Autoblog UK

The biggest motorcycle show of the year was due to start in Milan on Tuesday morning, but Ducati likes to do things its own way on home turf and presented its fresh line-up of 2010 models at a special event on Monday night, attended by the world's media.

Italy's most iconic motorcycle manufacturer took two hours to reveal how it's dealing with the sales crash that has blighted the industry before introducing us to its new bikes. Put simply: Ducati's market share is up but, like everyone else, its sales are down.

Despite the economic doom and gloom, the press conference concluded positively with the unveiling of the new Multistrada 1200; Ducati's crucial offering to the adventure touring segment, one of the only areas of the market that's still growing. It's a bike that has all the right ingredients to challenge BMW's class-leading R1200GS, with stand out features like the trick new Ride Mode Selector, which adjusts the set-up of the bike to suit sport, touring, urban or off-road riding; plus keyless go - a first on a production motorcycle. Expect the new Multistrada in showrooms early next year, with prices starting from £10,995.

When we arrived at the show proper on Tuesday morning, the mood and atmosphere was more muted than we expected. The recession had clearly taken its toll - Honda and Yamaha has both stayed away - and it was left to BMW and Ducati to create the most impressive stands in the halls.

Ducati kicked-started the annual Milan motorcycle show this week when it launched the new Multistrada 1200, alongside three other freshly upgraded models, all due in UK showrooms next year.

Staging its press conference the evening before EICMA officially begins - albeit with a downscaled stage show compared to previous years - Ducati took 90 minutes to bring the world's press up to speed with its 2010 product line-up, the highlight of which is without doubt the all-new Multistrada tourer.

Packed with technology that makes the outgoing model look like a relic, the 150bhp 1198cc twin-cylinder Multistrada has the ingredients to take on BMW's big-selling R1200GS.

After months of speculation and spy shots, Honda has officially revealed its eagerly anticipated VFR1200F sports tourer, which hits showrooms in a few weeks time.

At the heart of this futuristic looking motorcycle is Honda's latest 1200cc V4 engine - a brand new, torque-laden yet economical motor with 170bhp and 95lb ft of shove on tap.

It's an ultra-modern unit which Honda claims sets the VFR apart from every other bike on sale. That's so, says the manufacturer, because the new engine emulates the performance and economy of a traditional in-line four but is endowed with the low-down grunt and hearty beat of a V-configuration powerplant.

When it's launched, the VFR1200F will replace the slightly disappointing VFR800 in Honda's UK line-up. And it's been developed in record time, reaching the market just a year after we were teased with the V4 concept bike at the 2008 Cologne motorshow.

Whenever the top motorcycle manufacturers want to show you how much fun you can have on one of their machines, they always produce a wonderful video, and KTM is no exception. Their promotional videos for the 950 Supermoto, 690 Supermoto and RC8 are a visual treat for bikers everywhere. Some great cornering, exciting drifting and a couple of manoeuvres right on the edge – everything in fact that the avid two-wheeler could wish for.

But it is still a bit disconcerting to see just how, particularly in the Supermoto clips, they weave through normal road traffic. These clips should come with a health warning: "Don't try this at home". They are great to watch, but not everyone will see it as good PR for the biker fraternity. I don't want to be a killjoy here; after all I love to take to the road on two wheels myself. But a little more respect for other road users would not go amiss.