Polini : Founded in 1945 , Polini produces one of the largest ranges of replacement and upgrade components and accessories for scooters and other low displacement machines in the world . From race parts to street bikes , Polini is all about performance , reliability and durability . But it also likes to have some fun along the way - 2021 saw it collaborate in the setting of a new Guinness endorsed world record ( with veteran Italian motorcycle journalist Valerio ) for the distance ridden on a minibike in a 24-hour period - they smashed the prior world record with a distance of 751.488 km ( approx . 467 miles ) on a Polini 910 Carena RS 6.2 minibike - 1,236 laps of the Castelletto di Branduzzo track in Pavia , Lombardy , south of Milan ; www . polini . com
Tucano Urbano : Now back in motorcycle industry ownership following acquisition by Mandelli , 36 months on and Tucano Urbano is basking in the success of the launch of its 2019 T . Ur touring accessories and G & A brand at EICMA in 2018 . " Designed for the most demanding riders ", the flagship J- ONE is a CE certified riding jacket made in high-quality materials with advanced ergonomics and thermal comfort , featuring a three-layer modular system made up of a detachable , thermal inner jacket , the main outer jacket , plus a 100 % waterproof layer ; www . tucanourbano . com , www . t-ur . com
STM Trading : Big changes are underway at the noted Turin , Italy based slipper clutch specialist with core R & D and high-tech precision manufacturing competencies being leveraged for new business segments - first away from the start-line will be a whole new , first ever range of motorcycle accessories . From ' ArtedaCorsa ' to Art for All ; www . stmitaly . com
Showa : Along with Keihin and Nissin , Honda ' s former suspension subsidiary is now part of Hitachi Astemo ( Advanced Sustainable Technologies for Mobility ), a multi-billion euro , three-brand joint venture with Hitachi Automotive Systems in which the two Japanese majors have combined their interests in order to build forward for a changing automotive supply chain landscape in which President & CEO Brice Koch says " CASE technologies that include connectivity , autonomous driving and electrification will determine who wins and who loses ." With 90,000 employees spread over 27 countries , Koch says that " Hitachi Astemo has the scale and technical expertise to pursue rapidly changing technologies while providing comprehensive coverage to our OEM customers and partners across the globe . Building on the strengths of our four founding companies , our diverse human resources are committed to providing mobility solutions that reduce environmental impact , increase traffic safety and improve comfort . As a core member of the Hitachi Group , we are committed to achieving a sustainable society by providing environmental , social and economic value that sustainably improves our quality of life and makes our world a better place ." The European headquarters is based in Munich ; www . hitachiastemo . com
TracTive : Known for its suspension products for Adventure motorbike applications and electronic suspension systems like ESA , during the past years TracTive has grown into supplying electronic damping technology to OE manufacturers like BMW . The company ' s active damping valve technology ( DDA ) is nowadays the benchmark for applications like the BMW S1000RR . Based on this technology , TracTive is the only suspension company worldwide to supply full plug & play electronic aftermarket systems for many BMW motorbike models . But also for other brands TracTive provides suspension solutions for the demanding customer , like for the Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports ; www . tractivesuspension . com
Ride Vision : The high-tech Israeli specialist has developed a system of Rider Assists that react to critical threats in real time . Ride Vision ' s 360 ° wide angle cameras and LED alerts help riders prevent accidents . The exclusive Ride Vision system works by using two small wide angle cameras mounted on the rear and front of the vehicle ; these cameras transmit video to Ride Vision ' s integrated processing unit , where a patented algorithm is used to detect and notify motorcyclists of collision hazards in real time ; www . ride . vision
QD Exhaust : Magnum , Ex-Box , MaxCone and Power Gun exhausts have taken QD to being one of the most talked about exhaust brands in Europe . Based near Milan and backed by an advanced extended warranty option programme , QDs are noted for their performance gains , advanced features , heat and sound management and manufacturing quality and durability - and you have quite a package . Wrap all that into one of the finest styling programmes in the European exhaust industry , and its quite the winning proposition ; www . qdexhaust . it
34 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022 www . idnmag . com