NEWS
BRIEFS
Emergency Call Systems( eCall) are set to follow the automotive industry in Europe and become compulsory on new motorcycles. Such systems become compulsory on new cars in Europe from April this year and the motorcycle industry is also now firmly in the regulatory cross-hairs. BMW has been offering an S. O. S. alert system( their“ Intelligent Emergency Call feature) as an option on selected models since last year. Estimates vary, but it is thought that such systems could save anything up to 2,000 lives a year in Europe.
Doug Vancil and the Vance & Hines Top Fuel Harley team took the win at the season-opening NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California, February 11. Qualifying # 1, Doug and tuner Mike Romine put down the quickest pass of the weekend, posting a best 6.304 ET at 231.04 mph and then followed that up by dominating the Eliminations.
The first Ducati Scrambler sold exclusively online went on sale at the start of February in Italy, France, Germany, Spain and Portugal. Suitably the model is the“ Scrambler Hashtag”. After a day in the mud will they be known as the Hashbrowns?( RB).
Motonation has announced it is now the exclusive distributor of Trilobite Premium Aramid Fashion in North America. Trilobite apparel is designed and developed by Biker’ s Crown / Rusty Piston in the Czech Republic and has never before been distributed in the U. S. With the Heritage, Urban and Travel collections, advanced protective materials used include Dyneema, Cordura Denim and patented Trilobitex.
BRP announces the creation of a Powersports Group and a new senior management member with the appointment of Bertrand Thiébaut as Powersports President. The new group brings together the Ski-Doo, Lynx, Sea-Doo, Can-Am and Rotax product lines into a single operating unit. The Spyder and Evinrude lines will continue to be operated independently.
Polaris announced a 3 percent increase in the regular quarterly cash dividend, raising the payout to $ 0.60 per share. This increase represents the 23rd consecutive year of Polaris increasing its dividend effective with the 2018 first quarter dividend. The first quarter dividend will be payable on March 15, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 1, 2018.
Indian spotlight unknown builders
Indian Motorcycle has announced a new competition for 2018 –“ The Wrench”, a build-off for three nonprofessional customizers to be supplied with a stock 2018 Scout Bobber and a $ 10,000 build budget.“ There was a time when building custom motorcycles came with zero promise of fame or fortune. Instead, it was purely about the love of chopping, welding and grinding on sheet metal.“ The Wrench” will celebrate those who find their sense of identity, purpose and glory spending painstaking hours wrenching on garage builds.” In collaboration with Bonnier’ s Hot Bike magazine and a panel of expert judges, featuring Roland Sands, Satya Kraus, Jason Paul Michaels and Hot Bike Editor-in-Chief Jordan Mastagni,
“ we are seeking three of the most talented motorcycle craftsmen in the United States with the vision and talent to transform stock Indian Scout Bobbers into one-off works of custom motorcycle art. The competition is not open to professional builders and contestants cannot make a living customizing motorcycles.“ Instead, Indian Motorcycle is looking for everyday wrenchers, home builders and amateur customizers who tinker in
the garage for the passion, not the pay. Motorcycle industry professionals, such as a mechanic or salesperson, are welcomed to submit,” said Reid Wilson, Senior Director Marketing and Product Planning for Indian Motorcycle.“ Last year we saw what professionals could do with the Scout Bobber platform when Kraus Motor, Keino Cycles and RSD unveiled incredible designs at the Brooklyn Invitational. This year, we’ re turning the spotlight away from the pros, and shining it on everyday wrenchers.” Indian Motorcycle will arm each amateur builder with a new 2018 stock Indian Scout Bobber and provide a build budget of $ 10,000. The three custom Scout Bobbers will be unveiled in July, followed by a fan vote. The winner will be announced at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and receive a $ 10,000 grand prize along with a feature spread in Hot Bike magazine.
Drag Specialties – on the road again
A massive logistical and resource undertaking, and a major commit to their dealers and vendors alike, Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties have announced their three Dealer Training Tour schedules for 2018, with stops at some 70 plus different locations in total. The 27-stop Parts Unlimited Training Tour for Street & Off- Road started in Florida in February and will end at Albany, New York, on April 26; the 20- stop Parts Unlimited Tour for Helmet & Apparel started at Santa Clara / San Jose in February and will finish in St. Louis, MO, and Pewaukee, WI, in mid- March. There are 25 Drag Specialties Training Tour stops, starting at Houston, Texas, at the end of March and finishing at Tampa, Florida, in October.
Drag Specialties celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018, and this year’ s FatBook Cover Bike goes back to where it all started: on the drag strip. This 2017 Harley-Davidson Road King showcases 50 years to the fullest. Drag Specialties collaborated with Ray Price Harley-Davidson in Raleigh, NC to get back to its roots- this M-8 Dresser is loaded with products from the FatBook.
THE DRAG SPECIALTIES DEALER TRAINING TOUR
March 27 March 29 April 10 April 12 April 24 April 26 May 8 May 10 May 22 May 24 June 5 June 7 June 26 June 28 July10 July 12 July 24 July 26 Sept 11 Sept 13 Sept 25 Sept 27 Oct 9 Oct 11
Houston, TX New Braunfels, TX Los Angeles, CA San Francisco, CA Portland, OR Seattle, WA Baltimore, MD King of Prussia, PA Marlborough, MA Albany, NY Batavia, NY Pittsburgh, PA Louisville, KY Chicago, IL Appleton, WI Minneapolis, MN Kansas City, MO St. Louis, MO Nashville, TN Knoxville, TN Concord, NC Atlanta, GA Ft. Lauderdale, FL Tampa, FL
6 AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER- APRIL 2018 www. AMDchampionship. com