Fapi Motors at EICMA 2018

Fapi Motors, the official distributor of Harley-Davidson, Husqvarna and KTM in Malta, sent their representatives Joanne Bartolo Chircop, Maryrose Baldacchino and Kieron Grima together with Famalco Group’s Co-Founder and Director Mr Etienne Pierre Mallia, to the long-awaited expo in Milan this November. EICMA, or in its native Italian, the ‘Espozione Internazzionale Ciclo e Motociclo e Accessori’, is a massive fair of leisure sport held at the Rho Fiera in Milan which spans over 6 pavilions.  The expo, which is celebrating its 76th year from its inception, is the biggest event dedicated to anything which has 2 wheels. This event is sought out by motorbike enthusiasts world wide, as confirmed by the sheer amount of attendees at the expo.

The 790 Adventure R by KTM

The Fapi Motors representatives attended the expo on the 6th and 7th of November, which are especially reserved for press and trade operators in the sector. The representatives had the chance to view innovative and new concept unveilings from top brands worldwide. The expo itself was centred mostly on E-bikes and eco-friendly mobility this year, as confirmed by the Famalco Group delegation. The venue in itself was split into various sections, with one specifically dedicated to E-bikes, one to new start-ups, one to health and safety, as well as many others. The expo also features its own shop with plenty of memorabilia and goodies bike lovers would certainly enjoy. Another highlight of EICMA was the exciting MotoLive raceground, where demonstrations and competitions were held in front of attendees.

The main event of the entire expo however, was the presentation of various motorcycle concepts which will be in production by 2019, as well as various prototypes. One of the most popular exhibitions was Harley-Davidson’s ‘LiveWire’ which is the first ever electric motorcycle produced by the brand. Huqvarna and KTM also pulled out all the stops at the expo, with the former unveiling 2 prototype models and one for production, while the latter unveiled two beautiful bikes which will also be on the market in 2019.

The Swedish brand Husqvarna, unveiled two concept bikes; one being the ‘EE5’, an electric dirt bike and the ‘VITPILEN 701 AREO’, a modern café racer motorcycle. The main attraction by Husqvarna motorcycles however, was the unveiling of their long-awaited SVARTPILEN 701 model which will be available on the market as of 2019. The SVARTPILEN 701 is a flat-track inspired motorcycle which offers a no-frills timeless design. It not only offers exceptional performance but also features the latest technology in motorcycle design.

KTM also had two exciting unveilings of their own, as they introduced two motorcycle variants the ‘790 Adventure’ and the ‘790 Adventure R’. The 790 Adventure is a high performance and lightweight motorcycle which is perfect for both off-road and urban environments. On the other hand, the 790 Adventure R is specifically designed for off-roading with longer travel suspension, dirt focused tyres and a higher front fender.

When asked about their overall experience of the event, two of the Fapi Motors representatives, Maryrose Baldacchino and Keiron Grima, both stated that the expo offers many networking opportunities which help provide insight of how to come up with innovative ideas in the mobility sector. Ms. Baldacchino, who is no stranger to EICMA, said that given the amount of exhibitions available, one has to limit oneself in order to get the full experience of the fair. “You have to set appointments, know who you have to meet and prioritise the most important exhibitions – those which are most popular with the crowd”. On the other hand, EICMA novice Keiron Grima, said that the expo proved very beneficial for him as he learned more tricks of the trade, “The experience was fantastic! It was a learning experience and a valuable one at that. Also, you get to see new bike unveilings which is quite exciting”.

With their attendance in EICMA, Fapi Motors once again proved their commitment to the mobility sector as well as to the brands which they represent. With this newfound knowledge and exciting new models on the market, the company will continue to provide their customers with the best service and experience when they choose to purchase one of their motorcycles from their top-of-the-line brands. Furthermore, the company announced that given their presence in EICMA 2018, they had the opportunity to negotiate with many different brands which may or may not be available in Malta in the future.

For more information about Fapi Motors contact us on (+356) 7900 1019, on info@FapiMotors.com, or visit our showroom at Focus Building, Mdina Road, Attard ATD 9037. Fapi Motors is a Mobility Business Unit within Famalco | Building Businesses.