This Week in Motorcycle News

Today, we’ve got some truly exciting updates from all corners of the motorcycle industry:

• Ural is rolling out the “Ural Neo 500,” expected to be their most affordable sidecar yet—and it’s coming to America!

• Kawasaki is facing a recall affecting crankcase bolts on over 17,000 motorcycles, with about 1% estimated to be impacted.

• Norton is revving up for a comeback with six projects in development—four of which are slated for 2026.

• Aircela, a New York-based startup, is developing a fuel generator that can create synthetic gasoline directly from the air.

Let’s dive in—starting with Ural’s latest move!

Ural’s New Sidecar Is Coming to America!

Neo 500 to Be Ural’s Most Affordable Sidecar Yet

The last time we covered Ural, the brand was relocating from Russia to Kazakhstan due to the Russo-Ukraine war. Since then, Ural’s ongoing evolution has brought updates to their beloved 745cc air-cooled flat-twin engine—featuring a new camshaft, roller tappet and rocker arm system, better alloys, and tighter part tolerances. Now, their progress continues across the pond.

According to CycleWorld, America is getting a more affordable sidecar—the Neo 500—which continues the brand’s storied legacy dating back to World War II.

Ural’s Neo 500 made its U.S. debut at the brand’s Washington headquarters, fitting since Ural has been U.S.-based since 2002, with America currently being its largest market.

While Ural’s boxer-twin motorcycles are now being built in Kazakhstan, the new Neo 500 will be manufactured in China by Yingang, a smart move for producing an all-new budget-friendly model.

The Neo 500 hasn’t yet reached production-prototype status, and CycleWorld reports that official specs (like weight, height, and components) are still pending. Since this model will include both the motorcycle and sidecar, pricing is expected to come in below Ural’s next model up, currently selling for $19,999 USD.

Ben Purvis estimates that the platform will be similar to the SUV500 II, which features a Zongshen-designed 446cc parallel-twin engine producing around 35 hp, with a 5.3-gallon fuel tank, leading-link front suspension, and a chassis setup reminiscent of Ural’s current 750cc twins.

Ural’s focus with the Neo 500 is rider-friendliness, targeting newcomers to the sidecar world. Even better, the Neo 500 is expected to reach U.S. markets for under $15,000 USD, sometime around mid-2026.

For all details, check out the full article on CycleWorld:
Ural Neo 500 Coming to the U.S.

Total Recall: 17,792 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R Motorcycles Affected

“Certain Vehicles May Lose Engine Power During Operation”

We try to keep things exciting around here, but every once in a while, a recall comes along that’s hard to ignore.

If you own a MY2024–2025 ZX636J/K (Ninja ZX-6R), take note—your bike might be among 17,792 units under a “DO NOT RIDE” advisory.

According to the NHTSA’s recent recall notice, the affected models include:

• MY24 Ninja ZX-6R 40th Anniversary Edition ABS

• MY24–25 Ninja ZX-6R ABS/KRT Edition ABS

• Ninja ZX-6R / KRT Edition

All units produced between April 2023 and April 28, 2025 are affected.

The issue? Over-torqued crankcase bolts, which can cause:

“Engine power loss during operation due to seizure of the No. 5 metal crankshaft bushing … increasing the risk of a crash.”
— National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Riders won’t get a warning before this issue appears, making the recall a serious one—though only about 1% of bikes are expected to show the defect.

As of June 11, 2025, there’s no known fix or recall timeline from Kawasaki. Owners are advised not to ride until an official repair is available.

For full details, refer directly to the official NHTSA Safety Recall Report (25V376).

Norton Prepares to Launch Four-Cylinder Superbike at EICMA

Six Products in the Pipeline—Four Slated for 2026

It’s been a turbulent few years for Norton, but the iconic British marque is gearing up for a comeback—and what better way to mark it than with a brand-new four-cylinder superbike debuting at EICMA this year?

According to CycleWorld, Sudarshan Venu, Managing Director of TVS Motors (Norton’s parent company and India’s third-largest motorcycle maker), confirmed that Norton will expand into France, Germany, Italy, and Spain by 2026, alongside four new models led by the upcoming superbike.

Venu shared:

“Four of the six products will be available for summer 2026 in the UK and four European markets, as well as India. We’ll start with the four-cylinder superbike launch at EICMA, followed by three additional models.”

Currently, Norton’s V4SV superbike doesn’t meet Euro 5+ regulations, meaning the upcoming version will likely be heavily revised—but still expected to deliver around 185 hp.

Norton is also rumored to be developing smaller-displacement models, possibly around 450cc, which may share a platform with BMW’s F 450 GS.

Venu added:

“You’ll soon see Norton and TVS models using a similar platform. That’s where the partnership is heading.”

If executed well, Norton could have strong competition against Triumph’s Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X. The future is certainly looking bright for this historic British brand.

Full report: CycleWorld — Norton Planning Six New Models.

Light ’Er Up: Aircela Pulls Fossil-Free Fuel from Thin Air

Meet the New York–Born Aircela Fuel Generator

Imagine being able to make real, pump-grade gasoline out of thin air. That’s the concept behind Aircela, a New York-based startup developing a generator that can synthesize renewable, carbon-neutral fuel using only air, water, and green electricity.

According to Visordown, the fuel produced is chemically identical to standard gasoline, rated around RON 95+, equivalent to premium-grade fuel.

“Because the fuel is made on a small scale using the methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) process, the team can fine-tune synthesis and hydrotreating parameters to achieve specific octane levels.”
— Simon Hancocks, Visordown

Aircela’s synthetic fuel is carbon-neutral, capturing CO₂ while producing energy, and could help reduce strain on electric grids as EV adoption increases.

The company already has backing from major players like Maersk Growth and Ripple founder Chris Larsen.

Commercial units are expected to begin rolling out by fall 2025, though large-scale expansion remains uncertain.

If Aircela’s tech delivers, internal combustion engines might have a longer future than expected—and maybe even smell like strawberries instead of fossils.