American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 233 December 2018 | Page 21

Tucker V-Twin Adds Exclusive
New Sport Chrome
‘Reinforcer’ Wheel Line BRIEFS
Fort Worth, Texas based Tucker V-
Twin has announced that it is to
distribute an exclusive new line
of ‘Reinforcer’ wheels from
Californian specialist Sport
Chrome.
The company says that “beyond
the ‘Reinforcer’s’ pleasing
aesthetics, these wheels are
designed to allow the owner to
optimize their factory-equipped
braking system. Made
specifically for (but not limited
to) all 2014 and up Street Glide
and Road Glide models, the
‘Reinforcer’ immediately gives
the bike that sought-after
stance of a 21” front wheel.
“With these extraordinary
wheels, important
considerations were made to
make sure that key areas are
precision fitted. With
performance Bagger enthusiasts
in mind, no excess material is
used in any area of the wheel,
which keeps the ‘Reinforcer’
lightweight.”
Each ‘Reinforcer’ wheel is first
precision checked to industry-
leading standards. For Chrome
and Piano Black finished wheels
the casting marks and lettering EICMA saw KTM unveil a new
electric mini-cycle, the SX-E 5, which
combines “class-leading knowledge
in youth motorcycling with years of
development work in the e-sector
and based on the incredibly popular
2-stroke KTM 50 SX with a high-end
chassis powered by an electric motor
- zero emissions, low noise and
minimal maintenance, adjustable
seat height and a KTM PowerPack
that can provide more than two
hours of riding for a beginner (25
minutes for faster junior racers).” An
external worldwide charger can
restore full power in around one
hour.
Motorcycle Live in the UK in
November saw Norton unveil
two prototypes of its planned
Norton Atlas - the Nomad and
the Ranger naked style
Roadsters. The 84 hp twins are
using the 1200 cc from the
long-planned Norton V4, cut in
half, and is targeting production
of 2000 Atlas units a year from
2019.
that is superior to any other
similar wheel in the world, and
Sport Chrome guarantees that
with a lifetime warranty. Every
‘Reinforcer’ wheel goes through
a rigorous quality inspection
process that has been
developed and implemented as
a result of 17 years’
experience.”
Available in ABS or non-ABS
configuration, each wheel sold
includes installed bearings and
fender lift kit in either Show
Chrome, Piano Black or Factory
finishes.
www.sportchrome.com
www.tucker.com
Tenneco buys Öhlins
Founder and Chairman Kenth Öhlin
has sold a majority share in Öhlins
Racing AB (Sweden) to Monroe Shocks
and former Marzocchi, Italy, owner
Tenneco Inc. Öhlins will become a
subsidiary of Tenneco.
Founded by Kenth Öhlin in 1976, when
he created his first motocross shock,
Yamaha Japan bought a majority stake
in Öhlins in 1987, with Kenth buying
back 95% of the business in 2007. He
will continue to be part of Öhlins,
serving on the board and retains a
minority interest in the company.
Henrik Johansson will continue as CEO
of Öhlins.
Earlier this year it was announced that
Tenneco had bought Federal Mogul,
the owner of Ferodo brake pads and
Champion filters for $5.4bn. Öhlins
have distribution in 50 countries and
manufacturing facilities in Europe and
Asia.
Kenth Öhlin commented: “Together,
Öhlins and Tenneco will be a very
strong constellation. After considering
www.AMDchampionship.com
the strengths of both companies, I
made the hardest decision of my life
— to sell my life’s work. I am
absolutely convinced that we are
going to develop very positively in the
future, and that Öhlins will benefit
from the opportunities that will now
arise due to Tenneco’s entrance.”
Brian Kesseler, co-CEO of Tenneco,
said: “Öhlins’ technology team will
allow us to rapidly grow our premium
product offerings for current and
future customers, as well as help us
win a larger share of business in
developing mobility markets.”
www.ohlins.com
Kenth Öhlin (left) has sold a majority share in Öhlins Racing to Tenneco, seen
here with Tenneco co-CEO Brian Kesseler
It’s the end of an era at
AIMExpo. Industry stalwarts
Larry Little, a former MIC
Chairman and Cycle World
publisher, and ex Advanstar/Indy
Dealer Expo executive Mike
Webster are stepping aside
from their present roles, with
Webster starting his own
consultancy and Little going
part-time. Another former
Advanstar/Indy Dealer Expo
executive, Cinnamon Kernes,
will report to MIC President/
CEO Tim Buche as MIC Events
VP/GM, and with 2018
marketing hire Andre Albert
stepping up to serve as Sales
and Marketing Director.
The AMA has objected to an
announcement that the U.S. EPA has
raised the amount of ethanol to be
blended into vehicle fuel next year by
630 million gallons. All of the
proposed increase is in advanced
biofuels - ethanol is made from non-
food sources. "By forcing more
ethanol into our fuel supply, year
after year, the EPA is increasing the
risk for motorcycle owners, all-terrain
vehicle riders and others whose
vehicles are not equipped to use
fuels containing more than 10%
ethanol. Higher ethanol mandates,
coupled with proposals to sell E15
fuel year-round, will begin to push
ethanol-free and E10 fuel out of the
marketplace, much in the way E10
has marginalized E0, the fuel
required for older and vintage
machines."
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - DECEMBER 2018
21
are hand-smoothed until flush
with the rim. After being
professionally prepared by Sport
Chrome master metal finishing
technicians, each Show Chrome
and Piano Black ‘Reinforcer’
wheel is hand polished to a
mirror shine and treated to a
show quality metal finishing
process, specifically designed for
factory wheels constructed like
the ‘Reinforcer’.
“Each technician who works on
these wheels has an average of
ten years of experience with our
process and standards,” says
Sport Chrome CEO Jon Reed.
“The process produces a finish
NEWS