15 bikes have already made their case for AMCN’s biggest award. But with some major new metal still to come, the fight is far from settled

Each year brings the same problem. Just when you think motorcycles can’t get much faster, smarter, more capable or better value, another crop arrives to move the goalposts.

But AMCN’s Motorcycle of the Year 2026, presented by National Motorcycle Insurance, isn’t simply about finding the fastest bike, the most expensive one or the machine with the longest list of electronic acronyms. If it were, our job would be considerably easier – and involve way less arguing.

It’s about the bike that delivers on its promises in the real world, nails the design brief, brings something genuinely worthwhile to the game and gives Aussie riders a compelling reason to lay their money down.

And after another year spent riding everything from learner-legal singles and middleweight twins to adventure bikes, retro roadsters, electric machinery and fire-breathing superbikes, 15 have already done enough to put themselves in the frame.

Already is the important word. There are still several issues of the mag before our annual Yearbook hits the stands, and some significant new motorcycles are yet to face the AMCN test. They can’t make this list until we’ve ridden them – but the door to MOTY2026 remains open.

So consider this the starting grid rather than the final field. We’ll update the shortlist next issue as more contenders become eligible, before whittling the field down to our final 10. Those finalists will then be judged by our expert panel against the same five criteria that underpin MOTY every year: build quality, innovation, how successfully each bike fulfils its design brief, the relevance of its features and, crucially, value for money.

The winner will be revealed in the upcoming AMCN Yearbook. For now, these are the 15 that have earned the right to start the fight!

• Suzuki GSX-8TT
Retro done right, with Suzuki wrapping yesterday’s superbike attitude around a punchy engine and predictable modern chassis.

• BMW F 450 GS
Learner-legal it may be, but even the base-spec baby GS packs equipment worthy of BMW’s premium machinery.

• Harley-Davidson Sportster S
That Revolution Max 1250T is a revelation; muscular, sophisticated and, as we discovered on track, capable of one hell of a howl.

• KTM 990 RC R
The ‘Duke of Hazard’ slays apexes with serious performance, but gives you the control and feedback to exploit it.

• Triumph Bonneville Bobber
Triumph keeps improving a formula we thought had limited shelf life, enhancing rather than sanitising its Mad Max road-warrior appeal.

• Yamaha R7
The learner threatens to become the leader with class-leading electronics, a friendly chassis and that punchy CP2 twin.

• Royal Enfield Guerrilla Apex
Sharper suspension, 17-inch wheels and sportier ergonomics bring a decidedly more aggressive edge to Royal Enfield’s roadster.

• Honda CB750 Hornet E-Clutch
Honda’s clever E-Clutch adds another dimension to an already entertaining and hugely versatile middleweight naked bike.

• Rieju 307 Aventura Rally
Simple, light and beautifully composed off-road, the little Rieju could seriously shake up the sub-300cc adventure class.

• CFMoto 1000MT-X
Strong, tractable performance, beaut KYB suspension and impressive build quality combine with an outstanding bang for the buck.

• Ducati Multistrada V4 S
V4 performance, sublime electronic suspension, long-distance comfort and remarkable refinement in one formidable package.

• Kawasaki KLE500 SE
Simple, tough and practical, with genuine Aussie-bush credentials, strong value and around 400km of riding range.

• Royal Enfield Flying Flea
A radical departure from one of motorcycling’s oldest names, bringing fresh thinking to the lightweight electric motorcycle.

• BSA Gold Star 650
Classic British roadster appeal meets approachable modern performance in a convincing revival of one of motorcycling’s great names.

• Ducati Panigale V4 R
Extraordinary racing-derived engineering and performance bring Ducati’s world championship ambitions frighteningly close to the road.

So 15 contenders. More are coming. Then comes the cut. Over the next few issues, we’ll reveal which new arrivals have done enough to join them before narrowing the field to the 10 bikes our judging panel believes have made the strongest case against the MOTY criteria.

Then there’ll be nowhere left to hide. One of them will be crowned Motorcycle of the Year for 2026. Let’s do this.