AMID Bike Expo (2026) Sizzling Success

The AMID (Association of Motorcycle Importers and Distributors) bike show has been hosted at Red Star Raceway for the last few years and has gone from strength to strength with new brands and suppliers coming on board each successive year. This year was a resounding success as thousands descended on the race circuit to check out what the brands have in store for 2026.

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The pit lane and circuit came alive this year as the absolute who's who of motorcycling came together to put on a show that everyone agreed was the best yet. Almost all the major bike brands had something on display, and buyers and enthusiasts were treated to everything from bikes to side-by-sides and all sorts of gear and products related to riding.

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It was plain to see from anyone entering the circuit that there is a very particular hunger from the public for an event of this nature. The gates opened at 8:30, but by 8:15, a queue was already forming, and parking was filling up quickly. The ride out to Red Star may be a bit of a trek for some, but what the show had to offer was worth every penny. Entry to the track and show was free, and with some organised chaos, we found a parking spot and made our way into the pit lane.

We were immediately greeted by bright flashes of colour from exhibitor tents lining the main pit building and both sides of the concourse. When greeted with the raucous assault of colour and sound, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. The only thing to do is start at one end and make your way down the pit lane, stopping to gawk at the stunning machinery on display.

Taking up the first pit box at pit exit was Suzuki SA. Not only did they have their Rider Safety School taking on the track, but they also had a full complement of their current model lineup and the four new models unveiled at the EICMA show late last year. The new GSX8-T and TT models were standouts, with everyone admiring their bold paint schemes and designs.

Next to them was Harley-Davidson GoldRand, which had brought out some shiny, chromed-out machines, and next to them was upstart CF Moto with a full range of bikes, quads and side-by-sides.

Next in line was KTM South Africa and the sub-brands, Husqvarna and GasGas. The Orange crew held the crowd's attention twice on the day as they unveiled not one but two bikes that aficionados have been patiently waiting for. First to be uncovered was the new-to-us KTM 1390 Super Adventure S, with its touchscreen infotainment system, AMT (automated manual transmission), and R430k price tag. Next up was the machine that I have been waiting for, the new KTM 990 RC R, a race-ready superbike. The RC is pure art: a touchscreen cluster, MotoGP winglets, and bodywork to drool over, all for a very respectable R295k pre-order price.

It didn't stop there, though; further down were displays from BMW Motorrad, BETA, Royal Enfield, Tromox, Yamaha, Triumph, Kayo, and Honda, who had brought the best examples of their lineup, including the legendary CBR1000 Fireblade and the new CB1000 SP Hornet. The upstart for the show, and as far as I could see, the busiest stand for the day was the joint Kawasaki and new disruptor, QJ Motor display. Kawasaki SA is importing and distributing the new QJ Motors range of bikes that had everyone blown away.

These bikes may be Chinese in origin, but the engineering and underpinnings are the same as those of some well-known American and European brands and models that QJ manufactures under license and sells in China. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what SU8 and SU9 are based on, and the smaller-engine-capacity machines are no different. The V4-powered 600cc cruiser was an eye-opener. Want to guess what that design is based on?

We will have more coverage of the comprehensive QJ Motors range in the coming weeks as the brand continues its dealership rollout and stock arrives. It wasn't just two wheels on show. A couple of brands also brought out some very interesting-looking quads, as well as a few intimidating-looking side-by-side machines from BRC Moto and Can-Am. Even Honda had a little SXS workhorse on display, and the other vendors were there too. There were dealer shops exhibiting everything from riding gear to camera equipment to service parts and tyres.

Everyone that we spoke to on the day agreed wholeheartedly that this has been the best show thus far. With a good five hours of browsing, chatting and socialising with fellow bikers and getting to see what riders have at their disposal and what's new in the market, it was absolutely worth the ride out. This year may be done and dusted, but with such a successful show now wrapped, there will be even more exhibitors next year, and who knows... maybe even some test rides on track.

We will have to wait a full 365 days before the 2027 edition, but everyone agrees it's going to be mega! In the meantime, if you want to catch a glimpse of what went down this year, check out the gallery of images