Our 'American Report' is a section that appears regularly in International Dealer News, and is a unique round-up of news from the domestic US PowerSports Industry based on current news reports and our own resources and 25 years of involvement in the motorcycle industry there. Always having more news than we ever have room for in IDNs print editions, 'American Report' will now also appear on a semi-regular' basis here in IDNs 'MotoWEEK' international motorcycle industry newsletter.
A technology sharing deal between Arctic Cat and Yamaha saw the first joint development for snowmobiles emerging from Arctic Cat's Thief River Falls, Minnesota factory in October. An all-new 7000-series model under the Arctic Cat name sees their popular ProCross chassis mated with Yamaha's equally acclaimed 1049cc C-TEC 4-stroke 3-cylinder engine.
BMW Motorrad USA saw November sales increase by +5.7 percent to 821 units, with year-over-year growth running at +17.4 percent.
Öhlins has issued a recall in the USA, citing possible aftermarket steering damper kit bracket cracking due to possible material defects, incorrect machining and arising stress-corrosion risks on BMW kits produced from September 2008 to October 2013. Current production is unaffected.
The four Japanese motorcycle brands plus Harley-Davidson (in 5th place) were the most commonly stolen motorcycles in the US in 2012; a year which saw motorcycle thefts drop by 1 percent to 46,061 from 2011 according to National Insurance Crime Bureau data. Honda was the 'most stolen' brand; the stolen motorcycle recovery rate was 39 percent; New York, Las Vegas and San Diego were the highest theft rate cities.
Following a period of decline Personal Watercraft Sales (PWC) in the United States showed some growth this past summer, being up by 10 percent in September 2013; outboard engine sales have also returned to growth in the US.
It is being claimed that the Benelli motorcycle brand (said to be Europe's oldest marque) is set for a US comeback in the hands of new owners. The Chinese Qianjiang Group has apparently allowed the U.S. trademark to lapse, allowing a new business called Benelli Motor Sports to be set up with plans to establish a 50,000 sq ft facility in the Midwest to assemble 50cc scooters and 250cc ATVs from Taiwanese parts.
It was reported in November 2013 that a federal task force is going to recommend that all US states pass mandatory motorcycle helmet laws. Opposed by the AMA, among riders rights groups and many other organisations, helmet laws remain a controversial subject in the US, with those lobbying for voluntary helmet use opposing what is seen as flawed arguments and research in favour.
American Honda Motor Corp says it saw retail sales grow by 15 percent in September 2013, and for its fiscal third quarter to end of September.
