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In photos: Concepts, customs and flying bikes from EICMA 2017

• https://newatlas.com

Aside from the 2018 production models that debuted at EICMA 2017, the Italian motorcycle show traditionally garnishes its centerpieces with a variety of exhibits ranging from prophetic concepts like KTM's 790 Adventure and Moto Guzzi's V85, to flamboyant customs. And even the odd showpiece that words fail to describe. New Atlas has gathered together the best examples from the show for you to gawp at.

Motor shows are not just about new models. What's around them often hints at future production plans, or trends that contribute in shaping the industry's strategies. Look, for instance, at the KTM 790 Adventure concept. It's a move similar to last year's unveiling of the 790 Duke concept, which was designed to introduce a brand new in-line twin engine for the Austrian manufacturer and this year returned to Milan as a proper 2018 production model.

Apparently, the next model to employ this new engine will be a mid-sized Adventure bike, and KTM doesn't shy away from revealing the fact. Quite to the contrary, serving up what will undoubtedly be one of the EICMA 2018 stars.

This concept also gives an indication of the next area that European manufacturers want to exploit. The mid-sized adventure class has been dominated almost exclusively by Japanese factories for decades, but the success that BMW and Triumph enjoyed with their 800 cc motorcycles hasn't gone unnoticed.

The 790 Adventure concept showcases the next bike to run on KTM's new in-line twin-cylinder engine

The big adventurers have become too big and often far too expensive for the average buyer of the struggling middle class. Downsizing seems like the logical thing to do, not only in terms of affordability but also of fuel efficiency, an important factor that seems to become more critical every year – and, coincidentally, a field in which KTM's Adventure has never excelled.


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