10/8/23
We are still a month out from the big EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Italy, but the new bike news continues to roll in. Will there be anything left to write about come November 7? We’re sure there will be, and the Cycle World crew will be up and waiting in the early hours here in the US for each release in order to get you the news as quickly as possible.
In the meantime Triumph, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Ducati all pulled the covers on new and updated models. There’s a pair of new electric motorcycles from Team Green; Triumph’s Scrambler 1200 fraternal twins get further separated by specs and purpose; Suzuki added a base and touring variant to the V-Strom 800 lineup; and Ducati has gone extreme with its DesertX.
Kawasaki’s Ninja e-1 and Z e-1 are based on the ICE-powered Ninja 400 and Z400, but are electric with removable battery packs, less weight, and a much shorter range. Designed for urban commuting, the first electric motorcycles from Akashi, Japan, not only take aim at the motorcycle market but electric scooters and bicycles as well.
Triumph has reworked its Scrambler 1200 models with a less expensive Scrambler 1200 X replacing the XC model while the Scrambler 1200 XE gets new suspension and brakes. The big news is that the X model has a lower seat height and shorter suspension while getting lean-sensitive rider aids all for a price that is $1,150 less than the XC it replaces. Read up on all the details here.
It seems like Suzuki’s V-Strom 800DE just hit the road, but now there are two new variants to add to the off-road-ready DE model. The $9,899 V-Strom 800 gets shortened suspension, a 19/17-inch wheel and tire combo, and radial-mount brakes for a more street-biased ride. Add a 35-liter top case and hand guards and you’d got the V-Strom 800 Touring. We’ve got all the specs and features right here.
While Triumph and Suzuki were creating more street-ready ADVs, Ducati went the other way and cranked up the off-road shred dial on its 2024 DesertX Rally. Powered by the same 937cc V-twin as the standard DesertX, the Rally gets longer-travel suspension with high-spec innards, billet aluminum parts, a rally-style single seat, and special off-road-ready graphics. Personally, I’m chomping at the bit to give the DesertX Rally a proper test; until then, check out all the details on the Rally here.
As always, there’s more than we can fit into this email. Check out cycleworld.com for additional tests, reviews, and news.
Ride on,
Justin Dawes
Executive Editor
