Custom Chrome Europe

Magna Power Will Change to RevTech Power

Custom Chrome Europe is rebranding its well-known Magna Power battery range under its popular RevTech brand - the RevTech Power AGM batteries are identical in construction to the Magna branded items and therefore CCE says it is able to continue to offer OEM quality Made in the USA AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries.

AGM are advanced lead-acid batteries that provide superior power to support the higher electrical demands of today's vehicles and start-stop applications. AGM offers better cycling performance and minimal gassing and acid leakage when compared with conventional lead-acid batteries.
Features of RevTech Power AGM batteries include secure and versatile poles with the blind hole (produced using a special drilling technique) ensuring 100% contact between the screw, cable and pole. The cables can be side or top mounted, and stainless steel battery pole screws prevent rust and corrosion.
RevTech Power batteries offer "very high cold starting performance, low discharge and arrive factory activated, pre-charged and maintenance-free."

CUSTOM CHROME EUROPE
www.custom-chrome-europe.com

Harley-Davidson

Next Generation Sportster Motorcycle Combines Unbridled Power with Contemporary Technology

Describing it as combining "unbridled power with contemporary technology," Harley-Davidson has now announced that it is to bring its long awaited 1,250 cc Revolution Max 60-degree custom V-twin to market.
In doing so, and in anticipation of the likely shorty-term demise of the existing line of XLs, Harley has badged it as the Sportster S - "an all-new sport custom motorcycle designed to deliver a thrilling riding experience that ushers in a new era of Sportster performance."
Highlighting the "on-demand torque" delivered by the 121 hp engine, basically the same power plant developed initially for the Pan America, Harley says that "a taut, lightweight chassis and premium suspension deliver responsive, intuitive handling" offering riders "extraordinary power and performance" and creating "a new standard for the most enduring Harley-Davidson model."

The Sportster S is slated to start reaching dealers in the fall, and although the MSRP is considerably higher than the price-point at which Sportsters have traditionally been positioned, at $14,999 Harley has continued the start-point pricing realism that it started to show with the Pan America and continued with the also recently announced LiveWire ONE.
"The Sportster S is the next all-new motorcycle built on the Revolution Max platform and sets a new performance standard for the Sportster line," said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson. "This is a next generation Sportster defined by power, performance, technology and style. And it's part of our commitment to introduce motorcycles that align with our strategy to increase desirability and to drive the legacy of Harley-Davidson."
Harley says that "in profile, the Sportster S model appears crouched and powerful. The fuel tank and tail section frame the engine as the predominate centerpiece of the motorcycle. The massive front tire recalls the fenderless front end of a classic bobber, while the tail section, high-mount exhaust and slim solo seat draw inspiration from the Harley-Davidson XR750 flat tracker. The thick inverted forks and wide-profile tires suggest high-performance sport bike."
"Every visual design element of the Sportster S model is an expression of the motorcycle's raw power," said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson vice president of styling and design. "This is a wolf in wolf's clothing.
"The powertrain is highlighted with a Chocolate Satin finish on the lightweight magnesium engine covers. Textures, colors, finishes and details were selected to give the Sportster S model the look of a custom show bike that just happens to be parked in the owner's garage."
This new version of the latest Harley-Davidson liquid-cooled V-twin engine is tuned to make "tremendous torque at low rpm, with a torque curve that stays flat through the powerband - engine performance designed to deliver strong acceleration from a start with robust power through the mid-range." As with the Pan America, the engine is integrated into the vehicle as the central member of the chassis - minimizing overall weight. The use of lightweight materials helps achieve a desirable power-to-weight ratio. It has a US 3.1-gallon fuel tank and weighs in at 502 lbs. The high-mount 2-into-1-into-2 exhaust is "designed to produce a pleasing low-frequency tone."

 

The Sportster S model is equipped with a "host" of technologies designed to the enhance the riding experience. Three pre-programmed, selectable Ride Modes (Sport, Road and Rain) electronically control the performance characteristics of the motorcycle, and the level of technology intervention.
Two Custom Modes may be used by the rider to create a set of performance characteristics to meet personal preference or for special situations. Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements by Harley-Davidson, "a collection of technologies, intended to enhance rider confidence during unexpected situations or adverse road conditions, are designed to match motorcycle performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking, in a straight line or while in a turn."
A round, 4.0-inch-diameter TFT screen displays all instrumentation and supports infotainment generated by the rider's Bluetooth-equipped mobile device and helmet headset, including music, incoming and outgoing calls, and navigation supplied by the Harley-Davidson app. All-LED lighting includes a Daymaker Signature LED headlamp designed to produce a homogenous spread of light, eliminating distracting "hot spots." The headlamp has a "distinctive oval or capsule shape that adds style to the front end and will identify the Sportster S model to other riders and motorists."
The powertrain is also a stressed member of the chassis, eliminating the traditional frame, a design that significantly reduces motorcycle weight and results in a very stiff chassis that contributes to precise handling. A welded tubular steel trellis swingarm features a braced design and stamped X-member to further stiffen the chassis, "while its shape adds distinctive style to the motorcycle."

The Sportster S model is equipped with fully adjustable, premium front and rear suspension - SHOWA 43 mm inverted cartridge forks and a SHOWA piggyback reservoir rear shock.
The rear suspension features hydraulic pre-load adjustment using a convenient knob located on the left side of the motorcycle. Lightweight cast aluminum wheels with a staggered, five-spoke design are shod with wide Dunlop/Harley-Davidson Series GT503 tires.
Premium Brembo braking components produce outstanding braking feel and performance. The single front brake features a new Brembo radial monoblock four-piston caliper and a 320 mm diameter disc. The rear brake is a two-piston Brembo caliper and a 260 mm diameter disc.
Unladen seat height is 29.6 inches, low enough for most riders to get feet down at a stop. Brake and clutch hand levers are adjustable for reach, to best match rider hand size or preference. Harley optimistically states that the relaxed riding geometry created by the forward foot controls and a low handlebar put the Sportster S rider in an "aggressive posture on the bike" - a stance that Harley tacitly accepts as being less than optimal for this model by the availability of a mid-control conversion kit as an accessory option.
The aftermarket will no doubt be quick to additionally offer revised handlebar and triple tree layout options that are more in keeping with the nature of the new model's potential.
The Sportster S model is pre-wired for accessory heated hand grips for added comfort in cool weather and is equipped with two dedicated power points for heated riding gear (heated hand grips and heated riding gear/apparel each sold separately), plus a USB-C port for charging a phone or other device. An external ambient temperature sensor and a low-temp warning on the display screen alert the rider to changing conditions. Cruise control and a proximity-based security system are standard equipment. It is (initially) available in Vivid Black, Stone Washed White Pearl and Midnight Crimson.
In addition to the mid-controls kit, other accessory options include a pillion kit, solo seat, compact detachable windshield and expandable tailbag.

LiveWire ONE

Harley Launches Tech-Rich Lower Priced LiveWire Model

Harley-Davidson has acted on its plan to evolve LiveWire as a standalone brand and acted on the stinging criticism it received from dealers, riders and the media alike by launching LiveWire ONE - with a $21,999 MSRP - some 35 percent less expensive than the original LiveWire.

It has also responded to the criticism that the original 2019 LiveWire really hadn't been evolved from the 2014 prototype (falling way short of the technology expected from such a project) by stacking the new model with tech features that will give Zero Motorcycles and others something to worry about - especially at this price point.
"Built for the urban experience, with personality and soul, and the power and range to 'take you beyond', it is immediately available to order online at LiveWire.com in addition to select LiveWire dealers - initially 12 incoming LiveWire brand dealers in California, New York and Texas ." 

Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson, is quoted as saying: "As part of the Hardwire Strategy, we made a commitment that Harley-Davidson would lead in electric.
"We recognized the pioneering spirit and brand value in LiveWire for our community and took the decision to evolve the original LiveWire motorcycle into a dedicated EV brand. The new LiveWire ONE builds on the DNA of Harley-Davidson, but with the electric focus and ambition of the new LiveWire brand. 

"Harley-Davidson and LiveWire will continue to rewrite the motorcycle rulebook and we are excited about this next chapter in our legacy."
LiveWire ONE is being billed as the "bike with a pulse" - a 'Haptic heartbeat' to be exact, "adding a touch of humanity to electricity," as a bike that is digitally connected - "stream directions, monitor alerts, and track your recharge status" and as having "instant acceleration - smooth power from the electric motor that can produce 100% of its rated torque instantly."
The Fast Charging feature will deliver a claimed target recharge DC Fast Charge of 0 to 100% in 60 minutes/0 to 80% in 45 minutes; a 146 mile city cycle riding range (based on SAE J2982 Riding Range Test Procedure data); custom modes that "define how LiveWire ONE performs" and can personalize the riding experience, and as having advanced rider systems and a 6-axis IMU "that tracks and anticipates change.

 

"With evolved software and hardware, LiveWire ONE builds on the experience of the original LiveWire and reflects the new identity of the LiveWire brand.
"LiveWire is the first OEM with a hybrid omni-channel model, combining the best of digital and physical, allowing the customer to interact with the brand on their own terms."
As this edition of AMD Magazine went to press, LiveWire ONE was due to debut at IMS North California (Sonoma) on July 18th. The plans are for LiveWire ONE to be available in international markets from 2022.

2021 King Of The Baggers

H-D Screamin' Eagle Wins the 2021 King Of The Baggers Championship

Despite breaking his elbow a month ago in the Superbike race at Road America in Wisconsin, Kyle Wyman did what was necessary to back up that weekend's Mission King Of The Baggers win to secure the title on his factory Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle Road Glide on the iconic 2.238 mile Laguna Seca circuit, California, on Sunday July 11. 

Kyle Wyman (33), riding his factory Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle Road Glide, jumped out front at the start of the Mission King Of The Baggers finale and was never headed - going on to win the race by nearly 4.5 seconds from S&S Cycle Indian rider Tyler O'Hara, with the DTF Performance/Hoban Brothers Performance Racing Harley-Davidson of Michael Barnes third.

The three-round Championship wrapped up with Wyman starting from the pole and never headed in the eight-lap race. He gained more than a full second on second-place finisher and Mission Foods S&S Cycle Indian rider Tyler O'Hara on almost every lap of the race until he decided to slow his pace a little towards the end. At the checkered flag he took the win by just under four-and-a-half seconds over O'Hara, with an average speed of 86.100 mph, a total time of 12:28.596 minutes and a best lap time of 1:31.983 minutes. 

Third place went to DTF Performance/Hoban Brothers Performance Racing Harley-Davidson rider Michael Barnes, just 4.913 seconds behind O'Hara with a 1:33.249 fastest lap - this followed up on their win in the premier Bagger GP Class two weeks earlier at the inaugural Bagger Racing League event at Salt Lake City.

Riding KTMs, Chris Fillmore (11) beat Andy DiBrino (62) to win the RSD Super Hooligans race.

Round one of the Roland Sands Design Super Hooligans QuaTTro Championship also took place at Laguna Seca on Sunday with the road race portion of the multi-disciplinary series.
Two KTM-mounted riders battled at the front, with Chris Fillmore prevailing over his teammate Andy DiBrino by just .045 of a second. SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup regular David Kohlstaedt rode his Indian to third place.

Pictures by Brian J. Nelson

News Briefs

 

The club of BMW Motorcycle Owners of America (MOA) has confirmed that its 2021 National Rally is being held June 24-27 at the Montana ExpoPark in Great Falls, Montana.

The MIC is opposing proposed changes by the U.S. EPA to modify and remove E15 fuel labeling requirements at gas pumps. This fuel includes high levels of ethanol, between 10.5 and 15 percent, "which can harm powersports engines, degrade performance, increase emissions, cause fuel leaks and even engine failures - as well as voiding manufacturer warranties. The proposed labeling changes will make it more difficult for consumers to distinguish the difference between E15 and the less harmful E10 fuel and will fail to communicate the risks of improper E15 use."

Having secured prominent sponsorships in AFT and motorcycle drag racing for 2021, Mission Foods - the American Tortilla chips, wraps, dips and salsa manufacturer - has signed on with MotoAmerica as naming rights sponsor for the 2021 King of the Baggers V-twin motorcycle road racing series; www.MotoAmerica.com

BMW has recorded deliveries of 42,592 motorcycles and scooters in Q1, up by 22.5% from 34,774 units in Q1 last year. Revenues from motorcycles are put at € 753m, up by 35.7% from € 557m for the year-ago quarter. The profit on motorcycle operations is put at € 135m, up by 72% on the year- ago period (€ 87.5m).

Michael Veracka has acquired 76-year-old Volcano H-D of Vancouver, Washington (formerly Columbia H-D, owned by Jennifer Rodgers), saying he plans to hire 50 additional staff at the location. The addition takes his MOD Enterprises network to seven Harley stores - Rawhide H-D in Kansas, Avalanche H-D in Colorado, Riverside and Huntington Beach in California, Desert Wind H-D at Meza, Arizona and Jet City at Renton in Washington state; www.mod-enterprises.com

NHRA and Virginia Motorsports Park have announced the postponement of the Virginia NHRA Nationals (the event had been slated for June 4-6 at Petersburg, Va.) and the addition of the Thunder Valley Nationals at the Bristol Dragway in Tennessee, October 15-17.


The Rider Pass, described as the largest motorcycle sharing marketplace, has announced that bikers can now pay a monthly subscription for discounted rides across the motorcycle rental marketplace. A subscription pricing plan from Austin, Texas based Riders Share is said to be an industry-first service for peer-to-peer rentals. Launched in 2018, Riders Share is said to have over 100,000 registered total users and says that over 15,000 people have shared their motorcycles on the platform. The base monthly subscription price is $24 with a 12-month term, or $22 per month if prepaid in advance.

Only a year since announcing its plans, BMW is starting battery component production in Germany at Leipzig and Regensburg and expanding its e-drive production network. The BMW Group is investing a total of around € 790m in expanding production capacity for drivetrain components for electrified vehicles at its Dingolfing, Leipzig, Regensburg and Steyr locations between 2020 and 2022.

Anyone who thought that the MV 'Ever Given' Suez Canal drama was over has underestimated the long-term implications. While the blockage may have been resolved in a week in March, the ship itself is still parked in a lake on the Canal in Egypt and has become the center of a huge international game of legal jeopardy. As ever, the attorneys will be the only winners - Yamaha and Ducati certainly won't be. They have complete bikes (in the case of Yamaha) and components trapped there among the 18,000 containers that are now being held hostage.

Internationally respected vehicle and performance engineer Ricardo has opened an Electrified Propulsion Research Centre (EPRC) as a global center of excellence for electrified transport engineering. "It is enabling the research and development of the next generation of electrified vehicles, from component level subsystems to fully integrated powertrain." It is servicing vehicles across all platforms including automotive, commercial vehicle, defence, industrial and off-highway, high-performance and motorsport, and motorcycle.


Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com

Suffragists Centennial Motorcycle Ride

Harley Sponsors Suffragists Centennial Motorcycle Ride

Alisa Clickenger and Women's Motorcycle Tours have announced Harley-Davidson as the Presenting Sponsor of the Suffragists Centennial Motorcycle Ride. Karen Davidson, Daughter of Willie G. Davidson will join the ride and be a prominent speaker at the Women’s Motorcycle Conference. 

Harley will be supporting the event with dealership events along the way, hosting the Centennial Riders at the 81st Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, offering a unique museum experience and party in Milwaukee, and offering long-distance, rolling demo rides all the way from Milwaukee to Arlington, Virginia. Alisa Clickenger will also be riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the cross-country event.
The SCMR2021 is an AMA-sanctioned nationwide event celebrating the centennial of the 19th Amendment, women’s right to vote. In August of 2021, hundreds of female motorcycle riders will join the celebration in one of 13 cities across the U.S.A. Women and men can join the Centennial Celebration in any number of cities around the USA on August 20-21. The ride ends at the Women's Motorcycle Festival and Conference in Arlington, Virginia on August 19-22, 2021.
www.centennialride.com

Twin Power

Twin Power - New Line of Performance Chemicals for V-Twin and Cruiser Markets

Fort Worth, Texas based Twin Power, the well-known specialty V-twin industry Tucker Powersports brand, has added a new line of high-performance chemicals for owners of V-twins and Cruisers and riders concerned about the impact of ethanol on their bike's components.
The new offerings include ETHANOT! Ethanol Stabilizer, Chain Wax, Brake Cleaner and Contact Cleaner and are sourced from a US manufacturer of premium aerosols and chemicals. The products feature unique retro-styled packaging.

"Having the right products to take care of your bike is important. That's why we've worked hard to provide riders and dealer technicians with the best performing chemicals at a great price," said James Simonelli, Brand Manager for Twin Power and Biker's Choice brand products.  
Twin Power ETHANOT! Ethanol Stabilizer is a must-have for owners of carbureted and fuel-injected bikes, says James. Each two-ounce bottle will treat and stabilize up to six gallons of fuel, protecting it for a full year.
ETHANOT! protects the vehicle's fuel system components from the harmful effects of ethanol and water by preventing ethanol separation, corrosion and sludge during storage, while keeping fuel injectors and components clean and preventing carbon deposits from forming. ETHANOT! is safe for use in all gasoline engines. It is sold to dealers in a convenient countertop dispenser box of 24 2-ounce bottles.
"I do a lot of work in my own shop and am well aware of the detrimental effects of ethanol in today's fuel," continued Simonelli.  "I searched high and low for a product that really performs. Riders and dealers will love the benefits of ETHANOT!"

Twin Power Chain Wax extends the life of chains and sprockets. It penetrates and protects against friction, wear and corrosion. Twin Power Chain Wax is safe for use on all chains including O, X and Z ring styles. Its clean formula resists flinging off onto other parts of the vehicle and is sold in 10-ounce cans.
Twin Power Brake Cleaner quickly and effectively dissolves and removes grease, oil, brake fluid and other contaminants. Its superior cleaning power extends beyond brakes. This versatile cleaner is low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), 50-state compliant and non-chlorinated. "Riders will like the fantastic performance with no residue and love the refreshing orange scent!" It is packaged in a 14-ounce can.
Twin Power Contact Cleaner is quick drying and leaves no residue. It is safe on most plastics, rubber and metal and will not stain or corrode surfaces. It is 50-state compliant and retails in 13.5-ounce cans.

TUCKER V-TWIN
www.tucker.com/v-twin
www.twinpower-usa.com

Mid-USA

Pyramid Style 41 mm Fork Legs

New from Hardbody, this single disc, chrome-plated pyramid style fork leg set for 41 mm forks fits all FXST 1984-1999, FXWG 1985-1986 and FXDWG 1993-1999.
Precision CNC-machined for a perfect fit, features include removable fender and brake caliper mounts "for that minimalist Chopper look." The removable caliper eliminator plate on the right leg can be converted to dual disc with separately available caliper mount bracket. Matching triple trees and 2000-later style brake caliper mounts also available.

MID-USA
www.mid-usa.com
www.mid-usa.ca