AMD World Championship 2014

AMD World Championship underway

The 11th annual AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building is now underway at this year's INTERMOT expo at the Cologne exhibition center (Koelnmesse) in Germany.
Yesterday saw some 80 builders from 24 different countries, register 90 great custom bikes, for the five classes, with the World Champion scheduled to be announced at the award ceremony at the end of the show, 5pm on Sunday October 5th.
Judging, which will take place on Saturday, is by 'peer group review' - with the competitors themselves choosing who will represent the custom V-twin industry as World Champion for the year ahead.

The early speculation is that there is great depth of field in terms of the standard of bikes this year, with several candidates vying for the favourite slot in the early betting!
The continuing post-downturn evolution of the custom bike building market again shows how a new younger generation of customizers are responding to price point pressure with an ever-greater focus on originality and craftsmanship. This year's Championship  includes three former World Champions going head-to-head in the freestyle class (Fred Krugger of Krugger Motorcycles, Andreas Bergerforth of Thunderbike and Winston Yeh of Rough Crafts) but they face stiff competition from several other returning competitors and first time entrants who have come into competition at an extraordinarily high standard.
You can follow the Championship as it unfolds this week at www.facebook.com/AMDChampionship

AIMExpo, Orlando, October 16th - 19th

AIMExpo secures OE backing

This year's second annual AIMExpo, Orlando, October 16th - 19th has quickly established itself as the premier mainstream show for dealers and consumers.
Now slated for four days, the show has now passed the 400 exhibitor mark with the addition of SHOEI Helmets.

Last year the response to the first annual AIMExpo was generally positive with the fall timing and sunbelt venue finding favor with an exhibitor community that was looking for a fresh approach to the range of powersports industry expo opportunities that were available to them.

AIMExpo has gone a long way to meeting its ambition of becoming the USA's premier European-style, multi-purpose motorcycle industry expo

One of the critical features was that the show was a venue for motorcycle manufacturers to be able to replicate the new model introduction opportunities that they have long been accustomed to in Europe at events such as INTERMOT (Cologne) and EICMA (Milan).
The show was launched and is headed up by Larry Little (former MIC Chairman and Cycle World publisher) and Mike Webster (ex-Advanstar Communications, managing international motorcycle shows, Dealer Expo and Dealernews magazine) for Marketplace Events, a well established trade show organizer. Having responded to exhibitor feedback by reducing the show duration by a day, the show offers trade and media preview days on October 16-17 with consumer attendance on 18-19. Dealers can register to attend AIMExpo for free.

The OE community is now embracing the show with Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Kymco, Zero Motorcycles, Massimo Motors and Erik Buell Racing among those confirmed so far.
Media partner Powersports Business is powering dealer promotion of the event and again operating its Powersports Business Institute (PSBI) at AIMExpo.
Road racing legend Kevin Schwantz is named "AIMExpo Champion", and the AMA is to stage its annual National Convention and Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the event that it is now endorsing as "the premier motorcycle trade and consumer event in North America."

www.aimexpousa.com

LeMans Corporation

Jeff Derge to head-up sales at LeMans

THE Parent company of specialist parts manufacturers and distributors Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited, LeMans Corporation, has announced the promotion of Jeff Derge to VP of Sales. 

Derge, who has over 26 years of experience in the powersports industry, has spent 16 years in the retail environment, covering both V-twin and metric motorcycles, as well as four years in manufacturing.
Commenting on Derge’s promotion, LeMans’ Chairman, Fred Fox, said: “Jeff has served in several important sales-related areas at LeMans and has  substantially contributed to the continued growth and success of Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties. We look forward to continued sales increases in 2015 under Jeff’s leasership.”

LEMANS CORPORATION
Janesville, Wisconsin, USA
Tel: 608 758 1111

Roland Sands Design

RSD Slant slip-ons for Touring

ROLAND Sands Design has released a new version of its Slant slip-on muffler, which has been created specifically for use on H-D Touring models. 

Inspired by racing designs, the Slant slip-ons for ’95-’14 Touring models are sold in pairs and can be used on bikes fitted with saddlebags with extended drop skirts, and feature the signature RSD badge. Available in a choice of chrome or matt black, both versions feature a carbon fiber end cap. 

ROLAND SANDS DESIGN
Los Alamitos, California, USA
Tel: 562 493 5297
info@rolandsands.com
www.rolandsands.com

W&W Cycles

Latest parts selection from W&W

W&W Cycles is continuing to expand its range of reproduction parts for older model Harley-Davidsons under its Cannonball label. The latest re-introduction is a lock that was originally offered as an accessory in the ’20s and ‘30s. Permanently mounted to the bike’s forks, the stainless steel bar swivels from its home position and through the wheel and is then locked in place preventing the wheel from turning. Two versions of the lock are available to fit OEM Springer forks and W&W Springer forks. 

The old school parts theme continues at W&W Cycles with the stocking of the Vintage Custom LED hinged mini taillight. Based on the design of factory taillights again from the ‘20s and ‘30s it has a hinge between the lamp body and license plate bracket for angle adjustment. Rather than using a conventional filament bulb, the taillight houses a 12v LED for both stoplight and license plate illumination, and is E4 approved. 

From the Biltwell line of products W&W Cycles is now carrying the company’s Grenade and Javelin mufflers. Both designs are available in black powder coat or chrome, TIG welded and supplied with a removable perforated steel baffle. The Grenade muffler fits 1-3/4in head pipes, has a straight profile and is 26.5cm long. The tapered Javelin also works with 1-3/4in head pipes and is 23cm long.

One of the more up-to-date products stocked by W&W Cycles is the range of RSD products which includes a line of mid-controls. When installed the controls move the rider’s feet 1in up and 1in back, while also being 1-1/2in narrower than the OEM controls for improved cornering clearance. The controls feature foot pegs with race style pivots and utilize the OEM rear master cylinder and shift lever. Made to fit ’04 and later Sportsters the billet aluminum controls are available in Contrast Cut or Black Ops finishes and can be used with the RSD Slant 2-into-1 exhaust system.  

W&W CYCLES AG
Würzburg, GERMANY
Tel: +49 (0)931 250 61 16
sales@wwag.com
www.wwag.com

Zodiac International

Zodiac expands product range

ZODIAC has expanded its product range with a diverse selection of new products, and first among them are the Eco-Line extended hard saddlebags.
Eco-line manufactures its bags from ABS plastic and makes them 4in deeper than stock, with the extension covering the bike’s exhaust mufflers. The bags, which can be used as replacement for damaged stock bags, fit all ’92  – ‘13 hard luggage equipped FLH and FLT series Touring models, and can also be used on most Softail models when paired with Zodiac's separately available saddle bag bracket kit. 

With the Adjure LED H4-L30W hi/low LED bulb Zodiac is making it easier for riders to upgrade to LED lighting from halogen lighting. The Cree type LEDS used in the Adjure kit are said to give much brighter white light than a normal H4 bulb and use only 27W of power compared to 55W-60W for a conventional halogen bulb. The LED bulb fits headlight units that use a H4 bulbs with the P43t base with three tabs, and does not fit headlight units with a completely round P45 base. 

Zodiac now also has Goodridge Sniper 2 ‘Build Your Own’ brake lines available. The system features PC coated PTFE inner lined, stainless steel braided, micro bore hose and a choice of chrome or black fittings. Sniper 2 brake lines have an outer diameter as little as 0.16in, making them suitable for routing brake and clutch lines through concealed areas such as forks, frames and handlebars.
Goodridge Sniper 2 brake line is available in braided stainless, clear coated braided stainless, carbon look covered braided stainless and ‘Pure black’ covered braided stainless. Once the line has been cut to length it can be installed using Sniper 2 adaptors, banjo eyes and straight fittings.

Zodiac’s own Tomahawk 1in handlebars are made to be used on Touring models, specifically ’86-’07 FLHT and FLHX models. The bars can also be used on ’08 and later bikes if the right side is trimmed by 13mm to allow the fitting of throttle-by-wire controls. Offered in a choice of black or chrome, the bars, which are slotted for internal wiring, measure 36in wide, with a center width of 15-1/4in, 10in rise, and 6-5/8in pullback.

Replacement oil pumps for Twin Cam models are now being sold by Zodiac. Two versions of the cast aluminum pumps are available; one fits ‘99 - ‘05 Dyna, ‘99 - ‘06 Touring and ‘00 - ‘06 Softail applications, and the other is for ‘06 to present Dyna, ‘07 to present Softail and ‘07 to present Touring bikes. The new pumps are said to deliver more pressure and volume on both the oil feed and oil discharge side due to an improved design and 53mm diameter rotors allowing them to outperform the OEM pump. 

ZODIAC INTERNATIONAL BV
Mijdrecht, NETHERLANDS
Tel: +31 (0)297 288 621
sales@zodiac.nl
www.zodiac.nl

TTS Motorcycles

TTS Big Spoke wheels

TTS now has its Big Spoke wheels available with TÜV parts certificate accreditation to paragraph 19, and the wheels can now be registered at any TUV or Dekra office.

Big spoke wheels are offered for all FL Touring models for the front in 17in, 18in, 19in and 21in sizes and in a choice of black, chrome or stainless steel.

TTS MOTORCYCLES
Westerkappeln, GERMANY
Tel. +49 (0)5404 6394
Fax +49 (0)5404 71591
info@wheelspont.de
www.wheelspoint.de

AMD World Championship XI

AMD World Championship XI

Next week sees the 11th annual AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building being staged before a record custom motorcycle competition audience as the INTERMOT expo celebrates the 50th anniversary of the industry's involvement at Cologne, Germany.

At the time of writing, some 80 builders from 24 different countries are expected to compete with 95 bikes.

FIVE CLASSES
There will be five classes at the AMD World Championship in 2014.

The now traditional and internationally respected FreeStyle class, from which the 11th annual AMD World Champion Custom Bike Builder will be chosen, plus four further classes to recognise specific design and engineering sectors of the custom motorcycle market:

Retro/Modified Class - to showcase customs based on engines manufactured before 1984;

Modified Harley-Davidson Class - to feature stock frame geometry customs with engines (minimum stock cases) from 1984 and up;

Street Performance Class - to showcase custom design and engineering work where the primary objective is to improve the performance and handling of streetable customs.

ALL NEW FOR 2014
Cafe Racer class - for the 50s/60s inspired road race bikes that laid down the foundation for what became the SuperBike revolution.

The INTERMOT expo is staged every-other year and regularly attracts some 200,000 visitors. This year, the AMD World Championship heads up the activities in Hall 10 (the Custom Hall/Big Bike Europe), which is one of 6 halls that will feature over a thousand exhibitors from more than 40 countries worldwide, showcasing motorcycles, PTWs and aftermarket parts and accessories from all sectors of the international motorcycle industry.

AMD readers are welcome to attend the unique AMD International Night industry meet and greet and networking reception from 18:30 on Wednesday, October 1st.
The show starts with a press/media preview day on September 30th, the trade/VIP visitor preview day on Wednesday October 1st then opens to public on Thursday October 2nd, concluding with AMD World Championship award ceremony at 5pm on Sunday October 5th. 

Harley-Davidson shares

Harley continues with near record dividends as stock price languishes

Harley-Davidson continues to work hard to keep the investor community sweet by paying its highest quarterly dividends since 2008.

Following their second quarter/half year results the company has again announced a cash dividend of $0.275 per share - for the third quarter of 2014. This is the third such dividend for 2014, and is up on the $0.210 per share paid throughout 2013.
Indeed the company is currently sustaining the third highest level of stockholder return in its history, dividends having been as low as $0.10 per share during the recession (March '09 through April '11).

From its historic high of over $74.65 per share in November 2006, Harley's share price has been to the bargain basement and back again during the recession, bottoming out at $8.20 per share in March 2009.
Although the recovery has seen the stock price peak at around $73.94 at the end of April this year, its highest price since pre-recession levels, trading has seen the share price decline this year since then.
At around $63.50 it has remained at the lower-end of its current 52 week cycle as the new model and third quarter dividend announcements were made - the low coming at around $60.60 in early August 2014.
In fact in the approximately six months since the October 2013 to September 2014 low of $61.23 in early February this year, the stock price has seen a massive $12.71/20.72 percent volatility - fuelling increasing concern among the new breed of more hawkish post-recession 21st century "active" investors that the company may be about to enter a period in which its share price becomes moribund and in which the company will therefore be vulnerable to raiders.
This weeks AMDesign presents a new 10 year quarterly analysis of Harley dividend pay-outs and stock price trends that we'll update on a quarterly basis moving forward.

I Love Sicily

I Love Sicily

I Love Sicily was a new custom motorcycle event, which was held for the first time over the weekend of 22 – 24 August 2014 in Sant'Agata di Militello in the north of Sicily in the province of Messina. 

Promoted by Italian custom magazine Lowride, the custom show that was held as part of the event was won by Stil Custom Caltagirone, with second place taken by Car Look Capone Brothers of San Filippo del Mela, and third going to Nico Bella from Catania.
An international flavor was added to the event by the presence of Fulvio and Mark Battistini,of Battistinis UK, 2013 World Champion custom bike builder Don Cronin of Medaza Cycle, Pete Pearson of Rocket Bobs (3rd in the Freestyle class at the 2013 Championship), Championship 8th placed builder Francesco Bella, Inglourious Basterds Cycles’ Vincenzo Ciancio, winner of the Retro Mod class in the 2013 Championship, and Jerry Charonte.

www.ilovesicily.org

RC Components

Patriot Series wheels

RC Components’ 2014 product range includes the new line of Patriot Series wheels, which have been released to commemorate the services of the USA’s military men and women, and the company has made a commitment to contribute up to $25,000 to selected Veterans Service Organizations within the next 12 months.

The budget conscious Patriot Series wheel line-up features three designs, Sniper, Eagle and Trigger. The Patriot Series of wheels range in size from 16in to 26in and are available in a choice of chrome or Eclipse black finish. Matching brake rotors, air cleaners and drive pulleys are also available.

RC COMPONENTS
Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA
Tel: 270 842 6000
rcc@rccomponents.com
www.rccomponents.com

Belt Drives Ltd.

BDL pulley

BELT Drives’ newest introduction is its billet rear wheel pulley. CNC machined from 6016 billet aluminum, the pulleys are gear cut for durability and performance. Two designs are offered, Classic Mesh pattern and Spoked, with the choice of chrome or black with accent cut finishes. The pulleys are manufactured for use on ’00 -12 H-D applications. 

BELT DRIVES LTD
Anaheim, California, USA
Tel: 714 693 1313
info@beltdrives.com
www.beltdrives.com

Motorcycle Storehouse

New lines at MCS

MOTORCYCLE Storehouse is continuing to expand its product line, and among the latest additions to its range is the Arlen Ness windshield trim for use on 2014 Touring models. The trim pieces, which cover the transition of the screen to the fairing, are available in a selection of styles (Beveled, Deep Cut and Slot Track), and in a choice of chrome or black machined anodized aluminum.

For riders looking to add to the Old School look of their bikes, Motorcycle Storehouse is offering cloth covered wiring. A reproduction of the wiring that was once used, it is suitable for restorations or custom builds. The wiring is available in four colors, black/white, red/white, green/white and yellow/white, and all are sold in a 25ft roll. The single wires have a 3mm outside diameter with a 1.5mm diameter/1.8mm² copper wiring strand (approximately 18-gauge), making this wiring suitable for virtually all on-bike applications, with the exception of electric starters. 

The Old School parts selection at Motorcycle Storehouse continues with its stocking of Performance Machine’s Universal Vintage brake calipers. The calipers, in chrome, plain clear anodized or black anodized with a contrast cut machined finish, have the look of a classic two-piston design, but are in fact a four-piston unit.
The 'Vintage Ribs', as part of the styling of the caliper body, are designed as reinforcing ribs to decrease flexing, improving brake feel, giving better control and to aid cooling. The bodies, or caliper halves, are CNC machined from one-piece billet bar, and have a design that is symmetrical and can therefore be used left, right, front or rear, and with the appropriate separately available bracket for ‘84-‘99 or ‘00-‘14 H-D models. 

Moving away from retro-inspired parts, Motorcycle Storehouse has the new Super Radius 2-into-2 exhaust system from Vance & Hines. Like the company’s Big Radius pipes, this system features 220-degree, 2-1/2in diameter plasma cut heat shields to help prevent visible blueing. The key difference with this exhaust is a larger muffler designed to give lower sound levels with bigger, 103ci up, engines and the use of a special Power Chamber which then connects front and rear head pipes to maximize low-end power.
The baffle is not removable, but it does have an insert that can be installed or removed to tune the tone of the bike. 

The headers come with the new Vance & Hines 'Super Bung' design, which allows use of the exhaust on models with 18mm, 12mm or even without O2 sensors.
Available for most Softail, Dyna and Touring models, the Super Radius are offered in black ceramic or chrome plated finishes.

MOTORCYCLE STOREHOUSE BV
Bedum, NETHERLANDS
Tel: +31 (0)50 303 9775
info@mcseurope.nl
www.mcseurope.nl

Drag Specialties Seats

More options from Drag Specialties Seats

DRAG Specialties Seats has once again expanded its range, and the line-up now includes a ‘Chopped’ one-piece solo style seat. The seat is designed to look like a two-piece unit, but both seat pads are mounted on a pan. Available to fit ’00 - ‘05 FXST and ’00 - ‘14 FLST models (except FXSTD, FLS, FLSTN, ’07 - ‘14 FLSTF and ’08 – ‘11 FLSTSB), the seat features solar-reflective leather in the seating area with automotive-grade vinyl used for the sides, except the pillow style, which uses automotive vinyl in the seating area. Smooth pillow or flame stitch styles are available. 

For use on Victory’s ‘10-‘14 Crossroads and Cross Country models Drag Specialties Seats has low profile touring seats available with built-in backrests. Filled with flexible urethane foam, the seats use an ABS thermoformed base, which is carpeted to protect the bike’s finish. The seats include an EZ Glide I backrest that is removable to make room for passengers. Mild Stitch, Crusade, Pillow and Flame Stitch styles are available.

The Scorpion solo seat by Drag Specialties Seats has been designed with custom applications in mind. The matching front and rear seats have foam-injected interiors to keep rider and passenger comfortable, and feature black vinyl coverings with a distinctive Scorpion stitch pattern. The seats fit custom/rigid frame applications.

Another new product from Drag Specialties Seats is a solo seat with optional EZ Glide II backrest system. The seats are made with solar-reflective leather and automotive-grade vinyl to reduce the surface temperature by as much as 25 degrees Fahrenheit, feature a flexible urethane foam interior for maximum comfort, and are compatible with EZ Glide II backrests (sold separately). They come with two mounting nuts and a leather fender bib for a clean installation. Matching rear pillion pads are also available in two sizes. The seats are available in a range of styles for all ‘08-‘14 FLHT, FLHR, FLTR and FLHX models.

DRAG SPECIALTIES SEATS
Janesville, Wisconsin, USA
Tel: 608 758 1111
drag@dragspecialties.com
seats.dragspecialties.com