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    RiderBOT
    Ducati Australia has announced a special centenary edition of Ducati Track Days Powered by MEGA Events, scheduled for Monday 20 April 2026 at Sydney Motorsport Park.
    The event marks 100 years of Ducati and will bring together a lineup of Australian and international racing figures including Troy Bayliss, Steve Martin, Josh Waters (Craig McMartin Racing), Glenn Allerton and Anthony West (DesmoSport Ducati).
    Participants will have the opportunity to ride alongside those riders and spend time with them throughout the day, as well as get up close with the 2026 Ducati model range on display.

    The package includes track time, lunch, coffee and refreshments, a professional image library from the event, and an exclusive 100th centenary gift pack. The day concludes with a cocktail hour giving attendees direct access to the racing guests in an informal setting.
    Riders who do not currently own a Ducati can hire a Panigale V4 S for the event.
    “Celebrating 100 years of Ducati is a milestone that speaks to our rich heritage and the passionate community that has supported the brand for generations,” said Alana Baratto, head of marketing at Ducati Australia and New Zealand.
    “This special edition of Ducati Track Days Powered by MEGA Events is about bringing our Ducatisti together from across Oceania and giving them unprecedented access to our racing heroes, our latest models and the unique spirit that defines Ducati.”
    Places are limited. Tickets start from $395 per rider. Bookings are open now at ducati.com/au/en/events-anz/mega-ducati-track-days.

    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 motorcycle, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
    The post Ducati centenary track day coming to Sydney Motorsport Park appeared first on INFO MOTO.
    RiderBOT
    New 149cc dual-purpose bike arrives from April, priced from just $3,290 ride-away

    Suzuki Australia has announced the DR150, a new lightweight off-road motorcycle aimed at riders wanting a simple, durable machine for property work and casual trail use, with the model due to reach local dealerships from April.
    Positioned as an accessible option for farmers, hobby riders and entry-level motorcyclists, the DR150 is powered by a 149cc air-cooled, single-cylinder four-stroke engine producing about 11.8hp at 8,000rpm and 11.6Nm at 6,000rpm, paired with a five-speed gearbox. Suzuki says the engine is tuned for responsive low-rev performance suited to unsealed surfaces and recreational riding.
    Practicality and ease of ownership are central to the package, with both electric and kick-start systems fitted to provide redundancy in remote conditions. A high-tensile steel frame brings claimed wet weight to around 139kg, targeting manageable handling for newer riders and day-to-day use around rural properties.
    Key dimensions include a 12.5-litre fuel tank, 839mm seat height and 244mm ground clearance. Suzuki also highlights long-travel suspension, including a 37mm front fork with up to 180mm of stroke to help absorb rough-road impacts. The company notes the seat can compress under load, with a claimed effective height of 780mm under a 75kg rider.
    Equipment includes semi dual-sport tyres on 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels, a digital LCD instrument cluster with gear position indicator and service reminder functions, a front disc and rear drum brake set-up, and lighting intended to support early starts and long days. The styling incorporates a front mudguard and fairing inspired by Suzuki’s DR BIG design cues.
    For carrying capability, the DR150 comes with a rear rack rated to 7kg, pre-drilled for mounting a top box or accessories and featuring multiple luggage hooks. Suzuki also points to a high-mounted muffler designed to improve clearance and water-crossing ability, with a stainless tail cover intended to resist corrosion in off-road conditions.
    The DR150 will be sold in Metallic Dazzling Cool Blue with a listed ride-away price of $3,290 and a 12-month warranty.
    Specifications
    ENGINE
    Type Single-cylinder, air-cooled, SOHC
    Bore & stroke 57.3mm x 57.8mm
    Capacity 149cc
    Transmission 5-speed, constant mesh
    Starter Electric & kick
    PERFORMANCE
    Power 11.8hp @ 8000rpm
    Torque 11.6Nm @ 6000rpm
    CHASSIS
    Front suspension Telescopic, coil spring, oil damped
    Rear suspension Link type, coil spring, oil damped
    WHEELS & BRAKES
    Front brake Disc
    Rear brake Drum
    Tyres (front) 90/90-19 52P – tubed type
    Tyres (rear) 110/90-17 60P – tubed type
    DIMENSIONS
    Length 2070mm
    Width 825mm
    Height 1165mm
    Wheelbase 1360mm
    Seat height 839mm
    Ground clearance 244mm
    Fuel capacity 12.5L
    Weight 139kg (wet)
    SERVICING & WARRANTY
    Warranty 12 months, unlimited kilometres
    The post Suzuki Expands Lineup With Dual-Purpose DR150 appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    Suzuki Australia has confirmed the DR150 will arrive in Australian dealerships from April, priced at $3290 rideaway.
    The DR150 is a 149cc air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke, producing 11.8 horsepower at 8000rpm and 11.6 Nm of torque at 6000rpm through a five-speed gearbox.
    Suzuki has positioned the model as an entry point for farmers, hobby riders and newcomers seeking a durable machine for light off-road terrain and private property use.

    Both electric and kick-start systems are fitted as standard, and the machine tips the scales at approximately 139kg (wet). Ground clearance is 244mm, seat height is 839mm and the fuel tank holds 12.5 litres.
    Semi dual-sport tyres are fitted front and rear, in 19-inch and 17-inch sizes respectively. Braking is handled by a front disc and rear drum setup. A digital instrument display and purpose-designed lighting are also included.
    The DR150 is offered in a single colour, Metallic Dazzling Cool Blue, and is backed by a 12-month warranty.
    2026 Suzuki DR150. 1 of 5 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 motorcycle, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
    The post Suzuki DR150 joins Australian line-up as practical off-road option appeared first on INFO MOTO.
    RiderBOT
    New four-cylinder retro headed for Osaka and Tokyo Motorcycle Shows in late March
    The launch of Honda’s new generation of small-capacity four-cylinder bikes has been unusually confusing for a company usually associated with its slick operations but a new level of clarity is expected to emerge when the CB400 Super Four gets its official unveiling at the Osaka Motorcycle Show on March 20.
    So far, Honda has shown two machines based on its new small four, the CB500 Super Four retro naked roadster and the CBR500R Four sports bike. Both appeared last September at the China International Motorcycle Expo, although a series of trademark applications meant the existence of the machines was already common knowledge. It’s also long been known that smaller-capacity, 400cc versions would join them to suit markets like Japan where there are licence or tax advantages to the 400cc class.
    But while Honda showed both 500cc models in China and has added them to its Chinese-language website in that country, six months on from that launch the CB500 Super Four and CBR500R Four still aren’t in dealers and Honda hasn’t released anything but the most basic technical details. Official prices, power and weight figures are still under wraps, for example. Only leaked details from Chinese type-approval documents have revealed that the CBR500R Four version manages a peak of 52.8kW from a 502cc capacity, with a curb weight of 189kg.

    Despite expectations of a global launch, driven by Honda’s trademark filings around the world, export versions of the bikes didn’t appear at last November’s EICMA show, but now they’re set to be shown in 400cc form at the Osaka and Tokyo Motorcycle Shows that take place on successive weekends towards the end of March.
    Right now only the CB400 Super Four has been teased – via a video on Honda’s official channels that shows a silhouette identical to that of the Chinese CB500 Super Four – but Honda is promising two secret models at the show, so the faired CBR400R Four is also likely to be on display there.
    Technically, we know that the CB500 models use a bore of 60mm (rounded to the nearest millimetre), suggesting a bore of around 44.4mm to hit that 502cc displacement, thanks to the engine’s codename: WH460MR-A. That stands for Wuyang-Honda, Honda’s Chinese manufacturing venture, 4 cylinders and 60mm bore. Bringing the bore down to 55.5mm would achieve a 399cc total for the CB400, or Honda might choose to keep the 60mm bore and cut the stroke to 35.3mm for the same 399cc but a higher-revving character. The old CB400 Super Four, which ended production back in 2022, used a 55mm bore and 42mm stroke.
    The bikes also get a new, more compact version of Honda’s E-Clutch system, as well as a multi-mode TFT dash, upside-down forks and Nissin radial four-pot front brakes. They’re intended to take on the growing number of Chinese-made four-cylinder bikes like the Kove 450R and 450RR, CFMoto’s 500SR, ZXMoto’s 500RR and 500F, and Voge’s RR500S. Outside China, Kawasaki is also in the four-cylinder, 400cc market with its Ninja ZX-4RR.
     
    The post Honda teases CB400 Super Four ahead of show debut appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    Surprise concept appears to revive eight-year-old idea for Revolution Max sport model
    Harley-Davidson’s will-they-or-won’t-they relationship with sporty bikes has endured for decades – from the VR1000 of the 90s to the company’s ownerships of the Buell and MV Agusta marques, attempt to break away from the brand’s staple cruisers tend to end in tears – but a surprise new concept shows that the idea of building something spicy is back on the table.

    The RMCR concept’s name stands for Revolution Max Café Racer, and it does what it says on the tin. The engine is the liquid-cooled, 1250cc Revolution Max, which currently makes the Pan America adventure bike Harley’s most powerful machine with 150hp, while the concept’s café racer styling harks back to the 1977-79 XLCR.

    It’s an odd choice of bike to celebrate as the XLCR was far from successful. It’s two-year production run reflects the fact it didn’t prove popular in its day: fewer than 3200 were made before it was axed, making it a collectable today despite not attracting customers when it was first available.

    Although the new RMCR is a fresh design, its all-carbon bodywork immediately rings bells if you’ve closely followed the brand’s dalliances with sport bikes. The nose fairing’s shape instantly recalls a clay model, spotted in the background of a video released way back in 2018 when Harley’s ambitious ‘More Roads to Harley Davidson’ expansion plan was revealed by then-boss Matt Levatich, which included the intention to expand into sportier parts of the bike market. That clay model, notably seen sitting right next to an original VR1000, used the Revolution Max engine and while its fairing was more enveloping than the RMCR’s, its nose shape and was very similar.

    Those 2018 ideas were quickly snuffed out when Levatich was ousted in 2020, replaced by Jochen Zeitz, who refocussed H-D on cruisers with his ‘Rewire’ and ‘Hardwire’ strategies, which cancelled most of the ‘More Roads’ plans. Now Zietz is gone, too, and it looks like Harley is swinging back in the other direction again.

    Since the RMCR is based on the Revolution Max engine, it uses the same chassis concept as other bikes with that motor. The engine is central structure of the chassis, with a tubular front section bolted on to the cylinder heads to hold the steering head. The front section, in this instance, looks very much like that of the Pan America, while the swingarm looks like it’s from the Bronx – a streetfighter-style machine, originally intended to use the smaller, 975cc Revolution Max engine, that got as far as being officially shown at EICMA in 2019 before being canned the following year. Upside-down Ohlins forks, a steering damper and Brembo radial brakes indicate the bike’s handling intentions, while dual, circular TFT instruments are an interesting stylistic bridge between old and new.

    Will the RMCR reach production? Harley’s decades of flip-flopping when it comes to venturing out of its cruiser safety zone suggest it’s far from a sure thing, but it looks like the pendulum is swinging back in the direction of more adventurous machines with the H-D badge on the tank.

    The post Harley RMCR hints at new café racer appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    After a career defined by results and relationships, Jeff Leisk is back at the beginning again, setting up to become the official Australian BSA importer
    Decades in the KTM Group, from an ambassador role all the way through to a very successful General Manager, has put former motocross great Jeff Leisk in good stead for what’s essentially his third chapter in the two-wheel space. The difference this time, however, is the starting line. Because as the newly appointed importer and distributor of BSA, there is no inherited infrastructure, no established shipping or transporting logistics to refer to and no legacy dealer agreements to lean on.
    “We’re starting from zero completely,” he says. “It’s a lot to do in a short space of time.”
    The original Gold Star was an uncompromising production racer for the road. The Gold Star 650 channels this vibe in a modern package of practicality Leisk is also one of the few Australians who has achieved impressive results in both directions of motorcycling’s ecosystem. A serial winner, he’s a multiple Australian MX champ, he finished second in the 1989 World Motocross Championship and even tried his hand in Aussie sprintcars.
    In the decades since, he became the long-term public face and steady hand of KTM’s Australian operation. Taking on the role of managing director (and shareholder) of KTM’s Australian and New Zealand importer, AHG, in 2000, over the next two decades he helped lift annual volume from 400 units to 15,000 by 2020, alongside a 120-strong dealer network and $150 million in yearly revenue.
    Jeff Leisk was one tough competitor in his day Now he’s applying those lessons to a brand that, while on paper needs no introduction, is still one that needs to be built from the ground up from Leisk’s native base in Perth.
    While the move is very much the next logical step for a bloke not ready to consider retirement, Leisk says the BSA opportunity essentially found him “in the middle of last year”, while he was consulting for the pioneering electric off-road motorcycle company Stark Future.
    He brought KTM’s Super Duke to Australia What followed was part professional curiosity, part personal connection. “They were looking for an importer, and they were struggling to find somebody,” he recalls. “And I guess the more I looked into it, I got kind of interested, and I suppose one of the things that resonated a bit as well was when I was a young fellow, Dad would always talk about some of his first bikes being BSAs; the Gold Stars, the Bantams and things like that. So yeah, I just got excited by the opportunity and decided to pursue it.”
    With organiser Peter Drakeford at Broadford’s popular Easter Bonanza weekend The distribution contract was signed and Leisk Moto Imports was registered as a private company towards the end of last year. 
    If BSA needs a modern reference for what success can look like in this corner of the market, it doesn’t need to look far. Urban Moto Imports (UMI) has spent the past decade turning affordable, classic-styled single- and twin-cylinder Royal Enfields into a serious business Down Under, proving there’s a large audience for bikes that feel approachable and characterful without climbing into premium pricing territory.
    BSA’s Thunderbolt ADV prototype will likely go into production soon “Royal Enfield will be one of our major competitors, I suppose, because we certainly live in their space in terms of the product offering, the origin of the product, where it’s manufactured and also our price points,” Leisk says. “One thing we’ve seen (change) post-Covid is the price of bikes.”
    His view is that brands in this bracket can still win on value, arguing that “the likes of Royal Enfield, BSA are still delivering, I think, a really good product at a very affordable price. So there’s a place for it in the market”.
    The corporate warrior! Since UMI took on Royal Enfield distribution in Australia in 2015, it has helped grow the brand into a 62-dealership network across A-NZ. Over the same period, Royal Enfield’s momentum has kept climbing, surpassing one million global sales for the financial year ending 31 March, 2025, with Australia’s Asia-Pacific region up 13 per cent year-on-year.  Across the Tasman, BSA is already being sold under a different importer, with Europe Imports named as the official New Zealand distributor when the brand announced its return there in 2024.
    Fatherhood didn’t seem to slow him down much “I’ve had a little bit of a chat to those guys and I think they’re getting along pretty well with it,” Leisk says, pointing to a recent global owners event in Wellington that helped generate interest.
    These days, the BSA brand sits under the Classic Legends umbrella, the Mahindra-backed group that also holds Jawa and Yezdi, with Mahindra retaining 60 per cent ownership. That backing helps take some of the guesswork out of the exercise compared with trying to introduce an unknown marque from scratch.
    “Turnover is $US60 billion a year, they’re a huge conglomerate, so it’s nice to know it’s got a solid background,” he says of Mahindra. “Classic Legends’ main mantra is to revitalise older brands and bring them back to life.”
    Chrome petrol tanks, BSA’s styling signature of the 1950s and 60s, are back again big-time He’s careful to frame that point in practical terms: “You know, it’s not that the idea of importing a brand had never crossed my mind before. But a lot of the time, you know, some of the newer brands, emerging ones … in the early days, it’s very difficult to establish a brand and a reputation, and you need a lot of things to kind of go in the right direction.”
    With KTM, a much-loved brand whose motto is Ready to Race, Leisk has spent much of his working life selling high performance and cutting-edge technology. And while a BSA 350 Bantam couldn’t be farther from a 1390 Super Duke, there’s actually one important element of BSA that KTM is still forging: a 165-year history.
    Did you know that Leisk also raced for Honda? “I’ve lived most of my life trying to sell the latest and greatest with KTM or with Stark being a new technology,” he says. “And then with BSA, one thing that really has caught me off guard in a positive way is how big the following is for the brand, and how many people still own the older-vintage BSAs.
    “And then there’s multiple associations and owners clubs around the country, and I’ve been able to connect with a couple of them already. And that’s been really cool. It’s made it a lot of fun.”
    The rollout plan is for the initial 25 dealers to be appointed in major centres across Australia, with early indications suggesting deliveries could start as early as the middle of this year. Despite his association with Stark Futures, Leisk says a direct-to-customer model was “never a consideration”, revealing that Stark ran both models and the vast majority of riders wanted to buy from a bricks-and-mortar dealership.
    The Crocodile Dundee of motorcross cracks the whip “I think it’s still the type of purchase where there’s a lot of complexities, because to sell a road registrable vehicle, Australia’s just not ready for that,” he says. And while his WA base has the potential to increase complexities and costs around transport and logistics, an eastern seaboard base is so far off the cards.
    “We operated KTM from WA for quite a period of time. And we’re able to do it successfully, so I don’t really have any concerns about about that,” he says. “We’re pretty mobile; we’ll certainly make sure we get around and we’re at all the major events, etc.”    
    And in a rather refreshing approach in a world that’s rapidly becoming less about human connections, his clear mission is to simply deliver the best customer service in the industry, believing that successful partnerships are built on trust and communication.
    The Gold Star 650 has been a steady seller for BSA in the UK and Europe Leisk Moto Imports is deliberately lean, built as a family operation from Perth with Jeff’s wife Liana and two of their daughters forming the structure. His wife will handle admin, he’ll take care of dealer relations and sales, while two of his daughters will handle parts and accessories. Marketing and digital support will be handled on a contract basis, at least initially.
    “Very small to start with and we’ll grow when we need to grow with it,” he says. And while he wouldn’t be drawn on revealing any early sales targets, he did confirm that all three BSAs currently available globally – the Gold Star 650, the Scrambler 650 and the Bantam 350 – will all be made available to Australian customers. Beyond the initial trio, BSA has already hinted at what could come next, showing the Thunderbolt adventure prototype at EICMA 2025 in Milan.
    “We obviously have a lot of pressure to perform, to deliver a seamless experience with good parts backup and good warranty support which we have to provide to our dealers so they can pass it on to the customers,” he says. “We want to deliver that type of service to our dealers and hopefully that sort of culture flows from them to the customers (to create) a really engaged community.”
    The Bantam 350 has really put the reborn heritage brand on the sales map as it sells in the UK for less than $A7000, undercutting Royal Enfield’s Hunter 350 by around $A200 He’s already sampled the bikes overseas, with a ride in the UK giving him an early sense of the character and experience offered by a modern BSA.
    “I think they delivered on what they’re supposed to be,”  he says. Asked what stood out, he points straight to the Gold Star. “I think the power of the Gold Star is really nice and smooth and it’s just a fun bike to ride,” adding that the Bantam 350 is selling super well in the UK.
    Before the first Australian allocation is even on the water, Leisk says he wants to be closer to the source. “We plan to get along to the factory when our bikes are being produced, obviously just make sure we’re happy with how that goes, learn what we can and also understand the technical aspects of the products – we’re trying to immerse as much as we can in the product before it gets here.”
    He’s also conscious that a heritage badge can be undone quickly if the rollout becomes a flood. “We’re pretty conscious of not flooding the market,” he says. “There are manufacturers getting their fingers burnt in that area.”
    It’s an idea he’ll keep coming back to as he builds the network and sets expectations for supply: “As Enzo Ferrari said: You just need to make enough, less one!” 
     
    Leisk’s MX CV

    1981 – 125cc Australian Motocross Champion 1982 – 500cc Australian Motocross Champion 1984 – Mr Motocross Champion 1984 – 250cc Australian Motocross Champion 1985 – Mr Motocross Champion 1987 – 5th place AMA Supercross Championship 1987 – 6th place AMA 125cc Motocross Championship 1988 – 6th place AMA Supercross Championship 1988 – 6th place AMA 250cc Motocross Championship 1988 – 4th place AMA 500cc Motocross Championship 1988 – 125, 250, 500cc Australian Motocross Champion 1989 – 2nd 500cc World Motocross Championship  
    The BSA line-up
    Gold Star 650

    BSA’s flagship retro roadster, built around a LAMS-approved 652cc liquid-cooled DOHC twin-spark single, producing 33.5kW (45hp) at 6500rpm and 55Nm at 4000rpm. A five-speed gearbox feeds a chassis with a 41mm front fork and twin rear shocks with five-step preload adjustment. Brembo calipers clamp a 320mm front disc and 255mm rear, both with ABS. Seat height is 780mm with a listed 213kg wet weight, plus wire-spoke alloy rims on Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp tyres and a 12L tank.
    Scrambler 650

    Based on the same engine and chassis platform, the Scrambler 650 blends classic heritage with a versatile design brief. It swaps the Gold Star’s 18-inch front wheel with a 19-inch, with both bikes running a 17-inch rear. Seat height increases to 820mm, wet weight is 5kg heaver at a claimed 218kg, while the wire-spoked alloy rims are shod with the popular Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres.
    Bantam 350

    Reviving the spirit of the original and hugely-popular Bantam D1, the Bantam 350 is BSA’s most accessible, uncomplicated entry point. Power comes from a 334cc liquid-cooled DOHC single making 22kW (29hp) at 7750rpm and 29.62Nm at 6000rpm, driving through a six-speed gearbox. It rolls on cast wheels (18in front, 17in rear) lists at 185kg wet, a 13L tank and has a conventional non-adjustable front fork and twin rear shocks with five-step adjustment.
    The post AUSTRALIAN FIRST | Jeff Leisk on Bringing BSA Back appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    The Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP Team has launched ahead of the opening round of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship in Bariloche, Argentina, this weekend, marking the start of a significant new chapter for Ducati’s off-road program.
    Jeremy Seewer, Andrea Bonacorsi and Calvin Vlaanderen will each race the Ducati Desmo450 MX as the Bologna manufacturer enters its second full MXGP season. Red Bull has come on board as title partner of the factory operation, which is based in Bergeijk, The Netherlands, and led by Team Principal Louis Vosters, who is a figure with more than 35 years of experience at the top level of motocross.
    Swiss veteran Seewer brings the most MXGP pedigree of the trio, having finished as championship runner-up in 2019, 2020 and 2022, and claimed eight overall GP wins across his career. He rides the Desmo450 MX for a second consecutive year.

    Vlaanderen, who was born in South Africa and races under the Dutch flag, finished sixth overall in the 2025 MXGP standings and has two GP race wins to his name. Italian Andrea Bonacorsi, 22, rounds out the lineup after finishing eighth overall last season and is still searching for his maiden MXGP race win.
    Paolo Ciabatti, general manager of Ducati Corse Off-Road, said the team had spent the winter working with engineers in Bologna and Vosters’ crew to improve every aspect of the Desmo450 MX, with the stated goal of fighting for wins in 2026.
    The opening gate drop in Bariloche this weekend will be the first real measure of how that development work has translated to race pace.
    1 of 7 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 motorcycle, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
    The post Red Bull on board as Ducati factory MXGP team chases first win in 2026 appeared first on INFO MOTO.
    RiderBOT
    BSA Motorcycles is returning to Australia, with Perth-based Leisk Moto Imports appointed as the official importer and distributor for the market.
    The British heritage brand revived by owner Classic Legend will officially launch in Australia in mid-2026, bringing three models initially available: the Gold Star 650, Scrambler 650, and Bantam 350, with the adventure-oriented Thunderbolt also due for release this year following its EICMA 2025 debut.

    BSA’s Australian history stretches back more than a century, with the brand particularly remembered for the Bantam Bushman of the 1960s. The revived lineup draws on that heritage while meeting modern standards. All models are LAMS approved.
    The Gold Star 650 is a 652cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder modern-retro roadster, first launched globally in 2022. The Scrambler 650, revealed in 2024, is built for both city and off-road use and features Brembo brakes, dual-channel ABS, and Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres.
    The Bantam 350, which arrived in the UK last year, carries classic styling cues including a round headlight, teardrop tank, curved rear fender. The Thunderbolt, BSA’s first adventure bike, adds rally-style aesthetics, traction control, and three ABS modes.
    Leisk Moto Imports is led by Managing Director Jeff Leisk, a former professional racer and ex-Managing Director of KTM Australia, where he spent more than 20 years overseeing distribution, dealer development, and racing programs. LMI’s immediate focus will be building a national dealer network ahead of the mid-2026 launch.
    Riders can register their interest via the BSA Motorcycles website.
    Thunderbolt. 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 motorcycle, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
    The post BSA Motorcycles confirms Australian return with Leisk Moto Imports as official distributor appeared first on INFO MOTO.
    RiderBOT
    Dealer network and three models on sale by the middle of this year
    AFTER A five-decade absence, heritage brand BSA is coming back to the Australian market. A 25-strong dealer network will be set up and all three BSAs currently sold globally – the Gold Star 650, the Scrambler 650 and the Bantam 350 – will be available to Australian buyers from mid this year.
    The Bantam 350, released late last year, will underpin BSA sales in Oz with a competitive price of $7590 ride away. It exactly matches the rideaway price of Royal Enfield’s Hunter 350 and undercuts Honda’s GB350 ($6999 plus ORC) and Triumph’s Speed 400 ($9300 rideaway).
    In the first two months of its UK release, the Bantam 350 topped the modern classic sales chart, knocking the Speed 400 off the top spot.
    BSA’s base model, it’s powered by  a 334cc liquid-cooled DOHC single producing 22kW (29hp) at 7750rpm and 29.62Nm at 6000rpm, with a six-speed gearbox. The Honda and Royal Enfield run a five-speed gearbox.
    Compared to its rivals, the BSA engine is a quick-revving short-stroke and produces slightly more power.
    It runs cast wheels (18in front, 17in rear) and has a conventional non-adjustable front fork and twin rear shocks with five-step adjustment. There is LED lighting front and rear but no electronic rider aids other than ABS and no USB connectivity.
    AMCN tested the Bantam 350 last September in Vol 75 No.04 where we praised its performance and price but criticised some missing rider tech.
    The Gold Star 650 will cost $12,249 ride away, and the Scrambler 650 $11,799 ride away. BSA’s Australian importer has already hinted at what could come next, including the Thunderbolt adventure prototype revealed last year.
    BSA models were last sold in Australia in the early 1970s. BSA sold a huge range of models here, including to police forces. There was even a Bantam model produced for Aussie farmers called the Bushman.
    The post BSA returns to Australia appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
    RiderBOT
    A world enduro trailblazer and a late road racing favourite were celebrated at the F1 Australian Grand Prix, as the Hall of Fame added five new names and a championship-winning machine

    The late road racing star Ken Blake and world enduro champion Shane Watts were inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix on Thursday, March 5.
    Watts’ enduro CV is outstanding and includes being the first Australian to win a world enduro title in 1997 and then blazing to class and outright honours in the 1998 International Six Days Enduro in Traralgon—near his hometown of Maffra—on a KTM 125cc two-stroke. He then made a name for himself in the ultra-competitive American arena, riding a variety of models to prove his mettle.
    Shane Watts When asked how he managed to build such an incredible career, Watts said he “did it the hard way”.
    “The journey from being a simple kid from out Maffra to getting across the world and end up winning a world championship was one I look back on with pride.
    “It was about the good ol’ Aussie spirit and saying I’m not going to stop. A lot of resolve, a lot of tenacity – quite the journey really. I’m very humbled and proud to be up on this stage.
    “Racing had its ups and downs, like the usual flow of life, and although I had lots of injuries it was about getting back on the bike and keep charging forward and moving onto the next battle.
    “Today is a huge achievement, and I’m I’m lucky enough that I’ve got my parents and one of my children here today, which is extra special. Being inducted into the Motorsport Hall of Fame is magnificent, but to have your parents proud of you and being able to inspire your children is equally as special.”
    And his advice for the next generation of enduro racers? “It’s an old cliché, but everyone says go out and have fun. It’s really what you need to do: savour the moment.”
    Blake’s place in Australian road racing history was sealed by giant-killing performances, highlighted by his famous victory over world champion Giacomo Agostini in the Australian 500 TT at Laverton Airbase, Victoria, in February 1976.
    Ken Blake Also inducted were record-breaking seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup, who became eligible after stepping down from active competition and remains principal of Triple Eight Race Engineering; leading official and entrepreneur Garry Connelly AM, who was crucial to the formation of Rally Australia and has served as Australia’s highest ranking international official for 20 years, including roles on the FIA World Motorsport Council and as chair of F1 stewards; and Top Fuel drag racing team owner Santo Rapisarda, a winner of more than 12 national titles. Sir Jack Brabham’s Formula 1 world championship-winning Repco Brabham BT19 also entered the Hall of Fame as the first racing car to be honoured, becoming the 100th inductee to mark the centenary of Brabham’s birth.
    Jamie Whincup The Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame is the highest honour in Australian motorsport. It is an exclusive honour-roll made up of less than one inductee for each of the 125 years motorsport has occurred in Australia.
    The post Watts and Blake Honoured in Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.
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