A decade in, and Makina Moto Expo still hits differently from everything else on the Philippine motorcycle calendar. It’s the one event where every type of rider shows up the daily commuters, the weekend riders, the gear obsessives, the custom builders, and the 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 personalities walking the floor, gear presentations running back-to-back, and a second floor full of custom builds all packed into three days. If you weren’t there, this is 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 was the Makina Moto Expo proper brand booths, gear presentations, meet-and-greet stages, and new model launches running wall to wall. Head upstairs and an entirely different world opened up in the form of the International Performance Concept Show (IPCS).
The IPCS is where you go when you want to be reminded that motorcycles aren’t just transportation they’re culture. The custom builds on the second floor were genuinely jaw-dropping, custom builders pushing craftsmanship and creativity to levels that rival anything you’d see at international shows. Malay concepts, Thai builds, Indonesian builds, and local Filipino circuit-inspired customs all sharing the same floor made for a showcase that felt truly regional in the best possible way.
The two-show format also gave attendees a natural rhythm to the experience spend the morning floor-walking the brand launches and gear booths, then head upstairs in the afternoon when the crowds thin 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 drop their most anticipated models. In 2026, the local industry showed up with arguably its most loaded new-model slate yet.
Honda Philippines: Three Models, Three Different Directions
Honda went all-in for the 10th anniversary. They launched three models that collectively cover the electric future, the middleweight sport segment, and the adventure touring space all in one go.
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, an electric motor putting out 67.5hp and 100Nm of torque, and a 144km range. For context, those power figures exceed Honda’s own 500cc bikes. Charging from 20% to 80% takes just 30 minutes in Quick mode, and full charge from zero takes about 2.5 hours. Honda RoadSync connectivity, a TFT display, multiple ride modes it’s a genuinely serious machine. The WN7 isn’t available yet but drops in June 2026. I’d suggest you get acquainted with it now.
Joining the WN7 were the Honda CB650R and Honda NX500 E-Clutch, both already available at dealerships. The CB650R continues to be one of the cleanest naked bikes in its segment, and the NX500 with its E-Clutch system makes the adventure tourer experience more accessible than ever no clutch lever to worry about on technical terrain or stop-and-go traffic.
Kawasaki: “Art of Power” Gets Its Public Moment
Kawasaki had technically already unveiled its 2026 lineup back in February through “The Art of Power” event at Whitespace Manila cinematic lighting, a live string quartet, the works. But Makina was where those bikes finally got in front of the general riding public, and seeing them in person hit differently.
The centerpiece is the Z1100, the highly anticipated evolution of the Z1000 lineage. Upgraded to a 1,099cc engine, it adds 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 it looks aggressive even parked still which is exactly what you want from the Z family’s flagship.
Alongside the Z1100 was the Ninja ZX-10R (₱1,029,800), which now features integrated winglets that generate 25% more downforce than the previous version, plus a redesigned RAM Air intake. This is World Superbike Championship DNA trickled directly down to the street. Then there’s the KLE500 and KLE500 SE (priced at ₱341,000 and ₱381,000 respectively), Kawasaki’s new lightweight adventure machine 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 clean case for the budget-conscious adventure rider with two new models that both clock in under ₱150,000.
The V-Strom 160 carries a 162cc single-cylinder engine with 14.7hp and 14Nm of torque, 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 aesthetic and capability without the budget commitment of larger displacement, this is a legitimate entry point into adventure riding.
The DR160 goes a different direction a backbone frame, dual-sport profile, 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, budgets riders, and riders who want more than a commuter but aren’t ready for a 400cc+ commitment yet.
CFMOTO: The Cruiser Goes Clutchless
CFMOTO Philippines drew serious crowd attention with the debut of the 450CL-C AMT at ₱328,900 the mid-size cruiser platform they’ve been evolving since 2023, now equipped with an Automated Manual Transmission. Riders get the feel and responsiveness of a six-speed twin-cylinder machine but without a clutch lever and without the risk of stalling. Three modes: D for relaxed cruising, DS for sportier shifts with sharper throttle response, and M for full manual control via paddle shifters on both sides of the handlebar.
There’s also a larger 240mm rear brake disc, redesigned ergonomic buttons, and the same 449cc parallel-twin with that 270-degree crank that gives it a proper low-end rumble. CFMOTO also had the Lima, Papio XO-1, 1000MTX, and Z10 on display. They’re making a real play for multiple segments in the Philippine market and the crowd at their booth reflected that growing interest.
The Motoworld Booth: Three Days of Presentations
The Motoworld booth was one of the busiest spots on the expo floor, running a packed program of brand presentations and special guests across the entire weekend. Alfred Watermax, MotoCamp, and Double Trouble TJ and Troy each brought their own energy to the stage and those 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 becoming noticeably more gear-literate every year.
Ixon took the stage for a full brand presentation that highlighted their growing presence in the Philippine market. Their riding gear particularly the kit associated with their MotoGP partnerships has been getting serious traction with local riders. The weekend’s biggest draw on that front was the Ixon Taka Meet and Greet, where the MotoGP personality and Ixon ambassador came face-to-face with fans in what became one of the most-talked-about moments of the entire expo.
What made Taka’s appearance even more meaningful was that it wasn’t his only one he had also done a signing session at MotoMarket Centris earlier in the weekend before showing up at the expo itself. For the riders who caught both, it was absolutely worth the wait. Getting that kind of up-close, barrier-free access to a MotoGP-level personality on Philippines is exactly the kind of thing that sets Makina apart from any other local moto event.
LS2 also had a strong showing with their brand presentation, capped by the LS2 Makina Zach Signing where Sir Zach signed for everyone picking up the LS2 Rapid III × Makina collab helmet. The detail worth knowing: buy that collab helmet and you get free entrance to Makina Moto Expo forever just carry it, present it at the registration booth, and you’re in, no ticket needed. The Motoworld booth also hosted the Dainese Smart Air Demo and closed out the weekend with the RideAcademi Presentation ending on exactly the right note of 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 significant 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. It wasn’t just me either Motoworld gathered 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 getting to finally share a room with them in front of the Motoworld team, at the country’s biggest moto event made the whole thing feel even more real.
What this signing represents goes beyond a contract. It’s a formal acknowledgment that the content we’re each putting out matters to the brands that are 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 was to always 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 dedicated daily helmet. If you’ve been following phtoll.com for a while, you know the kind of riding I do in Metro Manila. Having a helmet built for that use case lighter, better ventilated, and practical for daily commutes makes a real difference over the long haul. Full review incoming once I’ve got 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
There’s an argument that we live in an era where you can watch any bike launch from your phone the second it happens. So why show up to Makina in person?
Because the internet can’t replicate standing next to a Honda WN7 knowing that full-size EV motorcycles are genuinely arriving in the Philippine market. It can’t replicate seeing a Dainese airbag jacket deploy live and feeling that shift in how seriously you think about gear. It can’t replicate the conversation you have 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 creative partnership you’ve spent years building in a room surrounded by the community that made it possible.
Makina Moto Expo at ten years old is still doing exactly what it was always supposed to do: bring the Philippine motorcycle community together and remind us exactly why we ride.
See you at the 11th.
