Kalahari jacket and Aragon boots
New from AXO, the ‘Kalahari’ jacket is made from high-tenacity polyester with tough, abrasion- resistant Ballistic fabric inserts.
Features include an anti-bacterial, anti-sweat, perforated polyester lining, anti-bacterial, anti-sweat soft inner collar, ‘WaterTech’ removable membrane and ‘ThermoLite’ removable quilting.
There are vents on chest, arms and back, a double collar locking system, large internal and external pockets, H.V. reflective inserts, elastic ribbing on the elbows and a locking system to attach trousers.
Also shown here, their ‘Aragon’ boots are CE-certified (EN 13634:2002) and have a water resistant leather upper with front and back anti-abrasion inserts and polyurethane shin and calf guards.
Features include a metal anti-shock heel insert, ankle support hinge system, removable and interchangeable plastic shin slider, anti-torsion brace at the back, zipless, patented micrometric BOA closure system and titanium slider.
AXO
www.axosport.com
EU motorcycle registrations +7.2 percent for first nine months of 2016
According to the latest data gathered by ACEM, the Brussels based international motorcycle trade association, more than 1 million motorcycles and mopeds were registered in the EU in Q3 2016 (+4.4% year-on-year). France remains the largest market for powered two and powered three- wheelers in Europe. At least 1,051,257 powered two and three-wheelers were registered during the first three quarters of 2016 in the EU (compared to 1,006,684 vehicles registered during the same period of 2015).
PTW registrations performed positively in all the key European markets including Italy (+10.3%, 186,464 units), Spain (+9.6%, 127,717 units), UK (+7.3%, 101,408 units), Germany (+2.5%, 168,418 units) and France (+1.1%, 198,513 units).
However, registrations of higher priced, larger displacement machines continue to out-perform mopeds and lower-price smaller displacement units. Cumulative motorcycle registrations grew by +7.2% during the first three quarters of 2016 on a year-on-year basis. A total of 802,767 motorcycles were registered between January and September 2016, against 749,128 during the same period of 2015.
Year-on-year motorcycle registrations increased in all the largest European markets, including Italy (+12%, 160,602 units), Spain (+10.2%, 114,988 units), UK (+8.7%, 94,807 units), Germany (+4.5%, 143,367 units) and France (+2.1%, 129,835 units).
At least 248,490 mopeds were registered during the first nine months of 2016 in the EU, whilst 257,556 had been registered during the same period of 2015. This represents a decrease of -3.5%. Moped registrations increased in Spain (+5%, 12,729 units) and the Netherlands (+2.8%, 55,363 units). They remained stable in Austria (-0.2%, 12,366 units) and France (-0.8%, 58,040 units), but declined in Italy (-2.1%, 19,862 units) and Poland (-14.2%, 21,432 units).
ACEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot said: “These third quarter figures clearly show that the powered two and three-wheeler sector continues to recover from the acute economic crisis that started in 2008. We are still far away from the 2.4 million registrations of 2007, but we are optimistic about the future.
“As the European economy continues to emerge from its long slumber, European citizens will increasingly look for convenient solutions that meet both their mobility and leisure needs”.
This analysis is based on information available up to 19 October 2016. At that time motorcycle and moped data for the following countries was not available: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Malta, Romania and Slovenia. Moped data for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Malta, Slovakia and Sweden was not available.
www.acem.eu
Polaris say Q3 2016 Victory and Indian unit sales up by “high single digits percent” in a down market
Polaris Industries say that North American consumer retail demand for Victory and Indian models increased high single digits percent during the 2016 third quarter, with Indian Motorcycle and Victory increasing low-teens percent combined, while overall motorcycle industry retail sales 900cc and above were down high single digits percent in the 2016 third quarter.
Product availability for all three motorcycle brands remained “adequate” throughout the quarter with both the Company’s Spirit Lake, Iowa motorcycle plant and the new Slingshot production line in Huntsville, Alabama, producing at retail demand levels.
However, the company reported third Motorcycle segment sales revenues, including its respective PG&A sales, down by -3 percent in the 2016 third quarter to $183.2 million. Victory and Indian Motorcycle reported increased vehicle sales revenue growth, while Slingshot sales revenue was down during the quarter due to shipment timing.
Gross profit in the Motorcycle segment decreased by -26 percent to $21.2 million, or 11.6 percent of sales in the third quarter of 2016, compared to $28.4 million, or 15.1 percent of sales, in the third quarter of 2015 – apparently due to higher warranty expense related to recent safety and service bulletins, primarily for Slingshot.
“Our third quarter results, while discouraging, were in line with our revised guidance and reflect our ongoing execution of the RZR recalls and significant quality and safety improvement initiatives,” said Scott Wine, Polaris’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
“In addition to these recall challenges, we continued to face a weak overall powersports industry, but were encouraged by continued retail strength for Indian and our overall motorcycle business, and the return to growth for side-by-sides in September,” he commented.
“We remain committed to improving our fundamentals and executing our long-term strategy to be the ‘Best in Powersports, Plus’. Our recent announcement to acquire Transamerican Auto Parts, a $740 million, vertically integrated, multi-channel leader in the $10+ billion Jeep and truck aftermarket accessory space, is consistent with our strategy and exciting due to its growth potential. “We are making the necessary investments, both internally and externally, to realize the true potential of our organization. Along with improvements in product safety and quality, we are using Huntsville and our go to market Retail Flow Management (“RFM”) process to establish Lean as a competitive advantage, we are bringing technology to the forefront of our industry with ‘Ride Command’, and we are working to transform the customer experience, from purchase to service, to enhance profitability.
“This commitment to improving our execution and our overall performance will drive a steadier cadence of growth and profitability in the future.”
Third quarter net income was $32.3 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 compared to $155.2 million, or $2.30 per diluted share reported in the third quarter of 2015.
Sales for the third quarter of 2016 totaled $1,185.1 million, down -19 percent from last year’s third quarter sales of $1,456.0 million.
Compared to the $535.699 m in motorcycle segment sales revenue reported for the first nine months of the 2015 financial year, motorcycle segment sales revenues are reported up by +13 percent for the first nine months of 2016 at $602.762 m.
Total Polaris sales revenues were down by -19 percent at $ 1,185.067m for the third quarter (compared to $ 1,456.000m for the year ago quarter) and -19 percent at $ 3,298.840m for the first nine months of 2016 (compared with $ 3,613.672m for the first nine months of 2015.
Total gross profit across Polaris’ full range of activities was -37 percent for the third quarter at $ 260.770m (22 percent of sales) compared to $ 415.623 for the year ago quarter (28.5 percent of sales); and was -23 percent for the first nine months of 2016 at $ 792.851m (24 percent of sales) compared to$ 1,028.768m for the year ago period (28.5 percent of sales).
Off-Road Vehicle (“ORV”) and Snowmobile segment sales revenue, including its respective PG&A sales, decreased -23 percent from the third quarter of 2015 to $923.4 million.
Polaris’ “Global Adjacent Markets” segment sales along with its respective PG&A sales, increased six percent to $78.5 million in the 2016 third quarter compared to the 2015 third quarter.
Parts, Garments and Accessories (“PG&A”) sales, which are included in each of the three respective reporting segments, declined one percent during the 2016 third quarter to $224.4 million, driven by lower retail sales.
International sales to customers outside of North America totaled $141.0 million for the third quarter of 2016, including PG&A, a decrease of eight percent from the same period in 2015. International sales on a constant currency basis were down seven percent in the 2016 third quarter.
Operating expenses increased 16 percent to $222.6 million, or 18.8 percent of sales, for the third quarter of 2016, compared to $192.0 million, or 13.2 percent of sales, for the third quarter of 2015.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $426.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to $464.0 million for the same period in 2015. Total debt for the quarter was $436.7 million. The Company’s debt-to-total capital ratio was 32 percent at September 30, 2016, compared to 25 percent a year ago. Cash and cash equivalents were $122.7 million at September 30, 2016, down from $225.3 million for the same period in 2015.
During the third quarter 2016, the Company repurchased and retired 111,000 shares of its common stock for $10.5 million. As of September 30, 2016, the Company currently has authorization from its Board of Directors to repurchase up to an additional 8.6 million shares of Polaris stock.
For the full year 2016, the Company says its Motorcycle segment unit sales are forecast to be up low-single digits percent.
Champion plugs and filters
In addition to being the owner and manufacturer of the famous Ferodo brand of brake pads, Federal-Mogul also owns the equally well known Champion filters and spark plugs brand.
Champion say its motorcycle filters are precision-engineered to match or exceed OE standards. Made from thicker, resin impregnated paper, Champion state that its precision manufacturing and exacting quality control standards result in durable filters with virtually zero defects.
Independent tests - ISO 4548 for oil filters and ISO 5011 for air filters – show that the highly efficient filters outperform the competition both on and off the road.
As well as being OE to leading manufacturers, Champion offers a comprehensive range for the motorcycle aftermarket, and the high performance Powersport range is able to provide increased power.
FEDERAL-MOGUL SRL, Racing & Motorcycle Division
www.ferodoracing.com
www.championpowersports.eu
‘Energater’ suit
Rukka's new two-part adventure style suit "offers perfect weather protection, safety and high wear comfort", according to the company.
With its Gore-Tex three-layer laminate, it is said to be extremely resilient and completely waterproof. In addition, the Energater suit offers very high abrasion resistance thanks to Armacor reinforcements. More safety is provided by the comfortable Rukka D3O Air protectors, tested to the latest CE standards, which feature progressive energy absorption at the time of an impact.
Features include stretch inserts, waist belt adjustable on the sides, removable, elastic Gore-Tex storm collar and double cuffs, six pockets, a removable thermal lining with temperature-regulating Outlast and long ventilation openings.
The Energater trousers have removable braces and a long connecting zipper. They also feature waterproof pockets, a thermal lining with Outlast and ventilation zippers. In addition, the seat area is equipped with the climate-regulating Air Cushion on the inside, while the outside has Antiglide-Keprotec. Long zippers at the ends of the legs mean the trousers can also be worn over large Enduro boots, as well as inside them.
Jacket and trousers come in black with reflective stripes in light grey, cobalt blue or neon yellow.
L-FASHION GROUP Oy
www.rukka.com
Expandable side bags
Designed by the company at their Barcelona headquarters, these new SHAD side cases (SL58 - from their touring bags range) are a line of ergonomically oval shaped bags made from high quality, durable materials - the shape is said to offer improved aerodynamics and loading capacity. The main and the side compartments are made from polyester with glove friendly zips and protected with a waterproof lining with reflective detailing. They include a padded handle and two straps with a buckle for volume adjustment. Mounting is either by Velcro straps or the new "Side Bag Holder" metallic system developed by SHAD. Capacity is 46L, expandable up to 58L; optional thermal protector available.
SHAD/NAD S.L., Spain, www.shad.es
X-Black oval for Ninja 300
Italian exhaust manufacturer Exan is offering its popular and powerful X-Black exhaust for the two-cylinder Ninja 300 with diamond shaped carbon end cap. Equipped with a removable db killer, it is available in brushed stainless steel clear, satin stainless steel black, carbon and titanium, and is said to be lighter than the stock exhaust and provides increased power at all rev bands.
EXAN, Italy, www.exan.it
