VStream windscreens for Africa Twin
Maywood, Illinois based manufacturer National Cycle has just released its VStream windscreens in three sizes and tints for the popular Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin.
VStream gets its name from its unique patented shape. The advanced ‘V’ profile and dimensional contours are designed to push the wind vortex out and away from the rider’s helmet – “resulting in a quieter and safer, less turbulent riding environment”.
Made from tough hard coated polycarbonate in National Cycle’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, polycarbonate is widely acknowledged as offering superior strength, protection and durability with a level of optical clarity and scratch resistance that is said to be “unmatched by any windscreen maker worldwide”.
Indeed, National Cycle say their hard coated VStream windscreens are 30 times more scratch resistant and have 20 times greater crack and impact resistance than “other aftermarket windscreens on the market made from commonly used acrylic or “aircraft plastic”. All polycarbonate windscreens from National Cycle are protected by a 3-year warranty against breakage.
NATIONAL CYCLE INC.
www.nationalcycle.com
Portable jump starter and powerbank
New in Italian manufacturer Forlettronica’s BC Battery Controller brand range is this K1200 portable jump starter and powerbank for motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and small/medium capacity cars.
For 12V battery voltages, and peak current of 400 AMP and powerbank of 12000 MAH, the company says it is “safe and easy to use, portable and with USB output (5V, 2.5A) to supply smartphones, tablets, GPS navigators and other devices”, and it also has 12V 1OA output to power any 12V device (tyre inflators, air compressors, refrigerators etc), and 19V, 3.5A output to charge notebooks and laptops.
Features include LED flashlight with SOS and strobe mode. The operating temperature is from -20 degrees C up to +60 degrees C, and it measures 16 x 7.5 x 2.8 cm, with a weight of 0.38 kg.
Alternatively, there is the K1200 AIR with a size of 13.5 x 7.6 x 1.4 cm and a weight of just 0.23 kg with a battery voltage of 12V, peak current 400 AMP and powerbank of 7500 MAH.
Also available is a patent-pending bike booster cable, a high temperature resistant cable for fast connection of a jump starter to a motorcycle battery, a connector with waterproof protective cap for fast jump start, strips for board installation and eyelets. It is rated to protection class IP 68 and has an integral electronic safety system.
FORELETTRONICA S.r.l.
www.batterycontroller.it
‘Houston’ winter gloves
German glove specialist Orina says that “this winter glove offers an unbeatable combination of high-quality materials. The 100% waterproof and breathable AquaDry membrane, combined with the anti-bacterially treated Thermax lining, is supplemented by Outlast material that absorbs the body heat and releases it only when needed, and an elasticated Neoprene cuff makes this glove the perfect gear for the cold season”.
Gel paddings, stretch panels on the thumb and back, material reinforcement and highly abrasion-resistant SuperFabric not only provide for comfort, but also protect vulnerable areas.
“Tested among 10 winter gloves from other brands by a renowned motorcycle magazine, the ‘Houston’ achieved one of the best results and offers a very good price/performance ratio”, says Orina.
ORINA BW GmbH
www.orina.de
High-strength, lightweight Tri-comp ‘Freeride’
Italian helmet specialist Caberg reports “great interest from all around Europe” at EICMA in their stylish dual-shell size ‘Freeride’ Jet helmets – and especially in their new “urban contemporary” vintage and custom cross-over ‘Iron’ and ‘Rusty’ styles.
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| Freeride carbon |
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| Rusty |
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| Iron |
Manufactured in carbon, Kevlar and fiberglass, the small-sized shell dimensions have allowed Caberg to get the weight down to slightly above 800 gr. (with an even lighter 100 percent carbon version also available), so that it can easily fit under narrow seats.
Homologated to ECE 22.05, the small size still houses an impressive package of ergonomic rider comforts and refined Italian designed and made features such as the five rivets on the rim, the steel air intakes on the neck device, leather details, and the goggle holder with serigraphy (silk screen printing).
‘Freeride’ can be used either with the easy to install anti-scratch treated long, clear visor that is included in the box, or with Caberg’s separately available vintage goggles.
The removable and washable lining is made with breathable fabrics and leather details; the speaker space integrated under the liner means ‘Freeride’ can be ‘Bluetooth Just Speak S’ equipped. ‘Freeride’ helmets are made in Italy.
CABERG SpA
www.caberg-helm.com
EU motorcycle registrations +8.3 percent for first 11 months of 2016
The latest data released by ACEM (the Brussels based international motorcycle trade association) shows new motorcycle registrations at +8.3 percent for the period January to November 2016, at 918,540 motorcycles (against 848,503 during the same period of 2015).
Year-on-year motorcycle registrations increased in all of the largest European markets, including Italy (+11.4%, 186,203 units), Spain (+12.2%, 139,118 units), UK (+8.5%, 109,715 units), Germany (+7%, 157,156 units) and France (+3.5%, 150,323 units).
In total PTW (Powered Two-Wheeler) terms, ACEM say that at least 1,209,006 powered two and three-wheelers were registered during the first 11 months of 2016 in the EU. This represents an increase of 5.4% compared to the 1,146,948 vehicles registered during the same period of 2015.
Registrations performed positively in all of the key European markets, including Italy (+9.8%, 209,147 units), Spain (+11.7%, 154,869 units), UK (+7.1%, 117,647 units), Germany (+4.7%, 186,519 units) and France (+2.1%, 232,715 units).
Moped registrations were -2.7% for the period to November 2016 at 290,466 units compared to 298,445 registered during the same period of 2015.
Moped registrations increased in Spain (+8.1%, 15,751 units) and the Netherlands (+3.4%, 64,618 units). They remained stable in France (-0.1%, 82,392 units,) but declined in Italy (-1.9%, 22,944 units), Germany (-6.1%, 29,363 units) and Poland (-14.1%, 23,255 units).
OptiMate 3 now available as a multi-bank
The OptiMate 3 charger from TecMate was originally designed in 1994, but a process of continual updating has meant that it still retains all the features that made it so popular over 20 years ago, but with all the modern features that have become available since.
Now available as a multi-bank charger, those original features include the unique maintenance mode that works on sealed AGM and GEL as well as flooded batteries and allows 24-7-365 maintenance.
Tested by Honda Motor Company, they concluded that TecMate’s inter-active charge method of 30 minutes maintenance charging alternating with 30 minutes ‘rest’ (during which time the battery continues to be monitored) is ideal for all their lead-acid batteries.
The original self-discharge test remains, checking if that battery can hold more than 50% charge; warning the rider if not. Recognizing that it could well be the vehicle itself drawing the battery down, OptiMate continues to provide charge to the battery, to prevent it from being drained completely!
The unique professional level ability to recover a sulphated battery that won’t accept and hold charge remains a key OptiMate feature, doing so automatically without any user intervention. At the same time ‘smart circuits’ are built in to prevent this feature kicking-in if vehicle wiring is detected - completely discharged batteries have the best chance of recovery if taken off the vehicle.
For dealers who want to prepare and keep batteries fresh for sale at the counter, or for customers with multiple vehicles, the Dual bank and Quad bank models offer great features and value for money, according to TecMate. Each bank works like an independent OptiMate 3 - you can even charge series-connected batteries as the banks are electrically isolated from each other.
OptiMate 3 features are trusted by many OEMS, including the companies that globally co-brand this model, such as Honda, Triumph, Moose Utility Division and Drag Specialties.
TECMATE
www.tecmate.com
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).
