Here we go, 2024 is upon us. What a terrifying thought, but an exciting one… a new year means new bikes so what’s coming in hot for 2024.
I’m seeing retro, retro, retro plus some impressive updates and facelifts on existing successful models. LAMS (Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme) bikes are flooding the market like a fantastic plague, there’s a bounty of collaborations, limited editions and a few manufacturers are entering the off-road, motocross and adventure markets. 2024 is going to be a hoot and I hope my top picks of what arriving on our shores this year, tickles your fancy.
Street & Sports Bikes
Yamaha XSR900 GP
I feel like I need shoulder pads, a bleached blonde mullet and some ciggies up my sleeve to even approach this absolute banger. Yamaha are transporting us back to the 1980s, a time I don’t recall as I was a blob but that doesn’t seem to matter. I get mad nostalgia looking at this thing.
Have you ridden an XSR900? Go ride one, it truly is one of the great modern bikes on the road right now. A beautiful ride, approachable price, refined and smooth in every way and now absolutely off-the-chart rad to look at thanks to the GP release. The XSR900 GP is heavily influenced by the ’80s YZR Grand Prix bikes and clearly sits in Yamaha’s Sport Heritage range. Expect new ergonomics, quick shift, race style clip on handle bar, new footpegs and a new cowling structure which looks epic but also assists in acceleration.
It’s ariving in June, starting at $18,049 ride-away.
BMW M 1000 XR
The third and newest weapon to join BMW’s high-performance M range, this adventure sport bike is a quicker, lighter, more tech-heavy version of the S 1000 XR. Designed to tour, and with 201hp at 12,750rpm (31hp ahead of the most recent S 1000 XR) it’s not too far off being designed to race. Running the S RR-derived four-cylinder engine, the M 1000 XR is classed as a “long-distance sportsbike”.
With all the M-specific high spec components from winglets to brakes, this has many high performance boxes ticked. As excellent as the RR and R are, their tight, race style ergonomics bump them off your everyday ride list. The M 1000 XR is a rocket that you can actually go to the corner store on.
It’s due in May starting at $36,690.
Adventure Bikes
KTM 890 Adventure R Rally
Rally fans world wide are chomping at the bit for this to land, it’s the closest you’ll get to riding Dakar winner Toby Price’s factory KTM. Drawing inspiration from the latest generation KTM 450 Rally, the 890 Adventure R Rally is the most hard-core adventure ready moto on the market.
Designed to conquer the most difficult terrain on the planet, it features top-spec trimmings such as the rally-derived WP Pro Components suspension, titanium Akrapovič slip-on silencer, rally-spec footpegs, heavy-duty wheels, and carbon fiber tank protection. Only 700 will be made globally and just 100 units will reach our far far away land.
Expect it in April for $39,299.
MV Agusta LXP Orioli
MV Agusta’s exciting new foray into the adventure bike market has sent many of us into a tiz. The thought of combining MV’s two-wheel pure luxury with the excitement and freedom of adventure riding has me screaming “shut up and take my money” – although my credit card says otherwise.
Their limited edition LXP (Lucky Explorer) Orioli (90s racer Edi Orioli won Dakar Rally twice on the Cagiva Elefants, MV and Cagiva were once under the same umbrella) is powered by a 931cc triple-cylinder engine with 125.1hp (92kW) at 10,000rpm. Four selectable ride modes with a decent ground clearance of 230mm and an adjustable seat height to name a few features.
Only 500 units will be made but watch this space, whispers of more MV’s within this off-road range means there’s more to come. The LXP arrives in April, we don’t have the price yet but it won’t be low so start saving those pennies.
Leaner Bikes
From sports bikes to adventure bikes, the LAMS market is going off with most manufacturers releasing a learner approved bike for 2024. Learners and women who prefer shorter, lighter bikes (which generally end up as smaller capacity) are a huge untapped market and it’s exciting to see manufacturers catering for them. And the price is right, you can now ride your favourite manufacturer for half the cost. Benelli has an all new BKX300, Harley-Davidson’s new X350 & X500cc Roadsters are an exciting addition to our streets, Aprillia now has a RS457 sportsbike and KTM has a LAMS-approved Duke. Here are some crackers below from Honda and Triumph.
Honda GB350
The retro-styled GB350 is tidy set of wheels – a completely new motorcycle with a newly designed engine which shows Honda has invested heavily – there will be more to come in this space. I attended the launch of this bike in St Kilda Melbourne and every journo riding was pleasantly surprised at how much of a little goer this bike is, especially on the highway where you think it would struggle.
I wouldn’t be taking it out for long blasts at 100km/h speeds but highway riding was still very comfortable. Easy on the eye, easy on the wallet with a decent list of accessories. I would have no issue cruising the streets on a GB350 on a warm summers day.
It comes in at a wallet-friendly $6999 (plus on-road costs).
Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X
Triumph continues to embody aspiration, offering bikes of exceptional quality, exuding class, and now, more accessible than ever with the new LAMS approved Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X featuring the new TR-Series engine.
In honour of Triumphs racing success in the early 20th century, the TR-Series engine is a fuel-injected, liquid-cooled 398cc single-cylinder engine making a claimed 39.5hp at 8,000 rpm. Triumph is aiming to deliver a “fun, agile, and confidence-inspiring ride for riders of all ages and experience levels.” If they ride as good as they look I am keen as mustard to jump aboard. This brand new single engine platform has been creating quite a buzz so I’d be quick, these tasty new morsels will be scooped up in a hot second.
The Speed 400 is priced at $8990 and Scrambler 400 X at $9990 and should be arriving in February.
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