Twin Air

Foam filter protection for ‘Africa Twin’

Dutch foam filter technology specialist Twin Air has released a new pre-oiled foam dual-stage air filter application for Honda’s CRF1000L ‘Africa Twin’.

Twin Air General Manager Pieter Does explained that “with adventure bikes, indeed with all off-road riding, dirt in the air cleaner is a major problem. Our new foam air filter media solution gives the bike improved performance and better and more reliable protection, ensuring that the power is there when it is needed.
“Our new Twin Air filters for adventure bikes are dyno and field tested by three-time Motocross World Champion David Thorpe [seen here]. These new filters give the ‘Africa Twin’ almost two more horsepower at peak performance – everyone can see the dyno test results for themselves at our website.

“The Honda ‘Africa Twin’ uses two air filters – one each on the left and right side of the bike. Our new Twin Air solution offers two filter frames, including pre-oiled air filters. The air filters are easy to remove – simply by opening the filter frames – and can be cleaned and reused many times or replaced without buying another complete kit.”

TWIN AIR
www.twinair.com

UK motorcycle registrations

UK motorcycle registrations -13.46 percent January to May

The latest data released by the MCIA (Motorcycle Industry Association) in the UK still makes for disappointing reading, even allowing for the Euro 3 inventory pre-registration cross-over.

 
Motorcycle registrations in March were -11.29 percent (13,818 units), -15.28 percent in April (9,743 units) and are -9.64 percent for May (10,264 units) – which is also behind the 2015 market performance. For the year to date the UK market is -13.46 percent with 41,689 units sold.
Moped sales were -24.25 percent in April (-29.27 percent in March, -25.82 percent in April) and are running at -24.11 percent year-to-date (2,502 units).
In total PTW terms the UK was down -10.48 percent in May at 10,792 units (-15.91 percent in April/10,283 units) and the market is running at -14.14 percent year-to-date (44,191 units).
‘Naked’ style bikes remain the most popular in the UK (13,095 units YTD), followed by Adventure Sport models (7,970 units YTD); the scooter market has seen sales drop by 25.2 percent YTD (7,542 units) and the historically dominant Supersport market is down -24.6 percent (4,333 units), with Touring and Sport Touring models off -13.9 percent and -11.8 percent respectively.
In power band terms the only growth seen is in the 651-1000cc market (+0.3 percent YTD, 12,780 units) and above 1000cc with sales of the largest machines +1.3 percent YTD (9,780 units); the combined 651+cc market was worth 22,560 so far this year, which is around 50 percent of the total.
The best-selling ‘Naked’ style motorcycle model in the UK in May was Triumph’s Street Triple RS; their Bonneville Bobber was the best-selling Custom style bike, with BMW’s R 1200 GS topping the Adventure Sport sector; Kawasaki’s Z1000 SX was the best-selling Sport Tourer.
Honda is overall market share leader (motorcycles and scooters), having sold 2,075 units in the UK in May; followed by Yamaha (1,534), Triumph (1,149), BMW (907) and Kawasaki (688).

AIMExpo

Many major OEs now
signed up for AIMExpo,
Columbus, Ohio, September 21-24

Following the decision to relocate AIMExpo from Orlando, Florida, to the midwestern United States, the events division of the MIC (Motorcycle Industry Council), which owns and operates the expo, has announced that it now has exhibit involvement from “most of the major OE motorcycle manufacturers with significant North American sales.”

 
With the motorcycle division of Polaris (Indian Motorcycle and Slingshot) and Harley-Davidson announcing that they will exhibit for the first time, and BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products – Can-Am, See-Doo and Ski-Doo) renewing their commitment, many analysts are now forecasting that the event will have reached “critical mass” in terms of its ability to attract dealers.

Larry Little, Vice President & General Manager of organiser MIC Events: “Some 41% of powersports dealers and 50% of the US population reside within 500 miles of AIMExpo’s new location in the city of Columbus”

Other motorcycle and powersports industry vehicle manufacturers to have confirmed their plans to exhibit include Honda, American Lifan, KTM, CFMoto, Textron Off-Road (including the recently acquired Arctic Cat), Kawasaki, Suzuki, Kymco, Yamaha, SSR Motorsports/Benelli, Hisun Motors and Spanish trials and e-bike specialist Torrot Gas Gas. Additionally, BMW are providing corporate demo rides at AIMExpo Outdoors.
As this edition of IDN went to press, the only major omissions appear to be Triumph, Ducati and Piaggio/Vespa, which is a real surprise, given how well each claim to be doing in the U.S. and their stated ambitions to grow their sales and dealer networks further.
Notable European aftermarket vendors confirmed already include Akrapovic, Puig/Motoplastic, Avon Tyres, Beringer Brakes, Continental, Polisport, EBC Brakes, Givi, PROX Racing Parts, Heidenau, Motorex (who are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year), SW-Motech, NEXX, Ohlins, UFO Plast, TecMate, Wind Trading and Oxford Products.
“At this time, some 80 percent of the available floorspace is contracted,” Larry Little, Vice President & General Manager of organizer MIC Events, told IDN Magazine when we spoke with him in June. “Some 41% of powersports dealers and 50% of the US population reside within 500 miles of AIMExpo’s new location in the city of Columbus. This central location and ease of access offers all attendees the opportunity to engage with the greater powersports industry like never before.
“From a manufacturer’s point of view, the timing is perfect as it offers an opportunity for new model year launches to be shown to a consumer audience soon after the ranges have been introduced to dealers.”
AIMExpo is trade only for its first two days, September 21/22, followed by two public/consumer days at the weekend, September 23/24, a schedule that provides the North American powersports industry with a similar expo formula to the one that has been commonplace at world leading motorcycle industry shows such as INTERMOT (Cologne, Germany) and EICMA (Milan, Italy).
Little went on to say that “the show’s platform was created to shine a spotlight on American industry as well as the world’s largest recreational powersports market. The European style two-day trade/two-day consumer attendance formula will mean all our 500 plus exhibitors will be appreciated by media, trade and consumer audiences alike.”
www.aimexpousa.com

News Briefs

KTM Industries AG has sold its 24 percent minority interest in AGM Durmont Austria GmbH to the previous majority owner and parent company AGM Group of Troy, Michigan, USA - a multinational manufacturer of vehicle interiors, lighting and electronic components in the automotive industry.

A report in the US says that sportbike sales dropped by -4.7% over a 12 month period that ended in October 2016. According to the data set put together by Statistical Surveys Inc., 75,469 sportbikes were registered in the United States during the prior 12 months, compared to the 79,225 motorcycles that were registered the previous year.

In the US Polaris has launched what it says is a first in youth off-road vehicles – to date the single-seat Polaris ACE 150 EFI is the industry’s only single-seat youth model with a protective cab frame. It gives kids of 10 years and older “the single-seat freedom enjoyed by their adult counterparts,” said Craig Scanlon, Polaris Off-Road Vehicles Chief Retail Officer.

US distributor SpeedMob has added the Italian EVR Special Parts line of premium race products to its burgeoning range of European brand products. EVR was founded in 1994 by former racer Edo Vigna – the man credited with having, in effect, invented the slipper clutch. EVR produces world class wet and dry slipper clutches, carbon fibre airboxes and other race components.

Kawasaki

Kawasaki unit sales up in “developed markets” for 2016-2017 fiscal

For their full year 2016-2017 (the period to March 31st 2017) Kawasaki is reporting net sales from its Motorcycle & Engine division of 313.0 bn yen, down by -6.1 percent (-20.5 bn yen) from the same period of 2015/2016; with operating income down by -25.5 percent at 11.7 bn yen. It ascribes the decline to the appreciation in the value of the yen during the period and in the sales of motorcycles to its “emerging markets”.
Total worldwide motorcycle, UTV, ATV and PWC unit sales in the full year were 540,000 units (up from 524,000 units 2015 – 2016); of which 153,000 were motorcycle sales in “developed markets” (up from 135,000 units and generating 112.6 bn yen), 321,000 were sales in “emerging markets” (down from 328,000 and generating 86.9 bn yen) and 66,000 units were utility vehicles, ATVs and PWC (up from 61,000 and generating 73.3 bn yen).
The Motorcycle (and Engine) division delivered 20 percent of overall corporate net sales, down from 22 percent in 2015-2016.

SBS Friction

SBS introduces three brake disc ranges

Leading motorcycle brake pad manufacturer SBS Friction has now added brake discs to its product range.
The new SBS disc range is “dedicated to riders who appreciate quality components on their bikes”, says Chief Sales Officer Christel Munk Pedersen. “These new discs are made here in Europe with designs that are based on our extensive race and street know-how and experience”.

The programme comprises three lines - a Standard range, which meets the demands for OEM replacements that offer durable and comfortable braking; the SBS Signature discs - specifically designed to increase brake feel, performance, comfort and looks; and an oversized discs line especially for off-road use.
 “We have been in braking for more than 50 years and offer the most comprehensive brake pad range in the market. By adding brake discs as well as brake shoes and accessory parts such as brake pins, we are now able to offer a very strong and attractive product portfolio, underlining our status as the brake specialist.
“Our distributors will now have all frequently sold brake wear parts in one unique, respected and well-established brand. This will support their sales and marketing activities and on the logistics side, they will be able to improve order handling and logistics operations due to “one-stop brake parts shopping and our customer support, with commercial and technical services, will be able to help distributors and dealers with even more braking products”.
The SBS Standard line has the application-specific shape, construction and dimensions to make them a true OEM replacement disc. “Typically they have the round contour that is preferred by riders who want to stay with the original visual appearance of their bike”, says Pedersen.

For those who want to upgrade their braking set-up, the SBS Signature Design range of discs features characteristics that improve on the OEM and replacement discs. “They offer increased performance and design features that improve the capability to get friction material constantly cleaned off the disc surface. With its SBS Signature Design, the line also appeals to those who want to visually upgrade their bike and stand out from mainstream looks”.
SBS’ oversized discs have larger diameters than the OEM product they replace and are typically used for off-road front brakes, offering increased stopping power and better brake feeling. 
“When it comes to quality, it has been important for us to offer a product range that matches the high level expected of our brake pads.
“We are known for delivering a high quality standard with focus on performance, comfort and durability, and we haven’t compromised with these new discs. The SBS name is thought of as a quality stamp and is our customers’ and their riders’ guarantee of quality”.

SBS FRICTION
www.sbs-friction.dk

Parts Europe

Icon TiMax-Collection and Tuscadero ladies jacket

Parts Europe has two new product lines available in their popular ICON apparel programme - one is the return of a favourite, the other a new opportunity for women riders to enjoy real comfort.

The ICON TiMax-Collection has returned, interpreted with a modern twist and featuring D3O impact protectors and a removable vest liner. What is staged as a battle against dragons and fire in the Youtube video also looks almost as anarchic in this updated ICON design. Sturdy leather, massive titanium plates and a powerful design are features of a jacket that is available with matching long or short gloves and riding pants with integrated flex zones in the knee area and removable D3O impact protectors.
Also seen here, ICON say that the ‘One Thousand’ Tuscadero jacket is a high quality textile jacket with leather panels that has been “developed for women who take riding a bike seriously, with an anatomically correct ergonomic fit that is designed to deal with the miles”.

The pyramid leather panelling around the shoulders “not only looks great, but offers additional protection. Rugged but soft textile that can withstand a rain shower is combined with a complete D3O impact protector kit (including back protector) and removable SatinCore vest liner”.

PARTS EUROPE
www.rideicon.com