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    RiderBOT
    Limited to just 800 motorcycles worldwide, Triumph’s new Speed Twin 1200 Cafe Racer Edition channels 1960s British cafe racer style combined with modern performance.
    Triumph Motorcycles has unveiled the Speed Twin 1200 Cafe Racer Edition, a limited-run model that pays homage to the original British cafe racers of the 1960s while delivering modern sporty performance.

    The Speed Twin 1200 Cafe Racer Edition will arrive in Australian Triumph dealerships from March 2026, priced from $30,490 rideaway. With strictly limited quantities available locally, interested buyers should contact their nearest Triumph dealer. For reference, the full-time Speed Twin 1200 RS is priced from $27,290.
    With worldwide production capped at just 800 units, each motorcycle will be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, ensuring exclusivity for collectors and enthusiasts alike.\

    Based on the Speed Twin 1200 RS, the Cafe Racer Edition features clip-on handlebars that create a low, tucked riding position, combined with a distinctive brown bullet seat with removable cowl. The single-seat profile delivers a streamlined silhouette, though pillion footpegs are included in the crate for owners who want to restore two-up capability.
    Premium detailing includes machined bar-end mirrors, ribbed clutch and alternator cover badges, black head bolt covers, and sculpted knee pads that add subtle refinement throughout the motorcycle.

    The exclusive colour scheme combines Competition Green and Aluminium Silver paintwork inspired by British Racing Green, with colour-coded Competition Green headlight bowl and Aluminium Silver wheels. Empire Gold coachlines define the transition between colours, while “Cafe Racer Edition” graphics complete the premium finish.
    Power comes from Triumph’s Bonneville 1200 twin engine, producing 77kW and 112Nm. The distinctive 270-degree firing order delivers immediate throttle response and characterful power delivery all the way to the 8000rpm rev limit.

    Top-specification suspension includes fully adjustable Marzocchi forks paired with Ohlins rear units, while braking performance is handled by twin Brembo Stylema calipers acting on 320mm discs. High-performance Metzeler Racetec RR K3 tyres come fitted as standard.
    Modern tech includes Road, Rain and Sport riding modes, optimised cornering ABS and traction control, and an up/down quickshifter for clutchless gear changes. LCD and TFT displays housed within a traditional circular dial provide turn-by-turn navigation, phone connectivity and a USB-C charging socket.
    2026 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 Cafe Racer. 1 of 8
    Spencer LeechSpencer has a keen eye for hard news, and does some of his best living on deadline day. He loves more than anything to travel on his Aprilia Tuareg 660, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. He also knows how to operate the big computery thing in the office. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
    The post Triumph launches limited edition Speed Twin 1200 Cafe Racer appeared first on INFO MOTO.
    RiderBOT
    With the field thinned but expectations sky-high, Jack Holder still had to earn every point on the road to a second Aussie title
    Jack Holder is now a believer in the often-expressed view that it’s more difficult to win something for a second time than it is the first.
    In 2023, Holder won the Australian Speedway Championship, a feat he repeated this month in claiming the 2026 title – but he knows that his second title win only came after a very tough battle.
    Make no mistake, this was a title Jack should have won. In the absence of his SGP compatriots Brady Kurtz, Max Fricke and Jason Doyle plus Ryan Douglas, Sam Masters and Josh Pickering, it left Holder as a hot favourite.
    Luke Becker, in yellow, gets airborne during the first running of the Oceania Champs final behind Rohan Tungate, in red But it was no pushover. His two most serious rivals, Jaimon Lidsey and Rohan Tungate, ultimately joined Holder on the series rostrum after making him work very hard in all four rounds – during which that trio featured in all finals.
    The top two scorers after the 20 heats at each round progressed direct to the final for the night, while the next eight riders contested two semis, from which only the winners progressed – in all but one case the third and fourth top scorers from the heats won their semis.
    Holder went direct to the final at each round, scoring 14 points in the heats at every round, beaten only by Lidsey twice, Keynan Rew and Tungate once each.
    Lidsey went direct to the final three times, including twice with a maximum score and Tungate once with a maximum in the final round.
    Keynan Rew and Tungate duel As well as the degree of predictability about the top three, so too were the next three in overall standings. Zach Cook’s consistency (three seconds and a third in the semis) earned him fourth overall, ahead of Keynan Rew who was hampered by mechanical problems in one round, while Ben Cook (winning all three semis he contested) would surely have finished higher had he not missed the final Mildura round with food poisoning.
    Only one of the 15 riders who contested all rounds failed to make the semis at least once – further evidence of the fluctuating performances of the bottom half of the field – as Jacob Hook was steady while Justin Sedgmen at least made the semis each round.
    Chris Holder, Beau Bailey and Fraser Bowes all withdrew from the championship with injuries after being selected, which further weakened the final line-up – but a number of younger riders grasped their opportunity to show their wares and hopefully attract the attention of promoters in Europe.
    Tungate on the charge Those younger and in some cases lesser-known riders did not, however, detract from the excitement of the racing, with battles between those lesser lights often providing plenty of close action and drama, even if some polish was missing.
    Mitchell McDiarmid was probably the standout among them, with quite a few wow moments; there were never any easy points, even for the top-ranked riders.
     
     
    Oceania, State Titles and Speedway Firsts
    Keynan Rew claimed his biggest win in domestic racing when he won the 2026 Oceania Championship at SA’s Gillman Speedway on 11 January.
    Rew and Luke Becker qualified direct to the final where they were joined by semi winners Rohan Tungate and Jaimon Lidsey. Becker fell at the first corner in the decider, leaving Rew to beat Tungate and Lidsey in the re-run.
    Oceania Champion Rew stands tall on the podium with his impressive trophy The Darcy Ward Invitational was the first ever bike meeting at the Western Sydney Speedway on Boxing Night, with Jack Holder triumphant in the final ahead of Zaine Kennedy, Ryan Douglas and Tate Zischke. The four sidecars drew the biggest cheers from the crowd on the night.
    The two- and three-wheelers are back at the Western Sydney Speedway on 7 February for the Sydney Sendoff meeting.
    Lidsey became a two-time winner of the Phil Crump Classic at Mildura (27 Dec), taking the final ahead of Luke Becker, Tungate, Zischke, Leon Flint and Justin Sedgmen.
    Becker became the first American rider to win the SA Championship at Gillman (28 Dec), even though he had to win a semi-final to get into the final where he was victorious ahead of Flint, Zischke and Scott Nicholls.
    On the same program, the State Under 16 250cc title was won by Cooper Antone ahead of Nate Smith, after both Ky Mitchell and Kobi Canning fell.
    Lidsey wrapped up the double of Mildura features, taking the Jason Lyons Trophy (17 Jan) ahead of Becker, Sedgmen and Nicholls.
    The Daniel Winchester Testimonial meeting at Pinjar Park (17 Jan) attracted a better line-up than the WA title meeting, but the same winner as McDiarmid conquered Luke Killeen, Cameron Heeps and Matt Marson in the decider.
     
    ANOTHER TRACK BITES THE DUST

    Motorcycle racing has lost another venue after the last ever race meeting was staged at the Mick Doohan Raceway at North Brisbane before Christmas.
    For four decades the North Brisbane Junior Motor Cycle Club has operated the venue on a series of short-term lease arrangements with the Brisbane City Council, but now the council has decided that the land would be better utilised for other purposes and the club has to vacate.
    Renowned as one of the major venues in the country for dirt track, track racing and speedway, its closure leaves one of the country’s major cities without a track to race on.
    Numerous businesses have supported the club’s activities and their contribution was remembered in a nostalgic final meeting when the last staging of the prestigious North Brisbane Cup turned into a celebration for riders, club officials and fans alike.
    That final meeting produced a fitting farewell to the venue that has hosted many of the biggest names in the sport, including young riders who have progressed to be leading performers on the world stage, some in other disciplines, such as Jack Miller and Max Whale – who were both on hand for the finale at the track.
    So who will be remembered as the winners at the last ever race meeting? Miller made it back to-back wins in the North Brisbane Cup, leading home Whale and Billy Van Eerde in the 20-lap final.
    At this point the club has nowhere to relocate, but members are keenly investigating any suggestions that have been made.
     
    Australian Speedway Championship
    Round 1 – Albury-Wodonga (3 Jan)
    • Semi winners: Tungate, B Cook
    • Final: Holder, Lidsey, Tungate, B Cook
    Round 2 – Albury-Wodonga (4 Jan)
    • Semi winners: B Cook, Tungate
    • Final: Holder, Tungate, B Cook, Lidsey
    Round 3 – Mildura (7 Jan)
    • Semi winners: Rew, Tungate
    • Final: Holder, Tungate, Lidsey, Rew
    Round 4 – Gillman (9 Jan)
    • Semi winners: B Cook, Lidsey
    • Final: Holder, Tungate, Lidsey, B Cook

    Australian 500cc Solo Championship – Final Standings
    Jack Holder – 72 pts
    Jaimon Lidsey – 64 pts
    Rohan Tungate – 61 pts
    Zach Cook – 41 pts
    Keynan Rew – 39 pts
    Ben Cook – 37 pts
    Jacob Hook – 31 pts
    Mitchell McDiarmid – 30 pts
    Tate Zischke – 29 pts
    Justin Sedgmen – 26 pts
    The post SPEEDWAY | Tested and Proven appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    Victorian Government told it must step in to save MotoGP round
    Political pressure is rapidly building on the Victorian Government to intervene and save the Phillip Island round of MotoGP.The local National Party member Melina Bath has demanded the government take “immediate action” on this issue, which is shaping up to have a major effect on Victoria’s tourist economy.
    Bath is a powerful voice for the Eastern Victoria region, who as recently as last November flagged another major issue with Phillip Island being the main access road.
    MotoGP’s new owner Liberty Media wants more so-called street circuits like Indonesia’s purpose-built Mandalika In a question in State Parliament, she asked the Minister for Road and Road Safety: “Despite years of safety concerns and community advocacy, the government has failed to fund critical upgrades to Phillip Island Road in San Remo. The road is known for frequent crashes, near misses and worsening congestion, especially during weekends and holidays, posing a serious risk to the lives of tourists and locals alike. It is listed among the RACV’s top 12 worst roads. It is on Bass Coast shire’s top priority list and in One Gippsland’s regional campaign. The project is shovel ready – consultation occurred over a decade ago – and it is vital.”
    So it’s not just the iconic Island circuit that’s lacking State Government support, and this adds another layer to the desperate fight by locals to keep an event that brings in as much as $60m to Victoria’s economy each year.
    Motorcycles already feature on Adelaide’s street circuit in the annual Motorsport Festival As we reported in our last issue, a general lethargy on the part of major movers-and-shakers as to the future of the Phillip Island circuit and its long-term MotoGP contract, which expires late this year, is coming back to bite big-time.
    While Victoria’s Labor Government has not issued any meaningful statement of intent to secure an extension of the 10-year contract for the Australian round, South Australia’s Labor Government has declared its backing of any effort made to get the round there.
    Significantly, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas has clarified that it would be The Bend, not a street circuit, that would host a MotoGP race, and that negotiations would be led by the Shahin family.
    This statement came in the face of speculation that either Melbourne’s Albert Park or Adelaide’s old F1 car circuit in the Parklands were Dorna’s favoured new options for Australia’s MotoGP round.
    The Shahin family, which owns the Tailem Bend racing complex, is cashed up after selling its On The Run network of fuel/mini-supermarket outlets to Shell and able to play a significant role in any attempt to secure a MotoGP round in Australia.
    San Remo’s roads struggle to cope with GP traffic There are even rumours circulating around their true intent, including a suggestion they may actually buy the Island circuit off owners the Fox family.
    It was the Malinauskas Labor government that revived the Adelaide Supercars race in the city’s Parklands after the previous Liberal government axed it. The last round of the Supercars achieved a record attendance of any Australian sporting event. While this was largely based on the event also hosting the SA concert of AC/DC, it demonstrated how the present government can think outside the box to get fans to a motorsport event that the previous government thought was not worth the effort.
    This attitude may very well get SA across the line, with the ongoing tangle of negotiations involving Dorna’s new owners Liberty Media, which is looking for innovative race promoters.
    Both Victoria and SA are in election years. Victoria is cash-strapped and facing several crisis, including a potential voter revolt over a perceived shortfall in funding to the volunteer fire brigades that risked everything in the recent devastating bushfires.
    Phillip Island has hosted numerous memorable GP clashes, including this race in 2001 in which Rossi defeated Biaggi by just 0.013s SA, a motorsport-mad state, is riding a wave of popularity among many Labor voters for re-energising the state’s heritage of motorsport, dating back to the days when a bold bid by then-Labor premier John Bannon and engineer Bob Barnard convinced Bernie Ecclestone to bring F1 cars to Australia for the first time and on a street circuit.
    Barnard, the chief engineer for the inaugural Adelaide GP, delivered the Adelaide circuit from concept to completion in less than a year. He went on to redevelop the rundown Phillip Island circuit to motorcycle GP reality in the late 1980s, then designed and delivered Sydney’s Eastern Creek circuit to GP standard within 12 months. He was also involved in bringing California’s Laguna Seca circuit up to world standard to host the 1993 round of GP500.
    Obviously, achievements like this are not an option in the current situation.However, Barnard’s accomplishments, backed by governments committed to a sporting event, shows what can be achieved in a short time. Financial and engineering skills need to be backed by committed government involvement.
    There are several Asia-Pacific options for the new rulers of MotoGP, so this saga has a long way to play out. But it’s obvious that time is running out for Australia.
    The post AUS GP FUTURE EXCLUSIVE | Where’s The Action Plan? appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    Honda Australia has announced updated colour schemes for its CRF1100L Africa Twin range, refreshing the look of one of the brand’s most successful adventure bikes.
    The updates arrive as the Africa Twin celebrates its ongoing success in the adventure segment, with over 121,000 units sold globally since the model’s reintroduction in 2016. For six of those years, the Africa Twin has consistently placed in Honda’s top three selling motorcycles over 125cc.

    While mechanically unchanged, all Africa Twin variants receive new graphics and colour options that Honda says enhance the bike’s rally-inspired appearance.
    All 2026 Africa Twin models retain the 1084cc parallel-twin engine producing 75kW of power and 112Nm of torque. Honda’s Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) remains available across the range – an option chosen by almost half of all Africa Twin customers in 2025.
    The standard Africa Twin continues with fully-adjustable Showa suspension, while the Electronic Suspension model features Showa’s EERA system, which provides optimised damping across all riding conditions and adjustable rear preload on the move. Electronic Suspension models also include heated grips and an ACC socket as standard.

    The Adventure Sports variant maintains its touring focus with a larger 24.8-litre fuel tank (providing 508km range versus 385km on standard models) and a 19-inch front wheel for improved on-road handling.
    Pricing and Australian availability for the 2026 Africa Twin range is yet to be confirmed by Honda Australia.
    Spencer LeechSpencer has a keen eye for hard news, and does some of his best living on deadline day. He loves more than anything to travel on his Aprilia Tuareg 660, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. He also knows how to operate the big computery thing in the office. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
    The post Honda Africa Twin gets fresh colour options for 2026 appeared first on INFO MOTO.
    RiderBOT
    American MotoGP squad Trackhouse has revealed its 2026 liveries, including the return of iconic Gulf colours for five rounds this season.
    Trackhouse Racing has taken the covers off its Aprilia RS-GP26 machinery ahead of the 2026 MotoGP season, showcasing both an updated house livery and the return of partner Gulf’s legendary blue and orange colour scheme.
    The American outfit enters its third premier class campaign with renewed confidence following Raul Fernandez’s breakthrough victory at Phillip Island last year – the team’s first MotoGP win.

    The iconic Gulf livery will debut at the season-opening Thai Grand Prix in Buriram before appearing at four additional rounds throughout the season: Brazil, Mugello, Lombok, and Sepang’s Malaysian Grand Prix.
    The updated Trackhouse house livery retains the team’s signature blue, black and dayglo yellow palette with refinements for the new season, featuring increased carbon fibre elements for a more aggressive appearance.
    Both Fernandez and 2024 Moto2 World Champion Ai Ogura will campaign the Aprilia RS-GP26 machines in their sophomore and rookie seasons respectively.

    Fresh from his maiden MotoGP victory in Australia, Fernandez emphasised the importance of consistent work over results-focused thinking.
    “The important thing is that the bike can be fast on track and for this year, I think we have to be really focused on ourselves and not think too much about the results,” Fernandez said.
    “We have to be focused on what we can control and need to improve each day to be competitive. I want to enjoy racing like I did in the last rounds of 2025 and I’m sure then the results will come.”

    Second-year rider Ogura identified qualifying performance as a key area for improvement after a solid rookie campaign hampered by grid position struggles.
    “One of the big targets this season will be the grid positions,” Ogura explained. “Last season we could be competitive during the race but the grid position has usually not been the best and we really need to work on that, especially during the test days.”

    Team Principal Davide Brivio set clear expectations for both riders, targeting top-ten championship finishes and regular podium contention.
    “The goal is to improve what we have done last year,” Brivio said. “Raul finished inside the top 10 but just in 10th place so, first of all, we should get both riders in the top 10 and be able to hopefully score some podiums.”
    Brivio highlighted Fernandez’s late-season confidence surge and Ogura’s race pace as foundations for 2026 success, while acknowledging qualifying remains a crucial development area for the Japanese rider.

    Team Owner Justin Marks reflected on the organisation’s rapid growth since entering MotoGP in 2024, emphasising the significance of the Gulf partnership.
    “As a kid I grew up loving these colors on the Ford GT40s and the Porsche 917s at the Le Mans 24 hour race,” Marks said. “Now to have five races in the coming MotoGP season with both our bikes running Gulf colors it’s a dream come true.”
    The 2026 MotoGP season begins with official testing at Sepang before the opening round in Thailand from February 27 to March 1.

    Spencer LeechSpencer has a keen eye for hard news, and does some of his best living on deadline day. He loves more than anything to travel on his Aprilia Tuareg 660, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. He also knows how to operate the big computery thing in the office. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
    The post Trackhouse unveils 2026 MotoGP liveries, iconic Gulf colours return appeared first on INFO MOTO.
    RiderBOT
    Flettner rotor wings for bikes use the Magnus effect to create variable downforce levels
    Just over a century ago, German inventor Anton Flettner revealed his eponymous invention – the Flettner rotor – as a replacement for conventional canvas sails on ships. Based on spinning, vertical cylinders, they were first demonstrated in the 1920s and use a phenomenon called the Magnus effect to influence airflow passing over them – creating a pressure difference that pushes them in the desired direction.
    Now BMW is looking at using the same idea to replace wing-shaped aerodynamic components on motorcycles, as revealed in a new patent from the company.
    The Magnus effect was demonstrated by Heinrich Gustav Magnus – another German, this time a physicist – back in 1853. He showed how a rapidly spinning cylinder exposed to airflow would create low pressure on one side and high pressure on the other, just like a wing. It was already a known phenomenon even then, though, with Isaac Newton having explained how the same process affected spinning tennis balls to alter their path through the air back in the 17th century. Flettner’s rotors, however, found a practical use for the idea, and today in the 21st century the idea is having a resurgence, with a growing number of ships adopting Flettner rotors as sails to assist their conventional engines and improve their efficiency.
    BMW’s idea is to use the same concept to address one of the problems associated with fitting winglets to motorcycles – namely that the downforce that a conventional, unmoving winglet generates isn’t always what’s needed on a bike that’s constantly changing speed, pitch, roll and yaw.
    The patent suggests small Flettner rotors, around 20 cm long and 4 or 5 cm in diameter, mounted on either side like the winglets on existing bikes. It also suggests another could be fitted between the fork legs, along with one in the air intake on the bike’s nose, and a fifth on the tail of the bike to create rear downforce. Each would spin at between 50,000 rpm and 100,000 rpm, with BMW suggesting that 80,000 rpm is the sweet spot to maximise their performance. Electric motors in the base of the rotors would be used to spin them.
    The Magnus effect But what makes them better than normal winglets? There are a few advantages to be had.
    First, the rotors aren’t sensitive to the bike’s pitch. A fixed front winglet might help prevent a wheelie, but if you overcome its downforce and lift the nose of the bike anyway, it becomes a sail that catches the wind and could make the bike more wheelie-prone, rather than less. The Flettner rotor isn’t affected by changes in pitch, so if it’s spinning forwards, accelerating the air below it and slowing the airflow above, it will continue to provide downforce even if you’re wheelieing.
    Second, the rotors’ speed can be changed independently of the bike’s speed, potentially allowing for more downforce when you’re going slowly – accelerating out of a corner, for example. And when you’re flat-out on a straight, with no need for downforce and the accompanying drag that comes with it, the rotors’ spin can be stopped, reducing the drag to improve top speed.
    Thirdly, the rotors’ direction can be changed. That means those side-mounted ones could spin in opposite directions during corners – the outer one given topspin to create downforce, while the inner one spins backwards, pulling the nose of the bike towards the apex.
    While similar benefits could also be achieved with variable-pitch winglets, as demonstrated recently on CFMoto’s upcoming 1000 cc V4 superbike, the Flettner rotor idea could be easier to control and use a lighter mechanism than the powerful actuators needed to move wings against the pressure of air.
    The post BMW Sets Winglets in a Spin appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    Ryan Wedding, the former Olympic snowboarder whose extraordinary $AU60 million motorcycle collection was seized by authorities in December, has been arrested in Mexico and transported to California to face federal charges.
    The 44-year-old Canadian national was apprehended in Mexico on Thursday night following a multinational manhunt involving Mexican, Canadian, and US law enforcement agencies. He is now in US custody and expected to appear in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on Monday.
    Wedding’s arrest comes just weeks after Mexican authorities confiscated his stunning collection of rare motorcycles, many believed to be former MotoGP race machines including several ex-Valentino Rossi bikes, valued at approximately $AU60 million.

    At a news conference announcing the arrest, FBI Director Kash Patel described Wedding as “a modern day Pablo Escobar,” referring to the notorious Colombian drug lord. The comparison underscores the scale of the alleged operation, which US officials claim generated an estimated $AU1.5 billion annually through drug trafficking routes from Colombia into Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
    Mike Duheme of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Wedding’s capture meant “our communities, our countries are much safer.”
    Wedding competed for Canada in the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, finishing 24th in the men’s giant parallel slalom ski event. He currently appears on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, with authorities offering a $US15 million ($AU22.5M) reward for information leading to his arrest.

    The December raids across four properties in Mexico City and surrounding regions uncovered 62 motorcycles, luxury paintings, artworks, drugs, and two Olympic gold medals, though the ownership of the medals remains unclear. The motorcycle seizure followed the FBI’s November confiscation of Wedding’s 2002 Mercedes CLK-GTR roadster, a one-of-six homologation special supercar valued at approximately $AU19.5 million.
    The seized motorcycles and vehicles are currently being held as evidence and will remain in custody until the conclusion of the investigation and any resulting trials.
    Wedding will be detained over the weekend ahead of his Monday court appearance, where he faces an indictment filed last year in the Central District of California.

    Spencer LeechSpencer has a keen eye for hard news, and does some of his best living on deadline day. He loves more than anything to travel on his Aprilia Tuareg 660, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. He also knows how to operate the big computery thing in the office. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
    The post Former Olympian arrested in Mexico following MotoGP motorcycle collection seizure appeared first on INFO MOTO.
    RiderBOT
    Patent shows MotoGP aero on road-going machinery
    MotoGP aerodynamic innovations have already spawned a generation of sports bikes with front winglets and a new patent from Aprilia suggests the vertical ‘leg wings’ seen on its recent GP machines could also be making their way to production.
    The designs clearly show large aerofoil panels just behind the rider’s feet and lower legs, but also specify that instead of being part of the rear bodywork, as they are when fitted to race bikes, these units are designed to be easily bolted to the existing pillion footrest brackets of almost any road-going bike. They’re depicted on an RSV4, but could just as easily fit to the RS660 or even models from other brands.

    They’re far from merely cosmetic panels, too, as the patent explains how they manage to perform two important aerodynamic tasks, helping improve both top speed and cornering ability.
    When you’re riding in a straight line your boots align with the leading edge of the new panels, which form a relatively smooth surface for airflow that’s passed over the side fairings and your legs. Seen from above, the two panels taper towards the rear of the bike, helping create a teardrop-shaped outline that helps reduce drag by cutting down on the turbulence behind the rider’s legs.
    That, in itself, might be a worthwhile gain, but the panels also boost the bike’s cornering ability by adding rear downforce when you’re nearing maximum lean. That’s because when the rider hangs off on the inside of a corner, knee near or on the ground, your extended leg creates a tunnel that lets air pass between your calf and the bike, hitting the leg wing on the side of the bike nearer the ground full-on. Instead of simply passing over the outer surface of the wing, as when riding in a straight line, this blast of wind travels down both faces of the winglet, which is formed into a downforce-generating shape, pulling the bike towards the asphalt and into the corner. Its counterpart on the other side of the bike still has its airflow blocked by your other leg, so can’t produce a force that counteracts it. Essentially the rider becomes an active aerodynamic component.

    Aprilia’s intention to use the system on road bikes rather than racers is clear, as the patent says: “Preferably, the support can be connected to a bracket of the passenger footrest. In this way it is possible to mount the pair of wings as accessory on any road bike comprising passenger footrests. In practice, when it is not necessary to accommodate a passenger, for example while riding on a racetrack, the passenger footrests can be removed to accommodate in the relative brackets respective wings in accordance with the present invention.”
    The post Aprilia Leg Wings Coming To Street Bikes? appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    Retro cruiser steers clear of chrome for convincing post-war look
    For a company that’s built around its heritage and the 125-year-old reputation of its name, Indian’s 2026 lineup so far hasn’t leant too heavily into its history – focusing on the liquid-cooled Scout and PowerPlus-driven ranges – but the new Chief Vintage wholehearted summons the spirit of Indian past with a look that’s straight out of the 1940s.

    The deeply-valanced fenders, black-painted suspension, bars, headlight bowl and exhaust, plus dull silver rocker covers and pushrod tubes reminiscent of the rough cast aluminium of old Indians all combine into a convincing retro style that simultaneously manages to be one of the more subtle in Indian’s catalogue.

    Powered by the air-cooled, OHV ThunderStroke 116 V-twin – that’s 1890cc in metric terms – that predates the brand’s more modern liquid-cooled, DOHC designs, the Chief Vintage isn’t intended to break any new ground in terms of performance. Indian puts the focus on torque, with 156Nm on tap at 3,300rpm, while power, as confirmed in the bike’s approval documents, is a more subdued 62.4kW at 4,000rpm. There’s a touch of 21st-century tech in the cylinder deactivation system, which cuts off the rear cylinder when the bike’s up to temperature and idling, helping keep heat away from the rider, but otherwise the Chief Vintage revels in its old-school appeal.

    The chassis is shared with the other Chief models, with a relaxed 29-degree rake and long 1626mm wheelbase, with twin rear shocks and non-adjustable telescopic forks, while the single 298mm front disc is one clear visual clue that this isn’t a real 1940s Indian. With 327kg to haul to a halt, it’s got its work cut out, but there’s a similarly large rear rotor to help out. Onboard there’s another nod to modernity; the circular instrument isn’t a traditional dial but a colour TFT screen, complete with app-based functionality for navigation and media.
    How much to travel back to Indian’s 1940s heyday? Prices start at $31,995 AUD.
    The post Indian Chief Vintage Hits 1940s Notes appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    CFMOTO Australia has announced the arrival of the 2026 XO Papio Racer, now sporting a Champion Blue livery inspired by the brand’s grand prix race bikes and featuring updates including standard traction control.
    The updated mini-bike receives styling changes for 2026, headlined by new full side fairings that give the Papio Racer a more ‘aggressive, aerodynamic silhouette’. Winglet-inspired elements add sporting flair to the compact machine, which retains its distinctive twin round LED headlights and clip-on handlebars.
    Rider ergonomics have been completely revised, with the clip-on bars raised 48mm and footpegs moved 114mm forward. The changes create a more upright, natural riding position better suited to daily riding while maintaining the bike’s sporty character.

    The headline addition for 2026 is a standard traction control system, marking a significant safety upgrade for the platform. An upgraded LCD display now features a glass lens for improved clarity and includes a TCS status light to keep riders informed of the system’s operation.
    Power comes from CFMOTO’s 126cc air-cooled engine producing 7.0kW/9.2Nm, and fed through a six-speed gearbox. The engine is paired with a 7L fuel tank that CFMOTO claims delivers up to 350km range per fill.

    The XO Papio Racer rides on USD monoshock forks front and rear with 96mm of travel at both ends. Braking comes via a 210mm front disc with twin-piston floating caliper and 190mm rear disc with single-piston floating caliper, both backed by dual-channel ABS.
    At 114kg wet weight and with a 760mm seat height, the Papio Racer sits on 12-inch wheels.
    The 2026 CFMOTO XO Papio Racer in Champion Blue arrives at Australian dealerships in March priced at $4990 ride away, backed by CFMOTO’s three-year factory warranty.
    Spencer LeechSpencer has a keen eye for hard news, and does some of his best living on deadline day. He loves more than anything to travel on his Aprilia Tuareg 660, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. He also knows how to operate the big computery thing in the office. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
    The post CFMOTO XO Papio gets Racer makeover for 2026 appeared first on INFO MOTO.
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