Rumors '93: New Bikes On the Way

RUMORS '93: NEW BIKES ON THE WAY

ROUNDUP

HECTOR CADEMARTORI

THE GREATEST SHOW ON Earth may be the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus, but in the motorcycle business, it's the IFMA Motorcycle Exposition in Cologne, Germany, held in September of even-numbered years.

This year, IFMA is generating even more than the usual amount of excitement because of the new models rumored to be making an appearance at the show, models that are surprising not only for their number, but for their variety. Here’s a look at a few of the machines expected in Cologne.

Honda: Look for a refined and revised RC30, most probably with improved suspension, stiffened chassis, revised engine and electronic fuel injec-

tion. This will not be an allnew bike, but a development of the old model. Look also for the Euro-showing of the CB1000 Super Four, the sporting standard shown last Fall at the Tokyo Motor Show.

This reportedly will be powered by a revised version of the CBR1000 inline-Four that inhales through a quartet of 26mm carbs.

Can you say “midrange?’

Interesting for its technical significance will be an updated CBR1000 that will use CBS (for “centralized braking system”). This consists of an integrated system that uses three pistons in each of the bike’s three brake calipers. Hit the rear brake, you activate two rear pistons and one piston in each of the two front calipers. Hit the front brake and you activate one rear piston and two pistons in each of the front calipers. Romp on both brakes, and all nine pistons are brought into play.

We also hear faint rumblings about a

réintroduction of the PC800 Pacific Coast yuppie-cycle, this time marketed as more of a downsized touring bike and priced lower than before.

BMW: Pundits expect the company to debut its new 1 OOOcc SuperBoxer (see Cycle World, February, 1992), complete with four-valve cylinder heads (either air-and-oilcooled or liquid-cooled) and alternative front suspension. The company denies this, but IFMA is the

show for the all-important German market, so those denials seem disingenuous.

Yamaha: Look for the FJR1000 supersport-tourer, complete with RADD front suspension (CW, August,

1992), though insiders suggest that it will have a different name and look less like the Morpho showbike than Cycle World’s August illustration indicates. Long overdue is an allnew FZR750 repli-racer that will enable Yamaha to compete both on the sales floors and on the racetrack, though we predicted the same thing last year and were wrong. Finally, there are indications of an SRV500 V-Twin-powered retrobike, though this may not make it to U.S. shores.

Suzuki: If the company already has debuted liquidcooled GSX-R600s and GSX-R750s, can an all-new, liquid-cooled GSX-R1100 be far behind? Rumor-mongers say this bike will be shown at

IFMA. And if Suzuki’s sportbikes all use liquidcooled engines, does that fact lend credence to rumors of an all-new line of re-engineered Katanas, also to be shown at IFMA? We shall see.

Kawasaki: More than just rumor here, but less than hard fact. The company very likely will show three new bikes. The first will be the ZX-6R sportbike that will owe little to the ZX-6, which will sell alongside it. A re-done ZX-7 will also bow, this with the ram-air induction system that has helped make ZX-1 Is so fast. A racerized ZX-7R will be based on the new 750 and will be built in sufficient numbers to qualify the bike for World Superbike competition. And lastly, a revised ZX-11 will be shown, featuring even more horsepower, and more comfortable rider/passenger accommodations, than provided by the current bike of the same name.

Ducati: Tentatively scheduled for IFMA are the II Monstro cruiser, which is based on the 900SS but aimed at around-town use; a completely revised version of the 907ie; and the 916 Superbike, tentatively scheduled for competition in the World Endurance Championship next season and for production as an 851-replacing streetbike the year after that (see CW, August, 1992). We should also see the racing version of the 502 Supermono, though a street version is still a year away.

Triumph: The amazing rebirth of this legendary company continues, with the firm allegedly set to introduce a revised, more sharply honed Daytona sportbike. Also in the pipeline are a Paris-Dakartype Trail 900, and perhaps even a Bonneville standard powered by a liquid-cooled parallel-Twin.

Bimota: It seems likely that the Italian specialty builder will debut its DB2, a jewel-like sportbike very similar in concept to the old DB 1. But instead of being powered by the DBl’s Ducati 750 engine, this will be powered by the 900SS powerplant. Look also for a completely restyled Tesi.

It’s always possible that some of the bikes listed here will not appear, after all, in Cologne, and there probably will be a few full-blown surprises that will catch everyone off-guard. The best way to find out what’s new would be to go to the show and see for yourself. Or read Cycle World’s upcoming IFMA coverage.

Jon F Thompson.