Bob Kay

Bob Kay to take AIMExpo into v-twin market

As the mainstream ("metric") vendor community gears up for the second annual American International Motorcycle Expo at Orlando, Florida this week (AIMExpo), news has emerged that the show is now to set its sights on the v-twin sector.

Marketplace Events have announced that they have hired v-twin industry legend and leading show custom show organizer Bob Kay as the v-twin director for AIMExpo with immediate effect.
The company states that "Bob’s role will be to work closely with the v-twin industry to develop AIMExpo’s offering for this important market segment beginning with their 2015 event."
Bob is a well-known and highly respected member of the v-twin community. Following formative time spent working in motorcycle dealerships he went on to play key roles in notable companies in the v-twin segment including NEMPCO, Tucker-Rocky/Biker’s Choice, and American Iron Horse. In 2005 he launched Biker Pros to provide specialized business services to the v-twin market. In recent years Bob has been the face of the AMD World Championship program in the United States and heads to Orlando after spending a week at the INTERMOT expo in Germany, where he was part of the team that presented the 11th annual World Championship of Custom Bike Building.

"Those I've worked with over the years have heard me emphasize the importance of our industry working in unison for the benefit of motorcycling at all levels,” commented Bob on the new opportunity.
“As I became more aware of the vision for AIMExpo, I realized we shared a common direction for the prosperous future of our industry – one that brought everyone together. While the American v-twin community stands out as a strong segment on its own, joining together as a unified force with AIMExpo’s forward-thinking platform will lead to positive gains for all.
"I am very excited to join the responsive leadership on the Motorcycle Group team and take the point on their efforts to create a genuine and viable offering for the v-twin market, and leveraging the strengths of AIMExpo to help grow the v-twin industry."
“The stated vision of AIMExpo from the beginning was to be an all-inclusive, market-wide platform for the motorcycle and greater powersports industry,” remarked Larry Little, Vice President and General Manager, Marketplace Events Motorcycle Group.
“That said, we knew our core team’s strengths did not include the depth required to develop a meaningful v-twin offering that would complement the growing AIMExpo platform. Bob’s extensive background, his standing as a pillar of the community, and more importantly his vision for showcasing the v-twin market at AIMExpo made him the clear and obvious choice to join our team.”

Baird Report

Harley dealers report 70 percent positive reaction to MY2015 bikes

MILWAUKEE based investment analysts RW Baird surveyed authorized Harley-Davidson dealers after the Nashville dealer meeting to gauge reaction to upcoming season business prospects and the 2015 new model year range in particular.

Harley dealers are still basking in the afterglow of 2013's Project Rushmore launch and are now glad to see the Road Glide returning to the line-up. Post the Nashville dealer meeting, research by Baird revealed a 70 percent positive response to MY2015 among Harley dealers

The survey found that reaction to the 2015’s was mostly positive, with some 70 percent of dealers rating MY2015 positively - that compares to the 95 percent reaction to the debut of the Project Rushmore bikes a year ago. It also shows that the 2013 and other initiatives so far this year are gifts that keep on giving for Harley, because just 24 months ago the MY2012 announcement was only receiving a 22 percent positive rating.
Dealers report that retail demand improved 3-5 percent in July and August versus the year before.
However, it is proving tricky for Harley to strike the right inventory/price balance. Harley cut its shipment forecast in July "to protect the scarcity value of the brand" according to Baird, who, contrary to NADA, are reporting used bike values as gaining in price - up 0.5 percent in July/August.
Baird report that more dealers were choosing to sell below MSRP though, as they seek to clear end-of-season inventory, suggesting that following most dealers reporting that inventory was too thin and too slow in arriving earlier this year, many (42 percent) were seeing it as too high going into MY2015 deliveries.

Harddrive V-Twin

Mid-year catalog supplement from Harddrive Parts

HARDDRIVE Parts, which is the V-twin division of Western Power Sports, has released its 2014 catalog supplement. The supplement has been published to showcase products from the increased number of companies Harddrive Parts is now distributing. New brands which are featured in the catalog are Firebrand Exhaust, Lick’s Cycles, West Eagle Products (aka Easyrider Japan), Lyndall Racing Brakes, Arnott Air Suspension, Lunati Voodoo Cams, Energy One Performance Clutches, Patriot Suspension, Standard Motor Products, and Top Shelf saddlebag organizers.In addition to these new lines Harddrive Parts is now stocking its own brand eight-degree raked triple trees. These new triple trees have been designed to allow 21in or 23in front wheel conversion to be done on Touring models. 

HARDDRIVE V-TWIN
Boise, Idaho, USA
Tel: 208 376 8400
orders@hdtwin.com
www.hdtwin.com

Viola V-Twin

Viola V-Twin carries Kibblewhite

Viola V-Twin, the service brand from S&S Cycle, has expanded its product range with the announcement that it is now stocking the complete line of Kibblewhite valve train components.

Kibblewhite Precision Machining has been a leading valve train specialist for over 75 years and produces components in the US covering ‘36 to present H-D Big Twins as well as ‘57 to present Sportster models.
This latest addition of parts to the Viola V-Twin range means the company is able to supply valve guides, valve seats, valve springs, top collar keepers, and even rocker arm bushings.

VIOLA V-TWIN
Viola, Wisconsin, USA
Tel: 608 627 1958
sscust@sscycle.com
www.violavtwin.com

Street Round-Up

Firebrand slip-ons for Street

FIREBRAND, the recently launched California based exhaust brand for Harley-Davidson applications, distributed by HardDrive, from Western Power Sports, is one of the first aftermarket manufacturers to offer a slip-on option for the Harley Street models.
Firebrand’s Loose Cannon slip-on mufflers can be used on both the Street 500 and 750. The black finished slip-on features a 4in body with a flash-suppressor end treatment and race-inspired high performance baffle with dual density muffler packing. There is also the option of an easily installed DB killer for riders who want a quieter pipe. 

HardDrive
Boise, Idaho, USA
Tel: 208 376 8400
dealer@wps-inc.com
www.wps-inc.com
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Bassani slip-ons for Street

BASSANI is among the growing number of exhaust manufacturers that has slip-on muffler options available for the Harley-Davidson 500 and 750 Street models.
The slip-on range from Bassani for the Street is made up of three styles of 4in mufflers that are said to offer increased power and performance. Finished with a black billet end cap with machined flutes, the three styles are Long Straight Can, Short Straight Can and Short Up Swept Megaphone.

BASSANI MANUFACTURING
Anaheim, California, USA
Tel: 714 630 1821
nicepipes@adelphia.net
www.bassani.com

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Vance & Hines equip Street

VANCE & Hines is among the first aftermarket manufacturers to introduce a range of products for the new Harley-Davidson Street models.
Among the parts Vance & Hines is producing for the Street 500 and 750 models is the Competition Series slip-on muffler. The matt black slip-on is finished in high temperature ceramic and then laser-etched with the Vance & Hines logo, and features a machined billet end cap finished in matt chrome.
Designed to fit the OEM head pipe, the stainless steel Competition Series slip-on has a fiberglass wrapped baffle and a removable insert to adjust the sound level to the rider's preference.

When using the stock head pipe riders of the Street can change the look of it by using the Vance & Hines Header Wrap kit. Each kit includes two laser-cut Vance & Hines wrap clamps, 25ft black header wrap tape and six locking stainless steel ties. The wrap is composite fiberglass that is treated to help lock in the heat and reduce the radiant heat by 50 percent.
In order to gain the maximum benefit of fitting the Competition Series slip-on, Vance & Hines recommends the use of one of its VO2 Naked air intakes too. The VO2 Naked is a direct bolt-on to the factory throttle body and features a high flow washable filter element. The intake, which is available in chrome, matt chrome or matt black, can be run raw without a cover or dressed with one of the company’s many optional VO2 Skullcap covers in a variety of styles and finishes. However, the original air cleaner cover cannot be used with VO2 Naked.

VANCE & HINES
Santa Fe Springs, California, USA
Tel: 562 921 7461
sales@vanceandhines.com
www.vanceandhines.com

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SBS pads for Street

SBS, the Scandinavian manufacturer of high-performance, quality brake pads, has three different compounds of brake pads available for the Harley-Davidson Street.
The company’s Sales Manager for North America, Johan Rauff Kristensen said about the new brake pads: “We are proud to supply riders on any bike with the ultimate stopping power and this is our main reason for changing our approach to the V-twin riders. SBS recognize that these big bikes need different brakes than a dirt bike or a fast track bike, so we decided to develop three different choices of brake pads. These are individually targeted at different bike types and ages – all V-twin – and different riding styles. 

“The new Harley-Davidson Street 500 and 750 is a great example. It is originally equipped with organic ceramic brake pads, so we recommend replacing them with our ceramic H.HF compound. Should a rider want to upgrade the stopping power, then it’s as simple as replacing the OE pads with our H.CT Carbon Tec upgrade pads. For the bigger Harleys we offer a sinter metallic choice of front H.HS and rear H.LS pads. We at SBS are the only manufacturer offering aftermarket sinter metal pads with different friction levels front and rear – and therefore the only aftermarket brake pads offering the same brake balance as the factory fitted ones; something that’s essential on modern bikes with ABS systems.”

SBS FRICTION A/S
Svendborg, DENMARK
Tel: +45 63 21 15 15
sbs@sbs.dk
www.sbs.dk

Spectro

Dave Miller retires from Spectro Oils

INTERCONTINENTAL Lubricants, of Brookfield, Connecticut, the company that owns the Spectro Oils brand, has announces the retirement of long-standing President Dave Miller and the appointment of Alex Josefson to the position. 

Miller joined the company 27 years ago, serving first as Plant Manager under the leadership of business founder Robert H. Wehman (who brought Miller in to design and build a new production line) and subsequently as VP of Operations under Barbara Wehman when she assumed the Presidency.

After 27 years, 11 as company president, David Miller is retiring after steering Spectro Oils to global brand status

Spectro’s new President Alex Josefson

When Barbara Wehman stepped down from leading the company in 2003, it was Miller who took on the leadership role, resulting in a period of product development that gave Spectro global reach.
Now that Miller is retiring three members of the third generation of the founding family, grandsons of Robert and Barbara Wehman, and sons of VP Thomas Josefson and Barbara Wehman Josefson, are taking over control of Intercontinental.
The eldest of the three brothers, Alex Josefson, is now President, and joining him on the management team are his brothers Chris and Mike.
www.spectro-oils.com

The Jekill & Hyde Company

J&H Canbus-friendly electronically adjusted exhausts
 

GERMAN exhaust specialist The Jekill & Hyde Company has reacted to the increased use of the Canbus system on new motorcycles by adapting the electronically controlled volume valves in its Jekill & Hyde exhausts to work with them. 

Jekill & Hyde’s legal automatic mode for the electronically adjustable exhaust systems is now available in two different settings. The existing Jekill Mode and a second new ‘Stand Open’ mode that offers Jekill Performance in neutral (only available for Canbus models). A service mode gives the dealer the possibility to switch the valve position to closed, half opened and completely opened, which can be used for testing purposes. 

In addition to that new option the company is now making all of its exhaust systems in stainless steel, and to further increase reliability and performance, the systems will, in the near future, be shipped as a closed system with pre-mounted, adjusted cables and new, smaller but more powerful servo motors, which are specially molded and 100 percent waterproof.

THE JEKILL & HYDE COMPANY
Eisenheim-Kaltenhausen, GERMANY
Tel: +49 (0)9386 978897
info@jekillandhyde.de
www.jekillandhyde.de

2014 World Champion

A winning tradition

Freddie ‘Krugger’ Bertrand has been a regular competitor over the years at the World Championship of Custom Bike Building, and now, following his win at the 2014 Championship, he joins an exclusive club of bike builders who have taken top honors more than once. The only other World Championship competitor to achieve this feat is Roger Goldammer

FREDDIE ‘Krugger’ Bertrand typically builds customs based around a V-twin drivertrain, and indeed his 2010 World Championship of Custom Bike Building entry began life as a V-Rod. However, Krugger is not afraid to take on a challenge, as witnessed by his 2013 Championship entry – a Honda CB 450 with a reversed cylinder head.
For his entry into the 2014 Championship, Krugger took on a drivetrain never seen before in the event’s history. Following a meeting with BMW Motorrad he began to look at options, using a motor supplied by the company and then, when he was approached by a customer looking for a radical ground-up build, a K1600 straight-six engine was decided upon. 

 

While an American V-twin motor is a relatively simple affair, even when fitted with electronic fuel injection, the K1600 is an altogether different beast. Among the electronics fitted to the bike, which was originally designed as a heavy-weight touring machine, are electronic fuel injection, three different engine drive settings, ABS anti-wheelie control and tunable suspension, and all of this had to be retained within Krugger’s custom build. Due to the complexity of the electronic controls the drivetrain was left basically stock and a new, one-off tubular steel frame was built to carry it. The single-sided shaft drive design on the swingarm of the original bike was retained, but reworked by Freddie in steel to match the rest of the frame.
It is a similar story at the front of the bike where a duo lever suspension system is used as per the original BMW. However, in this Krugger designed version only the stock shock is retained.
One of the few changes to the drivetrain of the K1600 has been the relocation of the engine’s radiator. Normally found in front of the engine, it has been moved to the side of the bike to give cleaner lines and a clearer view of the six headers pipes for the exhaust. 
Because Krugger rebuilt the suspension to his own design, he was also able to incorporate larger wheels. A set of blanks were machined to a one-off design with the front 21in wheel wearing a 120 x 21 Avon tire, and the rear 20in rim has a 200-section Avon. The change of wheels also heralded a change of brakes with the OEM discs and calipers replaced by Beringer units, a six-piston caliper at the front and a four-piston at the rear, which have been adapted to work with the bike’s onboard electronics that control the ABS function. 

Sitting atop the frame is the integrated bodywork, the inspiration of which came from another BMW. In this case a ’30s Art Deco styled R7. All hand-formed in steel, the panels on Nurb’s have been designed to carry all of the stock switches, while the gas tank has been hidden below the seat and is filled via a hidden cap in the seat hump.
The styling of the bodywork is also reflected in the bike’s name, which is derived from a mathematical term meaning ‘Non-Uniform Rational B-spline,’ a concept first developed in the ‘50s when engineers were trying to replicate freeform surfaces in car and ship design.
However, as complex as the name may be, it was the complexity of the build and Krugger’s ability to incorporate all of the stock electronics in a package that is purely custom, that led to his fellow competitors in the 2014 World Championship of Custom Bike Building voting him and Nurb’s a clear winner in the Freestyle class.

KRUGGER SPEEDSHOP
Basse-Bodeux, BELGIUM
Tel: +32 (0)80 684 559
info@krugger.net
www.krugger.net