NEWS

BUELL IS BACK!

Debut During Daytona Bike Week

“Buell is back,” exclaims Buell Motorcycles CEO Bill Melvin. After liquidating most of its assets and dropping off the radar in 2017, the reborn brand will be making its debut at Daytona Bike week, but without namesake founder Erik Buell who has since shifted to the eBike realm. “We are excited to bring Buell back with an awesome assortment of superbikes and performance motorcycles.”

The new Buell Motorcycles will launch with 10 performance models by the 2024 model year. The models will be representative of the superbike performance and handling expected of the legendary Buell brand, claims Melvin. “We start with the fastest American production motorcycles, hand built in the USA, so that’s a nice start! We’re building out those platforms for more touring and adventure models, then we’re expanding our displacements to be competitive with other global brands. The passionate Buell Nation can grow and thrive again.”

EBR Motorcycles acquired the Buell brand in early 2020 and began developments to bring Buell back. Buell will be present at Daytona Bike Week 2021 at J&P Cycles Destination Daytona Mega Store. The models currently in production are built by hand in Grand Rapids, Michigan. and based on the original EBR 1190 platform, complete with Fuel in Frame and Perimeter Brake Rotors.

Upcoming models will include variants for dirt, dual-sport, touring and cruisers while expanding the line up to include medium and small displacement powerplants. Buell is also in the initial exploration phases for a high-performance Electric model and is open to collaboration ideas with other companies... paging Erik Buell.

“Exciting times ahead for fans — and dealers — of American Motorcycles,” says Melvin. Can’t wait for Bike Week? Click here: https://www.buellmotorcycle.com/

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

Triumph Teams With Ironhorse To Provide Dealers Subprime Option

Deals just became easier for Triumph dealers as the 2020 pilot program with Ironhorse Funding has become a multiyear financing program agreement. Triumph Motorcycles America has officially contracted with the lending and servicing company to empower the U.S. Triumph dealer network to offer additional financing options to their customers.

“We’ve already seen the mutual success of this relationship with the dealers that participated in the pilot and we are thrilled to begin working with more U.S. Triumph dealers,” said Jon Krumdick, COO of Ironhorse Funding. “Our goal is to become the preferred provider of nonprime and subprime financing for Triumph dealerships and we look forward to working with Triumph leadership to continue to expand our offerings and support as we grow this relationship.”

Triumph dealers now have access to multiple finance options to make new units available to subprime borrowers. Under the initial program, special finance options are available to subprime borrowers such as reduced required down payments, lower interest rates, and expanded front-end advances. Ironhorse Funding provides dealer support seven days a week.

“As the economy recovers, credit challenges are likely to increase for many Americans,” notes Triumph GM Rod Lopusnak. “This program is expected to be a valuable tool to Triumph dealers’ retail financing offerings as it will help increase opportunities to approve lending for customers who are just out of reach of traditional prime lending options.”

THE BEST GO-KART YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN?

The team at Torque Off-Road says their TQ380 is the first gokart designed for off-road recreational riding for the whole family! “We created the TQ390 to address the need for a high quality and affordable go karting experience.” More importantly because they are a dealer themselves, Torque Off-Road has taken your needs into account (proven Honda powertrain with a 3-year warranty), bulletproof Comet clutch, generous margins and more. Designed, engineered and assembled in the USA, the TQ390 might be just what you need for a post-COVID recovery?

In Summer 2021, you’ll be able to partner with us to sell Torque Off-Road’s TQ390 in your retail business. Click the “become a dealer” button at the website:

https://www.torqueoff-road.com/

SALES SURGE

With dirtbikes leading the way, new-model powersports vehicle sales increased 18.4% in 2020. Overall motorcycle and scooter sales were up 11.4%, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council Retail Sales Report. “Overall, the industry had a good year under difficult circumstances,” said Erik Pritchard, president and CEO of the MIC. “

The COVID-19 pandemic forced all of us to be nimble and to make the changes we needed to survive. In the end, many in the industry saw strong growth, and now our opportunity is to keep all of these new riders riding and to inspire even more people to join us on two, three, and four wheels.” The MIC Retail Sales Reporting System gathers new motorcycle, scooter, and ATV retail sales data from 14 leading manufacturers and distributors in the U.S., providing a strong indicator of sales trends. Sales of on-highway motorcycles, which include scooters and dual-purpose bikes, were steady compared with 2019, while interest in off-highway motorcycles spiked, with sales up 46.5% yearover-year. Sales of ATVs also jumped, rising 33.8% over 2019.

WANT TO WIN A WALLY?

“The scale of this launch is unprecedented in the drag racing world and it highlights our company’s technical capabilities,” says Vance & Hines President Mike Kennedy. No kidding! V&H has launched its own four-valve motor and proprietary chassis for Suzuki GS-based drag racers. The new combo will enter the staging lanes at the NHRA Gator Nationals in Gainesville, Florida in March. “This engine and the cylinder head design are applicable to several racing classes and easily adaptable to every team that is currently running a two-valve Suzuki GS.”

For the first time, Vance & Hines has integrated finger follower technology rather than a shim-under-bucket design in a drag racing cylinder head, which allows for less mass in the valvetrain and increased RPM. The four-valve head modernizes the two-valve design which has been in use since it was introduced in 1998. Even with all the updates, displacement stays at 1850cc to keep it compliant with existing rules and regulations. The intake and exhaust port spigots are modular, so they can be adapted to different air boxes and exhaust pipes without redesigning or remanufacturing the head itself. This allows the new head to be used not only in NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class, but also in the Pro Mod and Pro Street classes.

“This launch is a proud moment for Vance & Hines and hopefully will net many victories for our Suzuki riders in 2021 and beyond,” concludes Kennedy. They are taking orders for complete motors or individual cylinder head packages. The new chassis, which leverages the learnings from thousands of runs in NHRA competition, is available as well. FEBRUARY 2021

HARLEY OUT OF AMAZON!

Taking a page from the Nike playbook, Harley-Davidson CEO Jochan Zeitz said The Motor Company will no longer sell branded merchandise on Amazon, choosing instead to prioritize dealers’ e-ecommerce efforts. “We want to have a fully integrated, digital e-commerce business with our dealers,” claims Zeitz. “Amazon was not really something that got our dealers into the mix.”

The decision to move away from Amazon reverses the polarity of former CEO Matt Levatich’s plans. Levatich launched the “digital storefront” on Amazon in October 2018 as part of the short-circuited “more roads to Harley” strategy. Zeitz countered with the Rewire plan when he came on board and says now it’s time for the Hardwire, — The Motor Company’s updated five-year strategic plan.

Hardwire includes skin in the game for Harley employees in the form of equity grants for all 4,500+ employees, including hourly factory workers. Stay tuned…

QUICKEST HAYABUSA… EVER!

Cutting to the chase: the 2022 Hayabusa is the quickest one in history. However the real story is how the Ultimate Sport Bike eclipsed the generation 2 version in a case of less is more in order to meet EPA/CARB/Euro 5 emissions standards. The 2022 Hayabusa has 550 new or redesigned parts, all with a focus on delivering the ultimate and balanced sportbike experience.

“When Suzuki’s engineers and designers set out to craft the all new Hayabusa, they knew they had a tremendous responsibility,” says Kerry Graeber, Vice President MC/ATV Sales and Marketing, Suzuki Motor of America. “A responsibility to continue the legacy of the first and second generations while improving the bike in every way.”

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So, the goal wasn’t to just build a new motorcycle. The goal was to build a better Hayabusa. “This is a unique, exclusive look at what goes on in Japan when Suzuki is developing a new motorcycle,” Graeber adds. “Not many people outside of our company will ever get to see or hear what goes into creating a product like this and this video delivers a fascinating look at the process.”

The new-generation Hayabusa was developed not only to achieve an even higher overall balance of ultimate performance and comply with worldwide emissions standards, but also to capture the hearts of a new generation. Although the engine, chassis and aero bodywork have all been extensively redesigned. It is the “Suzuki Intelligent Ride System” of advanced electronics that make the 2022 Hayabusa the quickest and conversely, the most user-friendly of the flock. Everything from launch control to a hill hold system has been engineered into S.I.R.S. See the full design brief here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOpiYQeu2lk&t=55s

UPLEVEL!

Dealernews Diversity Editor Alisa Clickenger will be hosting the 3rd Women’s Motorcycle Conference Online, March 12-13, 2021. The theme for the virtual event is “Uplevel” —developed specifically for all female motorcycle riders and women interested in the motorcycle lifestyle. Uplevel will include educational seminars, inspiring stories of women riders as well as provide a convenient opportunity for participants to connect with fellow female riders worldwide, in real time.

“It’s going to be an illuminating, educational and fun event in which participants will have an excellent opportunity to interact with fellow riders and learn a lot from fellow female riding enthusiasts,” claims Clickenger. “In fact, the most common feedback I get after the conferences is that once women start participating in the sessions, they’re hooked and are all-in for every single one!”

The virtual conference will feature 15+ presenters, 10+ Presentations and 3 Live Connection (networking) sessions. These include expert panels, topic-focused workshops, round table discussions, meet & greet opportunities with presenters on Friday night (March 12) as well as virtual networking time for all registered female riders so that they can get to know each other. “Participants have the ability to take part in just a few or all of the workshops over the weekend at one very low price. We had heaps of fun with the registrants at the conferences last year and we are expecting the same positive response from the Uplevel conference as well.”

Registration fee for the 2-day conference is $25, and for those riders who find themselves unable to attend all the sessions, recordings of all educational sessions are available. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/womens-motorcycle-

conference-online-uplevel-registration-128560837927

KICKSTART

Bonneville & The Texas Ceegar

From a late-night poker game at a dealership to a land speed record and more, there are few tall tales from Texas as compelling as the 1950s creation of the “Texas Ceegar” and how it was destroyed and resurrected in 2004. Film maker Chris Gomersall has teamed with Daniel Peirce and Richard Asprey to tell the story of this legendary motorcycle.

“I was speaking to Dennis Tackett for a micro-budget web series that fellow motorcycle friends Richard Asprey, Dan Peirce and I have been creating over the last year entitled My Motorcycle Journey with Richard Asprey: https://www.youtube.com/ mymotorcyclejourney When I asked Dennis to tell me about his experience with the record-setting Texas Ceegar (after I came to grips with the funny name), I quickly realized the story of this revolutionary streamliner, built in Texas, was far too big in scope for an episode of our modest little series.”

Gear heads will love the tale but I’d like it to connect with any audience who wants to be engaged by the tale of stubborn men wanting to go faster than anyone else and the men who, decades later, helped preserve that legacy. Any good documentary worth its salt requires one thing: Access. Dennis Tackett, Keith Martin and other surviving members of the restoration crew are available to us for this project. The Project Manager of the restoration took loads of photos and videos, seemingly KNOWING they would be needed to tell the story in the future. The son and grandson of the original designer, Stormy Mangham, chime in with their memories.

“Once the tale of the Texas Ceegar was shared with me, I saw the documentary possibilities,” says Gomersall. Help kickstart the Texas Ceegar project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/

projects/upstairsmedia/bonneville-and-the-texas-ceegartriumph