Motorcycle Live proved a cracker this year with exciting new models from our brands catching visitors’ attention and creating much interest.
The Orwell Motorcycles party of directors Dave Willis and Andrew Jay, dealer principal Mark Trench and Joe Willis visited the annual show at Birmingham’s NEC and came away impressed and looking forward to the future.
Dave said: “It was good to see so many manufacturers there. It was as big as ever.
“It was nice to see that, in this day and age, there are still petrol motorcycles being launched. There is still not much on the electric front.”
It gave them a chance to see new models from Kawasaki, KTM, Royal Enfield and Suzuki in the metal for the first time.
Dave liked what he saw.
“The new Kawasaki KLE500 adventure bike is one I would like to own. I was very taken by it.
“I always like the Royal Enfield stand because it’s a bit different and there’s always something new and interesting there.”
This year, along with special 125th anniversary models, Royal Enfield had a new Bullet 650 and a scrambler-style version of its Flying Flea, revealed last year as an electric urban commuter.
It also had the original Flying Flea, a small-capacity lightweight motorbike airdropped in protective cages and used by British paratroopers during the second world war.
“On the Suzuki stand we saw the new SV-7GX and GSX-R1000R in the metal. It’s good to see the GSX-R1000R back. It’s an icon and let’s hope they start racing again.
“The new Z650 S also looked very nice in some attractive colours.”
Another star on the Kawasaki stand was the new retro lightweight W230.
“That got a lot of attention. You know it’s going to be built as solid as a rock and it looks very stylish. It would make an ideal commuter bike for anyone who wants a characterful ride.”
The show-stopper on KTM’s stand was the 990 RC R supersport motorbike.
“There was a lot of buzz around the 990 RC R – we’ve sold three of them already – but KTM also had the new 390s.
“I think the 390 Enduro R is a fantastic-looking bike. So is the 390 Adventure R,” Dave added.
You can find out more about the new 2026 models at orwell.co.uk and click on the new bikes tab.
