German motorcycle registrations +8.44 percent for period to November 2016
The latest data released by the IVM, the German motorcycle industry trade association, shows new motorcycle registrations at +8.44 percent (107,992 units) for the period from January to November 2016.
In total PTW (powered two-wheeler) terms the German market was +6.90 percent for the period to November 2016 at 155,859 new units registered – an already greater number than seen for the whole of 2015, marking a fourth straight year of growth in Germany and the best market performance for the period concerned since 2008.
The top selling model year-to-date in Germany was the BMW R 1200 GS (6,768 units), followed by Yamaha’s MT-07 (3,300 units), Kawasaki’s ER-6n, the BMW R nineT and Honda’s Africa Twin.
With 7 models in the Top 20, it is no surprise that BMW is market share leader in Germany, having sold 23,364 units for the period to November 2016 for a 14.99 percent market share (which is actually down by 0.95 percent in a growing market compared to the 16.18 percent market share (23,587 units) the company had at the same time in 2015.
Yamaha is in second place, followed by Honda, KTM (top seller was the 690 SMC) and Harley-Davidson (top seller was the Softail Slim).
Sportbikes still take the largest slice of the German market at 30.10 percent (32,501 units YTD), followed by Enduro style models (24.13 percent, 26,058 units), Classic/Naked style models (21.91 percent of the market at 23,663 units YTD) and “Choppers” the fourth largest sector (12.79 percent, 13,814 units YTD).
X-COM equipped full-face helmet
Portuguese manufacturer NEXX say they are bringing high-end features to a lower price point full-face street helmet with the SX.100.
The ATR shell (Advanced Thermo Alloy Resin) touring and urban riding shell has been extensively wind tunnel tested to arrive at an aerodynamic shape that allows a relatively lightweight helmet with a sporty design to still have optimised stability and soundproofing at high speed.
The 3D formed interiors are fully removable and washable, anti-sweat and anti-allergic and made with X-Mart Dry fabrics. The removable and washable thick neck roll blocks air from entering under the helmet.
The SX.100's wide eye port offers an increased feeling of openness inside the helmet, and the visor is an optical class 1 anti-scratch prepared for use with a Pinlock fog-free lens; an internal sun visor is operated via a glove-friendly external button and is said to filter out 99% of UV light.
The SX.100 is equipped to accommodate NEXX Helmets’ X-COM system, developed in cooperation with the renowned Bluetooth specialist SENA. The helmet is ECE/22.05, DOT and NBR-7471:2001 approved and has two inlet and two exhaust air vents (Air Dynamic System).
NEXX Helmets, Portugal, www.nexx-helmets.com
New LeoVince GP Duals
It has been a big year for the LeoVince brand. Now under the ownership of Belgrove Sp. z o.o., LeoVince’s “near death” experience is now well behind them.
This past three years saw the company sell over 360,000 exhaust products, with revenues up by 21 percent. In 2016 the company introduced over 100 new products and applications, and now has over 600 active SKUs, 124 employees, a 23,000 sq m facility and sells to 38 countries through some 70 plus distributors.
As Marketing Manager Stefano Patelli said at EICMA, that is “hardly the statistics of a company that has closed down”. His remarks follow the well-document difficulties encountered three years ago by former brand owner Sito Group, but with four completely new lines launched in 2016 and 26 of Europe’s 30 top selling bikes covered, the future looks bright for one of the market’s favourite brands.
New products for 2017 include their ‘GP Duals’, initially available as slip-ons or as complete systems for selected BMW (R nineT), Ducati (Scrambler 800), Honda (CB 500 F / CBR 500 R), Kawasaki (Z800/E), Suzuki (SV 650 and GSR750) and Yamaha models (slip-ons for the MT10, complete systems for the MT-07/9 and XSR 700).
Manufactured entirely in AISI 304 stainless steel for durability with a temperature resistant metallic ceramic-based black paint with laser-cut LeoVince logo, these EU-approved ‘GP Duals’ are “easy to install thanks to the laser-cut muffler connection bracket”, according to the company.
Also seen here, LeoVince’s new ‘Classic Racer’ is designed for modern “urban racer” style models, and is a tribute to the cafe culture with its trumpet-shaped classic style combined with “LeoVince innovative materials and experience to give a unique retro look and unmistakable sound”.
Manufactured in AISI 304 stainless steel for durability, the new end cap has a brushed finish to add to its “retro vibe”. EU approved and easy to install, it is currently available as a slip-on for selected Moto Guzzi, Kawasaki and Triumph models.
LEOVINCE
www.leovince.com
Motorcycle registrations in Spain + 12.27 percent for January to November 2016
According to the latest data available from ANESDOR, the motorcycle industry trade association in Spain, new motorcycle registrations for the period January to November 2016 were up by +12.27 percent at 138,261 units – which is already above the 12-month total seen in 2015 and represents a 4th straight year of growth for the Spanish market, and the best annual market performance seen since before the market peak achieved in 2009.
As has been seen elsewhere in Europe, registrations in the final two or three months of 2016 do not necessarily reflect sales as manufacturers and their dealers advance-registered existing Euro 3 compliant inventory in advance of the December 31st cut-off – Euro 4 compliance became mandatory for all new motorcycle models throughout Europe effective January 1st 2017.
Moped registrations in Spain were +8.33 percent for the period to November 2016 at 15,821 units; total PTW (powered two-wheeler) registrations for the period were + 10.87 percent at 154,080 units.
Scooter sales were worth 88,192 units for the period to November 2016, some 64 percent of the market; the top-selling motorcycle YTD in Spain was Kawasaki’s Z 800 (2,802 units).
Honda is market share leader in Spain, taking 16.9 percent market share YTD (23,417 units); Yamaha is second (15 percent market share, 20,715 units); Kymco is third with a 13.7 percent market share; Piaggio fourth, and BMW fifth, followed by Kawasaki, Sym, Suzuki, Peugeot and KTM.
The December and full-year 2016 data for Spain will be released by ANESDOR in early February.
Trekker ‘Dolomiti’
Givi’s ‘Dolomiti’ aluminium side bags range, introduced earlier this year, has now been expanded with two matching top cases, the DLM46A and DLM30A, presented at INTERMOT. Designed for the Sport Adventure/Crossover segment, the boxes are light, rugged, impact resistant and fully lockable with a contemporary impact energy damage-reducing round edge design.
Both equipped with Givi’s popular and successful Monokey concept, the larger 46 litre case can be used with all Monokey plates and offers an internal space that is large enough to take a full-face or modular helmet or two jets. It has a deep-drawn bottom and lid, stainless steel rivets, a security lock with standard dust-cover screw top, with hooks to fix an elastic net under the lid, as well as four nylon belt-strap loops on the lid, allowing extra bags to be attached using the Trekker straps. The maximum load (excluding the case) is 10 kg and the finish is natural aluminium.
The 30 litre DLM30A features the same robust construction, materials and ergonomics and can be used both as a top case or a side case, and is large enough to hold a 15-inch computer bag.
GIVI S.r.l.
www.givi.it
Andreani DB4 suspension dynamometer
Taking the concept of suspension diagnostics to another level, Italian suspension specialist Andreani’s DB4 is a new generation professional dynamometer, optimised for suspension testing of motorcycles, cars and mountain bikes.
Thanks to the powerful 4kW AC-Motor, it allows you to test shock absorbers and forks in a wide range of speed and loads, choosing between several stroke settings.
Its advanced features allow any suspension operator to visualise a real time shock and fork load vs velocity graph, compare different click settings and valving options, measure dynamic suspension parameters and detect any operating anomalies.
The DB4 includes a state-of-the-art, real-time dedicated controller board that ensures a stable and reliable automation and deterministic data acquisition. The software provides an intuitive graphical user interface for data acquisition and simple but powerful tools for suspension analysis. It is compatible with the most common operating systems, and, as it is plug-and-play, does not require a dedicated laptop.
The graphs and numerical outputs of the software and its sophisticated algorithms allows you to fully define and characterise the suspension’s state of tune using peak velocity, load displacement and instantaneous velocity graphs. In addition to the viscous response of the suspension, the suspension dyno also provides gas preload, mean gas-spring rate and static friction outputs.
Custom versions of the software can include hysteresis analysis, dissipated energy and damping coefficient calculations.
ANDREANI GROUP INTERNATIONAL
www.andreanigroup.com
Suzuki first half unit sales down -11 percent in Europe
Suzuki has reported results for the first six months of its 2016 – 2017 financial year (the period to September 30, 2016) that show global net sales from motorcycles of 93,521m yen, which is down substantially from the 123,334m yen reported for the year-ago period; but the company has achieved a reduced loss of -667m yen for the first six months of 2016, compared to 1,211m yen for the year-ago period.
In unit terms Suzuki reports 499,000 units sold worldwide in the first six months, down from 529,000 units in the comparable year-ago period. Some 24,000 of those were sold in Europe (11.11 percent compared to 27,000 in 2015) and 10,000 in the United States (down by - 59 percent from 17,000 units in the first six months of 2015).
Unit sales in its domestic Japanese market remained stable at around 31,000 units; sales elsewhere in Asia were modestly down at 354,000 units, from 355,000 in 2015.
Total corporate consolidated net sales (automotive, motorcycle, marine and power products) were 1,498,956m yen, down by 56,566m yen (-3.6 percent) from the 1,555,522m yen recorded for the year-ago period.
