Have you been keeping up with motorcycle trends? The motorcycle industry is in an exciting period of flux. Millions of people are riding, including more women than ever before.
Manufacturers are well aware of the need to evolve with the times. This is why they continue to push boundaries with new releases and updated models every year. 2019 will be no exception.
If you’re looking to start riding for the first time, sell your old motorcycle, or just purchase a new motorcycle to add to an existing collection, it helps to have a rundown of what’s up next in the pipeline.
And lucky for you, that’s exactly what this article will let you know. Keep reading to find out all you need to know about the most exciting new and updated motorcycles on the market in 2019.
New Motorcycle Updates for 2019
Some of these bikes reflect a change in riders’ concerns. See the electric models we mention as examples of the increased interest in environmental friendliness. Other entries are purely aesthetic or power updates to existing models for those who just want to stay on the cutting edge. Whatever your priorities in shopping for the latest motorcycle models, we think you’ll find something you like below. Take a look for yourself.
1. Ducati Scrambler Line
Ducati is bringing heightened aesthetics, a cornering anti-lock brake system, and better ergonomics to its 2019 line of Scramblers. The full line of Scramblers that will receive these updates include the Icon, the Full Throttle, Cafe Racer, and Desert Sled.
They all feature the following:
- Auto-off LED turn signals
- LED Daytime Running Light, or DRL, headlight
- Matching aluminum teardrop gas tank and side panels
- Engine painted black and with brushed cylinder heads
- LCD menu with fuel level and gear indicator
The differences between these specific bikes are function and formal inspiration. The Full Throttle is a bike with a dirt-track competition vibe thanks to its funky paint scheme, low-slung handlebar, and dual-silencer exhaust. The Cafe Racer is more of a sports bike, with sleek silver and blue accents that scream speed. This motorcycle also takes inspiration from the classic 1960s bikes found in Great Britain, with its 17-inch spoked wheels and aluminum bar-end mirrors.
The Desert Sled taps into the lineage of American off-road bikes. It even includes an Off-Road Riding Mode in which the rider can disengage the anti-lock brake system to really dig into the dirt on off-road trails. These bikes range in price from just under $10,000 for the Icon to just under $12,000 for the Desert Sled and Cafe Racer, with the Full Throttle splitting the difference at just under $11,000.
2. Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R and ZX-10RR
These are the first updates to the Ninja ZX-10R line since 2016. Jonathan Rea won the Superbike World Championship on variations of these bikes. He rode the ZX-10R to glory in 2015 and 2016 and the ZX-10RR in 2017 and 2018. With its speed bona fides in the books, Kawasaki is refusing to sit on its laurels by choosing to update these bikes for 2019. One of these changes is finger-follower valve actuation designed by engineers at World Superbike. Another is a new cylinder head, which will increase high-RPM performance by providing clearance for high-lift racing cams. The ZX-10R and ZX-10RR both come in the classic lime green colorway. The former also offers models with gray and black accents.
3. Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC and 1200 XE
Here are a couple of other Scrambler models from a different, no-less-classic company, Triumph. While the company is traditionally an aesthetics-first brand in the minds of consumers, the updates to these Scramblers put a priority on performance. The XE is the dirtbike of the two, but both of these new Scrambler 1200 models will feature re-tuned 1200cc engines capable of creating 7400 rpm. They will also include fully adjustable rear suspension from Ohlins with piggyback reservoirs.
These bikes include five separate riding modes: Road, Off-Road, Sport, Rain, and Rider. Each mode has a different throttle, traction control, and brake setting. The XE adds a sixth mode, Off-Road Pro, that turns off the anti-lock brakes.
Here are a few other highlights of these updated Triumph Scrambler 1200 models:
- Cruise control
- Keyless ignition
- Heated grips, which come standard on the XE and optional on the XC
- USB charger
The looks of these bikes are classy, with blacks and greens dominating the color palette.
4. Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro
Ducati isn’t the only company on our list to get two entries, but it is the one that appears first. We’ve talked so much about racing bikes and off-roaders that we wanted to get a multipurpose motorcycle in as early as possible. Like many of the bikes on our list, the Multistrada features an engine update. This one comes courtesy of the all-new 1260 Testastretta Ducati Variable Timing, or DVT, engine. It is designed to give a smoother and stronger ride across the entire rev range of the bike.
Some of the Multistrada’s standard electronic components include:
- Cornering lights
- Eight settings of wheelie control
- Eight optional settings of traction control
- Vehicle hold control
- Cruise control
5. Yamaha “Hyper Naked” Lineup
The three bikes in this line include the MT-10, MT-09, and MT-07. These three MT, or “Masters of Torque,” bikes leave their engines intact in the 2019 models. Their major updates come in the form of cosmetic changes, which are no less impressive. Yamaha chose to strengthen the brand identity of these bikes with an Ice Fluo color scheme available for each. The color scheme includes an “ice-gray” body, bright red wheels, and black engine, forks, frame, and headlamp. This Ice Fluo color scheme, designed to symbolize the edginess of street riding with the aggressiveness of racers, is available exclusively for this Hyper Naked MT lineup.
6. Arc Vector
We combine these two models together because they both represent the trend toward electric vehicles. The difference is that Vespa is an established company, while Arc is a much newer company. Both are looking toward the future with these new models.It might sound like cheating to include a Vespa on our list, but cafe racers and scooters are part of the two-wheeled landscape too.
The Elettrica is a purely electric vehicle rather than the graduated hybrid model some expected from the company. True to Vespa form, it zips through standard city traffic with ease. The Arc Vector is perhaps the more revolutionary of the two bikes. Early images were shrouded in shadow and darkness, but the design is anything but fly-by-night. Engineers and backers have been working on it for years.
Most impressive about the Vector is its HMI, or Human Machine Interface. This technology places sensors in jackets, helmets, boots, and gloves that allow the rider to interact with the bike and the environment. The future is now.
7. Honda CRF450L
Honda is going bold with this 2019 dual-sport model. The company offers one trim level and one color because it believes fully in the power of this bike. The CRF450L’s peak performance is just under 40 horsepower and over 7,000 rpm. With that much power underneath riders, Honda expects the bike to sell itself. We do too.
8. Suzuki RM-Z450 Dyno
This Suzuki 2019 model is a few thousand dollars less expensive than the Honda update at just under $9,000 as opposed to almost $11,000. However, its power numbers are even more impressive than Honda’s. The RM-Z450 Dyno produces over 50 horsepower at peak performance, with more than 8,000 rpm.
9. Norton Commando 961 Street
Some readers may hate us for including this limited edition bike, but it’s too tasty to pass up. The bad news is it’s limited to an edition of just 50 bikes. The more bad news is that it’s one of the most expensive bikes on our list at the equivalent of more than $20,000. The reason for the price has to do with the rare beauty of the bike. It’s a classic 1970 street bike with a smooth ride and a sleek-yet-tasteful black finish with copper-colored accents. It would be the perfect bike to see the world.
10. BMW S 1000 RR
This superbike from BMW is blowing up social media – for good reason. When BMW unveiled this bike initially, it shocked the world with its speed and design. BMW is continuing to push the envelope by making a bike with more than 200 horsepower. We’ll just let that sink in for a second. The manufacturer is also updating its lopsided headlights in favor of a more symmetrical look. We suspect riders will accept any aesthetic change if it comes on top of that much power.
11. Triumph Street Twin
Our final entry is the second from Triumph. Fittingly, it’s the update to just one of Triumph’s biggest sellers.
The new Street Twin features an updated engine, with new dead shafts, balance shafts, and crankshaft plus an updated clutch cover and a magnesium cam cover.
Along with these changes, Triumph has added new riding modes, Road and Rain, both of which alter traction control and throttle mapping. The bike also features new tech features, like a USB charger and LED lights.
Hit the Road
There are plenty of motorcycle models to get excited about in 2019. These are just a dozen of the ones we wanted to highlight. We hope this has made your search for a new motorcycle easier and not harder. Once you’ve got your new bike picked out, take a look at the events and rallies you can ride it to.
