Tuesday, 16 July 2024

PSB V-Twin Industry 'Nifty 50' Awards

PSB V-Twin Industry 'Nifty 50' Award Winners 

Robin Bradley Reports on an Elite Selection of Product Excellence …

Perhaps not one of the best known 'B2B' trade journals (or magazines of any kind) in the H-D and custom V-twin market in the United States, but certainly one of the best written in the wider North American powersports industry, Powersports Business is an information powerhouse.

Though focused primarily on the Snow, PWC, ATV/SxS and broader four- and two-wheel off-road sectors, especially in the OEM sector, those dealers who place value in 'looking over the fence' to see a wider industry perspective, can do a lot worse than dipping into 'PSB' from time to time.

KLOCK WERKS - Kolor Series Flare Windshields


One annual 'PSB' feature of note is its 'NIFTY 50' Awards each spring. Open to PSB readers, manufacturers, distributors and dealers to nominate products for recognition in all sectors and segments of the market - from parts and accessories to apparel, consumables, components and services - 2024 was the 25th anniversary for the program.

It has been noticeable that, very gradually, in the last decade or so, the number of H-D aftermarket and custom V-twin products PSB is selecting for its annual recognition showcase has been on the increase. Earlier this year it was striking to me to see how many, what and who had been included by PSB, and while there is, as it turns out, considerable overlap with our own editorial content selection and our own AMD HOT100 Award choices (which means that both publications must be getting something right!), I am happy to 'Break the Mold' and recognize PSB's recognition of some our sector's finest vendors.

BITUBO RACE SUSPENSION - WMM remote piggyback performance shock absorbers


The publishing industry isn't, historically, known for "honor among thieves," but I like to think that one of the defining characteristics of AMD down the years has been that we have never been sucked into the juvenile corporate mind games that often bring the specialist and general media industry into disrepute. In our humble backwater of global capitalism, pretty much all of the guilty parties have long since been consigned to the dustbin of motorcycle publishing industry history now, but fellow survivors such as PSB, and a select handful of other 'fellow travelers', will always get my respect.

So, my 'compliments to the chefs' at PSB for their broad-based industry knowledge and good judgement, and congratulations to the vendors that were honored with a PSB 'Nifty 50' this year. 

KODLIN USA - Kodlin Fastback risers

PROGRESSIVE SUSPENSION - Over fork monotube front fork suspension internals kit with Frequency Sensing Technology (FST) 



CRUZTOOLS - 36 mm axle wrench with extension handle

CIRO CORPORATION - Machete lights for Indian Motorcycle models


PERFORMANCE MACHINE - Drifter adjustable brake/shift levers

TAB Performance - Lightweight 2-into-1 muffler upgrade for Indian Challenger and Pursuit
BAKER DRIVETRAIN - 30-tooth comp sprocket kit

CUSTOM DYNAMICS Pro-BEAM Low Rider ST headlight kit


VANCE & HINES - Hi-output slip-ons in Dark Chrome


S&S Cycle


Additional Kudos to S&S Cycle. The company was awarded a PSB 'Nifty 50', but not for one of its traditional 'core' V-twin products, but as an example of how successful our sector can be in leveraging its research, design and manufacturing skill-base in other sectors of the market, S&S was  awarded its 'Nifty 50' for an adjustable cam sprocket kit for Polaris RZR XP1000, XP Turbo and Turbo R Side-by-Sides.