International Dealer News IDN 146 December 2018 / January 2019 | Page 51

SHOW ZONE Robin Bradley Publisher [email protected] Pictures by Sara Viney [email protected] additional pictures from EICMA According to the attendance (figure-free) post show press release issued by the EICMA/ANCMA organisation, it would appear that visitor numbers at this year’s ‘Milan’ Show must have been down on 2017. With the real, actual number of exhibiting businesses with booths (as opposed to catalogue brand cross-references) looking to be less than in recent years, and with less than half the international reach of its primary expo competitor (in terms of quoted visitor country count), it looks like the show may be losing some lustre, just as the Italian market continues to post (theoretical) growth, and just as that primary expo competitor posted a record equalling attendance, with independently audited visitor numbers actually quoted. The ‘Milan’ visitor numbers have long been assumed to be overstated, and largely populated by non-riders, or low-mileage, low-value riders at best, but regardless of the debate that is raging internationally about the perceived merits and shortcomings of the market’s two primary shows (see our INTERMOT 2018 review elsewhere in this edition of IDN), there appeared to be enough people at ‘Milan’ to keep the aisles and booths busy, whatever the truth is about the real balance sheet cash value that their parts and accessory buying volume has for the industry… Biltwell: Among the new generation brands to emerge in the past decade, none has executed on the opportunities of the market’s new design and styling opportunities better than California’s Biltwell. The brainchild of Bill Bryant and Harold McGruther, the hard parts to helmets brand has carved itself a market leading position among “New Gen” riders and now has EU approval on its ergonomically advanced, feature-rich, retro styled top-selling half shell and full face helmets. The Biltwell range is available from distributors in Europe, including Parts Europe; www.biltwellinc.com www.idnmag.com PBR: Recent new products from the Italian sprocket specialist include updates to its popular C-Light rear sprockets for all new 2019 Enduro and 2 and 4-stroke motorcycles - Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha and KTM models. Made with C45 steel and precision CNC-machined to improve quality and reliability, they are additionally available in a tempered version for further improvements in durability; www.pbr.it INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - DECEMBER 2018 / JANUARY 2019 51