American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 175 February 2014 | Page 11

EBR to start European deliveries in March EBR’s new 450 sq m / 4,000 sq ft facility at Alkmaar in The Netherlands – headed up by former Zero Motorcycles and Triumph man Edwin Belonje HAVING unveiled the revolutionary new 1190 RX at the AIMExpo at Orlando last October, Erik Buell Racing (EBR) has now confIrmed the opening of its planned European office and distribution center at Alkmaar in The Netherlands. With 450 sq m (approx 4,000 sq ft) of combined space, EBR Europe Managing Director Edwin Belonje said "now we can make real progress with setting up our dealer network in Europe”. Formerly managing director for Zero Motorcycles in Europe, and the international Sales and Marketing Manager for Triumph Motorcycles in Europe and Asia, Belonje went on to say "We started this late last year, and we have visited several prospective dealers in the Netherlands, England, Belgium and Germany. "We met with a warm reception because EBR is poised to capture a distinctive position in the market. We expect to be able to deliver the first regular production motorcycles in March." The 1190RX deserves its description as "revolutionary". Based on its ET-V2 1190 cc liquid cooled v-twin engine, the 1190 RX weighs in at just 419 pounds, and delivers 185bhp, and an almost unprecedented 102 ft.lbs of torque – said to be one of the highest levels of peak torque ever seen on a street legal production sportsbike. With 21 traction control settings and broad torque band, the engine is said to deliver a combined highway/city fuel economy of over 40 mpg and hydrocarbon and nitrous oxide exhaust emissions that are said to be less than 25 percent of those allowed by the US Environmental Protection Agency standards (carbon monoxide emissions are said to be just 6 percent of the level allowed by US federal regulations). The company is describing the engine design as being a “breakthrough”, and race inspired handling features, all-new styling and The acclaimed new 1190 RX features class leading weight/bhp/torque ratios and low emissions www.AMDchampionship.com scientifically-derived aerodynamics are said to give the 1190RX what EBR is claiming to be the best “performance and driveablilty of any superbike produced by any manufacturer in the world.” Completely assembled at East Troy, Wisconsin, EBR announced a remarkably low domestic US MRSP price tag of $18,995 when it unveiled the 1190RX last year. The company has also confirmed its previously announced intention to compete in the Superbike World Championship in 2014, with Team Hero 1190RS riders Geoff May and Aaron Yates in a two-bike WSBK effort that kicks-off at the Phillip Island GP circuit near Melbourne, Australia, on February 23rd. Last year it was announced that Hero Motorcycle of India, the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer, was stepping up its ambitions to become a player in the north American and European large-displacement markets by taking a major stake in Erik Buell's fledgling post-Harley race and streetbike business. EBR's European operations are being headed up by former Zero and Triumph Motorcycles executive Edwin Belonje EBR EUROPE Alkmaar, The Netherlands Tel: [phone] [email protected] www.ebr.com According to company management the first 1190RX has received an "exceptionally positive" response from dealers and consumers on its pre-launch promotional tour AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - FEBRUARY 2014 11