Pierer Mobility, the KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas parent company, has reported a record year for the motorcycle manufacturer in 2020 with sales of 270,407 motorcycles (previous year: 280,099) and 56,064 e-bicycles - a 10th consecutive record year for the Group. Sales generated turnover of € 1,530m (approx. $1.86bn). In Europe, sales to dealers were around 100,000 motorcycles and 56,064 e-bicycles. Around two-thirds of the motorcycles were sold to the dealer network in markets outside Europe, especially in North America, India and Australia.
Triumph has launched a certified pre-owned motorcycle program in the U.S. At no cost to dealers, it is designed to provide improved profitability, controlled residual values and enhanced brand reputation. Customer benefits on qualifying vehicles include minimum 1-year unlimited mileage warranty, 1-year roadside assistance, certified vehicle quality check and full service history, with financing available.
AMA Pro Racing has named Kevin Crowther to the strategic Chief Competition Officer post. Crowther brings "nearly two decades of experience in sanctioning professional motorcycle racing in the U.S., with his most recent role being the AMA Director of Racing where he oversaw the management and sanctioning of all AMA racing activity." Among other experience, Crowther previously served as AMA Supercross Director and is a decade-long member of the FIM (International Motorcycling Federation) CMS Commission.
The 48th Tokyo Motorcycle Show, originally planned for Spring 2021, has been canceled already, with the organizers hoping to be able to host the show in 2022.
Honda's all-new 2021 water-cooled Honda Rebel 1100 parallel twin midsize cruiser features Honda Selectable Torque Control (which incorporates Wheelie Control), engine braking, a Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). "Carefully developed geometry, sport-worthy components at a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio and a very competitive $9,299 MSRP." The engine is a retuned version of the power plant from Honda's popular Africa Twin Adventure platform.
In June 2020 the U.K.'s Pensions Ombudsman made an official finding of "exceptional maladministration causing injustice" against former Norton Motorcycles CEO Stuart Garner and ordered him to repay around £14m ($17.4m) to some of those who lost their investments when Norton filed for Administration in January 2020. Norton has stated its belief that the missing money would be recouped from asset sales, but it doesn't look like Garner himself will be putting his hand in his pocket anytime soon. Having failed in an appeal against the finding, Leicester city council filed a bankruptcy petition on Garner's behalf in December.
Chris Hunter, owner of Bike EXIF (BE), the respected online custom bike news service, recently sold the property to the American Iron & Air team of Adam Fitzgerald and Gregory George Moore. Founded in 2008, BE specializes in café racers, bobbers and scramblers and is an especially influential brand in the wider 'Alt Moto' scene that it has done much to popularize. The site is said to attract over a million page views every month.
Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, B&B, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com