We South Africans are a predictable lot; give us something new, and we’ll take our time to warm to it, before fully embracing it and ensuring its success.
Such has been the fate of the fledgling AMID motorcycle Expo, held at Red Star Raceway. While many will lament the passing of the huge (and expensive) AMID shows of old, held at Kyalami or NASREC, the reality was that it was simply financially unsustainable for the industry, given the market conditions.
By re-inventing the show as a much more informal and relaxed event at Red Star Raceway, the industry is still able to have a showcase for both existing and new models without it costing the earth.
2026 was the third edition of the show and was by far the biggest and best, in every sense of the word. The first year, around 1,600 people attended. In 2025, that figure had risen to 2,500. In 2026, the astonishing figure of 6,000 people came for free through the gates over the two days. That is a huge leap and can only bode well for the future. Such success will only serve to make the show even better next year and beyond, as nothing helps businesses to commit more to being there than high visitor numbers.
Not only has attendance improved, but the number of manufacturers involved was also way above what it has been before. All the major manufacturers had a presence, either through the importer or through dealers.
The full list was as follows: Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Harley-Davidson, Triumph, BMW, KTM (who used the event to launch the new 1390 Super Adventure S and the 990 RC to the public), Husqvarna, GasGas, Royal Enfield, CFMOTO, Kayo, QJMotor, Hero, Beta, Can Am, Polaris, Linhai, and Tromox electric bikes. It would be impossible to pick out a highlight, so much mouth-watering machinery was on display, but it was good to get a close look at the Royal Enfields, while the Chinese brands – CFMOTO and QJMOTOR – have to be giving the established Japanese and European manufacturers a wake-up call.
What AMID and the motorcycle industry as a whole have achieved in three short years with the Expo is very encouraging for the future of motorcycling in South Africa, and, if the attendance was anything to go by, it seems those sentiments are shared by the public.
If on-track demo rides are not yet a feature of the show, then at least there was some track action thanks to a regular Suzuki Rider Safety Day taking place, which provided some welcome sights and sounds. There are ongoing discussions about including the demo rides for future shows, but, as yet, nothing is confirmed…
I have heard many people saying that Red Star is too far away, but, in reality, it is a short hour’s drive or ride away from Sandton, and, when the weather is perfect, as it was on Saturday morning, then where is the hardship in getting out of the city for a day?
In conclusion, the AMID Motorcycle Expo has, in three short years, established itself as a must-attend event on the motorcycling calendar. As long as we, the public, continue to support it, then the manufacturers will too, and it will be fascinating to watch it grow in the coming years.
