International Dealer News IDN 139 October/November 2017 | Page 17

SHOW ZONE
National Cycle: The well-known Maywood,
Illinois-based screen manufacturer celebrates
a significant milestone this year – the 80th
anniversary of founder Gordon Willey opening
the doors of ‘The Nation’s Cycle Center’ in
1937, the business that evolved and
successfully grew into the OE and aftermarket
manufacturer we know today. Still under the
family ownership of the founder’s
descendants, National Cycle is internationally
respected for the ZTechnik hardcoated
polycarbonate windshields, quick release
mount systems, multi-adjustable and tilting
windshields for UTVs and motorcycles, and
noted for its proprietary Quantum
Hardcoating technology and aeroacoustic
VStream windscreen designs;
www.nationalcycle.com,
www.ztechnik.com
Nexx Helmets: The Portuguese manufacturer’s
2018 line-up will be available for dealers in
November, and from the highlights teased so
far, it looks like Retro is their “new black”. As
part of the X.GARAGE Collection, there will be
the off-road, X.G 200 helmet, along with a
backpack, a facemask and a complete line of
off-road retro-inspired goggles. Also new for
the adventure segment is the new X.WED 2
helmet; www.nexx-helmets.com
Brenta Brake Pads: Made in Italy by
Frenotecnica, the Brenta range includes ECE
R-90 certified organic, sintered, sintered off-
road and ceramic brake pads, brake shoes and
automatic clutches for scooters;
www.brentafreni.it
two-day trade, followed by two public/trade weekend
days, is largely popular with exhibitors and certainly
marks a radical new formula for American shows.
When the event was first announced in 2012 (2013
was the first year for the show), the organisers (former
MIC man Larry Little and show veteran Mike Webster)
said they wanted to bring the “European style” of joint
industry and consumer expo attendance to the United
States show scene for the first time.
While the overall objective does appear to be working,
with dealer and consumer attendances appearing to
grow or at least hold steady each year, many exhibitors
were suggesting that another day could be lopped off
the four days (it was originally five days), with one trade
day being sufficient, based on current dealer
Scott Wine, CEO of Polaris, pointed to the
investment in technology as being the
pathway to develop products that will
speak to digital generations
attendance.
That may well be true, but it misses the point. As is the
case internationally, securing dealer attendances at
shows is a notoriously challenging ambition, not least
in the United States and especially so, as it happens,
the further west an event is being staged. The objective
of all involved, exhibitors and organisers alike, should
indeed be to work together, and in this instance work
at attracting show visitors of all kinds.
At five years, it is still early days for the show in
attendance terms. Many recall the heydays of the
Dealer Expo at Indianapolis and the V-Twin Expo at
Cincinnati (which has now announced that it has
closed its doors permanently) when the aisles were
packed and the organisers were citing (always
exaggerated) visitor numbers in excess of 10,000. The
truth is that the core dealer attendance at those shows
was never much more than a couple of thousand of
stores being represented at best, with the headline
numbers boosted by ‘fellow travellers’ from the shop
or friends of the owner and “best customers”.
It also has to be acknowledged that the number of retail
outlets that could benefit from attending a trade show
was a lot more a decade ago than it is now.
What is more, wherever such shows are staged in the
Polisport: The off-road plastic parts specialist
has announced a deal to make Preston Petty
Products at their injection moulding facilities
in Portugal and distribute them through their
worldwide network of importers. Preston
Petty was a legendar y 1950s/1960s off-road
racer and AMD Hall of Fame Inductee (1999)
who started his own moulded plastic parts
business in the late 1960s. A decade later he
sold it to Scott, but the brand and product line
disappeared quite soon after, when Scott went
bankrupt. With Preston Petty’s consent,
current brand owner Paul Stannard acquired
the rights to the lapsed brand name, and in
2010 brought back a Preston Petty Products
line of MX fenders, using an injection
moulding company in Italy. Now with the
backing and collaboration of Polisport, who
bring distribution as well as plastics
manufacturing technology to the partnership,
with Polisport’s production quality, maybe the
Preston Petty Product line will emerge again
as the “go-to” for seemingly indestructible
MX fenders and more. For now, the brand’s
range will comprise two front fenders (MX
front fender; Muder front fender), two rear
fenders (IT rear fender; MX rear fender –
already developed and produced by Polisport),
number plates and headlights (halogen and
LED units). New products for the growing
vintage off-road market will be added soon;
www.polisport.com
Mupo: Best known for their sportsbike shock
absorbers and front cartridge kits, the Italian
suspension specialist (part of the Roberto Nuti
Group since 2010) launched products for the
Harley aftermarket and V-twin/custom
applications in recent years, including
traditional and “piggy style” shock absorbers
in black or chrome and upside down front
forks for Harleys that give them a much-
broadened opportunity in the United States;
www.mupo.it
INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017
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