Swiss Moto

Swiss Moto 2020
Zurich February 20 - 23

The 17th annual Swiss Moto, Switzerland's largest motorcycle, scooter and tuning show, will take place in Zurich again in 2020 with "numerous industry leaders and new brands already having confirmed their participation" according to Messe Zurich.

Features next year will include a revival of the popular Streetbike Freestyle Show and a focus on the response to the motorcycle driving license regulations for young people aged 16 and over in the new "SWISS-MOTO Youth" meeting point 2020".
In the wake of the Swiss Federal Council's decision to allow young people aged 16 and over to ride motorcycles and scooters with a displacement of 125 cm3 (maximum 11 kW) by 2021, the organizers' new "SWISS-MOTO Youth" initiative will be a platform that appeals to young people between the ages of 14 and 17 with the show welcoming future riders with a mix of shows, news, gaming and the opportunity to experience first road tests.
Organizer Yves Vollenweider sees a big opportunity in the change in the law: "This adjustment opens up exciting opportunities for both the motorized two-wheeler industry in Switzerland and for SWISS-MOTO as an expo.
"For us, as an important sector engine with a digital reach of around 1.7 million people interested in public transport and a media coverage worth over 1.3 million Swiss francs, it is clear that we are now responding to and promoting the many advantages that motorcycling has to offer. A target-group campaign is planned that uses humor and creativity to highlight the many advantages of a motorized two-wheeler at a young age, such as the unrivaled price / performance ratio compared to public transport and the independence that two-wheelers bring to their lifestyles.
"As an additional highlight, after a ten-year break, the organizers are reviving the crowd puller - the Streetbike Freestyle Show. Action is provided by international stunt professionals with spectacular stunts, smoking burnouts and daredevil maneuvers on two or one bike".
www.swiss-moto.ch

News Briefs

Honda R&D Co., Ltd., a research and development subsidiary of Honda, has announced that it has acquired all of the outstanding shares of the California-based Drivemode, Inc. in order to further strengthen "new value creation" in the areas of digital and connected mobility products. Drivemode is a start-up that develops and operates smartphone-based connected services. Honda R&D and Drivemode have been collaborating and conducting joint development activities since 2015 through the Honda Xcelerator programme, an open innovation programme Honda has been pursuing on a global basis.
 

The MCIA in the UK has launched 'MCIA SECURED' - an anti-theft rating programme for Powered Two- Wheelers that awards a star for each recognised security feature fitted to a PTW. The more security features included as standard by the manufacturer, the more stars, up to a maximum of five for motorcycles and scooters of 125 cc (or 11 kW for electric power) or over.


BMW Group, BASF SE, Samsung SDI and Samsung Electronics have started "Cobalt for Development" to promote responsible artisanal cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The pilot project intends to improve working conditions at a pilot mine site and living conditions in the surrounding communities.


Ford is to transfer most of its operations in India to Mahindra & Mahindra as part of a joint venture with the Indian carmaker, BSA and JAWA brand owner, and 51% owner of Peugeot scooters. Mahindra will own 51% of the joint venture, valued at $275m. Both firms will continue to own their own brands and sell them through their own separate dealer networks.


The MCIA in the UK has announced that 'Transport for London' (TfL) has confirmed that Powered Two- Wheelers (PTWs) and other Powered Light Vehicles (PLVs) are included in the Mayor of London's recently announced ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) Scrappage Scheme. Grants of GBP £1,000 are available when scrapping a non-ULEZ compliant PTW/PLV and purchasing a new, ULEZ compliant replacement.


ISMA, the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, is predicting that the upcoming season should be a good one for the snowmobile industry, with the winter projected to bring high snowfalls. Sales for 2018-2019 totalled 55,025 new snowmobiles in the USA, with 46,784 new units sold in Canada and over 31,000 sold in Europe.


Boston based IDTechEx Research is forecasting that electric vehicles will be a $2.6 trillion market, with several new sectors prominent by 2030. Said to be based on analysis of some 100 different sectors, IDTechEx says it has studied and forecasted EVs for over 20 years. Although the primary focus to date has been on personal mobility, IDTechEx points to the growing importance of EV in sectors such as construction, agriculture and mining (CAM), logistics and road freight, final mile delivery, Micro EVs and commuting, shuttle and school buses, trains, military, aircraft and marine.

Yamaha Motor is investing further in Autonomous Driving Technology Developer "Tier IV", strengthening development capabilities for low-speed autonomous driving vehicles through the development of Autoware (autonomous driving OS software). Through this investment, Yamaha Motor aims to strengthen development capabilities and acquire knowledge regarding low-speed autonomous driving technology. This additional investment forms part of "ART for Human Possibilities, Rethinking Solutions", one aspect of the company's long-term vision to provide multi-use vehicles and alternative mobility systems to regions where there are many elderly and other people with limited access to transportation.


BMW Motorrad was able to increase deliveries of its motorcycles and maxi-scooters in the third quarter to 43,744 units (2018: 39,818 units; +9.9%); revenue growth was +17.2% (€ 558 m). Motorcycle deliveries during the first nine months of 2019 totalled 136,932 units (+8.0%), generating revenues of € 1,871 million. October sales were down -3.1% for the month (12,645 units), but up by +7% (149,577 units) for the YTD.

Avon Tyres

Roadrider MKII sport touring
motorcycle tyre

Melksham, UK based Avon Tyres has launched its eagerly anticipated Roadrider MKII sport touring motorcycle tyre - "which brings several design and performance improvements over its predecessor".

Dominic Clifford, Global Avon Motorcycle Manager said at the launch event that "the Roadrider MKII will enable us to build on the success of the original Roadrider - our design team has done a brilliant job."

Key benefits are said to include better grip in wet and dry conditions, reduced wear and shorter braking distances and "wet testing indicates a sizeable improvement in stopping distance compared to the Avon Roadrider".

By introducing an updated sport touring tyre, Avon Tyres is aiming to cement its position as a leading player in the market - its Roadrider tyre is factory fitted to Royal Enfield's 350 cc bikes.
Overall, the Roadrider MKII is available in 31 sizes and 37 specifications, covering H and V speed ratings and universal options - "in addition to the expanded size offering, a classic tread and sidewall appearance makes the tyre suitable for bikes of all ages".
Dominic Clifford, Global Avon Motorcycle Manager, said: "The Roadrider MKII will enable us to build on the success of the Roadrider. Our design team has done a brilliant job to take the many successful elements of the Roadrider and improve them further. Given the strong benchmark, this was no mean feat."
www.avonmotorcycle.com

Stat Attack

Honda
Honda reports 5.098m unit sales worldwide for Q2 (-4.1% to end of September 2019), taking their half YTD to 10.01m units - down by 6.1% compared to the first half of 2018. For Europe, Honda reports 57,000 sales for Q2 and 141,000 YTD, making units sales in Europe level with the first six months of 2018. Global motorcycle sales revenue was 522.5bn yen for their second quarter, down by - 16.7bn yen from 2018; for the half year, sales were 1,005.5bn yen, down by -38.6bn yen for the YTD.

Yamaha
For its "Land Mobility" business division, Yamaha is reporting net sales of 832.0 billion yen for the first nine months/three quarters of its 2019 financial/calendar year (a decrease of -5.8 billion yen or -0.7% compared with the same period the previous fiscal year), with operating income of 35.8 billion yen (a decrease of 4.4 billion yen or -10.9%).
In "developed markets" it increased unit sales in Europe. In its "emerging markets" motorcycle business, unit sales increased in Indonesia, the Philippines and Brazil, but decreased in Vietnam, India, Taiwan and Argentina, resulting in decreased sales units, and decreased sales and income overall.

Kawasaki
For the six months ended September 2019, Kawasaki reports sales revenue for its Motorcycle (and Engine) division at 147.23bn yen for an improved operating loss of 3.37bn yen compared to the year-ago period. For Q2, Kawasaki wholesale shipments to "developed markets" were 67,000 units, up by 3,000 from Q2 last year; revenue generated was 50.3bn yen.For emerging markets, Q2 wholesale unit shipments were 158,000, down by 5,000 units from the year-ago quarter, with 36.2bn yen generated (also down).

Suzuki
For its second quarter (July to September 2019), Suzuki reports that net sales in its motorcycle business increased by 0.2bn yen (+0.2%) to 126.5bn yen year-on-year, mainly owing to increased sales in India. Q2 operating income decreased by 2.3bn yen (-56.8%) to 1.7bn yen year-on-year. Overall worldwide unit sales volume was 876,000 units for the six-month period from April to September 2019, which was up by 18,000 units (+2.1%) due to increases in India and the Philippines.

Moto Factory Italia

Moto Factory Italia - "collaboration, technology"

EICMA saw Moto Factory Italia, the Italian motorcycle business "network of excellence" introduce a new configuration - the businesses that are part of the network "are leading companies in the sector for two-wheeler components and accessories manufacturing".
The 'Moto Factory Italia' project is a collaboration between 'Made in Italy' manufacturers that aims to cooperate on pooling resources, promoting their brands and promoting Italian quality and products.

It seeks to act as a "reference point for motorcycle manufacturers, to act and operate as a single customer oriented reality offering not only single stand-alone products, but an integrated system of components, the result of a shared and dedicated design," said Alfio Morone, President of the Moto Factory Italia network. "Our mission is to explain the dynamics of network internationalisation and how 'Made in Italy', with its high quality and innovative level, can be a decisive in growing international business.
 
"implementing internationalisation"

"Through cooperation and collaboration, we seek to increase sales volumes, customers, visibility and expansion of companies in national and international markets. We will work together to increase the innovative capacity and the research and development activities of new products, processes and technologies - improving the overall efficiency and quality of the products, the sustainability of the activities in economic and environmental impact terms".
The primary common denominator between the members is "the Italian origin, synonymous with added value in the aftermarket and original equipment sectors - history, competence, technology, reliability, professionalism and passion are the most important ingredients of this project".
Executive Vice President of Dell'Orto, Andrea Dell'Orto, said: "Operating in a network system, the individual companies set themselves the goal of being able to offer customers 'Made in Italy' solutions at more competitive costs, without affecting the quality level of the products that have always distinguished the brands.
"This is thanks to the implementation of cost rationalisation projects and collaborations with common suppliers that can maximise all possible economies of scale and amplify the benefits. Moto Factory Italia will promote members on the growing foreign markets, implementing an internationalisation process, both in terms of purchases and sales, thus becoming the spokesperson for the value of 'Made in Italy' and the intrinsic level of quality and innovation.
"In fact, being able to refer to and try to merge the individual distribution networks into a single and broader network would allow the network players to have a more widespread presence at lower costs, surely eliminating costs and times for finding new dealers, and reducing the management costs of serving existing ones.
www.motofactoryitalia.it

Dell'Orto

"Racing performance every day"

Founded in 1933, Dell'Orto is one of the most revered names in the motorcycle industry, and a business that has adapted to, indeed led the changes in motorcycle performance in the past three decades.
Widely known for its Injection Systems, its MotoGP experience with its RSV Aprilia throttle bodies and with the Moto3 ECU (Electronic Control Unit), has resulted in the release of a third generation of electronic fuel injection components and systems for motorcycle engines.
The new Monnalisa ECU, which completes the DELLORTO ECU range, has been designed to meet the requirements of the EURO5 and BS6 regulations that will enter into force in the coming years. The latest development includes traction control, start-and-stop and advanced OBD2 on-board diagnostics. DELLORTO ECUs support single and two-cylinder engines, 2- and 4-stroke, with air or liquid cooling.

In 2019, Dell'Orto took up the electrification challenge, taking part in the MotoE project with the supply of the data acquisition system: datalogger, inertial measurement unit, brake sensors, suspension sensors, and TPMS receiver and sensors (tyre temperature and pressure).
Through this new electrical experience, Dell'Orto has recently established a close cooperation with Energica for the development and production of dedicated "Power Units" for EVs of small (power range up to 8/11kW) and medium sizes (power range up to 30kW). The project aims at offering technologically advanced solutions to the major manufacturers operating in the EV 2-wheeler market, "combining the unique know-how of Energica in electric motorisation with Dell'Orto's design skills in injection systems, as well as productionisation skills and distribution networks in Europe, China and India. The agreement foresees the common development and commercialisation of an innovative system based on the combined know-how of the two companies".
Dell'Orto's two mechanical and electronic throttle body lines have been "improved and expanded with innovative solutions. For mechanical throttle bodies, Dell'Orto has developed a compact air by-pass actuator and a 3-in-1 combined sensor that include contactless TPS, temperature and air pressure sensor functions".
The company's electronic throttle bodies are available with "specific solutions for 1 and 4-cylinder engines. Thanks to a new patented design, it is possible to control the main throttle and a secondary throttle with a single actuator; this improves driveability and emissions at low speed".
This year Dell'Orto is also introducing a complete range of sensors: TPS contactless (single and double output), 3-in-1 sensor (TPS, temperature and pressure), a dual map sensor for twin cylinder applications and an innovative contactless gear position sensor.
"A great configuration flexibility allows Dell'Orto fuel pump modules to be a reliable market player. They are available with pre-filter, fine filter, pressure regulator and level sensor and they can be fitted on top or below the fuel tank".
For exhaust valves, Dell'Orto is already producing exhaust gas recirculation valves for cars and now it has developed and industrialised an exhaust valve for motorcycle engines. The valve is able to optimise and enhance the sound of the engine. The exhaust valve is produced in a stainless steel that withstands the high temperatures downstream of the catalysts - required for EURO5.
In addition to electronic ignitions, Dell'Orto is continuing with the development of its patented Electronic Carburation System (ECS) - "perfectly suited for 50 cc mopeds and for engines with small displacements for the Asian market, which has recently obtained the patent in India, the most important market for production volumes in the world.
In a strategic development plan that has been designed in line with the new demands of the world market, Dell'Orto has recently expanded its footprints both in India and China. Dell'Orto has a production site in India, where important production has begun in partnership with the main local producers. It is a highly technological plant, "organised by Italian know-how and expertise and fully compliant with European quality standards. It started in 2006 with the production of mechanical throttle bodies for the local market and of injection systems and for export and has increasingly consolidated its position on the Indian market as one of the leading local players for injection system components.
In February 2018 a joint venture was signed with Varroc to further strengthen the presence of Dell'Orto in India as System Integrator for motorcycle injection systems. Varroc will support Dell'Orto in the production of the new DaVinci and Monnalisa electronic control units.
The company's Chinese market presence is managed by Dell'Orto Shanghai Trading Company. Operating for ten years already, it is the Chinese motorcycle market leader in electronic carburetion systems for EU4 and EU5 homologated mopeds and small displacement motorcycles. Dell'Orto China is a partner for the development of the complete injection system for the upcoming China Stage IV regulations and for the export. In 2017 a joint venture was established for the production of motorcycle fuel modules and Dell'Orto says it has "brought its expertise to quality - gaining the strictest AKLH12 validation tests".
www.dellorto.it

SIXS

Winter intermediate layers

As a follow-up to its Limited Edition 10th anniversary short sleeve commemorative base layer - made with what Italian specialist SIXS said was the lightest fabric it had ever used (TS1 - 90% Polypropylene, 7% Elastane, 3% Carbon) - EICMA saw the introduction of its new WTJ 2 wind stopper jacket/Winter Tourism line and matching WTP 2 riding trousers. 
Described as being for the "motorcycle and scooter riders who do not give up in the cold", the WTJ 2 is a "second layer" jacket that offers warmth and comfort (especially in the frontal area) without sacrificing breathability at the rear area. The garments in the Winter Tourism line are the first where the patented SIXS Carbon UnderWear fabric is used together with additional different textile elements - a mix of three materials altogether that allows "great protection from the cold air together with a complete transpiration of the skin".
WTJ 2 protects from wind and cold while maintaining "proper sweat management and perfect thermoregulation thanks to Carbon Underwear inserts" thanks to what SIXS describes as the "Brainy Position technology" where the three different materials are used in different positions of the garment -  the Winter Barrier (windproof, breathable and thermoregulating fibre) prevents the cold from penetrating while maintaining a warm and dry body. In the parts of the body most prone to sweating, Carbon Underwear guarantees full transpiration and thermoregulation, while a weft made of a new generation thermopile heats and maintains the correct body temperature.
The WTJ 2 jacket is normally worn as an "intermediate layer" between SIXS underwear and an external technical garment. The 'Aero Fit' design follows the rider's posture - it is longer in the rear area, shorter in the front and includes a new soft and warm thermopile microfleece.
The windproof WTP 2 trousers feature the same combination of materials and "Brainy" positioning with the Winter Barrier at the front and breathable thermoregulation Carbon Underwear fibre at the rear (above and below the knees). The 'Aero Fit' WTP 2 trousers are also recommended as an "intermediate layer" on top of SIXS underwear and under another external technical garment.

SIXS S.R.L.
www.six2.com