Every two years, the Paris motorcycle Show misses a manufacturer. This year, we really missed the Piaggio Group (Moto Guzzi, Aprilia, Gilera...).
However, Ducati was quite present and their really red show room. The awesome Desmoseidici almost did not manage to hide a splendid 1098 and a sharp Hypermotard.
MV Agusta unveiled the BESTIALE, an pure, modern italian street fighter.
We allready saw all the Triumph bikes. Whatever, the 3 cylinders english motorcycles are quite sympathetic, and the most beautiful is still (without any doubts) the 675.
KTM, the Autrichian manufacturer, was distinguished by planning its press conference late in the afternoon, once everyone started to walk away... What's new? Some other and other variations of the same orange bikes...
Their german neigbhours, BMW, unveilled the new HP3 SuperSport. This new bike is for sure the very first BMW that will be able to outperform both in performances and design the other european or japanese sport bikes.
The last european manufacturer we visited was Voxan. The french company still habe some kind of financial problems, but they proudly unveilled their new GT motorcycle: the GTV 1200... We let to you assess its aesthetic qualities which do not seem to achieve the unanimity (it is the least we can say)…
Good-byes old continent, hello USA. The Harley Davidson/Buell sho room was really full of good vibes: +16% sales... this number, especially for a manufacturer who do not sell scooters, made the HD staff happy. If you're a lover vigorous twins with real personality, be happy: HD is Alive.
When talking about Buell, it is rather a matter of killer twins. The innovative 1125 starts a new surprising chapter in the US twins book.
Let's end this fast review with the four Japanese Samurais
Much Honda was awaited. Even if we can't say that the mood seemed extatic, the two new bikes did not disappoint us. On the contrary, the CBR 1000 2008, with its bio design, breaks in a pleasant way the actuall sharp hypersport bikes design: a true good surprise, which will be yet a better surprise if dynamic qualities are ok.
We waited for the new Transalp 700 for 5 years since the first rumors came out. The bike was finally unveilled, and we only wanted one thing: ride it just now!!!
We didn't exactly feeled the same about the new Yamaha XT660 Ténéré... Even with the nice babes arround, the bike isn't exactly exciting... maybe because of its Lego (c) (r) design...
At the opposite, the new 2008 R6 is one more time a real success, like it's little sister YZF 125R which would give almost desire for becoming an adolescent again.
The Vmax protoype was also there... Now, we really miss a commercial model...
Suzuki showed the new GSX-R family (some awesome two tones colors schemes) and the new Big Twin Intruder M1800. The two superstars sharing the same engine: the B-King and the Hayabusay where of course also present.
About kawasaki, the new bike were unv eilled yesterday at the international press conference. However, we saw all the color schemes for the new ZX10R which is indeed a really nice bike.
In short, the 2008 Paris motorcycles show was average, quality speaking. Anyway, we're still worry about the future of this show if manufacturers (especially european) continue to play alternation in term of presence, and if logistics and financial costs continue to grow...
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(not translated yet) PARTENARIAT : DU NOUVEAU SUR LE POLE MOTOS à CHALON SUR SAONE
