Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson

Kumbier appointed COO

Michelle Kumbier has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of Harley-Davidson Motor Company with “responsibility for planning and delivering the company’s global business results.” Effective immediately, Kumbier will have oversight of the company’s U.S. and international markets in addition to her current responsibilities leading product and operations.
Kumbier joined Harley in 1997 in operations purchasing, and has since taken on roles with increasing responsibility in purchasing, strategic planning, new business development and parts & accessories. She most recently served as Senior Vice President, Motor Company Product & Operations, leading a team of more than 4,500 employees worldwide.
Domestic U.S. Managing Director Mike Kennedy and Sean Cummings, Senior VP Global Demand, have left the company.

The dust having now settled on the excitement that greeted Harley’s rumored appointment of Goldman Sachs to explore Ducati acquisition options, in a rare outbreak of “Unions do something useful, shock,” Volkswagen’s hopes of selling Ducati have been scuppered by the powerful German unions (who account for half of the seats on the auto giant’s advisory board) being united in opposition to the sale.

It has emerged that while several serious bids were indeed received for Ducati in response to Volkswagen’s preliminary Offer for Sale, Bajaj Auto and the Italian Benneton investment fund were believed to have been favorites to win the bidding war. Some reports suggest that Royal Enfield (and Polaris joint venture partner Eicher Motors) increased its initial par bid of around $1.5Bn to $2.0Bn.

Talking of Unions, as has been widely reported, but probably not really noticed much as such, the United Steelworkers and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have terminated their 22-year old agreements with Harley, claiming that the company has been “systematically dismantling its hourly workforce” for some seven years. Harley spokesperson Pat Sweeney is reported to have stated that the decision will not affect how Harley deals with workplace issues.

As at August 2017 Harley-Davidson was in 6th spot in motorcycle market share terms in Germany, having sold 7,666 units for an 8.93 percent share; down from 9,252 units/10.09 percent for the first eight months of 2016.

Harley’s top-seller in Germany Jan-Aug 2017, and the 25th best-selling motorcycle in Germany for the first eight months, was the XL 1200 X (884 units); the Breakout was the 31st best-seller in Germany (804 units); Dyna Street Bob 34th (787 units); and XL 883 Iron 43rd (597 units).

In other German market news, Harley has done a deal with guarantee provider CG to extend its standard two-year warranty on new bike sales to four years.
Rick’s Motorcycles of Baden-Baden hosted its latest ‘Rick’s Harley Days’ open-house weekend at the end of September. In addition to showing the new Softails, hosting ride-outs, demo rides and all the usual features of the popular annual event, Rick’s, one of Europe’s largest aftermarket parts and accessories manufacturers, threw open the doors of its CNC machinery equipped manufacturing halls where their noted custom bikes and wheels programs are built and made.

In Switzerland Harley took 3rd spot in motorcycle market share terms for the first nine months of 2017, selling 2,675 units (a tad down on Jan-Sept 2017) behind Yamaha and BMW, but ahead of Kawasaki, Honda, Triumph, KTM, Ducati, Suzuki, Aprilia and Indian Motorcycle (294 units in what, in European terms, is their Head Office home market). Harley’s top-seller there was the XL 1200 X Forty-Eight (270 units), followed by the Breakout (231 units).

In Austria Harley has dropped to 7th spot in motorcycle market share terms (Jan-Sept 2017, from 6th in 2016), selling 923 units YTD; their top-seller there was the XL 1200 X, followed by the XL 1200 X, FLHXS and FXDB.

In an Australian total market that is down by -7.8 percent (73,141 units) for the period January to September 2017, Harley are in fourth spot in market share terms behind Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki, having sold 6,526 units YTD for an 8.9% share. However, in the road bike market (the largest motorcycle sector in Australia, worth 40.5 percent of the overall market there/29,625 units YTD - net of scooters, small cc bikes and off-road units etc), Harley is top dog, ahead of Honda and Yamaha; its top-seller in Australia is the FXSB, followed by the XG500.

The sectors of the Brammo electric vehicle business that were not bought by Polaris five years ago, which includes the ‘Empulse RR’ e-bike of IOM and Pikes Peak derring do fame, has been bought by Diesel engine manufacturer Cummins. What has this to do with Harley? Cummins’ CEO and Chairman Tom Lineberger is a non-executive Director on the board of Harley-Davidson. With ex-CEO Keith Wandell still engaged to work his magic at previously struggling battery maker Exide, are we witnessing the emergence of a Bar & Shield ‘E-Nostra’ as the production of Project Livewire (hopefully) draws ever nearer?

With it widely expected (indeed hoped) that the remaining 84 new bike models to be launched by Harley in the next nine years will include Off-Road and/or Adventure Tourer platforms, might it be timely for Harley to look again at what ATK Motorcycles, the USA’s only off-road motorcycle manufacturer, could bring to the party?

Harley’s ‘Millennial’ outreach initiatives will include being the motorcycle brand ‘de jour’ for gamers when Ubisoft’s “Crew 2”, and “Open Road Racing Adventure” is launched in spring 2018. The first iteration of the game is said to have amassed 12 million players; subsequent upgrades to the game are expected to see additional Harley models added.

Kuryakyn - Kellermann

Kellermann indicators now available through Kuryakyn

Somerset, Wisconsin based Kuryakyn and German specialist lights manufacturer Kellermann GmbH have announced a partnership and introduction of the “Kuryakyn by Kellermann” collection. 

Kellermann has been designing and manufacturing premium motorcycle accessories for more than 25 years. Their exceptional quality has generated a cult-like following among the custom bike culture, and has also earned the brand numerous prestigious honors, including the coveted Chicago Athenaeum Museum’s “Good Design Award” as well as multiple Red Dot Design Awards for the BL 2000 and Bullet 1000 series.
This brand alliance strengthens Kellermann’s position as a segment leader of state-of-the-art motorcycle indicators, leveraging Kuryakyn’s worldwide dealer, distributor and retail channels to strategically penetrate new markets with an emphasis on North America.
“Kellermann and Kuryakyn share a passion for technology and product innovation,” said Holger Mohr, President of Kuryakyn. “This partnership reinforces Kuryakyn’s commitment of offering the highest quality, best-performing accessories to our dealers and consumers, and is a tremendous opportunity for both brands to showcase our respective leadership positions within the motorsports industry.”

The ‘Kuryakyn by Kellermann’ collection showcases a variety of high-performance L.E.D. indicators “offering modern styling” in a variety of sizes and profiles. All indicators operate via integrated circuit at 330 kHz, are universal for 12 volt electronic applications, and feature precision zinc die-cast metal housings. Kellermann’s HighPower L.E.D. Technology combined with Longlife Protection Guard “delivers maximum L.E.D. brightness and lifespan for unmatched longevity.”
“We are absolutely thrilled to bring our range of innovative and premium quality motorcycle accessories made in Germany together with the Kuryakyn team to the challenging U.S. market,” says Dr. Stefan Wöste, Kellermann CEO. “We are ready to listen to what bikers in the U.S. want, and will push the envelope even further to bring more cutting-edge technology to the American motorcycle scene.”
www.kuryakyn.com
www.kellermann-online.com

Metalsport

Metalsport HP brake caliper

Californian wheel manufacturer Metalsport has recently developed what it describes as a high performance custom brake caliper that “combines superior stopping power and reliability with an unmistakable custom appearance,” says CEO Ron Loynds. 

The caliper is shown here with one of the company’s complete kits, which includes an 18” rotor with a 420 heat-treated stainless steel outer ring mounted to a 6061-T6 aluminum carrier with application-specific stainless steel buttons.
Offered in cuts to match Metalsport’s popular wheel designs, they ship with a custom caliper hanger, manufactured in-house from 6061-T6 billet aluminum, and with all stainless mounting hardware.
www.metalsportwheels.com

AIMExpo 2017 review part 2

New Product Showcase: Displayed prominently in the entrance lobby of the Greater Columbus Convention Center, new products and innovations were highlighted right up front and center, casting the “Future Starts Here” theme in a practical context. New products from AIMExpo will be showcased in this and subsequent AMD Magazine editions.

 

A.D. Farrow Co.:  Celebrating its 105th anniversary, Harley-Davidson’s oldest American dealer threw its weight behind AIMExpo’s move to its home city with in-store promotion and show related activity at each of its Columbus area locations. Dealer Principal Bob Althoff played a significant role in helping the show organizers secure factory backing, and if AIMExpo does eventually drop anchor in Columbus on an at least alternate annual basis, his resources and contacts will be invaluable in securing a viable future for the show in the heartland of America’s V-twin market; www.adfarrow.com

 

Harley-Davidson: Milwaukee’s backing of AIMExpo could be critical to shaping the show’s destiny, especially in terms of the existing V-twin and broader custom market (a Pin Stop anyone?), but also in terms of creating something that speaks to new generations of consumers. Another big “upside” of Harley’s involvement comes in the timing. Be it September or October, AIMExpo represents a first opportunity for consumers who don’t usually frequent their local authorized dealer to see (and test ride) the new model year offerings within weeks of their unveiling. One or two late-season local events aside, generally the Motor Company has had to wait until March for Daytona Bike Week to bang that drum, by which time peak selling season is already well underway. By being one of the many OEs exhibiting at the show, as is the case at the European shows such as INTERMOT, as its model and platform offer evolves in the coming years, for the first time ever Harley has an opportunity to reach riders who may be eying competitive offers at marketing peak cycle. If our math is right, they currently sit at 16 new models launched, out of the planned 100 in 10 years, and if we genuinely are all to recognize that we need new ways to reach the new generations of potential consumers, then the opportunity to “Mother Ship” the motorcycle industry’s new model cycle shop window to AIMExpo, potentially has implications the like of which we can only dream about at this stage; www.harley-davidson.com

 

Indian Motorcycle: As the “new kid on the block” in brand identity, model range and dealer development terms, Polaris Industries’ decision to back Indian’s decision to engage with AIMExpo is as important as Harley-Davidson’s. In Polaris’ case they bring wider powersports and transport industry to the table in the long run, and if Indian is a brand in search of being able to build marketing infrastructure, then the virgin territory that AIMExpo and Columbus represent have huge potential for them. If the show does eventually settle at Columbus, either annually or biennially, then what a unique opportunity it would provide for Indian to be able to bring its multiple messages together within weeks of its model range announcements, within days almost of the end of the race season, in an environment that speaks to Indian solus and Polaris multi-line dealers, and, ultimately, as with Harley, in an environment in which riders and dealers from the non-traditional custom markets can be courted; www.indianmotorcycle.com

 

Ken Sean: A leading brand of motorcycle mirrors since 1950 and the trusted original equipment of choice for many of the world’s leading OEMs at various times in the past 65 plus years, the range extends from E-marked mirrors through signal mirrors, UTV and ATV mirrors, universals, classic styles and designs, bar enders, fairing minis, rectangulars, rounds and the popular X-Treme series; www.ksource.org

 

Daytona Twin Tec: The latest addition to Allen Alvarez’ Daytona Twin Tec team is Electronics Engineer Dave Celsnak. Recent new products include the TC17 ECU for late model touring motorcycles, now supporting liquid cooled applications. The TCFU plug-in replacement ECU is a fully programmable engine control system with auto-tune capability. Full datalogging and adjustability of the fuel injection and ignition is suitable for all engine builds, including turbo/supercharged systems;  www.daytona-twintec.com

 

Nelson Rigg USA: The company says it “continues to create innovative luggage, covers and rainwear with our newly designed tour trunk bag and tail bags.” It also just introduced Defender extreme covers featuring its new proprietary UltraMax material;  www.nelsonrigg.com

Zodiac

Zodiac ‘Bikers Book’ #41 2018 supplement

It would appear that the biggest and best ‘Bikers Book’ catalog just wasn’t big enough for Zodiac! The new full color 2018 supplement to the Zodiac ‘Bikers Book’ issue #41 is now available and contains over 3,500 new and exciting parts and accessories, including all of those published in their monthly dealer newsletters. 

Taken together, the 2018 supplement and the issue #41 ‘Bikers Book’ contain tens of thousands of parts numbers, and new products in the 336 pages of the 2018 supplement include Odd Concepts parts from Sweden, stock replacement parts from V-Twin Manufacturing for side valves, Knucklehead, Panhead, Shovelhead and Evolution, award-winning Italian made Mupo inverted front forks and Öhlins conventional style front forks.

Where appropriate, much of the Zodiac offer is EU regulation compliant, including new E-approved mufflers and complete exhaust systems from Freedom Performance, Vision-X led light units and Dutch made B2 lifts. Additional new products from well-known brands include RST adjustable brake and clutch levers, the latest additions to the Arlen Ness program, plus thousands of new and established old and late-model parts and accessories from all over the world.
www.zodiac.nl

Indian Motorcycle

Custom Scout Bobbers

Our congratulations to Indian Motorcycle for the selection of Satya Kraus, Keino Sasaki and skateboarder Steve Caballero (in collaboration with Roland Sands) as customizers to design three Custom Scout Bobbers. Three very different individuals, and AMD is delighted to recognize the individuality they have each brought to what started out as three identical stock bikes.

Three stock Scout Bobbers, three very different personalities, three very different custom outcomes. From the left: Kraus Motor Co., Keino Cycles, Steve Caballero/RSD

First unveiled at this year’s Minneapolis X Games, “Strip it Down” was the mantra that Indian say drove the design of the Scout Bobber, and as the title sponsor of the annual Brooklyn Invitational Custom Motorcycle Show, Indian unveiled these three custom versions to highlight the intended versatility of the platform.
Indian describe their stock Scout Bobber as “a low-slung, blacked-out, 100 horsepower, minimalist motorcycle that proves less is definitely more.” Keino Sasaki, as ever, certainly “got that” and has kept it simple with an aluminum fuel tank, front fairing, fenders, exhaust, Beringer inboard brake, some custom spoke wheels and stock modified rearsets.
Roland Sands took Steve Caballero’s ideas for a street flat tracker and raided the RSD parts bin.

For Satya Kraus the clue is in the upside downies – performance and handling were the order of the day (coincidentally see page 45 of this edition of AMD), with selected parts including Rotobox carbon fiber wheels (Slovenia), Beringer brakes (France), inverted front suspension with Öhlins forks (Sweden), a linear steering damper, Kraus isolated risers, Rizoma mirrors (Italy), chain drive and a hand TIG-welded 304-16 stainless steel 2 into 1 Scrambler inspired exhaust by Fab28 Industries.

News Briefs

With a year to go before the 13th AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building is staged at INTERMOT ‘Customized’ in October 2018, advance entries have already broken through the 40 mark, with competitors signed up from some nine different countries already.

Royce Rath, one of the people injured when a race-modified Indian motorcycle that was being ridden on stage by Roland Sands at the Buffalo Chip (Sturgis Rally in 2016), has filed suit against Sands, Indian Motorcycle owner Polaris Industries and Buffalo Chip Campground LLC, having suffered permanent disability, medical expenses and the loss of wages and earning capacity.

Bosch claims that V-2-V technology has the potential to prevent one-third of motorcycle accidents – incidents where the car driver didn’t see the motorcycle or vice versa.

A unique offering will take place in Las Vegas on January 27, 2018. The iconic Excelsior-Henderson brand and all its intellectual property will be auctioned at the 27th annual Mecum Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction at the South Point Hotel and Casino. Included in this purchase are the ownership of the Excelsior-Henderson brand name, 10 federally registered trademarks, web domains, previous motorcycle frame and engine designs, as well as 18 expired patents that can only be effectively exploited by the owner of Excelsior-Henderson.

In motorcycle terms, registrations of motorcycles in the EU reached 520,846 units during Q2 2017 (-4.9% compared to Q2 2016). Italy is currently the largest motorcycle market in Europe with 124,913 units registered in Q2 2017 (+6.6% compared to the same quarter of the previous year). Motorcycle registrations also increased in France (91,494 units, +2.6%), but decreased in Germany (88,322 units, -12.3%), Spain (67,373 vehicles, -8.1%) and the UK (53,549 units, -13.4%).

Royal Enfield, which proudly claims to be the world’s oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production, has opened a third factory in India. Citing increasing demand for its mid-sized bikes and no doubt eying its entry into the 750cc class, it takes the company’s combined production capacity to 825,000 units a year. Royal Enfield is reported to have made over 667,000 motorcycles in its 2016/2017 financial year. The Indian firm’s U.S. operation is headed up at a Milwaukee, Wisconsin headquarters by ex-Harley man Rod Copes.

Feuling Parts

‘Reaper’ cam choices for M-8

Oceanside, California based Feuling Parts has added Dyno proven and track tested M-8 grinds to its popular ‘Reaper’ brand cams program.

Said to produce more power and torque in the riding rpm range, which improves the throttle response, acceleration and fuel mileage, Reapers’ smooth camshaft lobe ramps are said to be easier on valvetrain components and eliminate excessive valvetrain noise and wear.
Two options are available – both are direct bolt-in replacements for the stock M-8 cams and can be used with stock valve springs, pushrods, lifters and exhaust.
Their 405 cam produces a wide powerband that increases torque and horsepower throughout the entire rpm range, responding well when used with replacement slip-on mufflers or full exhaust systems and a high-flow air cleaner. Feuling recommends mufflers with smaller cores for the best low-rpm power.
Their 465 cam responds well when combined with increased engine bore and/or engine compression and also works well with aftermarket slip-on mufflers or a full exhaust system and a high-flow air cleaner.
Compared to the stock cams, the 465 is described as producing solid bottom-end performance and substantial gains above 2800 rpm; use of performance valve springs is not required but may result in a quieter, smoother running valve train.

DRAG SPECIALTIES
www.dragspecialties.com