Vance & Hines

Vance & Hines 2020 AFT Singles Contingency Program   

In more Vance & Hines AFT news, the Californian exhaust manufacturer announced a 2020 AFT Singles Contingency Program, granting AFT Singles competitors who compete using a Vance & Hines exhaust system contingency benefits in the upcoming season.

This generous contingency offering comes in addition to the existing Vance & Hines AFT Production Twins package, bringing the company's total AFT contingency support to over $60,000 in 2020, $25,000 of which is available exclusively to the AFT Singles class. "We are a company born in racing, and AFT is important to us. This contingency program is a great complement to our support for AFT SuperTwins and the Harley-Davidson Racing Program," said Mike Kennedy, President of Vance & Hines.
Piloting a machine powered by his expertly tuned Vance & Hines exhaust system, Dalton Gauthier was a dominant force in the 2019 AFT Singles class, eventually winning the championship. In 2020, Gauthier will compete for a shot at the AFT SuperTwins title, aptly, under the Harley-Davidson/Vance & Hines banner.
V&H contingency offerings for the AFT Singles class per race break down as follows:

• 1st Place = $500
• 2nd Place = $300
• 3rd Place = $200
• 4th Place = $100
• 5th Place = $50
• Championship Winner = $5,000

News Briefs

Following news of its acquisition of J&P Cycles, RevZilla and Cycle Gear owner Comoto Holdings of Philadelphia has hired/acquired "visionary content producers Ari Henning, Zack Courts and Spenser Robert [On Two Wheels and Throttle Out] to the company's content and media team for Comoto's family of brands to educate today's riders and inspire those of tomorrow." Comoto was formed in 2016 by Boston area based private equity investor J.W. Childs.

A bipartisan group of United States Congress House representatives recently introduced the Recreational Trails Program Full Funding Act, which would boost funding for trails to at least $250 million. The MIC has worked closely with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable in strongly pushing for this legislation. "The RTP is a critical program to ensure the development and maintenance of trails for motorcycles, ATVs and side-by-sides," said Scott Schloegel, the MIC's Senior Vice President, government relations.

Just as Harley prepares to get its wheels wet in the ADV Touring (Dual Sport) market, the competition is hotting up. BMW's dominance is well documented, and the Honda Africa Twin has pulling up trees worldwide since it was brought back into production five years ago. Triumph's Tiger ADV model has sold well for many years, but the British manufacturer has now launched two new tech-rich special edition Tiger 1200 models - the Desert Edition and the Alpine Edition. The 1,215 cc triple engine delivers peak power of 139 hp at 9,350 rpm and maximum torque of 90 lb-ft at 7,600 rpm. Features include semi-active suspension and shift assist.

 

MIC members elected two new directors for the organization's board, and re-elected secretary/treasurer Jim Woodruff for another two-year term. Dealernews Editor Robin Hartfiel, who has served on the MIC Aftermarket Committee since 1992, was elected to take the seat of Eric Anderson, of VROOM Network, whose term expired. Rod Lopusnak, General Manager of Triumph North America, was elected to take the seat vacated by Mike Peyton of BMW Motorrad USA.

Montreal, Quebec based distributor Motovan was forced to obtain the Canadian equivalent of a bankruptcy protection filing in December, reporting that it does not have the liquidity to purchase the levels of inventory necessary to support its operations. The company expanded outside of Canada in 2015 through the acquisition of US-based Motorcycle Tires & Accessories LLC (MTA), but the acquisition has not proven to be successful - the US company generating negative EBITDA since its purchase, and the shift in management's focus from the Canadian operations to the integration of MTA negatively impacted Canadian revenues as well.

 

BMW has filed a patent for wireless electric motorcycle charging. Its concept has a wireless charging receiver built into the pad at the base of the electric motorcycle’s side stand - the only non-rubber component that comes into contact with the ground. When the rider parks the electric motorcycle, the side stand’s pad would land on the wireless charger (which houses an AC coil). Wireless charging power is correlated to the distance between the charger and receiver, so works best when the two are in nearly direct contact - the BMW design does exactly that.

According to PSB, Wells Fargo Securities analyst Tim Conder is forecasting side-by-side sales to continue to grow in 2020: "We are cautiously optimistic for steady powersports market growth in 2020 (subject to weather) given recent retail momentum, clean channel positioning and constructive consumer fundamentals. We expect motorcycle units to be down by low single digit percentage. Heavyweight declines will likely be less bad (more in line with the market), but we do not see any catalysts that could reverse the segment's structural headwinds."

Royal Enfield

Royal Enfield and AFT Forge Partnership

American Flat Track proudly has announced the inaugural year of partnership with Royal Enfield North America with a multi-faceted plan to grow the visibility of the manufacturer within the sport.

In addition to becoming an Official OEM Partner of American Flat Track, Royal Enfield will be bringing its fleet of motorcycles right to the fans within AFT's Fan Zone activations at select rounds of the 2020 season. Those with motorcycle endorsements will even be able to take a spin on the RENA machines (Royal Enfield North America) with exclusive fan demo ride opportunities at eight AFT events, with the potential for additional rounds to be added and announced at a later date.
As an added element of entertainment for fans, Royal Enfield's recently announced BUILD TRAIN RACE program will bring its all-female flat track motorcycle program to select AFT rounds in 2020. Using the Royal Enfield INT 650 as a base, four women will customize and race their machines across the country, showcasing their various levels of ingenuity and skill.
AFT fans can look forward to the premiere of all four bikes and their builders at the 2020 Yamaha Atlanta Short Track presented by Law Tigers on March 28 at Dixie Speedway. The quartet of riders/builders will again compete at the So-Cal Half-Mile on May 9 at Southern California Fair and round out their cross-country exhibition at Laconia Motorcycle Week for the Laconia Short Track on June 13.
"This partnership represents a major step for Royal Enfield's efforts in North America," said Breeann Poland, Marketing Lead - Americas. "As we continue to grow our awareness, getting our motorcycles in front of enthusiasts is critical, and AFT has offered us a fantastic opportunity to do just that."

Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties Spring NVP Product Expo Part 3

SlyFox Performance: Founded by Alex Fox and distributed exclusively by Drag Specialties, accessories from the Bagger specialist include carbon fiber fenders, saddlebag lids and side covers, triple tree top clamps and Pro-Series seats made for SlyFox by Saddlemen; www.slyfoxperformance.com

 

KB Pistons: Introduced last year, Super Duty Series KB pistons are for 2017 and up 114 and 117" M-8s using stock cylinders bored to 4.125" with 11:1 compression ratio and generous valve pockets to accept 1 mm larger valves. A hard anodized crown aids with heat deflection and corrosion from alcohol fuels. Top ring groove hard anodizing eliminates micro-welding of the ring to the groove and maintains a flat and smooth surface for best ring seal; 'Line2Line' abradable coating as standard - applied to the thickness of the piston-to-wall clearance for a ZERO install clearance; www.uempistons.com

 

Klock Werks: Now recovered from last year's flash flood, the Mitchell, South Dakota customs to Flare windshields specialist's new 2020 H-D and Indian parts catalogs (its first for a few years) give dealers 96 pages of custom options, including Flare windshield options, Kliphanger and Ergo bars, stamped steel fenders, Dynamat sound control kits, iOmount device mounts, and a slew of trims, brackets, relocation kits and details; www.getklocked.com
 

Motion Pro: Recent new products from the Sacramento, California, official cables, controls and tools vendor to the AFT race series, the new 2-into-1 design steering race tool quickly and precisely removes and installs the outer bearing race from the steering head on most H-D models without the use of a hammer and punch. The puller design ensures the bearing is pulled perfectly straight to eliminate possible damage to the frame - the hardened steel puller jaws engage securely on the inner bearing lip for race removal and the hardened steel driver precisely fits the tapered bearing race during installation; www.motionpro.com

 

SBS: Best known for its high-performance brake pads, the Danish manufacturer added to its range for Harleys and custom bikes with availability of a full line of European made stainless steel rotors for dealers in the USA through Drag Specialties. The program comprises both a standard OEM replacement range with the application-specific shape, construction and dimensions to make them a true OEM standard replacement line, and an OEM upgrade line that is "specifically designed to increase brake feel, performance, comfort and looks,"; www.sbsbrakes.com

 

Andrews Products: The Mount Prospect, Illinois based specialist continues to add to a range of M-8 replacement and performance cams that runs from the stock 107" with stock springs right out to the 144 inchers, and a new 554 cam for Harley-Davidson M-8 engines designed to take full advantage of the 124" and 128" Big Bore kits by increasing cam duration and timing to better match these big beast engines - also a great choice for 114" and 117" engines with performance cylinder heads for great low end torque and power through the entire RPM range! "With high efficiency four-valve heads, M-8 engines show great potential for performance gains, especially with new design Andrews M8 series camshafts. Keep in mind that cam timing specs for four-valve heads look very different from camshafts designed for two-valve applications. Engines with four-valve heads have much greater flow efficiency, so listed cam timing durations are a lot shorter;"  www.andrewsproducts.com

 

Progressive Suspension: The new 465 series high pressure gas monotube shocks for M-8 Softails feature 5-position rebound adjuster and are threaded for R.A.P. (Remote Adjustable Preload). 990 series high pressure gas monotube shocks feature deflective disc damping, a lightweight aluminum body, adjustable rebound and preload and standard bearing bushings - both carry a lifetime warranty; www.progressivesuspension.com

 

Biltwell: Just when you think that the 'masters of retro' couldn't make its popular DOT and ECE approved helmets any cooler, along comes its largest range yet with up to 18 colorways in Lane Splitter and 16 Gringo S options, with six new in each line for 2020. Options include all-new hinge hardware kits in a range of colors and finishes, improved shields in a range of color options and a selection of cheek pad sets; www.biltwellinc.com

 

DP Brakes: Last year saw the originator of sintered brake pad technology expand its clutch line with complete friction and steel plate kits for Harley-Davidsons - this is in addition to established best-selling individual friction and steel kits, which have been very successful for them in recent years. DP Brakes says that its clutch components are designed to provide extended service life along with smooth, fade-free power delivery. The friction plates are ready to go with no need to pre-soak in oil and "perform well in a wet or dry clutch - unlike aluminum plates, the steel drive plates will not swell, nor fade." The increased weight, versus stock plates, adds flywheel effect, improving starting and traction; www.dp-brakes.com

 

Hawg Halters: Recent new products from the Dahlonega, Georgia based Bagger parts specialist include a new Indian Chieftain 21 x 5.5 wide tire kit with a purpose-built, custom 5-degree triple tree made of 6061 billet aluminum specifically for the Chieftain series. Available in black or machine finishes, it uses the stock 46 mm Indian legs and allows the custom builder the option of creating a 21 x 5.5 wide tire bike or a 23 x 3.75 big tire bike build; www.hawghalters.com

 

Le Pera: Recent new seat designs include the new 'TailWhip' and popular 'KickFlip' design for Dyna applications from which the 'TailWhip' has been developed and which is additionally available in the company's Daddy Long Legs fitment for taller riders. Still handcrafting all its seats at its North Hollywood, California headquarters after more than 45 years as the market's design leader, all Le Pera seats feature a powder-coated steel base plate, a specially poured high density "Marathon" molded foam foundation and double-stitched, handcrafted cover with bonded polyester thread for durability; www.lepera.com

 

JIMS: Recent new products from the Californian tools and performance specialist include chromoly steel pushrods and a solid adjustable tappet kit for Shovelheads and a slew of specialty 'must-haves' for M-8s including the Forceflow cylinder head cooler and mounting kit, balancer bearing installer, on-bike valve spring installer and rocker shaft and hardware kit; www.jimsusa.com

 

TecMate: Last year saw the market-leading battery diagnostics, maintenance and charging specialist celebrate the 25th anniversary of its first OptiMate brand charger. Since those early days TecMate has stayed at the forefront of technology and riders' needs, responding to the ever-changing demands being made on motorcycle batteries - including introducing one of the first ever Lithium-specific chargers (2010). For founding partner, CEO and Chief Technology Officer Martin Human it has always been "all about the ride," and he told AMD that "ours is a fast-evolving landscape. The proliferation of consumer devices has brought new demands and opportunities, and the proliferation of battery platforms has brought challenges and ever more complex problems to be solved. We have saved millions of batteries since 1994 and expect to be saving millions more in the years to come;" www.optimate1.com

 

Performance Machine: Recent new products include CNC-machined forged aluminum Raceline Series performance parts for Baggers, including lightweight ABS/non-ABS version 'Assault' and 'Revolution' design wheels that ship with 1" brackets to raise the front fender for proper clearance. They feature the latest generation of PM Raceline hubs - lighter by a further 1.5 lbs each side (front) and at the rear (compared to its standard 'Image' hub) for a 4.5 lbs total additional weight saving to that achieved by the way PM cuts the wheels; www.performancemachine.com

 

Maxima: Well known for its Oil-Change-in-a-Box kits, the hot news from the Santee, California company is of the "unique and exclusive" PEAC (Performance Enhancing Additive Chemistry) additive package, now included in the company's 4T oils, including V-twin formulations. The PEAC reformulation was designed to significantly improve performance in several critical areas - engine cleanliness, clutch performance, and most importantly, power and acceleration;  www.maximausa.com

 

S&S Cycle: Recent new products from the Viola, Wisconsin based home of 'Proven Performance' include the SuperStreet 2:1 exhaust system for the new wide wheel Softails, 'Tribute' air cleaner kits (a stylish homage to their vintage Two Throat system),  and a choice of bolt-in 124 ci and 128 ci M-8 Big Bore kit 'Power Packages' - "the ideal combination of performance and savings, designed to transform the M-8 without breaking the bank;"  www.sscycle.com

Letric Lighting Co.

Letric Lighting Co. - Sharktooth, Double Barrel and Switchbacks

Oreland, Pennsylvania based NAMZ Custom Cycle Products is adding further to its fast growing Letric Lighting Co. line-up with the release of three further new product designs.
The Sharktooth headlamp features integrated running lamps and turn signals for enhanced looks, increased visibility and rider safety with 3911 lumes on low beam and 7999 on high beam.  

Sharktooth headlamp

The Double Barrel LED Road Glide headlamp seen here is dressed in a mixture of black and chrome accents and features a highly efficient Cree LED chip.
Both the Sharktooth and Double Barrel housings are built with a heavy duty plastic mounting bracket, aluminum body and a poly-carbonate lens; DOT compliant, they are designed to fit the 2015-up Road Glide and are 100% plug and play.

Double Barrel LED Road Glide headlamp

Road Glide fairing vent Switchbacks LED turn signals

Also new are the Road Glide fairing vent Switchbacks LED turn signals seen here, offered in black or chrome with smoke lens and white running light/amber turn signal.
These supplemental lights replace the plain black fillers to improve on the overall appearance of the motorcycle and do not interfere with the OE vents. They are designed to fit all 2015-up Road Glide models and are 100% plug and play.
Dealers can order NAMZ/Badlands products through Drag Specialties, Parts Unlimited, Tucker (Tucker is the exclusive distributor for the NAMZ made Letric Lighting Co. product line), Mid-USA, J&P Cycles, VTwin, Parts Canada, Motovan, Les Importations Thibault, Parts Europe, Custom Chrome Europe, Motorcycle Storehouse, W&W, Zodiac, Rollies Speed Shop, Wildrider International Pty Ltd, or directly from the company's website.

NAMZ CUSTOM CYCLE PRODUCTS
www.namzccp.com

Biltwell

Adventure-Sized EXFIL Bag

Those masters of "Contemporary Retro", Biltwell has added to its popular, versatile and robust EXFIL soft bags line with the EXFIL-60, "a not too big, not too small" combo solution that is "just the right size for any moto adventure." It’s expandable, easy to lean back on, can be accessed without removing it, has a couple of useful pockets and fits any bike with a sissy bar. 

Features include a large main compartment and an expandable flap that can hold a bedroll or outer layer. Universal mounting is easy with five built-in compression straps and four additional tie-down points.
Manufactured from UV-treated, 1680 denier ballistic-grade polyester nylon throughout, PVC treatment on exterior panels gives added weather resistance and the roll-top closure with reinforced nylon quick-release buckles keeps contents sealed tight.
Five 1.5 inch wide removable mounting straps with reflective stitching offer mounting options and security; a zipper pocket on the bottom of the bag holds a weather-resistant cover that pulls over the loaded bag for 100% waterproof protection. Three rows of MOLLE webbing allow for mounting and secondary gear attachment.

BILTWELL INC.
www.biltwellinc.com

Magnum Shielding

Magnum STAINLESS XR Handlebar Installation Kits

Upgrading handlebars is a change many motorcycle riders want to have done for a variety of reasons, including looks or comfort. Along with the handlebars, cables, brake lines and wiring also need to be replaced and that can create a whole host of problems for the dealer, installer, and the customer.
Upstate New York based brake line and control cable specialist Magnum Shielding has an excellent low-cost, budget-minded solution for that problem with its STAINLESS XR Handlebar Installation kits. In addition to the current XR Handlebar Installation Kit selection, Magnum has introduced additional kits to round out the application mix for even more coverage. 

2014 and up ABS Touring models

Magnum's XR Handlebar Installation Kits offer great fit, finish and outstanding quality at an economical price point for the budget-minded consumer. There are DOT compliant kits available for popular ABS and non-ABS Harley-Davidson models using 12 inch to 17 inch ape hanger-style handlebars.
Always diligent, Magnum Shielding ensures that the lengths of all the cables and brake lines in the kits provide a precise, OE class fitment. "You can also be confident that the quality OE style construction uses all the fittings, tube assemblies and manifolds essential for trouble-free installations while delivering professional looking results.  Everything is included for a handlebar replacement - STAINLESS XR DOT brake lines, throttle and idle cables or terminated throttle-by-wire extensions, XR hydraulic clutch line or clutch cable, fully terminated signal and switch wiring extensions and hardware."

2018 and up Softail with ABS

Three color combinations allow the most discriminating riders to find something that will complement their bikes. The choices include clear coated stainless steel braid with chrome plated fittings and black coated braid with either chrome or black chrome plated fittings. All fittings used in XR kits are highly polished before plating.
Produced in-house at Magnum's manufacturing facility, the kits' STAINLESS XR DOT brake line assemblies use an enhanced construction of heavy gauge stainless steel embedded in a tough, abrasion-resistant nylon outer jacket for superior durability to give an extreme braking response for safe riding. All brake lines are pressure tested and fully DOT FMVSS-106 compliant for safe on-road use. 

Dyna with ABS

If applicable, the XR cables included in the kits feature low-effort, high-efficiency designs that meet or exceed all OE specifications for fitment, construction and endurance. Cable and brake line coatings "offer exceptional protection for paint and chrome."
To make handlebar installations even easier, the kits feature fully terminated wiring extensions. No crimping of terminals onto the wires is required before installation. In many applications the extensions are plug and play, which further reduces the installation time needed to complete the job.
Offering impressive quality at a price point low enough for any budget, Magnum Shielding's STAINLESS XR Handlebar Installation Kits "are a great solution to alleviate the difficulties associated with handlebar changes, saving everyone time and money."

MAGNUM SHIELDING
www.magnumshielding.com

Performance Machine

Raceline Full Floating Brake Rotors

Performance Machine 'Dominator' and 'Speedstar' Raceline full floating brake rotors are CNC precision-machined to ensure a flat and parallel surface.
Hardening the 420 stainless steel 0.200" outer band to meet RC36 specifications coupled with a full floating design yields a rotor with a higher resistance to deformation - the full floating design dissipates heat and resists warping.

'Dominator'

The wave cut braking surface is drilled in a sweep pattern for optimal heat dissipation with a reduction in weight.
The inner carrier utilizes the increased strength of 7075-T6 aluminum for a lighter weight design while improving braking performance. 

'Speedstar'

PM Raceline full floating brake rotors are designed for use with most OEM and aftermarket wheels and calipers. Available in 11.5", 11.8"/300 mm and 13" diameter discs for front applications and 11.5" and 11.8"/300 mm diameter discs for rear applications with either black or gold anodized inner carriers.

PERFORMANCE MACHINE
www.performancemachine.com