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Britain’ s biggest sidecar manufacturer Watsonian Squire says it has seen a“ significant increase in demand from overseas during the first months of 2017. Production has increased by 50 %, with orders coming in from distributors in the USA, Indonesia and Austria, as well as private customers from France and the Netherlands.“ Last year exports accounted for 30 % of production; this year we ' re exporting around 55 %,” says Sales Director Ben Matthews. The company has been making sidecars for 105 years.
Italian E-bike manufacturer Energica has announced that its bikes are to be sold in Paris through lifestyle motorcycle store Tendance Roadster. France has announced that it will outlaw sales of petrol and diesel-powered cars from 2040; the UK is believed to be about to make a similar announcement.
The plan announced earlier this year for Hitachi Automotive Systems and Honda to establish a joint venture for electric vehicle motors has moved a step forward with the establishment of a joint venture company for the development, manufacture and sales of motors for electric vehicles on the premises of Hitachi Automotive Systems in Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture.
First fruit from the collaboration between Honda and Yamaha announced earlier this year will see Saitama City in Japan( just north of Tokyo) running a rentals programme of some 30 small electric motorcycles that will allow the two traditional rivals to test their E-bikes and pilot infrastructure, including a swappable battery system. It is thought that Honda is looking at developing an electric version of its Super Cub, as well as launching an electric scooter in 2018. Yamaha is known to be at least a year behind with a planned 2016 unveil of its PES1 electric street bike.
TRW-Lucas sintered Road and Track pads, floating discs for BMW and new accessories
Website downloadable, the new catalogue from TRW-Lucas is“ packed to the brim with an almost infinite variety of spare parts and accessories from the legendary TRW-Lucas brand” with“ everything from performance brakes and clutches to handlebars and levers, from foot controls and registration plate holders to
lowering and jack-up kits,” according to the Neuwied, Germany based company. New products include general type-approved SRT Sinter Road & Track brake pads that are said to“ guarantee the extra bite to allow safe and powerful braking on the street as well as on the track.” Described as offering high friction, consistent efficiency and fade-free braking, the premium sintered compound is“ inseparably bonded to the backing plate using NRS technology- a hook matrix on the backing plate that moulds into the friction material, which TRW-Lucas says“ rules out the loss of the pad material, even under extreme thermal conditions such as during mountain pass descents or in racing. The new Sinter Road & Track brake pads are totally compatible with OE discs and, of course, with all the TRW- Lucas brake discs.” TRW-Lucas brake discs for BMW motorcycles are now also
available with riveted floaters, just as in the newest original parts, which is said to make replacing the brake discs easier. The company is also offering highgrade steel replacement brake disc bolts that meet the original specifications in disc service kits for a wide range of popular makes and models, supplied partially with thread locker, the kits have
the correct model-specific quantities. TRW-Lucas say their SP Edition racing rearsets are“ in a league of their own. These sophisticated rearsets are especially designed for ambitious sports riders. With their filigree contours and black anodised surface, the ultralightweights give each sportsbike an individual touch”. Made from high-grade aluminium, they are CNC-milled, come with a certificate of conformity( TÜV) and are individually adjustable up to 28.5 mm horizontally and up to 18 mm vertically. The footpegs are foldable, and almost all the systems can be easily converted to reverse gearshift. Available in two lengths and four colours, their new adjustable brake and clutch levers can be matched to the design of almost any
motorcycle. They are“ ergonomically perfect, allowing optimum control of brake and clutch pressure, with glove-friendly adjustment wheel and available in two versions with general type approval – an 80mm“ Street” design and a 50mm sporty“ Racing” version, both in black, silver, titanium and the special gold; the standard black adjustment is also available in optional colourways.
TRW-LUCAS Neuwied, GERMANY Tel: + 49( 0) 2631 912 243 www. trwmoto. com
12 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS- AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2017