Over the course of the previous few months, a number of new and thrilling bikes for the 2024 model-year have been unveiled. If we take EICMA 2023 as a springboard for what the 2024 model-year has to supply, it’s clear to see that the motorbike business is bustling with expertise and innovation. That being stated, subsequent yr’s bikes aren’t confined merely to EICMA, as there are fairly a couple of that have been unveiled outdoors of the enduring expo.
Regardless of the case could also be, it’s clear that 2024 can be a stellar yr for us two-wheeler aficionados. On the one hand, technological developments are making bikes safer, sooner, and extra high-tech. Alternatively, these identical technological developments discovered on top-tier machines at the moment are making their option to extra inexpensive fashions catering to newer, youthful riders. Certainly, loads of the brand new bikes which were launched just lately might set new requirements of their respective classes. With all that being stated, let’s dive into my prime 5 picks for bikes I’m most excited for in 2024.
Triumph Scrambler 400X
I’m an enormous fan of small-displacement bikes. On the identical time, I’m additionally an enormous Triumph fan. As such, it’s pure {that a} bike like the brand new Triumph Scrambler 400X would seize my consideration. This rugged, retro-inspired scrambler is among the many smallest displacement bikes in Triumph’s modern-day lineup, alongside its sibling, the Pace 400. The brand new Triumph Scrambler 400X marks a primary, not just for Triumph, however for the entry-level section as a complete. It’s the primary fruit of the partnership between the Hinckley firm and Indian model Bajaj, whereas on the identical time being essentially the most accessible mannequin in Triumph’s mannequin vary.
Evidently, each the Pace 400 and Scrambler 400X will open doorways to Triumph possession to a wider viewers, as previous to the launch of those two fashions, the Triumph Trident 660 was essentially the most inexpensive mannequin from the British icon. With the Pace and Scrambler commanding half the worth of the Trident in some markets, these two fashions might function a significant money cow for Triumph too.
BMW R 1300 GS
This may occasionally come as a shock to a few of you, however I used to be by no means actually a fan of the BMW R 1250 GS. Positive, it’s a superb bike, and having ridden it extensively throughout all of its iterations, I’ve nothing however praises for its efficiency, functionality, and flexibility. The rationale why I’m not interested in the bike is a private one, and it’s due to its styling which, for my part, appeared fairly lackluster and dated.
Now, assuming you haven’t clicked away from this text due to my earlier statements, I need to say that the R 1300 GS has me excited particularly due to its styling. A whole lot of GS “purists” criticize the 1300 due to its styling, and the best way BMW’s designers have departed from the 1250’s now-iconic aesthetic. Nonetheless, I actually just like the sharper, extra athletic stance of the brand new GS, to not point out its new LED headlight that actually provides the bike a brand new character. Now that the GS has a sportier, extra athletic, and dare I say, younger aesthetic, I can say that I’m excited to get to journey this bike as soon as it’s out there in my market.
Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono
Ducati has had a long-standing custom with its Desmodromic 90-degree V-twin (and extra just lately, V4) engines. Discovered on all of their fashions from its entry-level Scrambler to the top-range Panigale and Multistrada, it got here as a shock to me and plenty of different fans that Ducati was in reality venturing into the realm of thumpers. The Hypermotard 698 Mono is the embodiment of this, and marks the model’s sole single-cylinder mannequin in its present vary.
Personally, I’m a fan of huge thumpers, having owned a number of KTMs previously. As such, I’m curious to see how Ducati’s engineers have tailored the corporate’s expertise to work with a high-performance single-cylinder engine. Given its displacement of 698 cubes, it’s one of many larger thumpers available on the market, so count on a riot of a journey with loads of accompanying good vibrations.
Yamaha MT-09 SP
As a few of you might be most likely conscious, I’m an enormous Yamaha MT simp. I’ve owned two MT-07s and an MT-10, and contemplate the MT-07 to be one my perpetually bikes. As such, when Yamaha pulled the covers off the 2024 MT-09, particularly the MT-09 SP, you jaw naturally dropped to the ground. Yamaha’s SP vary has at all times been the souped up, high-tech bunch of bikes, and the brand new MT-09 SP is the true embodiment of this.
For the 2024 model-year, the MT-09 will get a bunch of styling and tech refinements, however retains its tried and true CP3 triple. The SP dials issues up a notch with Brembo Stylema brakes and absolutely adjustable KYB forks up entrance and a flowery shmancy Öhlins rear shock with a distant preload adjuster. On paper, not less than, the 2024 MT-09 SP is essentially the most performance-oriented MT-09 ever made, so I undoubtedly can’t wait to strive it out.
Aprilia RS 457
The final bike on my record comes from Italian producer Aprilia, and is the brand new RS 457 sportbike. I’ve ridden all of Aprilia’s parallel-twin-powered bikes pretty just lately, and I need to say that the Noale firm has a factor for making extremely clean and linear engines. The RS 457 is alleged to be a smaller iteration of the RS 660, a motorcycle which I significantly loved.
Small-displacement parallel-twin sportbikes have turn out to be fairly a factor just lately, with the likes of the CFMoto 450SS, and naturally, the Ninja 400 and Yamaha YZF-R3 being common amongst each newbie riders and observe fans. The RS 457 will get a 270-degree crank just like that of the CFMoto, so it’ll actually be attention-grabbing to see how the 2 bikes stack up in opposition to one another.