News Briefs

Organizer Ruth Lemass has had to announce cancelation of the Carole Nash Irish Motorbike & Scooter Show slated for March 5-7 at Dublin. The show would have been the next due AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building official affiliate event. The plan at this time is to stage the next 'Dublin Show' in March 2022.

The annual Bigtwin Bikeshow & Expo, originally slated for October 30 through November 1 this year, at Expo Houten near Utrecht in the Netherlands, has also been canceled.

Harley-Davidson recently removed the 'Bronx' streetfighter motorcycle from the Future Vehicles page on its website. According to PSB, BMO Capital Markets says that at a stroke, this removes sales of 1,550 units and $17m from 2021 forecasts, with knock-on impact on its 2022 unit forecast of 1,430 units and a further -$18m of revenue to $4.322bn.

PSB (via Newsbreak.com) reported that as at September 15 at least three motorcycle dealerships had been destroyed by the forest fires in Oregon - D&S Harley-Davidson, Medford (Est. 1971); Hansen's BMW Motorcycles, Medford (Est. 1972) and Oregon Motorcycle Adventures KTM, also at Medford, Oregon (Est. 2004).

Paul Veracka has acquired a seventh Harley-Davidson dealership. After 13 years of ownership, Hendrick Automotive Group has sold its only H-D store, Old Glory Harley-Davidson of Laurel, Maryland, to Paul. He and his brother Michael split the Veracka family H-D dealer group between them last year. Paul additionally owns High Octane H-D of North Billerica, Massachusetts; Palm Beach H-D; Rockstar at Ft. Myers; Motown H-D in Michigan; Alligator Alley of Sunrise, Fl. and Manchester H-D in New Hampshire. The dealership will retain the Old Glory name and remain at its current location.

Reports suggest that H-D has gone ahead with closure of its Bawal, India factory and may therefore be set to drop its Street 500/750 line, at least in Europe. Asian Pacific operations will likely be focused at its Thailand plant. Meanwhile Hero MotoCorp has emerged as Harley's most likely new distribution (and manufacturing?) partner in India - presumably using CKD kits.

It is thought that the China-exclusive model 338R being designed by Geely subsidiary and Benelli owner Qianjiang Motorcycle will go ahead, with the Bronx Streetfighter definitely not seeing the inside of showrooms until 2022 at the soonest.

Bonnier Corp has been sold, with the remnants of its powersports publishing operations, to New York based online consumer credit platform provider Octane. Founded in 2014 and known in Wall Street circles as a 'Fintech', it would appear Octane wants to leverage the Bonnier brands to generate powersports vehicle lending leads. That is known as click bait to more traditionally minded mortals. The brands sold include Cycle World (RIP), Motorcyclist, Dirt Rider, Motorcycle Cruiser, UTV Driver, ATV Rider and EV website Cycle Volta.

The Performance Racing Industry trade show (PRI) has announced cancelation of its 2020 Trade Expo. Due to have been staged at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis in December, PRI President Dr. Jamie Meyer stated: "Our goal is to always do what is best for the motorsports industry, and PRI will continue to lead with business solutions for an ever-changing future."


Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, B&B, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com

Vance & Hines

Vance & Hines M-8 'Torquer' 450 Slip-Ons

The start-point for Vance & Hines in developing its new Torquer 450 slip-on muffler was better sound from Harley touring bike exhausts, and although it took two years of R&D, the company says it has found it with the recently introduced Torquer 450 slip-on.

Vance & Hines President Mike Kennedy says that "this is the best sounding M-8 slip-on available and we can build them at Vance & Hines for a great price." Torquer 450 slip-ons are the company's newest entry into the 4.5-inch diameter segment of the exhaust market that "deliver superior sound and improved horsepower and torque, the best performance of any Vance & Hines slip-on exhaust." 

 

Vance & Hines developed a new free-flowing LS275 baffle (patent pending) specifically to address the concerns of owners of Milwaukee-8 powered Harley-Davidson motorcycles. "Style is important to every rider, so the new mufflers were designed with maximum visual impact," continued Kennedy. "They feature a huge 4.5-inch diameter slip-on and new stylized CNC-machined billet end caps."
They work with stock headers or Vance & Hines' own Power Duals. Available in chrome or black, Vance & Hines says that its MRSP for the Torquer 450 is "the lowest price of any 4.5-inch pipe in the industry." Fifty-state emissions compliant for model years '09-'20.

DRAG SPECIALTIES
www.dragspecialties.com
www.vanceandhines.com

Motorcycle Storehouse

Motorcycle Storehouse Additions

The Bike Shed Moto Co Apparel Collection

Since 2011, the Bike Shed (London & Los Angeles) has been "a place of common ground where people from all walks of life come together to share their passion for two wheels."  
Motorcycle Storehouse is now stocking the Bike Shed apparel line for dealers to be able to "share in the opportunity to capitalize on a high profile, sought after brand and give their customers the opportunity for bragging rights and quality apparel options that look great on or off the bike."

Multifunctional Cockpit

This digital speedo cockpit offers a compact IP67 rated waterproof housing packed with functions such as speedometer (0-399 km/h or 0-299 mph), trip meter (0-999,99 km or miles), odometer (0-99,999 km or miles), tachometer (switchable max. 10,000 or 0-20,000 rpm), clock, gear position, fuel warning mode, temperature in Celsius/Fahrenheit for ambient air, engine water (cooling fluid) and engine oil.
For water and oil, an overheat warning is programmable between 0° and 180° Celsius. All regular indicator lights for left/right turn signals, neutral, high beam and a warning light.
The included magnetic reed sensor is used for bikes that have no electronic speedo pulse and can be installed on the wheel, sprocket and such like. Two M5 screw holes have a mount pitch of 45 mm on the back of the instrument. The included stainless bracket comes with slotted holes to allow an adjustable mount hole pitch between 63 mm to 112 mm. The approximate dimensions are 132 mm x 58 mm x 30.5 mmm and there are sensors additionally available.

SP Connect - Anti-Vibration Module

This module is used between the smartphone and all SP Connect mounts with standard damping head. It additionally reduces engine vibrations through specially developed elastomer damper inlays that dampen in all directions.
It is especially useful to protect the more vibration-sensitive components of late model smartphones, including the mechanical image stabilizers of the camera, and is said to stop up to 60% of vibrations. CNC-machined from aircraft grade aluminum, it offers portrait and landscape orientation and 360° rotation in 6° increments.
The module is available in a chrome or black finish and is compatible with a wide range of SP Connect mounts.

MOTORCYCLE STOREHOUSE BV
www.motorcyclestorehouse.com

Kodlin Motorcycles & Parts

Kodlin Lower Riser

Designed for 2018 and up M-8 Softail Breakout models, this is a "stylish must" for the Breakout, especially when doing a handlebar conversion and needing to replace the stock pullback riser. It works with the stock upper clamp and speedometer housing, is made from forged aluminum for durability and strength and is an easy install available in black or chrome. They are sold in pairs, and come with installation instructions and TÜV documents.
Kodlin Motorcycles & Parts, www.KodlinUSA.com

Freedom Performance

A Beast for the Fat Boys

Corona, California based exhaust specialist Freedom Performance has introduced a new 2-step union 2-into-1 exhaust system.

CEO Martin Arteaga says: "We've had this in mind for some time, and it is now ready for market - this is something for the Fat Boy enthusiasts of the world and is a beast of an exhaust!"
Made at Freedom Performance in California from 100% American forged steel, it has a 3-stepped head pipe for anti-reversion with a 2-stepped baffle, increasing torque between 13-15 lbs and horsepower by 15-18%, "for a 5-stepped combination of extreme power," says Martin.
"We make all our performance exhaust components here in Southern California to high-grade specifications. The American formed steel tubes and the Freedom design handpolished end tips are CNC-machined from aircraft 6061 standard aluminum."
Available with Straight Star or 4.5" end tips, it is offered in chrome, sculpted black and pitch-black finishes.

FREEDOM PERFORMANCE EXHAUST
www.freedomperform.com

Le Pera

'Sprocket' Solo for Baggers

New from legendary Californian custom seats specialist Le Pera, the 'Sprocket' is a "classic style with modern comfort" that is "sinfully Bobbed and Chopped to make this solo a guaranteed head turner," according to Design Meister Bob LePera Jr.

Available for 2008-2020 Baggers, and seen here in diamond stitch, standard options include choice of smooth, diamond and pleated stitch; contrast color stitching is available for each. Many other custom materials and stitch graphics are available as well (pillion not available). It gives a 11.5" wide seating area.
Still handcrafting all its seats at the company's North Hollywood, California headquarters after more than 45 years as the market's design leader, 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.

LE PERA ENTERPRISES
www.lepera.com

American Prime Manufacturing

APM OEM Replacement Performance Clutch Packs with 15% Stiffer Spring

Santa Fe Springs, California based American Prime Manufacturing has two new OEM replacement clutch packs available that were "designed with performance and economy in mind," says company president Ben Kudon.

"If you have a fairly stock machine that has the livin' hell beaten out of it, then the first thing to do is to congratulate your customer, but tell them that they are probably going to need better clutch performance," says Kudon.
"We use a proprietary aggressive clutch material on these new performance replacement clutch packs to provide riders with the performance they need to reliably handle the power - on hard ridden Harleys where the stock clutch doesn't cut it.
"Utilizing the stock clutch basket, these extra plate kits do away with the problematic spring plate to give more clutch surface area for better and more consistent feel and engagement. Both kits include a new severe duty diaphragm spring, and although we are able to sell them at a sensible price, make no mistake, these clutch packs have been made for reliability and durability."
These high-performance extra plate kits fit 1990-1997 Big Twins and 1991-later XL models (1048-0026) and 1998-2017 Evo Big Twins & Twin Cam models. Both kits include nine friction plates and eight tempered steel drive plates with a 15% stiffer diaphragm spring.

AMERICAN PRIME MANUFACTURING
www.americanprimemfginc.com

King Of The Baggers

King Of The Baggers
Kudos to Drag Specialties!

There's no saying how much money Drag Specialties spent on creating the inaugural King of the Baggers race at Laguna Seca (California) in October, but it can't have been a trivial sum. However, as an investment into the future of the Bagger market, and as a specific stimulus for giving the burgeoning Performance Bagger market timely momentum, they are to be congratulated … Genius!

 

Apparently, the idea and vision for what can seem like an unlikely concept at first flush (Baggers racing down the iconic "corkscrew" - really?) goes back some 18 to 24 months before the race was eventually able to take place.
Drag Specialties is said to have floated the plan to a couple of dozen of their vendors in total. Eventually thirteen of them lined up on the start grid of one of the world's toughest and most technically challenging motorcycle race circuits. The prize was the ultimate in Performance Bagger bragging rights during the MotoAmerica GEICO Motorcycle Superbike Speedfest weekend at Monterey in October.

The outcome saw Indian Challengers claim two of the three podium spots as highly decorated motorcycle racing champion Tyler O'Hara took the victory on the S&S Cycle Indian Challenger, with veteran rider Frankie Garcia taking third on the Roland Sands Design Indian Challenger.
Hayden Gillim was the filling in the Indian sandwich, bringing the Vance & Hines prepared Electra Glide Standard home in second, with Travis Wyman for Trask Performance fourth and Cory West for SLYFOX Performance in fifth.

"It's an incredible honor for us to race on this historic track,"
said Gary Gray, VP Indian Motorcycle.
 

Barely 24 hours after an accident where he "looped" his 600 lbs machine during qualifying, Frankie Garcia rebounded to take the holeshot. But it was O'Hara who immediately established a commanding lead through the first three laps. 

With five laps remaining, an off-track "adventure" sent O'Hara back to third and moved Garcia up to second, allowing the Vance & Hines bike through for a taste of the lead before O'Hara began a patient, methodical comeback, working his way past Garcia and dramatically passing Gillim while diving into the famed "corkscrew" during the penultimate lap.
O'Hara held strong for the final lap, winning by 1.9 seconds and earning Indian and S&S Cycle the inaugural "King of the Baggers" crown.
"It's an incredible honor for us to race on this historic track at this historic event, against a field of incredibly talented teams and riders," said Gary Gray, Vice President, Racing, Technology and Service for Indian Motorcycle.

"We're absolutely thrilled to come away victorious. Tyler, Frankie and the S&S Cycle and RSD teams did an incredible job and, ultimately, they were able to show the world just how special the Indian Challenger is. We couldn't be prouder of them or our bike."
The history-making was witnessed by race fans the world over as the inaugural King of the Baggers reached social media viewers in record numbers – recording over two million views and more than 30,000 Facebook shares.
"Watching thirteen Baggers carving through Laguna Seca's famed 'Corkscrew' was a special moment in motorcycle racing," said Reid Wilson, Vice President for Indian Motorcycle. "That said, watching the new Indian Challenger defeat eleven highly modified Harley-Davidsons was a monumental achievement and dramatic validation for the work our product designers and engineers have put into developing the Indian Challenger."
It was an idea that deserved to succeed and despite the pandemic-induced four month delay, succeed it certainly did - with this landmark first race playing out in dramatic fashion, there is already talk of a three or four race series for 2021.
www.MotoAmerica.com