S&S Cycle

Power Tune 4" mufflers
 
S&S Cycle's Power Tune 4" Race/Tour mufflers with billet end caps for 1995-later Harley-Davidson touring models are now available with Power Band or Power Thruster end caps, in chrome or black ceramic coated finish.

S&S Marketing Manager Patrick Garvin explains: "We've created a high performance 4" muffler with a removable baffle, allowing the user to choose between two unique sound levels."

"We've created a high performance 4" muffler with a removable baffle allowing the user to choose between two unique sound levels"

While not legal for sale or use on CA or EPA pollution controlled motorcycles that were originally equipped with mufflers containing a catalyst, the S&S Power Tune mufflers are said to "uncork the true sound of the Bagger and can be set up for a deep but mellow growl, or a more wide open and aggressive rumble."

S&S CYCLE INC
www.sscycle.com

Ciro

Aero Rudd looking to shake the tree

Making its public debut at this year's 75th anniversary Sturgis Rally, Ciro may be a 'new kid on the block' in terms of its parts and accessory industry trading record, but it has significant v-twin industry DNA.
Established in May 2014 by a certain Mr Aero Rudd, if that last name sounds familiar, it should - his father is no less than Tom Rudd, founder of Drag Specialties in the 1960s, long before it eventually came into Fred Fox's ownership, and then founder of Kuryakyn in the 1980s.
Only time will tell just how close to the tree this particular apple has fallen, but to judge by the first tranche of accessory designs, the first catalog, the website and social media presence, the significant investment in premises and show-rig, then my guess would be that this particular apple has soft-landed right under a tree that Aero Rudd will be shaking-up pretty good in the years to come!

Though still early days, Ciro has hit the ground running with an impressive and fresh looking, design-led initial product offering that clearly stakes the ground on which they intend to compete

CIRO made its debut at the easy-access, user-friendly Black Hills Harley-Davidson lot alongside the I90 at this year's 75th anniversary Sturgis Rally

Aero Rudd founded Ciro with a team of designers in 2014

During Sturgis, Ciro were set up at the popular and user-friendly lot staged just off the I90 outside Rapid City, SD, by the impressive Black-Hills Harley-Davidson team. Their planned presence there for the rally apparently ruffled some feathers before the event, but hey - the freedom to compete is the American way!
They followed that up with a presence at the Drag Specialties annual National Vendor Presentations and Dealer Showcase event at Madison, Wisconsin, and for the time being the Ciro business model will be to sell through Drag Specialties as a sole distributor and self-distribute to non-Drag shops.

Radial air cleaner
Described as "inspired by the power and beauty of classic air cooled aircraft engineering",  this patent-pending radial high-flow air cleaner with performance air filter features an aluminum body with brass pushrods and "precision-machined engine components." Legroom-friendly, it sits closer to the engine than the stock air cleaner. Available in chrome or black finish for 2008-2013 FLHT, FLHR, FLHX, FLTR, 14-FLHT tourers

Saddlebag extensions
For a "smooth, lower custom look" Ciro patent-pending rider-designed saddlebag extensions were designed to maintain lean angle clearance. Manufactured from the same ABS material as the original equipment bags, they are said to be "tough and built to last". They have L.E.D. running, turn and brake lights on the sides and back with a plug-n-play connector that works with the OEM wiring on ‘14-'15 Road Glides, Electra Glides, (except 2014 FLHRSE Screamin’ Eagle), Street Glides (except 2015 FLHXSE Screamin’ Eagle) & Road Kings

Ciro has some 150 plus part numbers slated to appear in the 2016 Drag Specialties catalog, many under their "Shock and Awe" brand, and all of them hinting at the design cues and a freshness of approach that is at the heart of the Ciro project - one where design, in the true and holistic meaning of the word, really is what this new vendor is all about.
Despite the heritage, from the get-go Ciro has not been a one-man show - Rudd's is far from the only DNA powering this venture. Aero Rudd set the business up with a team of designers who clearly have a fresh eye, fresh approach and fresh minds.

'Forkini' lower leg covers & upper fork tin accents
Ciro say that the number one requested area of a motorcycle for dressing up is the lower front forks. These stylish, patent-pending leg covers in chrome or black finish are available lighted or unlit. Easy bolt-on with plug and play wiring, they add run and turn lighting with bright amber L.E.D. lights that look great and increase visibility with additional side lighting and cover the factory axle nuts with a smooth, clean look. Designed to hide the unpolished rough cast areas the factory forgot, perforated stainless steel inserts on the unlit version match the look of the calipers or, removed, show the original reflectors; for lower legs on 2014 & later FLHT, FLHX and FLHR models

They opened a 6,700 sq ft (650 sq m) design center in Hudson, 20 minutes east of St Paul, Minnesota, on the western/Wisconsin shore of the St. Croix River.
Equipped with the latest 3D design software and 3D Rapid Prototyping printers, they also have 30,000 sq ft of off-site warehousing to hold inventory and fulfil orders.
At this stage the company employs designers, buyers and accounting personnel, but a sales and tech staff and warehouse team will be added soon.

Fairing vents
Described by Ciro as "the most appealing and innovative fairing vent trim on the market today", the plug and play light module plugs directly into the stock wiring harness with no cutting, drilling or splicing. Another patent-pending design, they are available in chrome plated or black painted ABS in lighted or unlit versions for 2014-up FL models with an OEM Batwing style fairing

In addition to selling in the United States through Drag Specialties and in Canada through Parts Canada, Aero says "we do intend to actively pursue customers in Europe, Japan and Australia just as soon as possible"; Aero is well aware that their very contemporary design oeuvre is one that will play well internationally.
Aero says that the philosophy at Ciro is "such that we will only pursue a product if we can make it better and cooler than what is already out there", and he goes on to say that "judging by customers' reaction at Sturgis, I think that we have been succeeding in our designs so far. 

Filler panel lights
Described by Ciro as "the part that the factory forgot", these patent- pending panel lights complete the rear end of the ‘14-up touring bike by "filling the large unsightly gaps with a smooth, flowing chrome or black accent and L.E.D. light. Plug-n-play connector that works with the OEM wiring. This part dramatically increases visibility from the rear by incorporating run/turn/brake function with an ultra-bright plasma amber turn signal along with red low intensity running and high intensity brake lights" on '14-'15 FLHTCU/L Electra Glide Ultra Classic/Low, Road Glide Ultra, Ultra Limited, FLHTK/L Ultra Limited/Low & FLHR Road King models

"I think there is great opportunity for Ciro in the motorcycle market, but in other sectors too, such as the quickly growing UTV market and automotive. We decided to get a solid product line for the motorcycle market out first, so that we could support experimenting in other markets while still releasing great new parts for bikes."

CIRO
www.ciro3d.com

Design Engineering Inc.

EXO Series severe-duty exhaust wrap

Avon Lake, Ohio based Design Engineering Inc. (DEI) has released an enhanced version of its award-winning thermal barrier products with their new EXO Series exhaust wrap. 

Designed to hold-up against the rigors of off-road and extreme-duty use on and off highway applications, this new wrap is a dual-layer design, using a combination of hi-temp glass fibers covered with a 304 grade stainless steel exoskeleton.
This unique construction maintains good heat protection while offering superior abrasion and impact protection. DEI’s unique Air Gap Technology keeps direct contact of the glass fiber off the hot surface, maintaining an insulating air barrier. 

Despite its "burly" appearance, the EXO Series weighs nearly the same as their existing wraps and comes in a special 1.5" (38mm) width, making it easy to install on motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs and other vehicles with tight radius exhaust bends. In addition, the stainless steel exoskeleton layer ratchets together when overlapped, saving time and making installation much easier.
"There has been strong demand from customers looking for an exhaust wrap solution that holds up better in extreme riding environments and high-performance or severe duty applications such as high mileage heavyweight touring. We are excited to be the first in the industry to offer such a solution," said DEI Powersports Brand Manager Brian VanKoevering.
Each US made kit includes a 1.5" x 20 foot (6m) roll of wrap, stainless steel locking ties and installation tool.

DESIGN ENGINEERING INC
www.deipowersports.com

DNA Specialty

DNA adds spoke and billet wheel designs for 2016

Compton, California based DNA Specialty has added to its wheels program with a new spoke and two new billet wheel designs.

DNA's 52 fat-spoke Evo style 'Mammoth' spoke wheel is the latest to be added to a range that now goes up to 26 inches and features their signature spoke designs such as their Diamond Twisted, Tear Drop and new contrast spoke. They are available in sizes from 16 x 3.5 to 23.35, including ultra-fat 18 x 10.5 and ultra skinny 21 x 2.15. Matching rotors and a 'Mammoth' spoke pulley are also available.
All the spokes and nipples are in highly polished stainless steel, with triple chrome plated spun steel rims, forged 6061 aluminum billet alloy hubs and DNA's own double sealed bearings.

New forged 6061 billet aluminum wheel designs for 2016 from DNA include the 'Rave' and 'Virus' in 17 sizes from 16 x 3.5 to their massive 30 x 4, including ultra-fat 18 x 13 and ultra-skinny 21 x 2.15; with matching rotors, pulleys and sprockets.
Available in triple show chrome or contrast powder-coated, they include DNA's own double sealed bearings and valve ready for install. These two new designs are from a range of 13 different styles of billet wheels that includes their five-spoke 'Victory', 7-spoke directional 'Storm,' the 'Beast', the 'Thirteen' and the 'Envy', with more coming soon, according to the company.

DNA SPECIALTY
www.dnaspecialty.com

Revolution Performance

107 inch Big Bore kits

We recently featured new Big Bore kits from Revolution Performance for Harley's Street models that take the bore of the 500 to 550 and the 750 to 800.

Seen here from the Plymouth, Wisconsin manufacturer is a sleeve-free 107 inch Big Bore kit for Big Twins that includes Wiseco forged pistons with wrist pins, circlips, high-performance head and base gaskets and rings that have been specifically optimized for compatibility with Revolution Performance's cylinders.
They are manufactured in aerospace-grade all-aluminum with nickel-silicon-carbide electroplated bores (hence, no sleeves required) that allow larger bore sizes with less friction for greater durability, improved horsepower and lower temperatures.
Described as providing "monster power in a package that's tested, reliable and, most importantly, really big", they are finished black with highlighted fins. 

DRAG SPECIALTIES
www.dragspecialties.com

JIMS USA

Cruise Drive Vice Stand

 

To assist in the assembly of transmission gears and shafts, JIMS has developed the Cruise Drive Vice Stand. "No more fumbling with parts on the bench or clamping in a vice with soft jaws," say JIMS - this new tool holds the shafts in perfect alignment while protecting them from damage for faster, easier and safer assembly; the tool can be mounted in vice vertically or horizontally. For 2006 to present Dyna and 2007 to present Big Twins with OE 6-speed. JIMS USA; www.jimsusa.com

Metalsport Wheels

Polished 2D "M-22 Torque"

 
South Gate, California based manufacturer Metalsport Wheels continues to develop new wheel designs and applications with this new 2-D "M-22 Torque" addition to its "Polished Line" in sizes from 26 right up to 32 inches.
Metalsport Wheels, USA, www.metalsportwheels.com

National Cycle

"The world's best selling universal windshields just got better"

Said to be the world's best selling windshields, National Cycle has announced upgrades to its Street Shield and Deflector Screen programmes with an all-new line of the universal windshields with a "a clean, minimalist look and the best materials on the market, and reduced prices."

Their original 2-point QuickSet mount Deflector Screen was first introduced in 1980 and quickly established itself as a top-seller. Described as defining the concept of a "universal windshield” when screens were far from universal, National Cycle followed them up with their Street Shield, a larger screen with a 4-point QuickSet mounting system.
Now the Chicago based manufacturer has upgraded both lines from the high impact acrylic that had sold so well to offer even better strength, durability and protection using their exclusive Quantum hard-coated polycarbonate for "state-of-the-art scratch resistance at no increase in price."

Like the originals, they will mount to thousands of motorcycles from sportsbikes and dual purpose to naked style bikes and big v-twins. They are backed by National Cycle's market leading 3-year warranty against breakage.

NATIONAL CYCLE
www.nationalcycle.com

Rivera Primo

Pro Clutches for the slim-line Harley primary

Rivera Primo has responded to the changes Harley-Davidson has started to make to primaries in 2015 and on 2016 Tourers and selected other models.
Rivera's Ben Kudon takes up the story : "The Motor Company decided that the outer primary chain case on their touring models was too wide for shorter riders, so for 2015 they came out with the touring low model.

"Since they skinnied up the outer primary, they needed to also change out the clutch assembly so that it would fit inside the new slimmer outer. Enter Harley's ASsist & Slip (AS) Clutch, which uses a different mechanism than the standard clutch that everyone has become familiar with.

"For 2016 all the touring models will sport the new, narrower outer primary and the AS Clutch, so we have responded with our Pro Clutch range.
"One of the few nice things about the new stock clutch is that it is centered in the middle of the derby instead off center as previously, so that made our job a little easier. Our 1056-0027 Pro Clutch will fit the 2015 Low and the 2016 touring models, and our 1056-0028 Pro Clutch with TPP Variable Pressure Clutch Assist will fit and handle the horsepower of a torquey big incher on the same models. Use of our 1162-0020 spacer will keep the derby cover away from the TPP."

For those who upgrade or replace the stock engine (with an S&S for example) and find that the stock clutch and basket typically will not stand up to the added power, Rivera Primo recommend their Pro Clutch and basket assembly - available with or without the TPP Variable Pressure Clutch Assist.

RIVERA PRIMO
www.riveraprimoinc.com

OptiMate

Weatherproof your wiring with OptiMate

Most electrical accessories designed for use on/with motorcycles will get wet at some stage. Keeping that moisture out of the electrical circuitry is crucial - even a small amount can cause faults and even total failure.

One of the most vulnerable points of any circuit is where connections are made, yet many accessories, even those designed for use during winter months, like heated clothing, aren't routinely supplied with weatherproof connectors.
OptiMate's entire range of connectors and cables are weatherproof as standard. Compatible with the majority of accessories and add-ons currently available, they help to stop moisture causing problems and guard against any problems it might cause with the bike’s electrical system.
The range covers most of the connectors and leads needed to operate common accessories, like heated clothing, sat nav systems, smart phone chargers and battery optimizers.
OptiMate SAE Connectors, compatible with all used in the industry, designed to accept OptiMate’s boot and cap or in-line seal that protects the connection against water, dust and dirt. Very useful whilst riding as the pins will not corrode, and in workshop/outdoor applications, where cables can end up trailing on the ground.
OptiMate custom battery clips are designed for square powersport batteries, the flat tabs found on some small powersport and gel deep-cycle batteries, as well as the round posts common in automotive applications.
OptiMate moulded battery rings (M6/1/4”) are specifically designed for powersport batteries, a much better alternative to the common M8 / 5/16” ring.
OptiMate auto connectors (21mm) have built-in fuse protection, sockets with retainer slots for the leaf springs and with sealing caps.
 OptiMate Bike (DIN) connector (12mm) is now fully moulded, and available in low profile 90 and 180-degree versions.
OptiMate DC 2.5mm connectors, commonly used in heated clothing, have in-line seals/boots for every connection and a battery lead that comes with 16 gauge (1.31mm2) cable, rated to –40°C.
The complete award-winning OptiMate range of accessories and battery maintenance and diagnostics products and systems are available from OptiMate distributors worldwide, including MotoHaus in the UK.

TECMATE
www.tecmate.com

Bigtwin Bikeshow & Expo 2015

Bigtwin Bikeshow & Expo 2015

The 24th annual Bigtwin Bikeshow & Expo at Rosmalen in The Netherlands continues to see exhibitor, custom show competitor and visitor numbers climb as the custom market in Europe continues to return to growth.

Staged on the weekend of November 6th - 8th, three halls saw exhibitors from and some 80 plus custom show competitors take part from Poland, the UK, Belgium, France and Germany, as well as the show's home market.

As well as a large number of custom shops, bike builders, tuners and performance specialists, aftermarket exhibitors included Motorcycle Storehouse, Zodiac International, Parts Europe/Drag Specialties and Custom Chrome Europe.
Dutch Harley-Davidson dealers OIT and Central kept the Bar 'n' Shield flying, with, in a growing trend in Europe, other OEs who are trying to stake a claim to a share of custom market action also in evidence - such as Yamaha with their 'Yard Built' program display, and BMW with their High Octane Soul Fuel Challenge winner, built by Jeffrey Sol.

The Best of Show winner was Destiny Cycles of the UK (Vic and Lin Jefford), Bigtwin regulars, with 'Ramalamadingdong', a 1959 Triumph T110 engined 4-speed built on Destiny's own 1 1/2" tube blasted and nickel plated oil-in-frame chassis design with the steering head bearings in the forks.
No stranger to custom show wins in Europe and a former AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building competitor, their speedway influenced bike was built to celebrate their 15th anniversary in business, and as an homage to the first custom bike they built.
In an interesting way of organizing the custom show, there were no classes, with the jury simply selecting their top-five, each winning a trophy and € 750 cash prize from Bigtwin Magazine.
Except for choosing a Best of Show, the top five were awarded with no place orders, in effect giving a winner and five first runners-up.

Those top five, in no particular order, were Larry Houghton from the UK (another multiple times former AMD World Championship competitor - including a second place in 2011) with a 2010 Triumph Bonneville engined boardtrack racer style project with a modern twist, former AMD World Champion Andreas Bergerforth of Thunderbike fame in Germany with a 1950s panhead-engined chopper, Piet Smits of The Netherlands (1930 J.A.P. engine in an own-made stainless steel frame), Michael Naumann of Germany (Sportster Ironhead), and Dutchman Roderick Braunius with a 1947 U-Model flathead H-D Bobber.

Next year sees Bigtwin Bikeshow & Expo celebrate its 25th anniversary, at the same Autotron venue at Rosmalen in The Nertherlands - save the date, November 4th - 6th.

www.bigtwin.nl

Photo credit: Onno Wieringa of Madness Photography - onno@madnessphotography.nl 

Best in Show - Destiny Cycles opened in the UK 15 years ago, and Vic and Lin Jefford built 'Ramalamadingdong',  a much modified 1959 Triumph T110 engined one-off with T140 crankshaft and barrels, TR7 cylinder head and cantilever rear suspension as an homage to their first custom bike build, the one that put Destiny Cycles on the map

"Circus of Speed" by Larry Houghton, UK - 2010 Triumph Bonneville engine in a one-off rigid frame, Springer front end, alloy tank, 1970s 21" front wheel and 19" rear wheel styled to replicate the look of a 1920 boardtrack racer

Andreas Bergerforth, Thunderbike, Germany - a 1950s Panhead chopper with Linkert carb, Thunderbike exhaust and H-D 4-speed transmission with H-D front fork, 19" wheels and Thunderbike made gas and oil tank

Piet Smits, The Netherlands - "Breakable" boardtracker with 1930 J.A.P 500cc engine, self-made stainless steel frame, front forks and exhaust; 26" wheels, hand-blown glass gas tank and fuel in top frame tube; direct drive (no gearbox) and perspex hubs and oil tank

Michael Naumann, Germany - "Simple Iron", an Ironhead Sportster with a Big Twin 4-speed transmission, old style magneto ignition, S&S dual-throat carb, own made frame, gas tank, fender and front forks

Roderick Braunius, The Netherlands  - 1947 U-Model flathead bobber with Tillotson carb, moped style gas tank and self-made front forks

Comment by Editor-in-Chief, Robin Bradley

Scrambling for hearts and minds

Six or seven years ago, at the EICMA "Milan Show" David Robb, a Bostonian who was Head of Design at BMW’s motorcycle division at the time, unveiled a modular, customizable roadster prototype concept that after some years of hesitation went on to eventually see production two years ago as BMW’s increasingly popular 1170cc air-cooled flat v-twin "Boxer" engined R Nine T.
Initially its launch was a tentative toe-in-the-water, and evolution of a limited production "Nine T" that was built to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the aircraft maker's post WWI/Treaty of Versailles rebirth as, initially, a motorcycle maker.
That was in 1923, and the bike concerned, the R 32, has since become an iconic and highly prized and innovative piece of motorcycle industry history - the first "Boxer" style engine with shaft drive to be fitted into a motorcycle chassis.
It was only later, in the 1950s, that BMW became known primarily as a car maker that also sold motorcycles - its entry into motorcycle manufacturing pre-dated its start as an auto-maker by some six years.



death by multiple cuts

 Currently BMW is riding high on all fronts, not least in its motorcycle division, with seemingly every month of the past five years seeing it set a new production and sales records - sailing past the 100,000 units a year mark for the first time two or three years ago, and just posting sales of over 121,000 units (+11.5 percent) in the first ten months of this year.
Some 8,600 of those units were R Nine Ts; it would have been more except that the existing production capacity is already working flat out, and the model is back-ordered with dealers.
Recently the company took the unusual step of hosting a press conference the week before the 2015 EICMA "Milan Show" in November, at which it outlined a five year plan that will see it target production and sales of 200,000 units by 2020.
That growth is slated to be achieved with further capacity increases and brand extensions - the tactic that in the past 15 years has seen BMW deploy a case-study of excellence when it comes to redefining the meaning, reach and relevance of a brand previously associated with Dads and Grandads; and doing so without leaving their core customers as fodder for other manufacturers (how's your brand strategy going Harley?).
It plans to achieve this next stage of growth, this further reinvention and redefinition of its brand message, with a number of simultaneous and mutually beneficial strategies - entry into the sub 500cc market with the new G 310 R for example, more 'Urban mobility' models, more E-bikes and E-scooters, more sport bike models, more Adventure Tourers (where's yours Harley!), more of everything in fact.
Not least, however, and fulfilling David Robb's promise and AMD’s forecast, with more "heritage" models, as BMW terms them!
Speaking at the recent press conference, BMW Motorrad CEO Stephan Schaller (also appearing in this month's Bradley Report in his capacity as President of ACEM, Europe's Brussels based international motorcycle trade association) announced that "based on the R nine T backbone, we are going to create a new family of air-cooled boxers.
"The Heritage models, with their wide range of customization options, have great potential, in the U.S. market in particular. Thanks to our own heritage and long-standing experience, we see growth opportunities for this market, especially in the cruiser segment."
There is more. As many manufacturers scramble to get a stake in the 'Scrambler' turf (Ducati, Triumph, Yamaha etc) add BMW to the list: "At the EICMA Show we will celebrate the official debut of the next member of our heritage family: the R nine T Scrambler."
Where's your Scrambler Harley? Of course, historically Harley-Davidson is no stranger to the middleweight, scrambler-esque flat-tracker "niche", and in theory it should have an understanding that such models would have youth appeal written into the DNA of its corporate memory.
The problem is that Harley appears to have some kind of "early onset" where corporate memory is concerned - increasingly new CEO Matt Levatich is surrounded by men and women who make his 21 or so years mark him out as an industry veteran.
The company certainly has access to the platforms, engineering brains, manpower and production capacity it needs to be able to be a part of this particular "Game of Thrones" - even if acquisitions or open-market technology buy-ins would be the order of the day - but it appears to lack the understanding its corporate DNA should have garnered from the Honda and AMF years.
Just as BMW has successfully managed to avoid allowing its core customers to fall prey to rivals for the riding Dollars their brand appeared to own, nobody can any longer bet the farm on believing that the now aging boomers can't be tempted by rival offerings.
It is happening already to Harley's core customers with Indian and other brands, and who is to say that R nine Ts and other new entrants coming down the pike won't render the foundations, on which Harley has been so successful for so long, even less stable than they clearly already are.
The R nine T may not be the principal threat, but we already know it isn't the only one. It doesn't need to be a single knock-out punch - death can come by multiple cuts … ask Julius Caesar!
In failing to seek engineering solutions for changes in the riding and ownership experience, demands of consumers, young and old, in favour of unreal world digital outreach solutions and paint jobs, are Harley's foundations going soft on them?
As yet another sector of the altogether different motorcycle market of the 21st century looks like it is about to emerge from "niche" into mainstream, is that the sight of another opportunity I see sailing over the horizon as I gaze longingly at the future from the Milwaukee shoreline?
While on the subject of the EOCMA 'Milan Show', as reported in our cover story this month Polaris' re-deployment of the Victory brand continues apace with a December new model announcement expected to start the firing gun in its race to weaken still further the tenuous grip Harley has on the "American Muscle Bike" market with a new 1200cc.
Expect to see what, in Harley's hands, has been a niche to also move center stage as Victory pounds yet more pavement that Harley should have had all wrapped up for themselves years ago.

EICMA 'Milan Show' 2015 Part III

V-Twin 'action' at Milan

The final part of our review of v-twin market news from this year's EICMA 'Milan Show' we present some company and recent new product reports from vendors who sell into the v-twin market that were exhibiting there. This isn't a definitive guide to the v-twin industry 'action', just a selection of the 800 exhibitors (1,400 or so booths) that we managed to get to see while visiting the show.

 

MOTOREX: Swiss oil blender Motorex will celebrate its 100th anniversary in fifteen months time; www.motorex.com

 

TECMATE: Latest OptiMate products from manufacturer TecMate include additions to their range of powered accessory connection and charging options, a DC to D battery charger, the OptiMate Pro battery preparation optimizer (AMD October) and OptiMate's weatherproof range of accessories as seen in this month's AMD Magazine edition (see page 24); www.tecmate.com

 

CARDO SYSTEMS: Recent new products from the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based motorcycle audio and communications specialist include the Scala Rider PackTalk 3rd generation motorcycle communications system with DMC and Bluetooth on-board and the feature-rich Scala Rider G9X communication and entertainment system; www.cardosystems.com

 

MUPO RACE SUSPENSION: Italian race suspension specialist Mupo is the latest European shock absorber manufacturer to enter the Harley aftermarket;  www.mupo.it

FEMA

Major breakthrough as EU told that "future transport policies and regulations must stimulate and facilitate the use of motorcycles"

On September 10th 2015 the European Parliament adopted motorcycling MEP Wim van de Camp’s "Report on the implementation of the 2011 White Paper on Transport: taking stock and the way forward towards sustainable mobility."

 Wim Van de Camp's report on the implementation of the EU Commission's 2011 White Paper on Transport officially and formally places policies that "stimulate and facilitate the use of PTWs" on the European transport policy and regulatory agenda

In the report motorcycles are seen as a way to "solve the problems in urban transport by tackling congestion and parking problems", as well as providing a solution for "small logistics." The report also states that the specific design and arising benefits of these vehicles should be "adequately taken into account and reflected in EU transport legislation and guidelines."
In Mr Van de Camp’s EU Parliamentary report, the EU Commission's 2011 White Paper is evaluated with recommendations given for the next years.
Although this report has no legislative characteristics itself, it will be a reference on which "many regulations in the wide area of transport" will be based on a moving forward basis. In it motorcycles are clearly identified as having a valuable transport policy contribution to make.
This means that using motorcycles should be "stimulated and facilitated." Also that motorcycles and other powered two-wheelers should be considered when new roads are designed and existing ones maintained or redesigned.

European law-makers have been forced to acknowledge that motorcycles have a valuable and legitimate contribution to make

The European Parliament also calls for actions to reduce accidents among vulnerable road users, in particular users of two-wheeled vehicles among others. It also calls for better road design and maintenance throughout Europe.
FEMA’s General Secretary Dolf Willigers said: "This is the first time that the European Parliament [officially and formally] recognizes the importance of motorcycles for transport. We have been saying for a long time that motorcycles are part of the solution for urban congestion, environment and parking problems.