Making Milwaukee Great Again (part 2)
After many years at the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center "between the lakes" in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, LeMans finally completed a move for its summer NVP Product Expo to the newly refurbished and extended Baird Center in Milwaukee. Some two years in the planning, the move brought Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties' vendors, reps and dealers into an expanded space with no end of potential for future development.
TecMate: It's celebration time for TecMate as CEO/CTO Martin Human celebrates the 30th anniversary of the business this Fall. Recent product range news included TecMate's OptiMate 6 Select and OptiMate 7 Select, which come with a power supply (PS) mode that provides stable support power to the battery. This mode is pre-selectable prior to battery connection or can be selected whilst charging a battery. Originally it was meant to support the battery during troubleshooting or setting up of a motorcycle by the vehicle owner (e.g. electronic suspension, Bluetooth connectivity, sound system and the like). However, this power supply feature has also gained popularity in showrooms where new electronic/electrical features are demonstrated by dealers and at exhibitions where manufacturers demonstrate their electronic aftermarket products on a non-running motorcycle - such as LED lighting, a battery support on the showroom or expo floor, diagnostic tool or sound equipment. The powerful OptiMate 7 Select delivers up to 9 amp, at a voltage of 13.6V. Additional features include a charge mode selection of 14.4V or 14.7V (default at 20°C/68°F), which covers the charge requirement of any SLI/engine start Pb/lead-acid battery - from standard flooded batteries to high performance AGM; www.optimate1.com
Hogtunes: Recent new products fron the Canadian 'Wild Boar Audio' specialist include an award-winning new audio cut-in lid kit. "The market didn't need another cut-in lid kit," says Hogtunes CEO and life-long audio specialist 'Pez' Pesdirz, "but it does need a good one. Our new kit easily allows speakers to be added to your lids without the need for paint. Featuring our powerful new 6 x 9" lid speakers, carbon fiber woofer cones, titanium tweeters and studio-grade crossover parts result in an exceptionally clean sound and incredible bass response"; www.hogtunes.com
Feuling Parts: Harley may have dispensed with the cylinder head breather on the new design of VVT CVO heads, but, in all likelihood, it will be some time before its new engine tech makes its way into the mainstream Softail and Touring models (if at all). Enter Feuling Parts. Its new cylinder head breathers for M-8 engines are CNC-machined from billet 6061 aluminum with square surfaces, promoting excellent umbrella valve sealing; breather exit nipples with dual O-rings to promote better breather system sealing and properly sized breather inlets and location for optimum engine breathing. The unique design maximizes breather volume and allows for easy serviceability. The breather bodies have multiple chamfered drain ports on the inside floor; www.feulingparts.com
Andrews: The Mount Prospect, Illinois based performance cams specialist is sponsor of the Premier Bagger Racing class in this year's Bagger Racing League series again in 2024. Its choice of M-8 camshafts has been engineered specifically to meet the needs of Harley's four-valve heads. Performance gains with its 465B make it an "excellent choice for baggers and heavyweight bikes because of the low 1,200 to 5,000 rpm range" - producing 135 ft. lbs. torque and 116 hp in a 114 cu in engine; www.andrewsproducts.com
CruzTools: Seattle based CruzTOOLS' award-winning new AW36X narrow profile and highly ergonomic axle wrench design solves the age-old problem of accessing the rear axle nut without having to remove the exhaust on Harley-Davidson Touring models. "It's an essential tool for belt/chain adjustments or road-side tire repair. This innovative 36 mm axle wrench has a lightweight aluminum extension to boost leverage while keeping it compact for easy storage on the bike." Lightweight at only 7 oz, it is a high-strength steel wrench with chrome finish and aircraft-grade aluminum extension and finger-friendly rounded edges with non-slip finish for solid grip - ideal for Harley Baggers, Pan America and Indian FTR motorcycles; www.cruztools.com
NAMZ Custom Cycle Products: Never one to stand still, Jeff Zielinski brought his NAMZ Custom Cycle Products (NCCP) business into this world in 1999 - the year that Harley-Davidson made a decisive step further down the pathway to its fuel-injected future with the debut of the 88" Twin Cam. Jeff marked his first 25 years in business with the introduction of another new brand concept to sit alongside his Badlands, Letric and NAMZ branded products. A hard parts line called NOS or NAMZ Original Stuff (not to be confused with what everyone knows as new old stock (or Nitrous Oxide Systems!), NOS by NAMZ will be a small but passionately dedicated, personally curated line of "parts that have been overlooked for too long," says Jeff; www.namzccp.com