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With Honda recently hitting the mind-boggling milestone of half a billion bikes sold and manufacturers like Harley-Davidson, Triumph and BMW each boasting over a century of history, you might think lesser-known brands would be nuts to even try to compete.
After all, they’re often the ones taking bigger swings, with smaller, more affordable rides. Launching beautifully blacked-out electric motos, head-turning cruisers and more, perhaps Benda, CFMoto, Maeving and Matter will be the household names of the future.
Catch up on all the latest newsworthy two-wheelers and decide for yourself below.
BMW Motorcycles
2026 BMW R 1300 RT
BMW has dramatically improved upon the already impressive R 1250 RT with this new-and-improved touring motorcycle. Highlights include a sleeker silhouette, versatile geometry enabling a more aggressive riding position, your choice of manual shifting or the brand’s Automated Shift Assistant and a number of bar-setting standard features including full LED lighting, a 10.25-inch TFT display, Dynamic Cruise Control and Dynamic Traction Control. Of course, underneath it all is a rumbling 1,300cc air/liquid cooled Boxer engine making 145 hp at 7,750 rpm and 109.9 lb-ft. at 6,500 rpm.
With a similar platform to the also awesome R 1300 R roadster, this sport touring bike gets the blood pumping merely with its power plant, a 1,300cc air/liquid-cooled Boxer engine that makes 145 hp at 7,750 rpm and 109.9 lb-ft. of torque at 6,500 rpm. However, the fact that it goes 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds and, thanks largely to an aerodynamics-boosting fairing, tops out at 152 mph really seals the deal. True to the touring half of its designation, the bike also features a 6.5-inch TFT display, a 12-volt socket and a USB-C port — and can be outfitted with storage accessories including a tank bag, side cases and a top case.
The Aera holds the distinction of being the only electric moto with a (four-speed) manual transmission. Together with three ride modes, the gearbox gives the rider more control over how power is delivered. Speaking of which, the liquid-cooled motor produces just 14 horsepower but also a whopping 384 lb-ft of torque, enabling the bike to go 0–25 mph in 2.8 seconds. Fueled by a 5 kWh battery, the Aera also offers a certified range of 107 miles on a single charge.
The fifth installment in Harley’s Icons Motorcycle Collection, the Fat Boy Gray Ghost celebrates the 35th anniversary of the original Fat Boy with a stunning “dipped in chrome” Reflection finish. The look is achieved via the physical vapor deposition (PVD) process, also known as thin film coating, where a solid material is vaporized in a vacuum and deposited onto the surface of a part, in this case the tank and fenders. Other highlights include an amped-up new Milwaukee-Eight 117 Custom V-twin engine making 101 horsepower and 122 lb. ft. of peak torque, plus new-and-improved suspension, selectable ride modes, rider safety enhancements, LED lighting and 5-inch console-mounted analog speedometer and multi-function LCD digital display.
For newer and even seasoned riders, this classically styled entry-level cruiser has much to offer. The scrappy, sub-$6,000 bike’s 2-cylinder inline liquid-cooled DOHC engine makes 40 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 30 lb-ft of torque at 6,250 rpm. Thanks to a seat height of 27 inches and a curb weight of 399 pounds, just about any rider should have little trouble (and loads of fun) darting through city traffic and whipping around two-lane twisties.
Triumph follows up March’s release of the 2025 Speed Triple 1200 RS with an even sportier, more aggressive new bike — as if the RS shotgunned a six-pack of Monster Energy and then casually suggested, “hey, let’s hit the track.” Highlights include an 1160cc triple engine making 180.5 horsepower at 10,750 rpm and 94.4 ft-lb of torque at 8,750 rpm, an even more dynamic riding position, state-of-the-art Öhlins Smart EC3 electronic suspension and carbon fiber bodywork complementing an eye-popping yellow paint scheme.
Straight outta Coventry (central England), Maeving’s darkly dazzling spin on its classic RM1S is an instant head turner. Highlights include a hub-mounted brushless motor making 15 horsepower and 193 pound-feet of torque, a top speed of 70 mph and a combined range of 90 miles. Those numbers combined with a seat height of 31 inches and a curb weight of 311 pounds set it up as the perfect urban commuter bike with the capability to tackle two-lane twisties from time to time. One big bonus for city dwellers: you can remove the batteries and charge via a wall outlet, going for 20 to 80 percent in just 2.5 hours.
Hailing from Hangzhou, China, Benda enters the US market with three cruisers boasting eye-catching looks and head-scratching names. (Yes, one is called the Napoleonbob 500.) Most compelling is Chinchilla 500’s blend of classic style and modern tech, headlined by a 476cc engine making 47 horsepower and 31 lb-ft of torque and promising a top speed of 90 mph. The curb weight of 474 pounds makes it approachable while those flipped bar-end mirrors make it look badass.
Don’t be fooled by the goofy name — or the stunning gold, silver and black good looks: The 473-pound Napbob has much to offer on the performance front as well. The centerpiece is of course the liquid-cooled 476cc DOHC eight-valve V-twin making 47 hp at 9000 rpm and 31 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 7200 rpm. Other highlights include the unique “Flying Wing” handlebar (which encourages a sporty riding position), a smooth-running belt drive and an underrated touch you rarely see on factory bikes — bar-end mirrors.
Built on the same platform as the popular Scrambler 400 X, the India-only XC features a similar 398cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine making 39.5 bhp at 8,000 rpm and 37.5 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm. It has the same 32.9-inch seat height, 13-liter fuel tank and suspension travel (5.9 inches front and rear). The big differences include spoked wheels and a color-matched flyscreen and mudguard, plus an aluminum sump guard, radiator guard and lower engine bars. There’s also a classic scrambler-style number plate on the kickstand side. You know, in case you wanna race this thing.
Thanks to its punchy 755cc engine, handy quick shifter, generous suspension (7.9 inches front, 7.5 inches rear), good looks and great price, the Transalp was already a winner. Now Honda has made this adventure bike even better with a new central duct for better aerodynamics and handling, a dual-projector headlight and 5-inch full-color TFT display you can pair with your phone and Honda RoadSync app for hands-free navigation, weather forecasts, ride modes and more. Perhaps best of all, the base price still ducks just under $10,000.
Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.
BMW Motorcycles
BMW Motorcycles
Matter India
