10 new bikes we know are coming

Ducati V4 Superbike
September 7 is when Ducati has teased “the sound of a new era”. The date coincides with the Italian round of the MotoGP at Misano, but the language in the teaser suggest we may only get to hear the bike and not actually see it. It, err, sounds like we’ll have to hold tight until the EICMA in Milan before we get a glimpse of the MotoGP-derived V4 Superbike.

Honda V4 Superbike
It’s Big Red’s worst kept secret. With the new-for-2017 Fireblade failing to make the inroads expected of it on the racetrack, the likelihood of a MotoGP-derived homologation special to sit alongside the ’Blade in the firm’s line-up is pretty high. Ducati’s GP-derived V4 is supposedly weeks away from being revealed and Honda won’t want to be left behind. Besides, 2017 marks the 25th anniversary since the launch of its hugely successful, and these days iconic, V4-engined RC30; it’s a marketing dream.

Yamaha Ténéré 700
Adventure bike are everywhere, but most of them are soft-roaders rather than capable globetrotters. That segment is tied up by KTM and BMW mostly and Yamaha, once a significant player, wants back in. And the bike it’s going to do it with is the MT-07-based Ténéré 700. Basic engine architecture is what’ll be shared, housed in an off-road rally-esque chassis.

Honda Goldwing
Honda’s flat-six tourer has always been a technological tour de force and the long-awaited replacement should be no different. Patents have revealed the power will be a hybrid affair where an electric motor will complement a conventional petrol affair, and other patent files have shown the firm working on a series of unconventional front ends though it’s unclear which way the brand will go. We’ve been expecting a new ’Wing for yonks, so don’t hold your breath it’ll be this year.

Suzuki Hayabusa
The latest word on Suzuki’s much mooted Hayabusa replacement is that we’ll have to wait yet another year, which will make a three-year wait since the firm released the Concept GSX teaser in Tokyo at the end of 2015. Not a silly move from the marque, who will be able to better judge the demand for a bike of the ’Busa’s niche capabilities in a market where versatility rules.

Yamaha YZF-R1
Okay, don’t remortgage your house on the prospect of a new R1, we haven’t heard or unearthed anything to suggest Yamaha is preparing to unveil a new one. But, going off what we know about the Japanese firm’s model schedule, the flagship Superbike due for an update for the 2018 model year. How significant an update is still yet to be seen, but with a new Honda and Ducati on the way and both Kawasaki and Suzuki revealing up-spec homologation specials last year, it could be substantial.

Honda CB1000R
Much like the updated Yamaha YZF-R1, there’s nothing concrete to suggest we’ll be attending the launch of a naked ’Blade at the beginning of next year. But knowing what we know about model ranges and timings of such, we’ll be very surprised if Honda doesn’t rip the fairings off its new Blade and offer a more practical and less track-focused version. Especially since it’s had a year to iron out any teething problems the new bike has thrown up.

KTM Duke 790
KTM’s new (and first) 800cc parallel-twin was revealed as a concept last year and aims to tackle BMW’s and Triumph’s 800cc ranges head on. The first cab off the rank will probably be a naked-styled Duke model, before an Adventure model is revealed, possibly even making us wait until the following 2019 model year.

Suzuki Recursion
It’s been four years since Suzuki first let slip it was working on a turbocharged twin-cylinder sports bike that could offer the power of a superbike in a compact and lightweight package. We’re expecting a DOHC twin in the region of 600cc mounted in a tubular-steel frame and we’re expecting to break cover later this year.

A balanced supercharged Kawasaki
With all the dust settled on the H2 hoo-ha, many have forgotten about Kawasaki’s balanced supercharged engine concept it revealed back in 2015 (the same year Suzuki unveiled the recursion concept). With more and more pressures for greener technology and less emissions, Kawasaki looks like it might achieve it with boost. Like the Recursion, expect a light bike with naked or even touring ambitions, with plenty of punch.