An auto-show where you can get to feel almost every bike, a show where you get to showcase your custom built motorbike, a place where you can test ride bikes ranging from 125cc to bigger capacity bikes, place where each manufacturer showcase the best of them. YES!! It is Intermot 2016 (Come together RIDE NOW) which happened in cologne, Germany from 5th -9th October 2016.Our correspondent Akash H.M, getting you pictures and news from INTERMOT. This happens to be his 3rd INTERMOT since his student phase in Deutschland. He states,
A person who is not even into riding motorcycle will fall in love with the bikes and start riding them.
For those waiting for the future 2wheel launches, here is the answer displayed by the respective companies. INTERMOT happens every other year where companies like to showcase their competitive products which might happen to be their greatest products. This is a trade fair for motorbikes where the dancing girls and models get sidelines ;) It is all about bikes, bikes and more bikes…….!
Accumulative of approximately 1000 companies from 37 countries took part in the trade fair showcasing who is who! Yes, Bikes, scooters, e - bikes, which includes the following, clothing and riders gear, Café racers, Cruisers and Choppers, Custom bikes, E-Bikes, E-Scooters, Enduros and Touring Enduros, Bicycles, Helmets, Engines and Engine parts, Naked bikes, Prototypes, Quads and ATVs, Lubricants, Transmission, Oil and Maintenance products, Side cars and Trailers, Boots, Parts and accessories. This was a fair where in the customer could test ride live in the test track.APRILIA:
Nothing much to say about Aprilia at INTERMOT. Apart from RSV4 and Tuono V4, nothing else. They might be saving for next month's EICMA, which will be held at their home, Italy.BMW:
BMW have chosen Intermot as launch pad for 3 of their motorcycles and also announced that minor tweaks have been done on their existing models including S1000 R, S 1000 RR, and S 1000 XR. But the bigger interests come from R nineT formats in the variations of existing R nineT, R nineT scrambler and entry level focused Pure. This new version is sport oriented.The launch of updated K 1600 GT was pulled off which comes with large number of astute electronic components it could self-governing run in a small city. K 1600 GT offers an effective power plant in a rich and agreeable, however a very heavy package.
DUCATI:
Things never went as we thought @INTERMOT, while we were expecting Ducati to lauch its new vehicle in EICMA next month, CEO of Ducati threw a surprise by unveiling Supersport & Supersport S. This surprise added flavour to the fair, though it was revealed in a fan only event recently. The fans then had gone gaga over the new bikes. The Ducati SuperSport takes the 937 cc Testastretta engine from the Hypermotard 939 and places it into its sportbike Trellis outline. It retains the face of the Panigale, high set clip-ons and revised foot peg position gives the rider a much more relaxed riding position.Don't be surprised if the manufacturer unveils new set of scramblers, mini version of multistrada- something like "MiniStrada".
HONDA:
Bringing back the retro style into the present!? YES Honda did it by showcasing CB1000 series which grabbed the attention more than the new Fireblade. Honda did study the mind and tried to bring the changes and tweaks into the retro model. The new CB1100EX and CB1100RS bikes that you can't stop looking at. In my opinion they were one of the show stealers.
As rightly said "If there were any bike that convinced Nicky Hayden to move to World Superbike with Honda, then this is probably Honda CBR1000RR SP2". The Honda SP2 gets an updated frame and electronics package. Manufacturer says that there will be complete support from HRC in terms of parts (even if most of those parts will be reserved for race teams). Forged aluminium Marchesini wheels come as standard.KAWASAKI:
Going by their words, manufacturer said they would unveil their entire model by mid November, 4 of its models were unveiled here at INTERMOT. Ultra-exclusive Ninja H2 Carbon, the Ninja ZX-10RR, the updated Z1000 SX, and the all-new Ninja 650. While Europe will get to test ride the new Ninja H2.
Also Europe's popular bike Z1000SX gets a new fairing. The instrument panel is also new, featuring a large analog tach and LCD screen which contains info on gear position, shift light, adjustable screen is now taller and double-bubble shaped.KTM:
The all new 1190 Adventure and 1190 Adventure R were launched here at INTERMOT after seeing less success of adventure 1050 in European market mainly because of its huge pricing. And trust me the new launch are eye catchy, must appreciate the product design team of KTM for this wonder work on the bikes. KTM has also introduced the 160hp 1290 Super Adventure R. All thee bikes will be controlled by the same 1,301cc LC8 V-twin motor as the current 1290 Super Adventure, which has been given another intake to make it more refined and smoother.SUZUKI:
They said they are getting better GSX-R1000R last year and they just did it here at INTERMOT. Not just that, they also restored the siblings of the bigger monster as well. The not so well spending group of people from Europe gets to try their hands on GSX-R125.
With finding more success from GSX-S1000, the little sibling of the same has been introduced, named GSX-S750. The smaller version of V Strom who comes with 650cc is a look alike of the 1000cc version was also launched which batted more eyes by the customer. Both the wee strom and big strom will be available in XT versions with spoked wheels. The big brother gets a brakes overhaul, with a Motion Track Brake System, so you can hit brakes at mid corner.TRIUMPH:
Are the classic bikes era back? Seems like yes with Bonneville, entry level version named Street Cup showcased at the fair. It's a cafe racer type, with a sporty look on it. We expect variations of the same by the year end. Along with Street Cup Triumph has introduced the entry-level T100 and T100 Black.YAMAHA:
Talk of the fair was Yamaha, they just are in the right form over a decade releasing the right bikes at world level. The refreshed versions of their existing models look as if they are new to the product classification. The MT-10 comes with Ohlins - blinged SP version. Meanwhile the new MR-09 comes with the typical Japanese mode on its head lights, though it looks more like MT-10.
BikesIndia Correspondent- Rakshit Shastry Co authored & Photo credits- Akash H.M