The annual EICMA 'Milan' Show may have abandoned its custom show and exhibit area, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of exhibitors with product of interest to the V-twin market. From suspension products and exhausts to brakes and wheels, and from service items, workshop equipment and performance upgrades to the widest range of gear and apparel seen at any show in the world, EICMA has something for everyone ...
Biltwell: Among the new generation brands to emerge in the past decade, none has executed on the opportunities the market’s new design and styling trends represent better than California’s Biltwell. The brainchild of Bill Bryant and Harold McGruther, the hard parts to helmets brand has carved itself a market leading position among “New Gen” riders and now has EU approval on its ergonomically advanced, feature-rich, retro styled top-selling half shell and full face helmets. Biltwell was a Parts Europe co-exhibitor at EICMA; www.biltwellinc.com
Bitubo: The Italian suspension manufacturer is launching a new generation of Bluetooth enabled, app-tunable suspension upgrades with dynamically calibrated front and rear suspensions for Softail applications. Bitubo DS allows riders to set their suspension up with a map based on riding data capture via Android and iOS devices. Bitubo hasn’t lost its focus on developing more traditional suspensions, with recent product introductions including the WME22V2 ‘Black Edition’ rear shocks with adjustable compression, rebound and spring preload; www.bitubo.com
Andreani Group International: The well-known Italian suspension specialist continues to have success with its popular suspension training courses for end customers and professionals. The company’s newest product addition is the Misano Evo, the Andreani front fork cartridge kit with over 250 applications has an updated design and features, including new DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coating treatment on the cartridge tube, a new top cap and more dedicated settings. This year has also seen a surge in demand for its speciality suspension technician tool kits and market-leading suspension tuning and set-up tools such as its SP5 vacuum pump - “the newest, lightest and most innovative vacuum pump” on the market. Fully electronic and developed to make the filling and vacuuming of shock absorbers of any kind and brand easier, more precise and fully automated, new generation software allows technicians to make “all suspension service and tuning procedures with an easy-to-use and extremely efficient 7” touch screen display”; www.andreanigroup.com
Öhlins: Recent new products from the Swedish suspension specialist (now owned by Tenneco) include its NIX 22 cartridge kit with compression damping in the left leg and rebound damping in the right - adjustments are made at the top, together with the spring preload. The kit is an easy install bolt-on for standard front forks and has a 22 mm piston diameter. Also new this year, the STX 46 monotube shock absorber for the 2018 Harley-Davidson Softail has some “unique features, such as a silver hydraulic preload adjuster, black spring and custom black preload handle. Features include Öhlins’ proprietary STX technology and 46 mm piston - a range of spring rates are available; www.ohlins.com
Rinehart Racing: Distributed in Europe through Parts Europe, recent additions from the Arden, North Carolina based manufacturer include a new 2-into-1 for 2017-later Touring models with “optimally positioned 12 mm and 18 mm O2 ports for easy dyno tuning and no need for bung adapters; www.rinehartracing.com
Maxima Racing Oils: Now with inventory held in the EU, response to the company’s growing V-twin line of products continues to be positive. Its complete oil filter inclusive oil change kits are now additionally available specifically for the engine oil capacity of the M-8 engine. V-twin branded dealer display racks show the comprehensive range of products the Californian manufacturer has available for the Harley and Indian Motorcycle aftermarket and custom sector; www.maximausa.com
Ferodo: The international brakes manufacturer offers compound-specific pads for Harley applications, including Carbon Grip pads specifically formulated for polished rotors (Ferodo PRP – Polished Rotor Pads). A carbon based composite formula that is bound together with organic resin, the result is a powerful combination of braking virtues for the custom market - excellent stopping power, lower heat generation, reduced brake dust generation and minimized rotor scoring;
www.ferodoracing.com
BMC Filters: Almost 20 years of experience gained from successful cooperation with the most prestigious teams in Formula 1 and MotoGP makes BMC a “global leader in the design and production of high performance air filters”. To mark its entry into the Harley-Davidson filters aftermarket, the company has released a limited edition run of 99 individually numbered titanium mesh filters with a hand-laminated autoclave cured carbon fiber custom cover and CNC-machined one-piece machined alloy backing plate. The multi-layered synthetic gauze (no oil needed) is an easy maintenance, airflow-friendly technology that is said to deliver state-of-the-art filtration capability; ; www.bmcairfilters.com
Parts Europe: 2019 will see the Wasserliesch, Germany based distributor celebrating 10 years since the first stage of its all new state-of-the-art 16,500 sq m (approx. 177,600 sq ft) European warehouse and headquarters facility was completed – a palace of logistics excellence that has been running at near capacity for several years already. Internationally recognized for market-leading own brands such as Thor Motocross, ICON helmets and apparel, Moose Racing and Drag Specialties custom parts, the company has been adding independent European and American brands almost weekly in the past three years and offers dealers access to one of the widest and deepest parts, accessory, performance, service and G&A programs available in Europe. The company offers more than 600 brands in total and sells through a network of in-market Sales Managers in most of Europe’s primary markets; www.partseurope.eu
S&S Cycle: Bathing in the reflected glory from its technical support of Indian Motorcycle Racing’s AFT success, the Viola, Wisconsin home of “Proven Performance” continues to fire new product at the market at an astonishing rate. Elsewhere in this edition check the news about some of its recent announcements, including a carbon fiber high flow Stealth tear drop air cleaner, Sidewinder 2:1 for Twin Cam Tourers, choice of complete M-8 cam chest kits and ‘Grand National’ 2:2 for 2018+ Fat Bob Softails. Seen here as a Parts Europe co-exhibitor, all S&S parts are available at the Parts Europe warehouse; www.sscycle.com