Indian Riders Fest 2026

Indian Riders Fest 2026 - 5th Anniversary Edition of Budweis Indian Motorcycle Custom Show 

18-21 June 2026 at Lipno Lake, Czech Republic

Mandatory pre-registration - only 25 finalists selected by international jury for five classes

The 2026 Indian Riders Fest (IRF) has confirmed a changed structure for the 5th anniversary edition of the Budweis Indian Motorcycle Custom Show (BCS), taking place during the legendary Indian Riders Fest 2026 from 18-21 June 2026 at Lipno Lake, Czech Republic.

New for 2026, pre-registration is mandatory for all entrants - no on-site entries will be accepted. An international jury will select a maximum of five custom motorcycles per class - 25 finalists in total - to compete and be showcased at BCS. 

In honor of the brand’s heritage, BCS entries are encouraged (but not required) to celebrate Indian Motorcycle’s 125th anniversary. The Budweis Custom Show (BCS) is the only international custom bike show dedicated exclusively to Indian Motorcycle. 

The BCS proudly carries the AMD-approved custom show accolade again for 2026 and promises a creative and inspiring showcase for European custom bike builders and Indian Motorcycle dealers.

The Jury President will be Ola Stenegärd (Director of Product Design, Indian Motorcycle), with Onno Wieringa (renowned international custom show jury member and industry veteran; Official Photographer/ AMD World Championship) as Jury Chairman. 

Now in its fifth year, BCS is the centerpiece custom competition of the Indian Riders Fest (IRF), celebrating craftsmanship, creativity, and the global Indian Motorcycle community.

BCS is the only custom show in the world that is 100% dedicated to Indian Motorcycle, there will additionally be a Public Choice Award powered by IRF26. Event updates, schedules, and program details will be published at: www.indianridersfest.eu.

Indian Riders Fest (IRF) is an international festival celebrating Indian Motorcycle’s heritage, riders, and custom culture. Hosted in the Czech Republic, IRF brings together owners, clubs, dealers, partners, and builders for ride-outs, brand showcases, entertainment, and community experiences. 

BCS 2026: Five Exclusive Classes

• Scout: Open to all Scout models

• Non-Fairing: Open to all models without a fairing

• Touring (incl. Baggers): Open to all touring models, including baggers

• Clubstyle: Also embracing Performance and Streetfighter models

• Custom Paint: Celebrating the very best custom paintwork

Competition format

• Five competition classes

• Up to five custom motorcycles selected per class (25 finalists total)

• International jury selection; finalists only will be invited to display

Registration

• Mandatory pre-registration via the official website: www.budweiscustom.show

• Complete the online form with build details and images

• Only complete applications submitted through the official form will be considered

• Due to the limited field, early applications are strongly recommended

News Briefs

Well known industry leader Frank Tatsuo Miyake has passed away at the age of 83. A longtime executive and aftermarket pioneer, he founded RK Excel America. Born in Los Angeles in 1942, Miyake built a career that spanned decades and left a lasting mark on the U.S. motorcycle aftermarket. After college and service in the United States Army, Miyake began his professional career as an advertising representative with the Los Angeles Times. His passion for motorcycles eventually led him into the powersports industry, where he would become one of its most recognizable figures. In 1977, Miyake left his position with Sudco to launch FTM & Associates, focusing on sourcing, importing and marketing specialty motorcycle brands. Under his leadership, the company built a broad portfolio that included RK Chain, Excel Rims, SBS, Bendix Brakes, Fram-Autolite, ThreeBond, Add-Awn, AFAM Sprockets, Ken Sean Mirrors and Napoleon Mirrors.

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announced consolidated business results for the full 2025 fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 with revenues in its Land Mobility Business (which includes motorcycles & PTWs) of 1,615.1bn yen (+ 5.6bn yen/0.3% compared with the previous year) and operating income was 108.7bn yen (+ 4.7bn yen/4.6%). In its motorcycle business in developed markets, unit sales increased in Japan, but declined slightly overall due to lower demand in Europe and the U.S. In emerging markets, unit sales decreased in Vietnam, where production and shipments were temporarily halted, but rose in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. As a result, total unit sales and revenue were on par with the previous fiscal year. Operating income fell overall due to higher procurement costs, increases to R&D spending, labour costs, and other SG&A expenses, the tariffs enacted by the U.S. and other developments.

Barcelona, Spain based electric motorcycle maker Stark Future has claimed a first FIM SuperEnduro Manufacturers' World Championship title - representing "a new milestone in FIM off road racing." The FIM SuperEnduro is widely regarded as one of the most demanding disciplines in off-road motorcycle racing and the Stark VARG EX has built an enviable global reputation for its performance, durability and handling.

The now Chandler, AZ headquartered RideNow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RDNW) - formerly RumbleOn Inc. announced Q4 Powersports Revenue up by 6.3% ($256.1m) driven by a 7.7% powersports revenue was $1,073.9m, a 6.7% decrease. On a same store sales basis, Powersports Revenue was down 4.6%, driven by a 1.7% decrease in unit sales.

Yamaha Motor has announced plans to construct two new headquarter buildings at its IWATA, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan head office campus.

In a multi-year transition that will run from late 2026 through the end of 2028, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.is to relocate its U.S. subsidiary from Cypress, California, to Kennesaw, Georgia, selling the land, offices, and warehouse facilities at its 25.1-acre Cypress campus. The relocation formalizes a shift that has been underway for decades. The Cypress site has served as Yamaha's U.S. headquarters since 1979, but major operating divisions have already moved east. Yamaha's Marine Business Unit relocated to Kennesaw in 1999, followed by the Motorsports business in 2019. 

Founded in 2007 by CEO Ryan McFarland, Rapid City, SD. based Strider Bikes has been named the Official Balance Bike of the 2026 Progressive AFT Season. Made for children ages 6 months to 6 years old, Strider Balance Bikes are designed to "help inspire the next generation of racers by empowering children to ride at the youngest age possible";  www.striderbikes.com

Drag Specialties

Drag Specialties - Additions

Quick connect Braided Upper Clutch Cables

This replacement OE upper clutch cable has a quick connect upper braided cable for ease of install. The cable quickly connects to the OE lower clutch cable section to significantly reduce installation time - with no need to drain the transmission fluid. Cables also come pre-lubricated for smooth, consistent long-lasting action. 

The design meets or exceeds the OE specifications, and the OE cable cover and housing can be re-used. They are available with stainless steel, black/chrome or black/black cable housing and fittings in stock cable lengths for 24-25 FLHX and 23-25 FLHXSE models. Replaces OEM# 37200574A.

Rear Brake Caliper Kit

This Drag Specialties Rear Brake Caliper Kit "provides the same reliable braking time after time." The rear caliper accepts OEM bolts and comes with brake pads and bleeder screw. The kit is available in chrome for 15-17 Softail models.

OEM-Style Fuel Gauge

This sleek OEM-style fuel gauge from Drag Specialties is bright and easy to read at a glance - a great replacement for OEM #750530-01B. Available in a chrome finish, it fits 01-07 FLHR, 01-07 FXST/FLST and 01-08 FXDB/FXDC/FXDL/FLDWG. 

Narrow Solo Rear Seats

Add a passenger when needed with this Narrow Solo Rear Seat, designed to work with FL Solo front seats with plug-in backrests. Measuring 13" long by 7" wide, they are large enough for comfort yet will fit in saddlebags for easy storage when not in use. They are covered in high-quality automotive-grade vinyl with a ABS thermoformed seat base for a perfect fit. 

Available in Smooth and Double diamond stitch with black thread for 24 FLHTK/FLTRK/FLHRXS and 97-23 FLHT/FLHR/FLTR/FLHX (except 23 FLHXSE/FLTRXSE) models.

DRAG SPECIALTIES

www.dragspecialties.com

Freedom Performance

Freedom Performance - Heat Resistant Glossy Black Finish

Corona, California based Freedom Performance have added to its range of finish option. Seen here on the company's Radical Radius 2-into-2 exhaust is a "fresh look – a brilliant, heat-resistant powder coating with a sleek, glossy-black finish, perfectly suited for Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles. Just one more in our ever-growing range of finish, end cap, baffle and bracket options." 

FREEDOM PERFORMANCE EXHAUST

www.freedomperform.com

Havoc Motorcycles and Aquatic AV

Havoc Motorcycles and Aquatic AV - 'ROAR' Road King Stereo EcoSystem

Prince Edward Island, Canada based Havoc Motorcycles and Aquatic AV have collaborated to answer what they say is the primary complaint of Road King and Softail owners regarding audio options - "how do I get high wattage highway sound without a fairing?" 

To solve that problem, Havoc and Aquatic AV say they have precision-engineered an audio ecosystem designed specifically for un-faired Harleys. Born from Havoc's background as a boutique manufacturer and refined through their partnership with waterproof-audio giants Aquatic AV, the "Havoc Roar Stereo" (HRS) systems are an architectural upgrade that places an Aquatic AV gauge stereo right up on the Road King nacelle cap, or Softail handlebar clamp.

Featuring the same internals as their "wildly popular batwing and sharknose head units they are positioned where riders can see the display and control the sound." 

"The full 6-speaker 'Surround' ecosystem, showcasing the partnership between Havoc's CNC-machined billet housings and Aquatic AV electronics." 

Billet Engineering: Form Meets Function 

The stereo pod and speaker pods (3.5" for the handlebars and 6.5" for the highway bars) are CNC-machined from aerospace-grade 6061-T6 aluminum, available in show chrome or black powder coated finishes. 

The design feels OEM: "the radius of the components, the symmetry of the classic design line down the side, all match factory geometry so perfectly it looks like it was always part of the bike," says the team at Havoc

"When you're riding an un-faired bike at 70 mph, you're fighting acoustic smear from wind, exhaust, and vibration. Our rigid, machined housings eliminate the flex that kills sound quality, and they enable the use of Aquatic AV's Harley-specific speakers with their big wattage amps."

The HRS components combine to enable a suite of scaled power configurations: 

The Sport (2-Speaker): Ranging from 144W to 480W using either 3.5" handlebar pods, 6.5" highway bar pods, or saddlebag speakers. 

The Immersive (4-Speaker): Combinations of four speakers ranging from 444W to 960W. 

The Surround (6-Speaker): "Where restraint goes to die," delivering a staggering 1,100 Watts of concert-grade power using Aquatic AV's newest 1,200-watt amplifier, via handlebar pods, highway bar pods, and saddlebag lids. 

"Form meets function: The 6.5" highway bar pods provide massive front-stage audio while maintaining the naked silhouette and classic lines of the Road King."

The Roadlock Advantage 

Under the hood, the system utilizes 100% Aquatic AV's legendary waterproof components - head units, speakers, and amplifiers. To house the massive power required for highway speeds, Havoc developed the Roadlock saddlebag amplifier bracket (for Road King and OEM Softail bags). 

This uses the bike's existing saddlebag mounting hardware to securely host Aquatic AV's 300W, 600W, or 1200W amplifiers inside the bag.  "We wanted a solution that felt factory. The Roadlock uses the saddlebag mounting points for a rock-solid fit. When paired with our wiring harnesses, it turns a high-output installation into a clean, straightforward process." 

"The Havoc Roar head unit nacelle mount, featuring Aquatic AV's gauge stereo integrated directly into the rider's line of sight." 

Instant Dealer Activation 

Havoc is recognizing all existing authorized dealers of Aquatic AV and Havoc Motorcycles as automatically approved to carry the Havoc Roar Stereo line. "We know the quality of the shops already working with Aquatic AV. We won't make them jump through hoops. If you're already a dealer for our partner, you're a Havoc Roar dealer. One phone call, and you're in business." 

From its roots as a custom shop to its status as a federally-recognized motorcycle manufacturer, "Havoc Motorcycles builds machines and components for riders who refuse to settle. Their mission is simple: performance first, customization always, and no compromise on quality."

HAVOC MOTORCYCLES CANADA

www.aquaticav.com

RMSTATOR

RMSTATOR V-twin Line

Best known in the street bike and offroad/dirt bike markets, RMSTATOR has a new line of OEM replacement charging solutions for V-twin applications.

Owned and operated by Founder and President Roger Masson, this is his factory’s first ‘product specific’ entry into hugely demanding electrical component market for ‘Big Inch’ heavy duty Cranking Amp cruisers and Tourers.

The line has launched with three key components – MOSFET Voltage Regulators, a direct fit OEM replacement, plug-and-play Stator design and Alternator Rotors with high grade steel capping.

RMSTATOR says its MOSFET Voltage Regulators exceed OEM specifications and 'fit like a glove'.

RM’s V-twin Stator design is an OEM fit, enhanced reliability, plug and play direct replacement. It is manufactured with highest grade Premium Copper Windings for heat resistance up to 200 degrees C.

V-twin Alternator Rotors – built to OEM specifications.

Featuring new core lamination technology generating up to 50% less heat than OEM counterparts, it comes as a complete package – including connector and rubber grommet. RMSTATOR pre-tests all its products before the are shipped.

RMSTATOR

www.rmstator.com

Dealers found the RMSTATOR booth at the Drag Specialties 'Louisville' NVP and parts expo to be a "veritable honey pot".

Biker Fest International

40th Biker Fest International - Europe’s largest motorcycle rally

May 14 to 17, 2026, Lignano Sabbiadoro (Udine - Italy)

Following the extraordinary success of the 2025 show, which recorded 265,000 attendees over the course of the weekend, Biker Fest International once again confirms its status as the biggest motorcycle rally in Europe and the third largest event of this kind in the world - after the legendary U.S. rallies of Sturgis and Daytona. 

In 2026 the event, which attracts hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts and more than 350 international exhibitors, will reach a special milestone with its 40th anniversary.

Founded in 1987 within the biker movement, the event has gradually expanded to embrace the world of two wheels in all its forms, while maintaining a strong connection to its rebellious roots in the custom culture. 

The beating heart of the festival is its Custom Bike Show, one of the longest running in Europe. Since its inception it has anticipated customization trends by showcasing some of the most spectacular special bikes built by leading international customizers. 

As the only Italian AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building Approved Cuatom Bike Show, the Lignano round also serves as the final of Italy’s national championship for custom builders - the Italian Motorcycle Championship (IMC).

Alongside the well-established rock music program, all the areas that have made BFI unique will be staged again – these include Europe’s largest and most comprehensive Demo Ride hub, featuring the official participation of leading motorcycle manufacturers; the e-Mobility Village, dedicated to new mobility solutions; the Off Road area with its spectacular dirt riding shows; and the Market Area.

Among the main new features already announced for this special anniversary are the Sisterhood Run, an on-the-road experience dedicated to female riders, and the Customizer’s Parade, in which custom builders themselves will lead the much-anticipated Saturday Night Fever, riding their one-off creations. 

www.bikerfest.it

News Briefs

The Falls Church, VA based National Powersports Dealer Association (NPDA) conducted a special election to expand its Board of Directors. As NPDA membership increased past 400 members, the bylaws called for more dealer representation, so new officers have been selected. Elway Powersports Group CEO Michael Maledon has joined NPDA's Board, and following a special election, Bob Eggstein, dealer principal of Keystone Harley-Davidson in Whitehall, PA, has joined the association's leadership team; www.npda.org

 In the United States the Congressional Budget Office recently projected that the U.S. government will spend $1tn on interest payments for its debt in 2026. It also projected that the U.S. government will spend $1.853tn more than it brings in through revenue this year (the budget deficit) and have an even wider gap in 2027. U.S. government debt has increased from $13.7tn in 2010 to more than $38.tn as of February 2026.

Founded in 2019 and winner of the Silver Bar & Shield award for 2024, Diamondback Harley-Davidson in Lawton, Oklahoma (Willy Sullivan) has received Harley's 2025 Platinum Bar & Shield Award for exceptional service - a recognition given to the top five Harley dealerships in the nation.

Italian conglomerate and TVS Motor Company - owner of Norton Motorcycles since 2020 - has passed Yamaha to become world's third-largest motorcycle manufacturer by annual unit volume. TVS sold approximately 5.46 million motorcycles and scooters in 2025, a 20.7% increase from 4.52 million units the previous year. Yamaha recorded roughly 5 million units, up just 0.8% year over year. The change marks one of the most notable reshuffles in the global motorcycle industry in recent years. Honda, meanwhile, retained its dominant position with 16.44 million units sold globally in 2025, while Hero MotoCorp remained second with 6.25 million units.

For the second consecutive year, Turn14 Distribution will return as the presenting sponsor of the 2026 Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days (VMD) - running July 24-26 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Last year's event drew tens of thousands of riders, collectors, and enthusiasts, with AMA calling it "the best weekend in American motorcycling." 

In Europe, FEMA says that "technical inspections for motorcycles are a solution looking for a problem", claiming that the EU's effort to expand mandatory Periodical Technical Inspections (PTI) to all motorcycles is not backed up by the claim that 'testing improves safety'. FEMA's Wim Taal says that "the evidence does not support that claim".

The industry is mourning the passing of George Barber, founder of Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, who died at age 85. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer and industry icon's name is synonymous with motorcycle preservation and heritage, having built what is widely recognized as the world's largest collection of historic motorcycles. His museum, located in Birmingham, Alabama, houses more than 1,800 motorcycles spanning more than a century of two-wheel history. Barber's passion for motorsports began with sports car racing in the 1960s, where he raced and maintained his own Porsche competition cars. The museum moved to its present home - an 830-acre complex that also includes the 2.38-mile Barber Motorsports Park road circuit - in 2003.

More than just an event, Wheels and Waves (Biarritz, FR) "has established itself as a true cultural movement. For over a decade, we've stood at the crossroads of disciplines motorcycle, surf, skate, art, and music blending them with boldness and sincerity." The 15th W&W Festival will be staged from June 10 to 14, 2026.

The AMA has congratulated Champions, Special Award and AMA No. 1 plate winners from the 2026 AMA Ice Race Grand Championship. Three outstanding racers excelled during a weekend of competition in Michigan. Hosted by Team SDI Racing, a chartered AMA and AMA District 14 club, the event was staged at the Leisure Lake Family Campground in Sumner, Mich. The three racers were honored with special awards were AMA Ice Racer of the Year Lance Richards of Bentley, Mich., Odin Music of Flint, Mich. earned the AMA Youth Ice Racer of the Year award after claiming championships in the 65 cc, 85cc and Schoolboy Junior classes, and the AMA Vet/Senior Ice Racer of the Year award was taken home was Kyle Johnson from Muskegon, Mich., whose victories in the 450 cc A, 450 cc Open and Vet (30+) classes "set him above the rest."