AFAM, the iconic Belgian manufacturer renowned for its high-performance motorcycle transmission components, is officially returning to the U.S. market through a new distribution partnership with Kimpex USA. A staple of the American powersports scene in the 1980s and '90s, AFAM earned a strong reputation among road riders, motocross racers, and off-road enthusiasts for its durable chains, sprockets, and transmission kits/PSB
British distributor Apico Factory Racing, aka Vesty UK Ltd, has announced additions to its programmes with the addition of California based Works Connection off-road products (high-quality MX hard parts, founded in 1989) and the UK made range of outdoor sports healthcare and wellbeing Joov Sports off-road products, founded in 2015 by moto-crosser Tom Johnson in 2015.
French parts and accessory brand TOP BLOCK ANIVOLS (CFPS) have been specialising in motorcycle security since the mid-1980s. In response to the ever-worsening motorcycle theft problem in France (everywhere in fact) the company has announced an extension to its security product standard warranty from two to five years, with a 10-year option. An OEM supplier as well own-brand aftermarket vendor, TOP BLOCK has made the move in response to the strict standards for motorcycle locking systems that French insurers are demanding. Top Block has been a pioneer and was one of the first to actively promote the use of certified anti-theft devices. The company has played a leading role in defining the industry's security standards in France and is widely regarded as a benchmark in high-quality, French-made protection systems. Top Block products are all made at its Boron headquarters near the Swiss border in eastern France.
Piaggio Group has extended the warranty period for all its scooter brands to four years. Buyers of Euro5+ Aprilia, Piaggio (including Liberty, Medley, Beverly and MP3) and Vespas with combustion engines of 50 cc and larger displacements have been covered by a four-year warranty since May 19.
Igor Akrapovic was awarded the Nicolas Rodil del Valle Gold Medal by the FIM at its annual 'Black-Tie' awards dinner at the end of last year. The award was made in recognition of the Slovenian exhaust manufacturer's "important contribution to motorcycle sport". Akrapovic, a former motorcycle racer, founded the business 33 years ago, and to date 190 world champions in two- and four-wheel motorsport have achieved success using Akrapovic exhaust systems; www.akrapovic.com
Owned by the 2Ride Group, French helmet brand Shark has lost a four-year legal battle with its Barcelona, Spain based, Chinese owned LS2 rival. Shark had accused LS2 of infringing a patent on flip-up helmets with its Liao System 2. The court has now determined that the LS2 Convert and Valiant models did not infringe a patent, which Shark filed in 2005 and that expires at the end of 2025. The helmets featured a chin guard that could be pushed back beyond the usual position at forehead level to just below the neck area/B&B.
Some 15,000 visitors are said to have attended Touratech's Travel Event in the Black Forest, Germany (May 31-June 1). The event was staged at its Niedereschach headquarters and marked Touratech's 20th such event and the 35th anniversary of Touratech itself/B&B.
As part of the fall-out from the KTM bankruptcy, Austria based Hans Leeb GmbH took over distribution of CFMoto motorcycles in Germany and Austria at the start of June 2025. Leeb had already held the distribution rights for CF Moto ATVs (since June 2024) and will now additionally take over distribution of the Chinese company's motorcycle division. Initially, Leeb will act as a general importer, with a two-wheeler sector joint venture planned for 2026. In the medium term, the dealer network is expected to grow to 150 specialist retailers.
