Ten years in, and Makina Moto Expo still feels different from everything else on the Philippine motorcycle calendar. It’s the one event where every type of rider shows up: daily commuters, weekend riders, gear obsessives, custom builders, and content creators, and somehow it all makes sense under one roof. Ten years of that energy doesn’t just build a reputation. It builds a tradition.
This year, April 10 to 12, 2026, the expo returned to the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City, and it came loaded. New model launches from the biggest brands in the industry, international guests walking the floor, back-to-back gear presentations, and a second floor full of custom builds, all packed into three days. If you weren’t there, here’s everything you missed.
Three days, one venue, and more happening than any single recap can fully cover. Here’s my take on Makina Moto Expo 2026.
The Setup: Two Shows, One Venue
What made this year’s Makina feel bigger than any previous edition was the two-floor format at the SMX Convention Center. The ground floor held the Makina Moto Expo itself, brand booths, gear presentations, meet-and-greet stages, and new model launches wall to wall. Head upstairs, and a completely different world opened up: the International Performance Concept Show (IPCS).
The IPCS is where you go to be reminded that motorcycles aren’t just transportation, they’re culture. The custom builds on the second floor were genuinely jaw-dropping, with builders pushing craftsmanship and creativity to a level that rivals international shows. Malaysian concepts, Thai builds, Indonesian builds, and local Filipino circuit-inspired customs all sharing the same floor made the showcase feel genuinely regional.
The two-show format also gave attendees a natural rhythm: spend the morning walking the brand launches and gear booths, then head upstairs in the afternoon once the crowds thin out and you can actually spend time with each build.
The Brand Launches: This Is What Everyone Came For
Makina is the closest thing the Philippines has to EICMA, the benchmark Italian motorcycle show where global brands reveal their most anticipated models. In 2026, the local industry showed up with arguably its biggest new-model lineup yet.
Honda Philippines: Three Models, Three Different Directions
Honda went all-in for the 10th anniversary, launching three models that cover the electric future, the middleweight sport segment, and the adventure touring space, all at once.
The big one is the Honda WN7, Honda’s first full-size electric motorcycle for the Philippine market. This isn’t a small urban scooter, it’s a proper full-size EV with a 9.3kWh battery, a motor putting out 67.5hp and 100Nm of torque, and a 144km range. For comparison, those power figures actually beat Honda’s own 500cc bikes. Charging from 20% to 80% takes just 30 minutes in Quick mode, and a full charge from empty takes about 2.5 hours. Add Honda RoadSync connectivity, a TFT display, and multiple ride modes, and it’s a genuinely serious machine. The WN7 isn’t on sale yet, but it arrives in June 2026, so it’s worth getting familiar with now.
Joining the WN7 were the Honda CB650R and Honda NX500 E-Clutch, both already available at dealerships. The CB650R remains one of the cleanest naked bikes in its class, and the NX500’s E-Clutch system makes riding an adventure tourer easier, since there’s no clutch lever to manage on technical terrain or in stop-and-go traffic.
Kawasaki: “Art of Power” Gets Its Public Moment
Kawasaki had technically already revealed its 2026 lineup back in February at “The Art of Power” event at Whitespace Manila, complete with cinematic lighting and a live string quartet. But Makina was where those bikes finally reached the general riding public, and seeing them in person hit differently.
The centerpiece is the Z1100, the long-awaited evolution of the Z1000 lineup. It now has a 1,099cc engine, an Electronic Throttle Valve System, advanced rider aids, Brembo front brakes, Öhlins rear suspension, and a TFT panel with smartphone connectivity. It’s priced at ₱735,000 and looks aggressive even parked, exactly what you’d want from the Z family’s flagship.
Alongside the Z1100 was the Ninja ZX-10R (₱1,029,800), now with integrated winglets that create 25% more downforce than the previous model, plus a redesigned RAM Air intake. This is World Superbike Championship technology carried straight to the street. There’s also the KLE500 and KLE500 SE (₱341,000 and ₱381,000), Kawasaki’s new lightweight adventure bike built on a 451cc parallel-twin with spoke wheels, selectable ABS, and a trellis frame. Rounding out the booth were the updated Ninja 650 and the Z650S with refreshed Sugomi-inspired styling.
Suzuki: Entry-Level Adventure Gets Serious
Suzuki made a strong case for the budget-conscious adventure rider with two new models, both priced under ₱150,000.
The V-Strom 160 has a 162cc single-cylinder engine with 14.7hp and 14Nm of torque, a five-speed manual, dual-sport tires on 17-inch rims, dual-channel ABS, and a 13.2-liter tank, priced at ₱146,000. For riders who want the V-Strom look and capability without committing to a larger, pricier bike, this is a real entry point into adventure riding.
The DR160 takes a different approach, a backbone frame, dual-sport look, 19-inch front wheel, 244mm of ground clearance, and an 845mm seat height, priced at ₱129,000. Neither bike is trying to be a GS or an Africa Twin. They’re built for Philippine roads and for riders who want more than a commuter bike but aren’t ready to commit to a 400cc-plus machine yet.
CFMOTO: The Cruiser Goes Clutchless
CFMOTO Philippines drew a big crowd with the debut of the 450CL-C AMT at ₱328,900, the mid-size cruiser platform they’ve been developing since 2023, now with an Automated Manual Transmission. Riders get the feel and response of a six-speed twin-cylinder bike, but without a clutch lever and without the risk of stalling. It has three modes: D for relaxed cruising, DS for sportier shifts with sharper throttle response, and M for full manual control using paddle shifters on both sides of the handlebar.
It also has a larger 240mm rear brake disc, redesigned ergonomic controls, and the same 449cc parallel-twin with a 270-degree crank that gives it a real low-end rumble. CFMOTO also displayed the Lima, Papio XO-1, 1000MTX, and Z10. They’re clearly aiming for multiple segments in the Philippine market, and the crowd at their booth showed that interest is growing.
The Motoworld Booth: Three Days of Presentations
The Motoworld booth was one of the busiest spots at the expo, running a packed schedule of brand presentations and special guests all weekend. Alfred Watermax, MotoCamp, and Double Trouble TJ and Troy each brought their own energy to the stage, and the last two especially know how to hold a crowd. SMK and Taichi also had their slots, presenting their helmet and gear lineups to an audience that’s getting noticeably more gear-savvy every year.
Ixon took the stage for a full brand presentation highlighting its growing presence in the Philippine market. Their riding gear, especially the kit tied to their MotoGP partnerships, has been gaining real traction with local riders. The weekend’s biggest draw here was the Ixon Taka Meet and Greet, where the MotoGP personality and Ixon ambassador met fans in person, one of the most talked-about moments of the whole expo.
That wasn’t Taka’s only appearance either, he’d also done a signing session at MotoMarket Centris earlier in the weekend before showing up at the expo itself. For riders who caught both, it was well worth the wait. Getting that kind of close, barrier-free access to a MotoGP-level personality in the Philippines is exactly what sets Makina apart from other local moto events.
LS2 also had a strong presence with their brand presentation, capped by the LS2 Makina Zach Signing, where Zach Lucero signed for everyone who picked up the LS2 Rapid III × Makina collab helmet. Worth knowing: if you buy that collab helmet, you get free entry to Makina Moto Expo forever, just bring it and present it at the registration booth, no ticket needed. The Motoworld booth also hosted the Dainese Smart Air Demo and closed out the weekend with the RideAcademi Presentation, ending on a note about safety, skill, and rider development.
My Personal Highlights
Attending Makina as a Motoworld Philippines brand ambassador was a privilege I don’t take lightly, but the most meaningful moment of those three days had nothing to do with any product launch.
The biggest personal milestone of the weekend was sitting down with Ryan Chao, the owner of Motoworld Philippines, for the official brand ambassador contract signing. I wasn’t the only one either, Motoworld brought together its full roster of brand ambassadors for the occasion, with fellow content creators and riders Jejabel, Neo Moto, DM TV, and Speedy Moto all signing alongside me. These are names I’ve followed and crossed paths with online for a while, and finally sharing a room with them, in front of the Motoworld team, at the country’s biggest moto event, made the whole thing feel real.
What this signing represents goes beyond a contract. It’s a formal sign that the content each of us puts out matters to the brands building the Philippine motorcycle industry. Ryan Chao and the Motoworld team didn’t just sign us on as faces, they brought together a group of riders and creators who each speak to a different part of the community. That says a lot about a brand whose core belief is Ride Safe. Ride Smart. Ride Protected!
On a more practical note: I also walked out of the expo with the LS2 Strobe II, picked up specifically as a daily helmet. If you’ve followed phtoll.com for a while, you know the kind of riding I do in Metro Manila. Having a helmet built for that, lighter, better ventilated, and practical for daily commutes, makes a real difference over time. Full review coming once I’ve put enough kilometers on it.
Makina 10th at MotoMarket Libis: LS2 Rapid III launch, celebrating riding culture. Makina 10th Anniversary
Why Makina Still Matters at Ten Years Old
Some would argue that we live in an era where you can watch any bike launch from your phone the moment it happens. So why bother showing up to Makina in person?
Because the internet can’t replicate standing next to a Honda WN7 and realizing full-size EV motorcycles are genuinely arriving in the Philippine market. It can’t replicate watching a Dainese airbag jacket deploy live and feeling how that changes the way you think about gear. It can’t replicate a conversation with a stranger at a helmet booth who turns out to ride the same roads as you. And it definitely can’t replicate signing a contract that formalizes a partnership you’ve spent years building, in a room full of the community that made it possible.
Makina Moto Expo at ten years old is still doing exactly what it was always meant to do: bring the Philippine motorcycle community together and remind us why we ride.
See you at the 11th.
FAQs
When and where was Makina Moto Expo 2026 held?
It ran from April 10 to 12, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City, using a two-floor format: the main expo on the ground floor and the International Performance Concept Show (IPCS) custom bike showcase upstairs.
What new motorcycle models launched at Makina 2026?
Honda unveiled the WN7 electric motorcycle, CB650R, and NX500 E-Clutch. Kawasaki showed the Z1100, Ninja ZX-10R, KLE500/KLE500 SE, Ninja 650, and Z650S. Suzuki launched the V-Strom 160 and DR160. CFMOTO debuted the 450CL-C AMT clutchless cruiser, alongside the Lima, Papio XO-1, 1000MTX, and Z10.
What happened at the Motoworld booth?
Motoworld ran a full weekend of presentations from Alfred Watermax, MotoCamp, Double Trouble TJ and Troy, SMK, Taichi, Ixon, and LS2, plus the Ixon Taka Meet and Greet, a Dainese Smart Air airbag demo, and a closing RideAcademi safety presentation.
How do you get free entry to Makina Moto Expo?
If you own the LS2 Rapid III × Makina collab helmet, you get free entry to Makina Moto Expo for life. Just bring the helmet and show it at the registration booth, no ticket required.
What is the International Performance Concept Show (IPCS)?
It’s the custom-build showcase held on the second floor of the SMX Convention Center alongside Makina Moto Expo, featuring custom motorcycles from the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
