Harley-Davidson

Next generation liquid-cooled Harley-Davidson XG750R Flat Tracker breaks cover at AMA Pro Springfield Mile

Harley-Davidson has announced a new generation flat track motorcycle, their first all-new flat track race bike in 44 years ready to race. The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Factory Team will be racing the XG750R on dirt ovals across the U.S. this season, with the debut having been at the AMA Pro Flat Track Springfield Mile in Illinois at the end of May.

Powered by the fuel-injected, liquid-cooled Harley-Davidson Revolution X V-Twin engine – the engine developed for the Street 750 - the XG750R will be raced by Factory Team rider Davis Fisher on the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines flat track series, and is strictly for race competition and will not be offered for sale at this time.
The race-modified Revolution X engine version and a new racing frame were developed by Vance & Hines Motorsports, who are also the partner for the Factory Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines drag racing program where V-Rods have won eight of the past 12 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle drag racing championships.
“After decades of flat track racing success behind the Harley-Davidson XR750 flat track motorcycle, we knew it was time to develop the next generation Harley-Davidson to compete in one of the best spectator racing sports out there today,” said Kris Schoonover, Harley-Davidson racing manager.
Fisher, in his first season racing with the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Factory Team and a rookie on the GNC1 series, will be the first racer aboard the XG750R. The 18-year-old racer from Warren, Ore., won the 2015 AMA Pro GNC2 championship.
“We wanted a young rider with plenty of raw ability for the XG750R program, and Davis proved himself in the GNC2 class,” said Schoonover. “We are excited to have the opportunity to bring an emerging talent like Davis up to the GNC1 series to develop the new bike alongside an experienced champion like Brad Baker.”
Factory Team rider Brad Baker, 23 years old and the 2013 AMA Pro Grand National Champion, will continue to race aboard the proven Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcycle while Fisher races the XG750R through its developmental stage.
“The XG750R has shown great potential in testing and during the first few races this season,” said Schoonover. “But as with any new racing motorcycle, there will be work to do. We’re excited to continue testing the XG750R in real world competition, and as we make our way through the season, we will evaluate the performance of the bike and our factory riders to see if Baker might switch to the new bike.”

Biker Fest

Biker Fest, Italy, May 19-22

The 5th annual Italian Motorcycle Championship took place at the 30th Biker Fest in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Udine, Italy, on the spectacular Adriatic coast north of Venice. The Italian Championship is the culmination of a 12 event network of custom bike shows held throughout Italy and promoted by Italian custom bike magazine Biker’s Life.

Staged again on the impressive Terrazza Mare, 62 bikes from across Italy, plus visitors Sapka Muvek from Hungary and Juergen Ostermann from Austria, competed  in Freestyle, Modified Harley-Davidson, Metric, Streetfighter/Sportsbike, Cafe Racer, Scrambler, Bagger and Old Style classes, with the three ‘Best in Show’ winners receiving 1,000  Euro expenses towards competing at the 12th AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building to be held at INTERMOT, Cologne, Germany, from October 5-9 this year. An additional Best in Show prize of a flight to Daytona was also awarded.
This year’s winners were MC Cycles with “Avalon”, a beautifully modified and finished Harley-Davidson FXR, Energy Bike with “Ducati DSA”, an ultra-radical Ducati Monster 620, and PDF Motociclette with “Big Kahuna”, a 1927 Harley-Davidson JD 8-valve.
With a larger vendor presence in attendance this year at the event, an additional “customizer” vendor area was set up opposite the Terrazza in addition to the usual vendor lot at Luna Park and was judged to be a huge success, with attendees and vendors hopeful this area will be further extended near year. Public attendance at this 30th anniversary event exceeded 35,000 riders.

“Avalon” an FXR by MC Cycles of Casale Sul Sile, Treviso

“Ducati DSA”, an ultra radical Monster 620, by Energy Bike of Borgo d’Ale, Piedmont

“Big Kahuna”, a 1927 JD 8-valve by PDF Motociclette of Bergamo

Exhibitors included Custom Chrome, Motorcycle Storehouse, Free Spirits, Italian suspension specialists Andreani and Bitubo, Asso Special Bike, along with motorcycle manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson, Indian Motorcycle, BMW, Honda, Aprilia, Ducati (Scrambler), Victory and Moto Guzzi.

www.bikerfest.it

OTHER WINNERS:
Best in Show (Daytona prize): Boss 69 - “Brike”
Emerging Customizer: Vintage H-D Motociclette
Freestyle Class: Juergen Ostermann - “Ultima 127”
Scrambler Class: Inglorious Basterds Cycles / Tondo Garage - “Biplane”
Cafe Racer Class: Moto Sport Factory Lab - “Ducati 800”
Old Style Class: Emporium Motorcycles Garage - “Auto-Scooter”
Bagger Class: Moto Design Customs - “H-D”
Metric Class: Bike Garage Motorcycles - “Kawasaki”
Modified Harley Class: Asso Special Bike - “H-D Dyna”
Streetfighter Class: Off. Fratelli Borgo - “No Regrets”

National Motorcycle Museum

STREAMLINERS - The Story of motorcycle land speed record competition

The National Motorcycle Museum at Anamosa, Iowa, (owned by John Parham of J&P Cycles fame) is to stage a new exhibition about motorcycle streamliners and the world land speed record, and has issued a call for exhibits.In a recent announcement, the museum’s Special Projects Director Mark Mederski said that “the great Vincent tuner Rollie Free taught us that in land speed record runs, streamlining is of the utmost importance, even if that means simply "tucking in" one's head, torso, arms and legs. Land speed record competition is focused on top speed. Eclipsing Rollie's roughly 150mph run in 1948, the big guns of the unlimited class are now knocking on the 400mph door, but watching the 50cc machines can be almost as exciting.”

To help record the history of land speed record competition, the technology involved, what it is like to squeeze into a land speed record motorcycle and hurtle down the Salt at 200, 300 or more miles per hour, the National Motorcycle Museum is in the research and planning phase for a new exhibit entitled Allstate Motorcycle STREAMLINERS presented by J&P Cycles. The exhibit is set to open June 4, 2016.

Many machines are already committed for display, but the Museum is looking for additional LSR bikes, riding gear, film footage, models, photos, fine art, stories from tuners and riders and land speed record parts like engines, wheels, frames and more to help tell this exciting story. These items would be on loan for the exhibit, returned afterwards.

Bikes recently confirmed for the show include Salt Ghost from Lowbrow Customs, the Rick Vesco Yamaha twin XS650 powered streamliner, Tina, a Vincent single from the Big Sid and Matthew Biberman collection, the World's Fastest Bagger from Klock Werks Kustom Cycles, the J&P Cycles Streamliner, the Bakker Motorsports Hyabusa sidecar rig, an unfaired, pre-unit supercharged Triumph, plus interesting Howard Allen Knuckle and Panhead Harleys. A machine powered by a pre-war Plymouth  flathead six-cylinder engine, Monster, and Tramp III from the S&S Cycle Museum are also expected to be part of the exhibit, and there are more land speed record bikes coming on line.

The STREAMLINERS exhibit will be curated by John Stein, an expert on straight line motorcycle competition and author of two books: “World’s Fastest Motorcycle” and “Motorcycle drag racing – a history.”

“If you have land speed record bikes, items to loan or a story to tell, you can be included in this one-year exhibit running from June 2016 to May 2017. Please contact us at mmederski@nationalmcmuseum.org, or call 614-551-0960.

“We appreciate the support of our sponsors, Allstate Motorcycle Insurance and J&P Cycles. And we wish Allstate Motorcycle HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, because as of this year, Allstate has been insuring motorcycles for 50 years!”

www.nationalmcmuseum.org

"The Salt Ghost" will be on loan from Lowbrow Customs, Brunswick, Ohio. This Triumph 650 has a long history on the Salt, and the patina and trophies to prove it"

The Vesco family is well known for their two- and four-wheeled land speed record work. This Rick Vesco dual XS650 Yamaha powered LSR machine will be part of the STREAMLINERS exhibit

The record setting Bakker Motorsports machine. Larry Coleman piloted this Suzuki Hyabusa-based sidecar class machine to set records

Laura and Brian Klock of Klockwerks Kustom Cycles - they built this machine, which set records in 2006, 2007 and 2008 when piloted by Laura Klock

TecMate

AGM battery charging power for high compression engines and accessory users

The growing availability of high performance AGM batteries for motorcycle applications is a welcome development.

With more cranking amps to start high compression engines, and increased Amp-hour capacity to meet the growing power demand of electrical accessories, they are great for the purpose - but charging and maintaining them also needs equipment that is up to the job.
Enter the OptiMate 7 Select, the latest battery saving charger from TecMate. It delivers 10 Amps of charging power and has a selectable dual program for quick and accurate charging of 12V high performance AGM batteries such as Odyssey’s PC range and Yuasa’s GYZs, and all other standard AGM and wet cell lead-acid batteries.
Program-1 is for the majority of batteries, charged up to 14.4V and program-2 is for hi-performance AGM batteries that need a higher charge voltage of 14.7V - just select the program and the rest is fully automatic.
TecMate say the OptiMate's unique AmpMatic processor delivers temperature compensated charge voltage and adjusts charge current to match the connected battery’s size and condition; the proven desulphation program is said to save ‘dead’ batteries from as low as 0.5 Volts and the ‘24-7-365’ maintenance mode "guarantees the battery will always be 100% ready."

TecMate CEO and chief engineer Martin Human says that the "OptiMate 7 Select also boasts a 13.6V 8-Amp power supply mode that is ideal for service and custom bike shops; the power supply mode guarantees the battery voltage remains in range during updating of software or adjustment of fuel/ignition map settings with ample time to troubleshoot electrical problems without killing the battery.
"I was in my local Harley dealership just last month and there was a prospective customer lusting over a new Road Glide. He just had to switch on all the lights and blast the stereo system at full volume before kicking the tires and leaving. Now this is a dealer that really, really needs an OptiMate 7, I thought!"

TECMATE
www.tecmate.com

Misfit Industries

Misfit stamped 304 20-gauge stainless fenders

Based in Texas and distributed exclusively by Drag Specialties, Chris Eder's Misfit Industries has built a strong reputation for its custom built bikes since he established the business in 2007.

But there's more to Misfit than acclaimed Baggers. Backed by a lifetime warranty, Misfit's parts program has garnered plaudits for its design, choice of materials and in-house manufacturing quality.
The first company to stamp OEM replacement stretched saddlebags in U.S. made 304 20-gauge stainless steel, they weigh the same as the stock fenders that they replace (6 lbs per bag), but measure 5" down and 6" back.

Supplied with all holes pre-drilled, they are available with or without single or dual 4" exhaust cut-outs, mount with the stock hardware and accept OEM or aftermarket lids, latches and tethers etc., for 1993-2013 FLT, FLHT, FLHX and FLTR models.

Also seen here are their lightweight (2 lbs per side) 18-gauge stainless steel side covers. Contoured to complement stretched bags, they can be used with most floorboards or pegs and require no gluing, screwing, drilling or shaping on 1993-2013 FLHT, FLHR, FLHX and FLTR models.

DRAG SPECIALTIES
www.dragspecialties.com

National Cycle

VStreams for the FLTR

The newly redesigned FLTR Road Glide represented an ideal opportunity for Maywood, Illinois based manufacturer National Cycle to extend the range of their award-winning VStream windshield line.

The triple-vented shark nose fairing of the FLTR "is perfect for our cutting-edge aeroacoustic contour VStream," says CEO and chief engineer Barry Willey.
"VStream's wider profile at the top pushes turbulent, noisy airflow to the side and away from the rider's helmet. This extra width creates a quiet pocket of air with significantly reduced helmet buffeting for a calmer and quieter ride compared to the stock screen," says Willey.

Made from tough 4.5mm Quantum hard coated polycarbonate, "our state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, combined with this high quality material, provide outstanding clarity and strength characteristics unmatched by any windscreen maker worldwide. Our exclusive Quantum hard coating makes the VStream 30x more scratch resistant than acrylic, and 10x more resistant than standard hard coated polycarbonate."
Noted for their robust construction and durability, National Cycle backs their polycarbonate windscreens with a 3-year warranty against breakage. They are available for the FLTR in three configurations - Low, with a dark tint; Touring, with a light tint; and the Tall Touring windscreen with no tint.

NATIONAL CYCLE
www.nationalcycle.com

Sinister Wheel

Bad Boy 'Chopper' wheel

Originator of "The Bad Boy Wheel", Sinister Wheel is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a major new wheel design program.

Designed and CNC-machined in-house at their Turlock, northern California facility from rotary forged 6061-T6 aluminum, their 9-spoke 'Chopper' wheel features 3D machined cut spokes, available in chrome and copper finishes, in sizes from 16 thru 32”.
They are sold with or without matching rotors (in 11.5in, 11.8in, 13in and 18in sizes - with optional proprietary floating caliper set), pulley and performance air cleaner. ABS friendly/compatible configurations are also available for most of Sinister's wheel designs, some with a choice of cush or non- cush drive hubs.
The company offers over 20 billet wheel designs (plus 3D styles) in its 'Bad Boy' line, including the 'Billet Daddy' - a design that references Sinister's 'Big Daddy' steel step-lip outer and 'Big Phat Daddy' billet aluminum soft-lip outer 3/8" 304 stainless steel spoke wheels - a program that Sinister founder Ali Afzal acquired from Road Wing Design in 2002.

SINISTER WHEEL
www.sinisterwheel.com

S&S Cycle

Big Twin Short Blocks and StealthTwo filters for Scout and Octane models

Viola, Wisconsin based S&S Cycle has released a pair of short block engines designed to replace the "tired bottom end" on 1984 through 1999 Big Twins.

The stock replacement fitment has the added bonus of a relocated oil pick-up for better scavenging. Compatible with factory primary and gear covers, these short blocks are said to be "the ideal replacement for stock or high-performance builds.
"S&S Short Blocks are a solid, bolt-in solution for a bottom end that is no longer re-buildable," explains S&S Marketing Manager Patrick Garvin. They are built "using the same premium quality, U.S. made components that are used in S&S complete performance engines, assuring you of superior performance and long, trouble-free engine life."

Also seen here, S&S has launched StealthTwo high-flow air filters for the Indian Scout, Scout 60 and the new Victory Octane.
Made in the USA and increasing air flow by 127%, the new filter kit is "dyno proven and pairs nicely with most aftermarket exhaust systems," according to Garvin.
"Featuring a 4-ply, washable filter element, the StealthTwo is an economical way to add performance to the Scout or Octane."

S&S CYCLE INC.
www.sscycle.com

Pickard USA

Pickard adds to range
   
Texas based Pickard USA is offering these new billet aluminum front floorboards for custom Baggers - all tourers including '16 models.
Made to Pickard's design by Californian manufacturer Supreme Legends, these Signature Series Bagger Boards "combine both clean and aggressive styling" and are a "perfect match for our custom foot controls." 

They feature an adjustable mount so the foot position can be widened out from the frame, and are available in show chrome or black anodized finish.
Optional matching passenger floorboards, pegs, forward control sets are available and Softail model fitment applications also.

Noted for their "Instant" air ride packages (with tank), wheel designs and custom fenders (front and rear), Pickard also offer "100 percent wobble-free" raked triple trees and complete front end packages, including cost cost-effective 23 and 26 inch front end product-matched packages that provide everything needed (including an Avon tire) for a make-over without having to cut the frame for a massive range of personalized, reversible custom options.

Their 2-year warranty backed triple-plate show chrome billet spoke wheels feature year and model-specific hubs that are assembled, mounted and trued before shipping - allowing stock wheel spacers to be used. They are available with or without the (also available separately) TracMax ABS wheel speed correction module for 2014 – 2015 Touring models with 21, 23, 26 or 30 inch aftermarket front wheels.

PICKARD USA
www.pickardusa.com

Custom Cycle Engineering

Front and rear Dyna Glide motor mounts

When Custom Cycle Engineering say that the new motor mount system it has designed for '92 to present Dyna Glides is "far superior" to the "inadequate stock motor mounts" it replaces, then it is worth paying attention.

CEO Rick Whitehead says that "we pulled out all the stops to make these mounts the best on the market.  The front and rear mounts will create ride stability, adjustability for accurate powertrain alignment, FXR-like handling and a much enhanced all round performance."
Their new design borrows proven technology from the early rubber mount models (FXR/FLH’s) by incorporating the early ISO rubber mounts.  In addition the front mount includes an adjustable stabilizing link from the motor mount to the frame - further controlling stability.

The rear motor mount utilizes two proprietary damper bushings aligned on top of each other and clamped in an aluminum housing - the stacked alignment of the bushings helps control lateral and torsional movement of the swingarm.

CUSTOM CYCLE ENGINEERING
www.customcycleengineering.com

Comment by Editor-in-Chief, Robin Bradley

Harley needs to make new metal, not old promises

As the dust settles on Harley's Q1 2016 fiscals announcement, the meter is running for the all important MY2017 announcements that, at the time of writing, are only four months away.
If any clues were going to become evident from the expected mid-cycle new model introduction announcement(s), they're not good ones; January's Low Rider S and CVO Pro Street Breakout and April's Sportster Roadster don't appear to be "bad Harleys" as such, but neither are they the kind of quantum leap in platform terms that can lay the foundation for directions new.
There's nothing wrong with "parts bin" bikes as mid-term additions, especially if they are based on Harley CEO Matt Levatich's new-found plan to be demand responsive with short-term initiatives based on customer feedback.
No, that would be excellent - though it does raise the question "why wasn't it always thus"?


some 20 percent of Harley shares are owned overseas

The concern though is that the engineering mindset may still be focused on tinkering at the margins rather than making statements.
Maybe Harley is "keeping it modest" pending such a "great leap forward", but based on the lost time and opportunities of recent years, it has now become almost default to fear the worst. That is the problem with deliberately lowering expectations - sooner or later consumers will stop having any.
Especially in the context of a brave new marketing program that is pure Advertising Playbook 101 - identify your primary weakness and throw money at trying to persuade your target customers that vice is virtue.
In this case Harley is appearing to be saying that outdated metal is all we can make, so look at it as retro-cool rather than cutting-edge. Cut out the middle man, way wait 30 years for your "road-rich" story to mature like a fine wine when you can buy into being out of date straight away with one of our nice shiny new old bikes?
As a platform for then attempting to persuade new generations and audiences that the Bar 'n' Shield has an all new engineered-to-within-an-inch-of-its-life future-facing offer that understands how different your beard style is to the one that Grandad sported before the care home nurses shaved him, it doesn't auger well.
By the time Harley is ready to meet the riding expectations of the so-called "hipster" demographic, they'll have shaved off their beards and joined the golf club; the slew of righteous "New Gen" custom shows will have fallen under the spell of "the man", and Harley will be under foreign ownership. Think I'm kidding?
If Harley think that new paint, engine upgrades and a stock cup holder will cut it in August, then regardless of what the dealer network's public reaction will be following this year's dealer meeting, trust me - the investor community reaction will be way less charitable.
Matt Levatich's recent sangfroid about his 50 some percent market share making most of his competitors’ efforts fairly unlikely to dent Harley's hardcore market was shocking in its conceit - it reminded me, famously, of the record label A&R man who turned down the Beatles in 1961 because he reckoned "guitar bands are dead".
Harley are either playing a very, very clever game, in which case kudos, all hail the king etc., or sooner or later everybody will realize that the emperor's got no clothes ... plenty of paint, but a pretty threadbare wardrobe!
My remark about foreign ownership? Don't forget that according to some estimates, as many as 20 percent of Harley's shares are already owned overseas anyway. With international markets being where the real M&I capital is at this time, and where the real motorcycle use growth is to be found, including Harley's, just don't be surprised is all I'm saying.
While on the subject, another thing about Harley's multi-point marketing objectives has paradox stamped all over it.
Endeavouring to grow the sport is commendable, but in a country characterized by pretty much the lowest use of motorcycles per head of population of any of the world's developed markets, that is a task destined to drain the balance sheet long before it boosts it.
Besides, aren't we locked into some kind of a logic-loop here? Even if Harley can convert its marketing budget into demand for motorcycles, and secure an on-target half share of that demand, it means that for every bike it sells, it will sell one for somebody else.
Plus, if Harley had been selling that successfully, then there'd have been no need for a much expanded advertising blitz, would there? Harley need to concentrate on making new metal, not making old promises.
By way of a final "Marketing 101" lesson that clearly hasn't made its way to Milwaukee yet, it is the customer who decides on the values, pedigree and heritage of a brand, not a marketing department.
Unlike most other prior generations of consumers, the current digital-savvy, brand-savvy, generally a lot more savvy crop of (not entirely young any more) potential customers decide for themselves what's cool and what's not - the so called Millennials (and the Gen Y consumer too for that matter) make up his or her own mind about what they look, sound and play like.
To them the basic proposition that the definition of their life could be a mere credit application away and gets delivered to a store near you in a crate is gauche in the extreme. There is an inbuilt tension at play here, surely.
As a manufacturer we're going to be demand led and be more responsive to you as a consumer, but, by the way, here's $x m of marketing spend to tell you what we've got and what you should want 'cos "daddy knows best." Does anyone else think this new marketing program is superficial and patronizing, or is it just me?

ACCEL

Holley acquires ACCEL

With apologies, our normally diligent scrutiny of the powersports industry business community let us down last year - we missed the September 2015 announcement by Bowling Green Kentucky headquartered Holley Performance Products that it has acquired the El Paso, TX based MSD Group.

The MSD Group includes brands such as MSD, Mr. Gasket, ACCEL, Superchips, Edge, Racepak, Mallory, Hays, QuickTime and Lakewood; the acquisition brings the legendary automotive parts manufacturer back in to the mainstream of the motorcycle aftermarket, should it decide it wishes to pursue the bike product lines that have previously been sold under the ACCEL, MSD and Superchips brand names in particular.

"We are excited to bring together the great legacies of Holley Performance Products and MSD Group. The combination of these brands will provide our customers with the most complete offering of performance products in the industry," said Holley President & CEO, Tom Tomlinson. "We are aggressively developing innovative new products at Holley, and we will continue to build upon the fine job the MSD Group is already doing."
ACCEL was acquired by Z Capital Partners (James Zenni) early in 2015. Zenni already owned MSD and Superchips, and when announcing his ACCEL acquisition, he had referenced the businesses' "defendable market share and high cash-flow."
In our defence, expecting to see the ACCEL/MSD Group flipped so soon is not something that we had on our radar - indeed the zcap.net website still shows these automotive business units among its portfolio, so it has maybe taken them by surprise too!
This leaves Z Capital with only one remaining automotive property - the troubled Exide Technologies battery making business, which has been known to have been "on the block" for some time. It has just emerged from its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 13 years, so maybe its reduced debt burden will be a 'pot sweetner'. Indeed MSD was the subject to such a filing in 2013.
Zenni's reputation is as an adroit investor in distressed debt/private equity; the company says its approach "includes making control investments in companies that may require growth capital, balance sheet and/or operational improvements."

Vee Rubber America

New gen WhiteWalls - improved construction, tread and performance

Noted as the manufacturer of the largest motorcycle tire on the market (their VRM-302 360/32" 'Monster'), Vee Rubber America also offers dealers and custom bike builders access to one of the most popular motorcycle WhiteWall tire lines in the world.
Engineered and constructed for heavyweight touring and cruiser motorcycles, Vee Rubber USA North America VP Sales, John Leale, recently told AMD Magazine that "our VRM-302 Twin WW is designed to fit O.E. and custom wheels and is available for most American and metric motorcycles - including some of the new Indian models.
"The unique twin-ply, triple-belt construction means we have a heavy load rating for superior 2-up riding with exceptional handling; the distinctive, tested and proven tread pattern permits remarkable wet and dry operation."
Headquartered in Atlanta Georgia, Vee Rubber America uses robust bead wire to give a durable, strong and stable high performance side wall with all sizes offered in their "bright white" sidewall design.

www.veerubberusa.com

Tecmate

OptiMate USB chargers, designed for power sport!

Purpose-built for motorcycle and all powersports vehicle applications, OptiMate 2.1A USB chargers are 100% true power rated, with a continuous 2.1A delivered to power hungry devices such as tablets and phones. The built-in Apple 'handshake' guarantees your iPhone or iPad is going to charge at the appropriate maximum - for example the iPhone 6 will charge to 70% in one hour. 

The in-line sealed design protects the electronics against rain or snow and the charge socket's rubber boot and sealing cap removes easily to shake out accumulated dirt or water. If the charger is left hooked-up when the bike is parked, the built-in vehicle battery protection shuts off when the battery voltage drops to 12.5V.
These days a USB charger has become an essential piece of kit for riders, but the problem is that there is more to USB charging than simply the maximum charge current rating. Many shop-bought USB chargers just don't cut it where the rigors of the motorcycle electrics or the riding environment are concerned.

A smart phone or tablet has to 'qualify' the USB charger before it will hook-up to take a charge. First it checks the voltage (5 volts is the USB standard), then it verifies what the maximum current is that the USB charger claims it can deliver. If it gets the wrong signal, you might see the 'Not charging' message pop-up or the phone limits the charge current - in other words, it charges a lot slower than it should, even if the product claims it can deliver more and faster.
The OptiMate range of motorcycle compatible accessories is extensive.  The O-103 comes with the DC 2.5mm plug that is commonly used in all heated apparel - the ideal companion for tankbags fitted with the OptiMate O-30 tankbag power entry; the O-104 comes with a molded BIKE (DIN) 'Hella' plug that fits all BMW, Triumph and Victory OEM sockets; and the O-107's SAE connector fits all industry standard SAE connectors.
The OptiMate O-100 SAE 'stubby' and sealed O-102 with 40" cables both deliver 1000mA and shut off before the battery voltage drops into the 'difficult to crank' level, and the O-110 USB splitter allows a rider to simultaneously charge two devices, such as the GPS and a camera.
The OptiMate range is available through Parts Unlimited or Drag Specialties in the United States and other approved distributors worldwide, including Parts Europe.

TECMATE
www.tecmate.com

MAG Connection

Competition Series saddlebag lids

 

French purchasing portal provider, distribution, buying consortium and representation specialists MAG Connection offer dealers access to the Bad Dad range of 'Bagger' parts and accessories, including their popular Competition Series saddlebag lids with flush mounted LEDs. This custom saddlebag lid features a custom-raised bodyline that looks great on any Bagger project, available with or without LEDs built into the custom bodyline.

www.mag-connection.com
www.baddad.com