Supersprox

Supersprox Touring Cush Drive Upgrade Kit

Designed and made in Europe by Supersprox, this new 'Supersprox-Stealth' range Cush Drive for Baggers ('09-'16/'17-'22 and Touring) is a must have power upgrade for those who are serious about getting their big inch power down onto the pavement, where it belongs.

"Supersprox has engineered the Ultimate upgrade," says General Manager 'DJ' Maughfling. "One that is specified to handle the power that today's Performance Bagger drivetrains are generating."

Available for '09-'16 and '17-'22 Touring models, these sprockets are CNC machined from high strength, lightweight 7075-T651 heat treated aluminum-zinc alloy (aka 'Ergal') - used in sprocket applications the high strength, lightweight material minimizes rotational mass to maximize acceleration.

Reverse Side - Ready For The Poly Cush

The all-aluminum construction (aluminum core and hub) with steel teeth is said to provide up to 3X extended chain and sprocket system life, compared to aluminum sprockets. Best known as an innovator and leader in the off-road and sport bike sprocket markets, "Supersprox' racing knowledge and experience has resulted in a top-quality hub and sprocket set-up that Performance Bagger riders and racers can rely on."

The kit comes complete as a 'Plug and Play', modification free ready to install upgrade package consisting of the CNC, Billet, aluminum cush drive hub, bearings and spacer and set up with a 51-tooth sprocket. All bolted and torque set, ready to go.

Also available and made by Supersprox in Europe for H-D applications, Supersprox Big Twin (M8 and Twin Cam) and XL model flat sprockets (with unique dual fit 1.99" & 2.22" core) for high torque models in a choice of Gold, Red, Black colors; available in Supersprox-stealth version with steel teeth and aluminum core. The complete steel version, that has a great retail price point.

Additionally, to complete the drive system, the all-steel one-piece sprockets for M8, Twin Cam and XL; CNC machined from a forged steel blank. Transmission sprockets for '86-'06 five-speed Big Twins and 2007 and up six-speed models (including 2006 Dyna). 

Lastly, a choice of all-steel or steel with aluminum core one-piece sprockets (and race grade steel engine sprockets) for '11-'25 1,250 cc Pan America models.

SUPERSPROX

www.supersprox.com

Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited Spring NVP Product Expo Part 3

2025 Spring NVP Product Expo

Louisville, Kentucky, January 2025

Arlen Ness: The Dublin, California custom parts design legends just announced a 2024/2025 Bagger Parts Collection - from performance enhancing air cleaners to custom controls that improve handling, to Split Spoke Wheels to 'Jagged' Cush Drive Chain Drive Conversion Kits for 2009 and up FLT touring models. You can see the company's bolt-on Touring Bagger Collection showcased on a new 'Slab Sides' 2024 Road Glide build, online now at the Ness website; www.arlenness.com

Horsepower Inc: In addition to the company's recently introduced cast M8 throttle body upgrades and 100% in-house, TIG welded handmade Performance Stainless Exhausts with perforated stainless muffler interior, Indianapolis based performance specialist Horsepower Inc.'s M8 intake manifolds are engineered out of aluminum and fully CNCported for a quick and easy performance upgrade. Able to bolt to a stock throttle body, they include an O-ring and fresh set of intake seals; stock flanges can be used. HPi has also engineered a replacement 45 mm throttle body to fit '01-'05 Big Twin/Twin Cam H-D models (excluding 2001 Touring models); www.horsepowerinc.net

­­­­Mueller: The upgrades to the company's award-winning Power Clutch - the 2.0 - features a combination of adjustments and additional new progressive action, and delivers the "best possible 'Clutch Control' and performance," says Fabian Mueller. With no slipping, no problems when adjusting and a properly separating clutch, this update solves "all the clutch control and gearbox management challenges presented by the M8 models, offering outstanding smoothness and improved performance." It replaces the OEM part and reduces required clutch lever force and effort by an average up to 45-50%. It is suitable for the cable clutch transmission on '21-'24 Touring, '18-'24 Softail, and '21-'24 Trike; www.m-motorcycle.de

S&S Cycle: In addition to the news of a return for the S&S Cycle Tour program with a 2025 Vintage Tour, recent additions include Stealth Air Cleaners for Indian models, a Grand National Slip-on muffler for 2025 Softails and, in a departure for the Viola, Wisconsin based 'Home of Proven Performance', a new Variable Pressure Plate Clutch program for M8 Softail and Touring models; www.sscycle.com

KB Performance:  Offered in cast hypereutectic 390 and forged 4032 low expansion alloys, for V-twin applications the 4032 is preferred for high performance or high compression applications and offers offset wrist pins for quiet engine operation. All applications now come equipped with coated skirts for reduced friction between the piston and cylinder wall. The low expansion alloys allow for a tighter piston to wall running clearance, which aids in reducing piston rock and engine noise. The company's new "Super Duty Series" includes anodized top ring grooves and crowns along with Line2Line Adaptive Skirt Technology coating. The coating is as thick as the running clearance and hones-in to maintain the perfect oil wedge to greatly reduce piston rock and operating noise associated with uncoated forged pistons. They are available for Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles in a variety of different engine sizes and compression ratios; www.uempistons.com

NAMZ Custom Cycle Products: Having won plaudits for his across the board NAMZ, Badlands and Lectric Lighting price reductions as supply chain cost increases started to go away late last year, Jeff Zielinski, the "Ideas man" and author behind the Oreland, Pennsylvania based NAMZ Custom Cycle Products (NCCP) operation marked the 25th anniversary of his business recently. A prolific new product developer, recent additions have included two complete late model touring harnesses, a taillight socket with wiring pigtail and a slew of hard-to-find accessory and component additions to the NAMZ Original Stuff (NOS) program; www.namzccp.com

Feuling Parts: Recent news includes the Feuling Piston Cooling Jet Tester - a new tool designed to test all Twin Cam and M8 piston cooling jets for leaks. "Leaking piston cooling jets can send too much oil into the crankcase, causing high engine oil sump levels. Our new tool is a modular solution that can be used in conjunction with our #9010 cam plate test tool or used as a standalone unit." Other recent additions include a VVT/center cooled BA air cleaner; VVT cam torque tool; Twin Cam cam plate PSI tester and Feuling's award-winning M8 cylinder head breathers; www.feulingparts.com

Klock Werks: Recent additions from the Mitchell, South Dakota based specialist include new Flare windshield applications for Indian Big Twins, 2023.5+ Road Glides, 10" Flares for Street Glides, Maybin Rider and Shifter peg bundles and Hugger Fender Styles for 2024 Touring; www.getklocked.com

Samco Sport: The British high performance motorsports silicone hose specialist offers a range of replacement hose kits for Harley models. Specifically designed to directly replace and radically upgrade OE hoses, they recently became aware of a common fault with one of the hoses on the Pan America. There is insufficient clearance between the header and the manifold - this can cause the OEM rubber hose to burn. The redesigned higher heat tolerance silicone replacement eliminates the problem, allowing the needed additional clearance - with the addition of gold-colored heat-reflective tape to further reduce the heat issues. Backed by a lifetime warranty and offering better flow efficiency, longer life and extremely high burst pressures, Samco Sport hoses are available in a wide range of model match and custom colors; www.samcosport.com

Yamaha

Yamaha Hybrid Prototype Points to Future Big Scooter

By Ben Purvis

Yamaha can be credited with essentially creating the concept of the maxi-scooter with the launch of its XP500 T-Max 25 years ago. Now the company is exploring how hybrid power could be adopted in future bikes aimed at the same category.

The HEV Proto is a rolling laboratory exploring the potential for hybrid powertrains, and Yamaha has released a video showing how its 'series-parallel' hybrid system works. 

Normally hybrids, which are increasingly familiar on four wheels, are either 'series' or 'parallel' designs. A series hybrid is also often known as a range-extender, and mean an electric vehicle that has a combustion engine used purely to drive a generator, topping up the battery when needed. 

A parallel hybrid, by contrast, has a petrol engine that drives the wheels as well as electric motors, with the electric power used as an extra boost to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. 

A series-parallel hybrid, as shown by Yamaha, offers a combination of both designs, allowing them to operate in all-electric mode while still including a petrol engine and transmission that can drive the wheels. Kawasaki's Ninja 7 Hybrid and Z7 Hybrid work like that - the only big hybrid bikes currently on the market - and Yamaha's design follows the same pattern.

In all-electric mode, the battery mounted between the rider's feet feeds an electric motor on the rear hub, allowing the bike to operate like any other electric machine as it pulls away. Once on the move, it initially enters series hybrid mode, with the combustion engine running but at low speeds all its power goes into a generator, recharging the battery, and it's not coupled to the rear wheel. At higher speeds, a clutch engages to couple the combustion engine to the rear wheel via a belt drive, and the electric power is disengaged to save the battery.

Like the Kawasaki hybrids, the Yamaha prototype also has a 'boost' mode where both the combustion engine and the electric motor are used to power the rear wheel simultaneously, maximising its performance and acceleration.

Yamaha says that in the future the system, while prototyped on a maxi-scooter style bike, could be used on all types of motorcycles, including roadsters and sports bikes. 

Honda

Honda Trademark Points to V3R Model

By Ben Purvis

When Honda showed the V3 Concept at last year's EICMA - even as just an engine and bare chassis - it immediately stole the limelight from every other machine at the show and the company was quick to promise that a production model using the same powertrain was on the way. Now that looks set to get the name 'V3R' after Honda filed trademark applications for rights to use that name on future motorcycles.

It's a clear indication that the initial bike to use the engine, which features not only an unusual V3 layout but an electric supercharger to help meet performance demands and boost low-end torque, while meeting modern emissions limits, will be a sporty model, as indicated by the 'R' in the title.

Eventually, the V3R model name is likely to be just part of the model's brand name, with additional figures and letters to define the bike's capacity and how extreme its sporting edge is. Honda has conventionally used two or three letter prefixes to define its four-stroke, V-engined models, with 'VT' and 'VTR' used for V-twins and 'VF' and 'VFR' on V-fours. The same strategy would see the V-three also, confusingly, getting 'VT' or 'VTR' initials, hence the introduction of the 'V3R' name to set it apart from Honda's twins. 

It's not Honda's first production V3, of course. The NS400R takes that honor, but that was a two-stroke, and therefore followed a completely different naming strategy - one that didn't specify the cylinder count.

The V3 Concept shown at EICMA featured the new engine bolted to a steel trellis frame, but with the forks, brakes and swingarm all from Honda's existing CB1000R roadster. Could that be a clue as to the style of bike that debuts the new engine? At the moment, there's no official word on that, or on the engine's capacity or performance level. Rumors place the V3 at around the 800 cc or 850 cc mark, so the production model to debut the engine could be called something like 'V3R800R'.

Eventually, multiple bikes are expected to emerge based on the same platform, all bearing the 'V3' or 'V3R' name with additional numbers or letters to define their style.

Ducati

Ducati 2024 - 54,495 Units

For the third consecutive year, Ducati recorded revenues of more than one billion euro in 2024 (€ 1,003bn; compared to € 1,065bn in 2023) - "a result achieved despite the challenges that are the industry is facing and the current global competitive environment."

Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali

Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati, said: "The 2024 results confirm the strength of our brand and the company's ability to generate the financial resources that allow us to continue to invest and consolidate the excellence, value and exclusivity of our products."

Described as proof of the effectiveness of the strategic choices made in recent years - "oriented towards the development of a product range that represents the best fusion of beauty, performance and technology" - Ducati posted 2024 operating profit (EBIT) of € 91m (9.1% margin; 10.5% in 2023).

The company sold 54,495 motorcycles in 2024 (58,224 in 2023). "2024 ended with a positive balance for Ducati, one that confirms the solid basis that Ducati has both as a brand and in financial terms - a benchmark of profitability in the two-wheeler market." 

For 2025 Ducati has presented ten new models, including the new XDiavel V4 and Multistrada V4, equipped with the V4 Granturismo engine, alongside the Panigale V4 and Streetfighter V4, both powered by the latest evolution of the Desmosedici Stradale engine. There is also the Panigale V2, Streetfighter V2 and Multistrada V2 - equipped with Ducati's new V2 engine, the lightest twin-cylinder ever made by Ducati. 

However, the news that has the potential to either take Ducati to another level, or rain on its parade, is its entry into Off-Road racing with the introduction of its first motocross bike due to be available at selected dealerships from June 2025 - the Desmo 450X.

www.ducati.com

S&S Cycle

Giving It Air - S&S Tuned M8 Induction Air Cleaners and Indian Touring Stealth Options 

S&S Cycles' Scott Hakins says: "Air flow is everything in a performance engine and naturally it begins at the air filter. The factory M8 units are downright boxy and can be very restrictive." But Scott says that the S&S Cycle Tuned Induction Air Cleaner "utilizes two highly engineered laser cut tubes merged into a single collector and fed by a pair of high flow air filters placed directly in the air flow. 

"The end result is maximum performance for your engine, ample room for your leg to sit tightly against the body of your M8 Touring or Softail model, and a stylish package."

Available in Gloss Black, Chrome, or Stainless-Steel finishes, "our Tuned Induction systems allow for a 44% increase in air flow over the stock element, providing bolt-on performance thanks to twice the filtering area. 

"The dual smooth intake tracts are precision engineered lengths to increase performance and like all S&S Cycle air cleaners, our Tuned Induction system features washable and reusable high-flow filter elements that provide a long service life.

"This system is exempt from emissions tampering regulations under CARB EO# D-355-55 so there are no restrictions on shipping or installing these systems no matter which state you're in. However, just remember that this system will not fit on motorcycles equipped with fairing lower glove boxes or Twin-Cooled models."

Also seen here, for Indian Touring Models, "the innovative design, advanced materials, and focus on performance optimization means the S&S Stealth Air Cleaner redefines air filtration technology for high-performance engines. 

"Engineered to deliver increased power, durability, and efficiency, it stands as a testament to our commitment to excellence in motorcycle performance. Giving Indian Tourers a unique look with a hint that there might be more than a stock engine in the bike, they are available with a Gloss Black Teardrop Cover right now, but with Chrome Teardrops and no-cover options to follow - so riders can use any of the S&S Stealth Covers that fit their style."

These Stealth Kits fit 2020-2025 Indian Challenger, Pursuit Models, and 2025 Chieftain PowerPlus and Roadmaster PowerPlus Models.

S&S CYCLE INC.

www.sscycle.com

Barnett Clutches & Cables

Barnett Extra Plate Clutch Kits

Ventura, California based manufacturer Barnett Clutches & Cables is now offering complete 'extra plate' clutch kits for 2014-24 Indian Chief/Chieftain/Roadmaster/Springfield models. 

They feature Barnett's exclusive Carbon-based or Kevlar friction plates for better oil flow for cooler clutch temps and smoother, more consistent performance and longer life. Completing the kits are a set of tempered steel plates and a set of heat-treated, heavy duty coil springs. 

One extra friction plate and one extra steel plate is included for increased clutch capacity. 

BARNETT CLUTCHES & CABLES

www.barnettclutches.com

Kodlin USA

Kodlin Water Reservoir and Horn Relo Kit

New from Kodlin USA and available through Drag Specialties, these Kodlin designed Water Reservoir and Horn Relocation Kits are CNC machined from billet aluminum and available in black anodized and chrome finishes.

The water reservoir kit covers the awkward plastic water reservoir on the new 23.5-up VVT style Touring bikes; all hardware is included.

Also seen here, this Kodlin designed horn relocation kit cleans up the left side of the same models and includes a replacement horn and wiring harness for relocation under the seat – “the ideal fix for the poor quality ‘afterthought’ horn.”

KODLIN USA

www.kodlinusa.com