American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 241 August 2019 | Page 10

'Shop Builders Invitational'
BRIEFS Custom Bike Contest
NEWS
Indian Motorcycle was in 14th
place in market share terms in
Germany for the first six months
of 2019, having sold 658
machines for a 0.87% share.
H-D sold 500 motorcycles in the UK
in May and 464 units in June.
However, the star of the UK
registration statistics was the new
Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor,
topping the all-important largest
'Naked' style bike sector in its first
real month of availability in May,
then leading the 236-650 cc sector
in June.
KTM Industries AG announced
unit sales in the 1st half 2019
up +7% compared to the
previous year. In the first half of
2019, KTM sold approximately
136,000 vehicles worldwide
under the KTM and Husqvarna
Motorcycles brands. The
increase is said to be due to the
ongoing growth of the
European motorcycle market
(total industry sales are more
than +10% for the first six
months of 2019 in Europe) and
strong sales growth in India
(+30%).
MPN reports MIC data that puts the
number of dual-sport motorcycles
sold in Q2 2019 in USA
(ADV/Adventure Touring models) at
about 11% of the market for two-
wheelers. Overall in 2018, the MIC
said that of the 12.2 million
motorcycles in use, 5% were dual-
sport bikes and that of the nearly 30
million people reported as riding a
motorcycle in 2018, nearly 10m of
them ride both on-road and off-road.
Royal Enfield was in 12th place
with a 1.17% share of the
German market (880 units sold
in total) for the first six months
of 2019.
10
In partnership with S&S Cycle,
AIMExpo Presented by Nationwide has
announced the 2019 'Shop Builders'
Invitational' - "a custom bike contest
open to all bike builders, from the
weekend warrior to the seasoned pro."
Slated for the 'Shop Neighborhood
Hangout' at AIMExpo, one of three
sector focussed specialty exhibition
zones (September 26-29, 2019 at the
Greater Columbus Convention Center
in Columbus, Ohio), "builders of all
levels and styles are welcome to apply
for the contest, highlighting the world
of custom motorcycles at North
America's most important industry
gathering.
"Custom builders are a big part of the
current motorcycle market and truly
represent a community built on
passion. As we work to bring the
industry together, it's important that
we recognize the custom community
and the artistry and craftsmanship they
contribute to the Powersports Industry.
We're proud to be able to work with
some of the best builders in the country
and provide a platform that allows
them to showcase their work and
connect them to the industry," said
Andre Albert, Marketing Director, MIC
Events.
S&S Cycle is putting up a T111 Black
Edition Long Block motorcycle engine
as the grand prize.
"The Shop, a new neighborhood
hangout and feature on the show floor
at AIMExpo presented by Nationwide,
celebrates the lifestyle of the V-
twin/Cruiser/custom community and
the passion that fuels this culture. In
addition to The Shop Builders
Invitational, will also feature 'Shop
Talks' - an area for engaging
discussions, new product showcases,
great music and specialty concessions
including local craft beers and artisan
coffee."
www.aimexpousa.com
H-D in 2019 AFT Production
Twins Contingency Program
Harley-Davidson has announced
a 2019 American Flat Track
Contingency Program for the AFT
Production Twins class - starting
at the 2019 Black Hills Half-Mile.
New for 2019, the Production
Twins class is an 11-race series is
a full-fledged championship
class, staged at this year's AFT
Half Mile and Mile events events,
complete with a #1 plate going
to the rider amassing the most
points at the end of the season.
The series builds on the two trial
races held in 2019 and is
intended to serve as a transition
between AFT Singles and the
premier AFT Twins presented by
Vance & Hines class, giving up-
and-coming athletes the
opportunity to gain valuable
seat time and experience on
faster, more powerful AFT Twins
motorcycles.
It features production-based,
twin-cylinder motorcycle engines
from BMW, Ducati, Harley-
Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki,
Suzuki and Yamaha street bikes
with displacements between
649-800 cc. Race-only engines
from machines such as the
Harley-Davidson XR750, Honda
RS750 and Indian Scout FTR750
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - AUGUST 2019
are not eligible. Riders licensed
for AFT Singles may compete in
both AFT Production Twins and
AFT Singles on the same day.
Riders licensed for AFT Twins,
however, may only compete in
either AFT Twins or AFT
Production Twins at any given
event.
"We are very excited to see the
growth and emerging talent
within the AFT Production Twins
class," said Eric Jensen, Global
Brand Marketing Lead for
Harley-Davidson. "Harley-
Davidson motorcycles go back to
the very foundation of
professional flat track and we
see the AFT Production Twins
James Rispoli
Piloting the Black
Hills Harley-
Davidson ProBEAM
XG750R at the Lima
Half-Mile
class as an opportunity to
expand the legacy of Harley-
Davidson within the sport."
The $30,000 per race
contingency payouts are
available to non-factory riders in
the AFT Production Twins class.
To be eligible for contingency
payouts, riders must run an
eligible XG750R in the AFT
Production Twins class. To remain
eligible, all machines must
maintain stock bodywork and
riders must wear a Harley-
Davidson logo on the
upper-chest portion of their
leathers.
www.americanflattrack.com.
Photo: Scott Hunter, AFT