American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 221 December 2017 | Page 22

The one big disappointment from the
V-twin and custom sector perspective
though has been the show’s complete
abandonment of its Custom Area.
A feature that made its debut five years
ago when empty space needed
something to fill it, the area had never
actually been as “comprehensive”
(never mind international) in its
approach as it could and should have
been and, in truth, had been in decline
the past two or three years.
There had though been some good
ideas aired and any opportunity for our
industry to be showcased in front of a
+20%
exhibitor
numbers
mainstream audience (such as at
INTERMOT ‘Customized’ and
AIMExpo) is a “good thing”.
However, it would appear that the
organizers have drunk deep of the
Hipster Kool-Aid. Instead of
showcasing Custom in the context of
what they claim is the world’s largest
motorcycle expo, the organizers
instead threw their backing behind an
industrial shed based style free-entry
“beards, barbers and bikes” garage-
style event, staged concurrently with
EICMA about 20 miles away on the
other side of town.
I’d like to be able to share with you how
that worked out, but despite my best
endeavors finding anybody who
actually went to it or knows anything
about how it played out, never mind
Parts Europe: Next year will mark ten years since construction of Parts Europe’s giant state-of-the-art distribution
centre began at Wasserliesch/Trier, near the German border with Luxembourg. Since then the complex has been
commissioned, equipped and a sales force speaking 17 different languages hired. Along with building a wide
international dealer network, they are able to sell hundreds of thousands of parts throughout Europe (and beyond)
from a massive vendor portfolio.
The inventory consists of a combination of market leading and internationally recognized American and European
brands, with house brands Thor, ICON, Moose and Drag Specialties leading the way; www.partseurope.eu
BST: Terry Annecke, Operations and Marketing Director. The South Africa based carbon wheel specialist has had a
huge response to its new ‘Black Mamba’ interchangeable 7-spoke rear wheel, and to judge by the crowds at the
company’s EICMA booth, looks set to repeat the success with a new split spoke design;
www.blackstonetek.com
Ferodo: The international brakes specialist, a division of Southfield,
Michigan based Federal Mogul, is noted for its Carbon Grip Pads – said to
be the only brake pads in the world formulated especially for the specific
demands of polished brake rotors. The Polished Rotor Pads (PRP) feature a
carbon based composite formula that is bound together with organic
resin. The result is said to be a powerful combination of braking virtues
for the custom market - excellent stopping power, lower heat generation,
reduced brake dust generation and minimized rotor scoring;
www.ferodoracing.com
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AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - DECEMBER 2017
TecMate: The manufacturer of the market-leading OptiMate program of
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st