Say goodbye to some great bikes
New emissions regulations spell the end of some much-loved bikes
This is set to be one the most exciting years in recent memory for new bikes with 60-plus already released and plenty more to come. Part of the reason for this flurry of new models is the new Euro5 emissions regs that came in to effect on January 1, but an unfortunate side effect is that many well-loved models will be going the way of the Dodo.
Sports touring no more
One of the saddest losses for many will be Yamaha’s FJR1300A. It’s been around since 2001 and is much loved. At the FJR’s height every major manufacturer had a large capacity sports tourer but they’re virtually all gone now. To celebrate its 20-year lifespan, Yamaha released an ‘Ultimate Edition’ last year that’s still listed at £17,647. In a similar vein, Honda have not brought their VFR based bikes into the 2021 range, which means the loss of the VFR800F, VFR800X Crossrunner and VFR1200X Crosstourer. These latest models never sold in huge numbers but the VFR is so revered that even rough VFR800s sell for decent money. The saddest bit of all is that without any VFRs, it will be the first time the Honda range has been without a V4 for nearly 40 years.
Blunt scalpel
The sports 600 segment has had a tough time of it in recent years. The once market-leading R6 has been hanging on for dear life but 2021 is when Yamaha are finally pulling the plug. Trackday fanatics are alright as Yamaha will still be offering a track-only R6 Race but road 600 lovers will miss out. This may leave you wondering what’s happening to the other 600 – Kawasaki’s ZX-6R. Kawasaki’s official line is that the ZX-6R isn’t Euro5 “yet” and that their engineers are “working to bring key models back into production”. That said, we wouldn’t be surprised if it was quietly dropped. Fans of midsized nakeds will also be feeling the pinch with Ducati dropping the 797, which is arguably the last of the old-school Monsters thanks to its air-cooled engine, and the 1200, which remains in the range for now but is not Euro5.
All shrinking
Even the all-conquering adventure segment is losing two bikes: Yamaha’s Super Ténéré and Triumph’s Tiger Sport 1050. Despite OK sales over the years, neither has dominated in the way BMW’s GS and XR models have. Both use engines that aren’t found anywhere else in the range, so there’s little
‘There will be great deals to shift old stock’
economic sense in doing the work needed to update them.
Last but not least, even the seemingly bullet-proof retro segment is losing a few models, although all but one of them are niche bikes. Yamaha are dropping the XV950R and the SCR950, Honda the CB1100EX and RS, while BMW have done away with the R nineT Racer variant. The biggest loss will be the Harley-Davidson Sportster range although they’re expected to plug that hole with their Revolution Max powered bikes.
Don’t despair
It’s not all bad news. Should one of the bikes here take your fancy, they’ll still be available in small numbers for a limited time under rules that offer firms a window to clear their stocks. Better still, many will be keenly priced. We’ll be bringing you a guide to the best deals in next week’s issue.