American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 230 September 2018 | Page 10

FBI is Official North American
BRIEFS Distributor for Nitron Racing
Suspension Systems
BIZ
SEMA says that the automotive
specialty equipment market
experienced an eighth straight year of
post-recession growth, reaching $43
billion in 2017 (+4%). Pickup
products accounted for $12.44 billion
(29%) of sales in 2017; in-store
purchases accounted for roughly two-
thirds of all retail sales in 2017; 33%
of all specialty-equipment consumers
were under 30 years old and 42% of
all forced induction products
(turbochargers, superchargers, etc.)
purchased were DIY installed.
Dowco, manufacturer of the
Willie & Max luggage brand
among others, has sold its
marine business segment to
Patrick Industries. The Dowco
Powersports and Plastics
business segments will continue
to be privately held by Chuck
Webster, who has owned Dowco
since 1975. Over the next several
months Dowco will transition
names to Redline Plastics, who
will build a new corporate
headquarters and manufacturing
facility in Manitowoc, WI. The
Dowco brand name will continue
to be used by Redline Plastics for
powersports covers for the
foreseeable future.
Market researcher Freedonia
estimates global demand for
motorcycles as projected to rise by
+4.4% p.a. through 2022 to 121.5m
units. It cites increasing use for
recreational purposes, growing
availability of affordable models and
expansion of road networks in
developing markets as drivers. Global
demand was for 80.7m units in 2017,
with Asia responsible for some 80%
of sales.
New personal watercraft (PWC)
sales increased +3% in the U.S.
in June, continuing a monthly
upward trend that started five
years ago.
Honda has celebrated its 20th
anniversary of Side by Side and ATV
production at its South Carolina
factory. The company recently
completed a $45m expansion project
at the facility and has built its three-
millionth ATV there since production
began in 1998.
Yamaha has reported
consolidated net sales of 851.3
billion yen (+2.8%) for the first
half of 2018 with global net
sales of motorcycles +3.7%,
thanks largely to strong results
in emerging markets; operating
income was +4.3% as a result of
high profitability in the ASEAN
region.
10
Hendersonville, North Carolina
based Fast Bike Industries, LLC
(FBI) has announced its
appointment as the official
North American distributor for
the leading edge, British made
suspension range from Nitron
Racing Systems.
David Behrend, owner of FBI
says that “the addition of
Nitron is in keeping with our
mission to distribute the best
brands and products to dealers
and their riders - those seeking
high-performance high-quality
aftermarket motorcycle
suspension with a genuine race
pedigree.”
Although best known for sports
bike shock absorbers and front-
end cartridge kits, Nitron also
offers a range of feature variant
Harley aftermarket and custom
V-twin suspension products at a
selection of price points - all of
which are manufactured at its
state-of-the-art facility in the
UK.
“We are in business to provide
the best available aftermarket
suspension upgrades to our vast
dealer network and customer
base. With Nitron officially
onboard, we are continuing our
commitment to serve our
dealers and many motorcycle
segments at the highest
possible levels of performance,
qualit y, technology, durability
and support.
“Nitron has an extensive
product line and we are excited
to be able to offer high-
performance shocks and fork
cartridge components covering
road, track, custom and
adventure model motorcycles.”
Nitron has been at the forefront
of motorsport suspension
technology since 1998. Founder
Guy Evans has been preparing
for the North American market
for years and felt that Fast Bike
Industries was the right partner
to help that expansion.
“I have personally known David
Behrend for several years, and
we are working closely with his
team to ensure we are
delivering the right product at
the right price with
uncompromising quality,” said
Evans.
“Nitron has been preparing for
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - SEPTEMBER 2018
the North American market for
years and are duly committed to
an aggressive expansion, so it is
with real excitement that we
announce Fast Bike Industries as
our importer and future partner
for this extremely important
market. The timing is perfect
for both businesses.”
www.fastbikeindustries.com
www.nitron.co.uk
Nitron Racing Systems founder Guy Evans (left) and David Behrend, who
founded Fast Bike Industries in 2009
Nitron started out making shock absorbers for cars in 1997, but these days
its motorcycle product line accounts for more than 35 percent of sales, and
Guy Evans sees the motorcycle aftermarket as where Nitron’s best prospects
for further growth lays
www.AMDchampionship.com