According to the attendance (figure-free) post show press release issued by the EICMA/ANCMA organisation, it would appear that visitor numbers at this year’s ‘Milan’ Show must have been down on 2017. With the real, actual number of exhibiting businesses with booths (as opposed to catalogue brand cross-references) looking to be less than in recent years, and with less than half the international reach of its primary expo competitor (in terms of quoted visitor country count), it looks like the show may be losing some lustre, just as the Italian market continues to post (theoretical) growth, and just as that primary expo competitor posted a record equalling attendance, with independently audited visitor numbers actually quoted. The ‘Milan’ visitor numbers have long been assumed to be overstated, and largely populated by non-riders, or low-mileage, low-value riders at best, but regardless of the debate that is raging internationally about the perceived merits and shortcomings of the market’s two primary shows (see our INTERMOT 2018 review elsewhere in this edition of IDN), there appeared to be enough people at ‘Milan’ to keep the aisles and booths busy, whatever the truth is about the real balance sheet cash value that their parts and accessory buying volume has for the industry…
Artein Gaskets: Celebrating its 60th Anniversary, the Spanish gasket manufacturer expands its range to off-road motorcycles with a new catalogue covering the most popular brands, including KTM, Husqvarna, Honda, Yamaha, Husaberg & Kawasaki. These days Artein Gaskets is one of the main manufacturers of motorcycle gaskets in Europe with a wide range of gaskets but also rubber parts, polymers, technical foams and technical protectors for industrial purposes, OEM, aftermarket and competition; www.arteingaskets.com
TechnoResearch: Available in Europe through distributors, including Parts Europe, the Royal Oak, Michigan based fuel-injection management and performance tuning specialist is a high-technology company broadly engaged in state-of-the-art electronic hardware and software development, consulting and Research & Development. Founded in 1992 by Sandro Scaccia and fellow Magneti Marelli escapees, TechnoResearch is best known in the Harley aftermarket for the design and development of its award-winning electronic diagnostic tools programme. The company’s ‘VCM-TR4 Performance Dealer Pack’, for example, is designed for all Harley-Davidson Delphi EFI systems. Ideal for any sized workshop or dealer, it provides the user with tools to modify the fuel-injection pulse width, spark timing and other calibration values and then store them in ECU/ECM flash memory and adjust additional parameters by editing look-up tables. Features include tuning and modification of ECU tables, fast data acquisitions and display, back-up and restoration of the original map. The software also enables data monitoring and logging, auto-tuning with an optional wideband O2 controller, and with its Direct Link flash-tuner, maximising the performance of any fuel-injected race or street bike; www.technoresearch.com
Shark Helmets: Last year saw the French helmet manufacturer come under new ownership. Prior owner, Naxicap Partners, a Paris based equity investor, sold its majority stake in French motorcycle aftermarket group 2R Holding (2RH), owner of Shark Helmets and the Bering, Bagster and Segura apparel and luggage brands. The new majority owner is another Paris based private equity group – Eurazeo PME. The new owners are on the record stating that their aim is to double sales of the group in five years. At the time of the sale, current group sales were reported to be in the region of € 90m a year. Since 2016 the group has also included the Cairn brand of ski and cycling products;
www.shark-helmets.com
Brixton Motorcycles: Owned by the Austrian based KSR Group (formerly known as Generic and owned by Christian and Michael Kirschenhofer), KSR are owners or distributors of several once famous comeback brands (such as Lambretta and Malaguti) and a range of increasingly well-known new and E-bike brands, including Brixton - a contemporary/retro range of (currently) five 125 and two 250 cc motorcycles powered by 4-stroke air-cooled singles. Described as offering “throwback style” with “streetwise edge” and sitting right in the sweet spot of lightweight value and convincing, youth rider styling and price-points, features include CBS and EFi on the 125 range with EFi and ABS on the 250s; www.brixton-motorcycles.com
TCX: Recent new products from the Italian specialist have included the SP-Master, a TCX Racing line entry-price boot “designed for motorcyclists searching for a boot with a sporty and trendy look, offering protection in the most vulnerable areas of the foot and leg, yet suitable for non-competitive use”. The boot features the TCX PU ankle retention system on the external side along with the main safety protection pads. The heel counter guard and the shin plate are in polyurethane and detailed with wire netting air intakes. In the SP-Master AIR variant the upper is micro-perforated for enhanced ventilation and the lining is in AIR TECH fabric for warm weather riding comfort. The waterproof version features a waterproof lining, and the Gore-Tex version has the “Performance Comfort Footwear” membrane. The boot is CE certified to EN13634:2015 regulations; www.tcxboots.com
Siebenrock: The Wendlingen, Germany based specialist is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The business got its start with architecture student and BMW fan Jochen Siebenrock selling used spare parts for BMW motorcycles from a small garage in Stuttgart. Recent new products have included length-adjustable VarioShock suspension struts, developed in conjunction with chassis specialist Hubert Hofmann from HH Race-Tech, and 860 cc Nikasil cylinder forged piston ‘Power Kits’ for the BMW R 45 and R 65. 2018 also saw a Boxer brake disc collaboration with Magura; www.siebenrock.com
Moto One Europe: The Italian specialist’s Vert 360 is a 4-season “smart, all-in-one” jacket for men and women. Made in 520 D Cordura nylon with polyester 600D ACT D6 inserts, it has a detachable 3M Thermolite inner and separately wearable, detachable and 100 percent waterproof membrane. Protection is with removable CE approved armour at the shoulders and elbows, with anti-shock protector at the back; www.moto-one.com
