We’re less than two weeks away from the start of EICMA—the massive annual motorcycle trade show that traditionally brings a slew of new bike releases. But, as has become the norm over the past few years, it feels like there’s more news before the event than we’re expecting from the event itself.
In the past month alone, 2026 motorcycles from major players like Honda, KTM, Ducati, Kawasaki, and Triumph have all broken cover. We’ve rounded up our favorite highlights, while asking the question: with so much good stuff happening before EICMA, has the show itself lost its appeal?
2026 Ducati Monster
Ducati has redesigned the venerable Monster for 2026, marking the naked roadster’s fifth generation. In what we can only assume is a bid to make us forget that they axed the Monster’s iconic trellis frame five years ago, the Italian firm has tweaked the styling to incorporate key details from the Monsters of yore.
Ducati says they redesigned the new Monster from scratch, but it still bears a close resemblance to its predecessor, with a sharp, modern vibe. Ducati’s newer V2 engine is suspended from a monocoque frame, the swingarm takes inspiration from the Panigale, and the subframe is part technopolymer with the tiniest hint of a steel trellis section.
The engine uses Ducati’s proprietary ‘Intake Variable Timing’ system, delivering smoothness down low and energy up high in the revs. It makes 111 hp at 9,000 rpm and 91.1 Nm at 7,250 rpm, delivering more than 80% of its maximum torque between 4,000 and 10,000 rpm. Running gear includes Showa suspension, Brembo front brakes, a full electronics package, a quick-shifter, and a new TFT dash.
On the styling front, the new Monster’s tank is more akin to the hunched units on older iterations, with intake vents that recall the second-generation Monster. The Monster + model comes with a headlight cowl and a more rounded passenger seat cover than before; both details are once again more aligned with the traditional Monster aesthetic.
The overall look is a little less fussy than before, with fewer plastic bits and a clearer look at the engine, which is good. That said, the styling still doesn’t quite have us convinced. Perhaps the sixth-generation Monster will get it right. [Ducati]
2026 Honda CB1000F
Good news, sports fans: the Honda CB1000F concept that the Japanese marque has been teasing all year has gone into production. It’s one of the most exciting modern classics to hit the scene in recent years, but it’s only available in Japan and Europe (for now).
Visually, the 2026 Honda CB1000F is a perfectly modernized version of the iconic 1980s CB750F—from the bodywork to the vintage Honda-inspired liveries it comes in. Under the hood, you get the bones of a Honda CB1000 Hornet, although its inline-four cylinder motor’s been tuned for a slightly mellower 122 hp and 103 Nm.
Beyond the classic styling lie modern Showa suspension components, twin radial-mounted front brakes, LED lighting, a TFT display, and a full suite of electronic riding aids. And if personalization is your thing, Honda offers a smorgasbord of bolt-on parts, including a ‘comfort’ seat, a headlight fairing, a quick-shifter, soft luggage, and more.
By re-jigging the Hornet as a classic CB, Honda’s used the same strategy as Kawasaki with the Z900RS and Yamaha with the XSR900. But we reckon Big Red’s done it better. [Honda Europe]
2026 KTM 990 RC R
KTM’s forte is off-road, adventure, and naked bikes, but the Austrian marque regularly dabbles in sportbikes—always with radical results. The 2026 KTM 990 RC R takes the company’s lively LC8c engine, tunes it to 128 hp and 103 Nm, and packs it into a purpose-built supersport for the street, with a steel chassis, an aluminum subframe, and KTM’s signature hooligan styling.
There are hints of the KTM’s MotoGP contender, the RC16, in the 990 RC R’s fairing—specifically its aero wing and the recess that hosts the headlight. The bike also looks to carry over learnings from the 2024 KTM RC 8C, which was developed in collaboration with the German boutique race bike brand, Krämer.
As you’d expect from KTM, the 990 RC R comes with WP APEX suspension and Brembo brakes, plus an 8.8” TFT dashboard with multiple riding modes—including an option track mode and two customizable modes. Ergonomically, the RC R’s been designed to optimize every contact patch, with adjustable foot pegs to accommodate shorter and taller riders.
The KTM 990 RC R is pitched at sportbike riders who want a bike equally good for the track or street. But if that’s not focused for you, the company has teased a KTM 990 RC R TRACK edition that’s launching next year, along with a bike-specific racing series in Europe. [KTM]
2026 Kawasaki KLE500
Big news out of Kawasaki’s camp this week was the return of one of the adventure riding scene’s most beloved underdogs—the Kawasaki KLE500. Available in standard and ‘SE’ trim (as pictured here), and powered by a plucky 451 cc parallel-twin mill, the new KLE sports the sort of rally raid aesthetic that’s become ubiquitous among dual-sport bikes.
Highlights include a steel trellis frame, 21F/17R wheels, 43 mm KYB forks, and switchable ABS. The SE spec adds a taller windscreen, reinforced hand guards, a bigger bash plate, LED lights, and a TFT display with smartphone connectivity.
Small-to-mid-sized adventure bikes like the Royal Enfield Himalayan and Honda NX500 are all the rage right now, so the Kawasaki KLE500 should fit right in. Kawasaki is famous for building usable and unbreakable adventure bikes, so we’re fully expecting to see 2026-model KLE500s still tearing up the trails 20 years from now. [Kawasaki]
Stark VARG SM
The Spanish electric motorcycle company Stark Future is relatively young, but it’s already making waves. They recently pulled the wraps of the new Stark VARG SM—a lightweight electric supermoto with sharp styling and a gaggle of clever features.
With a paltry curb weight of 124.5 kilos [274.5 pounds], and an output of up to 80 hp (depending on which model you buy) delivered with the sort of urgency that electric motors offer, the VARG SM sounds like barrels of fun. Its carbon-fiber-sleeved motor—derived from Stark’s motocross bike—is partnered with a steel frame that uses the bike’s honeycomb magnesium battery as a structural component. The subframe is a forged aluminum part, while the forks and shock are adjustable units from KYB.
The VARG SM looks crisp and razor sharp, with carefully considered surface finishes and countless details that would make any industrial designer giddy. The flower-shaped CNC-machined switchblock is one standout feature, as are the CNC-machined hubs. You also get a waterproof and shock-resistant Android-based Arkenstone display, loaded with functionality.
The battery offers a claimed maximum range of 120 km [74.6 miles] under the mildest conditions, with a full charge in less than two hours. Under the hood, riders can customize the bike’s power delivery and regenerative ‘engine’ braking to suit their personal riding style.
All that will set you back $12,900 for the 60 hp version and $13,900 for the 80 hp version in the US. That pitches the Stark VARG SM against bikes like the KTM 690 SMC R and Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono—both of which weigh more but go much further on a full tank. [Stark Future]
