TecMate

Get Smart

Martin Human, CEO and CTO of TecMate, answers a common question - why is a different battery charger needed for a lithium battery if it works in a motorcycle that originally came with a lead-acid battery?

As with many things to do with battery types and motorcycle electrics, diagnostics and charging, the answer is not as simple as many people expect.

The safe working voltage range for both lead-acid (Standard lead-acid, AGM and Gel) and lithium LiFePO4 (LFP) battery types is 12.8V to 14.5V. As long as voltage is within that range, yes, a lithium battery works fine in the same system as a lead-acid battery, but below this safe voltage range, lithium and lead-acid batteries need different care.
An over-discharged lithium battery will accept charge at low voltage, but the healthier cells demand all the charge and weaker cells keep on falling behind. Charging at high current will damage that battery. A gentle low current pulse charge brings all cells back to good health simultaneously - once above 9V-10V the battery is ready to receive normal charge.
An over-discharged lead-acid battery is unable to accept charge at low voltage due to a high concentration of lead-sulphate that inhibits the ability of all cells to accept charge. To ‘convince’ the battery to once again accept charge, a higher pulsed voltage is required to break through.
A single battery charger that can differentiate between battery chemistries and deliver the right recovery method for the connected battery would be ideal, and fortunately the OptiMate 1 DUO fits the bill.
OptiMate 1 DUO recovers batteries from as low as 4V; the smart programming automatically figures out which recovery program is right for the attached battery, never mind the chemistry. A deep discharged lead-acid battery receives a higher voltage pulsing mode up to 14.5V, so it remains safe for lithium, and a deep discharged lithium battery receives a mild pulsing current that gently recondition the cells until they are equal and the battery recovers to above 9V - then a suitably higher charge current is delivered.
Here is a valuable tip learned from many years of experience - below 4 volt batteries need care from a chemistry-specific charger; OptiMate Lithium 4s 0.8A can safely recover lithium batteries from as low as 0.5V and test battery health as it does so. The best option for lead-acid batteries is the OptiMate 4. 

OptiMate 1 DUO’s 24-7 maintenance program is also adaptive, it can sense what is required. In a parked vehicle a lithium battery needs protection against total discharge by that vehicle’s system and the OptiMate 1 DUO delivers when needed. On the other hand, an AGM battery - the most popular lead-acid in powersport – receives hourly maintenance to remain at full charge and prevent lead-sulphate build-up that weakens the battery. 
Best of all is that the OptiMate 1 DUO has no buttons, no need to guess what battery is in the motorcycle. Simply connect to the battery and let that smart charger do the thinking.
In today’s world everyone wants ‘easy’. OptiMate 1 DUO is as EASY as connect and forget, no more battery problems - and that is what people want and need these days!
As time goes on, more and more reputable brands are choosing to partner with OptiMate 1 DUO for their diagnostics, maintenance and charging - the latest to offer the OptiMate 1 DUO is Moose Racing - and the Moose Racing OptiMate 1 DUO is distributed by Parts Europe, Parts Unlimited and Parts Canada.

TECMATE
www.tecmate.com
www.optimate1.com

S&S Cycle

'Tribute' Air Cleaner Kit

Conceived by S&S founder and brought to market by his son George B. Smith, the classic Two-Throat carb and matched air cleaner served as a performance milestone in the V-twin market for over a decade. 

Now long gone, they are still a hot commodity for in-the-know chopper builders. Inspired by the unique style of their Two-Throat intake, S&S has created the new 'Tribute' air cleaner cover and wrapped it around their contemporary high flow Stealth intake system.  
"The forward facing scoop shape provides a distinct air flow advantage, and we've always loved the look of this air cleaner, so bringing it back needed to happen," states S&S Product Manager Grant Hillegass. "A great combination of classic styling with modern performance."
S&S has a Stealth style air filter kit for most H-D models and the 'Tribute' cover bolts nicely to all of them (available as a complete kit or cover only) in chrome or gloss black. The performance advantage is significant (up to +6 hp on the M-8 platform), and most of the late model kits are CARB legal and warranty-friendly.

S&S CYCLE INC.
www.sscycle.com

Hawg Halters Inc.

New 21 x 5.5 HHI Indian Chieftain Wide Tire Kit

Now available from Georgia based Hawg Halters, the latest addition to its wide tire program is this new Indian Chieftain 21 x 5.5 wide tire kit for 2020.
Featuring a purpose-built, custom 5-degree triple tree made of 6061 billet aluminum for the Chieftain series of Indian Motorcycles, the wide tire kit "delivers outstanding performance and rideability."
Available in black or machine finishes, this new HHI wide tire kit is designed to utilize the stock 46 mm Indian legs and provide a seamless installation with all the stock factory mounting points included.
The Indian Chieftain X-23 triple tree kit 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.

To finish a custom project off, HHI has a full range of custom parts including HHI/Renegade Custom wheels in 18 x 5.5 and 21 x 5.5 front wide tire sizes, stock replacement wheel sizes and big wheel applications up to 26 inches, custom fenders, with matching 11.8 and 13 inch single or dual true floating brake rotors, direct bolt-on 6 piston brake calipers and complete AirFX air suspension systems.

HAWG HALTERS INC.
www.hawghalters.com

Harley-Davidson

Harley Investor Unrest Goes Public; Production Suspended

March 18 - Harley has filed a form DFAN14A with the SEC - a form used to advise of "non-management proxy solicitations not supported by the registrant," covering "Additional Definitive Proxy Solicitation Materials Filed by Non-Management." In essence, notification of a motion requiring a shareholder vote that has not been put forward by the company itself - in this case a motion proposed by one of Harley's investors.
 
The investor concerned is Impala Asset Management, a multibillion investment management firm established in 2004 by noted veteran investor Bob Bishop, an "activist investor." Impala says of itself that it "invests in global cyclical equities" and that "our investment process combines deep, bottom-up research with extensive sector expertise complemented by a macro perspective. We manage a fairly concentrated portfolio that seeks to take advantage of the natural volatility in companies within basic industries such as autos, capital goods, basic materials and energy."
Basically, Impala is nominating former car racer, Tele-Communications, Inc., and AT&T Broadband President and CEO Leo Hindery, Jr. and former NASCAR Chief Operating Officer and GM senior executive Brent Dewar to be appointed to Harley-Davidson's Board of Directors to "provide needed fresh perspectives for [the] company's strategic direction  and critical input on [the] hiring of a new CEO."

Acting CEO/President Jochen Zeitz has been appointed with a pay package that could provide up to $8.5 million in salary, bonuses and restricted units for a short assignment.

Robert Bishop, Impala's founder and Chief Investment Officer, made the following statement: "Impala believes that with the right leadership, Harley-Davidson can return to its former position of strength. This is why we have nominated Leo Hindery, Jr. and Brent Dewar to the Board – both are exceptional leaders who can provide valuable perspectives on Harley's strategic direction, as well as critical input on the hiring of a new CEO.

"We have had significant concerns about the strategic direction and actions taken by the Board under former Chairman Michael Cave's stewardship for some time – and we have voiced these concerns privately to Harley.

"Notably, it took our urging to convince the Board to terminate the prior CEO, Matthew Levatich, despite years of poor performance. In 2019, Mr. Levatich's reported compensation increased to a new annual record of more than $11 million, even as adjusted motorcycle operating income declined by more than 20% and the stock underperformed Harley's peers.

"The Board has still not shown that it is focused on positive change. To the contrary, one of the first decisions the incumbent directors made after firing Mr. Levatich was to reward their longstanding colleague, Jochen Zeitz, the new Acting President and CEO, with a pay package that could provide up to $8.5 million in salary, bonuses and restricted units for a short assignment. This is yet another instance of this Board being tone deaf to the plight of shareholders and further demonstrates the need for new perspectives on the Board.

"At the appropriate time, we at Impala will present our detailed case to investors in full. Given the ongoing national emergency posed by COVID-19, and out of respect for all stakeholders of Harley during this time of duress, we believe that now is not the appropriate time to hold this discussion. We will be in touch with our fellow shareholders in due course, as necessitated by the company's annual meeting timeline."

March 18 - Harley-Davidson, Inc. announces a temporary suspension of "the majority of production at its U.S. manufacturing facilities" through March 29 to "help support employee health and further bolster coronavirus containment efforts."

Facilities temporarily suspending production are York Vehicle Operations in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin facilities Tomahawk Operations and Pilgrim Road Powertrain Operations.
"We recognize the unprecedented nature of this global crisis. In order to best support our employees and following the social distancing guidance issued by public health authorities, we are temporarily suspending the majority of production at our U.S. manufacturing facilities," said Jochen Zeitz, Acting CEO and President, Harley-Davidson. "We will continue to monitor the situation and take necessary steps to prioritize employee health and safety."

Harley-Davidson says it will "continue monitoring the situation closely and make additional adjustments as necessary in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines." The majority of its U.S. production employees will be on temporary layoff with medical benefits. The company will use this time to "continue deep cleaning and disinfecting its production areas and common areas to further protect workers upon their return."

Harley-Davidson closed its Pilgrim Road Powertrain Operations after an employee tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus and is thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the building, per the company's coronavirus response protocol.

On Monday, March 16, Harley-Davidson asked employees at its Milwaukee-area headquarters and Product Development Center, except those business-critical roles that must be done onsite, to work remotely through at least the end of March. Additionally, the company is "proactively working with its dealers to assess individual impacts and is encouraging dealers to follow the public health guidelines in their communities for the safety of their consumers. In accordance with social distance guidelines, all Harley-Davidson sponsored events have been cancelled until mid-April."

Daytona TT and 200 Postponed

Daytona TT and 200 Postponed as Pandemic Panic Infects Global Motorcycle Industry

At the time of press it is still difficult to discern just how much of the global response to the new Coronavirus pandemic and the COVID-19 disease it can spawn in vulnerable victims is hype and how much is realistic - but by any measure, it's not looking trivial.
Even if the virus itself turns out to be less pernicious than feared, the impacts of the panic it is creating are locked-in and will color and shape the global motorcycle industry business ecosystem for months or maybe years to come - regardless of whether it turns out to just be a short, sharp shock or to be the trigger for a long-term economic downturn.


At this point in the news cycle, the latest news was of the AMA's decision (just 24 hours out from race day) to postpone the much-anticipated Daytona 200 and AFT TT double header slated for 14 March. The Daytona 200 will instead be staged during Biketoberfest, with the Daytona TT delayed to an as yet unspecified date.
It is highly likely that there will be further AFT casualties, with the Atlanta ST (March 28) and Charlotte HM (April 04) looking particularly vulnerable.
The impact has already been felt on national and international race series around the world, with the Qatar (second) round of the World Superbike series postponed (currently the next planned round is in the Netherlands on April 19) and the first three rounds of MotoGP canceled or postponed (Qatar, Thailand and Austin, Texas) - the series is presently scheduled to get underway in Argentina on April 19.


Europe likely -3% for 2020

Neither has the motorcycle show calendar been immune. Expos in Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia have already been either canceled for 2020 or (tentatively) re-arranged for later in the year. In Europe, while we here at AMD have been lucky so far with the first two of our 2020 World Championship Affiliate events being staged in the Czech Republic and Spain just before those countries effectively went into lock-down, industry events such as the Madrid International Motorcycle Fair (Vive la Moto, Madrid, Spain) and Roma MotoDays (Rome, Italy, in April) are either canceled or postponed.
In the United States, Mama Tried and Flat Out Friday (Milwaukee, March) and Revival Cycles' Handbuilt Motorcycle Show at Austin, Texas, planned for the MotoGP weekend are both postponed.
The market's major distributors (Drag Specialties, Tucker V-Twin and HardDrive/WPS) got their shows away just in time in January and February, as did popular shows such as Motor Bike Expo (Verona, Italy), The One Show (Portland, Oregon), Swiss Moto/Custom (Zurich), Motorraeder Dortmund (Germany) and the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows series with its J&P sponsored Ultimate Builder shows in January and February.

Indian Motorcycle

Scout Bobber Sixty - "Mean, Old School, Accessible, Affordable"

In search of the entry-level price-point sweet-spot, Indian Motorcycle says that its new $8,999.00 MRSP lightweight Scout Bobber Sixty is "minimalistic and raw". Working on the basis that what the bike lacks in unnecessary accessories it makes up for in adjectives, Indian describes it as "features stripped-down, blacked-out styling, and a 60 cubic inch, liquid-cooled engine."

Powered by the same 78-horsepower engine as the Scout Sixty, "the Scout Bobber Sixty’s light weight, nimble handling and low center of gravity will appeal to all riders seeking mean, old school styling at a competitive price point.

“Bringing out a stripped down, old school Bobber priced at $8,999 is something we’re very excited about.  We’re proud to provide such a dynamic offering at a price-point that makes owning an Indian motorcycle extremely attainable to an even wider range of riders,” said Reid Wilson, Vice President of Indian Motorcycle.   

"The Scout Bobber Sixty maintains the stripped down styling of the Scout Bobber, including chopped fenders and a confident riding position, while adding several cues that give the model a look of its own.  The Scout Bobber Sixty features a blacked-out engine, a modern tank badge, perch mount mirrors, stripped down headlight, an all-black seat and all-new five-spoke all-black wheels."

Arlen Ness

The 'King of Custom' Celebrated as the 'King of Verona'

Kudos to Paola Somma and Francesco Agnoletto and their team - organizers of Motor Bike Expo in Verona, Italy, every January.

There have been hundreds of acres and millions of words of tribute published about Arlen Ness since his passing in 2019 - but how about this for a touch of class?
Arlen and Cory Ness and their family have always been firmly in the "Friends of Verona" club, always been appreciated by the crowds there - enthusiasts and fellow professionals.
As a statement of appreciation by everyone involved with 'Verona' this year, it would have been hard to top this - nice!
www.arlenness.com

News Briefs

Öhlins USA has renewed its partnership with the AFT series for a fifth consecutive season in 2020. "After another season of invaluable support for the athletes of American Flat Track, the industry leader in suspension technology will enhance its presence at series events in 2020 and will build its profile within the AFT NBCSN telecasts. Premiering this season, the Daytona TT NBCSN telecast will feature Öhlins and highlight the sophistication of its technology and its influence on performance in AFT competition."

The Benicia, California based 'brick and mortar' PG&A retailer Cycle Gear has renewed its AFT partnership as The Official Motorcycle Retailer of AFT for a third consecutive year. A sister company to RevZilla, and now J&P Cycles, Cycle Gear has over 140 stores in 35 states and will again present various promotional events leading up to select AFT rounds including bike nights, pre-race parties and giveaway opportunities including the chance to obtain race day tickets. AFT will again be featured as a contributing sponsor at each bike night while assisting with the in-store giveaways and the promotion of the series at www.cyclegear.com.

The Cat Rental Store has renewed its AFT partnership naming it as the Official Heavy Equipment Rental Store of AFT for its second consecutive year - AFT found that access to Caterpillar's top-of-the-line earth-moving equipment proved to be an invaluable asset in its commitment to providing the best racetracks in the world for both fans and athletes alike.

 

AFT and Arai Helmet, Inc. have signed a multiyear partnership agreement naming Arai Helmet as the Official Helmet of AFT. Noted for its "Glancing Off" impact energy distribution technology, Arai "pride themselves on finding more protection within the limits of a helmet."

Falken Tires have been named the Official Light Truck Tire of AFT. "For over three decades, the California-based automotive titan has been known as a forerunner of high-performance radial tire production in the world. No stranger to motorsports, the FALKEN Motorsports team competes annually in the world famous 24 Hours of Nürburgring - one of the hardest endurance races in the world. Stateside, FALKEN participates and competes in Formula Drift, Lucas Off Road Racing Series, Ultra 4, USCA and supports grassroots racing in SCCA.

 

VP Racing Fuels has been named Official Spec Fuel Supplier and Performance Coolant of AFT in a multi-year partnership. "VP has a decade's long history with motorcycle racing," said Bruce Hendel, VP's Vice President, North American Sales - Race Fuel and Consumer Products. "Our fuels have dominated in all of its forms, from SX and MX to drag racing, Daytona, and the Isle of Man. When it comes to making power and keeping things cool, it's now official - we're now also doing it with American Flat Track."

AFT has renewed its partnership with Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys (RBMA) including its presenting sponsorship of the AFT Singles class and multiple event sponsorships.

Wally Brown Racing has announced its participation in the 2020 AFT Singles Championship with the signing of Chad Cose as its rider after an experimental run Cose did at the Meadowlands Mile in 2019. Wally Brown brings over 20 years of competition experience in NASCAR's top series to this new venture. The team will use Suzuki RM-Z 450s with support from American Suzuki to contest the 2020 season. Cose completed the 2019 season with a standout victory at the Black Hills Half-Mile, bringing Suzuki back to the top step of the podium after a lengthy win hiatus for the brand. Cose would go on to finish top 5 in the AFT Singles Championship.

Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, B&B, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek