IDN 89 March 2011

MARCH ‘11 – ISSUE #89

COMMENT: Workshop wisdom ..........Page 3

PRODUCTS

STAT ZONE

Page 19

Page 23

CATHCART REPORT

Moto-Direct Pages 40-43

MV AGUSTA F3 675

Pages 10-13 Page 24 Page 28

Show review Pages 14-17

Page 33

Page 37

Pages 31-38

Page 31

NEWS ROOM 4-7,48

TRADEZONE 44-45

INDEX 46

•

COMMENT • COMMENT • COMMENT • COMMENT • COMMENT • COMMENT •

Workshop wisdom E

VER wondered why the grease monkeys in the workshop are so laid back, and their professional clients so uptight?

In The Case for Working with Your Hands, author Matthew Crawford argues that manual work, as opposed to the “ghostly” corporatised office work to which many in the West have traditionally aspired, offers deep psychological and spiritual benefits.

“The satisfactions of manifesting oneself concretely in the world through manual competence have been known to make a man quiet and easy.He can simply point:the building stands, the car now runs, the lights are on,” he writes.

Crawford is an American, and this book was a best-seller in the United States, but its critique of post-industrial capitalism is equally relevant here in Europe. If you need a practical task undertaken the help has to be local – it cannot be outsourced.

And, at a time of high graduate unemployment, “the filthy plumber under the sink might be charging somebody $80 an hour.”

Nonetheless, the aim within Western capitalism is 'upskilling’ for the 'knowledge economy’, or get as many as possible into a college, and then into an office.

Crawford emphasises how much the cognitive element has been extracted from many office jobs. In the public sector, liberalism, in attempting to prevent abuses of power, creates standardised tests that stop teachers from teaching, or sentencing guidelines that stop judges from judging. In the private sector, it is deemed more efficient to disseminate 'knowledge systems’ than to encourage initiative, hence the zombified call-centre functionary, doomed to spend his working day reading from a script. There is also the creepy corporate culture of 'teamwork’. The upshot, Crawford says, is the smarmy,passive-aggressive boss,or 'pyjama days’;deep neurosis overlain by a strained political correctness.

“The Office” and similar portrayals of cubicle life in TV and film attest to the dark absurdism with which many have come to view their white-collar jobs.

Compare this unhappy dysfunction with the more bracing life of the trainee plumber, who is told: “If you don’t vent the drain pipe like this, sewage gases will seep up through the water in the toilet and the house will stink of shit!”The book extols the comradeship of the workshop – a world where

authority is based on demonstrable skill, results are tangible, and men are 'masters of their stuff’. Pyjama days are not required, since the workers will naturally sit together eating their lunchtime sandwiches.

Crawford himself works as a motorcycle mechanic, as well as an academic philosopher. He has his own workshop, Shockoe Moto in Richmond,Virginia.“I work on Japanese and European motorcycles, mostly older bikes with some vintage cachet that makes people willing to spend money on them. I have found the satisfactions of the work to be very much bound up with the intellectual challenges it presents.And yet my decision to go into this line of work is a choice that seems to perplex many people.

“The job frequently requires complex thinking. An internal combustion engine can work in any number of ways, and different manufacturers have tried different approaches. Each has its own tendencies for failure. You develop a library of sounds and smells and feels. For example, the backfire of a too-lean fuel mixture is subtly different from an ignition backfire.”

Some might call this a simple rehash of the seventies’ hippy classic Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, but that would be missing the point. This seems to be a moment when ‘real work’ has a compelling economic rationale. Repair shops have seen their business jump significantly in the current recession: people aren’t buying new bikes; they are fixing the ones they have.The current downturn is likely to pass eventually, but there are also systemic changes in the economy that have the effect of making the manual trades more attractive.

The crucial distinction in the emerging labour market is not between those with more or less education, but between those whose services can be delivered over a wire and those who must do their work in person or on site. The latter will find their livelihoods more secure against outsourcing to distant countries. You can’t hammer a nail over the Internet.

Nor can the Indians fix your bike. Because they’re in India.

the mechanic’s job often requires complex thinking

Al Franck International Editor al@dealer-world.com

CONTENTS NEWS Pages 4-7, 48 STATZONE Page 9

CATHCART REPORT Page 10-13

MV AGUSTA F3 675

SHOWZONE Page 14-17

PRODUCTS Pages 19-29 MOTORCYCLE FASHION

Pages 31-38 INDUSTRY EXTRA Page 40-43

TRADEZONE Page 44-45

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INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

3

NEWS ROOM

N REPORT AMERICA

Motorcycle Industry Council figures show that 440,000 motorcycles were sold in the USA in 2010, a 16% fall on the 522,000 sold in 2009. Off-road bikes saw the largest decrease, with 23% fewer sold in 2010 compared to the previous year.

The scooter segment saw the smallest decrease at 9%, 3,000 down on 2009. ATV sales were down 64,000 units, or 2%.

US Highland, the Oklahomabased off-road motorcycle manufacturer, has temporarily ceased production. The company lost three of its top executives in a plane crash last July, including President and founder Mats Malmberg.

According to a company statement, manufacturing will resume after a new funding package, currently under negotiation, has been signed.

BMW Motorrad USA reported a 4 percent growth in sales in 2010, led by the S1000RR superbike. The company expects continued growth in 2011 with the release of its new six-cylinder touring bikes, the K 1600 GT and K 1600 GTL, and other new models.

Yamaha New CEO closes at Royal Spanish Enfield factory YAMAHA said on January 27 that it will close its motorcycle engine plant near Barcelona due to falling global demand for its vehicles.

According to a company announcement, the plant at PalauSolita i Plegamans near Barcelona will be shut, with production moved to another Yamaha factory, the MBK facility at Saint-Quentin in Northern France.

The plant produced engines of between 60cc and 650cc, mainly for the European market, and made 70,000 in 2010 out of a potential capacity of 130,000. According to Spanish unions, the closure will result in the loss of 410 of the 500 jobs on the site, with some offered relocation to Saint-Quentin.

“All over the world, and Europe in particular, there has been a prolonged fall in sales which has forced Yahama to take steps to restructure its industrial capacity,” the statement said, adding that concentrating production at the French facility would safeguard European operations.

Yamaha will retain its commercial headquarters in Spain at the Palau site.

www.yamaha-motor.eu

DR. Venki Padmanabhan has been appointed CEO of Chennai, India-based motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield Motors. Padmanabhan, a U.S. citizen, first joined the company two years ago as Chief Operating Officer under thenCEO R.L. Ravichandran.

Over the past two years, the company posted a 21 percent growth in sales volume and a return to profitability.

Prior to joining Royal Enfield,

Padmanabhan was Managing Director of Chrysler’s South East Asia Global Sourcing Office, which is also based in Chennai.

www.royalenfield.com

Frank Thomas in administration THOMAS Sports Group, which distributes the Frank Thomas, Motrax, BKS,Lintek and Red Route brands from its base in Central England, has gone into administration.

Ernst & Young confirmed that it had been appointed as administrators for the group, which supplies both the UK and European markets, has around 70 employees and is based in Finedon, Northamptonshire.

The administrators said they were working with the Group’s directors and management team to explore all options. “The initial strategy will be to seek a buyer for the business and assets of the Group as a going concern, and we are already in dialogue with a number of potentially interested parties in this regard.” www.thomassports.eu

NEWS ROOM

Spanish moped deaths down THE number of moped accidents in Spain has dropped by over 60% in the period between 2003 and 2009, according to data collected by the DGT - Dirección General de Tráfico, with fatalities declining from 391 to 156. The good news continued through 2010 with the number of fatalities down to 43 in the eleven months to the end of November.

Spanish motorcycle industry federation Anesdor pointed out that possible negative reasons for this were the increases in government taxes, registration charges and the raising of the minimum riding age to 15, which between them helped cause an 80% fall in new moped sales between 2003 and 2010. www.anesdor.com

FGR Midalu 2.5 litre V6 muscle bike WITH Czech industrialist Miroslav Felgr as General Manager and support from the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ústí nad Orlicí-based Moto FGR has unveiled its new Midalu naked bike model, which is claimed to be the most powerful production bike in the world.

The Midalu, designed by engineer Oldrich Kreuz, features a 240bhp 2.5 litre V-6 engine and has six exhaust outlets in a tube frame, a billet aluminium swingarm and self-supporting carbon tank, which also

supports the seat.

Weighing in at 270kg, a total of 44 companies from the Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden and Italy contributed parts and subassemblies to the bike, including Öhlins suspension, Brembo brakes and OZ Racing wheels.

The test programme will be completed this year, with the first production run of six bikes taking place later in the year, and a potential sale date some time in 2012. www.motofgr.com

NEWS ROOM

Harley-Davidson reports improved results for 2010 HARLEY-Davidson 2010 income rose to $259.7 million (E190.9m) from $70.6 million (E52.1m) in 2009. Compared to overall market performance, Harley-Davidson’s results were impressive. Global retail sales for Harley dipped 1% worldwide (and 0.2% in the US) during the fourth quarter of 2010, while 651cc+ (“heavyweight”) sales fell 14.8% in the U.S. during that same period.

Overall H-D sales in the U.S. for the year decreased 11.7% compared to 2009, in the face of a 14.6% drop in the overall

heavyweight segment. In all, Harley shipped 210,494 bikes in 2010, a 5.6% decrease compared to 2009.

President and CEO Keith Wandell (right) is cautiously optimistic about 2011, saying: “In the U.S., we are the market share leader in new on-road motorcycle sales, not only to Boomers, but to young adults, women, African-American and Hispanic riders. In Europe, we moved into the number two market share spot for heavyweight motorcycles in 2010.” www.harley-davidson.com

Agility Global Saietta THE Saietta, revealed at the MCN London Motorcycle Show in February, is a stylish all-electric motorbike made

Ixon boss Thierry Maniguet

by London-based start-up company Agility Global.

The vehicle’s battery is inside the front composite-material bonnet. It has wide bars, a high eye-line, and a low centre of gravity.

The bike comes in two variants; the Saietta S is a 50 mile range bike with sub-four-second 0–60mph performance, while the Saietta R has a heavier battery and a range of 100 miles, with 0–60mph in less than five seconds.

Agility Global says the drive system is 73% more efficient than an internal combustion engine in getting energy from the power source to the wheels.

The S will go on sale at £9,975 (E11,800), and the R at £13,975 (E16,650), which compares with the £6,000 to £8,600 price tag of the Brammo Empulse. www.saietta.com

Ixon signs deal with Yamaha France YAMAHA Motor France has signed a deal to supply its 295-strong French dealer network with Ixon-brand motorcycle apparel.

“Yamaha Motor France has selected us as preferred partner for motorcycle and scooter apparel, which enables it to offer all our product range at very attractive rates to its dealer network, “the company said in a press release.

According to the release, Yamaha shops wishing to continue selling other brands will continue to do so.

Access Equip Motos France, which makes Ixon clothing, employs 30 near Macon in central France and was set up in 1996 by Thierry Maniguet.

Last year the company made profits of E1.6m on turnover of E12.2m. www.ixon.com

INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

7

STAT ZONE

French registrations fall 7.2% in 2010 NEW registrations in France over 2010 came to 185,609, down 7.2% on the 200,017 recorded in 2009.

By category, the 125cc plus sector saw 99,559 registrations, a 5% decline, while 50cc–125cc registrations contracted by 7.9% to 86,050.

Industry observers attribute the fall to poor weather, fuel shortages and strikes, on top of the continuing economic uncertainties.

Suzuki continues its headlong plunge, down over 20%, and market leader Yamaha also saw a fall of more than 10%. Honda and Kawasaki recorded smaller declines, helped by a number of popular new models.

Piaggio’s total of more than 10,000 is for scooters only.

Including its popular MP3 LT three-wheelers, the Italian

group’s total would be 22,306, taking it to third place.

Peugeot has bounced back, and BMW’s increase of over 17%, was repeated in many other European markets on the back of the new R1200 and S1000RR models.

Ducati and Aprilia saw healthy gains, Triumph and HarleyDavidson were down slightly, and both KTM and MBK saw falls of over 10%.

Far Eastern brands reported mixed fortunes, with Jonway, SkyTeam and SYM all falling back, while Kymco surged ahead and Daelim recorded a similar level to the previous year.

Over 2010, the most popular scooter on the French market was the Yamaha X-Max, with 9,187

France: Registrations by Manufacturer – 2010 Rank

Manufacturer

1

Yamaha

35,779

2

Honda

25,740

–3.5

3

Suzuki

18,192

–20.9

4

Kawasaki

15,008

–7.4

5

Piaggio

10,827

–8.4

6

BMW

8,753

+17.3

7

Peugeot

7,686

+14.0

8

Harley-Davidson

7,343

–1.8

9

Triumph

5,985

–5.0

10

Kymco

5,211

+9.5

11

Sym

4,417

–18.5

12

KTM

4,233

–10.2

13

Ducati

3,743

+9.5

14

MBK

3,362

–12.2

15

Daelim

2,818

+0.7

16

Aprilia

2,562

+7.5

17

SkyTeam

2,050

–23.5

18

Gilera

1,757

+2.3

19

Jonway

1,723

–54.7

20

GasGas

1,664

+10.1

sold, and the most popular motorcycle the Kawasaki Z750, with 5,338 sold.

Units registered

% Change on 2009 –10.8

www.cotedelofficiel.fr

Spanish registrations Japanese market stable down 4.7% NEW registration figures for Spain released by Anesdor, the Spanish motorcycle and moped industry association, showed a total of 169,331 for 2010,a fall of 4.7% on the figure for 2009.

2010 is therefore the third consecutive year that the Spanish motorbike and moped market has experienced a fall in sales. The figures are down to a level last seen in 1994, when 169,911 vehicles were

registered.The most substantial fall was in moped sales, down 22% on the figure for 2009.

Motorcycle sales were up by 1%.

Quad, ATV and UTV registrations came to 3,885, 13.3% higher than in 2009.

A major reason for the contraction last year was the rise in registration tax to the maximum rate of 14.75%.

ACCORDING to the Japanese Automobile and Motorcycle Association (JAMA), domestic sales in 2010 by Japanese manufacturers stood at 380,242 units, a decrease of 0.1% on 2009.

By class, the figures were as follows: 50cc or under – 231,247 units, down 9.5%; 51-125cc – 96,368 units, up 46.3%; 126-250cc – 27,275 units, down 26.6%, Over 250cc – 25,352 units, up 14.5%.

In terms of production within Japan, Honda’s output was 201,007 (+2.5%), Suzuki 167,606 (+3.7%), Yamaha 182,734 (+11.5%) and Kawasaki 112,752 (–8.4%).

Total Japanese production was 664,175 units (+3%). Exports from Japan were down 9.3% on the previous year.

www.anesdor.com

www.jama-english.jp

Dutch motorcycle market down, scooters up IN 2010 12,230 new motorcycles were registered in the Netherlands, a fall of 14.5% on the 14,304 recorded in 2009, according to the country’s road vehicle industry association RAI. Moped registrations were 32,648, a decrease of 18.8%. Scooters, on the other hand, jumped from 55,557 in 2009 to 61,841 last year, an increase of 11.3%.

The only major brands to increase motorcycle sales were market leader BMW and Aprilia,

with most other OEMs seeing significant falls.

The motorcycle market in 2010 broke down as follows: off-road 2,709 units, sportsbikes 1,713, street/naked 461, supersport 3,201, touring 1,119, and custom/chopper 1,054.

Best-selling moped brands in 2010 were Kymco (4,546 units), SYM (4,201) and Piaggio (3,818), while the best-selling scooter OEMs were SYM (8,235), Vespa (6,856) and Piaggio (5,624).

Netherlands: Registrations by manufacturer Motorcycles – 2010 Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Manufacturer BMW Suzuki Yamaha Honda Harley-Davidson Kawasaki Ducati KTM Triumph Aprilia

Units registered 1,992 1,863 1,573 1,479 1,056 968 502 485 465 383

% Change on 2009 +0.3 –27.1 –29.1 –5.7 –10.3 –4.1 –9.2 –20.3 –17.4 +20.4

www.raivereniging.nl INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

9

W r i t t e n b y A l a n C a t h c a r t - c a t h c a r t @ d e a l e r- w o r l d . c o m

MV Agusta F3 675: The legend reaches the street

N

C

10

Claudio Castiglioni unveiling the F3

Photo: Stefano Gadda

O motorcycle in recent years has made such a universally positive first impression as the new threecylinder MV Agusta F3 675 sportbike launched on November 2nd, 2010 at the EICMA Show in Milan.

Overwhelmingly chosen as the ‘Most Beautiful Bike of the Show’ in a poll of 12,000 readers of one of Italy’s leading magazines, Motociclismo, with 38.5% of the votes cast, against 20.6% for the Ducati Diavel in second place, the F3 made its debut on an ultra-minimalist stand celebrating the ‘Art of the Motorcycle’, hastily arranged by a company which, three months earlier, had been part of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. But, in the meantime, on August 6th, MV Agusta had returned to Italian hands – in fact, for the third time in two decades, it had been acquired by the Castiglioni family!

That deal saw MV President Claudio Castiglioni, 65, and his son Giovanni, 29, repurchasing from HarleyDavidson 100% of the shares of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. The Castiglionis thus reacquired both the historic MV Agusta brand and the family Cagiva marque, which they had previously sold to Harley in July 2008 for E70million ($108million). Harley’s exit came after making a further significant investment of around $60million in MV Agusta, devoted to cleaning up the balance sheet and underwriting development costs of the two acclaimed new models announced for 2010, the heavily revised F4 Superbike and 990R/1190R Brutale duo, plus the forthcoming 675cc F3 Supersport contender. laudio Castiglioni continues as President of the company, with Giovanni as CEO in charge of day-today operations for MV Agusta. But in a further stunning move, Claudio

Castiglioni has enticed Massimo Bordi back to the motorcycle industry to join him and his son in retaking control of MV Agusta.

"MV Agusta is the crown jewel of Italian motorcycles,” declared Claudio Castiglioni. “I have already been a winner once in company with Massimo Bordi. We once made the most beautiful bikes in the world together, and we will now continue with this tradition at MV Agusta - and especially with the new F3, which brings the most legendary engine format in our company’s glorious history to the street for the first time ever."

The F3 was created by MV Agusta’s British design chief Adrian Morton at the company’s CRC product development base at San Marino, established in 1987 by Massimo Tamburini, who had retired from the company in the wake of the Harley takeover. In doing so, Morton worked to a design brief furnished by Claudio Castiglioni, who had taken the decision some years beforehand that MV’s volume production Supersport

INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

model should be a 675cc triple.

Morton graduated in 1995 from the prestigious industrial design course at London’s Royal College of Art, arguably Europe’s No.1 hotbed of future design trendsetters. He then went straight to Italy to work for one and a half years as one of the 50 R&D staff employed at MV Agusta, apprenticed to the Michelangelo of the motorcycle, Massimo Tamburini.

But 18 months later, in 1997, Morton was headhunted by Andrea Merloni, the youthful millionaire former Supersport racer who’d acquired the historic Benelli trophy marque located nearby at Pesaro, and wanted Morton to design the new range of threecylinder sportbikes he planned to develop for sale.The resultant Tornado 900, powered by a fuel-injected 12valve engine, designed by ex-Ferrari engineer Riccardo Rosa, the man who’d been responsible for developing the MV Agusta F4 engine to production ready spec., was entirely Morton’s own work, complete with highly distinctive looks, which didn’t age during the five years it took the

small Benelli factory to bring the Tornado to production, and such groundbreaking features as its radiator beneath the seat cooled by twin extractor fans in the tail. Next came the equally innovative TnT 1130 streetfighter launched in 2004, employing a longstroke version of the 900cc triple motor, then the 1130 Tre-K adventure tourer that was about to enter production when Merloni sold Benelli in December 2005 to Qianjiang, one of China’s largest motorcycle and scooter manufacturers.

The chance to talk to Morton about these iconic designs, and how the acclaimed F3 came about, in the most extensive and wide-ranging interview this shy designer has ever granted, answered many questions.

AC:Adrian, before you rejoined MV Agusta you worked for Benelli. Why did you leave there, and return to CRC? AM: I worked at Benelli for seven years in total, which was a long time, but a happy time. There was only one designer, and that was me, so I was involved with everything there from designing every aspect of each new bike, down to the company’s graphics and letterheads, and the World Superbike race team livery. I even stuck stickers on the racebikes at 5am in the morning in the SBK paddock, and you’d never do that at a big company.

So I think the experiences I had there were much more than just as a designer sketching motorcycles, hence it was very rewarding and enjoyable.

AC: If so, why did you rejoin MV Agusta?

AM: I found it hard to believe in a future for Benelli in the hands of the Chinese, and events so far have proved me right. But I was promised an interesting future at CRC, because Tamburini told me he was going to retire, that he wanted somebody to

Claudio Castiglioni (left) and Massimo Bordi

AM: Yes, but again it was a huge fight to incorporate the changes that were actually made, although Tamburini had left by the time this project was finalised, so it’s much more my own work. There was a really nice little project in between for Husqvarna, when we still owned them, which was one of the nicest bits of work that I’ve ever done, but hasn’t yet been seen by anybody. It was a really quick project, done in 3 or 4 months, and was based on a frame we were working on in-house. But after that came restyling the F4, which was like committing sacrilege every day of my life, because it’s not just about redoing any old motorcycle, but a design icon. However, the new F4 was significant because it was the start of a transition period within MV Agusta after Harley-Davidson came in, and Tamburini had announced he was retiring - but in the midst of all this we had a project to do, after eleven years of not touching the F4 visually. It’s a bit of a miracle in itself that any bike can stay in the market for eleven years, and still be appreciated for being the most beautiful bike around without essentially being changed one iota but we had to try to push through some new design ideas to make it fresh, and we also had to deal with the political movements within the

company at the same time. That was a big juggling act, and made what was already a very difficult and stressful project, even more challenging. So, when we presented that bike, for me personally it wasn’t just about finishing a project, it was about closure on a very, very difficult period both professionally and personally, on what had been a very traumatic time.

AC: Did you have any direct influence from Harley-Davidson on the F4 restyling?

AM: Harley management felt it was right for them to remain very much detached from the restyling projects, and I think in many respects that was the right thing to do.

AC: Was Il Presidente, Claudio Castiglioni, personally involved in the design?

AM: At the time I was working on the F4, Claudio was heavily involved in selling the company, so he was very much detached from the details of the design, with maybe just an occasional phone call at 7am in the morning or on Sunday afternoon. The company was in a really difficult situation, and situations like that have an influence on the design work that’s going on.

With the F4, I essentially took it upon myself to get the project out of the door regardless of whatever was going to happen at a corporate level within

MV Agusta design chief Adrian Morton

Photo: Kyoichi Nakamura

continue with the company’s design traditions, and that he felt I was the person who could provide that continuity. The fact he wanted me to come back to CRC was quite a compliment, so I took him up on his offer - although it was a bit strange at first, because I was going back to a pure design company which hadn’t really changed during the seven years I’d been away. I found it rather difficult to readjust, because I’d since been involved with a company where every day you could see what you’d designed appearing on the production line, and now I found myself in a design studio isolated from motorcycles, which were actually being made 400km away at the Varese factory. The reason I love bikes is being involved with them, not just designing them in a kind of creative vacuum. So that was strange, and it’s still quite hard to deal with.

AC: On your return to CRC, what did you start working on first?

AM: The first thing I worked on was some concept sketches for a few ideas for some potential projects based on the four-cylinder engine - just a few ideas on how we could move into a different market.They haven’t come to fruition yet - but they're still there, and may do in the future.Watch this space!

But the first project I worked on with Tamburini was a restyle of the F4 Brutale, which was incredibly difficult - how to make it look fresh and different without losing its essential character. Working as a designer at Benelli I’d had so much freedom to do completely new things, and now I found myself in a very restricted conceptual space, working on something that needed to be refreshed without actually changing very much, with the guy who designed it first time around looking over my shoulder! I didn’t want to change anything fundamental like the frame, and so it ended up being quite a difficult project. Massimo Tamburini had decided that the bike should return to its origins, so all the things that made it different were almost taken back a step, whereas I thought it would’ve been better to push it forward a bit more. Anyway, it got taken back to the future, and Tamburini signed it off as a finished project - whether it was right or wrong that way is for customers to decide.

Obviously, though, when you keep models in the market for quite a long period like the F4 or the Brutale, it becomes harder to change them.

AC: OK - but your next project was presumably the revamped F4 1000, which was a definitely successful facelift which did look substantially different, whilst retaining the same overall look.

Photo: Stefano Gadda

CATHCART REPORT the company.

AC:Were you satisfied with the way it ended up?

AM: I think as a designer you always want to do something more, but I'm incredibly happy that we managed to do several of the things I wanted to do to make it a little bit fresher.

AC: Like the square exhausts?!

AM: The square exhausts were something that Claudio himself suggested, and I pushed it through on his behalf. So I got the brunt of the criticism that came from these, but I stand by our decision to do them, since I believe we needed to do something different that worked.

One of the main things I wanted to do was to change the proportions of the bike, to give it a fresher look.

Obviously the fairing is quite full with an in-line four motor, and quite long in keeping with the F4 design ethos, but we had to keep everything more compact towards the front of the bike so as to make it look more modern, even though it had this very full fairing along the side. So that was one thing that I was fighting for right until the end, and if you actually look on the website (http://www.mvagusta.it/it/ company/centro-ricerche-cagiva) there's a picture of the F4 clay model which is right in its final stage, and we’ve got a piece of cardboard that indicates where the frame is!

Tamburini just didn’t want that frame to be changed. If we didn’t change the frame, the bike would just be the same again, and if you don’t change major components of the bike, how can you expect to change the proportions of other parts? The biggest thing was changing the proportions, but making it still look like an F4.

AC: So when did you start on the F3?

AM:The F3 was straight afterwards, so we were right out of one project and straight into another one - but to fill the big void that Tamburini left behind him after retiring, I now had Claudio Castiglioni as design director. As I said earlier, Claudio had stayed out of hands-on involvement with CRC, with all the upheaval after Harley took over and with getting things moving again in Varese. But now he wanted to become more involved with product R&D, and so every couple of weeks he was in San Marino, and we’d sit down together to discuss the project in detail, which was really nice. We had meetings fairly regularly from November 2008 onwards when we started the F3 project. Also, I was getting more involved with the people in Varese for the first time, which had always been a little hard with the physical distance between Varese and CRC. So for the first time we were getting drawn closer together, which I

INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

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thought was a good thing for the future of MV Agusta’s projects.

AC: If you kicked the project off in November ’08, this means it took you less than two years to create the F3 from a clean computer screen to finished product. That’s fast work!

AM: Much less than two years, in fact, because we only machined the first rough clay model in November 2009, so we’ve really done everything in a little over 12 months. First I drew up a design, and I did lots of sketches of detail things that I’d have loved to have included. I think you can draw some kind of analogy with the Ducati 999 project by Pierre Terblanche, who went out of his way to make it as radical as possible to convince the world that a page in the company’s design ethos was being turned, from the Tamburini era and the 916. Well, I did the same with the F3 versus the F4 - but I got told that it was too much, and they didn’t like it! So then I had to listen to what Claudio Castiglioni in fact wanted, after which I drew up some other sketches, and then I started actually making the first individual components, working around rough castings of Mascheroni’s three-cylinder engine.

We didn’t try and do the whole bike straightaway - we did the swingarm and the frame plates and all the main underpinnings of the motorcycle first.

We particularly spent a lot of time designing the frame, because obviously this is the beginning of a series of projects on the same platform, not just the F3.

AC: So you had to think of the F3 Brutalina and any other models that may come afterwards?

AM: Exactly, and then from around November 2009 we had a 3D model locked in with all the hard points like the chassis, etc. It was really exciting, because right from the beginning I just loved the frame. I had to use the same frame plates concept again, because that’s an MV trademark, but I had to do something a little bit different, so I ended up wrapping them together in the middle. They were getting so close to one another for a small bike, so we got to the point where they were almost touching, so I thought - let’s make two separate plates and join them together. I loved that as the starting point - when you see little things like that happen almost by accident, then you know it’s going to be a nice project to be a part of. So then we knocked up a rough mathematical model, machined it out, and then around Christmas of 2009 I was scraping away at clay. I spent a little time there at CRC over the New Year

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Photo: Stefano Gadda

CATHCART REPORT

MV Agusta F3 675

holidays on my own, because I think you sometimes need a little one-onone time with yourself on a project like this, without all the people around when you're doing new models. By January it started to come together right, so then we basically finalised the clay model, did a scan of it, did the reverse engineering, and now here’s the bike ready for production R&D. Claudio Castiglioni has been heavily involved all along the way.

Right from the beginning he insisted on having the triple exhausts stacked on the right side, as well as having a very specific list of other things he wanted. He wanted the bike to have a strong family feeling, and especially the face of the bike, the front fairing.

For me, it would’ve been great to do something more extreme while still keeping the MV look, so you can say that in this respect I executed his design ethos, rather than my own.

AC: Well, the way Claudio tells it, you got everything pretty much right first time, except for the headlamp, so he had to get you to change that.

AM: Yes, change it backwards! No, only kidding - I can see the point of what he asked us to do, and it seems from people’s reaction that we did a good job.

AC: But are you happy with it?

AM: I think as a designer you always want to do more. I'm not happy with any bike I do. OK, I’m happy for about a minute, and then I think - well, I could do a bit more there, or there, or maybe there. It’s the nature of being a designer. I think the best bits of the bike are the frame and fuel tank. I really like the fuel tank, which is a bit of a reinterpretation of the F4, but I think is really sexy, except I wish people could see it better, because there’s no photographs yet taken from that angle! And when you sit on the

INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

bike as well, you get a totally different feeling to the F4. It makes me feel more confident as a rider sitting on it.

AC: Having done so myself, I agree. Even though it’s a smaller bike all around, you feel more a part of the F3, as if you’re actually sitting in it, not on it like you do with the F4.

AM: Yes, that’s right, even though I really love the way the new F4 handles, I rode one for a couple of days and I was really impressed with the difference between the old F4, and the new F4. But the F3 is so much more relaxed, even just sitting on the clay model it feels much more approachable, it doesn’t intimidate you like the F4 does, because the F4 is actually quite a big bike physically. It effectively has a 17-litre fuel tank, which is great for a bike that’s so narrow and physically 125ish in terms of size. Obviously the engine is lovely, too, so I’ve had to make a bit more of a feature of that, as well.

AC: Was Tamburini involved in any way with the design of the F3?

AM: Absolutely not. He saw it for the first time the day before the EICMA show last November.

AC: So, when you showed the F3 to Massimo Tamburini, what did he say?

AM: He wandered around it, lit up a cigarette - which has to be the first cigarette somebody has smoked in CRC for two years, ever since Claudio Castiglioni gave up smoking! - walked around it again, and then was genuinely really positive. He said, “Well, I have to start by saying something negative about this!” - and then he didn’t really say anything negative about it at all! He made a few technical comments about the swingarm, but honestly, he was really positive - though he did say he didn’t

think I’d have pushed the design envelope as much as this, which is interesting because I don’t think it’s gone far enough!

AC: Obviously the important thing is that you can immediately tell the F3 is an MV Agusta, even without the silver and red paint.

But is the F3 Brutalina, which you’ve also designed but we haven’t seen yet, still very obviously a Brutale - or were you able to push that a bit more?

AM: I’ll answer that in another few weeks! It’s not signed off yet, but I don’t think it necessarily has to be a mini-Brutale. I think also because we’ve done a new F4 Brutale that’s very similar to the old Brutale, I believe that people want to see something a little fresher this time around - so we can have all the right elements that make it a Brutale-type bike, but we don’t necessarily have to do a cut and paste job. I think the F3 three-cylinder underpinnings merit doing something a little bit fresher, a little more dynamic, because the customers who are going to be buying that bike are going to be a bit younger than those that MV Agusta has had in the past. I’d like to think that people would be inclined to push a little harder with their money and buy an F3 over an R6 – because it’s going to be something quite special, while at the same time affordable. So I think it’s good to be doing something fresher this time around with the F3 Brutale. I think it will be very much an MV Agusta though.

AC: So now that the F3 is out in the open, do you feel like you’ve given birth to baby?

AM: I think I’ll answer that by quoting my friend Pierre Terblanche, who says that designing motorcycles is like giving birth to barbed wire! He’s not wrong.....

CATHCART REPORT

MV Agusta: the future’s bright...

IOVANNI Castiglioni, 29, is the only son of Claudio, the man whose love affair with MV Agusta is such that he’s sold and repurchased the historic Italian brand no less than three times!

Papa Castiglioni will continue as President, a largely figurehead role, which will see him concentrating on product development, while his son Giovanni takes responsibility for running the company as CEO, a graduate of the London Business School who joined MV Agusta in 2002 as Director of Communication after working in the USA for a year with the company’s US importer. The chance to talk to him about these inside his office in the company’s Varese factory revealed a man with a clear idea of where MV Agusta is headed.

AC: Giovanni, at what stage did you become involved with your family’s dealings with Harley-Davidson about repurchasing MV Agusta?

GC: I was involved from Stage One. I was the one who dealt directly with Harley-Davidson over a nine-month period - and it was quite a tough nine months, like having a baby, but we managed to succeed in taking MV back again, on terms that were satisfactory for us.

AC: Viewed from outside, it seems surprising that Harley management agreed to sell the company to the Castiglioni family?

GC: Well, the contract we made with Harley at the moment of the sale back in 2008 was quite strict, therefore they would have had problems in selling the company to somebody else in a way that was anything but expensive for them.

AC: Was this because Harley still owed you money under the original contract of sale?

GC: Exactly - we still had yet to receive part of the deferred payment.

AC: How much?

GC: Between E16 and 18 million.

So it was a very big inducement for them to do a deal with us, which wrapped that up together with the assets of the company.

AC: But, is it true that when you reacquired MV Agusta, it was with a clean balance sheet?

GC: Yes, indeed, the company has zero debt today, and we also have good working capital, and cash in the bank. We also don’t have any assets used as collateral against a mortgage or other kind of loan, and so there is no cashflow problem at the moment.

G

Of course, the company is still losing money and has yet to invest a lot of capital for future growth. But, I am quite positive because we have a solid structure, a good brand, and new products generated via substantial investment from Harley-Davidson. I’m not worried about our cashflow, I’m more concerned about the global market, which is quite difficult at the moment - both for MV Agusta and for other manufacturers, which have much more to lose than we do.

The markets where we would expect to sell MV Agusta are deflated, particularly the USA and also Europe, so this is why we’re looking at other markets that are doing better economically, like Australia, Brazil and Asia. We just finalised a deal with a new importer in Australia, who is actually also the importer for Triumph, and we’re just closing a contract with Brazil, which will entail up to 10% of MV’s total production being assembled there from CKD kits manufactured here in Varese.We have a plan to sell around 500-600 units in Brazil in 2011, and we will start production there in May in our own factory in Manaus.To start with, this is only for the four-cylinder models, but in due course we will manufacture the F3 there, too.

AC: What is your break-even point for MV Agusta in terms of total annual production?

GC: First I have to say that we are just now completing a thorough overhaul of the company, which was seriously over-structured in terms of personnel and costs. So, we have reduced our overhead by about 40%, not only by downsizing our workforce by about 45%, but also by creating efficiencies in the supply chain, and streamlining our production process to make it quicker and leaner. By doing this, we have taken E1 million per month out of the operating costs, without sacrificing quality, which we believe will give us an economic breakeven point of around 4,500 units per year of the four-cylinder F4 and Brutale models. And with the introduction of the three-cylinder F3, we will break even absolutely.

We have a really conservative approach to the growth of the company. In 2011 we produced around 3,500 motorcycles, and our plan is to increase that first to 4,000 units, then gradually up to 6,000, 7,000, 8,000 motorcycles after the F3 is launched, to a ceiling of 11,000 bikes a year. We’ll do this by consolidating the existing product range with the new models that we are

putting into the market now, starting with the Brutale 920, which will enter production in March, priced in Europe at E11,190. Later in the year, we are also producing the F4RR, which will actually be a 2012 model, and the complete opposite of an entry level bike! In fact, it’ll be a higher level F4R Superbike, weighing 210kg with a full tank of fuel, with a still more powerful engine giving 203 bhp in street legal form, top quality Öhlins suspension, Brembo Monobloc brakes, and a complete set of electronic rider aids including traction control, antiwheelie control and so forth. That’ll cost E22,990, and we’ll also have a track day or Superstock race version weighing 1.5kg less. We plan to consolidate production of the fourcylinder MV Agusta F4 models at 4,500 units per year, no more. And then, introducing the F3 Brutale and various other models on the threecylinder platform, will step by step enable us to reach our target of 11,000 units a year.

AC: Is 11,000 bikes your future annual ceiling for MV Agusta production?

GC: 11,000 bikes a year, all sold, would already make us several million Euro of profit, to invest back in the marque. If the market tells us we need to make more - that’s perfect! But we envisage all that future growth will come from the F3 - four-cylinder F4 production will stay at 4,500 bikes a year.

AC: Is this talk of a ceiling so as not to cheapen the brand?

GC: No, not really - it’s just that we plan to be conservative. I think MV Agusta can produce at least 15,00020,000 units per year without diluting the value of the brand. But by making 11,000 bikes annually, the company will already make a lot of cash.

AC: You said you were laying off many workers. What is MV’s current workforce, and what are you reducing it to?

GC:We already made the reduction.

We were at 250 people, and we will stabilise the workforce at 150-160 people. But of course if we end up doing 11,000 bikes, we will have to expand the workforce along the way but we’re not there yet.

AC: You’ve only spoken about MV Agusta. Do you have any plans to revive the Cagiva marque?

GC: No, we have no plans for Cagiva at the moment, to be frank, because MV Agusta comes first, and we have limited resources. We must focus on the brand that we are

MV Agusta CEO Giovanni Castiglioni

Photo: Stefano Gadda

absolutely sure we will have success with. We have a beautiful bike in the F3, and I think it’ll be hard to resist when we sell it in Europe at E12,490 - a truly competitive price.

AC: When will the F3 Brutalina arrive?

GC:Three or four months later.We’ll display the Brutale 675 - as it will be called - at EICMA in November, and plan to enter production with it in Spring 2012. We will maintain the Brutale identity, even though people may call it the Brutalina as a slang name, like you do - it’s a strong brand, so it would be foolish to change the name. After that, at the end of 2012 we will present a Supermotard version of the F3, and these three variants should be enough for us to cover all the market segments we want to attack. MV Agusta as a brand will only produce sportbikes, and we don’t want to dilute the brand by broadening the spread of models too much initially. That said, we may eventually consider making a sports tourer or an adventure tourer, or even a street enduro comparable to the small Tiger 800 that Triumph has made. But first we must concentrate on what we’re best at, and that’s the pure sports models. Once we have developed a dealer network that asks for different variants, then we can look at making those. One step at a time.

AC: Your father showed me the prototype MV Agusta F1 single.

Do you have any plans for this?

GC: None at present. Right now it’s not in our business plan, but it’s something we’re evaluating - same as the Castiglioni electric bicycle my father’s also working on. But MV Agusta comes first, and especially the F3.

INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

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Words and pictures by Al Franck - al@dealer-world.com

A

TTENDANCE at the UK’s main dealer show at the Birmingham NEC from 23 to 25 January showed a fall on 2010, itself down on the figure

for 2009.

Motorcycle Trade Expo saw total attendance of 4,371 (representing 2,041 companies) this year, down 7% on the 4,711 (and 2,170 companies) recorded in 2010.

Organiser Mark Mayo said: “Despite the difficult trading climate, the ‘buzz’ at the show was the best for some years and the presentation of the stands was once again superb. A real credit to all involved for contributing to a showcase the industry can be proud of. The overall quality of visitors was very high

DAVIDA: The Merseyside-based classic helmet manufacturer has expanded its goggle range and now offers its own innovative WRS riding glasses, as well as the Jeantet, Aviator, Halcyon, Climax and Scott ranges. Davida also has riding leathers for both men and women, as well as new D4Vi9A gloves. Above, CEO David Fiddaman (left) and Sales Manager Jodi Kirkham. www.davida.co.uk

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INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

and the great majority of exhibitors did excellent business.”

A new themed section called Electric Expo attracted much interest, with displays of electric moped and scooter models and a test ride track. Companies featured in this section included V-moto, E-MO, Govecs, Vectrix, Ultra Motor and Plugin Drive Tech.

Another feature of the 2011 show was the Knowledge Shop, which first appeared last year. This included a central area with separate booths for a number of motorcycle industry organisations,including the ‘Get On’ campaign, an industry initiative to encourage more members of the public to try PTWs, motorcycle training and testing organisations, industry consultants, RMI Health & Safety, SHARP helmet safety and the British Motorcycle Federation.

The decline in attendance is nonetheless smaller than the fall in motorcycle sales and industry activity.

The UK’s MCI motorcycle trade association reported that there was a 14% decline in sales in 2010 compared to the previous year, itself a 20% fall on 2008.

But the MCI insists there are some positive trends in the industry. The beginning of 2010 started with a 41% drop in total registrations, however, over the year the industry has seen a gradual slowing down of the decline in new powered two-wheeler sales.

There is a growing interest in the use of bikes for commuting, and as the industry’s ‘Get On’ campaign is taking effect, there is an upwards trend in smaller machines with lower capacity bikes (up to 125cc) gaining a 10.4% increase in their market share.

Scooters also had a 9.3% increase in their market share.

Overall interest in motorcycling remains strong, and the most recent Government statistics show that there

BARRACUDA: This leading Italian manufacturer of styling accessories for street and racing bikes displayed some of its top lines at Expo, including Fibra helmets; Elab, Race and X-Version mirrors; and Freccia and Silur indicators. The company is looking for an exclusive distributor in the UK. www.barracudamoto.com

SHOW ZONE

BIKE IT: With 6,500 lines available to dealers, the company claims to be one of the UK’s largest distributors with brands including MotoGP, Titax levers, Mammoth locks and Airblade screens. www.bikeit.co.uk

LS2 HELMETS: Offering a wide range and healthy margins, the brand has an extensive model range supplied direct from its factory in Spain. The company launched 18 new models at Expo in 54 colour combinations and in three different shell materials. The FT2 Split glass fibre helmet has pump-up cheek pads, a new visor system and other innovative features. www.ls2helmets.es

were 1.3 million motorcycles licensed for use on the road, a significant increase of 77% since 1995.

Steve Kenward,MCI’s CEO,commented:“ Although the motorcycle industry has been battling the problems associated with a poor economy and the exceptionally bad weather, the industry as a whole is not in decline.

It currently employs 65,000 people and generates annual turnover of more than £2 billion to the UK economy. ”The industry’s ‘Get On’ campaign is helping more new riders start to enjoy the practical and financial benefits of riding on two wheels. Since the campaign started 21,000 people have booked a free one-hour ride with a local trainer. Ultimately, ‘Get On’ is helping to grow the customer base of new riders,and over time they are likely to buy new machines, which will bring a gradual upturn in registrations.” www.motorcycle-expo.com

AIR MOTO UK is the new distributor for Airoh and displayed the 2011 helmet range at Expo, which the company says is one of the widest on the market in terms of price and products, from urban through road and racing to MX. Highlights include several new superlight off-road helmets, with Aviator replacing the popular Stelt, and the new CR900 model at the affordable end of the market. www.airoh.com

DYNOJET UK: The world leader in motorcycle diagnostics, fuel-injection modules and jet kits has a range of new products including the Model 250i Dynojet Dyna, Power Commander V, Autotune, Secondary Fuel Module and nextgeneration Dynojet Quickshifter. www.dynojet.co.uk

ON2WHEELS: The distributor showed off the 2011 collections of its own-brand Nuvo helmet and Tuzo apparel ranges, alongside Tech-7 luggage, XPD and Falco boots and the many hard parts and accessories brands in its portfolio, which include CZ Chains, Scala Rider, Hiflofiltro, Ferodo and EK Chains. New at the show were Tech-7’s expanded soft luggage range, Scorpion GP and Red Power exhausts and Oakley’s latest MX goggles.

The company displayed the 2011 Spidi apparel range on a separate stand. www.on2wheels.com

PAASCHBURG & WUNDERLICH: New products include the ECE-approved Highsider Blaze LED light unit, which combines driving light, stop light and indicator in a small aluminium housing, and the Highsider Stream compact indicator, available with smoke or clear lens. The extensive range of exhaust options from the company includes systems from IXIL, Takkoni, BOS, Sito and Silvertail. www.pwonline.de INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

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SHOW ZONE

CENTRAL WHEEL COMPONENTS claim to be the largest stockists of rims and spokes in Europe, and offer a specialist wheel refurbishment service. Products include SM Pro alloy rims for off-road, CWC chrome and stainless steel, and Morad flanged and non-flanged rims for road bikes. www.central-wheel.co.uk

POWERBRONZE: New products included a belly pan for the F800R, adding to the range for that model announced earlier. Also on the stand were an Airflow double bubble screen for the FZ1 Fazer and a standard screen for the R1, all available in a variety of colours. The company adds new screens, huggers, belly pans, crash protectors and many other items to its range on a weekly basis. Above, Sales Manager Mark Bentley. www.powerbronzewholesaledirect.com

TRANAM: This UK distributor brought a number of new brands to the show. Italian-designed W2 boot range includes the new suede 4-Dirt Adventure, while the latest Suomy helmet range, priced more competitively than in the past, includes the new Apex high-tech full-face, still made in Italy at a new plant outside Milan. Scorpion helmets are another new addition to the company’s portfolio, with the bestselling EXO 1000 Air and VX17 MX helmet both getting a new makeover for 2011.

Every part of the new Jett J1 MX plastic boots can be replaced, according to TranAm, and the company is also reintroducing the Clover clothing range from Italy to the UK, with top-sellers on display, including the Brighton jacket and Bullet gloves. www.tranam.co.uk

TECMATE INTERNATIONAL: The latest version of the Optimate 4 battery charger had its UK launch at Expo. This works with all versions of CANBUS on modern BMWs, as well as direct charging for most other brands. New software learns the CANBUS type and performs an initial test on the battery condition before deciding on the best method for charging and maintaining. www.tecmate.com

WEISE: WeiseTex is a new range of high performance mid-layers for winter riding, featuring a tri-laminate construction with a tough and tightly woven stretch fabric on the outside, a waterproof and breathable membrane in the middle and cosy micro-fleece liner on the inside.

Also on show was a new parka for style-conscious scooterists. www.weise-clothing.co.uk

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INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

VE (UK) is the exclusive UK distributor of a number of brands including Malossi, Giannelli, Athena, Kundo, LeoVince and Hutchinson. More than 100,000 parts are available on the CD-Rom catalogue, and VE (UK) offers a carriage-free nextday service, in-house technical service, instant messaging online to confirm stock levels and prices, and an exclusive trade website. www.ve-trade.com

GROUP LLOYD: The Nitro Aikido helmet launched last year was quickly awarded the SHARP 5-star accolade, and won an MCN product of the year award. Another highlight on the Expo stand was the pump-up PSI Nitro helmet with chin-bar inflating and deflating mechanism, drop-down sunshield, three-way ventilation and Pinlockprepared visor. www.grouplloyd.com

GOODRIDGE: Latest products include the G-Cool lightweight auxiliary fluid cooler, suitable for cooling oil, water or fuel. When combined with Goodridge G-Line hose and one-piece G-Line fittings, the company says G-Cool gives the ultimate performance for everyone from professional racers to weekend riders. G-Link quick disconnect couplings have been developed for hydraulic and pneumatic purposes in motorsport with operating pressure up to 200 bar. www.goodridge.net

SHOW ZONE

MOTO-MASTER: In 2010 the Dutch disc specialists won the MX1, MX2, MX3, SMX and 125 twostroke World Championships, dominating the motocross field. New products include Nitroseries replacement discs and 270mm oversize MX flame front rotors with aluminium carrier, while for the street sector full floating Flame rotors and 5.5mm racing discs are available for the S1000RR. www.moto-master.com

MOTOSOLO: This new UK distributor specialises in Italian and French brands, and introduced several at Expo. A-Style helmets from Italy come in a wide range of designs. Zandona protectors include the Shark armour chest and back protector, using a high-tech structure made of splinter-proof plastic and special viscoelastic cells with a special antitorsion system. The Prexport range of boots is also available through MotoSolo, and includes the new Evo and Sonic collections. www.motosolo.co.uk

EVOTECH: The Italian parts and accessories specialist, which makes Benelli and Ducati ownbrand aftermarket ranges, displayed its clutch and brake fluid reservoirs, with the latter made from aircraft-grade anodised aluminium and mounting bracket in brushed stainless steel. The company also has distinctive new Defender frame sliders for the 2011 Speed Triple, and is currently seeking representation in the UK. www.evotech-rc.it

FEHLING: New lines from the German company include accessories for the Honda Shadow VT750C Black Spirit, including protection guard, luggage guard, pannier brackets and sissybar. Its products are usually available from stock and are made to ISO 9001 standards. Above on the stand, owner Joachim Fehling. www.fehling.de

OXFORD PRODUCTS: Now distributor of French clothing brand Ixon, the stand showcased the 2011 collection of race, street, touring, scooter, child and plus sizing, as well as the extensive line for women. Other highlights included Oxford’s own BoneDry clothing, its expanded accessories line, extended Alpinestars range covering boots, gloves and clothing, Schuberth’s first ever motorcycle race helmets and new models and colours from the HJC helmet brand, including integrated Bluetooth systems. Above: Managing Director Andrew Hammond (left) and UK Sales Manager Dave Kinnaird. www.oxprod.com

FUCHS SILKOLENE: New packaging displayed at Expo has striking visuals, and is designed to make selection easier from the company’s extensive lubricants, oils and care products range. Recent launches include Classic 2T Premix; a high-quality synthetic ester 2-stroke engine oil for motorcycles requiring oil pre-mixture, dsigned to ensure clean burning and freedom from plug fouling from low speed to full throttle. www.silkolene.com

AVON: Celebrating its centenary producing motorcycle tyres in 2011, the company showed off its Centenary Celebration bike on the stand at Expo, a black and gold Yamaha YZF-R6 with EK gold chain and sprocket set, Pazzo brake and clutch levers in gold, a MIVV titanium and carbon exhaust and a set of the latest Avon VP2 Supersport tyres. The VP2 range comes in Sport, Supersport and Xtreme variants and in a wide variety of fitments, and the Storm 2 Ultra range was launched in 2010 for the sports-touring market. www.avon-tyres.co.uk

HELD UK: New products for 2011 include the Uncover textile jacket and matching Icano trousers and light weight Asuma jacket and Malavi pants, available for men and women. New helmet designs include the Air Twister and the Brave full-face, while new Gore-Tex gloves include the Arctic and Rainstar. www.held-uk.co.uk INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

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New radial monoblock caliper from Galfer sensitive and accurate braking. The transversal design gives additional rigidity.

Made of CNC-machined DurAluminium 7079 with a hardanodised finish, it has four pistons and the distance between bolt centres is 108 mm.

While designed to replace original radial-mount calipers, using specific adapters it can also be mounted on bikes with conventional caliper systems.

DEVELOPED for the Moto2 World Championship, this new caliper combines the virtues of radial anchorage with the rigidity of the monoblock concept, according to Galfer.

Designed for competition and high performance sport motorcycles, advantages include maximum rigidity and resistance to strain with minimum weight, giving more

INDUSTRIAS GALFER Granollers, Barcelona, SPAIN Tel: +34 935 689 090 E-mail: galfer@galfer.es www.galfer.es

GZM Texas swingarm bags GZM has launched a new range of leather customstyle bags for Japanese metric cruisers, designed to fit in the space above the bike’s swingarm, which can be used to carry documents and other smaller items.

Made from 3mm thick leather, the universal Texas bag is available in plain or studded designs. They are 27cm long, 29cm high on the left, 13cm on the right and have a 3.5 litre capacity.

GZM EUROPE Callosa De Segura, Alicante, SPAIN Tel: +34 96 675 8000 E-mail: gzm@gzm.es www.gzm.es

The Texas design is available in studded and plain versions

LSL handlebar grips and weights LSL aluminium and rubber grips are stylish and elegant, hardanodised in silver, black and gold. Optional 85g weights per side are now also available for steel (18mm) and aluminum (14mm) handlebars. A plastic cap seals the end with the recessed screw heads.

Measurements are 35mm diameter / 28mm long.

LSL MOTORRADTECHNIK Krefeld, GERMANY Tel: +49 (0)2151 55590 info@lsl.eu www.lsl.eu

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INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

PRODUCT NEWS

LeoVince X3 systems for RM-Z 450 LEOVINCE X3 stainless steel/titanium MX/Supermoto full systems are designed to ensure the best quality, performance and price ratio for the Suzuki RM-Z 450 2011, according to the company.

Both the header pipes and the silencer are made from stainless steel AISI 304, and the silencer has a titanium skin with a carbon fibre end cap.The silencer is secured to the frame by means of carbon straps, and the primary header pipe section is protected against the risk of impact thanks to a carbon steel casing.

The format of the header pipes and silencer is tailored according to the specific engine model in order to boost torque and maximum power rating.

LeoVince X3 stainless steel MX/Supermoto full systems comply with FIM dB(A) noise limits dB(A).

SITO/LEOVINCE Monticello d’Alba (CN), ITALY Tel: +39 0173 465 111 E-mail: info@leovince.com www.leovince.com

Puig accessories for FZ8 and Fazer 8 NEW products for the Yamaha FZ8 and Fazer 8 2010-11 from Spanish body parts specialist Puig include a naked screen for the former, and touring and racing screens for the latter, and rear hugger and frame sliders for both models.

The screens all give improved airblast protection and have special hardware to suit their purpose on the bike, with the touring sreen, for example, giving a more comfortable ride over long distances, according to the company.

The rear hugger fits on both FZ8 and Fazer8 and features increased length and an aluminium plate with graphics. It is available in black and carbon look versions.

The PRO frame sliders are made of high impact nylon and feature a wider surface, providing a greater capacity to protect the bike. The sliders are supplied with instructions for easy and quick assembly and do not require any modification to the bike.

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INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

Rear hugger

Fazer 8 touring screen

FZ8 naked screen PRO frame slider

PUIG Granollers, Barcelona, SPAIN Tel: +34 938 490 633 E-mail: info@puig.tv www.puig.tv

PRODUCT NEWS

K-MaxX 28mm carbon handlebar THE new tapered aluminium handlebar from K-MaxX has a sheath made of genuine carbon fibre. Shaped in the classic Superbike style, it is 780mm wide, 75mm high and angled at 16 degrees.

With a diameter of 28.6 mm in the middle clamp area and 22.2mm outside, the company says the bar is a handy alternative to the often unfavourably shaped stock handlebars to be found on many European bike models.

K-MaxX handlebars use a strong but flexible

aluminium alloy, selected after testing a number of alternatives, with the focus placed on direct steering feel and feedback from the front wheel, according to the company. It comes supplied with a TĂœV parts certificate.

K-MAXX MOVING TECHNOLOGY Recklinghausen, GERMANY Tel.: +49 (0)2361 373725 E-mail: info@k-maxx.org www.k-maxx.org

Gilles rearset and shiftholder for GS models

Shiftholder kit eliminates vague shifting

THE RCT-BM01-TS adjustable rearset for BMW R850, 1100, 1150 and 1200 GS models comes with a free rolling toe piece kit (for smoother shifting and better reachability).

Features include 12 step adjustability via rotor, 28mm adjusting diameter, incline angle of the footpeg is continuously adjustable, extreme resistance against abrasive wear and stone chipping due to hardened surface and two peg profiles in one: an extreme grip offroad peg and an ergonomic shaped touring peg.

CNC-machined from high strength aircraftaluminium 7075, the TĂźV-approved rearset fits original footpeg mounting bracket, is foldable, has optional footpeg rubber with vibration-reducing, adjustable damper element and optional slide pad to reduce wear and damage.

Rearset for BMW R850, 1100, 1150 and 1200 GS

The shiftholder kit is hard anodised in a titanium colour. It is designed to eliminate gear shift problems, stabilising the gear shaft and eliminating vague shifting.

Gilles Tooling also has a new online shop.

Functionality includes the ability to select products for specific bikes, MSRP for each product, description, colours, 3D animation, manuals, parts list, specific presentation and pictures for most products.

The Search field enables the user to go directly to a specific part number, as well as carry out a number of other checks including the status of orders.

GILLES TOOLING Wecker, LUXEMBOURG Tel: +352 (0)267 893 1 E-mail: info@gillestooling.com www.gillestooling.com INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

21

PRODUCT NEWS

Küryakyn metric cruiser accessories from MAG Europe NEW from MAG Europe is this Küryakyn drive shaft cover for the VT1300, easily installed over the dull painted surface of the OEM drive shaft to create a custom look at a fraction of the cost. The fitment is for VT1300 Custom Line (Sabre/ Stateline/Interstate) models.

Retractable Trident passenger pegs

Hi–Five Mach 2 air cleaner for Honda VTK 1300/1800 models

Drive shaft cover for VT1300 custom line

Black ISO grips for metric cruisers use soft ISO rubber to isolate handlebar vibration, and MAG says they are some of the most comfortable grips on the market, and the black finish matches any style.

Retractable Trident passenger pegs for metric

Black ISO grips for metric cruisers

cruisers require a motorcycle-specific splined adapter for installation.

The Hi–Five Mach 2 air cleaner for Honda VTX 1300/1800 models can support motor builds up to 140+ HP, and can also be customised using Küryakyn themed medallions to suite any rider’s personality.

MAG EUROPE Denton, Manchester, UK Tel: +44 (0)161 337 43 90 E-mail: sales@mageurope.eu www.mageurope.eu

PRODUCT NEWS

LLS Racing adjusters and reservoir covers

MADE in Al7075 (Ergal) , LLS Racing adjusters allow the manual adjustment preload of front suspensions on track or during a trip. Colours are red, gold, black, blue, natural, green and orange.

A hidden grub screw allows reliable fixing and removal.The kit includes the fixing allen wrench, and the adjusters are suitable for all the original forks with allen key regulation system, and they can be assembled without any modification.

LLS also has Al7075 covers for brake and clutch fluid reservoirs specific for the Yamaha T-Max. They are available in gold, red, black and natural polished.

Quick-Lock Sport saddlebag set

THIS saddlebag set from SW-Motech is made from high quality 1680 Ballistic nylon, with mounting through velcro connection over the seat and Quick-Lock panniers.

They are low in weight and have an innovative design, with volumes each side of 17 to 24 litres. Waterproofed inner bags made from tarpaulin are included in the delivery.

LLS RACING Cazzago San Martino (BS), ITALY Tel: +39 0307 255176 Fax +39 0307 255261 E-mail: lls@lls.it www.lls.it

SW-MOTECH Rauschenberg, GERMANY Tel. +49 (0)6425 816800 info@sw-motech.com www.sw-motech.com

INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

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PRODUCT NEWS

Rizoma styling kit for 2011 Yamaha FZ8 AS well as the exclusive bar end Proguard system, a highlight of the kit is the Fox license support plate, which gives enhanced adjustability including longitudinal movement with regard to the rear wheel axle.

The kit components include mirrors, indicator lights, Proguard system, bar ends, grips, brake and clutch fluid tanks, brake and clutch levers, Fox license support plate, engine guard, sprocket cover, chain guard, rear set control kit, rider and passenger pegs, gas cap, engine oil filler cap, swingarm spools, and wheel protection.

The kit components can also be purchased separately or together with other accessories in the Rizoma catalogue, compatible with the FZ8 through specific adapters.

RIZOMA Tel: +39 0331 242 020 E-mail: info@rizoma.com www.rizoma.com Rizoma has offices in: Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland and Scandinavia. Please check website for contact details.

Rizoma 2011 FZ8 styling kit

Fox license support plate

PRODUCT NEWS

Sena SMH10 motorcycle communications and entertainment set THE SMH10 is a Bluetooth v2.1 Class 1 stereo headset with long-range Bluetooth intercom designed specifically for motorcycles. With the SMH10, it is possible to call hands-free on Bluetooth mobile phones, listen to stereo music or voice instructions from the GPS navigator by Bluetooth wirelessly, and have intercom conversations in full duplex with a passenger or other motorcycle riders.

Sena says that thanks to the latest Bluetooth v2.1 and advanced digital

SMH10 on flip-up helmet

processing technology, the SMH10 offers the best sound quality for both incoming and outgoing sound in its class. Also, the easy-to-access and intuitive button operations make the SMH10 ideally

SMH10 on flip-up helmet

suited for motorcycle use.

Features include Bluetooth specification v2.1, Bluetooth Intercom up to 900 metres, multi-pair Bluetooth intercom for 4 persons, Bluetooth stereo headset for Bluetooth audio devices such as MP3 players, and Bluetooth music playback control by AVRCP. The versatile Jog Dial (patent pending) makes for easy use, and it has sufficient

sound level with integrated audio booster, Bluetooth hands-free for Bluetooth mobile phones, Bluetooth headset or stereo headset for Bluetooth GPS navigation, stereo music by 3.5mm audio cable, water-resistant for use in inclement weather, crystal clear and natural sound quality, up to 12 hours talk time, 10 days stand-by time, can be used while charging on road trips, and has individual volume control for each audio source.

SENA TECHNOLOGIES San Jose, CA, USA Tel: +1 408 448 1997 E-mail: info@sena.com www.sena.com

Technical parts from B&G Racing Also new from B&G Racing are Kardan shaft covers for all BMW models from ‘06 onwards, which come in a two-part set.

B&G Racing is a German specialist manufacturer of high-end aftermarket parts including exhaust holders, frame protectors, fork protectors, crash pads, swingarm protectors and much more. The company is currently looking for dealers and importers.

BMW S1000 RR ‘10 crash pads are available in different materials, with sets not screwed into the frame but mounted with black anodised aluminium

CNC plates, supplied as part of the kit. Crash pads fit onto both OE and aftermarket fairings with no cutting necessary.

B&G RACING Schwalmtal, GERMANY Tel. +49 (0)2163 1644 info@b-g-racing.de www.b-g-racing.de

G&G Fazer 8 exhausts G&G Bike has three separate mufflers for the Yamaha FZ8, all with a low and sleek look. With a choice of materials and end cap, the muffler can be personalised to taste, and homologated road versions come with a removable dB killer.

Versions one and two come in polished stainless steel and black stainless steel, either with optional black end cap, and

version three in polished stainless steel, black stainless steel, titanium or carbon, also with optional black end cap.

G&G BIKE Settimo Torinese (TO), ITALY Tel: +39 011 8972446 E-mail: info@gegbike.com www.gegbike.com INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

25

PRODUCT NEWS

New Putoline Nano Tech engine oils PUTOLINE Oil has developed a completely new product line of engine oils based on nanotechnology for road and off-road applications in various viscosities, identifiable by their specific turquoise colour.

Nano Tech Off Road

Nano Tech Road

For road and race application sthe following oils are available: Nano Tech 4+, in the viscosities 5W-40, 10W-40, 10W-50, 15W-50.

For off road applications: Off Road Nano Tech 4+, in the viscosities 10W-40, 10W-50, 10W-60, 15W50.

Putoline Oil Nano Trans GP is an advanced transmission oil for competitive grand prix two- and four-stroke transmissions. The combination of Nano Tech additives and 100% synthetic base oils delivers extremely effective wear protection for the

transmission and effective and accurate clutch engagement, and the useful life of the clutch plate is substantially extended, according to the company.

Nano Trans GP is said to have a significantly longer life cycle compared to conventional products.

PUTOLINE OIL Almelo, NETHERLANDS Tel: +31 (0)546 818165 E-mail: info@putoline.com www.putoline.com

Cs4 cruiser saddlebags Cs & V is a new Belgian company, founded in 2010, specialising in luggage for cruisers.

Under the brand name Cs4, products include Set 47-H13

detachable leather saddlebag sets with either the Click & Lock system or the Easy Bracket mounting system. The bags are reinforced on the inside and most have hidden quick-release buckles.

Set 49-H13

The mounting systems are not mounted on the bags and there are no pre-drilled holes.

In this way, the position of the bags on the bikes can be customised dependent on the position of exhausts and indicators.

New in their collection are two saddlebag sets for the Honda VT750S/Shadow RS (2010-2011) with Click & Lock system.

Although both saddlebags are made of full grain leather they are priced very reasonably, the company says.

Set 47-H13 contains one pair of full grain leather saddlebags, one set of clicksystems and one of Click & Lock saddlebag holders.

The capacity of a set of bags is 40 litres.

Set 49-H13 contains one pair of full grain leather saddlebags, one set of clicksystems and one of Click & Lock saddlebag holders.

The capacity of a set of bags is 40 litres.

All bags (clicksystem included) and Click & Lock saddlebag holders can be purchased separately for use on other bikes with other saddlebag holders.

Cs & V is looking for dealers worldwide.

Contact V. Noreilde at the address below.

CS & V Gent, BELGIUM E-mail: info@cs-v.eu. info.cs4-saddlebags.com www.cs4-saddlebags.com INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

27

PRODUCT NEWS

Ledrie metric cruiser sidebags

New from Fechter Drive

LEDRIE Sales is introducing two new genuine leather side bags with Custom Wings mounting bracket for metric cruisers. The easy bolt-on mounting brackets have been developed to locate the rigid bag safely.

Fitments are available for the Honda VT1300CX Fury, Kawasaki VN900 and VN1700, Suzuki C800/C50 2005-2010, M800/M50 2005-2009, M80/M50 2010, M1500 2010, M1800 All, C1800 All and Yamaha Midnight Star XVS 950 and XVS1300.

THIS Protech Edition Professional Line license plate holder has LED lights and features include adjustable tilt angle and adjustable width turn signals.

The Hurric homologated SP conical replacement slip-on muffler comes in polished stainless steel or carbon finish, and is available in a Super Short version with a length of 250mm.

The end cap comes in the WSBK style, and a removable dB killer version is also available.

FECHTER DRIVE Weilheim/Teck, GERMANY Tel: +49 07023/9523-0 E-mail: info@fechter.de www.fechter.de Hurric SP muffler on Z1000

Bags and mounting bracket come with all necessary mounting hardware and are easy to fit without any modification to the bike.

LEDRIE SALES Kaatsheuvel, NETHERLANDS Tel: +31 (0)416 281 997 E-mail: info@ledriesales.nl www.ledriesales.com

Voyager bags from AGM VOYAGER bags are made of rip-stop polyester 600D coated inside with PU layer 210D, and are available in 55, 60 and 75 litre versions.

The bags can be quickly mounted on a motorcycle seat or luggage rack and sissybar, and the universal mounting system means they fit most models, the company says. The capacity is such that there is room for several helmets, waterproof clothing and much else in the different compart-ments.

Hardwearing features include the buckles and frame, and carry straps enable them to be used as backpacks. Other features include reflective strips, side pockets and anti-slip bottom.

Voyager can be mounted with AGM Rolly bags License plate holder

PB GERMANY Seeheim-Jugenheim, GERMANY Tel: +49 (0)6257 84820 E-mail: info@agm-bikers.com www.agm-bikers.com

Mustang’s seat range for Honda VT1300 MUSTANG has introduced a full line of seats for the 2010-11 Honda VT1300 Interstate,Sabre and Stateline models.

The deeply pocketed driver seat on the one-piece Wide Vintage Touring style with driver backrest is a full 16” wide and sits the rider at the ideal cruising angle, and the 10.5” wide passenger seat uses Mustang’s unique internal steel support wings. The optional driver backrest provides superb back support for longer rides and is fully adjustable and easily removable, according to Mustang.The Wide Touring seat with driver backrest is available with chrome studs and leather-tied conchos.

Mustang also offers Wide Touring styles without a

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INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

Touring seat or a Wide Studded Touring style, and for a different low and lean look, there is Mustang’s DayTripper style seat.

Matching tankbib and sissybar pad are also available. All Mustang seats for Metric Cruisers and Harley models are handcrafted in the USA.

built-in backrest. The driver’s back is well supported by the nose of the passenger seat that extends forward.

Available options are the one-piece Wide Vintage

MUSTANG EUROPE Antwerp, BELGIUM Tel: +32 (0)35 419 133 E-mail: info@mustangeurope.com www.mustangeurope.com www.mustangseats.com

PRODUCT NEWS

New Fehling Honda Shadow and Spirit accessories FEHLING makes metal motorcycle accessories, including handlebars, luggage carriers and chrome parts.

New accessories for Honda VT 750 Shadow and Spirit choppers with ABS include these engine guards with tough 38mm tubes, which are available in a black or chrome finish.

ERNST FEHLING GMBH & CO Wickede (Ruhr), GERMANY Tel: +49 (0)2377 2033 E-mail: info@fehling.de www.fehling.de

Heated muffs and blanket from Bagster BOX’HEAT is a patented, universal heated muff set from Bagster, offering three different levels of heat.

Connection for the battery and an antitheft system are included. It features reflecting material for increased visibility to other road users, and Bagster says it is quick and easy to fit.

Warm’r is a patented, padded and removable electric blanket that fits inside Bagster Primo and Boomerang aprons, offering three different levels of heat. Connection for the battery is included.

Warm’r fits inside Bagster Primo and Boomerang aprons

BAGSTER La Ferté-Macé, FRANCE Tel: +33 (0)2 33 30 71 71 E-mail: bagster@bagster.com www.bagster.com

Box’heat INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

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MOTORCYCLE FASHION

Held Madison jacket and Brave helmet

ISSN 1476-8747

MARCH 2011

™

Sidi ST boots

THE Madison fashion jacket has an outer shell made from soft cowhide and a 100% cotton lining.

Features include three external pockets, one inner pocket, a detachable cotton hood, EN 1621-1 CE-approved d3o adaptive shoulder and elbow protection, special foam padding at back and an optional EN 1621-2 certified backprotector. Colours are black-grey.

The Brave full-face helmet has a fibreglass shell, soft fabric lining, detachable, washable cheek pads, clear, scratchproof visor, air-vents at front and chin, quick release ratchet chin-strap buckle, clear lacquer, no-tools’ visor change mechanism, choice of two shell sizes, sun visor and choice of clear, dark tint, silver

Madison jacket

and purple iridium visors.

ECE 22.05 certified, Brave comes in all sizes, and in black, black matt, black-red, blacksilver, black-yellow and white-silver.

THE ST is a new armoured road and race boot with new clasp system.

Features include a replaceable shin plate, elasticated zip panel, ankle support braces, air ventilation system, replacable toe sliders, nylon inner sole, removable arch support, replacable ST10 buckle and strap and shockabsorbing heel insert.

Standard and vented versions are available in black, black/white, black/blue or black/red.

SIDI SPORT Maser (TV), ITALY Tel: +39 0423 9241 sidisport@sidisport.com www.sidisport.com

HELD Burgberg, GERMANY Tel: +49 (0)8321 66460 E-mail: info@held.de www.held-biker-fashion.de

Brave helmet MOTORCYCLE FASHION - MARCH 2011

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MOTORCYCLE FASHION

Macna CC1 Covered Collar and Vision Vest A highlight of the 2011 catalogue from Dutch apparel specialist Macna is the patented CC1 Covered Collar, a specific solution designed to counter

The CC1 collar membrane mounted (above) and removed (below)

water ingress at the neck caused by wrongly folded waterproof inner collars.

It looks and feels like a single comfortable collar, and from inside the lower summer collar, a waterproof membrane is easily fixed in place.

Also new is the Vision Vest, a bright neon reflective safety vest which can be fitted to any of the latest Macna jackets. The vest is fixed through two integrated buckles and a built-in zipper, and does not interfere with the jacket’s functionality in any way.

SPLASH DESIGN/MACNA Veghel, NETHERLANDS Tel: +31 (0)413 389089 E-mail: info@macna.nl www.macna.com

Knox Zero gloves KNOX’S latest Hand Armour glove, the Zero, will be the first glove using innovative OutDry technology, according to the company, and offers reliable waterproofing and

temperature control alongside patented scaphoid protection and BOA fastening.

The OutDry system is based on a patented lamination process: the waterproof and breathable membrane is bonded directly to the external glove’s shell by the action of pressure and temperature, creating a unique body which seals the stitching and any other potential water entry point. This allows a layer of warm air to develop, dramatically reducing the risk of condensation from excessive

Flash from Project THE ECE-22.05 homologated Flash jet range from Italian open-face helmet specialist Project has received a makeover for 2011 and now weighs only 1,050g, with new graphics and compatibility with the innovative extra-length Supervisor visor.

Supervisor is an extended shaped visor with a patented ventilation system and directional control of airflow,

perspiration, maintaining stable hand temperature.

Featuring the dialled-in BOA Lacing System used across the entire Knox Hand Armour range, which uses a dial to draw ‘side pods’ over the wrist for multi-adjustable closure, the wearer can get hands in and out of the glove quickly and easily, even operating the BOA dial with a gloved hand. Boa’s micro-adjustment helps to eliminate tight spots and restriction to blood flow, which can contribute to cold hands and fingers, and allows proper positioning of the Zero’s cuffs over thick winter riding jackets, helping to keep out wind and rain.

With drum-dyed aniline leather on the fingers and back of the hand, and a tough yet supple goat leather and Amara grip pad with silicon for increased feel and grip on the controls, the Zero uses top grade materials.

The Zero features Knox’s Low Profile Scaphoid Protection System with abrasion-resistant Schoeller Keprotec reinforcement at the palm.

interchangeable visor options for any jet helmet.

The fibreglass and Kevlar shell

comes in three sizes, and 10 internal sizes stretch from XXXS to XXL, and graphic and colour styles include Barry (based on some of the designs used by Barry Sheene in the 1970s), Graphic, (including Willys, Glitter, Flags and Mono) and Kids for younger riders and passengers, which is also homologated for ski use.

An off-road version has a peak and double-D racing attachment.

The removable and washable microfibre lining is breathable, antiallergenic and self-cleaning, and available in four colours.

with internal anti-fog Pinlock visor compatibility. The result, says Project, is optimum visibility in all weather conditions and air protection comparable to that of a fullface helmet.

Apart from Supervisor, other available external visor styles are Long Visor and fighter-style Top Gun, and Project says with internal visor options, Flash has the largest number of

Flash Kids

32

The Vision Vest can be fitted to the latest Macna jackets

MOTORCYCLE FASHION - MARCH 2011

Flash Barry Willys

PLANET KNOX Cockermouth, Cumbria, UK Tel: +44 (0)1900 825 825 sales@planet-knox.com www.planet-knox.com www.knox-armour.co.uk

PROJECT Marcignago (PV), ITALY Tel: +39 0382 921772 info@projectforsafety.it www.projectforsafety.it

MOTORCYCLE FASHION

Zandona Shield Evo SHIELD Evo is a 100% Italianmade back protector with a high-performance, impactabsorbent external structure made from special plastic-alloy with internal thermo-formed support with rubber memory cell padding, offering good back protection and kidney support.

The plates are joined via a wire system, which guarantees impact distribution throughout the whole protection surface.

The S.R.T. (Sweat Removing Textile) lining is a highly breathable fabric, and overall comfort is enhanced by the exceptional ease of movement, which follows the natural movements of the body.

CE approved to EN-1621-2 Level 1 and comes in black and white.

ZANDONA Caerano di San Marco (TV), ITALY Tel: +39 (0)423.569135 Email: info@zandona.net www.zandona.net

Haveba Liverpool jacket THIS classic waxed jacket with fashionable brass zip is 100% breathable and water repellent, wind and thornproof.

The collar is faced in co-ordinated corduroy and features large pockets, a poacher’s pocket and a double zip opening for easy access.

The inner lining is 100% cotton tartan, with 100% cotton detachable outer check lining.Protection comprises SAS-TEC protectors on ellbows and shoulders, and foam on back.

Available in black, it comes in both women’s and men’s sizes and in full and short length versions.

HAVEBA INDUSTRIES Albstadt, GERMANY Tel: +49 (0)7432 220 595 E-mail: info@haveba.de www.haveba.de

MOTORCYCLE FASHION - MARCH 2011

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MOTORCYCLE FASHION

Reevu MSX1 rear view helmet REEVU was established in 1999, following seven years of research and development into its rear view helmet system. The company’s mission is to “improve the safety of sports and recreational enthusiasts around the world by applying rear vision technology to help prevent accidents”.

For the past year Reevu’s patented rear view technology has taken the motorsports industry by storm,

creating a new and unique benchmark in preventative safety on roads in all five continents around the world. A product pricing structure is in place to ensure the company’s rear view helmets are as affordable as other non-rear view helmets.

The MSX1 helmet, the world’s only rear view helmet, has advanced aerodynamics and exceeds the most rigorous safety and construction

standards, and has proven itself to save riders’ lives.

Presently Reevu is represented in 16 countries, among them Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Russia, Croatia, Finland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Romania, France, Netherlands, Germany and Spain.

Further limited distribution and dealer opportunities are available.

REEVU WORLDWIDE Washington, Tyne & Wear, UK Tel. +44 (0)1914 187755 graham.steele@reevu.com www.reevu.com

New 107 helmet options from CGMItalia CGMItalia says its popular 107 helmet range has been extended for 2011 and now includes the 107F Strip, available in blue metal and fuchsia metal colourways that glitter in sunlight. Other new features include air intakes and the fastening system.

The 107X Kaye has a visor rubber surround and a distinctive mechanism to attach the visor to the shell. It has internal “Extrasoft” padding, giving high comfort levels, the company says.

All 107 helmets are equipped with an advanced Air Stream ventilation system with internal channels to provide optimum airflow, removable, anti-allergic and anti-bacterial lining. They are ECE R 22-05 homologated and weigh from 1,080 to 1,180g depending on the model, and have anti-scratch visors, visor quick release and anti-scratch paint treatment.

CGMITALIA Gricignano di Aversa (CE), ITALY Tel: +39 081 813 1743 E-Mail: info@cgmitalia.net www.cgmitalia.net

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MOTORCYCLE FASHION - MARCH 2011

107F Strip

107X Kaye

MOTORCYCLE FASHION

Falco 2011 touring boots AVAILABLE in black only, the new 579 Kodo touring boot has a cowhide upper, High-Tex waterproof inner lining, d3o protection insert, P.U. injected shin plate, malleolus and rear calf protectors, zipper and Velcro closure, elasticated rear calf panel and sleek Falco touring sole.

The mid-range 951 Mito touring boot has similar

features to the Kodo but without the d3o protection and calf panel.

Now available in white and black, the 776 Novo 2 ‘All Uses’ riding boot has a cowhide upper, Air-Tech vented lining, cushion-system, Tech-toe moulded front toe protection, Velcro strap closure, elasticated instep on ankle, rubber sole with reinforced arch support, and replaceable slider.

GIANNI FALCO Caselle di Altivole (TV),ITALY Tel:+39 0423 915272 E-mail:info@giannifalco.com www.giannifalco.com

579 Kodo boot

951 Mito boot

776 Novo 2 boot

MOTORCYCLE FASHION - MARCH 2011

35

MOTORCYCLE FASHION

Davida Jet and new goggles DAVIDA showed off some of its latest classic helmet and goggle styles at the JPMS, dealer show in France in early February.

The company’s Jet is European Safety Standard ECE R22-05 certified, ACU Gold Approved for racing, has a fibreglass composite shell and comes in 3 shell and 6 helmet sizes, with a special ergonomic design that eliminates lift, the company says.

Each helmet has a luxurious leather lined interior, goggle

Jett J1 MX boots REMO Berlese, the original founder of AXO and CEO of ABE Sport near Treviso, has brought an innovative new off-road boot to the market, the J1. This will be followed by Enduro/Adventure and Race boot models in 2012.

Jett boots are made from an exclusive and proprietary material and offer weight savings of 1.4kg on other high-end leather and plastic brands, the company says.

retainer and is available in all the many existing Davida styles as standard as well as bespoke to the customer’s own design.

DAVIDA Birkenhead, Merseyside, UK Tel: +44 (0)151 647 2419 E-mail: sales@davida.co.uk www.davida.co.uk

They have unique features such as the polyurethane ankle support system and a replaceable shank and ultra-low profile toe box.A unique cam buckle system offers a positive close and lock operation, and the company claims the materials on the boots will not break down or fatigue like traditional boots, giving the rider maximum support and protection ride

after ride.

The buckles, straps and locks are replaceable without the use of tools and the upper shell is removable and interchangeable. The boot opens wide to accept knee braces and the company says there is no break-in period.

The Jett J1 boot comes in white and black and is available in sizes 7-13.

ABE SPORT Cornuda (TV), ITALY Tel: +39 0423 639495 E-mail: info@abesport.it www.abesport.it www.jettboots.com

MOTORCYCLE FASHION

Spidi Giga jacket Barracuda classic homologated helmets A new structure, aerodynamic design and cutting-edge materials make Giga one of the most advanced jackets in the Spidi 2011 collection, according to the company.

The shoulder area has been redesigned to better fit the Force Tech CE protectors beneath, while the torso area is covered in stretch panels coupled with leather layers to give an exceptionally comfortable fit.

Giga’s main features include 1.1mm full grain cowhide, shoulder areas with reflective patches, ergonomic leather panels, Force Tech CE protectors, attachment zipper for trouser joint, insulating removable liner and racing-derived stretch panels.

Giga is also optimised for use with the Spidi Neck DPS vest,and the waterproof H2Out lining.

THE Kustom has a strong and exclusive design with a lightweight fiberglass shell, a high level of detailing and an anti-sweat lining over memory foam. The visor has chrome details with a thick elastic strap.

It is available in white, black gloss or matt black.

The Virus has a fiberglass shell and an anti-sweat lining over memory foam. It is available in

Virus

white with a red inscription, black gloss with silver inscription or matt black.

Kustom

SPIDI SPORT Sarego (VI), ITALY Tel: +39 0444 436411 E-mail: info@spidi.it www.spidi.com

BARRACUDA Florence, ITALY Tel: +39 055 412 746 E-mail: info@barracudamoto.it www.barracudamoto.it

New J22 Apex full-face from Suomy APEX, the new fibre helmet from Suomy, was designed giving maximum consideration to internal comfort, construction technology,

reliability and safety for both rider and racer, according to the company.

The air tunnel-tested external

aerodynamics include specially designed ribs to channel air flow from the front to the back of the helmet, minimising air turbulence and noise. A new spoiler moves the air turbulence break point behind and away from the shell.

Ventilation is optimised by its chin guard and upper air intakes, with both activated by snap levers easily used with gloves on. By exploiting the Venturi effect and the particular shape of the internal protection polystyrene, incoming airflow is quickly evacuated via the back exhaust ports.

The new lighter, tougher and more protective shell is made from a unique carbonfibreglass-aramid compound with each handcrafted at Suomy’s plant near Milan and available in three sizes.

The interior is completely made of Coolmax Active,

keeping the rider fresh, dry and comfortable. The cheek pads and the internal comfort shell can be removed, washed and replaced. The cheek pads come in different thicknesses to meet all user sizes.

The retention system is through double D rings, and the visor has the best optical properties due to special manufacturing processes with permanent inbuilt anti-fog system, says Suomy.

Certifications include ECE 22.05, DOT, INMETRO and JIS.

SUOMY Inverigo (CO), ITALY Tel: +39 0316 96300 E-mail: info@suomy.com www.suomy.com

MOTORCYCLE FASHION - MARCH 2011

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MOTORCYCLE FASHION

Candy from Germas THIS is an elegant ladies’ jacket with a comfortable cut in high quality material.

It is wind- and watertight, breathable because of a detachable Reissa membrane and has detachable CE protectors.

Features include Temperfoam at the back, four AirVent vents, three outer and two inner pockets, a mobile phone pocket and a document and arm pocket are further features.

It also has a detachable thermal lining and waist adjustment,

mesh inner lining in 100% Polyester, and a long and a short connecting zipper.

The outer material is Cordura 500 D/Germadura 600 D (100% Polyester).

It comes in various sizes from 36 to 48 and is available in black/off-white, off-white/black and grey.

GERMAS Schwabach-Wolkersdorf, GERMANY Tel: +49 (0)911 635 008 E-mail: info@germas.de www.germas.de

Giugiaro Stelvio helmet THE 2011 Giugiaro Stelvio motorcycle helmet is hand-crafted in Italy with hi-tech protection and functional elements married to the best in Italian style, according to manufacturers Elmo Helmets.

The shell of the helmet is made of high impact-resistant carbon, fibreglass and Lexan accentuated by structural styling elements, coupled with the distinctive Giugiaro logo under an environmentally friendly clear or rubber-touch matte finish.

Its heat-formed, anti-scratch visor is attached through a sophisticated magnetic mechanism with ease of removal similar to a pair of eyeglasses.

The liner is removable, washable, anti-microbial, anti-static, quick-dry, thermo-regulating, and reflective material in the neck roll and chin areas give added night-time visibility.

The chin strap is made from the same material used in automotive safety belts and it has a double-D dual loop

fastening system.

The helmet is offered in a Giugiaro Design logo-embroidered white

cotton helmet bag placed in a hard cardboard box with magnetic closure and an easy carry fabric handle that ensures that the helmet travels and stores safely.

The helmet’s weight is 1kg, it comes in sizes XS-XXL, and colours are black (matte, gloss and metallic), white (matte, gloss pearl), and gunmetal grey. Separate visors are available in tinted and iridium finish for daytime use only.

The Stelvio helmet won the 2010 Good Design Award in the Protective Equipment category from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture & Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design & Urban Studies organisation.

ELMO HELMETS Alba (CN), ITALY Tel: +39 0173 361370 elena@elmohelmets.com www.elmohelmets.com

Acerbis Cosmo roost deflector and jacket THE Cosmo from Acerbis is the newest model designed to accommodate a neck brace.

The front harness features a

38

removable cover and the rear is formed to accommodate the brace.

The EN1621-2/03 14021certified Cosmo has an ergonomic design that follows the natural shape of a rider’s back, and features a removable bottom plate to accommodate riders with shorter torsos. It incorporates flexible d3o material in the vertebrae protection column, which hardens instantly to absorb shock upon impact.

Other features include elastic band closure with double Velcro adjustments, preformed PE padding, front protection across chest, and back padding in two

MOTORCYCLE FASHION - MARCH 2011

parts, one of which is removable and washable. The jacket features protection on a short and tight bodice to be worn with the Cosmo, and is made of a stretch material with breathable mesh inserts.

Protection on shoulders and on elbows with plastic and PE foam are EN1621-1/97 certified, the lower portion of the sleeves is removable, and elbow protections are adjustable with elastic straps.

Available in white, sizes S/M, L/XL and XXL.

ACERBIS Albino (BG), ITALY Tel: +39 035 773 577 E-mail: infomoto@acerbis.it www.acerbis.com

INDUSTRY EXTRA

‘Premium-budget’ comes into its own HE RST riding apparel brand has taken the British market by storm over the last few years, maintaining growth at a time when many other brands have found economic and trading conditions increasingly difficult. As the company behind the brand organises its expansion into Europe and beyond, Al Franck visited RST’s headquarters in Central England to speak to co-owner and Sales and Marketing Director Jonny Towers.

RST began life as Rhino Sport Technology in 1999, a brand created by Towers to take advantage of a gap in the market for affordable but highspecification sport riding apparel. He and business partner Debbie Bullock had earlier bought out the Eurohelmets distribution business, renamed it MotoDirect, and used the new company as a vehicle to streamline helmet distribution activities and oversee the new clothing brand.

Today Moto-Direct distributes AGV and KBC helmets, Arlen Ness, Berik and Puma apparel and selected Dainese lines, as well as Motul motorcycle lubricants in the UK. Its own apparel brands, apart from RST, are Gear and Wolf. owers started out 25 years ago as a junior with Eurohelmets and since that time has built up extensive experience in the riding apparel and protection sector. He is a member of the product development board of KBC and works closely with AGV on its new products.

Under his direction, Moto-Direct has grown to employ over 50 people and is now one of the bestestablished distributors on the UK market. The company’s state-of-the-art headquarters at South Normanton in Derbyshire were custom-built in 2007 with offices, a temperature-controlled warehouse and separate showrooms for each of the company’s brands. The company also uses the latest software

T

with a custom portal, barcode picking operations in the warehouse, and sophisticated dealer ordering system.

All of this is of direct benefit to RST dealers, who are kept fully abreast of all new developments and benefit from rapid deliveries from South Normanton.

For Towers, RST is a ‘premium-budget’ brand.

“When we started out in 1999 you could either choose between the quality apparel being made by the likes of Alpinestars or Dainese, which was very expensive, or cheap, ill-fitting stuff. I knew from my experience and contacts that we could fill a niche between the two, offering well-crafted and featurerich garments with good levels of protection that we could retail at an affordable price.”

A principal USP of the brand, says Towers, is that almost everyone at the company rides bikes and has

a personal commitment to enhancing the riding experience for all those who buy company products.

“RST designer Chris Walker and I did at least 12 track days in 2010 testing our new stuff. Putting on your suit and gloves at 8am in the morning and wearing them all day, which is what happens in the real world, is the best way to test a new range. You find out if it starts chafing around the neck after a few hours, if anything is a bit baggy, whether the boots are comfortable going backwards and forwards from the pits. We also go racing in Cape Town every year, and that gives us different insights,” he says.

“And some of our salesmen ride over a thousand miles a week throughout the year, in all weathers, and they give us really useful and detailed feedback on the new products we send them.”

T

40

INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

Moto-Direct Sales Director and co-owner Jonny Towers established the RST riding apparel brand as a ‘premium budget’ range for sport and touring riders, and it has seen sustained growth in recent years

INDUSTRY EXTRA

Written by Al Franck - International Editor - al@dealer-world.com

Apart from manufacture, everything else is undertaken in-house. Product development is the responsibility of Production and Design Manager Chris Walker,Technical Manager Rob Swinbank, and Towers, whose commercial and end-user knowledge completes the team.

“We either all agree on a new feature or product, or two will outvote one, but our overlapping expertise levels mean we rarely get it wrong,” says Towers.

“From a sport, commuting and touring point of view, the apparel is always being tested and used, which makes a huge difference. Small problems that you would probably otherwise overlook become obvious when you’ve worn the garment all day. You might decide ‘I need a mobile pocket in this jacket, or there’s a draft coming down my neck, or I definitely need a stretch panel there’.

These are the kind of things that really bug you after a day’s riding. Conversely, we might say to ourselves: ‘Wouldn’t it be great to have a soft, silky fabric against the skin on the inside of the collar and cuffs?’ We’re good at that kind of detail.” roduction is outsourced to companies in Indonesia, Pakistan and elsewhere in South and East Asia. Towers emphasises the importance of quality control within the manufacturing process. “Our guys are in the factory 10 times a year checking batches to ensure exceptional quality. This is a big commitment – some of the countries we visit are quite difficult. The relationship we have with our factories is critical. In some cases it’s been a 10-year commitment, providing everything from materials to training to get them to understand what the standards are, but they’re doing really well and our effort has

P

been amply repaid.Their loyalty is exceptional, and so is their quality.”

Interestingly, Towers avoids China as a production base whenever possible, thinking the difficulties of doing business there outweigh the advantages. He is convinced that the costs of manufacturing in China will be comparable with those in Europe in a few years’ time.

RST’s specifically-designed armour system, RST Contour Plus, is sourced in Korea from Powertector, a company that supplies many premium apparel manufacturers. “If you use generic armour such as Knox or Forcefield you have to make your garments fit the armour.

That’s the wrong way round, we think. Our armour is ergonomically designed to fit around the garment.” n the 2011 RST collection, Tractech, Razor and Raptor leather and textile jackets all come with CE-approved back protectors fitted as standard at no extra charge. “We think this is unprecedented at this price point – others put in foam protectors, which isn’t the same thing. And the way the jacket fits, you barely feel the back protector,” says Towers.

The RST collection has many other features included in the affordable price.All the leather products are triple-stitched using bonded nylon thread for extra strength and are designed using RST’s ProfileFit concept; an ergonomic design that offers outstanding levels of comfort, drastically reducing fatigue.

ProfileFit can be appreciated when seeing how the suits hang on display in the showroom, and an important element is the amount of Kevlar stretch panels used.

All the textile garments feature large amounts of reflective Scotchlite piping and

I

The new ProSeries one-piece racing suit is worn by WSS champion Andrew Pitt, amongst others, and is constructed from premium full-grain cowhide with Kevlar stretch panels, perforated panels, Airtex lining and Chamud comfort lining on collar and cuffs INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

41

INDUSTRY EXTRA

Moto-Direct has sold more than a million AGV helmets over the years. The AGV museum at the company’s HQ has helmets worn by Niki Lauda, Barry Sheene, Valentino Rossi, Giacomo Agostini, Randy Mamola and many others

Reflex panels, and all textile garments are also fitted with waterproof and breathable membranes, while all but the entry-level Alpha jacket have removable thermal liners.

In terms of the UK apparel market, Towers confirms that RST is expanding in a shrinking market.

“It’s difficult to get exact market information on apparel sales, but we’re getting feedback that the market in 2010 was down by around 20% on the previous year in the UK . We were fortunate to buck that trend, with RST sales up by 13% on a like-forlike basis. When a consumer can see value in the product, he will go for it in this market, whereas some of the more expensive brands are suffering. People are parachuting down from premium brands to RST as a quality, but affordable, brand.” owers says a big reason for this is the company’s visibility programme. “Other budget brands don’t have our raised profile. British Superbike champions Chris Walker, Jamie Whitham and Niall Mackenzie all wear RST, as does double WSS champion Andrew Pitt. RST was probably the highest profile brand in the BSB paddock last year with over 40 riders wearing RST suits. This visibility is really important – our customers know they are wearing the same products they see on TV, week in week out.

They don’t feel they’ve bought an obscure suit, and

T

Each Moto-Direct brand has its own separate display area in the purposebuilt headquarters facility at South Normanton in Central England. The company represents AGV, Arlen Ness, Berik, Dainese, KBC, Motul and Puma, as well as its own Gear, RST and Wolf apparel brands

The company has two machinists who carry out personalisation and warranty work. RST says any logo or message capable of being printed can be badged up and stitched onto its suits and jackets

can hold their heads up high on the street or track.”

This is further enhanced through RST’s trackside presence – their support truck attends all BSB races, track meetings and dealer open days.

“Brand recognition in the UK is very good – we’re the fastest growing brand. At retail level, we are selling up to £10m worth of RST apparel here a year.

And later in 2011 we will advertise heavily and go viral with targeted web ads, videos, promotions and a strong social media presence, to take it to the next level.”

This situation is mirrored in Australia and South Africa. “We’ve been in Australia for seven years, and RST is now the number one brand there, and in South Africa we’re also very strong. We have excellent distributors who have helped us grow the market, and we’ve also raised our profile in both countries through race and rider sponsorship,” says Towers.

RST has also had a very productive few years in Central and Eastern Europe, with the brand taking off in Poland, Slovakia and Romania.

“It was a bit of a culture shock with some of these

The Paragon II jacket has a waterproof and breathable membrane and a detachable, quilted lining

Paragon trousers

42

INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

The Razor textile jacket for men and women offers exceptional value for money, and has a CEcertified RST Contour+ back protector along with shoulder and elbow armour as standard

INDUSTRY EXTRA

The warehouse uses the latest picking and logistics software to ensure rapid turnaround and delivery. Dealers can log into the company’s secure website and check stock availability, as well as order at any time of day

guys in Eastern Europe.When a couple of them came on board last year,demand was such that they cleaned us out of certain items. We told them: ‘You can’t put in an order for 200 Razor jackets just like that. You have to give us sales forecasts so we can anticipate demand!’ For 2011 we made sure we have proper forecasts and will ensure production fully meets demand in those fast-growing markets.”

RST Export Manager Roland Bullock is also overseeing expansion on the French and Swedish markets.An agent was appointed in France last year, and Towers says the company will look closely at how this pans out, before attacking other important markets in Western Europe.

The brand currently has no representation in Germany, Italy or Spain, but plans to expand into these markets when strong local agents or distributors are identified. “We would like to talk to anyone who thinks RST would work for them,” says Towers.

“With our existing export markets, distributors and dealers have been happy to take our UK lines wholesale, but when we move into Southern Europe that will probably have to change. We’ll need garments specifically optimised for warmer climates.”

Towers says they considered expanding into the

US market a couple of years’ back, but have decided to concentrate for the time being on European and other English-speaking markets worldwide, where the riding culture is more similar to the UK. He says the company will remain true to its sport roots, and although it has branched out into touring apparel, has no plans to introduce urban or scooter ranges.

In terms of future development, Towers and other managers will be talking to the market, dealers and customers about new products, technologies, sizing and features. Product renewal takes place on a twoyear cycle, with a healthy number of new products in the range every year. Because of the company’s relentless focus on quality, returns are less than 1%, and this means more money is available to fund product development.

Towers and his team have worked hard to ensure RST’s success in Britain, where it is one of the few apparel brands still expanding in a shrinking market.

As the company now takes steps to bring the brand to new markets in Europe, he is convinced the same factors that have made it a success in its home market (and in Australia and South Africa), will also apply in mainland Europe.

“Moto-Direct as a distributor is a healthy company, so we have the luxury of being able to take

All apparel is hung up after unloading to ensure minimal creasing in the temperature-controlled warehouse

our time over the RST expansion programme, and we can afford to wait until we get each detail right,” he says.

“The fact that our staff are all deeply committed to the biking lifestyle is also very important to the finished product. This translates into exceptional levels of specification for the price, excellent quality and a very stylish look. It’s a race-accepted brand, and has similar levels of credibility at the trackside and on the street as the best-known premium brands.”

By way of a conclusion, Towers says the RST difference is simple. “Other mid-level brands have one fundamental problem. Their people don’t have anything like the down-to-earth passion we have.We love our product and we love motorcycles, and it shows!”

MOTO-DIRECT South Normanton, Derbyshire, UK Tel: +44 (0)1773 864420 E-mail: info@moto-direct.com www.moto-direct.com www.rst-moto.com

Tractech leather race gloves have carbonfibre knuckle and finger protection inserts, and reinforced Kevlar panels on the palms Tractech onepiece racing suits are made from premium fullgrain cowhide, and armour includes an RST Contour+ back protector as standard

INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

43

TRADEZONE TRADEZONE TRADEZONE TRADEZONE TRADEZONE

Distributors of TECMATE retail chargers AUSTRALIA - A1 ACCESSORY IMPORTS T. (61) 7 3806 1800 - E. sales@a1accessory.com.au AUSTRIA - SCHUMOTO KG T. (43)(732)757080 - E. office@schumoto.at BELGIUM - BIKE DESIGN BVBA (MOTORCYCLE) T. (052) 453361 - E. info@bike-design.be CROATIA - PICCILO RACING D.O.O. T. (385)(21)325677 - E. piccilo-racing@st.t-com.hr CYPRUS - J.L. MOTORACE LTD (MOTORCYCLE) T. (357)(22)752234 - E. motorace@cytanet.com.cy CZECH REP. - MAREK BRANDT T. (420)725 790 662 - E. marek.brandt@seznam.cz DENMARK - CARL ANDERSEN MOTORCYKLER T. (45)(86) 946177 - E. hjn@ca-mc.dk ESTONIA - OÜ HELADORA LLC T. (372) 5285672 - E. rain@motopood.ee FINLAND - OY BRANDT A/B T. (358)(9)895501 - E. ulf.bjorklund@brandt.fi FRANCE - MORACO SAS T. (33)(3)85 51 45 30 - E. moraco@wanadoo.fr GERMANY - ECON WERKST.-AUSRÜSTUNGS T. (49)(2689) 928747 - E. info@econ-wa.de HERMANN HARTJE GMBH T. (49)(42) 51 811 273 - E .info@hartje.de HS-MOTORRADTEILE GMBH T. (49)(621) 105 200 - E. info@hs-motoparts.de NIEMANN+FREY GMBH T. (49)(2151)55 54 20 E. zentrale@niemann-frey.de PAASCHBURG & WUNDERLICH GMBH T. (49)(40)248 277 0 - E. info@pwonline.de “SCHÜLLER MOTORRADTEILE T. (49)(6245)994 79 10 - E. info@enuma.de GREAT BRITAIN - PROBIKE SHADOWFAX LTD T. (44)(1604)660555 - E. sales@probike.co.uk GREECE - TECNOPNEUMATIC A.E T. (30)(210)34 67 000 E. kalosakas@tecnopneumatic.gr HOLLAND - HOCOPARTS B.V. T. (31)(342) 412290 - E. pppeters@hocoparts.com HUNGARY - DOVER KFT T. (36)(1)2392202 - E. arpi@doverkft.hu ICELAND - NITRO N1, DIVISION OF BILANAUST T. (354)-535-9000 - E. agust@n1.is IRELAND - MEGABIKES T. (353)(1)44784200 - E. info@megabikes.ie ISRAEL - A.E. MOTORCYCLE T. (972)(50)271923 - E. ae_motor@netvision.net.il ITALY - SOCIETEA GENERALE RICAMBI T. (39)(051)722557 - E. DelucaR@sgr-it.com JAPAN - OKADA CORPORATION T. (81)(3)5473-0371 E. k.iwabuchi@okada-corp.com KUWAIT - TRISTAR MOTORCYCLES T. (965)2405194 - E. shams@tristarkw.com LATVIA - MOTOSPORTS LTD T. (371)-7802351 E. lauris.ermanis@motosports.lv

www.barnettclutches.com

LIECHSTENSTEIN - RÄTIKONBATTERIEN AG T. (423) 3738010 - E. mgraf@raetikonbatterien.li

USA

MOROCCO - SHENO T. (212) (0)5 22 35 97 16 - E. larichimed@sheno.ma NEW ZEALAND - NORTHERN ACCESSORIES T. (64)(9)276-6453 - E. steven@northacc.co.nz NORWAY - SPARE PARTS SERVICE AS T. (47)(64)837500 - E. jang@sps.no PHILIPPINES - STRONGHAND INC. T. (632) 373-2311 - E. open@stronghandinc.com POLAND - HART SP Z.O.O T. (48) (77) 45 66 316 E. motocykle@hartphp.com.pl PORTUGAL - JMP EQUIPAMENTOS T. (351)(232)961841 E. geral@jmpequipamentos.com

Dealers only!

RUSSIA - EXLAND LTD T. (7)(812)380-3072 - E. exlandyura@mail.ru SERBIA - MOTO-BIKE T. (99)(381)641289979 - E. motobike@ptt.rs SINGAPORE - DWA LUBRICANTS PTE LTD T. (65) 6515-6282 - E. adele@teampetronas.com SLOVAKIA - MICRONIX S.R.O. T. (421)(48) 4123779 - E. info@micronix.eu CENTRAL & SOUTH AFRICA, OCEANIA TECMATE SOUTH AFRICA T. (27)(21)5316087 - E. tecmate@netactive.co.za SPAIN - HESPERIA S.A. T. (34)(91)5088830 E. fsoria@hesperiainternacional.com SWEDEN - MOTOSPEED AB T. (46)(21)351925 - E. klarkner@motospeed.se SWITZERLAND - TECHNOPOLYMER AG T. (41)(91) 683-0333 E. robert.maier@technopolymer.ch TAIWAN - PROMO-TEC INTERNATIONAL T. (886)(2)2562-7770 E. pro.motec@msa.hinet.net TURKEY - VELOMOTO T. (90)(212)6061707 - E. info@velomoto.com.tr UAE - TRISTAR MOTORCYCLES DUBAI T. (971) 4-3330659 - E. floyd@tristaruae.com USA, CANADA, CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA TECMATE NORTH AMERICA T. 905 337 2095 - E. sales@tecmate.com TecMate (International) SA BELGIUM

www.tecmate-int.com TEL: 0032 (0)16 805440 FAX: 0032 (0)16 805441

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INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

Parts Unlimited (608) 758-1111 Hap Jones (408) 432-1918 TEC Dist. (800) 356-0043 Newcomb Southeast (803) 732-5135 M.A.P. Ent. (727) 381-1151 KK Motorcycle Supply (800) 543-9638 Suncoast Cycle Ent. (727) 725-3664

Canada Parts Canada (403) 250-6611 Motovan Motorsport (450) 449-3903 Kimpex Action (519) 659-0508

Germany Grossewaechter 0049 (0)5225859256

UK P.D.Q. Motorcycle 0044 1628667644

Australia Serco 07 38232833

Netherlands Motorcycle Storehouse BV 0031 (0)50 303 9771

Sweden Roffes Motordelar 08-640 43 46

Japan Wellington Moto

France Bihr Racing 0033 389673639

TRADEZONE TRADEZONE TRADEZONE TRADEZONE TRADEZONE

INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

45

ISSUE INDEX Cs & V (BE) Cs4 cruiser saddlebags ......................................................................27 Davida UK (GB) Jet helmet....................................................................................36 Elmo (IT) Giugiaro Stelvio helmet ..........................................................................38 Fehling (DE) Accessories for Honda Shadow and Spirit ..........................................29 This INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS INDEX is a complete listing of all the items in this edition.

It includes all our advertisers and the product, feature and news items published this month.

The INDEX will act as a quick reference guide, and will be useful when searching this and other editions either for contact details for a particular company, or for a specific item that has appeared. The INDEX appears in every edition of IDN.

THIS MONTH’S ADVERTISERS

Fechter Drive (DE) Protech Edition Professional Line licence plate holder................28 G&G Bike (IT) Exhausts for Yamaha FZ8 ................................................................25 Germas (DE) Candy ladies’ jacket..............................................................................

Gianni Falco (IT) 579 Kodo, 951 Mito and 776 Novo 2 boots ................................35 Gilles Tooling (LU) Rearset and shiftholder for BMW GS models ............................21

ACCEL Motorcycle Products (US) Self Learning Module ..........................................6 B&G Racing (DE) Frame & fairing protectors..........................................................45

GZM Europe/Accessories Unlimited (ES) Texas swingarm bags ..............................19

Barnett Performance Products (US) Spring conversion kits, distributors ............26,44

Harley-Davidson (US) Reports improved results for 2010 ........................................7

Calzaturificio Antis (IT) Stylmartin boots ................................................................39

Haveba Industries (DE) Liverpool jacket ................................................................33

Davida (GB) Helmets ............................................................................................35

Held (DE) Madison jacket and Brave helmet ..........................................................31

DC AFAM (BE) Parts & accessories ........................................................................27

Holding Trophy (FR) Bagster heated muffs and blankets ........................................29

DID Europe (IT) D.I.D Dirt Star rims........................................................................24

Industrias Galfer (ES) Radial monoblock caliper ....................................................19

DP Brakes & Clutches (US) Brakes & clutches ........................................................26 Fehling (DE) Parts & accessories ............................................................................45

JAMA (JP) Japanese market stable ..........................................................................9

Free Spirits (IT) Street and race parts ....................................................................29

K-MAXX (DE) 28mm carbon handlebar ................................................................21

Grossewaechter Racing Parts (DE) CP Pistons........................................................44

L’Officiel du Cycle (FR) French registrations fall 7.2% in 2010..................................9

GSG-Mototechnik (DE) Parts & accessories............................................................44

Ledrie Sales (NL) Metric cruiser saddlebags ..........................................................28

GZM Europe/Accessories Unlimited (ES) Parts & accessories ..................................45

LLS Racing (IT) Adjusters and reservoir covers........................................................23

Ilmberger Carbon Parts (DE) Carbon parts & exhausts ..........................................20 Industrias Galfer (ES) Brakes & accessories ..............................................................7 Kibblewhite (US) Valvetrain components, distributor network ................................45 Küryakyn (US) Parts & accessories ..........................................................................2

LSL Motorradtechnik (DE) Handlebar grips and weights ........................................19 MAG Europe (GB) Kuryakyn metric cruiser accessories ..........................................22 Mayo Media (GB) 2011 Motorcycle Trade Expo review ....................................14-17

LSL Motorradtechnik (DE) Parts & accessories..........................................................6

Michelin (FR) Raises prices in Europe ....................................................................48

MAG Europe (GB) Küryakyn black ISO-Grips............................................................8

Moto Direct (GB) Company feature..................................................................40-43

Mustang Motorcycle Products (US) Parts & accessories..........................................44

Moto FGR (CZ) Midalu 2.5 litre V6 muscle bike ......................................................5

PB Germany (DE) AGM Motorcycle bags & accessories ..........................................21 Premier Helmets (IT) Helmets ................................................................................36 Puig (ES) Screens & accessories ..............................................................................5 Reevu Worldwide (GB) Rear-View helmet ..............................................................30

MV Agusta (IT) Cathcart Report: F3 675 sportbike............................................10-13 PB Germany (DE) AGM Voyager bags ....................................................................28 Planet Knox (GB) Zero gloves................................................................................32

Rick’s Motorsport Electrics (US) Starters, chargers & ignitions ................................48

Project (IT) Flash jet helmet range ........................................................................32

Scandinavian Brake Systems (DK) SBS brake pads..................................................18

Puig (ES) Accessories for Yamaha FZ8 and Fazer 8 ................................................20

Spectro Oils of America (US) Premium-quality lubricants........................................23

Putoline Oil (NL) Nano Tech engine oils ................................................................27

SENA Technologies (US) Motorcycle Bluetooth headset & intercom........................47 Surflex (IT) Clutch disc kit for Ducati 1198 ..............................................................4 Tech Design Team (ES) LS2 helmets ......................................................................33 TecMate (BE) Optimate 4 Dual Program, distributor network ............................22,44 World of Powersports (US) OEM parts from USA ..................................................44

RAI Association (NL) Dutch motorcycle market down, scooters up............................9 Reevu Worldwide (GB) MSX1 rear view helmet ....................................................34 Rizoma (IT) Styling kit for 2011 Yamaha FZ8 ........................................................24 Royal Enfield (IN) New CEO appointed....................................................................4 SENA Technologies (US) SMH10 communications & entertainment set ..................25

THIS MONTH’S EDITORIAL

Sidi Sport (IT) ST boots..........................................................................................31

ABE Sport (IT) Jett J1 MX boots ............................................................................36

Sito Gruppo Industriale (IT) LeoVince X3 systems for Suzuki RM-Z 450 ..................20

Access Equip Motos France (FR) Ixon signs deal with Yamaha France ......................7

Spidi Sport (IT) Giga jacket....................................................................................37

Acerbis Italia (IT) Cosmo roost deflector and jacket................................................38

Splash Design (NL) Macna CC1 Covered Collar and Vision Vest ............................32

Agility Global (GB) Saietta electric motorcycle ........................................................7 ANESDOR (ES) Spanish moped accidents down, Spanish registrations down 4.7% ....5,9 ACEM (BE) Calls for amendments to EU’s proposed PTW regulation ......................48 B&G Racing (DE) Crash pads & shaft covers for BMW models ..............................25

Suomy (IT) J22 Apex full-face helmet ....................................................................37 SW-Motech (DE) Quick-Lock Sport saddlebag set ..................................................23 Thomas Sports Group (GB) Goes into administration ................................................

Barracuda (IT) Kustom and Virus helmets ..............................................................37

Yamaha Motor (JP) Closes Spanish factory ..............................................................4

CGMItalia (IT) 107 helmet range options ..............................................................34

Zandona (IT) Shield Evo back protector ................................................................33

46

INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH 2011

NEWS ROOM

Michelin raises prices in Europe FRENCH tyre manufacturer Michelin will increase the price of its motorcycle and scooter tyres in Europe by 7.5% over the next few months.

The company says this has been caused by the large increase in rubber

and other raw materials costs, and will be implemented between 1st March and 1st June.

Motorcycle and construction equipment tyres will increase by 7.5%, truck tyres by 7%, car tyres by 5% and agricultural machinery tyres by 4%. www.michelin.com

Paris Salon du Scooter THE second annual Salon du Scooter de Paris will take place from March 25 to 27 at the Aquaboulevard, Porte de Sevres, in western Paris.

With an exhibition space of 2,500 sq.m., 25 scooter brands and 80 models will be on display, alongside helmets, apparel and parts and accessories.

Attendance is free, but visitors must pre-register before attending, and the organisers expect an increased turnout given the big expansion in

ACEM calls for amendments to EU’s proposed PTW regulation DURING its annual conference in Brussels in January, European motorcycle industry association ACEM came up with its recommendations for the European Parliament and Commission’s proposed new draft Regulation for powered two-wheelers and other light vehicles, COM 2010/542.

Mr. Wim Van De Camp, MEP, attended the ACEM conference as European Parliament Rapporteur on the Regulation, updating the audience on the status of this draft in the agenda of the European Parliament, which is likely to be presented for final vote during the summer of 2011.

ACEM representatives reminded policy-makers of the dire market situation the European motorcycle industry is confronting. “The PTW market today is experiencing an unprecedented crisis with a contraction of 25% in 2010 compared to 2008. The proposed legislation falls against a difficult backdrop for a sector

employing 150,000 people directly and indirectly across the EU, and the association was keen to ensure its proposals to reduce the negative effects on the sector were given a proper hearing,” according to the organisation.

On the issue of market surveillance and type approval,ACEM welcomed provisions to create a level playing field, which it said would result in fair competition within the motorcycle sector, provided this is implemented at national level in a coordinated way. In the past, the EU has imposed ever more stringent type-approval requirements on EU-based OEMs, while importers of products from the Far East were not policed to the same extent, putting EU companies at a competitive disadvantage.

The association also called for offroad PTWs to be included in the regulation. In the draft, “vehicles

primarily intended for offroad use and designed to travel on unpaved surfaces” are excluded, implicitly prohibiting their use on public roads.

Some environmental provisions need further attention. The draft of the Regulation unnecessarily penalises hybrid technology and trikes, while creating confusion with Euro numbering. Both these issues need to be addressed, says ACEM. The current calendar also needs rationalisation. “The proposal tabled by the European Commission presents a plethora of dates and deadlines that are unrealistically complicated and over-ambitious for OEMs, which need a realistic time frame to introduce new products.” It not only establishes the application dates of Euro 4, 5 and 6 emission stages, but also foresees several other provisions such as mandatory anti-lock brakes for certain

scooter sales in France over the last few years.

In 2010, almost 5,000 visitors attended.

This year is dedicated to electric scooters, with a track specially set up inside the exhibition hall. Nine e-scooter manufacturers will be offering test rides.

www.salonduscooter.fr

Jacques Compagne, ACEM Secretary-General

vehicles, on board diagnostics, etc.

Some safety provisions need further attention. Systems such as ABS and CBS need a longer lead-in time than currently envisaged, and effects on SMEs need to be more carefully evaluated.The legislative package can be improved, says ACEM, by streamlining minor provisions which will highly impact niche manufacturers and the aftermarket parts and accessories sector.

ACEM believes that although the proposals provide a sound framework to move forward, much remains to be done to enable a smooth transition to the new regulatory environment. www.acem.eu

THE RIGHT PRODUCT - THE RIGHT FIT - THE RIGHT PRICE • Starting, Charging and Electronic Ignition components: Specifically, we offer regulator rectifiers, stators, starter motors, starter drives, solenoid switches, ignition coils, CDI boxes, brushes and brush plate kits

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info@rickselectrics.com www.ricksmotorsportelectrics.com

• Specializing in Asian street bikes, ATVs, & Off Road vehicles • Quality bolt-on/ plug-in OE replacement pieces at a competitive cost

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