Harley-Davidson 2026 Chrome Styling, Cafe Racer Concept & Industry Shifts: Zero Drop-Ship, Motul Racing, Piaggio Sales & RideNow Gains
Fresh 2026 motorcycle news every rider needs — chrome cruisers, electric breakthroughs, racing upgrades, and dealer momentum
Raine Devries | 12 March 2026
Harley-Davidson dropped two big announcements on March 5 as riders have been asking for more shine, and the Motor Company listened. New chrome trim packages are now available on the 2026 Road Glide 3 trike (starting at $35,799), Low Rider S performance cruiser ($18,999), and a solo-seat option for the Road Glide ($25,999). Think bright chrome on the powertrain, exhaust, wheels, and trim paired with a slammed custom solo touring seat that blends street-rod attitude with long-haul comfort.
Just six days later, Harley unveiled the RMCR — a one-off Revolution Max Café Racer concept built around the 1250cc V-twin that pumps out 150 hp. Inspired by the original 1970s XLCR and paying tribute to Willie G. Davidson, this all-black carbon-fiber beauty features a custom two-into-two exhaust and classic cafe-racer lines. It made its debut at the Mama Tried show in Milwaukee and will tour shows all year while Harley collects rider feedback on social channels. No production plans yet, but the buzz is real.
Also on March 5, Harley confirmed it’s retiring the annual Homecoming Festival after 2025. Attendance has trended down, and the brand is shifting to milestone celebrations every five years — starting with the massive 125th anniversary bash in 2028. Milwaukee stays front and center with a new Summerfest sponsorship instead.
Over in Europe, Piaggio Group released its full 2025 financials on March 10. Consolidated net sales came in at €1.50 billion (down 11.7 percent), with 445,200 total vehicles sold globally (down 7.6 percent). Net profit dropped nearly 50 percent to €34 million. The company cited softer demand in Europe, North America, and Asia plus new tariffs, raw-material costs, and the EURO 5+ rollout. On the bright side, Aprilia posted 30 percent growth in U.S. sportbike sales, and premium scooters like the updated Liberty and Medley held strong.
Racing fans, Motul just turned up the heat for the 2026 season. The company extended its MotoGP partnership through 2030, became official lubricant for MotoAmerica King of the Baggers, and expanded support for teams including Vance & Hines/Indian, Arch Racing, Saddlemen Race Development, Royal Enfield’s female rider program, and off-road efforts with Ciaran Naran and Hero Racing. Motul North America GM Amber Bates said it best: “We aren’t just a logo on a bike; our lubricants and technical support are a vital component of each team’s success.”
Electric riders get a major convenience upgrade from Zero Motorcycles. On March 11 the company launched a dealer-facilitated drop-ship program for its X Line off-road models — the XB and XE. Authorized dealers handle the sale, then Zero ships the in-crate bike straight to your door. You finish final assembly with official instructions and video guides while keeping full warranty and service through your local dealer. Faster delivery, less shop time, same great support. Zero VP Garrett Johnson calls it “a quicker, more flexible way to get on an X Line bike.”
Finally, big-box dealer group RideNow posted encouraging Q4 numbers on March 11. Pre-owned unit sales rose 5.1 percent to 4,125 (same-store up 10.4 percent), gross profit per unit jumped 10.8 percent to $5,032, and adjusted EBITDA climbed to $9.7 million. Full-year revenue was $1.08 billion, but the team’s “back to our roots” strategy is clearly paying off with better margins and stronger used-bike momentum.
Laugh of the day…
I must admit, using student loans to indulge in a motorcycle addiction is pretty damn clever!
~Keep the shiny side up!
RMCR 👍🏼👍🏼