What to Expect From EICMA 2024

In the world of motorcycle news, no event creates quite as much buzz as EICMA. It’s here that major manufacturers set the tone for the year to come, unveiling their latest motorcycles, technology, and gear to a crowd that would give Woodstock ‘69 an honest run for its money.

In fact, this year over half a million attendees have already been confirmed and are set to descend on Fiera Milano for the 81st edition of the world’s biggest two-wheel travel exhibition. This is a special year as 2024 marks the 110th anniversary of the show, and by all indicators, it’s looking like a year to remember.

There’s never any lack of rumors leading up to the event, and 2024 is no exception. Below we’ll go over a few of the headlines we’re expecting for EICMA 2024 to help you stay on top of this year’s biggest bombshells.

For the last five years or so, there’s been a gaping orange hole in EICMA’s guest list. This year the Austrian powerhouse is making a spectacular comeback, exhibiting a host of new models and new technology for 2025.

First on KTM’s list of teasers is its new automatic gearbox, aka the “Automated Manual Transmission (AMT)” which KTM notably tested in the Erzbergrodeo hard enduro earlier this year. A closer look at the tech as well as the first production models to sport it are both expected to be on display at this year’s EICMA.

Related: The Argument for Automatic Motorcycles

Speaking of which, KTM will also display its new 1390 Super Adventure S Evo, the cream of the crop among the brand’s recently announced lineup of LC8-powered adventure-tourers. The new 1390 Evo has officially been confirmed as the first KTM to feature the new AMT (in fact, it will only be available with an automatic transmission), but we’re expecting to see the new base-model 1390 Super Adventure as well.

Other highlights of the KTM booth will include a look at its freshly reworked Freeride E electric off-roader, the introduction of its new 390 SMC R and 390 Enduro R models, and meet and greets with some of the brand’s racing pros like Manny Lettenbichler and Chase Sexton.

We’ll also note that we expect KTM’s upcoming 990 RC R sportbike to be displayed, which is due out sometime in early 2025. KTM has also alluded that a “secret and exclusive offshoot” version of the new 990 might make an appearance, but whether it is referring to the “Track Edition” that has already been announced or something spicer is anyone’s guess.

Back by popular demand, EICMA’s charity race for children returns for 2024, and the lineup is almost too good to be true. This year some of the biggest legends in racing will compete for a good cause, riding “maxi-enduro crossovers” (read: middleweight adventure bikes) around a motocross track to raise money and awareness.

This guest list of 2024 is truly one for the books and includes MotoGP champ Casey Stoner, three-time Superbike World Champ Troy Bayliss, Grand Prix legend Loris Capirossi, and six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea. A chance to see these all-time greats racing on the same track (and a dirt track at that) may be worth the price of admission alone.

If you’ve been following the folks at CFMoto, you’ll know they’ve been making some waves in the industry to say the least. Most recently the brand has added a host of high-powered KTM-based twins to its lineup, a full-sized 450cc adventure bike, and an all-new 675cc three-cylinder supersport that undercuts the competition by a big chunk of change.

Related: Best Budget Sportbikes of 2024

The company is teasing something even bigger, however, for this year’s EICMA convention, and from what we can tell, it’s a full-size, full-fairing sportbike with serious aero to match. Considering the brand filed a patent back in 2022 for a 200-plus horsepower 1,000cc V-4 engine, there’s a good chance we may see the world’s first mass-production Chinese superbike sooner rather than later…

Aprilia’s RS 660 sportbike and Tuono 660 naked were impressive motorcycles when they first launched back in 2021 (read/watch the 2021 Aprilia RS 660 First Ride Review), but the middleweight segment has only become more hotly contested in recent years. Both bikes are still outstanding in their own right, but a serious update seems likely for 2025, all things considered.

We’re also expecting to see a naked version of the new RS 457 (which would almost certainly be the Tuono 457), as the small-displacement bang-for-your-buck market is rapidly growing as well. Taking current Tuono 660 pricing into account, we’d expect a Tuono 457 to come in around the $6,000 mark, which would make an enticing performance-focused alternative to Triumph’s hot new Speed 400 ($4,995) and Royal Enfield’s upcoming Guerrilla 450, which is expected to retail for a little over $5,000.

It’s been a big year for motorcycle airbags, and we expect to see plenty of them on display this year. That includes everything from low-profile “casual” bags like Alpinestars’ latest Tech-Air Canvas system to Mo’Cycle’s new “airbag jeans” and everything in between.

Editor’s note: Read/watch our Alpinestars Off-Road Airbag Vest Review With Videos

Related: Here’s Why We Like Alpinestars’ Tech-Air 7X Airbag Vest

One new system we’ve confirmed will be on display is Dainese’s new Smart Air vest, which is the brand’s lightest, most compact, and most protective to date. The updated tech allows for multiple deployments and light off-road use, and also features gas canisters designed to be replaced by the owner, which was our main concern with the original Smart Jacket.

A few credible rumors have circulated about some possible “surprise” electric bikes from major players at this year’s show. Royal Enfield, for example, has been teasing what appears to be an electric model parachuting down from space, which suggests we may see an EV bearing the brand’s historic “Flying Flea” moniker.

Related: 2025 CanAm Origin Electric Bike Review and Everything You Need to Know About the Can-Am Origin Ebike

We’re also expecting to see an all-electric model from the folks at Husqvarna, which credible reporting (and some patent info filed earlier in the year) suggests will be based on the newly updated KTM Freeride E. Patents show the motorcycle will be branded the “Pioneer” and may even be street legal.