American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 220 November 2017 | Page 20

lighter than anticipated. Overall, 2,090 dealer attendees from 1,034 dealerships attended over the show’s four days, a decrease from the 2,459 dealer visitors representing 1,116 dealerships in 2016. “While hurricanes played a factor from pre-registered attendees from TX, FL and GA, the number is frustrating given the overall increased trade marketing and location of the show.” Personally I actually thought the second dealer/trade day was busier than the first, and I wasn’t alone in thinking that – but a wise bird who’s been round the MIC’s Tim Buche revealed the new RiDE initiative, a broad industry programme to offer an impactful first-ride experience in a partnership with Feld Entertainment that will see first experiences offered at 11 Monster Jam Truck events in 2018 block way too many times in such matters suggested that it was because those who were doing an overnighter came in for a second morning, making it feel busier, but then with the weekend looming, they headed off home after lunch on the second day. With regard to the consumer attendance, MIC Events went on to say: “Saturday’s consumer attendance was quite strong and included a ride-in of nearly 300 motorcycles from Iron Pony The organizer MIC Events is to be congratulated on not hiding behind hyperbole in its post-show final numbers press release, acknowledging that neither the dealer nor the consumer attendance was as strong as hoped for. Thursday appears to have been peak day for dealer attendance, with Saturday best for consumers; altogether some 11,897 consumers attended at the weekend A.D. Farrow Co.: Celebrating its 105th anniversary, Harley-Davidson’s oldest American dealer threw its weight behind AIMExpo’s move to its home city with in-store promotion and show related activity at each of its Columbus area locations. Dealer Principal Bob Althoff played a significant role in helping the show organizers secure factory backing, and if AIMExpo does eventually drop anchor in Columbus on an at least alternate annual basis, his resources and contacts will be invaluable in securing a viable future for the show in the heartland of America’s V-twin market; www.adfarrow.com Ken Sean: A leading brand of motorcycle mirrors since 1950 and the trusted original equipment of choice for many of the world’s leading OEMs at various times in the past 65 plus years, the range extends from E-marked mirrors through signal mirrors, UTV and ATV mirrors, universals, classic styles and designs, bar enders, fairing minis, rectangulars, rounds and the popular X-Treme series; www.ksource.org KIRSH HELMETS The CHM-1 from Schenectady, New York based Kirsh Helmets is a DOT approved polycarbonate half shell helmet with what the company describes as a “revolutionary approach to helmet safety, one that is “smaller and denser than traditional motorcycle head protection, and fundamentally different in design.” A “Fluid Displacement Liner”, it has been designed by the company to “provide strength, durability, increased elasticity and reduced angular rotation applied to the head in the event of a crash.” It is manufactured with a non-toxic, food- grade antifreeze (propylene glycol) injected into a removable silicone lining that is said to “feature a patented 20 AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - NOVEMBER 2017 technology that offers versatility at both low and high energy impacts, from any direction, at any one point in time.” Founder and CEO Jason Kirshon describes development of the Kirsh helmet as an “extinction level event” for traditional helmets that “allows the force of impact to continue in a straight line towards the wearer’s skull” and that “relies on a thick layer of foam liner to reduce the force to a safe level before it reaches the skull.” “The Kirsh design spreads the force of impact through a honeycomb of silicone gel lining the helmet, dissipating the impact energy so that no single point of the rider’s head receives a harmful degree of impact. “The result is a remarkably stable half helmet that looks as good as it works.” Available in eight colors, the CHM-1 is “turning the classic half helmet market on its head,” according to Kirshon. “No longer do you have to sacrifice safety for that slick, low profile look. Compression technology (styrofoam) in helmets is now a thing of the past.” www.kirshhelmets.com www.AMDchampionship.com