Membership
Riders Preferred Membership
Shop by Vehicle
Track Order
Contact Us
Last Thursday, the Common Tread crew shared which trends shaped this year in motorcycling. While we griped about aerodynamic winglets, sluggish second gears, and advanced rider aids (guilty party, here), none of us Zillans addressed the glut of special editions that continue to flood the market.
After all, OEMs have run amok with limited-run motorcycles for years — not just in 2024. Given recent releases, it doesn’t look like that trend will end anytime soon.
The usual suspects
In early December, Ducati pulled the covers off the Panigale V4 Tricolore. If the Italia-flavored livery doesn’t drop your jaw, the $58,000 MSRP certainly will. For that price, you could buy two standard Panigale V4s (and still have some change left over for the insurance premium). That price tag is also $24,105 more than the Panigale V4 S that the Tricolore is based on. Basta. Basta.
So, how does the Bologna marque account for that price hike? Well, they follow a well worn formula. Dress up an existing model in new paint, limit production, toss in accessory-catalog parts, shout “Alakazam,” and poof, a special-edition motorcycle is born.
In the Tricolore’s case, that includes an Aldo Drudi-designed paint job, carbon fiber wheels, a dry clutch kit, adjustable aluminum footpegs, and 338.5 millimeter front brake discs (a first for a production bike).
Let’s be real. Whether or not the Tricolore’s upgrades amount to 24 grand is beside the point. Those considering purchasing the Tricolore won’t flinch at the price tag, anyway. Ducati knows as much. That’s why they keep churning out limited-edition bikes.
This year alone, the brand released the Panigale V2 Final Edition, 30th-anniversary Monster, and Senna-inspired Monster. It even partnered with streetwear brand Supreme for a one-off Streetfighter V4. That’s on top of the firm’s exclusive Ducati Speciale and Ducati Unica programs. Ducati isn’t alone, either.
Triumph consistently contributes to the special-edition market, as well. The brand’s current lineup includes two 221 Rocket 3s, two Aragon edition Tiger 900s, the Thruxton FE (Final Edition), a Breitling-branded Speed Triple RR, and the Bonneville’s Stealth and Icons lines.
The latest limited-run model finds the Bonneville Bobber TFC (Triumph Factory Custom) dolled up in two-toned paint, carbon fiber bodywork, gold accents, and a hand-painted, hand-signed fuel tank. That’s standard procedure for the long-running TFC series.
To justify certain special releases, the British marque isn’t beyond fabricating a thematic throughline, either. While the link between Elvis and Triumph warranted a Bonneville T120 fit for “The King”, the relationship between Evel Knievel and the Rocket 3 seems tenuous, at best.
For one, nobody associates the legendary daredevil with Triumph’s muscle cruiser. Hinckley only introduced the model three years before Knievel died in 2007. That didn’t stop it from furnishing the Rocket 3 with graphics resembling the stuntman’s iconic suit and selling it for nearly $2,500 over the model’s starting price.
Finding arbitrary connections isn’t exclusive to Triumph. Take Moto Guzzi, for example, which recently introduced the Stelvio Duecento Tributo, a model that celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Stelvio Pass. If that seems like a reach, the brand’s V100 Mandello Wind Tunnel, which commemorates “70 years of [Moto Guzzi’s] historic Wind Tunnel,” required a much further stretch.
Not all special editions are created equally, though. In fact, a prime example hails from fellow Piaggio family member Aprilia. The Noale factory released the RSV4 EX3MA in September. Now, I can’t say whether the work put into Aprilia’s latest Factory Works entry amounts to the bike’s $99,000 asking price. What I can tell you is that it’s a true special edition, not a parts-bin special.
That’s because Aprilia didn’t just slap on a new coat of paint, bolt on accessories, and call it a day. The 1,099 cc V4 produces more power (230 horsepower) and torque (97 foot-pounds) in EX3MA form. Its aerodynamic bodywork is MotoGP-derived. Its race-based ECU draws from Aprilia’s time in WorldSBK. It’s these bespoke components that make EX3MA actually feel rare and exclusive. Even if it costs more than a Mercedes-AMG GT.
No end in sight
I’ll be the first to say it. Limited edition motorcycles aren’t going anywhere. The continued onslaught of such models is only a testament to their allure. If manufacturers weren’t selling them, they wouldn’t keep making them. It’s as simple as that.
My hope is that limited-run models no longer amount to a splash of paint, additional farkles, and a steep markup. At this point, that’s what most special editions have become. They're afterthoughts at best and blatant cash grabs at worst. There are exceptions, of course, but if special editions continue to flood the market, they should actually be special.
