Kawasaki

Kawasaki sales up

Kawasaki posted results for 2017/18 fourth quarter and full financial year ended 31 March 2018, with total net sales up at 1,574,242 m yen and corporate profits up at 28,915 m yen.
Total sales in its Motorcycle and Engine division were up at 332,328 m yen, with net sales reported at +6 percent at 331,659 m yen (Kawasaki’s Motorcycle and Engine unit accounts for some 21 percent of overall corporate net sales).
Total divisional unit sales were 560,000 units – 152,000 in developed markets, 342,000 units in emerging markets.
The company says that the “moderate growth of motorcycle markets in developed countries continues” and that the decline in demand for motorcycles in emerging markets is “bottoming out”.

Moto Future

It is reported that MV Agusta is planning to bring back its Cagiva brand as an E-Bike, possibly as early as for the 2019 model year, with an announcement later this year at EICMA.

Japanese E-Bike manufacturer Mugen will race three Shinden Nana electric Superbikes at the Isle of Man TT Zero race as they go in search of a fifth straight and seventh overall win – with 2018 improvements said to include reduced mass and increased capacity as the performance of lithium-ion batteries gets ever better with less mass and greater capacity.

Less than 5 percent of the vehicles on Europe’s roads are “commercial vehicles” (vans, trucks etc) but estimates suggest that nearly 20 percent of European greenhouse gas emissions from all vehicles are from “commercials”.

It is reported that Bosch has invented a “carbon neutral” synthetic hydrocarbon based fuel. It is likely to be some time before the chemistry involved proves to be scalable or for production of sufficient quantities to be commercially viable, but should it prove to be so it could take the transport emissions debate in an additional new direction.

BRP is introducing a first Rotax electric powerpack for the Karting market – a high performance 2.5kwh lithium-ion battery with a top performance of 20 kW and 46 Nm for a top speed of 130 km/h and o-100 km/h of 3.5 seconds.

The sectors of the Brammo electric vehicle business that were not bought by Polaris five years ago, which includes the ‘Empulse RR’ e-bike of IOM and Pikes Peak derring do fame, has been bought by Diesel engine manufacturer Cummins. Cummins CEO and Chairman Tom Lineberger is a non-executive Director on the board of Harley-Davidson.

Aprilia

Capirossi joined Aprilia race fans for a Mugello track day

Aprilia race fans in Italy got a surprise in May – turning up for one of Aprilia’s 2018 ‘Racers Days’ track days, they found no less than three-times World Champion Loris Capirossi sharing the pits with them.


 
Capirossi was there to take the RSV4 “out for a spin” on the spectacular Tuscany track and joined in with the enthusiasts in appreciation of all things Aprilia for the day.
Capirossi definitely appears to appreciate the RSV4, commenting “testing the RSV4 RF at Mugello was a fantastic experience. It's a really nice bike to ride, the feel is immediate, and the engine performs really well. You can feel the excellent connection with the throttle grip, and it’s extremely fast for a standard motorcycle - riding it brings a smile to your face, even for someone as experienced as me”.
‘Racers Days’ are Aprilia events that offer enthusiasts a total experience in the racing world of Aprilia. The calendar includes nine opportunities, up to September, to try out the exclusive Aprilia RSV4 RF and Tuono V4 1100 Factory on world-class circuits such as Misano, Mugello and Imola. For younger riders, the Tuono 125 is available, and for those who want to improve their performance on the track, in safe conditions, lessons are available at the Aprilia “Riding Academy”.

Polisport

CR125/250 restyling kit

Polisport, the Portuguese manufacturer of ‘Performance Plastics’, has released a new CR restyling kit that includes airbox covers, front and rear fenders, number plate, side panels and radiator scoops to completely update the look of Honda CR models from 2002 onward.
The plastics are injection-moulded with a perfect OEM fit, Polisport kit components are “flexible and glossy, and submitted to rigorous control tests, just like any OEM part produced for KTM or Husqvarna”. 

The design of this kit is based on the new CR450F, and also makes it possible to update the old CR 2-strokes. The new restyling kit enables a “complete update to the look of any CR from 2002 onward, to look like the new models”.

Polisport plastics are an “inexpensive alternative to OEM replacement parts with a stock colour match that is more durable than the factory finishes”. All Polisport plastics are produced with exclusive DGP (Durable Gloss Polypropylene) technology, which makes them more durable, with a perfect combination of resistance and flexibility; replica plastics have a glossy finish and colours that perfectly match the stock parts.

POLISPORT
www.polisport.com

Surflex

Surflex for BMW K1200

Italian performance clutch component specialist Surflex says its mission is to “let all on-highway riders feel the same emotions and have the same performance opportunities that race track pilots have”.

This was the company’s aim when designing this upgrade kit for the BMW K1200 Sport Tourer series.
The upgrade kit has a couple of discs more than the original stack, the engine torque being split on a major surface, it results in a perfectly effective clutch, more responsive, durable and softer at the hand control.
The same kit has also been made in a lighter version where the plain plates are made in high-strength, high-quality Ergal alloy so that the inertial force is reduced.
The two kits are a straight replacement for the OE clutch and sold complete with all lined and plain discs.

SURFLEX S.R.L.
www.surflex.it

Forbikes

3 mm of clear precision

Everybody, quite rightly, points to the safety issues of a good motorcycle helmet shell and its ability to absorb and deflect impact energy and reduce the brain damage that can be caused in an accident.

However, good riding vision and visor safety is also extremely important, and in Europe Italian distributor Forbikes is increasingly becoming the ‘go-to’ for access to some of the best quality visors available.
Their start-to-finish FK Visor manufacturing process starts with the technical designs and takes the visor right through the whole process, from precision moulding right through to the craftsman made finished product, to ensure a perfect fit to the helmet every time.
Known for the artisan craftsmanship of their 3 mm visors with quality optics and advanced design capabilities, Forbikes’ FK visor programme is the result of its acquisition of the noted AB S.r.l thermoforming and plastic processing helmet visor business in Reggio Emilia in Italy in 2012.

The multi-approval British made Davida ‘Koura’ full-face is one of the latest helmet designs to benefit from FK’s 3 mm visor technology

Last year, Forbikes completed the renovation and refurbishment of the ‘historic’ FK Visors facility, and invites visitors to come and see for themselves the attention to detail and quality processes that go into every one of their visors.

FORBIKES
www.forbikes.it
www.fkvisors.com

Rainers Sports

‘Storil’ jacket and ‘Tiger’ boots

Founded in 1988 and celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Spanish apparel specialist Rainers Sports continues to develop its programme, offering dealers the opportunity to offer their customers a growing range of high performance, high specification riding gear options.

Seen here is the new ‘Storil’ three-layer jacket with a new design, front and rear reflective panels, CE protectors at the back and the shoulders and external TPU protectors at the shoulders.

Also seen here, Rainers’ versatile, multi-purpose ‘Tiger’ elastic boots are made from leather with a guaranteed waterproof membrane, have protectors at the ankles and shins, and are closed by zipper and Velcro. A panel adjusts the twin reflective fluo piece at the rear.

RAINERS SPORTS
www.rainers-sports.com