New Canadian distributor for SBS Pads and Discs
SBS Friction has announced that Gamma Powersports of Orillia, Ontario is their new and currently only distributor for SBS products in the Canadian market.
Fast growing Gamma is capturing market share in Canada, and “shares the SBS business philosophy of close contact to the dealer base, and great customer service.”
Chris Jensen, SBS Brand Manager for North America says: “We welcome Gamma Powersports to the SBS family. With their hands-on approach, they will see great success with SBS, much like our distributors in Europe, South Africa, Japan and Australia always have done. We look forward to helping Gamma service dealers all over Canada and to attend their promotional events. There is no doubt that we will see growth from this new partnership.”
SBS will be the premier line of brake products at Gamma, allowing their sales reps to focus on teaching dealers the many features and benefits of SBS.
“Gamma is proud to add SBS brakes to its distribution portfolio,” said Judy Scott, Senior Buyer for Gamma. “SBS is well established in a world market and brings a great product to the Canadian marketplace. We look forward to working with SBS and growing the Canadian market.”
www.sbs.dk
The memo about there being limitations to how a brand can be convincingly purposed clearly disappeared from Harley’s institutional memory when Clyde Fessler retired. A “cross-promotional partnership with men’s grooming product range American Crew” (aka Revlon cosmetics) looks set to expose the Bar ‘n Shield to yet more ridicule and questionable value.
Mark Moses, founder and GM of Indian Motorcycle of Charlotte (“the world’s first Indian dealership”), has sold to Tim Sutherland, owner and GM of Coastal Indian Motorcycle of Myrtle Beach, SC., and Lloyd Greer, founder and owner of Victory aftermarket parts specialist Lloyd’z Motorworkz, Pine Bush, NY. The Charlotte store opened in 2008 as the first dealer for the then Stellican, Stephen Julius owned Kings Mountain, NC., based factory, for which Moses was a Customer Service and Warranty Manager after operating North Coast Motorcycle - itself a dealer for ultimately a less than successful “Gilroy Indian” operation that closed in California in 2003.
Mitchell, South Dakota based Klock Werks Cycles is in legal dispute with Dragonfly Cycle Concepts of Fullerton, California, over the design of a windshield that Brian Klock claims is a patent violation of its award-winning Flare Windshield design. The suit claims that the Dragonfly ‘Batwing’ fairing is a Flare copy.
Polaris Industries Inc. has joined the Fortune 500 list of largest companies in the United States. Not a market cap., profits or revenues listing as such, the Fortune 500 lists businesses by total revenues for their fiscal years - Polaris is in its 64th year and achieved a ranking or #496. It lists publicly held companies along with privately held companies for which revenues are publicly available.
Kenny Price’s Samson Exhaust is now under the ownership of OnCourse Capital of Fort Wayne and has been relocated from Sturgis, South Dakota, to Avilla, Indiana. Price founded his company in California in 1991, and at one stage Samson was one of the top selling exhaust brands in the custom parts market. OnCourse Capital has over 30 years of experience in metal fabrication and tube forming. It is the former owners of Global Tube Form (which did business under the names of National Tube Form and Southern Tube Form and operated facilities in Clinton, TN, and Fort Wayne, IN). It acquired Samson Exhaust in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Polaris has announced it is to open a new distribution center in Fernley, Nevada, 165 miles NE of Sacramento, California. The 475,000 sq ft facility will be a multi-brand operation on a 37-acre site, supporting Polaris’ growing aftermarket, parts, garments and accessories businesses. Its PG&A division achieved nearly $2 billion in sales in 2017. Proximity to west coast consumers and Pacific Rim facing ports are cited as factors in the choice of location.
MAG has promoted Rob Ramlose (ex of Oakley and Fox Racing) to Director of Apparel Brands (a role at one stage held by apparel industry veteran and ex Leatt man Phil Davy). His new role sees him adding to his responsibility for the RSD apparel program with control of all brands in the MAG apparel portfolio - additionally including Answer Racing, Speed and Strength, Firstgear and Black Brand - the latter formerly headed up by the now departed ex S&S and PriMedia man Howard Kelly.
According to market research published by German giant Bosch, by 2027 every other new motorcycle sold could be an E-bike. Hmmmm…
In what looks like a counter-intuitive decision by the “new look” U.S. EPA, the renewable fuel requirements for 2018 are higher than the 2017 levels and higher than the 2018 levels the agency proposed in June 2017. The EPA’s final 2018 Renewable Volume Obligations call for 19.29 billion gallons of renewable fuel to be blended into the nation’s gasoline supplies — primarily controversial corn ethanol. That figure is higher than the 19.24 billion gallons the agency had previously proposed, and slightly higher than the 19.28 billion gallons required in 2017!
Drag Specialties Additions
Premium Sintered Metal Rear Brake Pads for 2018 Softails
Drag Specialties’ premium sintered metal brake pads are now available for 2018 Softails. Specifically designed for H-D applications, the company says the these top-of-the-line pads “are more durable than stock with a brake pad backing plate that feature a high-tech ceramic heat shield that keeps heat away from the brake caliper piston and brake fluid.” They produce no brake dust, provide better braking efficiency, no annoying noise, and are less susceptible to brake fade. They are not for use with plated rotors.
Saddlebag Guards
These 7/8สบ tough saddlebag guards from Drag Specialties “offer protection without taking away from the great lines of any ride. They work by protecting and guarding the saddlebags’ leading edges from dings and nicks.” Designed to work with OEM saddlebag supports they are available for ‘09-’13 FLHT/FLHR without saddlebag rails in chrome or black. All hardware is included.
4” Slip-Ons with Billet End Caps
“Add a classic sound to Touring Harleys with slip-on mufflers that have been dyno tuned for maximum performance,” says Drag Specialties. “Perfect replacements for failing, rusted OEM pipes, these mufflers are constructed of heavy 16-gauge steel tubing, with a choice of shining chrome or a tough black ceramic finish.” They feature a black ceramic-coated end tip, and a louvered core “produces outstanding performance and an aggressive tone that riders will love.” They are sold in pairs for ‘95-’18 models.
Skull Ignition Switches
Drag Specialties’ popular Skull ignition switches are now available for late model Road King, Softails and Dynas. “These ignition switches are an easy way to add attitude to anyone’s ride without breaking the bank.” They are available in chrome or a deep gloss black finish with a chrome skull on the ignition switch cover; two keys included. Available for 11-17 FLS/FLST, 14-18 FLHR, 12-17 FLD, 12-17 FXDF, FXDWG and 12-17 FXDB models.
Tour Box Pads
Matching H-D King Tour-Paks, these U.S. made tour box pads work with all OEM and Drag Specialties seats. Constructed of an automotive-grade vinyl covering that matches the OEM seat covering. They are available in four styles - two featuring solar-reflective leather on contact areas; a patented process that reduces surface temperature by as much as 25°F for a cooler ride, higher durability and longer life compared to conventional leather or vinyl. “A standard-length armrest makes for easy on-and-off, while a urethane-molded foam interior provides maximum comfort and support.” All pads include rubber backing pads and hardware; the measure 25” W x 15 1/2” tall. Available for ‘14-’18 H-D King Tour-Paks in mild stitch, mild stitch solar reflective leather, double diamond solar reflective leather and pillow styles.
DRAG SPECIALTIES
www.dragspecialties.com
Balancer Scissor Gear Alignment Screw
This scissor gear alignment tool from JIMS holds the two halves of a spring-loaded scissor balancer gear in alignment before removal - making installation a lot easier. Brightly colored to remind the technician to remove it before sealing the engine case, it has simplicity, ergonomics and workshop best practice stamped all over it!
JIMS, USA, www.jimsusa.com
Rhombus S - Edgy and Compact with EXtranz Technology
German lighting and advanced electricals specialist Kellermann has miniaturized its popular micro Rhombus LED indicator - it is now smaller, brighter and still with the characteristic design edge that has made it so popular with customizers and builders.
The Aachen based manufacturer is internationally recognized for its innovation and quality, and is offering its super compact Rhombus S as a 3-in-1 option ‘Rhombus S DF Dark’ - indicator, rear and break light - and as indicator only ‘Rhombus S Dark’, both with tinted glass.
Furthermore, the Rhombus S Extreme indicator is available ECE-R6 approved with clear glass for installation on all vehicles. Kellermann says that the edgy design Rhombus family is already one of their most successful products, popular with riders of sport, tour and many other bikes as well as cruisers and custom bikes.
The new Rhombus S is half the size (35 x 11.5 x 11.5 mm/12 g) of its big brother (79 x 23 x 21 mm/52 g) and can be used to achieve an even cleaner install without compromising safety. “We are internationally recognized for the high quality of our compact lights, and the new Rhombus S exceeds the standards required for its illumination power and brilliance,” says owner and designer Guido Kellermann.
The complete electronics of the Rhombus S are in the casing itself, and it can be plugged into the 12-volt net directly. The design features Kellermann’s proprietary EXtranz (Extreme Optical Transparency) technology and its standard-exceeding HighPower LED Technology.
It comes with a high-quality metal housing, M5 x 0.5 x 6.5 fastening screw, long life protection guard, a 3-year warranty and is IC operated at 330 kHz.
KELLERMANN GmbH
www.kellermann-online.com
‘KickFlip’ for Dynas
North Hollywood, California seats specialist Le Pera has three stylish new designs for 2018 - the ‘Streaker’ for Sportsters; the new Sprocket for ’08 and up Baggers, and, seen here, the new ‘KickFlip’ for ’06-’17 Dynas.
The ‘Kickflip’ is available in ‘Diamond’, ‘Pleated’, ‘Pleated Gripper’ and ‘Basket Weave’ stitch finishes, “This is the seat that every Freestyler would be stoked to own,” says Bob Le Pera Jr.
Like all LePera seats, it has 46 years of handcraftsmanship invested into every detail and features a powder-coated 16-gauge steel base plate, a specially poured high-density “Marathon” molded foam foundation and a double-stitched handcrafted cover with bonded polyester thread for durability.
LE PERA ENTERPRISES
www.lepera.com
Vance & Hines
‘Code: Read’
Vance & Hines new ‘Code: Read’ is a smart phone diagnostics tool that allows Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) to be quickly read and cleared, and lets riders view live sensor data in real-time.
The intuitive ‘Code: READ’ app is available for iOS and Android with plug and play installation and Bluetooth communication “combining for a seamless, simple experience.”
Users can learn about codes by viewing a complete DTC library, clear codes with the push of a button and view video clip guides for some of the most common DTCs.
The ‘Code: READ’ unit simply plugs in to the motorcycle’s diagnostic port; the ‘Code: READ’ can be paired to the phone via Bluetooth and then it is simply a case of opening the app. In addition to access to video clips there are detailed descriptions of the DTCs and suggestions for what may be causing them. Vance & Hines customer support can be contacted directly through the app.
Based on the year and model, the live sensor data function monitors the ride with the live readings available in real-time through the app, providing readouts such as RPM, engine temperature, gear indicator, horsepower, torque and fuel economy.
The customizable readout panel allows multiple panels to be saved for future rides, with multiple panel layouts available to suit the kind of riding. Available in 4 and 6-pin configurations to provide coverage for ’07-‘18 Touring, ’07-‘18 Softails, ’07-‘17 Dyna and ’07-‘18 Sportsters.
VANCE & HINES
www.vanceandhines.com
Indian Scout FTR750 Secures Eighth Consecutive Podium Sweep of 2018 Season
Indian Motorcycle Racing and its championship-winning Scout FTR750 continued its unbelievable season at the Harley-Davidson New York Short Track, at Weedsport, New York, on July 7 with an eight consecutive podium sweep at round 11 of the 2018 AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines season so far.
Indian Motorcycle Wrecking Crew riders and privateers have combined for a total of eight all-Scout FTR750 podiums. The win marked Jared Mees’ ninth of the season and second consecutive year of hitting a grand slam of Mile, Half Mile, Short Track and TT race wins on the Scout FTR750.
Completing the podium sweep at Weedsport were Indian Motorcycle privateer Kenny Coolbeth Jr. (Nila Racing, Columbia Avionics, Bell, TCX Boots, Vanson) and Wrecking Crew rider Brad Baker, who finished second and third, respectively. It was Coolbeth’s fifth and Baker’s eighth top-five and finish of the season so far.
Indian Motorcycle privateers Davis Fisher (Double D Performance, Bob Lanphere, Beaverton Motorcycles, RMR, Parkinson), Henry Wiles (Bandit Industries, Wilco Racing, Willy Built, Mad Dog), and Briar Bauman (Zanotti Racing, Roof Systems, Western Powersports, Hard) placed fourth, fifth and sixth respectively aboard their Scout FTR750s.
Through 11 races, Mees continues to control the leaderboard with 245 points, while Wiles ranks second with 167 points, and Baker third with 147 points. Jeffrey Carver Jr. (129) and Coolbeth (125) are fourth and fifth, while Bauman (117), Chad Cose (106), Fisher (103) and Bryan Smith (99) rank sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth.
Following the Goodwood Festival of Speed appearance in England that took place this past weekend, select Indian Motorcycle riders will stop in Minneapolis for X-Games on Sunday, July 22. The American Flat Track season will continue its season on August 5 at the Buffalo Chip TT in Sturgis, South Dakota, followed by a quick turnaround with the Harley-Davidson Black Hills Half Mile in Rapid City on August 7 and then Peoria, Illinois, TT on August 18.
