EICMA 2025

The big takeaway for me from everything about EICMA I've been reading is the rise of the Chinese and Indian manufacturers. They're coming (or already here) whether you like it or not. CFMoto, Royal Enfield and others are making their marks. If they can build a proper dealer network and parts/service support infrastructure like the Japanese did in the 1960s a lot of European and North American companies better be paying attention.
 
Everyone is going smaller, cheaper and more affordable, about damn time.
 
Grumpy old man mode for a moment, if you'll indulge me.

All these wings remind me of that era not long after the turn of the millennium when all the luxury car makers were desperate to squeeze some F1 design into their cars. The Ferrari Enzo and Merc/Mac SLR come to mind with their hideous vestigial pointy noses and front wings, all of which the marketing department was keen to say made the car faster on the track. In reality, they're ugly and detract from the car (and motorcycle) as a design.

The only scenario where these wings make even the smallest difference to the riding experience is for a select few very skilled riders on the track, and in that case (e.g. where hundredths of a second per lap matter) you'd want track fairings rather than green masking tape on your fancy headlights and carting around all those heavy and expensive LED assemblies. Otherwise they're about as meaningful as the mega wings bolted to the back of STI's and Toyota Supras.

You're a bit late with the Grumpy Old Man mode.

This curmudgeon beat you to it:

 
The big takeaway for me from everything about EICMA I've been reading is the rise of the Chinese and Indian manufacturers.

I understand that we are talking about different markets, but I would definitely own a CF Moto if I was still living in Mexico. I got super excited about their 500cc inline-4. Also their v4 1000cc prototype looks promising.

CFMoto are cheap over there offering a really good value proposition, which I don't feel the same way with the Canadian and US pricing.

In my latest trip to Mexico I noticed way more motorcycles in the roads compared to six years ago. I assume that with cars getting ridiculous expensive and average salary being a joke over there, bikes is the way to go if you want to avoid public transit.

In Oaxaca City police officers ride MT450s (I don't remember the naming convention here , I Ibex I think?) they have a really nice sound with stock exhausts.
 
The big takeaway for me from everything about EICMA I've been reading is the rise of the Chinese and Indian manufacturers. They're coming (or already here) whether you like it or not. CFMoto, Royal Enfield and others are making their marks. If they can build a proper dealer network and parts/service support infrastructure like the Japanese did in the 1960s a lot of European and North American companies better be paying attention.
China is apparently going to be building the 26 Ural.
 
You're a bit late with the Grumpy Old Man mode.

This curmudgeon beat you to it:

There's more than enough to kvetch about in modern life to go around. One gripe doesn't pre-empt the creation of a chorus!
 
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