Johannesburg - A host of new models will be on display for the first time in South Africa at the Association of Motorcycle Importers and Distributors Motorcycle and Quad Lifestyle Show this weekend at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec.
One of the highlights of the show will be the announcement of the Pirelli SA Bike of the Year for 2014, with nine finalists in contention.
Several manufacturers will be unveiling their 2015 model ranges at this year's show, with market leader Honda once again participating.
An innovation this year will be enduro racing on a track usually reserved for four-wheel-drive vehicles. Most of the makers offering enduro models in their range are expected to have riders taking part in the high speed "demonstrations" with obstacles including logs and boulders to put the accent on quick rider reactions and nimble machines.
There will also be opportunities to test-ride some of the bikes, including Harley-Davidson, Victory and Indian. A number of competitions will take place during the three days of the show with some valuable prizes to be won.
INDIAN CRUISERS
An iconic brand that will be launched to the SA public at the show by Polaris is the American Indian cruiser range which starts at R325 000. There are three models, Vintage, Classic and Chieftain, all using a 1.8-litre Thunderstroke V-twin engine. Indian, the oldest name among American motorcycle manufacturers, dating back to 1901, went out of production in 1953 and was reborn in 2013 when Polaris took over the name and manufacturing rights.
Polaris also import the Victory range of V-twin cruisers from the US and will have the full range of eight models on show with prices starting from R185 000. A new model, the Gunner, will be unveiled at the show.
Polaris is also well known as a manufacturer of quads and side-by-side sport utility vehicles and will have some powerful new models on its stand, as well as quads from the Chinese brand Linhai.
Suzuki will launch a new racing series as well as the Suzuka Special Edition of the high performance GSX-R750, which is seen as an ideal motorcycle for long distance endurance racing, among a comprehensive display of motorcycles, ATVs and scooters.
Yamaha will have a huge display stand with the centrepiece being an M1 MotoGP racer ridden by multiple world champion Valentino Rossi.
TRI-CITY SCOOTER
A technical innovation on the Yamaha stand will be the 125cc Tri-City scooter with two front wheels, spaced 700mm apart, and a parallelogram-type suspension system that allows it to travel easily over irregular surfaces.
Yamaha will also unveil its 700cc Viking side-by-side ATV, alongside the MT-07 and MT-09 models that were finalists in the Pirelli SA Bike of the Year contest.
Husqvarna, which returned to SA a couple of years ago, will showcase its full 2015 range of 13 enduro and motocross machines, with engines ranging from 85cc to 501cc, both two-strokes and four-strokes.
KTM is another company which will preview several 2015 models, as well as unveiling the RC390 super sport road bike. KTM will have 32 machines on display, with engines ranging from 50cc to 1301cc - the latter being the powerplant in 1290cc Super Duke R which is also a Bike of the Year finalist.
Kawasaki Motors SA will use the show to promote its newly acquired distributorship of the Chinese SYM motorcycles and scooters, with two 125cc motorcycles and seven scooters ranging from 125cc-300cc.
Kawasaki plans to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its Ninja nameplate, while Triumph, also a KMSA brand, will have its full range of 18 models on show, including two recently introduced Thunderbird derivatives, the Commander and Light Tourer.