American Motorcycle Dealer 309 April 2025 AMD 309 April 2025 | Page 16

Pirelli had added to its Diablo tire range with the Diablo PowerCruiser . A new range of high-performance Custom- Touring tires designed for custom motorcycles - " especially for the sportiest models such as performance baggers , club style and power cruisers that offer remarkable levels of acceleration and riding pleasure ." " The Diablo PowerCruiser is part of the Diablo family because it embodies Pirelli ' s sporting DNA , this time applying it to the field of customization . It has been created to meet the needs of these motorcycles , which require specific tyres capable of offering high performance and sportiness , with the aim of becoming the new benchmark in its segment in terms of grip and handling , even in wet conditions ." The range is ' dense ', both in construction technology and sizes and includes radial and conventional specifications with dimensions ranging from 100 mm to 260 mm .

A final quarter decline in new model motorcycle sales of -3.4 % worsened an overall 2024 annual picture that might , otherwise , have shown US motorcycle industry unit sales as being not far off " essentially flat " territory for the year . However , at -4.5 % the US market performance in 2024 will have to be marked down as a disappointment . The good news withing the statistics is that at -1.0 % for the year , on-highway motorcycle sales were indeed

" Therefore , each size is specifically developed in terms of structure , materials , compounds and profile design according to the motorcycle , adopting different specifications and solutions for specific models ." Leveraging its Supersport and Racing experience , Pirelli says that the Diablo PowerCruiser is " very easy to handle and with high levels of grip - capable of withstanding strong dynamic stresses , both in lean and in braking and acceleration . " This behaviour represents the perfect balance between comfort and support , giving riders confidence - on both highway cruising and sportier rides . The radial sizes feature a 0-degree steel belt that contributes to a wellcontrolled deformation of the footprint , resulting in better tire conformability at all lean angles and better stress distribution across the contact patch - providing an advantage in terms of grip and wear regularity ." The rear radial sizes are bicompound and enriched with

" essentially flat ", down by 2,882 units to 293,026 . The air continues to leak from the tires of the previously burgeoning ADV (' Dual Sport ') market , with sales off by -1.9 % ( 1,500 units down at 77,422 units ). Off-highway was down by -10.5 % ( -24,717 units at 526,625 sold ) with Scooter sales -19.8 % at just 15,720 units sold . ATV unit sales were down by -1.5 % at 183,402 units to leave the total US domestic powersports market down silica , combined with ' Cap & Base ' technology that offers a softer lateral compound for grip when tilting , supported by a harder compound substrate also positioned at the level of the central band that guarantees performance consistency and thermal balance . The size of the compound ' s center tread varies depending on the tire size and contact patch , to ensure the best possible force distribution and thus provide the best possible driving feel and even wear . The ' Cap & Base ' compound pattern " provides excellent performance during sporty riding while the use of silica provides a wider operating temperature range that promotes a high level of grip , even in wet conditions and consistent performance ." Fast heating and adhesion is achieved thanks to an

USA 2024 Units Sales

by -3.7 % at 710,027 units . Forthe record : In recent terms the US motorcycle market peaked at 701,000 units sold in 2021 , 412,000 of which were On-highway units , 68,000 of which were ADV (' Dual Sport '). In terms of the market since it

innovative and specially developed blend of resins , plasticizers and silica present in the composition of the compounds . In addition , Pirelli ' s proprietary and patented mixing process maximizes the dispersion of all components in the polymer matrix to achieve a high level of homogeneity .

started to recover from the late 1980s and early 1990s recession , the peak was a total of 1,104,000 motorcycle sold in 2006 , 855,000 of which were on-highway and 37,000 of which were units ADV (' Dual Sport ').

Harley-Davidson struck a licencing deal with Indian bike-making behemoth Hero back in 2020 , one that allowed Hero to develop , manufacture and market a Harley-badged motorcycle in its home market . Now that deal is being extended to cover additional bikes and international sales in certain markets . The original Hero-made Harley was the X440 , launched in 2023 and sold alongside other H-D models in India , where Hero also took on the US brand ' s sales network after H-D decided to close its own Indian subsidiary back in 2020 .

That deal has been expanded to include more Hero-developed machines , with the Indian company issuing a press release stating : " The Company has extended its partnership with Harley-Davidson Motor Company , Inc . in order to expand the H-D X440 into new variants as well as to develop a new motorcycle for both domestic and select international markets ." The addition of ' select ' international markets will be of interest to Harley dealers who have been crying out for a more affordable , entry-level model to tempt customers into their showrooms While Hero ' s focus has been on India , where it sold the vast majority of the 5.9 million bikes it made in 2024 , the brand has started to turn an eye to international markets - already having an R & D facility in Munich , Germany , and announcing its intention to expand into Europe and the UK in the second half of 2025 . It makes its own variant of the Harley X440 , the Mavrick 440 , sharing an identical SOHC , air-cooled single and a similar chassis . If that bike proves to be an export success , it ' s clear that the Harley X440 could also be appealing to customers outside India . The additional variants of the X440 will use the same engine but the company ' s announcement that it will also develop a ' new motorcycle ' suggest it has another power unit on the way - perhaps one that will fill the void in the range between the X440 single and Harley ' s smallest homegrown engine , the 975 cc V-twin in the Nightster now being produced for all global markets in Thailand .

16 AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - APRIL 2025 www . AMDmag . com