It’s that time of the year again, where Christmas comes early to the motorcycle industry, and we get to see all the new motorcycles that will be coming for the next model year, and beyond.
For the 2019 model year, we expect to see new models debuting at the INTERMOT, AIMExpo, and EICMA trade shows, which are in Cologne, Las Vegas, and Milan.
With things kicking off in Germany next week, we thought we would put together a guide for all the new motorcycles that we expect to see in the coming weeks. There are a bevy of new models that we know will be released at these three trade shows, and there are more than a few rumors of new bikes as well, which may surprise us.
Without wasting anymore time, let’s get down to it. We have broken down the new models and rumors by each manufacturer. Enjoy!
Aprilia
Piaggio always seems to rotate its brands when it comes to new releases, and this year it seems that Aprilia is up for renewal. As such, we expect two announcement from Aprilia, with revisions coming to the RSV4 superbike and Tuono V4 streetfighter.
The RSV4 is expected to get a displacement increase to 1,100cc for its lower-spec bike(s), while there will also be a homologation machine that will stay at the 1,000cc displacement. On that racing-focused RSV4, we expect to see Aprilia dabble further with its aerodynamic fairings, building off the RSV4 RF Limited Edition it debuted last year.
For the Tuono V4 1100, the changes expected are more modest, and we already have tips that the streetfighter’s high-spec Factory version will come with semi-active suspension from Öhlins. We wouldn’t rule out the possibility of the entire V4 line getting an engine upgrade as well, but we aren’t expecting a new V4 platform until 2020 at the earliest.
Aprilia is most likely to launch its new machines at EICMA, but perhaps the Tuono V4 models could debut at INTERMOT.
As for all-new machines, it is certainly possible. All the rumors we have heard thus far trigger around the implementation of the Euro5 emissions standard, which takes effect 2020/2021.
BMW
Out of all the European manufacturers, BMW Motorrad has the most ambitious plans for 2019. The Germans have told us that we can expect nine new models from them, and we have a pretty good idea on what those bikes will be.
Five of the nine bikes come from BMW’s water-cooled R-series, and we have already seen two of them: the BMW R1250GS and BMW R1250RT. All five of these bikes feature the new ShiftCam boxer engine, which punches 1,250cc in displacment and makes 134hp.
As such, we can also expect to see as a follow-up the new BMW R1250R, BMW R1250RS, and BMW R1250GS Adventure models debuting, likely at EICMA.
We also know that we will see a new BMW S1000RR superbike, which will feature a counter-rotating crankshaft. Spy shots, renders, and plenty of details have been leaked about the new S1000RR, and it promises to be a potent machine. On a smaller scale, this should finally be the year that we see BMW’s small-displacement sport bike, the G310RR.
This brings our tally up to seven machines for 2019, and this is where things get murky regarding BMW Motorrad. Our sources have tipped another air-cooled boxer motorcycle, but our sources have also told us that BMW considers its R nineT lineup to be complete.
Looking at the rest of the lineup, the S1000R and S1000XR machines are in need of an update, though one has to wonder if those bikes will be upgraded in the same model years as the S1000RR that they are based off of. Normally that’s not how it works, but another year “as-is” for these models is like signing a death warrant for them. They are long in the tooth.
Even less likely is the thought of a supersport model from BMW, though that would certainly be interesting to see. We have heard talk in the past of a Ducati XDiavel killer, perhaps this will be the year that rumor comes true. Time will tell.
Ducati
There are four Ducati models that we expect to debut at EICMA (the Italians aren’t fans of the INTERMOT or AIMExpo shows), though we would expect several other model “refreshes” coming as well for the 2019 model year.
The big reveal will be the Ducati Panigale V4 R, which should come with aerodynamic winglets that are based off the Italian brand’s MotoGP project. A 1,000cc superbike built for the race track, we expect the bike to make north of 210hp…touching 220hp even.
We also expect a new Hypermotard model, with spy shots of the machine already hitting the internet. The bike keeps the same 937cc v-twin engine and basic chassis from the old model, but adds new bodywork, subframe, and exhaust setup. You can expect an electronics upgrade as well.
Even though Ducati already showed us a “new” Scrambler Icon model, there are signs that another is on the way, and we expect that bike to be the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled 1100. A beefy dual-sport, the Desert Sled 1100 should have more features than its 800cc sibling, not to mention more power and a bigger price tag.
The last Ducati motorcycle we know about is the Project 1309 machine that was teased at this year’s World Ducati Week festival. The bike is a refresh for the Diavel, and features the DVT engine from the XDiavel in it.
Harley-Davidson
Normally Harley-Davidson doesn’t debut bikes overseas, though the Street 500 / Street 750 machines broke cover at EICMA back in 2013 – with most Harley-Davidson dealer wishing the bikes never left the show’s property.
For 2019, nothing is on our radar for Harley-Davidson. It is too early for the brand’s planned ADV and Streetfighter machines, but we do know that the company wants to push harder into the European market.
As such, this might be the last year that we see Harley-Davidson abstaining from unveiling a new model at the overseas bike shows.
Honda
What does Big Red have in store for us? That is a good question. There are rumors of an updated CBR1000RR, which we have a hard time believing. Also, we don’t expect a CBR600RR replacement until 2020, at the earliest.
We have seen indications of a neo-retro styled CB650 road bike in the recent days, which would fit in nicely between the Honda CB1000R and Honda CB300R models. Expect the machine to be a reworked Honda CB650F, with obviously different bodywork.
As for other motorcycles, we will have to wait and see. Big Red has done a good job of keeping its cards close to its chest this year.
Husqvarna
Husqvarna is perhaps the easiest brand to predict each new bike season. When it comes to street models, the company has a tendency to release one new bike, and one new concept each year.
With the Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 concept debuting last year at EICMA, we expect the production model to debut this year in Italy. At EICMA we also expect another concept to be shown, though it is possible that it could make an INTERMOT debut.
What will that bike be? Our money is on a “1301” version of the Vitpilen. Hopefully it looks better than its spy photos.
Indian
Indian has not been shy about its plans for INTERMOT, with the American brand teasing its new FTR1200 street tracker pretty hard on social media. The bike has leaked all over the internet as well, and it will be interesting to see the company’s first non-cruiser motorcycle since its rebirth. Keep your eyes out Monday for it.
Kawasaki
For Team Green, two bikes are known about, though we expect more from the Japanese brand. Firstly, there will be a new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R supersport, which we have known about for roughly 18 months now. The bike has been confirmed in CARB filings, and should help breathe life into the 600cc market.
The other bike that we expect is the Kawasaki Z400 (though that might not be its official name). This model is a naked version of the Kawasaki Ninja 400 supersport, which debuted last year.
KTM
A bevy of bikes are expected from the Austrians. Yesterday we got wind of an updated KTM 690 Enduro R, which is interesting since the big reveal for KTM this year should be the twin-cylinder KTM 790 Adventure R.
Continuing the ADV trend, 2019 seems to be the year that we finally see the KTM 390 Adventure. A model we have been expecting year after year, the bike has been tipped finally to debut.
Lastly, the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT is set for an upgrade, following in the footsteps of the Super Duke R. As such, we expect a mammoth “fish finder” TFT dash and other electronic rider aids.
Moto Guzzi
Another Piaggio brand, Moto Guzzi will have one solitary motorcycle to show us, the production version of the V85 adventure bike. Expected to be a platform machine, however, we wouldn’t be surprised to see some teasers of the other bikes that will use this new longitudinal v-twin engine.
MV Agusta
The big debut for MV Agusta will be its Brutale 1000 model. Based around a new four-cylinder platform, the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 will be the basis for two other bikes: a roadster model and a superbike model. We expect to see those additional machines in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
We also expect to see the MV Agusta F3 line get some love, with the three-cylinder sport bikes becoming the first supersports to be outfitted with an IMU for traction control and cornering ABS.
Lastly, we would be surprised to see some hints at MV Agusta’s second RVS model. We give this one 50/50 odds of showing up, however.
Suzuki
This has been a year of unrelenting rumors about Suzuki’s new model lineup. We have heard tips for new Katana, Hayabusa, GSX-R600, and GSX-R750 motorcycles…and we believe all of them.
Less clear is what these new machines will be. We got a good look at the new Katana this week in a teaser video, and it appears visually very similar to the concepts we have seen teased before.
Much has been said about the Hayabusa, so it will be interesting to see what rumors hold true for this venerable street bike. As for the GSX-R600 and GSX-R750 models, less has certainly been said, though we doubt the apple falls far from the GSX-R1000’s tree.
Design patents out of Europe are showing a 300cc naked bike coming from Suzuki, likely to be called the GSX-S300, which should bolster the company’s small-displacement offerings.
What else could be coming from Suzuki? That is a good question. One doesn’t have to dig too deep into the brand’s lineup to find machines that are ripe for an update or replacement.
As for all-new models, we are still waiting for the turbocharged Recursion motorcycle to show up. We are getting to the point in this bike’s marketing hype where the word “vaporware” is becoming applicable. I’m not sure that we can wait another year for it…
Triumph
For the 2019 model year, Triumph has four new models to show us. One is the much-hyped Scrambler 1200, which is set to go head-to-head with Ducati’s Desert Sled.
We also have tips that a “Speed Twin” model will be coming, which will be an up-spec version of the popular Street Twin model.
The other two models will be “heritage” models as well for Triumph, which will be a disappointment for anyone hoping to see a Daytona 765 supersport, but that shouldn’t be news to regular Asphalt & Rubber readers.
Yamaha
Last on our list is Yamaha, which will finally bring to market its mid-size “T7” Ténéré adventure-tourer. The Japanese brand has been teasing this bike for what seems like a century now, and it is built off the MT-07 platform.
It is hard to imagine how the MT-07 will act as an authentic off-roader, but Yamaha has been trying to tout the machines capabilities in a world tour that start this time last year. With all the hype surrounding this bike, Yamaha has some big promises to keep.
Moving to smaller bikes, we expect to see an update come to the Yamaha YZF-R3, which could be a debut for the AIMExpo in October. We also know that Yamaha plans to release another leaning multi-wheeler, based on the MT-03 platform. It is possible that machine could debut this year in Europe.
Zero
A brand that we often don’t talk about, Zero Motorcycles revises its models just about every year, sometimes more quietly than others. The brand is under tremendous pressure from its investors to become profitable, and as we understand it, the clock is definitely.
As such, we are expecting some big things from Zero for the 2019 model year. At the very least, we are expecting a high-performance sport bike, and at the maximum, the entire lineup could be in for a massive refresh.
We have seen Zero debut bikes at EICMA in the past, though it is possible that the American brand could chose a different time and place for its model launch. Keep your ears tuned.
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