American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 233 December 2018 | Page 27

BC Battery Controller: A division of
specialist Italian manufacturer Forelettronica,
the ‘BC’ range of battery chargers and
maintainers includes Pro Grade and consumer
applications for the heavy duty charging and
diagnostic requirements of Harley batteries;
www.batterycontroller.it
Newfren: Based near Turin, Italy, Newfren is one of the market’s leading brake pad, disc and clutch
plate manufacturers. Founded in the 1950s by Alessandro Barbero, Newfren were innovators and
early adopters of a number of new brake technologies - such as bonded friction material, gravity
and high pressure die casting and brake shoes without rivets. The revolutionary glues that Barbero
developed are said to have “changed the production of brake shoes forever”. The company is still in
family ownership - with Valter Barbero at the helm - and in recent years they have invested heavily
in new manufacturing technology at its soon to be ISO 14000 environmentally certified 65,000 sq ft
facilty/100,000 sq ft site. Indeed, ahead of industry requirements where environmental
manufacturing and compound formula requirements are concerned, Newfren has been granted UNI
EN ISO 9001-2000 certification for its quality control systems and ABE certification from the German
KBA for many of its products. The company says it offers “the most complete catalog of aftermarket
parts for motorcycle and scooter brake shoes and clutches in Europe,” and although Newfren may
not be a familiar name to many Harley and aftermarket dealers, the company has applications for
Harley-Davidson and Indian models, including late model Softails and Tourers; www.newfren.com
TecMate: The market leading OptiMate range of battery testers, conditioners and chargers is as
broad as it is deep, as versatile as it is reliable and as high-tech as it is ergonomic. Its USB
accessories and 'charge' into the Li-ion battery care sector have set them apart from rivals in recent
years, and with products such as its Solar Charger program, the company’s technology and grasp on
the fundamentals of what dealers and riders need will continue to set them apart in the future too.
Exclusively distributed in the United States by Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties;
www.tecmate.com
MIPS: Developed by Swedish neurosurgeon
Hans von Holst and Peter Halldin of the
Swedish Royal Institute of Technology, MIPS
(Multi-Directional Impact Protection System) is
an “ingredient brand” and technology that is
becoming widely adopted by leading
motorcycle helmet brands (MSR, Answer,
Kabuto, Thor, Bell, KYT, Fly Racing, Scott,
Alpinestars, Troy Lee Designs and more) that
protects the brain from rotational motion. A
low friction layer allows a sliding movement
of 10-15 mm in all directions, reducing the
rotational motion (kinematics) to the brain
during angled impacts to the head. Rotational
motion is a combination of rotational energy
(angular velocity) and rotational forces from
angular acceleration that both affect the brain
and increases the risk for minor and severe
brain injuries. MIPS says that its added
protection system has been “proven to reduce
the rotational motion when implemented in a
helmet by absorbing and redirecting energies
and forces otherwise transmitted to the
brain”; www.mipsprotection.com
Harley-Davidson: In Europe the decision by
Harley to ‘eat’ the tariff-driven price increases
imposed by the EU (in response to America’s steel
and aluminum tariff increases) has been HUGE. The
decision to protect dealers and brand enthusiasts
from the Macro Economic silliness will no doubt
come back into its balance sheet in years to come
as the Motor Company looks to ride its many more
roads towards 50 percent of sales being
international. EICMA saw considerable
appreciation for the debut of the production-ready
Livewire in a market that “gets it” where brand
values, electric power and urban mobility are
concerned; www.harley-davidson.com
www.AMDchampionship.com
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - DECEMBER 2018
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