As you can tell from the title, it’s been a very busy week over at Total Motorcycle and that’s not the whole story! Last week I announced the huge website update and there’s more to announce this week too. But first, the new bikes! We have some exciting bikes to look into, the new 2026 Husqvarna’s, a you-can’t-buy-it-so-don’t-ask Pope Leo XIV BMW R18 edition and one you can with Honda’s new full production eBike!
Which motorcycle should we start first with? Let’s go with the 2026 BMW R18 Transcontinental Pope Leo XIV Edition
Holy horsepower, Batman—this one’s divine! On September 3, 2025, a one-of-a-kind, mother‑of‑pearl white BMW R 18 Transcontinental—complete with Vatican coat of arms—rolled into the Vatican itself, where Pope Leo XIV blessed it and signed the tank. Born from the inspired minds at BMW Motorrad Deutschland, dealer Witzel, and JESUS‑BIKER founder Thomas Draxler, this heavenly heavyweight cruised from Sennfeld to Rome on a “Peace Ride” with fellow R 18 riders, stopping for church services along the way. Now, this papal‑approved touring titan will shine at BMW Welt in Munich (Sept 15–Oct 7) before hitting the Sotheby’s auction block in October, with every euro going to children’s aid projects in Madagascar. As BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch put it, what started as a “crazy idea” has become a miracle on two wheels for a truly worthy cause. Make sure you check it out on Total Motorcycle!
Next up, we have a couple of great Husqvarna 701 motorcycles for dual sport fans! The 2026 Husqvarna 701 Enduro and 2026 Husqvarna 701 Supermoto
Two roads, two beasts, one unstoppable spirit. The 2026 Husqvarna 701 Supermoto and 701 Enduro take the legendary big‑single formula and crank it to eleven with sharper styling, a more powerful thumper, and tech that reads like a racer’s wish list. Both rock a new chromium‑moly trellis frame, aluminum swingarm, polyamide subframe with integrated tank, and updated suspension, wrapped in bold new graphics. The Supermoto is your street‑sliding, apex‑hunting hooligan, with optional Track Mode unlocking Launch Control, 5‑level Anti‑Wheelie, and Supermoto+ ABS for maximum corner‑to‑corner grins. The Enduro? A globe‑trotting, gravel‑eating adventurer with optional Rally Mode, Dynamic Slip Adjust, and the ability to kill ABS entirely for true off‑road mastery. Add in a slick 4.2” TFT dash, Ride HQV app connectivity, USB‑C charging, longer service intervals, and a new LED headlight, and you’ve got two machines that don’t just blur the line between road and dirt—they obliterate it.
That leaves the brand new just released 2026 Honda WN7 last, which, sadly, I’m sure many riders will also put in the same spot to look at. But for those curious, here we go:
Silent speed meets Honda soul. The all‑new 2026 Honda WN7 is Big Red’s first full‑size electric motorcycle, born from the sleek EV FUN Concept and ready to blow past the future with zero emissions and maximum grin factor. Available in two punchy flavors—18 kW for A2 riders or 11 kW for A1—this slim, 217 kg naked delivers over 130 km of range, 100 Nm of instant torque, and a top‑up charge from 20–80% in under 30 minutes via CCS2 rapid charging. Its water‑cooled motor hits like a 600cc ICE bike but with the smooth, quiet surge only electric can deliver, while Honda’s 75‑year mastery ensures balance, stability, and pure riding joy are baked in. Add a 5‑inch TFT with RoadSync, LED lighting, and futuristic styling, and you’ve got a wind‑in‑your‑face, guilt‑free thrill machine that’s as ready for the city sprint as it is for the open road.
Several Guides updated in our Total Motorcycle Guides and Resources Index
Have you been a fan of our many TMW free guides on Total Motorcycle over the decades (yes, decades); well, good news, they are undergoing a modern update. It’s a lot of work, so far over 70 hours, to update content than is between 1 and 20 years old! I mean, the internet has undergone a monstrous amount of changes in 20 years. So I’m updating all those, and there are a lot of guides and a lot of pages. If you enjoy a certain guide, drop a note in the contact me page and let me know, I’ll try to focus on that one. But many are now updated, enjoy!
I’ll also be working on making the website even more mobile friendly. When I started TMW back in 1999, smart phones, those phones back then were not smart nor widely used. Today, 47.6% of traffic is mobile with 50.3% desktop and 2.1% tablet. Pretty interesting swing. I still design TMW for use on Desktops though (sorry mobile fans) as motorcycle photos are best when seen BIG! And the bigger the better IMO.
Enjoy the new Total Motorcycle v26.18
Enjoy our 2026 Motorcycle Model Guides today. Revv it up!
2026 BMW R18 Transcontinental Pope Leo XIV Edition: PEACE BE WITH YOU ALL!
Introducing the 2026 BMW R18 Transcontinental Pope Leo XIV Edition…
On 3 September 2025, a specially modified BMW R 18 Transcontinental was presented to Pope Leo XIV. for his blessing and signature during a celebratory event at the Vatican. This R 18 Transcontinental bearing the Pope’s signature will be auctioned by Missio Austria via Sotheby’s in October 2025, with the proceeds going to children’s aid projects in Madagascar.
BMW Motorrad is supporting an extraordinary charity campaign.
This unique R 18 Transcontinental will be on display at BMW Welt in Munich from 15 September to 7 October 2025, until the auction.
The R 18 Transcontinental was donated by BMW Motorrad Deutschland and refined by BMW Motorrad dealer Witzel. Witzel and Thomas Draxler, founder of JESUS-BIKER®, initiated the idea to create an absolutely unique bike for the pope for a good cause. It was painted mother-of-pearl white and the coat of arms of the Vatican was affixed to it, among other modifications.
The unique motorcycle began its journey on 31 August 2025 with a ‘Peace Ride’ from Motorrad Witzel in Sennfeld to Rome, passing through Schaafheim, Altötting and Verona and accompanied by church services. Representatives of JESUS-BIKER®, BMW Motorrad and BMW Witzel joined the journey, mainly riding BMW R 18 motorcycles provided by BMW Motorrad Germany.
On Wednesday 3 September 2025, Markus Flasch, the CEO of BMW Motorrad and Michael Sommer, head of BMW Motorrad Germany, personally presented the motorcycle to the Pope for blessing and signing, after the general audience at the Vatican.
Markus Flasch sums it up: “What initially sounded more like a crazy idea has developed into a great charity campaign. I am happy that we at BMW Motorrad can support aid projects for children in Madagascar with our R18 Transcontinental. I would also like to thank Pope Leo XIV for taking the time to support this project.”
2026 Husqvarna 701 Supermoto: THE ESSENCE OF RIDING.
Introducing the 2026 Husqvarna 701 Supermoto…
Modern styling, premium components, and the latest technology combine to ensure the 701 Supermoto is a machine like no other. Designed to bring the pure spirit of Supermoto riding to the streets, the performance of the most powerful, single-cylinder model can be harnessed and refined using an extensive list of electronic rider aids. Complete with a perfectly balanced chassis, riders can slide from corner to corner with ease as they command the road.
2026 Husqvarna 701 Supermoto: THE PERFECT COMBINATION.
Introducing the 2026 Husqvarna 701 Supermoto…
The latest 701 Enduro knows no boundaries. Expertly assembled around a perfectly balanced chassis, this all-terrain machine stands at the forefront of modern motorcycle manufacturing. In addition to utilizing the latest technology, its advanced engine’s performance is customizable thanks to an extensive list of electronic rider aids. Designed for long-distance riding, the 701 Enduro is a truly unique model, excelling on gravel tracks and rugged terrain while being equally proficient on the open road.
2026 Honda WN7: EMISSION FREE RIDING.
Introducing the 2026 Honda WN7…
Say hello!
The Honda WN7 is available in 2 power variants – 18kWh for A2 license holders and 11kWh for those with an A1 license. With an electric range of more than 130km and a quick-charge time of less than 30 minutes (20%-80%), the Honda WN7 is not only the future of motorcycling, it is the embodiment of pure enjoyment.
Honda is pleased to announce details of its first full-sized electric motorcycle, the original incarnation of which was shown at EICMA in 2024 as the EV FUN Concept. The mass production model will be sold under the name Honda WN7 – the ‘W’ taking its inspiration from the development concept of ‘Be the Wind’, the ‘N’ standing for ‘Naked’ and the 7 being a reference to the power class.
Our first full-size electric motorcycle will launch on 4th November 2025. Reservations are now open at your local Honda dealership, with all early reservations receiving a complimentary seat bag.
Posted on September 22, 2025 by Michael Le Pard
