Two years after its insolvency, Italian electric motorcycle manufacturer Energica is officially back. The restart kicks off with two gatherings in San Francisco and Milan, but key questions about the owners and the dealer network remain open.
Browsing: Rumors
Rumors
In this category you will find reports on current rumors, speculation and information that has not yet been officially confirmed within the motorcycle industry. This may include potential new models, technical developments, planned collaborations or possible changes in racing and manufacturer strategies.
The list below brings together related reports and places them into context. It is clearly indicated whether the information is based on official statements, insider reports or industry speculation.
This section provides an overview of topics that are still in development or under discussion and whose details may change over time.
Eleven new patent filings from China reveal in detail for the first time how the V4 engine of the CFMoto V4 SR-RR is built. One of the documents also explicitly describes a turbocharged variant.
A prototype from China has gone faster than BMW claims for its world championship-winning superbike. On paper, the CFMoto V4 SR-RR therefore looks like a rival to the M 1000 RR, but one widely quoted figure distorts the comparison.
Chinese manufacturer Benda is working on a supercharged motorcycle engine and has filed a new patent for it. The technology differs significantly from the concept Benda already had protected a good three years ago.
The 2027 Dakar is due to start in Saudi Arabia on January 1, but the security situation in the region is becoming increasingly difficult. The ASO is apparently working on a new route in the north, while reports of a shortened rally in Morocco are also circulating.
The CFMoto V4 SR-RR is turning its first laps on the race track, with riders in the saddle who will soon be racing in MotoGP. The test with the Aspar team shows how closely CFMoto links its first superbike to its own racing plans.
Honda is reportedly working on a new supersport bike with a 900 cc V3 without a compressor. The model, called the V3R 900RR, could replace the ageing CBR600RR and make Honda competitive again in the Supersport World Championship.
BMW Motorrad has released the silhouette of a new naked bike that will be unveiled on 1 October 2026 at 5 pm. Everything points to the long-awaited F 450 R, which is likely to combine the technology of the F 450 GS with the look of the S 1000 R.
An updated document from the Californian environmental agency CARB lists a new Ducati Streetfighter V4 SP for model year 2027. The track-focused version of the V4 naked bike is therefore apparently returning to the range after a one-year break.
ZXMoto’s new V5 engine is said to be on show at EICMA in November, with the Superbike World Championship named as the target for 2028. Yet a five-cylinder does not appear in that series’ rulebook at all.
Californian registration documents list two model names that do not exist in Ducati’s current line-up. Both point to a renewed collaboration between Ducati and British car manufacturer Bentley.
MV Agusta has confirmed its entry into the Italian crisis procedure Composizione Negoziata della Crisi, admitting both operational and financial difficulties. For owners and prospective buyers this raises very concrete questions about spare parts, warranty and resale value, which neither the factory in Varese nor the German sales company has answered so far.
The Suzuki SV 650 has been newly certified in California for the 2027 model year, together with the revised 645 cc V-twin from the SV-7GX. Whether that means the model also returns to Europe has not been confirmed by Suzuki so far.
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner made two different statements about Ducati’s future within a single day. Neither version says anything has been decided, but since the supervisory board resolution of 4 September the brand from Borgo Panigale is on the Volkswagen Group’s review list.
Sam Sunderland set off from London on 5 September 2026 on his round-the-world record attempt. In the photos from the start he is apparently sitting on a Triumph Tiger 1200 that does not officially exist yet.
The 490 RC is set to become the smallest model in KTM’s new sport range. More recent information shows that it is not based on the 450 RC sold in China, but on a purpose-developed twin-cylinder platform.
ZXMoto founder Zhang Xue is working on a five-cylinder engine in a V configuration with around 1,000 cc. Between the official announcement and the figures circulating about it, however, lies a wide gap.
BMW Motorrad shows the R20 uncamouflaged and almost finished for the first time in an official video. Company boss Markus Flasch openly says he would like to bring the two-litre boxer’s sales launch forward.
On 2 November 2026 Yamaha will show a new model that many expect to be a Ténéré 900 with a three-cylinder engine. If it does arrive, it will face a field of five established enduros separated by around 8,000 euros in price.
Kawasaki has released a twelve-second video on its European social media channels showing nothing but the sound of a supercharged engine and the line “Return To Beyond Belief”. Together with the already known US certification data for the 2027 model year, the signs are mounting that the Ninja H2 is returning to Europe after a five-year break.