EICMA 2018: India-bound motorcycles

With the Euro V norms around the corner, EICMA this year wasn’t as much of a blockbuster but there were a lot of India-bound motorcycles nonetheless

Kawasaki Z400:

Earlier this year, Kawasaki brought in the Ninja 400 to India. Now the company has taken the wraps off its naked sibling – Z400, at the 2018 EICMA show. The naked sports shares its mechanicals with the Kawasaki Ninja 400 – a 399cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin motor that develops 47.5bhp and 38Nm. This motor comes paired with a 6-speed transmission that comes with a slipper clutch. The Z400 comes fitted with telescopic forks up front and a monoshock setup at the rear. Braking duties are performed by a 310mm disc and a 220mm disc at the front and the back respectively. Dual channel ABS is standard in the Z400. In terms of design, the Z400 is in line with the rest of the Z line-up. It comes fitted with a digital instrument cluster and LED headlights. The Z400 tips the scale at 167 kilos – 1kg lighter than its faired sibling. While there is no confirmation about the launch of the Z400 in India as yet, given Kawasaki’s recent history, they might just bring it to India. Expect the Z400 to be launched in India in the second half of 2019. Expect it to be more affordable than the Rs 4.69 lakh price tag of the Ninja 400.

BMW F850 GS Adventure:

The BMW F 850 GS took top honours in our annual ‘Best of 2018’ test. It performed the role of an adventure tourer with such efficiency that it was hard not to fall in love. Now, BMW Motorrad has showcased a more off-road focused version with an Adventure suffix. Spy pictures of the motorcycle have been making the rounds on the internet since May this year. The 2019 F 850 GS gets an updated suspension with increased travel and better crash protection. There are other bits to make it more adventure worthy too – like wider off-road tyres, endure foot pegs, adjustable gear and brake levers. It also comes with a larger 23 litre fuel tank instead of the 15 litre one on the standard model. This gives it a claimed range of 550 kilometres. To accommodate more luggage at the back, BMW has also strengthened the rear sub-frame. Other changes over the standard model include a two-piece windscreen and auxiliary lights. The addition of all of these features and equipment has increased the weight of the F 850 GS Adventure by 15 kilos over the standard model. In the international market, the F 850 GS will go on sale in three variants – Base, Exclusive and Rallye. BMW Motorrad India is likely to being in the motorcycle to India sometime next year.

Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE LT+

While Kawasaki has discontinued sale of the Versys 1000 in India earlier this year, they have now showcased an updated version of the same with the SE LT+ suffix. The green team has made a lot of changes to the Versys 1000 SE LT+ in terms of design and features. Cosmetically it now looks closer to the Ninja 400 and the ZX-6R. It now gets a sharper beak and a larger fairing with integrated turn indicators. It also wears the self-healing paint that first featured on the Ninja H2. Major changes to the 2019 Versys 1000 are in the electronics department though. There’s the KECS electronically controlled suspension, a five-axis Bosch-sourced IMU with cornering ABS, electronically controlled throttle valves and a quickshifter. The Versys 1000 ST LT+ also comes with a colour TFT display for the instrument cluster. Additionally, with the update, the Versys 1000 also gets cruise control, heated grips, cornering headlights and more. At the heart, however, the Versys 1000 comes with the same motor as before – a 1,043cc inline four-cylinder motor that pumps out 116bhp and 102Nm. While it is the same Versys 1000 at heart, the 2019 update brings the Versys 1000 in line with the competition thanks to all the added features and equipment.

2019 Ducati Multistrada 950 S

One of the main additions to the Ducati Multistrada 950 in this S trim is the semi-active Skyhook suspension. Ducati has also added a quickshifter, full LED headlights and a TFT display to the Multistrada 950 S. Switchgear on this new 950 will now be backlit. 2019 iterations of all the Ducati models will come with cornering ABS, and the 950 S is no different. The fairing design has been changed too – it now looks inspired from the larger 1260. At the heart, the Multistrada 950 S continues with the same 937cc L-twin motor that develops 111bhp and 96.2Nm. With all the additional features and a few cosmetic changes, there is a marginal increase in weight too.