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Top 10 EICMA Show Bikes You May Have Missed

Interesting motorcycles you probably didn't see1 of 11Next Last There’s no cave deep, mountain high or rock heavy enough to have thwarted news of Ducati’s 1199 Panigale superbike launch at the 2012 EICMA show in Milan, Italy. And a few models such as Honda’s NC700S and X, Kawasaki’s Versys 1000 and CRP’s Energica were unveiled without heavy prior fanfare, but gasps of surprise weren’t heard when the wraps were taken off Triumph’s Tiger 1200 Explorer, Husqvarna’s Nuda or MV Augusta’s F3 675 among others, whose existences were revealed months in advance of the show. What we’ve comprised below is our list Top 10 Bikes unveiled at EICMA that didn’t receive top billing but are certainly worthy of your attention.

EICMA 2011: Kawasaki Versys 1000 Not Coming to U.S.

While Kawasaki unveiled its Versys 1000 at EICMA, don’t expect to see it on American roadways any time soon (edit: but if you live north of the border in Canada you’re in luck, as it will offered for CN$13,999, a bit higher than the Z1000 but the same price as the Ninja 1000): What will we be missing? A bigger, badder version of the original Kawasaki Versys seems to be the answer. “Created as the long-awaited big brother of Kawasaki’s mid-size any-road street surfer, the new Versys 1000 is designed to enable the greatest riding enjoyment in the widest variety of street riding situations,” Kawasaki Motors Europe says in a release.

James Stewart Signs With Joe Gibbs Racing – Bubba Returning to Motocross and Eying Future in Nascar

James Stewart has signed a multi-year contract with JGRMX, the motocross division of Joe Gibbs Racing. Stewart raced the last three years with the L & M Yamaha factory team, and he will continue with the Tuning Fork brand with JGRMX, riding a Yamaha YZ450F. The two-time AMA Supercross and one-time AMA Motocross Champion will debut with JGRMX at the Jan.

Mobile tea-urn

This steam powered motorcycle (not a bicycle, 'cos it don't have no pedals), could be perfect for you if you like a brew at short notice on your Sunday ride. Built in 1894, it's about to be auctioned and is expected to reach a world record price (for a kettle). It uses a coal furnace to super-heat water into steam which is fed into a small engine.

French Moto Website Anticipates Versys 1000 at EICMA 2011

Musings of a liter-size engined Kawasaki Versys have circulated the web for a few years now, as loyalists of the likable Versys 650, as well as displacement-driven riders waiting in the wings, have pondered the potential of a more powerful adventure bike from Kawasaki that’s in the same league as BMW’s R1200GS and Yamaha’s Super Tenere. Alas, nothing of the sort has ever left the lips of Kawasaki, let alone go into production. Recently, however, the French motorcycle website, Moto-net.com, has produced convincing images that appear like photos of a complete Versys 1000, including matching hard luggage.

Million Dollar Man: Ryan Villopoto Wins Monster Energy Cup

Ryan Villopoto swept all three main events to win the inaugural Monster Energy Cup and take home the $1 million prize. The 2011 AMA Motocross and Supercross Champion was a favorite going into the Oct.15 Monster Energy Cup at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev. Villopoto completed the hat trick by winning the Cup and the prize money.

What We Ain’t Getting: 2012 Kawasaki ER-6n

Kawasaki announced its 2012 street model lineup this week announcing a number of updates to its ZX-14R, as well as the Vulcan 1700 Voyager, Ninja 1000 and Ninja 650. Absent from Kawasaki’s U.S. offerings is the naked version of the Ninja 650, the ER-6n which has also been updated and will be available in other markets such as Europe and Canada.

Tested: Maxxis Supermaxx Diamond

Well Maxxis were bang on with their mileage claims, 6500 miles on the rear and it looks as though there is another 1000. Not bad at all for a set of tyres that cost less than £200. Having lived with the Supermaxx’s Diamonds over the past few months the best thing about these tyres is the mileage range they offer vs cost.

Motorcycle Thefts Down 11.2% in 2010

Motorcycle thefts in the U.S. are down for the fourth consecutive year in 2010,  according to a report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. There were 49,791 reported motorcycle thefts in 2010, an 11.2% drop from the 56,093 thefts reported in 2009.

More Teasers for the 2012 Kawasaki ZX-14R

Kawasaki has released another teaser for its upcoming revised ZX-14, now dubbed ZX-14R. In the first video, a couple of numbers are cryptically displayed: 84 x 65mm. This is a thinly veiled reference to its bore and stroke dimensions, indicating the biggest Ninja received a 4mm stroke elongation, which would bump the bike’s displacement from 1352cc to 1441cc.