Words and Pictures by Robin Bradley
AIMExpo 2024
Las Vegas , February 6-8
It ' s Pipe and Drape - But Not as We Know It
The 10th AIMExpo was a success . No question about it . But it continues to emerge as a radically different style of industry expo to those we associate with the traditional motorcycle industry shows in the United States . Available space is tight here , so you can read more of my theories about where AIMExpo is headed and why in my ' Comment ' piece on page four . Meanwhile we present our signature AMD style of review of selected exhibitor news - with the emphasis on the V-twin and international sectors , rather than on the considerable OEM and electric action to be seen at AIMExpo …
National Cycle : AIMExpo saw the Maywood , Illinois windscreen manufacturer introduce its new Quantum + rain repellent coating - " a world first breakthrough in windscreen coatings ," says International Sales Manager Paul Gomez . " We are elevating and setting a new standard in hydrophobic coating . Our legendary Quantum hardcoating has been hugely respected ever since it was introduced , but the new Quantum + takes its protective properties to a new level . While some aftermarket companies use acrylic material , those who prefer the strength and reliability of polycarbonate use the same standard FMR hardcoating that was first developed decades ago . We here at National Cycle have always used polycarbonate as our screen material of choice , due to its widely accepted superior strength . But as an alternate to FMR hardcoating , to resist the scratch and graze from road debris , the environment , UV exposure and simple daily use , we developed our own superior proprietary Quantum coating to reduce surface deterioration and boost durability . The highway is a hostile environment at the best of times , and our Quantum hardcoat was developed to deliver optimized , robust and durable optical clarity under even the worst of riding conditions . It literally has been a ' Quantum ' improvement in the surface hardness of polycarbonate windshields that are exposed to years of wear "; www . nationalcycle . com
Drag Specialties : With a booth this year that paid tribute to late founder and industry icon Fred Fox , LeMans ' support for AIMExpo is important to the legitimacy and future direction of the show . While its embrace of AIMExpo is mostly strategic , at this time , its own NVP Dealer and Parts Expo programs ( Louisville in February and , from September this year , Milwaukee ) have been crucial to the health of the motorcycle parts and accessory industry during a decade , indeed some fifteen years of great market churn , consolidation , decline and instability . Though focused exclusively on its own dealers and vendors , the LeMans show investment has done much to fill the void left in the Midwest ( especially ) by the demise of the long-time established , independent trade show duopoly of Dealer Expo at ' Indy ' and V-Twin Expo at ' Cinci '. a void deepened by the MIC ' s own decision to drop the AIMExpo anchor in the southwest after judging its post Orlando , Florida experiment at Columbus , Ohio , to have failed . It remains to be seen what turns of the wheel the future of the U . S . trade show market has in store . However , regardless of how long the present expo landscape remains intact , for sure and certain there will be evolution eventually - change is the first law of trade show thermodynamics ! www . dragspecialties . com
28 AFTERMARKET MOTO DESIGN - APRIL 2024 www . AMDmag . com