It is August 2014 or so the calendar leads us to believe, however in the motorcycle world (off road world) it appears we have jumped forward a few months.
KTM launched their new “2015” model range at the end of May and have been followed in short succession by Sherco, Beta and Husqvarna. Each manufacturer has promised new and improved bikes for 2015 and who are we to say they are or not better or faster or with more bling. Beta have launched a 350 and a 430 4 T model which is new for them and like Sherco are in the second year of 2 stroke production where each marque should iron out any niggling problems that existed on the first run . Husqvarna has settled quickly back into the Enduro scene and whilst basically part of the KTM group is making strides of its own with different forks , linkage and new and “improved” panels for 2015 and an autonomous marketing structure . KTM is KTM and leading the 2014/ 15 charge to get bikes to the market first. But in May!!
Of the smaller European manufacturers , who still consider December as the last month of 2014 Gas Gas who seemed to lose their way recently are due back with a new “ Euro” cheap bike to run with the “R “ models using current motors until the old Husky buy out feeds its way into their production plans . Will we see a Gas Gas home grown 4 T in 2015? Unlikely and Yamaha will still be the 2015 4 T engine. Nothing wrong with that.
JOTAGAS should arrive with a newer 250/ 300 2 t later in 2014 and TM we hear will have all new EPV motors in all 2 T models and a new 250 4T for 15. Very different but it will be for 2015. These factories are waiting for the world to turn one complete revolution before releasing new models. The excitement is pressing.
And, the Japanese (or Chinese) do not really concentrate much energy producing a finished Enduro Ready bike. Honda come the closest with the venerable 250 X and no doubt the 2015 model will be close to the 14/ 13 /12 model. Again nothing wrong with that, if it isn’t broke etc. . . . Yamaha are rumoured to have a new WR but we may see more YZZ enduroised as with the KX and RM so the land of the rising sun is likely not to figure too high in the Euro enduro market. Finally, the WK of Chinese origin with a hint of Japanese lookalike ….. Jury out for now.
So it’s an exciting 2014 … oops 2015 line up. It is becoming ever more difficult to differentiate the brands ….. From the forerunners KTM / Husky through the newer Betas, Sherco, GG and the boutique TM. 2016 is not too far away.
Enduro.ie