OEM UPDATE: Wolf Brand Scooters
Wolf Brand Scooters got its humble start in Tampa Bay, Florida, almost a decade ago. Now Wolf scooters are being carried across the country in some of the largest scooter shops in the nation.
OEM Update: Carducci Dual Sport SC3 Adventure
There’s a small crowd around the custom V-twin in the parking lot. Unlike most custom machines, it’s very obviously not meant for styling at the local burger joint. The dual sport Carducci prototype has taken its rider on numerous desert-riding adventures, including a three-day tour through the Mojave Desert.
V-Twin Market Update: The Search For New Customers Continues
By this point, everyone knows how Harley’s woes with selling new bikes and finding new customers has trickled down to just about everyone in the powersports industry (except perhaps the UTV market). We don’t mean for this to sound so downbeat, but it is what it is until we find some solutions… and fast!
Harley-Davidson Makes the Dyna Irrelevant
After 25 years in the lineup, Harley shocked their dealers with the news that the Dyna was done. Ditto for the V-Rod after its 16-year production cycle.
Yamaha Creates A Category
2018 Star Venture Transcontinental Tourer Yamaha took the wraps off the 2018 Star Venture and introduced the concept of a “transcontinental tourer” capable of running with any bagger on the market. Cue up the Beach Boys on the state-of-the-art “infotainment” system and let the Good Vibrations of the big air-cooled twin eat up the miles.
Trikes: An Idea Whose Time Has Come
The three-wheeled motorcycle concept came out two years before Karl Benz was credited with creating the automobile. However, they have more or less been relegated to a small niche market within the industry.
Retrograde Motion: What is Old is New Again!
Slab seats, flat bars and universal tread tires… what is old is new again. In a case of retrograde motion, these classic hallmarks seem to be the choice of builders these days (see sidebar on the Handbuilt show).
Exploring The Adv/Touring Sector
Seems like once every decade, Americans get the bug for big adventure bikes. But with the seeming exception of clannish KLR650 riders and BMW GS Gelände/Straße (German for off-road/road) riders, the dual-sport sector remained a slight blip on the MIC Retail Sales Report radar… Until now!
MV Agusta Relaunches in North America
The motorcycle Gods are smiling on MV Agusta – and its U.S. subsidiary, MV Agusta USA. MV rose to prominence in the ’50s and ’60s grand prix motorcycle racing era on the back of such legends as Giacomo Agostini, John Surtees and Mike Hailwood. Hoping to recapture some its heritage after tough financial times, the
Garage Composites Update 2017
Lemco Legacy Lives On Have you heard of Garage Composites? You should if you plan to successfully operate a dealership! How about the name Lemco? Ring any bells? Back in the day, Lemco was the foremost dealer training organization in the nation – and founder Ed Lemco was the dealers’ leading champion. Garage Composites co-founders
OEM Update: 2017 Snapshot
A Glimpse at What Has Been Released in the Market Thus Far Still just a few months into 2017, numerous OEMs have been announcing new models to the market, and some have even hinted at what’s in store for 2018 models. Excelsior-Henderson Some OEMs such as Excelsior-Henderson are using 2017 to try and make a
OEM Update: Monster Moto
Little Bikes, Big Fun [dropcap]I[/dropcap]f you walked the aisles of the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) a month ago, you might have spotted Monster Moto exhibiting its mini bikes and go-karts, and were likely transported back to your youth. The company used the tradeshow to introduce itself and new products to the powersports market. However,
