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    RiderBOT
    With the rev of engines and a toast to community, Royal Enfield’s newest dealership at Burleigh Heads officially opened its doors, blending old-school craftsmanship with a modern, ride-together spirit.
    This week saw an industry event to celebrate the opening of the latest Royal Enfield dealership, at Central Drive, Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.
    The opening is the culmination of the substantial efforts of proprietors Tobin Page and Alex Goldenstein (under the brand GRID Motorcycles), and creates the latest distributor for Indian-manufactured Royal Enfield bikes, part of the Urban Moto Imports (UMI) stable of import brands. It was a night short on formalities, but in a very brief speech, Page highlighted the importance of building a community around ownership of these bikes rather than just a dealership.

    This is something UMI was willing to support, given the success of the concept in Sydney with the 2024 opening of the flagship Moto Machine dealership. In addition to a showroom of beautiful bikes, the premises will incorporate a member’s lounge as the community concept is to have owners ride together and gather back at the premises to chat about the bikes and their rides. Obviously there is a full service capability on the premises, and experienced on-site fabricators are able to modify bikes prior to delivery.
    It’s amazing to see the success of this Indian brand, which has produced bikes for well over a century. For anyone travelling in India 20+ years ago, the 350 bikes could be seen everywhere, but the thought was that these were more of a domestic bike. This is clearly no longer the case, as UMI reports in excess of 15,000 owners in Australia and over 50 affiliated dealerships.
    The Indian company also reported 1 million annual sales for the first time ever in the year ending 31 March 2025, so clearly it is a behemoth in the global motorcycle industry.

    With LAMS approval, the full Royal Enfield range is suitable for learners right up to experienced riders, and the brand is taking a key place in the intermediate-size bike market. UMI reports a strong order book for the Himalayan 450 and Classic 650 bikes, and they also see strong demand for the smaller 350 range.
    Of the 650 range, the Cafe Racer was the standout in terms of looks, and the Shotgun (more of a bobber-style bike) is a real head-turner. The single piston 450 Guerrilla aims at the younger audience, and is delivered in brighter colours to stand out more to the youth.
    The bikes look heavy, partly reflecting the styling and use of heavy steel, but this gives them a tough durability, and apparently adds to their stability. The simplicity of the setup lends itself well to modification, in addition to a full range of after-market accessories allowing the customer to access a highly-personalised end product.
    Purpose Built Moto were also on hand with their modified Meteor 650 at the dealership, which provided the centre of attention for the evening, with its hand lever-operated gear shift, stunning front forks and the chrome exhaust setup.

    In 2026, Royal Enfield has plans to distribute its Electric Bike, the Flying Flea, which will eventually slot in at the Burleigh dealership well, given Tobin and Alex’s previous ownership of an EV-bike seller just behind the new premises.
    Expect to see a lot more of these great looking Indian-manufactured bikes around the Gold Coast in coming months, along with a thriving community of owners.

    The post Royal Enfield opens new Burleigh Heads dealership appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    Honda Motorcycles has built 500 million units since the company began mass production of combustion-powered bikes in 1949.
    The Japanese automotive giant has reached this significant milestone 76 years after it built its first motorcycle, the Honda Dream D-Type.
    Since its beginnings, Honda has developed and offered two-wheeled vehicles to meet the  needs of many types of customers, in many countries and regions, with the brand’s ethos that “the purpose of technology is to make people’s lives easier,” according to Honda. 
    1949 Dream D-Type (Honda’s first production motorcycle).
    Honda began mass-production of motorcycles at its first overseas production facility in Belgium in 1963, and since then, has expanded its production globally in accordance with its fundamental principle of “producing locally where there is demand.” As a result, Honda achieved its 100 million-unit milestone in 1997, its 200 million-unit milestone in 2008, and its 300 million-unit milestone in 2014.
    In 2018, Honda’s annual production exceeded 20 million units for the first time in its history, and cumulative global production reached 400 million units in 2019. Although the annual production of motorcycles temporarily declined due to COVID-19 in 2020, demand has steadily recovered worldwide to pre pandemic levels since then.

    In addition to internal combustion engine (ICE) models, Honda positioned year 2024 as its first year of global expansion for electric powered motorcycles.
    “We are delighted to support this global milestone that no other motorcycle brand in the world has achieved.” said Chris Schultz, General Manager, Powersports and Products at Honda Australia powersports general manager Chris Schultz.
    “Honda has a huge history in Australia that has generated a large following of loyal Honda owners. We are proud to be a part of this incredible story.”
      1 of 8   The post Honda celebrates 500 million motorcycle milestone appeared first on INFO MOTO.
    RiderBOT
    Efforts underway to sell or recapitalise iconic Aussie motorcycle retailer as business operations continue
    The administrators handling the collapse of long-standing motorcycle retail chain Peter Stevens remain confident that the business can be salvaged, as efforts to find a buyer or investor move forward.

    Administration firm KordaMentha, which took control of the company earlier this week, confirmed that operations will continue while they seek expressions of interest for either a sale or recapitalisation of the business.
    In a statement, KordaMentha said, “The administrators intend to continue to operate the companies on a business-as-usual basis while they seek immediate expressions of interest for the sale or recapitalisation of the businesses.”
    Peter Stevens Motorcycles, operating for over five decades, entered voluntary administration on Monday—putting up to 400 jobs across its national network at risk. The retailer has long held a dominant presence in the Australian motorcycle market through a network of dealerships across multiple states.

    Administrator Craig Shepard believes a buyer is likely to emerge given the company’s strong foundations. “With more than 50 years of brand recognition, an established dealer footprint across the country and a significant share of the local motorcycle market, there is a genuine turnaround opportunity here,” Shepard said. “These are strong foundations for a new owner to set the business up for future success.”
    While administrators are hopeful, industry-wide challenges have contributed to the current retail environment. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) reports that overall motorcycle sales have declined 3.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same period last year—highlighting growing pressure on discretionary spending.

    “Motorcycles are often a discretionary purchase, and in the current environment of high living costs and interest rates, many Australians are understandably more cautious with their spending,” said FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said in April. “While there is a slight softening across all categories in the wake of current economic conditions, we expect to see enthusiasm among Australian riders to return as conditions stabilise and maybe ease.”
    Peter Stevens is the latest major name to succumb to the financial squeeze caused by rising living costs, joining other closures across Australia’s retail and building sectors. The situation now remains in the hands of administrators, who hope the company’s legacy and market position will be enough to attract a buyer and secure the future of one of the country’s best-known motorcycle retailers.

    The post Administrators Optimistic About Future of Peter Stevens Motorcycles appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    Funding from major shareholder Bajaj Auto helps the Austrian motorcycle giant meet looming debt repayment deadline
    In a crucial development, KTM AG has confirmed it has secured the funding required to fulfil its debt obligations as part of a sweeping insolvency plan. The Austrian company has battled a severe financial crisis since late last year that forced it into self-administration and a months-long restructuring process.
    KTM has a huge inventory of unsold bikes
    That process reached a decisive juncture this week when KTM confirmed that it had secured the necessary funding to make a critical payment to its creditors, putting it back on more stable financial footing. The required sum—around €600 million ($632 million)—is to cover 30% of the company’s outstanding debts, estimated to be more than €2 billion. The amount must be delivered to the insolvency administrator by the 23rd of May 2025, a deadline that KTM now says it will meet.
    As reported by AMCN in April, major shareholder Bajaj Auto Ltd. is playing an instrumental role in securing KTM’s future. While KTM’s official statement remained discreet about naming names, regulatory filings in India show that Bajaj Auto’s European arm secured a €566 million unsecured loan from global financial heavyweights JP Morgan Chase & Co., DBS Bank Ltd., and Citigroup Inc. The funds, according to Bajaj’s statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange, were earmarked for investment purposes—though the filing does not explicitly name KTM as a beneficiary.
    A return to production has been hampered a lack of component availability
    Notwithstanding the coy language, there is little doubt about the loan’s intended destination. A statement from Pierer Mobility AG confirmed that “restructuring plans of KTM AG, KTM Components GmbH and KTM Forschungs & Entwicklungs GmbH can be fulfilled on time,” adding: “As announced, the creditors of KTM AG, KTM Components GmbH and KTM Forschungs & Entwicklungs GmbH approved a restructuring plan quota of 30 percent on February 25, 2025, payable by May 23, 2025. The total amount required to finance the quota under the three restructuring plans amounts to approx. EUR 600 million. Pierer Mobility AG and KTM AG have received financing commitments, subject to the execution of the requisite agreements, which will ensure that the quota payments… can be fulfilled on time by May 23, 2025.”
    The successful securing of these funds follows a regional court decision in February that approved KTM’s restructuring proposal, which included a significant 70% haircut on its debts—a move that required creditor approval and underscored the urgency of securing new capital.
    Pit Beirer says KTM is committed to factory racing efforts beyond 2025
    Since initiating self-administration, KTM has undergone significant internal changes. These include layoffs, a temporary suspension of motorcycle production, the restructuring of its board of directors, and the sale of investments—including shares in MV Agusta.
    KTM is owned by Pierer Mobility AG, which itself is 74.18% owned by Pierer Bajaj AG—a joint venture in which Bajaj Auto holds a 49.9% stake. While KTM has not confirmed Bajaj’s direct involvement in the loan, increased financial engagement may well see Bajaj taking on a more prominent role in the brand’s direction going forward.
    In response to the news, KTM’s share value saw a noticeable uplift—a clear sign that investors are regaining confidence in the brand. However, questions remain, especially about KTM’s factory racing operations. During the height of its financial uncertainty late last year, court documentation revealed that one of the cost-saving proposals under consideration included a withdrawal from MotoGP. That said, KTM motorsport boss Pit Beirer moved quickly in January to reassure the racing world of the company’s continued commitment to competition, even hinting at preparations for the 2027 MotoGP rule changes.
    Acosta has been rumoured to be exploring other options for 2026
    The post KTM Secures Billion Dollar Lifeline appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    Knockout blow to coup leader but succession concession agreed to
    A coup that threatened to upend Harley-Davidson’s management has been snuffed out with shareholders narrowly voting to retain all board members, including the retiring CEO and Chair Jochen Zeitz.
    However, H-D’s second-largest largest shareholder, H Partners, which initiated the coup attempt, has won one major concession. Zeitz’s successor will come from outside the company, rather than being one of the internal candidates the board was considering.
    In a statement later, H Partners said: “We are encouraged that this campaign compelled Harley’s board to commit that Mr Zeitz, Mr Linebarger and Ms Levinson will resign from the board before the 2026 annual meeting, that it will appoint a new, external CEO, and that it will eliminate any consideration of Mr Zeitz remaining on in an Executive Chair role. We call on the board to follow through on these promises.”

    Linebarger, H-D’s Presiding Director, said: “We appreciate the valuable perspectives and feedback our shareholders have provided, and we look forward to continuing to engage going forward.”
    The meeting had been expected to be a fiery encounter between the factions but it lasted barely 20 minutes. Exact details of the vote count were not revealed but insiders have told US financial journalists it was “knife-edge” close.
    H Partners ran a very public campaign against the retention of Zeitz, Linebarger and Levinson. It claimed their plans to retire made them dead wood as the troubled company faces huge challenges in a declining sales market.
    It also alleged that over the 17 years the trio had “overlapped” on Harley’s board, they had “overseen the destruction of more than $6 billion in equity value and have consistently put their own self-interests ahead of those of shareholders”.
    H-D responded by calling out H Partners as “an opportunistic hedge fund” running a “misleading campaign”.
    Zeitz was considered a potential saviour when appointed CEO in 2020. A board member since 2007, he had gained fame in the 1990s by turning sports brand Puma around with a long-term strategy that increased its share value by an incredible 4000 per cent.

    His five-year plan for H-D was much less spectacular but seemed to be working by 2023. Then sales began declining after the Covid pandemic ended and tempers became frayed around the Harley dealer network. Last year a group of long-term customers and dealers openly campaigned against Zeitz, citing his Diversity Equity Inclusion strategy as an example of how he was destroying the famous company’s core values.
    After the board crisis resolution, Harley shares closed at $US24.92, down 0.3 per cent.
    These are confronting times for America’s largest motorcycle manufacturer. Its share value has dropped 31 per cent over the past year to $US3 billion.
    In the first quarter of 2025, H-D’s global motorcycle sales slumped 21 percent compared to the same period in 2024. It was down 24 per cent in its home market and 28 per cent lower in the Asia-Pacific.
    It blames the decline on a “volatile macroeconomic environment” and “consumer uncertainly”.
    An indication of how big H-D is can be seen in these figures: A net income of $US133m in the first quarter (down 43 per cent) with the impact of the Trump tariffs described as “minimal” at $US9m but expected to hit hard going forward.
    One failed bet on the future is the LiveWire spin-off brand, with H-D admitting it’s sold just 33 in the first quarter while sinking $US20m into the operation over that period.

    The post Harley Wins Boardroom Brawl appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    Iconic Australian retailer faces uncertain future, with up to 400 jobs hanging in the balance
    In a major disruption to the Australian motorcycle industry, retail trailblazer Peter Stevens Motorcycles has entered voluntary administration today, casting serious doubt over the future of one of the country’s most storied and recognised motorcycle dealership groups.
    Founded in 1970 by brothers Vince, Steve, and Peter Chiodo, Peter Stevens Motorcycles has been a fixture of the Australian riding community for more than five decades. What began as a small family-run dealership evolved into a powerhouse in motorcycle sales, servicing, apparel, and accessories, representing some of the world’s most iconic brands including Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, KTM, and Triumph. The group also owns and operates Harley-Heaven, a chain of dedicated Harley-Davidson dealerships.

    The business underwent a significant structural overhaul in recent years as part of a generational succession plan. In January 2023, Vince Chiodo’s daughter, Jessica Chiodo-Reidy, acquired 100 per cent ownership of the Peter Stevens retail operation, completing the family’s internal transition. In doing so, she acquired the full shareholding of the Peter Stevens Motorcycles and Harley-Heaven retail businesses from her uncle, Steve Chiodo. This milestone marked the formal split between the retail and wholesale arms of the broader Peter Stevens Motorcycle Group.
    Other family members retained control of separate wholesale businesses, including Monza Imports, PSI, Fox Racing Australia, and PSI Cycling, which were divided between John Chiodo and Steve Chiodo’s son, Paul. Jessica, meanwhile, took the reins of the retail organisation and its associated property portfolio, expressing deep pride in continuing the legacy built by her father and uncles.
    Jess Chiodo-Reidy
    In announcing the transition last year, Chiodo-Reidy said, “I am really proud of what Dad [Vince] and his siblings achieved, and I’m excited to be stepping into their very big shoes… Darren [Munro], Scott [Ryan], and Jason [McKenzie], together with myself, are completely dedicated to keeping this fantastic culture alive.”
    Following the restructure, key retail appointments were made at board level. Darren Munro, a long-time director and senior figure in the business for nearly 30 years, assumed the role of CEO of the Peter Stevens Retail Group. He was joined by Scott Ryan as director of Peter Stevens Motorcycles, Jason McKenzie as director of Harley-Heaven, Geoff Mortimer at Motorcycle Dealership Group, and Ariane Hubay at Riders Finance Group.
    Despite the careful planning and leadership reshuffle, the company has in recent times faced significant headwinds, including declining motorcycle sales across parts of the Australian market, shifting consumer spending habits, and strong competition from national retail chains such as BikeBiz, AMX Superstores, Team Moto, and Motorcycle Accessories Supermarket (MCAS), which have all expanded their physical and online presence in recent years.

    With up to 400 staff across Peter Stevens’ retail dealerships, service centres, finance division, and online operations, the announcement of voluntary administration represents a big shock for employees and customers alike. At present, it is not confirmed whether the group will be able to find a buyer, or continue operations in any form.
    The post Peter Stevens Motorcycles Enters Voluntary Administration appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    Moto Guzzi Australia has today announced that its premium adventure tourer has received a price reduction of $3500 to $29,390 rideaway for MY24 units, while gaining radar-based Forward Cruise Control (FCC) fitted as standard. 
    INFO MOTO pointed out in its written review and video launch report that despite coming equipped with a front radar from its initial release, the bike did not offer active cruise control functionality – arguably the largest benefit provided by radar technology.
    At launch, Moto Guzzi indicated that such features would arrive in due course, and this week it has been delivered alongside a significant price cut.

    Moto Guzzi’s new Stelvio adventure tourer distinguishes itself from the V100 Mandello sports tourer that launched in 2023 with long-distance ergonomics and light-off-road credentials.
    The Moto Guzzi Stelvio builds upon the V100 Mandello with touring comforts like longer travel suspension, a taller windscreen, revised handlebars and riding position, a 19-inch front wheel (up 2-in) and a 21-litre fuel tank (up 4L).

    While in keeping with the new platform’s design language, the Stelvio sees revised bodywork and much larger rider and pillion seats, also aiding its long-distance credentials.
    Other key specifications include Michelin Anakee dual-sport tyres, expansive luggage options and revised rider mode settings.
    The Moto Guzzi Stelvio is motivated by the same 1042cc twin-cylinder engine with shaft drive as the Mandello, outputting 85kW and 104Nm.

    The post Major price cut, tech upgrade for Moto Guzzi Stelvio appeared first on INFO MOTO.
    RiderBOT
    Australian motorcycle retailing giant Peter Stevens Motorcycles is to enter voluntary administration amid financial woes, a source has told INFO MOTO. 
    Peter Stevens Motorcycles, including Harley-Davidson dealership chain Harley-Heaven, are under threat of liquidation if the company cannot rectify its position.
    The company is expected to announce it is entering voluntary administration today, with one insider telling INFO MOTO that employees will be told if the business will sell or liquidate within a four-week period.

    Peter Stevens Motorcycles owns dealerships across Australia with brands Triumph, KTM, GASGAS, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Can-am, with Vespa and Sea-doo.
    The company also offers a comprehensive catalogue of riding gear and accessories from brands including Fox, Alpinestars, REV’IT!, Dri-rider, RST, Johnny Reb, O’neal , Garmin, and Helmet brands like Shoei, Bell, AGV, Arai, Bitwell, LS2, Nolan, and parts from Moto-cred, Mo-tow, KTM powerparts, MotionPro, DID, Motorex, Motul and techmate, among many others.
    In 2023, Jessica Chiodo-Reidy took control and 100 per cent ownership of Peter Stevens Motorcycles retail businesses.
    More to come.
    The post Breaking: Peter Stevens Motorcycles to enter voluntary administration appeared first on INFO MOTO.
    RiderBOT
    Four new models busted that cover major market segments
    Documents filed by Ducati have revealed the first details of no fewer than four new models that we can look forward to for 2026, including radically revamped Monster and Desert X ranges as well as a new range-topping superbike.
    All the information comes from a VIN decoding document filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US, which demands that all manufacturers selling bikes in the States reveal exactly how to make sense of the 17-digit VIN that’s stamped on every chassis. By comparing the latest VIN decoder with the same document published last year for the 2025 model range, we can glean vital information about all these new machines.
    Here’s how the key new models in Ducati’s 2026 range are expected to pan out.
    1: New Monster and Monster+

    These shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. The current Monster range, launched for the 2021 model year, was the first in a long time to eliminate a variety of different specs and engine sizes in favour of a single model in two trim levels – standard and “+” – powered by the same liquid-cooled, 937cc Testastretta 11° engine that was used in a host of bikes from the Multistrada V2 to the Supersport 950 and Hypermotard.
    Four years on, that Testastretta 11° engine is being axed, with the models that used it either getting revamped or being eliminated from the line-up. For the Supersport 950, it was a death sentence, but for the Monster it means a new model is on the way.
    It’s confirmed in the new VIN decoding document. It reveals that bikes with the letter ‘U’ in the sixth position of the VIN, which relates to which model line the bike is part of, will include the Panigale V2, Multistrada V2, Streetfighter V2 and – in a change from the previous edition – the Monster and Monster+. That indicates not only that the Monster will be getting the same 890cc, variable-valve timing V-twin engine that debuted in the other ‘V2’ models last year, complete with conventional sprung valves instead of Ducati’s signature desmodromic system, but that its chassis is also likely to be borrowed from the other models listed alongside it. Despite their very different appearances, the Multistrada V2, Panigale V2 and Streetfighter V2 all use a modular, semi-monocoque half-chassis, with the 890cc, 89.5kW (120hp) engine as a fully structural component. A bolt-on steering head and seat subframe, as well as different suspension, allows for a variety of geometries and styles from a set of shared components.
    The fact that Ducati simply calls its 890cc engine the “V2” rather than using an exotic-sounding title like Testastretta, Superquadro or Desmoquattro indicates that in the future the company expects it to be the only V-twin engine in its range.
    2: New Desert X

    Another current model powered by the Testastretta 11°, the Desert X is also going to change for 2026. Unlike the next-gen Monster, the Desert X has its own ‘model line’ designation in the sixth VIN position (the letter ‘N’ denotes Desert X), so it won’t be sharing the same chassis as other bikes with the 890cc V2 engine, but we know it’s getting the new engine from another entry in the VIN decoding document.
    It’s the seventh character in the VIN that counts, as it denotes which engine each bike uses. From 2026 an “A” in the seventh spot will mean an 890cc twin with – in the words of the official document – a “gearbox dedicated for Desert X”.
    Previously, the VIN decoder listed two versions of the 890cc V2 engine – one shown by the number ‘8’ in the seventh VIN spot, the other by a number ‘9’ – with the latter differentiated by a “gearbox dedicated for Multistrada”. Having used all the letters in the alphabet and all the numbers from 1 to 9 for previous engines, the new 2026 Desert X engine recycles the letter ‘A’ as its designation, previously used for the long-discontinued Monster 400.
    Like the existing Desert X, we’d expect an off-road-spec chassis.
    3: Diavel V4 RS

    A slam-dunk reveal in the new VIN decoding document is the Diavel V4 RS – named alongside the existing Diavel V4 and Diavel for Bentley models for bikes getting the letter ‘R’ in the sixth position of their chassis number.
    What that doesn’t tell us, though, is how the RS version will differ from the standard bike. For a clue, we have to look to the only other bike in Ducati’s range to wear an ‘RS’ badge, the Multistrada V4 RS.
    On the Multistrada, that RS designation is an important one, as it means the bike gets the superbike-spec, 1103cc Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine from the Panigale V4 instead of the 1158cc Granturismo V4 engine that’s used in all the other Multistrada V4 models. It’s a big change, as the Granturismo engine is a lower-revving design with conventional valve springs, while the Desmosedici Stradale is a more powerful, higher-revving design with desmodromic valve actuation.
    It’s logical to expect the Diavel V4 RS will get the Desmosedici Stradale, like the Multistrada V4 RS. It’s also possible that Ducati could use any variant of this engine, even creating a a 200hp-plus muscle cruiser.
    4: Panigale V4 R

    For years Ducati has offered homologation-special ‘R’ versions of its superbikes to help get an edge in WorldSBK competition, so the introduction of an all-new Panigale V4 for 2025 meant that a new Panigale V4 R couldn’t be far behind.
    The new VIN decoding document certainly points in that direction, but it also hints that the next-gen R might be substantially different from the mass-production Panigale V4 than its predecessor was.
    Why? Because in the past the Panigale V4 R has carried the same model line designation as the standard bike, a ‘G’ in the sixth VIN position, but from 2026 it will be denoted by a ‘P’ in that spot instead.
    Under WorldSBK rules it will still have to use a 1000cc engine rather than the 1103cc V4 that the normal Panigale runs, but the addition of a Panigale V4 R-specific VIN designation indicates that the rest of it could stray from the stock Panigale as well. That could mean a new chassis, perhaps even a carbon fibre one, like the old Superleggera?
    We’ll have to wait and see.
    5: What about the Hypermotard?

    With the Desert X and Monster set to make the shift to the 890cc V2 engine, a question mark hangs over the only other model to use the Testastretta 11° V-twin – the Hypermotard 950.
    The new VIN decoding document doesn’t reveal what’s happening to that bike. It’s doesn’t show a dedicated version of the engine for the Hypermotard, as it does with the Desert X, or add it to the same model line as the Panigale V2 and Streetfighter V2, as it does with the next-gen Monster.

    It’s possible that there will be a new Hypermotard as well, potentially combining the chassis of the next-gen Desert X with the 890 V2 engine in Multistrada or Panigale/Streetfighter spec, but if that was the case we’d expect the bike’s name – presumably ‘Hypermotard V2’ – to show up in the ‘model line’ section of the VIN decoder. It doesn’t.
    The old Hypermotard 950 name is shown (which is no guarantee that production will continue, as names remain on the decoder even after bikes are discontinued) but doesn’t fit with the 890cc engine. As a result, it’s possible that the only Hypermotard in the range, at least for a while, might be the single-cylinder Hypermotard 698 Mono.
    The post Ducati’s 2026 Red Riot! appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    Ninja 1100SX-based roadster coming soon

    Kawasaki is coming full circle for 2026 with plans to launch a new Z1100 four-cylinder roadster that will be based on the Ninja 1100SX – a bike that itself is a descendant of the old Z1000 that was discontinued several years ago. The demand for a powerful, affordable naked roadster has been highlighted by the success of the Honda CB1000 Hornet, and while Kawasaki already has the Z900, powered by a 123hp 948cc four-cylinder, the new Z1100 will fill a gap in the range above that.

    The bike’s existence for 2026 has emerged from a new filing with the California Air Resources Board about its emissions equipment. It shows that the machine – which is codenamed ZR1100HT – shares the same engine as the Ninja 1100SX and the Versys 1100, both new additions to Kawasaki’s range for 2025 with an upsized, 1099cc version of the 1043cc four that powered the previous Ninja 1000SX and the Z1000SX that spawned that bike back in 2014.

    With the same engine as the Ninja 1100SX and Versys 1100, the Z1100 is expected to match those bikes in terms of power – 100kW – and the CARB document shows it’s also in the same ballpark when it comes to weight, listing a figure of 370kg, although that’s a number that’s intended to include the bike, fuel, luggage and a typical rider. In reality, a kerb weight close to the Ninja 1100SX’s 234kg is likely.

    While the name Z1100 isn’t used, the internal code ‘ZR1100HT’ can be translated to mean that. The old Z1000 was internally coded as the ZR1000H, and the final ‘T’ is simply a letter used on 2026 Kawasaki’s to denote the model year (‘S’ is used on 2025 bikes).
    The post Kawasaki Z1100 for 2026 appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
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