POLO Motorrad

POLO Motorrad – bankruptcy protection filing

 

Established as POLO Expressversand in Duesseldorf, Germany in March 1980, Polo Motorrad und Sportswear GmbH (better known simply as POLO Motorrad) filed for self-administration proceedings at the Mönchengladbach District Court on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.

Under German bankruptcy regulations this will secure the chance for an orderly restructuring, while full business operations at the company headquarters in Jüchen, and all branches are able to continue without restrictions. The wages and salaries of the approximately 700 German employees are secured through insolvency benefits until January 2026.

As reported in German by Bike & Business, the move is said to have been triggered by the overall economic climate: despite solid sales growth, the industry-wide reluctance to buy put pressure on liquidity. The locations in Switzerland and Austria are not affected. Polo operates 90 stores in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and has a substantial online business.

As reported in the latest edition of International Dealer News, trade association data put motorcycle registrations at -25.32% for the YTD through October 2025 - some 25,000 (or more) units behind the same period of 2024.

News Briefs

From the start of January 2026 MSA GmbH (Motor Sport Accessories) in Germany will take over as the general distributor for the 1978 founded TGB (Taiwan Golden Bee) scooter and ATV brand, in Germany. MSA has been the long-term Kymco distributor for Germany and also sells for Voge. MSA is headed up by Gerald Federl as Managing Director; www.msa-germany.de

Ducati's new V21L all-electric race prototype motorcycle features a Solid-State lithium-metal battery - a first for a company in the Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG). Developed by QuantumScape and PowerCo, it marks a point at which the much-anticipated performance advantages of solid-state battery technology "jumps from the lab to the racetrack - for Ducati and Volkswagen, it's a racing milestone. Solid-state batteries have been talked about as the 'holy grail' for years. Instead of relying on liquid electrolytes and graphite anodes, this design uses a solid electrolyte and an anode-free lithium-metal setup. That means more energy in less space, faster charging, and better safety. In the V21L, that translates to around 844 watt-hours per litre, a 10-80% charge in just over 12 minutes, and the ability to deliver continuous race-level power without fading."

The FIM World Supercross Championship continues to have problems with venues. The 2025 series will return to Europe with Stockholm confirmed to host the Swedish GP on 6 December. This follows the withdrawal of Kuala Lumpur's Stadium Merdeka as the season opener - which means no round in Asia this year. The 2025 season will now begin in Buenos Aires on 8 November, before visiting Vancouver, the Gold Coast in Australia, Stockholm, and finally Cape Town for the season finale; worldsupercrosschampionship.com

German lubricant supplier Mannol sells its proven Ceramo Ester Additive for use in 'unit' style engine and clutch combinations and dry clutches - such as in Ducati models. 'White Graphite' or a similar dry, high-temperature lubricant is used in motorcycle clutches for its ability to reduce friction and prevent seizing in high-temperature and high-pressure environments where oil-based lubricants might fail or become gummy and ineffective. Graphite's layered structure allows layers to slide easily, making it an excellent dry lubricant for components like clutch cables or internal clutch mechanisms that require long-lasting, wear-resistant lubrication; www.mannol.de

2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship

2026 WorldSBK Provisional Calendar

The provisional 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship calendar has been unveiled, again featuring 12 rounds again - despite concerns that under the new ownership of Liberty Media (Colorado) WorldSBK racing and its support classes might have a question mark hanging over them. 

The season will kick off at Australia's Phillip Island in late February and wrap up in Jerez, Spain, in mid-October. A key highlight for 2026 is the debut of the WorldSPB class in Portimao, alongside earlier dates for Aragon and Balaton Park, while Cremona shifts to a September slot.

With a mix of classic venues and recent additions, the calendar once again promises a diverse season of top-tier production-based racing.

www.worldsbk.com

ACEM

ACEM - Key Market Registrations -7.2% January to September 2025 

The latest data from ACEM, the Brussels based international motorcycle industry trade association for Europe) show new motorcycle registrations in the five largest European markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) reached 823,786 units during the first nine months of 2025. This represents a decrease of -7.17% compared to the same period in 2024 (887,451 units). 

The data (released 29-10-25) shows that motorcycle registration volumes increased in Spain by 11.10% year-on-year (183,014 units) while in other markets, results remain negative for the current year with Italy at -1.11% (282,407 units), UK -14.95% (73,343 units), France -12.45% (144,888 units) and Germany -24.42% (140,134).

These five markets are Europe's 'Big Five' accounting for some 80% of total all-market registrations in Europe (EU and non-EU - around 44 national markets in total).

Moped registrations reached a total volume of 110,641 units in the six European moped markets monitored by ACEM (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain), -16.37% in comparison to last year at the same period (132,303 units). 

In moped terms, Germany remains the only market showing a slight growth (12,772 units, 1.28%), while the decline is widespread in all other monitored countries:  Spain (9,494 units, -3.38%), Belgium (20,123 units, -10.11%), the Netherlands (19,386 units, -19.07%), France (37,874 units -21.77%), and Italy (10,992 units, -27.28%).

Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General, said: "The figures for the first nine months of 2025 confirm that the surge in registrations driven by the Euro 5+ transition earlier this year is being progressively absorbed. What we are now seeing is a market adjustment following the strong pre-registration activity that took place ahead of the new regulatory stage.

"As we enter the final quarter and approach key industry events such as EICMA and INTERMOT, manufacturers are preparing to showcase their latest innovations. These industry expos will help indicate how the market is evolving ahead of the 2026 riding season."

The regulation beating 'pre-reg' units from the final quarter of 2024 have been, are being sold through dealerships in 2025 (first half of the year mostly) which means that in statistical terms at least the bigger data picture is one of more sales in 2025 than the registration statistics show.

Andreani & Öhlins

Andreani & Öhlins - 20 years of partnership

Pesaro, Italy based Andreani Group is celebrating a milestone – 20 years as the Italian distributor for Ohlins Suspension products.

A partnership that was founded on the shared vision of founders Kent Öhlin and Giuseppe Andreani, the relationship brought a level of service and support to the Swedish made suspension systems that has seen Öhlins-branded products establish market leadership in Italy, just as they have in many other international markets.

The Öhlins brand is widely used in leading racing championships such as MotoGP, World SuperBike and Formula 1 and installed as OEM equipment by major two- and four-wheel manufacturers. 

"Over the past two decades, the synergy between our two companies has played a decisive role in raising performance standards and providing highly qualified technical support both in the world’s top motorsport paddocks and in the aftermarket," says Giuseppe Andreani, CEO & Founder of Andreani Group,

"This constant commitment has steadily reinforced the leadership of both companies in their respective markets. Our synergy is built on the passion that unites us, something far more powerful than a mere economic collaboration."

As the European motorcycle market geared up for EICMA, Robert Brinkmark (Director - Sales, Marketing & Product Management at Öhlins Group AB said that "Celebrating 20 years of partnership is more than marking a milestone.

"It’s a tribute to the trust, collaboration, and shared passion that have driven our journey together. From the racetrack to the aftermarket, Andreani has been a vital part of our success story, helping us push boundaries, deliver performance, and serve customers with excellence."

Suspension excellence runs deep in former racer Guiseppe Andreani's business. An international reputation for training suspension programmes and an unequalled range of suspension workshop equipment and tools has made Andreani an international 'go to' resource with distribution coverage extending to markets such as Spain and Portugal through the Andreani MHS subsidiary, North America via Andreani USA Inc. and several Easter European markets, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey.

www.andreanigroup.com

www.ohlins.com

BS Battery

MAXimum battery performance for Cruiser and Touring

Paris based BS Battery has added five new models to its SLA MAX line-up that have been specified for the demands of the big engines used in Cruisers, and touring bikes from the 'Big Inch' V-twins from H-D and Indian Motorcycles to select Japanese and European made platforms from the likes of Honda, Yamaha, BMW, Triumph, Ducati and Moto Guzzi.

The BGZ Series delivers the "power and reliability needed for power-hungry machines. These have maintenance-free, non-spillable, factory-activated AGM batteries come ready to install straight out of the box."

Engineered for "maximum performance in demanding conditions", BS Battery says the batteries are "not just powerful", but that they are the most powerful lead-acid models in their range, delivering up to +20% more starting power and capacity than standard SLA (Sealed Lead Acid) batteries. 

Features include built-in copper terminals for enhanced conductivity and improved torque performance, offering up to 50% better connection than standard terminals. Taller internal plates are designed to boost starting power, and rugged construction increases vibration resistance.

With cold cranking amps of up to 500A, the series also features both front and top connections, making installation easier, especially on V-twin and other heavy-duty motorcycles where space and access matter. 

For dealers needing to fit even more power, but with xless weight, the BS Battery Lithium Max range is the "ultimate solution for riders who need maximum battery performance without adding horsepower robbing weight.

Developed specifically for V-twins, ATVs, UTVs, SSVs, additional features such as low self-discharge and extended battery life make these "high-end batteries have been built to meet the superior needs of power sports enthusiasts and professional riders alike."

BS BATTERY

www.bs-battery.com

AIROH

AIROH comms ready Bandit 2-in-1

Described as "versatile and ready for any adventure", the new AIROH Bandit is designed for touring or adventure, city or off road

The adaptable "2-in-1" configuration delivers "maximum safety, advanced comfort and uncompromising visibility. Created with an easily removed peak, Bandit transforms from an adventure to a road helmet in a few seconds. The on-off version, with the peak, is ideal for riding in mixed or off-road paths, where greater protection from sun and debris is needed. 

"The aerodynamically tuneable naked version is designed for greater aerodynamics and stability at high speeds. The wide visor offers a superior field of vision, contributing to a total perception of the surroundings. The maximum visibility of the anti-fog position of the visor, with the supplied Pinlock 70 Max Vision lens, means optimal vision even in cold and wet conditions with reduced risk of fogging. 

The advanced ventilation system-with air intakes on the chin guard, top and side areas, and rear spoilers ensures continuous air circulation. "The fully removable, washable, breathable and hypoallergenic inner linings are made of the up-to-date fabrics with innovative treatments". 

The ECE 2206 approved Bandit incorporates AIROH's most advanced technologies, such as the ASN (AIROH Sliding Net) and AEFR (AIROH Emergency Fast Release) systems. Made from lightweight and durable HRT thermoplastic, the helmet is available in two shells weighing from 1660 g ±50 g.

Additional features include visor with anti-scratch treatment and UV protection, locking system and integrated sun visor. The standard equipment also includes stop wind. Bandit is ready for AIROH's AWC 4 and AWC 2 communication systems.

LOCATELLI S.P.A.

www.airoh.com