Duell Bike-Center Group

Duell acquires IGM Trading and Grand Canyon GmbH

Finnish distributor Duell Bike-Center Group has acquired the Dutch accessory and apparel company IGM Trading BV and German Grand Canyon GmbH from founders and Managing Directors Ingrid and Arno Gaalman-Weghorst.
Known for its Grand Canyon apparel programme and cruiser accessories, the acquisition will give Duell a new logistics centre (at Hengelo, Netherlands) from which to optimise deliveries in Central Europe and access a German dealer network of over 500 dealers.

Duell offers over 200 brands and 130,000 items, plus three own garment brands - including the Halvarssons and Lindstrands apparel brands it bought from Jofama (Sweden) two years ago. Duell sells to dealers throughout Scandinavia and in Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and parts of Eastern Europe.
The acquisition comes as the Finnish company continues its "strong expansion course into Central and Southern Europe" - a programme that started in 2019. With the takeover, Duell now has another strategically important logistics centre which further optimises fast and efficient delivery to its dealer network outside Scandinavia.
"For the first time, Duell will be entering the German market, one of the largest European markets for motorcycle sport. Duell will add to its Halvarssons and Lindstrands apparel ranges by including the Grand Canyon Bikewear, Premier Helmets and Stylmartin boots brands that were previously managed by IGM.
"The founders and managing directors of IGM will continue to provide Duell with advice and operational support in the years to come. All IGM and Grand Canyon employees will be taken over into the Duell Bike-Center Group.

 

CEO Jarkko Ämmälä

Jarkko Ämmälä, CEO of the Duell Bike-Center Group, said: "We want the best products at the best prices with the best delivery times for our customers. That is the simple but important business philosophy that is driving our growth - a philosophy that has made us the undisputed number one in Scandinavia in barely 40 years. With the takeover of IGM, we are getting a strategically important logistics location and access to a new trade network in Germany, one of the largest sales markets for motorcycle accessories in Europe and extension of the network in Benelux. I am convinced that we will reach and inspire our new customers with our business philosophy, products and services in the shortest possible time."
The Belgian motorcycle business specialist Erwin Van Hoof, who, as Export and Business Development Manager at Duell Bike-Center Group, has been responsible for the establishment and development of the business outside Scandinavia since 2019, says: "Germany is one of the key markets in Central Europe. In order to be able to guarantee our customers the Duell premium service with numerous branded products and quality parts from day one, we have already twelve months of intensive preparation behind us. Now we not only have another modern logistics centre, but also a professional, motivated and powerful team with five sales managers who are ready to assist and advise our customers."
Arno Gaalman, founder and managing director of former IGM Trading BV, is also pleased with the successful conclusion of the contract: "We are looking forward to cooperate from now on and are proud to be part of this big and successful distribution group. By bundling the Scandinavian strength and the Dutch commercial skills, we will benefit from numerous synergies. The ambitious goals of Duell perfectly suit the goals of the former IGM, and so I am convinced that together we will grow faster than ever expected - for the benefit of our customers, partners and employees in Germany and the Netherlands."
Duell's expansion into Germany will see dealers there having access to the Halvarssons and Lindstrands brands for the first time. Both brands have more than 70 years of tradition, have been tried and tested for decades in a wide variety of weather conditions, but are not yet well known outside of Scandinavia. 

 

Since its acquisition of the brands in 2019, Duell has further developed its in-house design and development centre. "As a premium brand, Halvarssons stands for classic design and the highest quality in leather and textiles and meets the highest safety standards like AAA," says Jarkko Ämmälä.
"Lindstrands enjoys an outstanding reputation as particularly robust, durable and comfortable equipment, especially among demanding high mileage touring and adventure riders. Both brands will expand the choice for German riders and gradually change the motorcycle apparel market there. Dealers will appreciate the perfect match they bring for the garments in the Grand Canyon Bikewear range, and in the coming years they will see our design specialists significantly improve that line too.

Left to right: Jarkko Ämmälä,  Erwin Van Hoof,  Arno Gaalman-Weghorst, 
Ingrid Gaalman-Weghorst

"We want to be the one-stop solution for our customers. Instead of wasting valuable time on research, our customers will know that Duell has an answer to all questions. Even in the age of rapid e-communication, we therefore rely on personal contact with our partners - in addition to our easy-to-use B2B platform. This is an essential element of the philosophy with which we want to achieve service leadership," explains Van Hoof.
"Therefore, Duell will remain true to its almost 40-year company philosophy in its expansion project in Central Europe," continued Ämmälä.

"With all the passion for powersports that everyone at Duell has, we are also calculating business people. We understand the challenges ahead of us. It will not be easy to enter the already crowded markets in Central and Southern Europe. That is why we prioritise a healthy, long-term growth instead of a quick, but possibly just short-term success.
"An important part of the Duell business strategy is to build up local logistics centres that can be responsive to dealers' needs and guarantee fast delivery times. This business model includes strategic acquisitions of existing trading companies as well as establishing our own regional subsidiaries."
The news about the IGM acquisition comes just three months after Duell announced that it was to establish its own subsidiary at Coalville in the United Kingdom. Duell reports sales growth from € 25m in 2013 to € 60m in 2020.
www.duell.fi

RumbleOn

RumbleOn and RideNow to Merge

Irving, Texas based RumbleOn, a 100% online ecommerce company that aggregates and distributes pre-owned automotive and powersport vehicles to and from consumers and dealers, is to "combine" its business with Chandler, Arizona based RideNow - the largest powersports retailer group in the United States.
In fact, RumbleOn, a 100% online buy/sell and finance platform, appears to be buying the RideNow chain of brick and mortar powersports retail locations for a combination of cash and shares.
The two businesses have entered into a Definitive Agreement to form a publicly traded powersports dealership platform that is being described as "the first omnichannel customer experience in powersports in North America - delivering an unparalleled solution to powersports enthusiasts." 

RumbleOn (NASDAQ: RMBL) says it sold more than 63,000 vehicles in 2020, generating revenue of approximately $1.3bn net income and that the combination with RideOn will "propel revenue growth and drive meaningful cost synergies" in a deal that values RideNow at $575.4m - $400.4m of which will be paid in cash, with $175m paid in RumbleOn Class B common stock. Up to $280.0m of the cash consideration is to be funded by new debt financing.
"The integration of RideNow's extensive footprint and strong retail brand with RumbleOn's technology platform will transform the nation's largest powersports dealer into the first, and only, omnichannel powersports platform in North America.
"Together, the combined company will have a dominant position in a $100+ billion market. The end-to-end platform will enable the combined company to reach more consumers in a secularly growing, but still highly fragmented market that is benefitting from changing consumer behavior."
Founded in 1983, RideNow has more than 40 full-service retail locations in 11 states. In 2020, RideNow sold 45,527 powersport units, including ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles and personal watercraft, generating approximately $899.4m in total revenue.
RumbleOn's ecommerce platform is described as providing an "efficient, timely and transparent transaction experience, without leaving home. Whether buying, selling, trading or financing a vehicle, RumbleOn offers dealers and consumers a friction-free experience - without geographic boundaries."

TecMate

OptiMate 6 and OptiMate Lithium refreshed

OptiMate 6 has been a stalwart in the TecMate line-up for more than a decade. The first 'connect and forget' smart '5 amp' charger for both motorcycle and automotive size batteries, its novel Ampmatic programme adjusts charge current according to the connected battery's size - smaller batteries get less, larger batteries get more.
It's also one of the most internationally co-branded chargers in the TecMate stable, with Aston Martin the most recent manufacturer to have embraced its user-friendly functionality and reliability. 

The popular and multi-OEM recommended OptiMate Lithium 4s 5A is based on the same electronic platform, with its software calibrated to specifically save, charge and maintain Lithium Ferrous Phosphate batteries.
All good things electronic usually get better with the next iteration, and the new OptiMate 6 and OptiMate Lithium 4s 6A are no exception.
Martin Human CEO/CTO of TecMate explained that "the new OptiMate 6 delivers 20% more charging power (6A) but draws 57% less power from the AC grid. Our engineers borrowed power saving technology - such as power factor correction and synchronous rectification - from large industry and got that power draw down to what most common 2A chargers need to deliver their charge." 

The new OptiMate 6 line-up includes the Silver Series Ampmatic - the smartest 'connect and forget' automatic charger for any lead-acid battery; and the Gold Series Select model - which includes a selectable higher charging voltage (14.7V) and a fixed power supply for battery support during diagnostics/troubleshooting on a vehicle with engine not running.
The OptiMate Lithium 4s 6A now boasts a pushbutton BMS reset, making it easier to reactivate advanced Lithium LFP batteries with integrated resettable deep discharge protection. The TUNE power supply mode provides diagnostic support to the battery at the push of a button.  
"Our new OptiMate 6 and OptiMate Lithium 4s 6A offer the TecMate triple 'green' advantage to dealers and OEMs alike - more charging power, so they cost less to run, plus additional smart features that make servicing easier."

TECMATE
www.tecmate.com
www.optimate1.com

Barnett

Barnett billet clutch baskets

Ventura, California based Barnett's clutch baskets are CNC precision machined from the most durable billet aluminium and feature patented, replaceable stainless steel inserts to prevent grooving of the basket where the clutch plate tabs make contact. 

Oil passage windows are also machined into the basket to increase oil flow to the clutch plates, resulting in cooler operating temperatures and a longer clutch life.
Grade 8 quality fasteners are included, with a backing plate where applicable. Select applications come with the centre kicker gear already installed. These baskets are available for popular 80 cc and up off-road motorcycles and sport ATVs and are manufactured in-house by Barnett at its California headquarters.

BARNETT CLUTCHES & CABLES
www.barnettcables.com

Rick's Motorsport Electrics

Replacement Kawasaki charging kit boosts power by +50%

New from internationally recognised specialist Rick's Motorsport Electrics (New Hampshire, USA), this new high-output charging kit for a wide range of Kawasaki 400, 440 and 750 cc models from 1978 to 1983 will convert the OE single phase system into a more modern 3-phase system and in doing so increase the output power by 50%.

The kit comes with a brand-new stator and rectifier/regulator, along with installation instructions. Rick's also sells a version for those that want to change over to lithium batteries, and says it has another kit planned for the KZ650s.  

RICK’S MOTORSPORT ELECTRICS
www.ricksmotorsportelectrics.com

Stylmartin

'Matt' unisex sneaker & 'Navajo' Enduro boot

The 'Matt' unisex sneaker forms part of Italian specialist Stylmartin's 2021 "Rider State of Mind" collection - a collection characterised by "high quality materials and contemporary details".
'Matt' has a matt finish, with the upper made from water-repellent fine full-grain leather. The "total black" look is embellished by silvery reflex laces and heel collar. Comfort is guaranteed by the waterproof and breathable lining thanks to the presence of an air mesh and by an anatomical, removable and micro-perforated insole.

The sole is one-colour black, and safety is guaranteed by the malleolus PU internal protectors on both sides and by the external protection in the gear shift area, also in full-grain leather.
Also seen here is the 'Navajo’, a new boot in the Stylmartin range for 2021, designed in the company's "Rider State of Mind" philosophy for adventure riders and dedicated to the maxi Enduro sector, in anthracite colour. 

It is said to support the foot on off-road routes and to be comfortable on long road trips. Made in waterproof, black full grain leather, "this boot focuses on the look, characterised by bold red features and a unique quilted detailing, the mix of materials and the fit". Featuring an anatomical insole, a front air vent and an outer sole in anti-slip rubber, equipped with a customised patterned, self-cleaning lugged tread, the 'Navajo' is promised to be comfortable even after hours in the saddle.

Protection is guaranteed by high level features such as shin PU protection with inner side leather heat protection while the practical and secure fastening is composed of three quick-release adjustable levers. Other features include a waterproof and breathable lining, inner anatomical anti-shock filling padding, malleolus PU internal protection on both sides, Hydro grain leather gear protection, a reflex back insert and an anatomic, changeable and breathable microperforated footbed. The boot is CE certified to EN 13634:2017.

STYLMARTIN
www.stylmartin.it

Tucano Urbano

Tucano Urbano AIRSCUD inflatable airbag vest

In collaboration with In&motion of France, Milan based Tucano Urbano is the latest vendor to add an inflatable airbag vest to its apparel programme.
The AIRSCUD is described as "one of the most versatile airbag systems in the world, with services and safety functions that are updated and improved regularly.
"AIRSCUD harnesses all the power of Artificial Intelligence to achieve a combination of innovation, functionality and design. Tucano Urbano uses the In&motion airbag technology, a leader in the development of autonomous airbags - technology which is already used by numerous MotoGP and Dakar riders. 

"Tucano Urbano's expertise in materials and knowledge of riders' needs has joined with In&motion's technology and specialisation to create a product able to guarantee maximum protection for daily or occasional motorcycle or scooter riders".
The 'secret sauce' in the unique approach that In&motion has taken to airbag technology resides in the use of Artificial Intelligence, which constantly collects and analyses riding data from thousands of users worldwide to improve airbag deployment algorithms. The design uses seven sensors - three accelerometers, three gyroscopes and one GPS - with the detection algorithm measuring the parameters of use a thousand times every second.
If it detects an impact, it provides what is described as the fastest inflation activation in the world - in less than 60 milliseconds the system detects the risk and completes the airbag inflation, with total coverage of vital areas such as chest, abdomen, neck and spine.

For all-season use, AIRSCUD is made of waterproof and breathable materials that make it water-resistant. AIRSCUD is a CE motorcycle certified vest - Class C oversuit - meaning it has the resistance characteristics that allow it to be worn safely both over and under a jacket and has a CE EN 1621 Level 1 back protector.
AIRSCUD can be worn over any outfit or under a favourite motorbike jacket - including Tucano Urbano's soon-to-be-available AIRSCUD Connection-ready jackets. A patented ARM LINK system allows sleeves to be added to the vest - "in just a few seconds, AIRSCUD becomes a CE motorcycle certified jacket, equipped with D3O T5 EVO X CE - EN 1621 Level 1 CE certified protectors at the shoulders and elbows".
The vest can easily be reset at home by the rider - just remove the discharged inflator unit and replace with a new inflator unit, available to purchase separately. There is no need to send off the vest to be reset.

TUCANO URBANO
www.tucanourbano.com

Zandona

Zandona - 'Hybrid Back Pro'

Italian riding protectors and under-garment specialist Zandona's 'Hybrid Back Pro' is an "innovative Level 2 back protector combining optimal protection, ergonomics, comfort and state-of-the-art design", according to Sales and Marketing Manager Luca Baldissera.
"It represents the exclusive concept of hybrid protection - a back protector that has been meticulously designed and detailed to provide extra protection to the spinal column, in combination with advanced high quality plastic plates and exclusive Net3 Technology".
Fully 'Made in Italy', the result is a product that "guarantees a high level of protection to the whole back, without compromising that other vital safety element - comfort".

The Net3 Technology used by Zandona features an innovative structure made from nitrile anti-shock rubber with a patented 3D netting concept that is the result of precision analysis that has allowed the company to obtain that often elusive winning match between shape and material.
The composition of the high-performance material is said to guarantee substantial impact energy absorption power, ensuring maximum possible protection.
Additional features of the 'Hybrid Back Pro' include a central structure with high quality plastic plates to protect the spinal column, an anti-torsion system that resists the harmful effects of prone torsion in particular.
The 'Hybrid Back Pro' is Level 2 CE approved (EN 1621-2), with a minimum possible thickness in order to optimise its wearability. There is internal padding in E.V.C. (Evoluted Viscoelastic Cells), innovative waterproof anti-shock material with high performance/weight/thickness ratio and S.R.T. Technology (Sweat Removing Textile), which is a very breathable 3D textile that transfers sweat to the outside.
Available in a choice of seven colourways, there is an adjustable waist belt equipped with tie-rods, an adjustable double elastic closing system for improved stability and lumbar support and removable and adjustable suspenders.

ZANDONÀ
www.zandona.net

Polisport

Making a statement

Portuguese off-road parts specialist Polisport (the maker of performance plastics) says that owners of KTM SX and SX-F models who want to "turn heads" should check out two new kits that include two exclusive new colourways.

The company's new 'Gold Metal' and 'Blue Metal' Flow Kits give the front of the bikes a major impact-making flash of colour, with the rest of the bike parts in black - the parts included in the kit are the number plate, front fender and fork guards.

With the 'Blue Metal' kit, the same front components are in the OEM orange, and the rest of the bike parts are in the new 'Blue Metal' flow colour.

POLISPORT
www.polisport.com

Premier Helmets

Premier Trophy DO

Italian helmet manufacturer P.M.R. has updated its popular 'Trophy' full-face. Released in 2020, the 'DO' is "particularly appreciated by riders who are fans of old races, nostalgic for the styling values of the past, but still want up-to-date contemporary safety and comfort.
"Even the visor, though stylistically identical to those used by the champions of the past, is approved and equipped with scratch-resistant treatment. It is fixed to the shell by a mechanism that regulates its opening and by two buttons at the bottom that ensure its closure. The visor is available as an accessory in dark, orange, red, gold and silver versions. 

"The interiors also recall the retro taste of the exterior shape but are made in sanitised and breathable, hypoallergenic materials. The lining is finished in soft cloth, washable synthetic leather and the fastening consists of a strap with double ring - as used 'back-in-the-day' and still used in the racing industry."
The inner shell is made of differentiated density EPS for enhanced impact energy absorption, and the outer shell is moulded in a DCA multi-axial structure carbon, Dyneema and Aramid fibre laminate mixed with epoxy resin.
The result is described as a lightweight and elastic material, but one that is highly resistant in the event of an impact to make the 'Trophy' a robust but comfortable helmet.

PREMIER HELMETS
www.premier.it

Langen Motorcycles

Langen Motorcycles – "a modern 2-stroke and much more"
By Ben Purvis

When you ask GBP £28,000 (approx. € 32k) plus VAT for a 250 cc twin, it's clear you're not aiming at the mass market - and in some ways that's the most fascinating aspect of new British brand Langen Motorcycles.
It is a company that wants a personal relationship with each and every customer rather than simply more and more sales - one-on-one customer service is part of the package.
Not that the firm's first offering isn't interesting in its own right. After all, the idea of a high-performance two-stroke street bike is as long forgotten as the millennium bug, and conventional wisdom would suggest it's a format that can't hope to achieve modern emissions targets. 

Yet that is what Langen is offering, basing its handmade creation, simply called the Two Stroke, around a new V-twin from Italian firm Vins Motors.
Started by former Ferrari engineers, Vins' engine uses direct fuel injection to add petrol to the combustion chamber after the exhaust port has closed, preventing the usual 2-stroke problem of unburnt fuel escaping into the exhaust. It also has an additional injector that squirts oil into the crankcase, the ECU judging the perfect amount depending on revs and throttle opening.
Vins is hoping to achieve Euro 5 emissions standards with the engine eventually, but at the moment Langen is to use the UK's Single Vehicle Approval rules to individually register each bike. The first 100 bikes will be made like this, and be limited to UK customers, with a further 150 planned for international markets - if there is the demand and if the engine does get Euro 5 approval. This second run will also need a quieter exhaust and ABS, both lacking on the initial UK-spec models. Despite a mere 249.5 cc capacity, the engine manages 75 bhp and 33 lb-ft of torque, not hitting its red line until 14,500 rpm.
Langen is the brainchild of former CCM chief engineer Christofer Ratcliffe, so it's no surprise that the bike's tubular frame and handmade style bear some similarities to the CCM Spitfire models. However, the Langen is a much higher-spec machine, as befits its price. The frame is aluminium, not steel, and virtually every other metal part is CNC-machined from billet aluminium.
The result is a weight of 114 kg, although since every example will be tailored to its owner's desires, from colour to the position of the bars and pegs, there's likely to be some variation between individual machines. Öhlins forks and twin K-Tech shocks complete the spec, along with HEL brake calipers.

News Briefs

Ducati says that sales of the 2021 Multistrada V4 family have already reached 5,000 worldwide - just six months after its launch. Motorcycle number 5,000 was purchased by a German Ducatista called Karl-Heinz Lebensieg, who ordered a V4 S Sport version in full configuration from the Ducati dealer in Ingolstadt.

BDN reports that Super Soco has become the UK's fastest growing bike brand overall, in addition to being the fastest growing electric motorcycle or scooter brand. "Super Soco has claimed a 17.5% market share increase in the electric sector and a 1.3% rise versus all motorcycle and scooter brands available in the UK. It also accounted for 50% of ePTW registrations for April and a third of year-to-date ePTW market share". Its 4 kW CPx scooter model has become "the highest-registered ePTW and is now ranked eighth in the MCIA’s top-ten chart of highest-registered motorcycles and scooters in the UK during the first four months of this year".

The Biden administration proposed that a minimum global corporate tax rate be set at 15%. America put forward the plan during the latest round of tax negotiations at the OECD, a mostly rich-country club. It wants to deter companies from shifting profits into low-tax jurisdictions - American multinationals book more foreign profit in Bermuda than in China! Biden plans to raise America's corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%.

British distributor Nevis Marketing (Shark helmets, TCX boots, Richa, Furygan, Interphone etc.) has added exclusive UK distribution of Dainese to the inventory held at its 10.000 sq m warehouse at Ringwood, Hampshire, in southern England.

Monster Energy and Dorna Sports have signed a multi-year sponsorship contract extension that confirms the future of a long-standing partnership for MotoGP. Monster will also take top billing at two Grands Prix in 2021: The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya and the Monster Energy British Grand Prix. "Monster Energy has been a vital part of the MotoGP paddock for many years as a title sponsor for both events and teams".


Hero Motocorp and Gogoro have announced a strategic partnership joint venture to introduce Gogoro's battery swapping network to accelerate the change to electric transportation in India. The companies will collaborate on electric vehicle development to bring Hero-branded, powered by Gogoro Network vehicles to market. The Gogoro Network is an open platform for battery swapping and smart mobility services.

Motorrad Magazin in Germany awarded first place in its Best Brand accessories and customisation category to ADV specialist Touratech.

Vespa has celebrated its 75th anniversary and production of 19m scooters by winning a prestigious 'Webby' Award - in the "Websites and Mobile Sites: Car Sites & Car Culture" category for the Vespa.com website. Presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS) - the leading international organisation rewarding excellence on the Internet - the 'Webby' Awards have been described as "Internet's highest honour" by the New York Times. The 25th edition of the awards saw the presentation of some 13,500 candidacies, from more than 70 countries, which together collected more than 2.2m votes.

The MIC has announced Q1 sales of new motorcycles and scooters through March increased +37.2% "among leading brands", compared to the same period last year. The data comes from the MIC Retail Sales Reporting System which gathers new-unit numbers from 14 leading manufacturers and distributors in the U.S.

Only a year since announcing its plans, BMW is starting battery component production in Germany at Leipzig and Regensburg and expanding its e-drive production network. The BMW Group is investing a total of around € 790m in expanding production capacity for drivetrain components for electrified vehicles at its Dingolfing, Leipzig, Regensburg and Steyr locations between 2020 and 2022.


Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com

Progressive IMS Outdoors

IMS Outdoors 2021 Tour Venues

Progressive IMS Outdoors has confirmed nine dates for its 2021 event series, starting in July at the FivePointAmphitheater (Irvine, CA, July 9-11) and finishing up in Georgia in October, Georgia International Horse Park (Conyers, GA, October 29-31).
Organizer Informa Markets says that Harley-Davidson, Indian Motorcycle, Royal Enfield, Yamaha Motorcycles, Zero Motorcycles, Giant Bicycles, FLX Bike, "and more" have been "confirmed as tour-wide exhibitors.

"The IMS family cannot wait to bring the Powersports community together at our shows, including both returning and new members," said Tracy Harris, Senior Vice President, IMS. "Each venue across our tour allows our IMS team, alongside our sponsors, including title sponsor Progressive, and exhibiting OEMs and brands to offer exciting, unique experiences to our attendees. No matter who walks the grounds, there will be something geared toward their liking."
Attractions and event specifics will be released when tickets go on sale April 22nd at motorcycleshows.com. "As with past tours, attendees can look forward to seeing hundreds of the latest street bikes, dirt bikes, cruisers, scooters, ATVs and much more from leading manufacturers. Attendees will also be able to interact with leading brands in the electric mobility space, including Giant Bicycles and FLX Bike, which will be exhibiting its e-bike line as well electric skateboards from Miles Board.

 

"The tour will also welcome back a number of returning tour-wide exhibiting brands including Arai, Cycle Gear, Enginehawk, Explorify Rentals & Tours, HJC, J&P Cycles, LiquiMoly, Michelin, National Cycle Inc., Ruroc Helmets, Yuasa, among others."
Informa is the company that bought prior IMS series owner UBM (Universal Business Media); they themselves were the company that had bought the series for the original owner, Advanstar. This announcement from Informa namechecks J&P Cycles as a "tour-wide exhibiting brand", but it makes no mention at all of the 'Ultimate Builder' Custom Bike Show series - a staple and hallmark of the IMS indoor show series under the former ownerships.
Subsequent research has revealed that the series will indeed host the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show program, and that J&P Cycles will again be the headline sponsor. However, at this stage, there are no prize fund or class details or other information available such as whether it will be staged at all nine events and when or where any finals will be held - but it is thought that it will be staged at all nine events.

Parts Europe

Parts Europe is getting INTENSE

First seen at the Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties Dealer Expo at Louisville, Kentucky, in February 2020, the Tazer MX PRO eMTB by INTENSE represented a first (and innovative) major play on the burgeoning eMTD and pedelec market by a major motorcycle industry aftermarket parts and accessories distributor.
A year on, and with huge growth in the sector seen on both sides of the Atlantic during the pandemic, Parts Europe has now teamed up with Barcelona based INTENSE Europe to offer its dealers exclusive access to the line.
"Having seen the success in North America, we couldn't be happier to bring the Tazer MX to Europe with such a strong partner. We are truly stoked to offer a MX-specific eBike to the powersports customer, backed by Parts Europe's unrivalled service," said Werner Kastenauer, INTENSE Europe Managing Director.

Parts Europe says it will be offering "this new top quality Tazer MX PRO eMTB exclusively to a selected number of powersports dealers in Europe who would like to develop their way into the eBicycle/eMTB world, and to powersports dealers who are working already with eBicycles.
"We are fully committed and dedicated to support the participating powersports dealers with the same reliable service they already experience in the motorcycle and ATV business," says Anthony Damevin, Purchasing Manager at Parts Europe.
A well-known name in the U.S. MTB market, founder and CEO Jeff Steber's original designs back in the early 1990s were heavily influenced by his knowledge and love of MX bikes. Well-known names like Mike Metzger (the Godfather of FMX), Jeff Emig and Shaun Palmer were all part of INTENSE's story in the early days.
In more recent times, INTENSE Factory Racing's Aaron Gwin (a former MX racer) and INTENSE co-owner and 4x Supercross and 3x Motocross National Champ Ryan Dungey have been waving the INTENSE flag.
"The pedal-assist Tazer MX PRO is based on our successful 155 mm rear travel Tazer eBike, but what sets the MX model apart is its MX-inspired component package - one that will be easily recognisable to any MX fan. The Tazer MX PRO features products from the likes of Öhlins, Renthal, Magura and ODI, all well-known motorcycle industry names.
"Add to that seamless pedal to wheel power transfer via SHIMANO's awesome new EP8 motor and drivetrain, and other top components from the likes of DT Swiss, Cane Creek and SDG, and you have a super high-quality build.
"The Öhlins TTX22M coil shock and DH38 170 mm triple clamp fork help to complete the MX look and feel."
www.partseurope.eu

KOSO

RX3 TFT multifunction meter

The KOSO RX3 multifunction meter is "compact, lightweight, easy to use and ideally suited for use on motorcycles, trikes or scooters".

Functions include speedometer, rev counter, odometer, gear indicator, target distance or target speed and many more, all integrated in the multifunction meter.

 

The RX3 features a brightly coloured 3.5" TFT LCD display in a modern design and with a brand new user-friendly interface. The background can be personalised by choosing from five different colours, and the brightness setting guarantees the readability of the display - day and night.

KOSO EUROPE
www.kosoeurope.com

Zard

Save 4.5 kg on the Triumph Trident 660

This stylish new Triumph Trident 660 stainless steel 3 into 1 full exhaust kit from Italian specialist Zard features a removable dB killer and carbon end cap.

Available in racing (+4 hp) and Euro 5 homologated (+1 hp) versions, it weighs in at just 3.6 kg compared to the original version weight of 8.1 kg.

It has a titanium sleeve, and the black coating is high temperature resistant up to +1000°C. The installation of this exhaust does not require any modifications to the ECU.

ZARD S.R.L.
www.zardlab.com

GSG-Mototechnik

Crash pads for RS 660

German manufacturer GSG-Mototechnik has been quick to spot the potential "use and abuse" that Aprilia's new RS 660 and the Tuono 660 will be exposed to, so the company has rushed crash pad applications to market.

They are such exclusive and all-round gorgeous machines that dealers would be well advised to equip any models they sell or service with crash pads as soon as possible.
"We have been designing and developing motorcycle protects for more than 30 years and all that experience goes into every one of our designs and applications," says owner Gerhard Schweppe. 

 

Founded in 1985, GSG has been leading the development of fall protection products for motorcycles as materials options for protector designs and the protection requirements of motorcycle designs have evolved.
"Our plastic pad runners are manufactured from high quality, highly resilient and shock-absorbent solid material that allows us to create applications that fit harmoniously with the design of the motorcycle. Using an elaborate substructure to absorb impact energy, our designs allow fully reversible, modification-free easy installation.
"All the products are weight-optimised, with the range including swingarm and fork protection for all popular makes and models right up to the new 2021 motorcycles."

GSG-MOTOTECHNIK GMBH
www.gsg.mototechnik.de

Polisport

Armadillo extreme

Portuguese manufacturer of "performance plastics" Polisport has updated its range of exhaust protectors for 2021 with the dual compound Armadillo extreme silencer guard for 4-stroke models.

Made from a blend of stainless steel and silicone to increase the levels of protection in extreme conditions, it is abrasion and impact resistant and features elastomer compound to reduce vibrations and noise compared to other metal designs. The high temperature resistant, flexible and adaptable design measures 30 cm long.

Available in OE colours, it weighs 460 g and is a quick and easy install - no parts have to be disassembled. The model-specific mounting kit includes two brackets or two brackets and two metallic clips.
Polisport also offers 2-stroke exhaust protector designs and silencer end cap style protectors, also all in OE matching colours.

POLISPORT
www.polisport.com

Forma

Forma ADV HDry boot

The HDry adventure boot from Forma has a full grain, oil-treated leather upper, and, specifically selected for the rigors of ADV riding, Enduro and Quad/ATV driving, a double density compound rubber sole.

On the outside, additional features include injection moulded plastic protections, plastic gear pad protection, adjustable velcro closure and replaceable and adjustable aluminium buckles.
Inside, a HDry waterproof and breathable membrane has been 3D laminated directly to the upper. There are shin and ankle TPU moulded plastic protections, soft polymer padding with memory foam, PP Mid Dual Flex with anti-shock felt midsole, antibacterial, replaceable footbed with A.P.S. (Air Pump System) and personalised microfibre covering.

SDE MOTORSPORT SRL
www.formaboots.com

CNC Racing

CNC Racing - rearsets, cush final drive and race style handlebar switches

Arezzo, Italy based CNC Racing's racing experience, not least as technical partners with the Pramac Racing team, has resulted in many advanced, high quality, precision fabricated product ideas.
Seen here for the V4/V4S Streetfighter, CNC Racing rearsets are items of beauty! Manufactured from top quality, robust materials, they are model-specific designs for extreme use on the street or track. 

Rearsets for V4/V4S Streetfighter

Features include oversized sections for the maximum stress areas, 12 positions, road and reverse (GP pattern) shifting, CNC knurling for maximum grip even in the wettest conditions and support for race bike stand.
The footrests and toe pegs are folding and lockable by steel spring pins (included in the kit); the gearshift and the rear brake levers are mounted on bearings for optimum smoothness and include a pressure brake light switch.
They are available with aluminium or carbon fibre and in a Pramac Racing Limited Edition with carbon fibre heel guards.
Also available for the Hypermotard with triple support arm positioning which, together with the eccentric adjustment, gives 24 steps of adjustment, bearing-mounted gearshift and brake levers, adjustable brake and gear lever adjustment with a sliding guide that gives a range of 33 mm and bracket for rear brake master cylinder and its oil tank.
Also seen here, this rear sprocket final drive kit replaces the original without any modification - using the stock cush drive rubbers - on selected MV Agusta (up to 2017), Aprilia and Ducati models such as the Hypermotard, Monster, Multistrada, Streetfighter and Superbikes 1994 - 2013.

Rear sprocket final drive kit

The kit consists of the cush drive hub flange made either in titanium or in lightweight CNC-machined billet aluminium alloy with subsequent surface anodising treatment (in black, red or gold) in 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 or 43 tooth configuration.
CNC says that the kit fits with its flanges (FC301/FC302) and M8 x 1.25 nuts (also in black, red or gold) or with the factory parts. 

Plug & Play handlebar switches

Finally, the race style 'plug & play' handlebar switches for Ducati, Aprilia and MV Agusta models are available for both racing and road, left and right use. "The keypad is a must in the racing world, which allows the driver to adjust traction control very easily, change engine mapping and/or access all the functions of the racing keypad of the installed dashboard."
For road riding applications, the keypad functions include lights, indicators and horn. The keypad body is machined from full 7075 zinc aluminium (Ergal) bars, which has then undergone a hard black anodising process that enhances processing with CNC machinery. CNC Racing uses only buttons compliant with the IP67 military standard that certifies the keypad itself as water resistant. The operation of all buttons is guaranteed by over 700,000 cycles; fully reversible simple install list of applications regularly updated.

CNC RACING
www.cncracing.it

Comment by Editor, Robin Bradley

Market growth is being held back

Following my "Sad Story" piece about motorcycle registration statistics in the last edition, it is a case of 'déjà vu all over again' with this month's market numbers (as Yogi Berra put it!).

We have had to drop our usually comprehensive and, we know, much valued statistical reports from around Europe's markets as the wild variations being seen in the data gathering again render the numbers unreliable - with any conclusions drawn from the trend data likely to be misleading.
The reasons, again, are the anomalies arising from the rush to pre-register Euro 4 inventory as the final, extended, deadline for registration of unsold Euro 4 inventory loomed at a time of increasing inventory shortages.
Any unsold Euro 4 units that did not meet the strict timescale criteria set by the EU for the end of series derogation that was approved in advance of Euro 5 final implementation would have, in effect, been unsellable as of January 1st.
As we start to lap the registrations data of March 2020 and beyond, the wild variations triggered simply make any meaningful analysis impossible.
The trade associations continue (mostly) to release monthly registrations information and those can be seen in the online editions of MotoWEEK, the IDN newsletter/blog. The service will be restored to our print edition as soon as the data permits!

an informed guess

In the meantime, the headline news, the one single, simple fact that we can rely on is that, given the circumstances, the industry is doing well. Indeed, the primary challenge at present is inventory shortage - triggered by a perfect storm of continuing reverberations from last year's factory closures, high demand, materials shortages and other supply chain challenges and price inflation pressures, shipping costs and logistical issues such as container hoarding and freight scheduling!
It has to be remembered though, that much of the current demand is from delayed buying and consumers eying the advantages of PTWs as a commuting solution of choice for ongoing self-isolation reasons.
The ACEM statistics for 2020 theoretically showed the market as being +1.1% for total PTW registrations in Europe's 'Big-5 markets. Net of the pre-registered Euro 4 machines (at least 50,000 total PTW units in the 'Big-5' markets), the real market performance is more likely to be around -3% or -4%. That is purely an informed guesstimate though, because the way the data is now being harvested and reported makes precision impossible. If it is anywhere near accurate, then I think we'd all agree that, given what has been happening, then it is a very good result.
We do have access to data for some of the major markets, and within the tolerances of the data gathering and reporting variables, it looks like we are seeing genuine growth over 2020 - but not yet of sufficient numbers to catch up with 2019 in all markets; Italy is the honourable exception.
In total PTW terms, the Italian data to the end of May 2021 (from ANCMA) shows the Italian market at 127,324 units (up +87.7% compared to 2020), and for Spain the figure through May is 69,854 units (up +39.07%), also through May.
For Germany, the data shows growth of +6.31% compared to 2020 at 64,549 units for January through April, and for the UK, total PTW registrations are put at +16.95%, also through April (29,558 units).
Clearly the Italian figure is a COVID catch-up drive aberration, and the other percentages also reflect lapping the lockdown sales results from mid-March onwards last year, so can't be assumed to yet represent 'boom time' for a dealer community that is having to look for new inventory down the back of the sofa. At peak selling time too!
In three out of those four cases, the data for the four or five month periods reported so far for 2021 still lags the corresponding periods in 2019 and in most cases, seriously so.  
Another insight comes from the data for Japanese made PTWs being exported to Europe from the domestic Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki factories. For the period to April 2021, total PTW exports to Europe are said to have been up by +12.58% at 82,130 units for the first four months of 2021.
That compares to 72,995 units for the same period in 2020 and 73,509 for 2019. Clearly, the inventory coming into Europe is Euro 5 compliant and represents a modest production bounce in data that has been headed south in an apparent death spiral ever since 2004.
All this is playing out against a background of ferocious aftermarket vendor consolidation. The major distributors (especially) are seeking to add to critical mass.
Breda, Netherlands based Parts Distribution Group (PDG - the Hoco Parts and DC Afam owner) has had a voracious appetite, having been especially acquisitive in the UK. Its latest deal saw the acquisition of Dutch custom parts giant Motorcycle Storehouse.
Meanwhile, with the backing of the family-controlled Kontich, Belgium based Alcopa concern, BIHR - the Bartenheim, France based distribution business (founded in 1975 by Cyrille Bihr) - has also been busy in the UK. The Moto Direct/RST apparel owner recently added off-road strength in depth, buying Race FX and announced that it had acquired 100% of the shares in Hamburg based Paaschburg & Wunderlich just as this edition was closing for press.
The market sentiment is that this is a process that has not finished yet. Further acquisitions will be confirmed in the next 24 to 36 months, as distributors, manufacturers and brand owners look to strengthen their access to international markets and diversify product ranges.
The underlying equity that many such deals are focused on acquiring at this time is access to dealer networks and logistics capacity. Brick and mortar showroom floor real estate and online mail order platform storefronts are the reserve currency of the 21st century as we head towards our glorious electric future.
In which connection, do go back and read our February/March report about the work of the Connected Motorcycle Consortium if you missed it, and check out our 'Tipping Point' news feature by Ben Purvis - and the report about new Honda President Toshihiro Mibe's first speech - both in this edition.

News Briefs

Yamaha and Dorna Sports have signed a new agreement that will see the Japanese company continue as the official scooter supplier to the FIM MotoGP World Championship. Yamaha first became the exclusive scooter supplier for MotoGP in 2005. This new agreement supplies Dorna with a fleet of 25 NMAX 125 scooters.

Suzuki Motor has signed with Dorna Sports to extend its involvement in the FIM MotoGP World Championship from the 2022 season to 2026 - continuing to race as Team Suzuki Ecstar. Suzuki's racing story began in 1960 with the Isle of Man TT. Last year it celebrated its 100th anniversary and 60 years in racing by winning the riders' World Championship with Joan Mir.

Dell'Orto remains the Official Data Acquisition partner of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup. A one-year contract extension sees the Italian company remain on board with MotoE until at least 2022. Energica provides the 'spec' bikes for the series and Dell'Orto supplies a state-of-the-art system including data logger, inertial measurement unit, tyre monitoring system and suspension and brake sensors.

Acerbis is to continue as a WorldSBK official sponsor for four more years. Acerbis has been an official sponsor of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship since 2013.


On the retirement of Arai's long-serving distributor in southern Ireland, MotoDirect, a British distribution subsidiary of Bartenheim, France based BIHR, has added the Republic of Ireland to its exclusive sales territory for Arai Helmets. MotoDirect has been representing Arai in the United Kingdom since 2012.

Ducati has presented the new livery for the Hypermotard 950 SP and updated the entire family to Euro 5 standard. "The new livery recalls the world of racing in its colours and that of freestyle sports in its graphic lines, underlining the dynamic character of the bike". They are expected in dealerships in May.

Dorna Sports has announced the signing of an agreement with Aprilia Racing to continue participation in the FIM MotoGP World Championship through 2026. From the 2022 season, the RS-GP factory bikes will be on track with the official Aprilia Racing Team.

In a continuation of its partnership with ADAC, Dorna has signed a contract for MotoGP racing to remain at the Sachsenring in Germany for another five years. The classic German track will stay on the MotoGP calendar until at least 2026, remaining the home of the Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland. One of the highlights of the sporting year in Germany since 1998, some 200,000 attend the race weekend.

After being closed without notice by prior owner Vogel, Stephan Maderner's respected industry blog 'Bike & Business" is back in business - thanks to the rather more enlightened and PTW-friendly management at Syburger Verlag - publisher of Motorrad News, Motorrad Abenteuer and Touren Fahrer. B&B is published in print six times a year and as an online blog and newsletter weekly - "Welcome back Stephan!"

Dealernews reported that, following a tornado hitting Yamaha USA's hometown of Newnan, Georgia, a 200% matching fund offer for all employee donations to put towards relief efforts had resulted in $50,760 being raised for the Coweta Community Foundation Tornado Relief programme as at May 14.


Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com

Moto Future

Full charge for electric bikes - the 'Tipping Point'
By Ben Purvis

The trickle of new electric bikes is turning into a torrent, with major manufacturers committing to a battery powered future…

For years, the world's biggest bike firms have played a waiting game, showing off plenty of electric concepts and dabbling with the occasional small-run models, but holding off on mass-production electric bikes until the market matured.
Now we appear to be hitting that tipping point, with both Honda and Yamaha committed to electric bikes along with several European rivals.

Honda Benly-e

Honda's company-wide pledge to electric vehicles includes the target of being completely carbon-neutral, as a company, by 2050. That includes not only a switch to electric power for its cars and bikes, but a shift to clean energy sources for its production facilities. The firm says 40% of its vehicle sales will be electric by 2030 and 80% by 2035, hitting 100% by 2040.
While most of those will be cars, the company's motorcycles are going in the same direction. Initially, the plan is to launch three electric models in the sub-125 cc class by 2024, all using the battery-swap 'Mobile Power Pack' system that Honda is dedicated to. A Japanese consortium of Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki has already established a standardised battery specification to allow its future models to share common, swappable packs, almost certain to be based on the Honda-developed system, and a similar international consortium of Honda, Yamaha, Piaggio and KTM is also working towards the same goal.
Honda's business-oriented, Asian-market Benly-e and Gyro-e models already use the swappable packs, but the new models will be aimed at the consumer market. One will be a 50 cc-equivalent scooter, the second a larger scooter that approximates a 125 cc model. The third is an electric motorcycle in the 125 cc class. Beyond those machines, Honda says it will also launch an undisclosed number of electric motorcycles for leisure use, hinting that these will be larger, higher performance machines.

Husqvarna's 50 cc scooter, the Vektorr

Yamaha, meanwhile, is on the verge of unveiling the production version of its 'E01' electric scooter. Originally shown as a concept bike at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, the E01 is intended to compete in the leaner-legal 125 cc class. It uses a large, fixed battery instead of smaller, swappable cells. The firm has recently gained trademark rights to use the 'E01' name on a production machine and filed multiple patent applications that show a toned-down version of the concept, including production-style elements like road legal lighting and even a licence plate bracket. The bike won't be Yamaha's first electric offering - Yamaha has dabbled in the market in the past with machines like the EC-02 and EC-03, but the E01 promises much higher performance and range targets than its previous attempts.
Here in Europe, BMW is already established as an electric bike pioneer courtesy of the C Evolution scooter that it has sold since 2013 - and the soon-to-be-launched CE-04 that replaces it. KTM has also been getting busy in the E-space for some time too, and has recently started to do so with its Husqvarna brand.
Husky's approach is initially two-pronged, with a 125 cc-equivalent motorcycle - the E-Pilen - due to go on sale in 2022. At the same time, a 50 cc-matching scooter, the Vektorr, will also reach production. Both machines are to be manufactured in India by partner firm Bajaj, which will also use the same technology for its own range of electric models.
Like Honda, the KTM/Husqvarna/Bajaj trio have opted for a swappable battery system, using 48V packs that can be combined to add more range or performance. The E-Pilen, for instance, uses three of the batteries, mounted where the fuel tank would normally be.
The chassis comes from the next-generation KTM Duke 125, 250 and 390, which will also form the basis of the next Husqvarna Svartpilen and Vitpilen models, and by parts-sharing with conventional petrol-powered models, Husqvarna should be able to hold prices down.
The battery-swap system could also be used to reduce costs, potentially allowing the batteries to be leased rather than bought outright, bringing the initial purchase cost of the electric bikes down to match or even undercut petrol-powered equivalents.
Further Euro electric bike news comes from Dutch project EMX-Powertrain, a collaboration between engineering firm Dohms Projecten and battery specialist ELEO Technologies, with support from Yamaha Motor Europe.
The result so far is a prototype electric dirt bike, based on a Yamaha YZ250F chassis fitted with a purpose-made battery pack and a liquid-cooled electric motor with a single-speed transmission. The prototype took to the track for the first time in May. Although not the first to try, the project is intended to boost the profile and show the potential of electric motocross machines.
With noise issues regularly forcing motocross facilities to close down or forcing them to be established far from populated areas, the relative silence of electric bikes could open the sport up to a completely new generation - eliminating the major hurdle in the establishment of new tracks and allowing them to be more accessible. What's more, with relatively short races and a focus on punch out of corners rather than top speed, the sport is tailormade for torquey electric motors and small, low-range batteries.
Despite the positive moves towards electric bikes in Europe, China remains the hotbed of activity for the sector. With millions of riders already using cheap, low-tech electric scooters, battery power has already been accepted as a viable option by huge swathes of buyers there, encouraging the development of increasingly high-end electric models.
The result is the establishment of dedicated electric sub-brands from established players. CFMoto recently created ZEEHO as a platform for its future electric models and now Zongshen has followed suit by creating its own electric brand, Cineco.
Cineco's initial model range includes four moped-level offerings - the Honda Cub-inspired E-Classic, the Grom-style City Slicker and two conventional step-thru models, the ES3Pro and T3, all models that were previously offered under the Zongshen name in China, and under other brands elsewhere. In the UK, Lexmoto offers the ES3 Pro under the name Impulse, and the City Slicker as the Cypher.

 

Zongshen Cineco ERT3

However, Zongshen's latest Cineco offering is a much more ambitious machine, the ERT3, a battery-powered version of the firm's new 250 cc RT3 scooter, recently launched under the firm's high-end Cyclone brand. The ERT3 is powered by an electric motor that makes a nominal 8 kW (11 hp), which means it would fit into the learner-legal 125 cc class. However, it's actually capable of double that power for short bursts, putting its performance on a par with the 250 cc ICE model it's derived from.
At 207 kg, its weight is only a fraction higher than the petrol-powered RT3 (194 kg), and Zongshen claims the bike can achieve 200 km (125 miles) between charges of its 72V, 93Ah battery pack. A 0-62 mph time of 9.9 seconds is also claimed, along with an 81 mph top speed; not fast, but easily enough to keep up with traffic out of town as well as in urban areas.
The numbers are very close to those claimed for the original version of BMW's C-Evolution scooter, but where BMW's sales were hampered by a sky-high price, the Cineco ERT3 isn't likely to have that problem.
Since the likes of Lexmoto have already proved that Zongshen's machines can be accepted in European markets, the ERT3 is likely to appear here in the future, although it may not go under the same name.