2018 EICMA: Neo-retro reveals

While the retro theme isn’t as popular at this year’s EICMA Motorcycle show in Milan as it was last year, four big-name manufacturers used the 2018 event to unveil new models or concept which pay homage times gone by.

MV Agusta whipped the covers off the Superveloce 800, which features styling reminiscent of its grand prix racers of the 1960s. Based around the firm’s F3 800, it boasts a blacked-out exhaust system with two pipes on one side and one on the other (just like Ago’s title-winning triples), retro-styled bulbous bodywork as well as a leather strap and machined fuel cap.

While officially unveiled as a concept, the Italian firm says it will release a similar model in the second half of 2019.

Meanwhile, Yamaha jumped on the bandwagon which sees manufacturers releasing new models with styling which harks back to iconic and successful models from their past, with the unveiling of the XSR700 XTribute. Based around the firm’s XSR700, the XTribute pays homage to the Japanese firm’s hugely popular 1981 XT500 trial bike. As well as the recognisable silver and red livery, fork gators and old-school, cross member-style handlebar, the XTribute also gets off-road style footpegs with a removable rubber insert, scrambler-style dual sport rubber and a swathe of blacked-out components.

The master of retro, Triumph, used the show to reveal two new limited-edition models for its 2019 model year. The T120 Diamond Edition celebrates the models diamond jubilee and cops a one-off colour scheme featuring the Union Jack as well as a heap of chromed components. It was joined by the T120 Ace which is an all-black tribute to the famous biker cafe in London, using not only its namesake but its logo, too. The Diamond edition will be limited to just 900 units, while there’ll be 1400 examples of the Ace produced.

Finally, Kawasaki used the event announce the return of its retro-themed W800 model. Powered by a Euro 4-compliant parallel-twin engine, the once defunct model adds ABS and LED lighting for 2019. Available in two guises, a Street and a Cafe version, the latter swaps the Street’s long, flat seat for a single cafe-racer affair and adds a small cowling around the singular round headlight up front.