Wrapping Up the IMS in NYC

NEW YORK – Has there ever been a time in motorcycling’s history when there has been such a huge variety of bikes available to riders? Sure, there were more manufacturers in the early 20^th century when countless entrepreneurs were experimenting by slapping tiny gas engines on bicycle frames, but the wide range of motorcycles common today didn’t exist back then.

With Ducati having success this year with its new Scrambler line and expanding it for 2016 with the smaller Scrambler Sixty2, Honda getting into the adventure touring segment with the Africa Twin, and Triumph coming out with an entirely new Bonneville family of larger “classic” bikes for 2016, it’s readily apparent that there’s a bike to suit every rider.

Ducati’s Dominique Cheraki shows off Scrambler Sixty2 

After perusing any of the hundreds of motorcycles on display at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show in New York last weekend, I posed the column-leading question to the outgoing CEO of Ducati North America:

Do you think there’s ever been a time when there’s been this variety of bikes?

“No, and I’m very happy it is like that,” replied Dominique Cheraki, the Frenchman who will shortly assume a different job at company headquarters in Italy. “The choice is important. Everybody has his own interpretation of what should be motorcycling and what is fun, and you find the fun in different models. The answer is really we have never had so many models everywhere in this industry and it’s very good.”

Mustang Seats booth at IMS

It was indeed fun looking at the many models and perusing the vendor stalls at the IMS. So was hearing the various pitches from the manufacturers during the six-hour press session that preceded the show’s opening. Little in the way of substantive news ever comes out of the annual press event but it is informative and entertaining, if a bit repetitive, taking in the spin. To hear the brands talk, each one is the best. And there are news nuggets worth passing along.

Customized Royal Enfield Continental GT 

For instance, Royal Enfield reported its progress in taking distribution of its 500cc motorcycles in-house and its work on building a new dealer network. The independent company that has been distributing Royal Enfields in the U.S. for years goes away at year’s end. Under company distribution, Mark’s Motorsports in Enfield is expected to continue as a Royal Enfield dealer, but New Haven Powersports isn’t.

Kawasaki Ninja H2 R

In going over its line, Kawasaki focused on the Ninja H2 R superbike, a limited edition 998cc model that’s back for a second year. Its MSRP is $53,000 and is largely hand-built. One mechanic follows each bike from start to finish on the assembly line. But why showcase it at the show, especially when the ordering period for the H2 ended on Wednesday? New Haven Powersports has ordered one, but Land N’ Sea Powersports in Waterbury hasn’t.

Honda RC213V-S

The H2 wasn’t the most expensive production motorcycle in the show. Honda held that honor with its RC213V-S, a street version of its Moto GP race bike. The price tag on it is $183,000. Honda spent time emphasizing its dual-clutch transmission, which is basically an automatic. Seven Honda models currently offer DCT with more on the way. If only for the sake of study, perhaps it’s worth checking out on 2016.

Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special

Catching my eye over at the Harley-Davidson display was a heavily-accessorized 2016 Street Glide Special with $30,000 in aftermarket parts and paint. Total cost of the bike was more than $50,000 and it sure was distinctive. (A gallery of the bikes mentioned here will be posted online with the column.)

Victory “Combustion”

Victory used much of its allotted time to show off a “Combustion” concept model from designer Zach Ness that uses a new 1,200cc engine. Victory has always been a traditional cruiser company, but with parent company Polaris having successfully revived the Indian brand of cruisers, Victory is slowly modifying its direction. The Combustion, which looks like a squat power cruiser or bulky sport bike, provides a huge clue as to what’s next from Victory.

Indian Scout trike with Marine vet Sean Carroll

Indian, meanwhile, had the feel-good moment of the press event. I admit to getting teary-eyed when, after talking about its annual Veterans Charity Ride from Los Angeles to Sturgis, S.D. and unveiling a Scout model that had been turned into a trike by Champion Sidecars & Trikes, Indian handed the key to the Scout over to Marine veteran Sean Carroll, who was wounded in the first Iraq war and lost a leg.

Triumph Street Twin

While Triumph had a lot that was new, Suzuki only had the revived SV650 and BMW had nothing new to show off. BMW does have a smaller model on the way – the G 310 R. It will arrive in the fourth quarter of 2016 as 2017 model and will feature a 313cc, single-cylinder motor. Unlike all other BMWs, it will be manufactured in India, and company officials emphasized that the G 310 R was designed and engineered in Germany and that it will be built from German parts.

BMW product manager for the U.S., Brian Carey, noted that 30 percent of all motorcycles sold in the U.S. are under 500cc, a fact that surprised me.

More surprising was the answer to a question posed by a friend over dinner after the show: Of all the new bikes in the show, which one would you like to put in your garage? It took some pondering, but my final answer was “The ones that are already there.” Not sure what this says about the new models. Maybe I’ve become resistant to change.

(Originally published in “The Republican-American” on Dec. 19, 2015.)