Road bikes at the 2026 Festival of Speed

In 2026, the First Glance Motorcycles batch was bigger than ever, with more than 30 new and upcoming bikes on display throughout the weekend, many of them making their dynamic debuts out on the famous Goodwood Hill.

All the big brands were in attendance. Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, BMW and Royal Enfield, each name steeped in heritage and gravitas, all had something to showcase, while some of the lesser known brands like LiveWire, Zero Motorcycles, Diamond Atelier and deBolex brought along some eye-catching and intriguing new creations.

Alongside the centenary celebrations for Ducati, all of this made for a fantastic weekend for motorcycle fans.

Among the most attractive machines was the Suzuki GSX-R1000RR Sheene Replica, a bike which has particular relevance at Goodwood this year as it correlates to our year-long celebration of the great Barry Sheene, 50 years after his first 500cc World Championship triumph.

Resplendent with a striking livery and the number 7 on its nose, it’s a hugely evocative bike, and with nearly 200PS (147kW) and 114Nm (84lb ft) of torque, this special edition of Suzuki’s top of the range sportbike it’s pretty potent as well.

Talking of potent, Diamond Atelier brought its Hyperbike Prototype to the Hill for the first time. A stunning new concept powered by a BMW V-twin developing more than 205PS (150kW), transferred to the road through enormous tyres that give this machine an imposing look.

A name that you might not expect to find among a motorcycle showcase is Aston Martin, and yet here at the Festival of Speed we got a brilliant look at what the famous marque has been up to: a collaboration with Brough Superior, a revival of the historic motorcycle brand once considered the ‘Rolls-Royce of motorbikes’. 

It’s called the AMB 001 Pro, and its turbocharged 997cc V-twin engine immediately sets it apart. Producing 225PS (165kW), this bike is certainly worthy of the Aston Martin name.

We also got to see some exquisite work from Royal Enfield, which has been developing a whole range of bespoke machines. Each distinct in terms of styling, engineering and performance, giving you everything from proper vintage motorcycling, with features like the ‘suicide shift’ present on the Super Meteor 650 "Project Delta" by Purpose Built Moto, to the almost alien looking Shotgun 650 "Caliber Royale" by Rough Crafts with its fascinating front faring.

The retro styling theme continued with Honda as it showcased its CB1000F, although this brand-new bike features the 1,000cc Fireblade engine, albeit slightly detuned, but still capable of more than 120PS (88kW)and 135Nm (100lb ft) of torque.

Yamaha is meanwhile busy celebrating 75 years of production bikes, and the R7 anniversary combines all of that history into one very tidy looking package. It was here alongside something that many of us might be able to picture on the driveway a little more easily than some of the other more outlandish models on display. The XSR900 GP has a modest 120PS courtesy of its 900cc engine, and has been built with comfort and usability in mind.

The king of the batch though, simply had to be the BMW R 18 by Kingston Customs, ridden up the Hill by a rider dressed to the nines. The bike itself is fascinating to look at, with a sweeping body that flows far beyond the limits of the tyres, but the fact it was ridden by a stud in a tuxedo says everything you need to know.

These, among so many other motorcycles have helped to make the 2026 Festival of Speed a brilliantly well-rounded event for fans of cars and bikes alike. We’ll look forward to seeing what comes next in 2027.

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