRAGSTER
In the meantime, do you want to experience some thrills, if only aesthetic? There is no shortage of exhibitions of various shapes at the Milan show. We close this review, after having wandered around scooters derived from the fifties capable of going at 160 per hour, with the image of what was once a Piaggio Ape. Via the transport box and space for a renewed rear that houses the four-cylinder engine of a Honda maxi-motorcycle, which transmits all its strength to a rear axle that has nothing to do with our admirable transport tricycle. A pleasant madness.
