German market new registrations down
Despite closing out 2014 new motorcycle registrations with +10.8 percent growth for the full year, making for a fourth consecutive year of growth for the German market, 2015 has opened up less positively.
New motorcycle registrations in January were down by -13.71 percent (2,354 units) and down by -11.28 percent in February (5,976 units, down from 6,736 in February 2014), meaning that on a year-to-date basis the German market has seen new motorcycle registrations come down by 11.98 percent to 8,330 units (9.464 units in the first two months of 2014).
This is still dramatically higher than the 6,225 units registered in the first two months of 2013 though, so it is to be hoped that this is either some kind of statistical anomaly, or that that there are short-term specific factors at play such as timings or weather.
The picture is similar in total PTM registrations terms - January was down by -13.38 percent (3,419 units) and February was down by -12.94 percent (7,945 units). However, as with motorcycle registrations, February 2015 is still ahead of February 2013.
Spanish market growth continues
New motorcycle and PTW registrations have continued to grow so far this year according to the latest data released by ANESDOR, the motorcycle industry trade association in Spain.
Last year saw the Spanish motorcycle market achieve impressive growth of nearly +20 percent, and following +11.61 percent growth in January this year (to 6,823 units) the market was up by a further +14.66 percent in February 2015 (6,850 units).
This means that for the year-to-date the motorcycle market in Spain is up by +13.12 percent at 13,673 units - the best market performance in Spain for the first two months of the year since the 17,729 units registered in January and February of 2011.
In total PTW terms January was up by +9,29 percent (7,780 units), February was up by +17.5 percent (7,929 units), making the year-to-date +13.28 percent at 15,709 units - also the best market performance seen in Spain for the first two months of the year since 2011.
Bullet 1000 wins Red Dot 'Best of the Best' design award
German lights designer Kellermann GmbH has added to its trophy cabinet with another award, indeed another Red Dot Design award, this time for its new Bullet 1000 indicator.
Winning the highest ranked ‘Best of the Best’ award, the Red Dot Design awards are seen as one of the world's most important design recognition programmes.
Kellermann launched the unique LED indicator last autumn at the INTERMOT expo in Cologne, Germany, the biggest motorcycle show in the world. Widely regarded as market leaders, the ‘Classic meets Hightech’ LED equipped, bullet shaped indicator features many additional functions as well as great styling.
The classic Bullet shape received a fresh interpretation by Kellermann. A real highlight is the newly developed light technology (the Kellermann-HPT) that allows a continuous ring-shaped light to be built in to the outer ring of the lens. The overall dimensions are an impressively small 39mm, and it comes in three versions - the 'Extreme' indicator, as an indicator with yellow position light, and as a combination indicator with break and rear light.
www.kellermann-online.com
Get SMART about battery power monitoring
IF handled badly, motorcycle electronics can kill enjoyment of the riding experience; especially where poorly maintained batteries or insufficient battery power is concerned.
However, if handled well, the power of a well maintained battery to drive modern motorcycle and consumer electronics can massively enhance enjoyment of the riding experience.
TecMate's new 'smart' OptiMate Monitor with 4 LEDs driven by a micro-processor not only tells how well the battery is charged (or not!), it also tells if the vehicle's charging system is delivering sufficient charge voltage when the engine is running.
During vehicle storage the LED matching the battery's state of charge will blink every 5 seconds, drawing very little power (0.2 milliamps) to do so, in fact 20-100 times less than the vehicle's circuitry is drawing from the battery at the same time.
When the vehicle's engine is running, the LED mode changes to an arrow, with the pointer reaching the LED matching the voltage being delivered by charging system. No arrow means it is not charging.
Two versions are available for all lead-acid batteries, including AGM : a weatherproof battery lead with M6 / 1/4" ringlets (O-124) or an in-line SAE to SAE version (O-125) that connects perfectly to any 2-pin SAE battery lead already fitted to your motorcycle.
The in-line (O-125) version also works perfectly with all OptiMate Cable adaptors such as the O-02 AUTO/BIKE plug, O-04 battery clip set or O-19 low profile BIKE (DIN) plug.
The lithium battery version (O-127) has an LED warning if the battery is being overcharged and for good reason, overcharging means death to a lithium battery!
www.optimate1.com
IKON Basix shocks
IKON has introduced its new range of Basix shock absorbers as a budget option for users who do not want to compromise on build quality.
The new Basix shocks have a chrome plated body that incorporates fixed rate damping, three-position adjustable pre-load and a black powder coated narrow series progressive rate spring. In order to keep the cost of the shocks down, the Basix do not feature adjustable damping. However, the shocks are rebuildable and revalvable, and each one is dyno-tested before leaving the factory.
IKON SUSPENSION
Albury North, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 (0)2 6040 9955
ikon@ikonsuspension.com
www.ikonsuspension.com
Mitas launch Sport Force+
MITAS has introduced a second generation version of its radial tyre with the launch of its Sport Force+. The new tyre has been designed for use on sport, naked and touring machines and features a new tread compound based on the latest findings of its research and development unit.
Speaking at the launch of the Sport Force+, Ksenija Bitenc, Managing Director of Mitas Moto, said: “Sport Force+ is the second generation of radial motorcycle tyres made by Mitas. We have improved the tyre tread compound to get an even more competitive sport on-road tyre.”
Key features in the design of the Sport Force+ tyre range include the use of Strong Carcass Technology (SCT) and grip on different road surfaces, temperatures and conditions through the use of OGT 3D-Optimum Groove Technology.
MITAS A.S.
Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC
Tel: +386 4 206 58 83
info-moto@mitas-tyres.com
www.mitas-moto-radial.com
RSD 'Radial' designs
ROLAND Sands Design, the US custom bike builder and parts manufacturer, has introduced a range of parts and accessories for BMW’s R nine T. The new selection of parts feature a design based on the pieces developed for the BMW Concept 90, which was built by Roland Sands Design in 2013.
The parts feature a ‘Radial’ design where the parts are anodised and then machined, and include a billet aluminium Boxer 'Breast Plate' that is said to improve airflow.
Engine parts include Radial valve covers that are machined from 6061 aluminium forgings, black anodised, given a UV protective finish and feature a built-in wire cover.
For the bike’s cockpit Sands offers a replacement gauge housing. The machined aluminium piece replaces the stock plastic unit. To match this, there is a headlamp bezel finished with ball end milled detailing, billet aluminium bar ends and flush-fit billet aluminium petrol cap and base.
To radically change the look of the stock R nine T, RSD offers a choice of 'Flat Out' Boss (black) and the Enzo (brown/black) seats - both with styling influenced by vintage racing car seats.
Other parts available include Radial style rear axle plug, which covers the hole through the rear axle, and a swingarm pivot plug, designed to cover the standard zinc coated steel fasteners.
ROLAND SANDS DESIGN
Los Alamitos, California, USA
Tel: +1 562 493 5297
info@rolandsands.com
www.rolandsands.com
