Ultimate Road Machines

Last updated: 07/09/2006 - 09:38

Birmingham International Motorcycle and Scooter Show

Racetrack technology developed in the MotoGP racing championship featured heavily on the new sports bikes unveiled at last year’s International Motorcycle and Scooter Show. Others designs shown for the first time over the duration of the event included Ducati’s Sport Classic range, which forges modern technology with classic retro (well, 1970’s!) styling.

Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha simultaneously unveiled sports bikes inspired by the machines raced in this year’s MotoGP championship – the premier class in motorcycle racing. New models include Kawasaki’s ZX-10R (their first all-new super sports bike for 10 years) and Yamaha’s YZF-R1 (inspired by their YZR-M1 MotoGP machine).

Super Sports Design

Honda - who many believe helped establish the parameters for modern super sports bike design with the CBR 900 Fireblade - revealed their latest and totally new CBR 1000RR Fireblade – the personal favourite of new World MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi. Honda displayed Rossi’s title winning race bike alongside the new CBR 1000RR at the Show.

Suzuki - their GSX-R1000 has dominated the sports bike class recently – chose the NEC event to debut a radically revised model, as well as to unleash a 750cc version; the GSX-R750, which weighs just 2kg more than the 600cc model - but puts out 148bhp!

Aprilia’s RSV1000R and MV Agusta’s F4 - a 1000cc version of what is – arguably - the prettiest bike in the world also competed for the limelight. Similarly, fans of Ducati were able to ogle the 2004 range, including the all-new 749R and many got a chance to meet World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson, who visited the show on the Friday and Saturday.

Some of the ‘ultimate’ sports machines of the 1960’s and 1970’s also resurfaced at last November’s show, in the guise of a series of ultra-modern makeovers of iconic classics. Ducati fans were quick to marvel at the Sport Classic series of concept machines on display, paying homage to the company’s illustrious past – and more specifically to their stylish race-winning models from the 1970’s.

Café Racer

Triumph also chose the week to reveal the lines of their Thruxton 900 model – the mirror image of a classic 1960’s Café racer, among what was arguably the most jaw-dropping line-up of new super sports bikes ever assembled.

The event clearly showcased what every bike fan already knows – that while the motorcycle and scooter market has expended in almost every direction over the past 10 years, to cater for every taste and need - the major manufacturers have turned their attention once again to producing the ultimate road going machine.

The variety of new machines on show – over 40 models in all - was as extensive and comprehensive as ever.

For the very latest news on this years’ show log on to the official International Motorcycle and Scooter Show website.