EU motorcycle registrations

EU motorcycle registrations +13.3 percent in 2016

According to the latest data published by ACEM, the Brussels based international motorcycle industry trade association, new motorcycle registrations (vehicles with two or three wheels and an engine capacity of more than 50cc) in all of Europe’s EU markets were up by +13.3 percent in 2016 at 1,009,529 units (891,219 in 2015).

The largest market for motorcycles in Europe was Italy, with 195,290 units registered (+13.5% on a year-on-year basis); followed by Germany +15.1 percent (174,624 units); France + 6.6 percent (163,335 units); Spain + 17 percent (155,003 units) and the UK + 13.4 percent (119,889 units).


 PTWs +9.1 percent

Some caution is required when comparing these figures with prior years because the major motorcycle manufacturers and many larger dealers artificially inflated the end of year activity (November and December 2016) with pre-registrations of unsold Euro 3 compliant 2016 inventory before the December 31st deadline - Euro 4 compliance became mandatory for all new registrations effective January 1st 2017.
In total Powered Two-Wheeler (PTW) terms, registrations were +9.1 percent at 1,307,206 units, with the moped market still soft at -3.5 percent for 2016 (327,786 units).
France remains the largest European market for overall PTW registrations and was +4.2 percent in 2016 (253,067 units), followed by Italy +11.8 percent (219,865 units); Germany +15.1 percent (174,264 units); Spain +15.9 percent (172,176 units) and the UK +11.7 percent (128,637 units).

Moped registrations continue to decline in most European markets, with the best growth seen in Spain +7.6 percent (17,173 units) and the Netherlands +2.9 percent (67,825 units), with France, Europe’s largest moped market, stable at +0.1 percent (89,732 units) and Italy (24,575 units) with -0.2%.
Motorcycles, mopeds and quadricycles registered in Europe in 2016 with a cylinder capacity of less than 125 cc accounted for 49 percent of the 1,307,206 units total PTW market (672,551 units); vehicles with a cylinder capacity between 126cc and 500cc accounted for 19% of the total (268,103 units); vehicles with engines between 500cc and 1000cc were 20.6 percent of the market (283,868 units); vehicles with engines of 1000cc or more totalled 150,444 units, 10.9% of the total; the 500cc+ market was 434,312 units; the 125cc+ market was 702,415 units in 2016.
 
 Italy, Europe’s largest motorcycle market, +13.3 percent


Registrations of electric mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles in the EU reached 22,402 units. Of these, 11,314 units were mopeds (50.5% of the total); 7,148 were quadricycles (31.9% of the total); and 3,513 were electric motorcycles (15.7% of the total).
The largest markets for electrically-propelled mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles were France (7,396 units), the Netherlands (5,203 units), Italy (2,385 units), Spain (1,604 units) and Germany (1,501 units).
Of all mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles registered in the EU, 1.6% were electric vehicles. Internal combustion vehicles and vehicles equipped with hybrid propulsion represented 98.4% of the total registrations.

CEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot: “We need a European trade policy that not only secures strategic free trade agreements with key partners, but also one that prevents protectionist policies abroad”.

The Secretary General of the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), Antonio Perlot, said that “2016 was a very positive year for the industry, with registrations increasing in most European countries, particularly in the largest European markets.
 
 156,000 jobs in the EU

“Strong demand for PTWs of all kinds across Europe is a testament to their inherent advantages. Mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles have reduced purchasing and running costs, are easier to park than cars, and reduce travelling times and congestion in cities.
“Notwithstanding this, our sector still faces a delicate situation. Although more than 1.3 million vehicles were registered in Europe in 2016, that figure is about half the 2.43 million units registered in 2007 before the economic crisis hit.
“According to our latest estimates, about 156,000 jobs are generated directly or indirectly by our sector in the EU. Activities such as manufacturing of vehicles, parts and components, as well as the repair and maintenance of vehicles and manufacturing of protective equipment, to name just a few examples, create jobs all over Europe - particularly in countries such as Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Spain and the UK.
“Exports of motorcycles, parts and accessories to foreign countries are essential to sustaining jobs in the motorcycle sector in Europe. In addition to a stronger domestic European market, we need a European trade policy that not only secures strategic free trade agreements with key partners, but also one that prevents protectionist policies abroad”.

Comment by Editor, Robin Bradley

Urbanisation, outreach and innovation

We were still waiting for ACEM to confirm the final sales results for Europe for the 2016 full year period as this edition went to press, but based on their statistics to the end of November 2016, it looks like new motorcycle registrations in Europe will have grown by around +9 percent by the end of the year.
That said, the figures for the first 11 months of 2016, to November (as seen on the front cover of this edition of IDN), may be a better guide to what really happened for the year. Those figures show growth of +8.3 percent, and though somewhat affected by the advance registrations of Euro 3 inventory (before the new regulations came into effect on January 1st), they aren’t as hugely distorted in the way that the December statistics are for markets such as Germany, UK, France and Spain.
As the dawn of the Euro 4 era loomed large in the mirrors, OEs and dealers sought to make sure that unsold carry-over inventory was securely pre-registered by the December 31st deadline, so it could still be sold in 2017, even if at a discount and, technically, as pre-owned machines.
Whether or not it will prove to have been a financially viable exercise in registration and regulation manipulation remains to be seen. The experience of the past decade appears to suggest not. It has been a decade in which emissions compliance (and safety) have matured as factors that play well among new consumer groups – especially the increasingly important new generation younger rider and family riding consumer groups.
It may be then that manufacturers (and some of their dealers in some cases) may just have to suck it up and “take a haircut” on this occasion where the “unsolds” are concerned.
We need not let that detract from the good news though.
Deck the Hall with boughs of holly, sing it loud and sing it proud – 2016 has been our third straight year of meaningful growth in new motorcycle registrations (even if lower value PTWs remain soft) following the bottom of our excruciatingly wide U-curve having been traversed at a nadir of 781,762 units in all European markets (EU and EFTA) in 2013.
As Stephan Schaller and Antonio Perlot (ACEM President and General Secretary respectively) would no doubt immediately point out, that still leaves us with around half the size of the market we had before the banking industry got caught with their balance sheets trapped in a black hole.
 
 ‘only half can grow beards’

Having managed to turn the machine around and start it moving in the right direction, the momentum must be maintained and the road continuously ploughed to give our industry the clearest possible run at exploiting the issues such as congestion, handling, ergonomics, emissions and safety that continue to become our friends rather than our weaknesses as we seek customers new.
With most of the market’s principal players, including those from Japan, either starting to show the signs of turn-around or, in the case of the likes of BMW, Ducati, KTM and others, piling up the records, it is timely to reflect that actually, just as it is with dealerships (franchise and otherwise) and aftermarket parts and accessory vendors, the number of fatalities we have seen has been irrationally low in real terms – relative to the wholesale slaughter of a greater than 50 percent loss of the most valuable sales.
There have been casualties - Victory and EBR (again) just recently – and the small displacement manufacturing sector (especially in Spain) has had a torrid time of it, as has the United States.
The market in the U.S. started to recover from the recession, with three or four years of modest overall annual unit growth for domestic manufacturers and importers. Indeed, Harley-Davidson and Polaris saw their share prices recover from around $8.00 in late 2009 to the dizzy heights of around $70.00 and $135.00 or more respectively; until that recovery started to stall around 36 months ago.
Polaris’ decision to drop Victory production in favour of better ROI chances with Indian, and Harley’s stated aim of injecting 50 new models into their offer in the next five years, are both dramatic steps from manufacturers who are quite openly targeting international sales as their lifeboat, just as Triumph, Ducati, KTM and BMW in particular look to grow increased shares in the sectors of American consumer demand that the domestic manufacturers fail to speak to.
There have been demographic changes in the USA, but they are not yet the same ones that have been seen in Europe. The USA continues to lag where the impact of the ever more intense urbanisation is concerned. It will come though. With the OECD projecting that 70% of the world’s population will be living in urban areas by 2050, it is a bullet that manufacturers there won’t be able to duck, even in the wide open spaces of their continental sized market.
Increased urbanisation in the United States, and the gradual domination of more environmentally conscious generations of consumers, may well be among the factors that finally see the U.S. market brake the shackles of an historically static less than 4 percent of those of riding age owning or using a motorcycle, compared to Europe’s nearly 10 percent.
The changes that have been shaping riding in the United States this past decade have, so far, manifested as a belated recognition that the discretionary leisure Dollars that women, Hispanics, African Americans and other previously overlooked so-called minority customer groups have at their disposal are just as green as anyone else’s, and work just as well in the market’s cash registers.
Our trade associations (the IVM in Germany especially) and manufacturers have been doing a good job where “outreach” is concerned, but they can never do too much. We need to wake up and realise that only 50 percent of our potential customers can even grow beards.
Wherever we do find the energy to fuel the momentum, the importance of OE innovation and investment remains as ever critical. In Europe, in particular, and in Munich and Bologna especially, the OE’s refusal to reach for the R&D off-switch during the recession has, frankly, saved our asses!

Swiss motorcycle registrations

Swiss motorcycle registrations -3.4 percent 2016

After having been up by over +17 percent in 2015, the latest data from the motorcycle industry trade association in Switzerland (MotoSuisse) shows new motorcycle registrations there down by -3.4 percent for the full year in 2016 at 26,391 units.

Interestingly in a market that was not subject to the Euro 3 inventory carry-over issue, December sales were a more realistic -1,89 percent on low volumes (466 units).
YTD at 25,362 units; and down by -8.33 percent in October on very low volumes (869 units).
In total PTW terms, the market in Switzerland was down by -6.21 percent at 45,897 units for the full year 2016.
In motorcycle market share terms, Yamaha had top spot having sold 4,803 units, with BMW second (3,485 units), Harley-Davidson third (3,032 units), Honda fourth (2,701 units) and Kawasaki fifth (2,399 units).
Yamaha’s MT-07 was the top seller in Switzerland in 2016 (935 units), with their MT-09 in fourth (526 units) and MT-09 Tracer sixth (526 units).
The BMW R 1200 GS was second best seller in Switzerland in 2016 (678 units), with Honda’s CRF 1000 ‘Africa Twin’ third (641 units).

News Briefs

General Motors and Honda have announced establishment of what is described as the auto industry’s first manufacturing joint venture to mass-produce an advanced hydrogen fuel cell system that will be used in future products from each company. Fuel Cell System Manufacturing, LLC will operate within GM’s existing battery pack manufacturing facility site in Brownstown, Michigan, south of Detroit. Mass production of fuel cell systems is expected to begin around 2020 and create nearly 100 new jobs. The companies are making equal investments totalling $85 million in the joint venture.

Having acquired the rights to the once famous Paton Motorcycle brand, Italian exhaust specialist SC-Project say that they are working on a Paton S1-R 2017 version for Stefano Bonetti and Michael Rutter to race with at this year’s IOM TT in June. The same bike, the Paton S1, will then be available for sale in an approved homologated version for road use in a limited number, built by hand in Milan, where a new Paton Reparto Corse is an ambitious project - the development of a Moto2 prototype.

Mahindra Two Wheelers, the Indian motorcycle manufacturer who bought a 51 percent stake in Peugeot’s Scooter business in 2014, has acquired the rights to the legendary British BSA name from Southampton UK based BSA-Regal late last year.
The MCIA, the motorcycle trade association in the UK, has announced an innovative three-way partnership to make roads safer for riders. It has partnered with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and Highways England, the government owned company responsible for running over 4,000 miles of England’s motorways and other major roads. The aim of this “landmark collaboration” will be to “improve motorcycle rider safety” by implementing the recommendations of ‘Realising the Motorcycling Opportunity: A Motorcycle Safety and Transport Policy Framework’ – a white paper that calls for motorcycles and scooters to be included in mainstream transport policy and for rider safety to be consistently factored into national road design.

Legendary sportswear and motorcycle clothing brand RUKKA is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its adoption of the RUKKA brand name in 1966. The company can trace its origins back some 66 years in total, when founder Roger Störling started the business in his family’s farmhouse kitchen in Finland in 1950. The company changed its name to Rukka Products in 1966, and in 1981 it became simply Rukka Oy - ‘Rukka’ being founder Roger Störling’s nickname. The flags in the modern-day Rukka logo stand for the letters R,U,K,K,A in the international flag signal alphabet – an homage to the sport of sailing, which once constituted the core of Rukka’s business. In 1990 Rukka became an independent division of the L-Fashion Group Oy, one of Europe’s largest sportswear manufacturers based in Lahti, Finland.

German apparel specialist Modeka celebrated its 70th anniversary with the INTERMOT launch of a CE-equipped ‘jubilee’ retro leather jacket. It is called 'August 70' in honour of August Oberkoenig, who founded the company 70 years ago in 1946.

Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali has confirmed one of the worst kept of secrets - the company is working on a V4 superbike. Citing the engine development made to date in MotoGP, Domenicali said that “we have an engine which is very reliable, very light and compact and has a lot of interesting technology. We are seriously thinking of introducing it to regular customers, because it is a masterpiece of engineering”.

Swedish motorcycle sales

Swedish motorcycle sales +8 percent in 2016

The latest data from McRF, the Swedish motorcycle industry trade association, shows new motorcycle registrations at +8.00 percent for the full year 2016 at 10,178 units.

In total PTW terms, registrations for the full year were +10.18 percent at 21,347 units; moped registrations were +12.2 percent for the year at 11,169 units.
The first data for January 2017 suggests that the upward trend continues in Sweden (2,383 total PTW units registered), with the trade association saying that the cleaner Euro 4 models are expected to prove popular with environmentally conscious Swedish consumers.
This year’s MC Massan Swedish motorcycle show at Stockholm at the end of January is being reported as being a success, with the Swedish trade association citing an attendance in the region of 53,000 visitors. In 2018 the show will return to Gothenburg, from January 25 to 28.

Kellermann

Kellermann preparing for new products announcements

Aachen, Germany based lights specialist Kellermann GmbH has appointed a new managing director - Dr. Stefan Wöste (seen here on the left) will assist company founder and owner Guido Kellermann (right) in the management board in order to drive forward the future development of the company.

The goal is to strengthen the development and sales of new products, so the market leader can stay ahead of the trends in indicators and future-facing advanced motorcycle lighting systems. “The move is coming at the right time”, said Guido Kellermann, who has been the driving force behind the development of most of the innovative Kellermann products in the past 25 years. With increasing growth, Guido will now be able to spend more time on product development.
The new managing director Dr. Stefan Wöste will focus on running and operating the business, research & development and sales. Dr. Wöste holds a PhD in aerospace engineering and has more than 15 years of management and sales experience in a major company of the automotive supply industry.
Of his appointment, Dr. Wöste says: “I am looking forward to this new challenge because Kellermann has a lot more potential!” The customers of Kellermann will benefit from the changes in the management as more new products will be unveiled soon.
www.kellermann-online.com

Harley-Davidson

Harley plans 50 new model blitz in next five years

Harley-Davidson says it has gained market share in 2016 in the United States as domestic motorcycle sales have continued to soften. For the full year 2016, worldwide Harley-Davidson retail motorcycle sales were down -1.6 percent compared to 2015; U.S. retail sales decreased -3.9 percent, partially offset by international growth of 2.3 percent.
  

However, CFO and Sr. VP John Olin has warned investors that Harley doesn’t expect 2017 unit sales to be anything better than “flat to modestly soft”, and that the first quarter of 2017 could be down between -15 percent to -20 percent in terms of new unit shipments to dealers worldwide as the company continues to try and help unwind an over-inventory situation that saw Harley “exit quarters 3 and 4 of 2016 with historically high levels of carry-over products”.

Harley says that this resulted in MY 2017 availability needing to be lower than “the year prior” and that they are making sure that it continues to be lower this first quarter “as we continue to constrain MY 2017 shipments”.
That decline saw Harley domestic retail sales at -3.9 percent for 2016 at 161,700 units compared to 168,200 in 2015, but with 4th quarter retail sales essentially flat versus the final quarter of 2016 (actually +0.1 percent) at 26,100 units.
In the midst of the reduced sales, Harley’s market share in the 601cc+ sector in which it competes actually grew by +1 percent in 2016 as a whole to a 51.2 percent market share and by +2 percent in the final quarter to 53.4 percent.
 
‘in the business of building new riders’

The success and impact on the balance sheet of the new models and initiatives launched under Levatich’s leadership so far is what is driving Harley’s stated aim of launching “50 new motorcycles over the next five years – demonstrating the power and strength of our products and changing the way people view Harley-Davidson”.
Levatich said that “it is our product development excellence that has been driving us in the right direction, and impressive though the new products of the past four years have been, you haven’t seen anything yet”.
In what maybe tacit acknowledgement that Harley maybe has been slow to ‘do a BMW’, Levatich has confirmed that this new model blitz will see Harley-Davidson embracing “new segments” relative to the traditional interpretation of what the Harley brand has meant. In response to any specific opportunities the cancellation of Victory may represent, Levatich actually went deeper by indicating that it is his belief that Harley should be able to “compete for every available customer”.
While Harley’s domestic fortunes continue to have issues, internationally Levatich said that they had “grown sales in every international market except Brazil, India and Indonesia”. 

Matt Levatich: “It is our product development excellence that has been driving us in the right direction, and impressive though the new products of the past four years have been, you haven’t seen anything yet”

Harley’s market share has now hit a record 10.8 percent in Europe (in a highly competitive but nonetheless growing market), up 0.3 percentage points over 2015. Their overall international retail motorcycle sales were down a tad (-1.9 percent) in the 4th quarter, but overall were +2.3 percent for the year, with EMEA leading the growth at +2.6 percent in Q4 and +5.9 percent in 2016; Canada was +5.5 percent in 2016, Asia Pacific +2 percent, but Latin America -13.2 percent thanks in large part to the economic issues in Brazil.
Worldwide retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles were -0.5 percent in the fourth quarter at 46,610 units, 20,533 of which were international, and -1.6 percent at 260,289 units for 2016 in total, 98,631 units of which were international (+2.3 percent).
For 2017, Harley-Davidson anticipates full-year motorcycle shipments to be flat to down modestly in comparison to 2016. In the first quarter of 2017, Harley-Davidson expects to ship approximately 66,000 to 71,000 motorcycles. 

SW-MOTECH

SW-MOTECH adds EVO accessories

German luggage, touring and adventure bike specialist SW-MOTECH has added to its EVO programme for 2017 with these new EVO fog lights and high beam.

Described as 100 percent dust and waterproof, the wear and maintenance-free LEDs consume significantly less power with an input voltage of 12V DC, giving power of 12 W (fog light), 13.5 W (high beam) and estimated output of 275LM (fog light) and 375LM (high beam).
Vibration tested and approved for use on public roads in Germany, the flexible 4-side mount connects directly to the motorcycle battery with no changes to the electrics necessary. The kit includes a weatherproof, illuminated handlebar switch; they are a compact size with an outer diameter of 7.1 cm and come in a black powder-coated aluminium housing.

Also seen here, this easily OEM mount-point installed, pivotable EVO footrest with teethed elements features 36 position options (front, back, top, down, angle). Made in corrosion resistant cast stainless steel, it has a sole-friendly profile with removable rubber grip.

SW-MOTECH GmbH & Co KG
www.sw-motech.com

Ilmberger

R 1200 RS (LC) carbon parts

Bavarian carbon fibre specialist Ilmberger has more than 30 high quality parts designs available for the Boxer R 1200 RS (LC) that “underline the sporty side of the bike”, says owner Julius Ilmberger.

Parts available include front and rear fenders, seat side cover for right and left, side cover below tank right and left, tank side part right and left, top tank cover, radiator cover right and left, exhaust heat shield, engine spoiler right, left and middle part, headlight cover, wind protection, licence plate holder and more.

ILMBERGER CARBONPARTS
www.ilmberger-carbon.de

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

Yamaha unit sales up in Europe and Japan for nine months to September 30th 2016

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announced consolidated business results for the first nine months of its 2016 financial year that put consolidated sales at 1,132.8 billion yen, (a decrease of -93.4 billion yen or -7.6% compared with the same period the previous fiscal year), and operating income of 88.9 billion yen (a decrease of -16.1 billion yen or -15.3%).

Developed markets experienced a decrease in sales and income compared with the same period the previous fiscal year due to the appreciating yen. In the emerging markets motorcycle business segment, while net sales decreased due to lower unit sales in Indonesia and Brazil, operating income increased compared to the previous year thanks to product mix improvements and the effects of cost reductions such as promotion of the platform transition.
Net sales of motorcycle products overall were 699.2 billion yen (a decrease of -85.0 billion yen or -10.8% compared with the same period the previous fiscal year), and operating income was 28.6 billion yen (a decrease of -4.8 billion yen or -14.3%).
For unit sales in developed markets, while Japan and Europe experienced increases, the planned reductions in distribution inventories in North America led to overall unit sales on almost a similar level as the previous year.
Unit sales in emerging markets such as India, Vietnam and the Philippines increased, but decreased in Indonesia and Brazil due to market slumps etc. These results led to an overall decrease in motorcycle business net sales.
Operating income increased in emerging markets thanks to product mix improvements and the effects of cost reductions such as promotion of the platform transition, but decreased in developed markets due to the appreciating yen, leading to a reduction in income overall.

News Briefs

Stefan Pierer’s Austria based investment vehicle Pierer Industrie AG, the company behind KTM, Husqvarna, WP Suspension, and others, has made a $9m strategic investment in heads-up display (HUD) company NUVIZ. The San Diego, California based technology start-up hopes to have a heads-up display unit and connected rider system available in the first half of 2017.

EBR Motorcycles (the most recent iteration of Erik Buell’s endeavours to keep a motorcycle manufacturing business afloat) has closed down - and this time there appears to be little chance of a rescue for the Wisconsin based business. Liquid Asset Partners (LAP), who took ownership and announced it would continue to trade EBR a year ago, has decided that it cannot sustain the losses being incurred – losses it attributes to too few dealers being prepared to take the brand on, restricting the numbers EBR could build and sell.

Through the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA), the Motorcycle Industry Council in the USA (MIC) is lobbying state legislatures on behalf of its OE members against so-called “Right To Repair” laws that would give U.S. motorcyclists similar modification freedoms to those granted to riders in Europe two years ago.

Harley-Davidson backed out of a scheduled meeting with President Trump at its Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin factory over fears about protests. Factory executives made the trip to the White House instead – from public remarks before the election last year it is known that Matt Levatich, Harley’s CEO and one time MV Agusta front man, is no fan of the billionaire property developer.

Akrapovic is Honda’s World Superbike team official sponsor and technical partner for 2017. The Slovenian manufacturer has developed new bespoke exhausts for the CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 racing bikes of Nicky Hayden and Stefan Bradl. The all-new exhaust is said to use special lightweight titanium alloys “precisely configured to improve the performance of the bike and give it a competitive edge”.

The Ducati XDiavel S has been awarded the "Good Design Award 2016". Founded in 1950 and said to be the world's oldest prize dedicated to excellence in design, the award (at Chicago’s Athenaeum) is “dedicated to the most innovative and cutting-edge industrial products and graphic designs produced around the world. For the 2016 edition of the Good Design Award, the jury evaluated more than 900 candidates from 46 countries, with products spanning practically every sector, from electronics to robotics, from furnishing to graphics and vehicles”.

Japanese made motorcycle exports

Japanese made motorcycle exports to Europe +18.83 percent for 2016

The latest data released by JAMA (the automotive trade association in Japan, which includes representation of motorcycle manufacturers among its membership) shows exports of 250cc+ Japanese made motorcycles to Europe up by +0.86 percent in December (22,589 units), having been up by +18.97 percent in October and a massive +60.46 percent in November (presumably as uncleared Euro 3 compliant cross-over inventory was cleared for pre December 31st deadline registration in Europe.

For the full year motorcycle exports to Europe were +18.83 percent at 180,290 units for the year – the best full year performance experienced by the Japanese factories in Europe since the 201,000 exported in 2010, but still a long way south of the 420,000 exported in 2007 and 461,000 in 2000.
Japanese manufactured total PTW exports to Europe were -0.28 percent in December at 23,914 units, having been a theoretical +61.40 percent in November (see above). They are running at +17.83 percent for the full year at 201,182 units in total – the best annual number for Japanese made PTW exports to Europe since 2010 (228,722 units).
Motorcycle shipments from Japan to the USA were +10.25 percent in December 2016 (8,533 units), but were -9.36 percent for the full year at 72,458 units for the full year; worldwide Japanese made motorcycle exports were +2.34 percent for the year (322,602 units).
Total worldwide Japanese manufactured PTW exports were +2.61 percent for the full year 2016 at 428,619 units – their second lowest in the 21st century, having appeared to have bottomed out at 417,000 in 2015; they peaked at 1.641m units in 2000.
The increasing number of units being made by the Japanese manufacturers elsewhere in Asia, the US and South/Central America goes some way to explaining the data, though the majority of higher value larger displacement Japanese brand machines, especially those being sold in Europe, are still made in Japan.
Their overseas factories are primarily engaged in making and selling scooters and smaller capacity units in 'emerging' markets (where import tariffs are high) and in making ATV/UTV units - especially in the United States, where demand for such machines is strongest.

Arctic Cat

Arctic Cat bought by Textron for $247 million in cash

Arctic Cat Inc. has announced that it has signed a definitive merger agreement under which Textron Inc. will acquire Arctic Cat in a cash transaction valued at approximately $247 million, plus the assumption of existing debt. 

The news comes after a sequence of years in which Arctic Cat has faced financial headwinds and has been engaged in a collaborative snowmobile relationship with Yamaha – fuelling speculation that the Japanese powersports vehicle and motorcycle manufacturer may have emerged as an investor or buyer.
 Under the terms of the Textron agreement, which was unanimously approved by the Arctic Cat board of directors, Textron, through a wholly owned subsidiary, will commence a tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of Arctic Cat at $18.50 per share in cash, representing a 40.7 percent premium to the closing price of Arctic Cat's common stock on January 20, 2017
“Arctic Cat’s board believes that Textron’s offer delivers compelling and immediate value to our shareholders,” said Christopher Metz, Arctic Cat’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This transaction presents increased opportunities for the business to leverage our combined scale, accelerate growth and enhance product innovation in ways that will benefit our customers, dealers and employees.” Textron is a multi-industry company with over $13 billion in annual revenues and approximately 35,000 employees.
Arctic Cat will become part of Textron’s Specialized Vehicles business, maintaining its Arctic Cat brand, as well as its current manufacturing, distribution and operational facilities, with a focus on growing the business. Arctic Cat and Textron Specialized Vehicles have complementary product portfolios of recreational, utility and specialized vehicles. The combined businesses will be well positioned with a wider product line-up, allowing for more aggressive investment in product development, dealer networks, marketing and customer service.
Metz added: “We are proud of the progress our team has made to lay the foundation for Textron to continue taking this company forward. Textron plans to build on Arctic Cat’s strong brand and history of innovation. We expect many Arctic Cat employees to benefit from expanded career opportunities as part of a larger, more diversified company. On behalf of the Arctic Cat board and management team, we thank our dedicated employees for their hard work, commitment and pride in making Arctic Cat an enduring competitor and beloved brand in the powersports market. We are excited about Arctic Cat’s future.”
Nowadays headquartered at Minneapolis, Minnesota, Arctic Cat designs, engineers, manufactures and markets all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), side-by-sides and snowmobiles.
Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. is a manufacturer of golf cars, utility and personal transportation vehicles, professional turf care equipment, and ground support equipment under names such as E-Z-GO, Cushman, Jacobsen, Dixie Chopper, Bad Boy Ransomes and Douglas.
Its parent company Textron Inc. is involved in aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses, with subsidiaries such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker.

Victory Motorcycles

Polaris’ Menneto – “Victory only made money in 3 out of its 18 years” 

Polaris Industries’ decision to announce a “winding down” of Victory Motorcycles production was taken quickly in January, but had been under consideration in the final quarter of 2016, according to Polaris Industries’ President of Motorcycles Steve Menneto.
 “While the final decision was made quickly, it was not one taken lightly”, Menneto told International Dealer News.

Polaris President of Motorcycle Operations Steve Menneto: “In strategic terms, in understanding where the Victory brand could play without competing against Indian, we thought we had that”

“After 18 years and well over 100,000 motorcycles made and sold, we were clearly going to take great care in considering the Victory brand’s future, but in the end the market challenges and responsibilities to our stake holders dictated that there really was no alternate option.
“No buyers were available for the brand, so a reluctant end to Victory production was the only logical step available to us. The brand only made money in three of its 18 years, and the ‘Freedom’ engine is now 20 years old, so Victory would have required considerable engineering investment in coming years. Challenges, such as Euro 4 emissions, made further considerable investments inevitable.
“It is no secret that the new motorcycle market is tough here in the United States at this time, and we have to look at where the best return on capital invested can be found – we have to be diligent in protecting the best interests of our stake holders, our dealers and our employees.

The challenges of meeting Euro 4 regulations were among the capital intensive issues faced by Victory

“We can make better investment returns in a tough market by deploying all available capital into the excellent prospects that Indian Motorcycle represents for us, so in the end market conditions made it one of the simplest of tough decisions.
“While we had clear strategic thinking for a pathway for Victory on a five to ten year basis, generating the capital needed and carrying the losses in a down market just was not something that we could continue to do”, said Menneto.
In those 18 years Polaris has made and sold “substantially” over 100,000 Victory motorcycles, but only sold more than 10,000 units in a year a couple of times.
“In strategic terms, in understanding where the Victory brand could play without competing against Indian, we thought we had that. But the issue remained whether or not there would have been enough customers available to the brand in the timescale needed, and that has proven to be a far less certain part of the equation.
It was Menneto, along with CEO Scott Wine, who persuaded the Polaris Board to acquire the Indian brand from British investor Stephen Julius’ Kings Mountain, North Carolina Stellican operation in 2011. Menneto agrees that, to a large part, it was Victory that gave Polaris the confidence to invest in Indian. “Yes, no question, leveraging our experience with Victory is what gave us the platform to invest in Indian. Without having already had more than a decade in the motorcycle business, I’m not sure we’d have felt quite as confident about buying Indian”, Menneto said.
“It was Victory that gave us the production, engineering and dealer development experience needed, and that experience will be a gift that we expect will keep giving for decades to come”.
In terms of dealer policy, Polaris presently has some 300 to 350 dealerships, and 25 percent of its motorcycle business is international. Menneto says that the company hopes to double its dealership base in the next 3 to 5 years and sees international sales and platform diversification as mission critical.

Honda

Honda unit sales 33,000 in third quarter, 147,000 units YTD

Honda has announced third quarter (the period to December 31st 2016) Honda Group unit sales of 4,407,000 units worldwide (+2.6 percent) and of 2,654,000 units worldwide (+0.8 percent) on a consolidated basis (excluding partnership, licensed and joint venture production businesses).

For the nine months to December 31st 2016, Honda Group unit sales were 12,882,000 units; consolidated unit sales were 7,939,000 units.
In Europe third quarter Group unit sales were 33,000 units; in North America, they were 69,000 units; in Japan they were 41,000 units. In Asia unit sales increased in Pakistan, Vietnam and Indonesia; decreased in India due to the impacts of India’s demonetisation of high denomination bank notes; and decreased in Brazil and some smaller markets.
For the nine months to December 31st 2016 unit sales in Europe were 147,000 units; in North America they were 219,000. Honda say the sales revenue generated from motorcycle sales was +19.7 percent on a Group basis (+4.5 percent consolidated) for the third quarter; +85.3 percent on a Group basis for the first nine months of the current financial year (to December 31st 2016) (+6.2 percent consolidated).
Honda has reduced its 12-month Group and consolidated unit sales forecasts, but is still projecting that 2016/2017 will be up on the prior financial year, with Europe flat and North America modestly down.

Andreani Group

100 only - Luigi Termignoni signature edition special for Africa Twin

Exclusively available from the Andreani Group in Italy, this jointly developed Termignoni full exhaust system for the Honda CRF 1000L Africa Twin is the result of a collaboration between Andreani’s R&D team and Termignoni’s Race Department.

Limited to 100 pieces, with each one individually signed by Luigi Termignoni, the system is made from Termignoni’s titanium CuNb - a special titanium alloy that has “excellent formability in ambient temperature and high mechanical strength, even over 600 degrees C, and oxidation resistance above 800 °C”.
Used by Termignoni on their high-performance race bike exhausts, the company says “this allows us to reduce the weight significantly, while still providing a high level of performance and durability of the exhaust. The performance parameters of this alloy allow us to deliver superior performance compared to systems made of commercially readily available titanium alloy, and to use an advanced optimised gas flow design”.

www.andreanigroup.com

Galfer

Galfer to supply Wave discs and pads for KTM ‘Rookies’ Cup

Following extensive testing throughout the 2016 season, Spanish brake component manufacturer Galfer is suppling its popular Disc Wave Racing and GP compound brake pads for all the KTM RC 250 R bikes taking part in the Austrian manufacturer’s 2017 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

More than 25 young and talented riders are selected each year to enter the Red Bull Rookies Cup, the single-brand competition held at the same time as many MotoGP World Championship rounds.
For the 2017 season, all KTM RC 250 R 4-stroke will be fitted with Galfer’s Disc Wave Racing and G1300 2.0 brake pads; they’ll use a 290mm floating front wave disc (5.5mm thick) and a 190mm fixed rear wave disc (4.5mm thick). The front brake pads will be the Mk 2.0 evolution of the G1300 sintered compound with their standard sintered compound on the rear.
Created in 2007, the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup is one of the best ways for young riders from all over the world to get a start in Moto 3 Grand Prix motorcycle racing because the races are held simultaneously with European Grand Prix European events on the same circuits - many of the most recent World Champions raced in the Red Bull Rookies Cup.
With this new agreement Galfer expands its presence in international single-brand competitions and reinforces its commitment to racing and investing in the future of the sport – the company has had many years of involvement in the Asia Talent Cup and the Copa Honda CBR 250 R and 300 R in Spain.

www.galfermoto.com

Bihr

Bihr adds RST apparel programme

 

The RST showroom set up at Bihr’s Paris January sales meeting

Founded in 1975 by Cyrille Bihr and bought in 2010 by the Belgian Moteo Group, Bihr are one of Europe’s largest motorcycle parts and accessories distributors with sales offices in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Scandinavia (Duells) and Iberia. Bihr sells through some 12,000 dealers, who are supplied from a state-of-the-art 30,000 sq m headquarters warehouse at Bartenheim near the Swiss and German borders in north eastern France, along with further warehouses at Totana, Spain (12,600 sq m) and near Stockholm, Sweden (20,000 sq m).

The company sells to its international dealer network through six or more specialty catalogues and says that it achieves a 95.8 percent fill rate with 160,000 part numbers (with 30,000 added in 2016) covering 350 brands. There are some 2m individual products in stock at any one time. 

Bihr’s 12,000 dealers are supplied from warehouse space totalling 62,600 sq m,
seen here is their state-of-the-art 30,000 sq m headquarters warehouse at Bartenheim

Historically best known for street and off-road hard parts and accessories, technical, service and component programmes, Bihr have chosen the popular British designed RST apparel brand to deepen its apparel programmes with a product line with the quality and availability to sit well alongside its Arai Helmets distribution.
Owned by British apparel specialist Moto Direct (also of Wolf Clothing fame), the RST brand numbers being Official Safety Partner for the Isle of Man TT and numerous race wins among its credentials with 2016 championships and achievements by its riders, including Alex Lowes winning the Suzuka 8HR (and representing RST in both WSBK and MotoGP), Matthieu Lagrive winning Le Mans 24HR, Taz Mackenzie British SuperSport Champion, Carl Berthelsen Norwegian SuperBike Champion, Avalon Biddle FIM Womens Cup Champion, and TT legend Ian Hutchinson with 3 TT victories.

www.bihr.eu
www.moto-direct.com

BMW Motorrad

BMW sets new sales record in 2016, up by +7.5 percent in Europe

BMW Motorrad achieved another record year in 2016, selling 145,032 motorcycles and maxi- scooters as it continues to close in on its 200,000 by 2010 objective, representing +5.9 percent growth (136,963 units in 2015). 

Stephan Schaller, President BMW Motorrad: “2016 was once again a highly successful year for BMW Motorrad. For the sixth time in succession we have been able to set a new sales record”

Stephan Schaller, President BMW Motorrad: “2016 was once again a highly successful year for BMW Motorrad. For the sixth time in succession we have been able to set a new sales record. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all our customers worldwide for the enormous trust they have placed in us. Over the last six years, BMW Motorrad has increased its deliveries to customers by around 50% (2010: 98,047 units / 2016: 145,032 units). We are well on the way to achieving our planned sales target of 200,000 vehicles in 2020”.
The most marked growth in sales in 2016 was seen in all European markets. There was an increase in deliveries to customers in France (13,350 units / +6.4 %), Italy (12,300 units / +10.3 %), Spain (9,520 units / 19.4 %) and the UK (8,782 units / +7.1 %), for example. All in all, some 7.5% more vehicles were supplied to customers in Europe, including Germany, as compared to the previous year. 

The Chinese market continues to show considerable growth potential for BMW Motorrad with a dynamic increase in sales. As compared to the equivalent period of the previous year, deliveries increased by +52.7 % to 4,580 units. Sales in Thailand (1,819 units / +42.1 %) and Japan (+ 6.7 %) were also well above the previous year.
Germany remains the biggest single market for BMW Motorrad. With 24,894 units sold, BMW Motorrad achieved growth of 4.5% and led the market as a whole. BMW Motorrad is also ahead of the field in the relevant BMW segment over 500cc capacity in Spain, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Russia and South Africa. In the USA, BMW Motorrad achieved its second-best sales result to date with 13,730 units.
The water-cooled R 1200 GS is the most successful BMW motorcycle.  The top-selling BMW Motorrad series is traditionally the R series. Equipped with the hallmark BMW Boxer engines, the share of sales achieved by these motorcycles in 2016 was 77,787 units or 53.6 %. At the model level, the two travel enduro bikes R 1200 GS and GS Adventure led the BMW top-seller ranking. In a significantly tougher competitive environment, +12.1 % more large enduro models were sold than in the previous year (R 1200 GS: 25,336 units / + 7.0 % and R 1200 GS Adventure: 21,391 units / + 18.8 %). The touring classic R 1200 RT followed with 9,648 units (-11.9 %) in third position.

R 1200 GS – BMW’s top selling model

The sporty BMW S models – the Supersports bike S 1000 RR, the power roadster S 1000 R and the adventure bike S 1000 XR – have developed into an additional pillar of strength within the BMW motorcycle range. A total of 23,686 S models were supplied worldwide. The share of these models in the total sales volume was 16.3 %. The Supersports motorcycle S 1000 RR (9,016 units / - 5.8 %) and the adventure bike S 1000 XR (8,835 units / + 74.6 %) are currently fourth and fifth in the BMW Motorrad ranking.
In 2017, BMW Motorrad continues its new model offensive with the widest range of motorcycles in the company’s history. As Schaller says: “We intend to remain the benchmark in the segment of premium motorcycles. To this end, we will continue to consistently pursue our model offensive in the BMW Motorrad segments of 310 to 1600 cubic centimetres capacity. For the 2017 season, we will be offering our customers 14 new or revised models”.
The new G 310 GS is due to be launched in the second half of the year. Like the G 310 R does in the segment of BMW roadsters, the second model of the BMW G series transfers the hallmark features of the GS family into the new BMW segment below 500 cubic centimetres. In the “Heritage” world of experience, customers will have a choice of five different models in 2017. The R nineT derivatives “Pure”, “Racer” and “Urban G/S” extend a range that will also include the R nineT Scrambler and the freshly revised lead model R nineT. While each of the five models has its own distinct and classic form, they all share the unique air-cooled Boxer engine. Whether featuring specific improvements or radical revisions, there are new products to be found in all series – such as the new R 1200 GS, the new S 1000 R and the new K 1600 GT and GTL.
The new K 1600 B is targeted specifically at the US market. With the launch of the “Bagger”, BMW Motorrad is extending the luxury segment with the in-line 6-cylinder engine to include a highly emotional and exclusive motorcycle. As Stephan Schaller says: “In the years to come, the USA will be the second most important market for BMW Motorrad after Germany. We see great potential there. In the next few years we aim to tangibly increase our market share in the USA. In fact we’re already laying the foundation for long-term growth by introducing new products tailored specifically to market needs such as the new bagger and the classic R nineT family in the “Heritage” segment, and we’re also extending our sales and distribution structure”.
As part of the planned expansion, BMW Motorrad is enlarging its worldwide dealer network. Especially on the American continent, and in Asia in particular there are plans to expand to a total of 1,500 sites.
Based on its comprehensive strategy, BMW Motorrad says it remains on track for growth. Schaller went on to say: “With our exceptional model offensive we have laid the foundation for a successful motorcycle season in 2017. We feel very confident moving ahead into the new year, and we expect to see ongoing sustainable and profitable growth. These forecasts, of course, assume a stable economic environment”.

Spanish motorcycle registrations

Motorcycle registrations up in 2016, further growth predicted for 2017

According to the latest data available from ANESDOR, the motorcycle industry trade association in Spain, new motorcycle registrations for 2016 were up by +17.08 percent at 154,074 units. This is the best result since 212,467 motorcycles were registered in 2008, and the third year of sustained growth since the low of 87,498 motorcycles were registered in 2013. 

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.
There were 171,304 PTWs registered in Spain, an increase of +16.07 percent over 2015. This represents the best performance since 177,563 units were registered in 2009, and the third year of sustained growth since the market low of 102,580 registrations in 2013.  For context however, there is some way to go before returning to pre-recession levels, which saw 395,653 PTWs registered in 2007.
Moped registrations in Spain were +7.70 percent for 2016 at 17,230 units. High displacement motorcycles saw the fastest growth of 21.6 percent, with 62,625 units registered in 2016.
Over the last 6 years, the total number of motorcycles on the road in Spain has increased by 10 percent, from 2,311,346 in 2007 to 2,996,212 in 2015. The number of 7-year-old+ motorcycles has grown by 62 percent during that period. The average age of motorcycles is 14.7 years, which compares unfavourably to other countries such as the UK (13.7), France (10.5) and Italy (8.6) – ANESDOR are advocating incentive plans for new motorcycles.
ANESDOR’s sustainable plan for the future includes increased availability of parking for motorcycles, improved visibility at intersections, create and expand the advanced stop zone (and facilitate filtering), excluding motorcycles from pollution-related movement restrictions, improving the taxation on bikes (Spain has the highest taxation for 250-500cc motorcycles in Europe), asphalt maintenance campaigns and promoting campaigns for harmonious cooperation between all types of road users.
ANESDOR Secretary General, Jose Maria Riano, said that “2016 has been a year of consolidation of the positive trend of PTW growth”. He added that “growth is influenced by the change in European emissions regulations for motorcycles, with Euro 4 having an effect on very strong growth in recent months”.
He went on to highlight the positive contribution of the motorcycle in urban mobility: “The evolution of the market indicates that the motorcycle is chosen by millions of people for their daily commutes, and increasingly by logistics companies. This choice derives from the growing awareness about lower environmental impact among other factors”.
Looking ahead, ANESDOR predict a 3 percent growth in 2017 and expect to register 176,500 units (157,700 motorcycles and 17,800 mopeds), in spite of the adverse effect of Euro 4 regulations.

SC-Project

SC-Project wins HRC contract
 
Honda Racing Corporation has announced a new partnership with Milan, Italy based exhaust manufacturer SC-Project as their official Repsol Honda Team exhaust system technical sponsor. The SC-Project logo will feature on the RC213V bikes of reigning World Champion Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Only founded some 10 years ago by Marco De Rossi (seen here on the left) and Stefano Lavazza (right), SC-Project has quickly built into a major player in the performance exhaust market, selling through a global distribution network and producing over 40,000 exhausts a year.
The brand is strongly established in the racing world, having enjoyed many years of technical cooperation and racing success at the highest level, including the MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3 and SBK World Championships. SC-Project was technical partner to Johann Zarco’s Moto2 team as it earned the 2015 and ‘16 world championships.

For HRC, Tetsuhiro Kuwata, HRC Director and General Manager of their Race Operations Management Division, said “we are happy to welcome SC-Project as official sponsor of exhaust systems for our Repsol Honda Team. SC-Project has strong experience at the top level of worldwide motorcycle racing championships, and we are sure this alliance will prove very successful in terms of mutual cooperation and racing achievements”.
Marco De Rossi and Stefano Lavazza said that “for us it’s an honour and a joy to be technical sponsor of exhaust systems for the most important team in MotoGP. Currently SC-Project is one of the leaders in exhaust systems for motorbikes, with leading technology developed at the highest level of competition. We are sure that the collaboration with HRC will improve our brand profile and exhaust technology still further.
“After 2015 and 2016 saw us gain the world championship title as exhaust supplier for Zarco in Moto2, we are proud to now have the opportunity to battle for the senior world championship with Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa”.

www.hondaracingcorporation.com
www.sc-project.com

Kellermann

Kellermann bullet light upgrades

Award-winning German lighting specialist Kellermann, originators of the bar-end indicator and bullet light concepts, are now offering the Bullet 1000 PL – a front indicator with integral position light from the very successful Bullet 1000 series – now also available with white light rings.
 

The Bullet 1000 PL, with yellow position light and a distinctly and classically American character, is already a big success in the Harley scene. But many motorcycle riders also expressed interest in a version with white light rings. This more European style position light complements the conventional white light of the main headlight.
Inventor Guido Kellermann says “lights are always a question of personal taste, and we are happy to respond to customer demand with the introduction of the Bullet 1000 PL white version”.
The Bullet 1000 with position light offers yellow or white park/marker lights in different materials and colours/finishes. Additionally, the Bullet PL white has the European ECE approval R6/R7 and therefore can be mounted on motorcycles and other vehicles, for example classic and custom cars, roadsters and hot rods.
The Bullet 1000 PL white is an indicator with an integrated position light in the shape of a continuous white light ring. 

Guided by the motto ‘Classic meets Hightech’, an indicator in the classic bullet shape, equipped with modern LED technology and many additional functions, was an award-winning concept at the time and “still represents the Gold Standard in terms of lighting power, durability, style and functionality”, according to Guido Kellermann.

One unique and uniquely useful feature of the Bullet 1000 PL is that when the indicator is activated, the position light is temporarily switched off to allow greater indicator visibility. Shortly after the indicator stops, the position light is activated again with the same fast response time built-in to Kellermann’s Bullet 1000 Extreme.
The position lights can be mounted either on the original park/marker light base or connected to the dashboard light of the motorcycle.
Kellermann launched the unique LED indicator series Bullet 1000 two years ago. Guided by the motto ‘Classic meets Hightech’, an indicator in the classic bullet shape, equipped with modern LED technology and many additional functions, was an award-winning concept at the time and “still represents the Gold Standard in terms of lighting power, durability, style and functionality”, according to Guido Kellermann.
Kellermann’s newly developed HPT (Homogenous Projection Technology) emits an intense, ultra-quick response homogeneous, ring-shaped light combined with a smooth reaction of the internal reflector, resulting in a “harmonic turn signal pulse”. The restrained design shape of the quality black, chrome or matt chrome finish metal housing blends well into most bike designs.
The Bullet 1000 is now available in four options - indicator only (Bullet 1000 Extreme), indicator with yellow position light (Bullet 1000 PL), indicator with white position light (Bullet 1000 PL white) and indicator with break and rear light (Bullet 1000 DF).

KELLERMANN
www.kellermann-online.com

Design Engineering Inc.

DEI Titanium exhaust wrap in black

Avon Lake, Ohio based thermal barrier and sound control specialist Design Engineering is now offering its best-selling Titanium exhaust wrap with LR (lava rock) technology with a great looking satin black finish.

Extremely popular with customisers and performance tuners, Black Titanium is woven from the same high performing VR material as the original Titanium wrap - which is engineered to be stronger than glass fibre wraps for improved thermal performance, durability and reliability.
Installation is easy because the material is more pliable and no pre-wetting is needed. It is temperature resistant to 1,800 degrees F (nearly 1,000 degrees C) and is available in all of Design Engineering’s popular roll lengths.
Founded in 1995, DEI is a major manufacturer and supplier of high performance automotive aftermarket products selling worldwide to all sectors of the international powersports market. DEI specialises in the development of thermal and acoustic performance products.

DESIGN ENGINEERING INC
www.deipowersports.com

Vertex

Vertex 2017 4-stroke off-road pistons

In addition to their specific 2-stroke pistons range, Italian specialist Vertex has introduced updated high performance 4-stroke pistons for 2017 off-road models.

They are available in a choice of four different application-specific versions: Replica, High Compression, Big Bore and forged and treated high-resistance aeronautic alloy ‘GP-Racers Choice’ brand versions.
The ‘GP-Racers Choice’ range is noted for its top racing technology derived ‘T-Bridge’ exclusive feature – a racing profile and specially shaped head that allows the maximum compression ratio and great performance without any loss of reliability. 

The piston is coated with molybdenum disulphide to ensure flow and wear resistance, and features a nitride ring set, DLC coated pin and moly-coated, anti-rotation external hook clips. The ‘GP-Racers Choice’ range is available for Honda CRF 250/450, Kawasaki KX250/450F, Yamaha YZ250/450F, Suzuki RM-Z 250/450, Husqvarna FC 250/350/450 and KTM SXF250/350/450.

VERTEX PISTONS/VP ITALY S.r.l.
www.vertexpistons.com