Parts Europe: Next year will mark ten years since construction of Parts Europe’s giant state-of-the-art distribution centre began at Wasserliesch/Trier, near the German border with Luxembourg. Since then the complex has been commissioned, equipped and a sales force speaking 17 different languages hired. Along with building a wide international dealer network, they are able to sell hundreds of thousands of parts throughout Europe (and beyond) from a massive vendor portfolio.
The inventory consists of a combination of market leading and internationally recognised American and European brands, with house brands Thor, ICON, Moose and Drag Specialties leading the way. These are sold and distributed in the States by the parent company, Parts Unlimited; www.partseurope.eu
Sifam: Based near Nice in southern France, the Sifam Group (founded in 1994 by Pierre Manuel) is one of the largest France based distributors. Selling Europe-wide, they stock a wide range of famous name and own brand hard parts available from its 3,900 sq m headquarters warehouse. We featured the fast-growing own brand ‘S-Line’ apparel range in IDN earlier this year, and recent additions include the S550 flip-up helmet with Pinlock that the company describes as “mechanically and functionally excellent, with many high-end segment features setting a new standard for quality and price”. Weighing in at 1,550 grams, it is said to be one of the world’s lightest flip front designs, “combining low weight with optimal stability”; www.sifam.fr
Powerbronze: Recent model-specific accessory kits from the British specialist include make-overs for the Honda MSX-125, Suzuki GSX-S750 and a full range of Yamaha MT-09 options that includes light screen, hugger, eliminator (tail tidy), front mudguard, mudguard extender, carbon dash panel, hand guards, seat cowl, cooler grill, swingarm protectors, fork protectors and badged crash posts; www.powerbronze.co.uk
Oxford Products: The British distributor is one of Europe’s primary players – in addition to being one of, if not the largest, parts, accessory and apparel distributors in the UK, the company has strong export sales of its ranges of accessories, including security products, rainwear, motorcycle covers, battery care and power accessories, eyewear, handlebar accessories, lighting, paint protection products, styling parts, workshop products, luggage and more; www.oxfordproducts.com
LS2: With an impressive line-up of sponsored riders that includes MOTO GP racers Hector Barbera and Loris Baz, LS2 Helmets was founded in 1990 and steady growth ever since has seen the brand now producing over 3,000.000 helmets a year – all designed at and sold throughout Europe from its Barcelona headquarters; indeed LS2 helmets are now sold in more than 86 countries around the world; www.ls2helmets.com
Forbikes/FK Visors: The Italian importer for HEL hoses, Davida helmets, Scorpion exhausts and R&G crash protectors and accessories from the UK and Barkbusters handguards from Australia (among other notable product lines) is also an international vendor in its own right. Its FK Visors programme make them one of the helmet market’s “go to” specialists. Noted for its artisan craftsmanship, precision fit and optics and advanced design capabilities, Forbikes’ FK visor is the result of its acquisition of the noted AB S.r.l thermoforming and plastic processing helmet visor business in Reggio Emilia in Italy in 2012; www.fkvisors.com, www.forbikes.it
Mitas: Now under the ownership of Trelleborg, Sweden, Mitas is launching a new scooter tire line TOURING FORCE-SC. This line is ideal for any scooter type and will be progressively available for sale over the next two years in a wide range of sizes from 10 to 16 inches. The company says that “TOURING FORCE-SC provides to all scooter riders and their passengers, safe, dynamic and comfortable riding, whether during a short city trip or for longer journeys as well”; www.mitas-tyres.com
LighTech: Export Sales Manager Michele Balboni. Recent new products from the top-end Italian parts manufacturer include kits or individual parts for the Honda X-ADV, GSXR 1000-R and Kawasaki Z650 and 900. Earlier this year LighTech parts became available in France from Bihr Distribution; www.lightech.it
Matris: Recent new products include high quality “entry level” suspension options such as its M46KD, an easy to use and adjust rear shock for naked and road bikes, and F15K hydraulic fork cartridge kit that completely replaces all the existing fork internals. Computerised engineering systems are used to design, test and produce all the components, and as with all Matris products, “only materials of high-end technical and mechanical characteristics are used,” says co-founder and co-owner Alberto Turcato; www.matrisdampers.com
Touratech: Herbert Schwarz, Founder and CEO. The good news for the Niedereschach, Germany based adventure touring specialist is that there has been a massive response from potential investors to the company’s recent insolvency filing, with a short list of candidates now entering the final phase of due diligence. Market response to Touratech’s well publicised troubles has been almost universally positive, with its distributor community pledging significant forward orders and OE customers confirming their long-term commitment to the market leading specialist; www.touratech.de
Polisport: Noted for its brand-specific colour-match accessory kits and replacements, the latest new products from the Portuguese specialist include an exclusive new line of MX kits and spare parts. As a follow-up to its ground-breaking FLO yellow colour programme, nothing could be quite such a contrast with Polisport clear plastics available for selected KTM, Yamaha and Honda models. Other new products for 2018 include a utility can, upper fork protectors, bottom fork disc protectors and a new bike stand; www.polisport.com
