[Toshihiro Wakayama: Motorcycle Journalist]

INTERMOT (Cologne show) 2016 was a very banner year for new motorcycle models.

New models more than usual years and more than my expectation have been presented from home and abroad. They have drawn attention in a variety of categories.

INTERMOT Cologne Show that was apt to hide behind EICMA Milan Show

For these few years, while EICMA has been held at Milan every November, INTERMOT has been at Cologne from late September through early October only in even-numbered years.

Naturally EICMA held every year has come to gather attention and many manufacturers have begun preparations for the shows targeting November. INERMOT was becoming a warm-up show of EICMA.
There were not a few INTERMOT shows that ended up with a punch line, “well then, enjoy the Milan show.”

However, this year’s Cologne show was different. The show was filled with excitement just like before. The staff may have made efforts to try to break through such a situation.

In this meaning, you can say INTERMOT has come back.

INTERMOT in a good balance between top end models and basic models

In order to enrich announced models at a show, I think a pyramid framework in which many basic models support top end models is important, the same as the framework in the market. On this point, the models at this year’s INTERMOT took ideal forms.

Two of the top end models are Honda CBR1000RR and SUZUKI GSX-R1000.
Even if it is said that SuperSport is quite unfamiliar to ordinary people and its boom has gone, this is the nature of riders who can not stop getting excited about its ultimate shape pursuing high performance.
ZX-10RR, a derivative model of KAWASAKI ZX-10R, and Ducati Panigale 1299, whose H2 carbon and electronic control have been reinforced, have expanded such ultimate shapes.

* New CBR1000RR that has been largely upgraded from the current model.	* Honda welcomed Nicholas “Nicky” Patrick Hayden as its guest.
* New GSX-R1000 that has shown up with the design in accordance with the concept.	* SUZUKI welcomed legend Kevin Schwantz as a surprise.

On the other hand, among the announced models at this INTERMOT, it is worthy of attention that there were many street sport models that a lot of people can enjoy riding in real life.
In addition to the various characters, the contents are rich in the aspect of friendliness. The electronic control has advanced toward the direction to improve the safety and easiness of riding.

For example, while Honda has added more sporty-looking CB1100RS to the traditional sport CB1100, YAMAHA has put SP with the enhanced riding potential into a member of streetfighter MT-10. Also, YAMAHA has slightly changed MT-09 and announced SCR950, a BOLT-base sport heritage.

* Honda CB1100RS	* YAMAHA MT-10SP
* YAMAHA MT-09	* YAMAHA SCR950

SUZUKI has introduced a little brother of GSX-S1000, GSX-S750, which looks more friendly, and has changed V-Strom 650 into a more enjoyable model as a tourer. KAWASAKI has upgraded Z1000SX and Ninja650.

* SUZUKI GSX-S750	* SUZUKI V Strom 650
* KAWASAKI Z1000SX	* KAWASAKI Ninja 650

European manufacturers are energetic, too. BMW has enhanced both K1600GT and S1000R, and added pure motorcycles and café-racers into R nineT whose traditional flavor has been favorably accepted. Triumph has made T100/T100 black, whose displacement were reduced to 900 cc, and cafe racer type Street Cup be members of the Bonneville series whose engine was changed into a water-cooling type last year. Ducati has sparked street sport SuperSport, again.

* BMW R nineT Café Racer	* Triumph T100 Black
* Triumph StreetCup	* Ducati SuperSport

Getting excited with the ultimate shape of SuperSport and looking for a suitable model for my life style among a lot of street sport motorcycles at the exhibition.
It seemed to me that INTERMOT must be a highly satisfying show for the visitors.