The Exhibitor Services Guide and approved housing service links for the 2017 AIMExpo presented by Nationwide in Columbus, Ohio (September 21 – 24) are now available at the show website: www.aimexpousa.com. Stunning Show Fact # 10,971 – there are 28 local breweries in the Columbus region, and with more than half of them opening in the last five years local residents have been inspired to create the “Columbus Ale Trail”; however, caveat emptor – it is not a circular route!
The Motorcycle Industry Council Board of Directors has elected Paul Vitrano, vice president of global government relations at Polaris Industries Inc., as its new chairperson, succeeding Dennis McNeal, vice president of motorcycle operations at Yamaha Motor Corporation, who retired in December. Chuck Boderman, vice president, Motorcycle Division at American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is the new vice chair, with Jim Woodruff, COO at National Powersport Auctions, as secretary/treasurer. Tim Buche continues as president and CEO.
Polaris has expanded its Slingshot three-wheeled roadster line-up with the addition of a new SL Limited Edition model – the ‘Midnight Cherry’, which is said to “combine the Thrill of the Open Road with the Ultimate in Comfort and Style” with “new style features for an exhilarating, shared adventure.”
In an effort to prohibit the availability of E15 in the U.S., a pump gas formulation that contains up to 15 percent ethanol by volume, the AMA says it is supporting a bipartisan bill in the U.S. Congress (the RFS Reform Act) that would amend the Renewable Fuel Standard to recognize market conditions and realities. It also would prohibit the U.S. EPA from allowing the introduction of gasoline blends with more than 10 percent ethanol by volume. In other words, E15 will not be permitted if this legislation becomes law.
Following what it says were “an all-time record high retail sales” in 2016, Triumph Motorcycles America has announced that the Bonneville Bobber has been “the most successful new model launch” in their history, and that with five new models added to the Bonneville family for 2017 the company has reported total unit sales up by +15 percent for the first quarter in North America.