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Apr 08

Norton Opens First Flagship Showroom

By General Posts

Norton Opens First Flagship Showroom At The Bike Shed London

Five additional United Kingdom locations will comprise the brand’s early distribution network.

with inputs by Dustin Wheelen from https://www.rideapart.com

Indian automotive giant TVS had acquired Norton Motorcycles in April 2020 after a tumultuous period in the OEM’s history. However, since then this legendary British brand has kept its head down, opening its Solihull factory, hiring a new CEO, and receiving a £100M British Pounds Sterling (~$125M USD) investment in two years’ time.

In October, 2022, Norton started rolling out its 2023 Commando 961. With a firm eager to get its products into riders’ hands, Norton opens its first retail location within London’s The Bike Shed.

“Seeing the Norton brand move from within the four walls of Norton HQ and out into the marketplace is positive on a number of levels,” claimed Norton Chief Commercial Officer Christian Gladwell. “More dealers mean more riders enjoying the results of the hard work and dedication that the entire team at Norton has contributed towards.”

Known as Norton Atelier, this space will showcase Norton’s V4SV superbike alongside the Commando 961. Customers can purchase and/or test ride both models at the Shoreditch Bike Shed chapter.

Norton apparel designed by Savile Row fashion designer Nick Tentis is also available at the new showroom. Tentis’ has also influenced this retail space itself.

“For the first one I wanted to create a space reflecting the history and values of the Norton brand while also creating the perfect environment to display the new clothing collection,” explained Tentis.

Norton will also establish showrooms at Krazy Horse London, Crawley’s P&H Motorcycles, Sheffield’s Via Moto, Bodmin’s Thor Motorcycles, and Cheshire’s Oakmere Motor Group. These locations will offer test rides, maintenance, and parts and accessories.

We can’t wait for this epic brand to expand their global footprint. Let’s hope it does not become a fancy apparel brand like Deus Ex Machina and sells more motorcycles than jackets & tees.

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Deus_Ex_Machina__First_Year_Celebration.aspx

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Craft_and_Punishment.aspx

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Sep 18

Riders Plus Membership for Powersports Motorcycle Products

By General Posts

EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS, DISCOUNTS, BENEFITS AND MORE: COMOTO FAMILY OF BRANDS INTRODUCES NEW RIDERS PLUS MEMBERSHIP

RevZilla, Cycle Gear, J&P Cycles, and REVER Unveil a Premium Annual Membership Program For The Powersports Community

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Sept. 15, 2021)—Geared toward powersports enthusiasts, the Comoto Family of Brands is pleased to announce the launch of its Riders Plus Membership (RPM). The new membership program will span the company’s portfolio of brands, which includes RevZilla, Cycle Gear, J&P Cycles and REVER, providing premium benefits and experiences for the motorcycle, e-bike and scooter enthusiast.

The Riders Plus Membership (RPM) is designed to elevate the powersports enthusiast’s shopping and customer experience by providing access to various perks and benefits, such as:

· Free two-day shipping for purchases across the Comoto Family of Brands

· Generous cash-back opportunities

· 10% off discounts and early access to releases from exclusive brands such as BILT, REAX, Sedici, Speed Metal, Street & Steel, Stockton Tools

Comoto has the largest network of powersports brick-and-mortar retail properties across the U.S., and members can use RPM benefits online, or at any of the more than 160 stores nationwide. To date, more than 20,000 members have joined the RPM program.

“This membership program is based on the vision of creating a feature-rich set of benefits for our community of enthusiasts. We’re inviting riders to officially join the Comoto family and experience the benefits of the membership program that will enable their passion for gear, content and experience,” said Steve Bontempo, Chief eCommerce & Digital Officer. “This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to roll out additional community benefits over the next year.”

To better support motorcycle aficionados and their lifestyles, Riders Plus Members will receive access to an exclusive customer concierge phone line, available 7 days a week (with the option to schedule dedicated appointments), to provide expert insight across the spectrum of purchase considerations. Additional experiential benefits span several categories, including member exclusive event experiences, private access to Twisted Road motorcycle rentals, and a free REVER Pro membership—a $39.99 value.

“We are thrilled to be included in this unique program, making it easier for members across the country to get on two wheels with the support they need—whether that be prepping for a road trip, or testing a new bike before purchase,” shared Austin Rothbard, CEO of Twisted Road. “It’s been rewarding to continue growing ridership in the U.S. with Comoto, two wheels at a time.”

Riders Plus Membership is currently available to any powersports enthusiast for an annual fee of $59.99. Members who join now will receive an exclusive welcome package, along with the first-ever magazine issue of RevZilla’s media brand, Common Tread. To join the community, visit www.revzilla.com/rpm.

About Comoto Holdings
Comoto Holdings is America’s largest and fastest growing omni-channel platform in the powersports aftermarket industry; dedicated to advancing the experience of moto enthusiasts across the globe. Comoto’s brands, RevZilla, Cycle Gear, J&P Cycles, and now REVER, deliver premium products, dedicated expertise, engaging media, and passionate customer support of the rider community, through best-in-class ecommerce and retail experiences.

Nov 17

Does Indian Motorcycle Have a Harley-Davidson Problem?

By General Posts

by Rich Duprey from https://www.fool.com/

Sales remained aloft longer than its rival, but now even its sales are falling.

As much as falling motorcycle sales at Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG) have been attributed to its core customer aging out of the market while the next generation of riders seems uninterested in buying the big bikes it produces, Indian Motorcycle sidestepped most of the same pitfalls even though it produces many of the same kinds of motorcycles as Harley does.

Since being resurrected from bankruptcy by Polaris Industries (NYSE:PII) and returned to the market in 2014, Indian has been a steady performer with retail sales often rising in the double-digit percentages. That has allowed it to steal market share from Harley, whose sales often contracted at similar percentages.

Yet with Polaris’ third-quarter earnings report released last month, investors may have to accept that Indian Motorcycle now has its own Harley-Davidson problem.

A worsening sales decline
Polaris Industries is not transparent at all when it comes to telling you how its motorcycle business is performing. Where Harley breaks down sales and shipments by geographic region and type of motorcycle, Polaris provides vague percentage increases or declines, maybe calling out a model once in a while, but never giving investors any real insight into how Indian’s various motorcycles are performing.

What we do know is that despite double- and even triple-digit sales growth early on, Indian Motorcycle sales are now quickly spiraling down. Even as Polaris obscures the actual numbers, a mid-teen-percentage decline in retail sales that far eclipses the contraction of the broader motorcycle market suggests that this is becoming a big problem for the bike maker.

Worse, the downdraft is accelerating. In the second quarter, Polaris said Indian retail sales were down by almost 10%, while in the first quarter they were down by high single-digit rates. In last year’s fourth quarter they were down by low double-digit amounts, which was a big drop since they had been positive the quarter before.

That doesn’t bode well for when Polaris reports results the next time around. Even though the bar has been lowered considerably on sales, there’s no reason to think it will be able to rebound — precisely because Indian is still making the same kinds of heavy, big-bore bikes as Harley.

It just released its newest touring motorcycle, the 2020 Challenger, that houses its bigger, more muscular liquid-cooled PowerPlus engine that evokes images of Harley’s Road Glide.

Looking to reverse direction
Certainly both bike makers are hoping to change the equation. Harley has gone all-in on electric motorcycles — a field Polaris rejects, saying they’re unprofitable — along with two new styles it recently unveiled that represent a big change for the bike maker: the Bronx streetfighter and the Pan America adventure bike. They’re smaller, lighter, and meant for a different kind of riding than typified by Harley’s cruisers.

Polaris has also introduced a new bike, the FTR 1200, which was inspired by its racing team’s success on the flat-track circuit. While many enthusiasts had hoped for a street version of the FTR 750 that was tearing up the track, Polaris came out with a somewhat bigger, more powerful bike that it also hopes changes the conversation about its products.

But the introduction of the FTR 1200 was flawed in several respects. Polaris was late to market with the bike, so it missed a good part of the sales season, and then misjudged demand for the different models, believing more buyers would want the base model when in reality there was higher demand for the race replica version.

The new model helped lift international sales in the quarter, but it may be a while before we see any impact here at home. Motorcycle sales typically dry up during the winter months, and it’s still unknown what kind of demand will be there come the spring.

The outlook isn’t bright for biking
Polaris Industries, unlike Harley, is more than just a motorcycle maker. It also makes side-by-side recreational vehicles, snowmobiles, utility vehicles, and more recently boats. They help the powersports vehicle maker smooth out sales over the year. And motorcycles only account for 9% of total revenue.

Yet with motorcycle sales deepening even further into the red, Indian is mimicking the worst aspects of its rival at just the wrong time, and its problem could only get worse.

Mar 29

Enfield Twins North America Launch

By General Posts

The highly anticipated Royal Enfield Twins — INT 650 and Continental GT 650 — are coming to North America!

This spring, you’ll have a chance to ride the Twins during an eight-city launch tour throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. We are excited to announce four stops and dates on the launch tour. Stay tuned for more details on what to expect, how to participate and additional locations:

• Miami, FL – May 10 – 12
• Milwaukee, WI – June 1 – 2
• Toronto, ON – June 6 – 8
• Denver, CO – June 14 – 15

2019 Himalayan model
Royal Enfield has debuted the 2019 Himalayan — now standard with ABS and a new, limited-edition color option, Sleet. The favorite adventure-touring model was introduced in North America last March and has taken the riding community by storm. With an MSRP of $4,749 in the U.S. and $5,925 in Canada, the new models will be available in dealer showrooms in the U.S. and Canada this April.

Grand Opening
Be sure to swing by and check out Royal Enfield at Spirit Motorcycles on April 13. Those in the Bay Area can come out, take a spin on a Royal Enfield and enjoy BBQ, music, giveaways and more. For more information, please visit www.SpiritMotorcycles.com.

One Ride Event
Spring is right around the corner, and so is One Ride. The annual global event brings Royal Enfield riders together to return to the joy of pure motorcycling on Sunday, April 28.

Last Call $500 Retail Promotion
It’s your last chance to take advantage of Royal Enfield North America’s spring offer. Extended until April 30, riders who purchase a new Classic 500 model will receive $500 worth of gear, including a branded motorcycle cover, jacket and a pair of saddlebags. The Royal Enfield Classic 500 has been a best-seller across the globe for more than a decade. The Classic 500 offers timeless styling and modern technology and now comes with a passenger seat, ABS and rear disc brakes as standard equipment.

Mar 21

Motorcycle Racing in the middle of Downtown Austin

By General Posts

Flat Track Racing Coming Back to Handbuilt Show!

When was the last time you witnessed a sanctioned motorcycle race with jumps and pros in DOWNTOWN AUSTIN!?! Well good news, Flat-track racing will once again be part of The Handbuilt Show weekend.

Admission to the races is included in your ticket price and will take place from Noon-7:00PM on Saturday.

https://revivalcycles.com/handbuilt-motorcycle-show/2019

Before making your way to the Handbuilt Show Pre-Party on Friday, April 11th, stop by our retail shop for a special Atwyld / Die Trying Pop Up Shop. Atwyld will have their full women’s collection there for your shopping pleasure where you can also meet their founder! Die Trying TX will have all of their beautiful chainstitch patches, keychains, pins, bandanas etc. as well!

If you’re not familiar with Atwyld, they’re a Woman’s technical motorcycle fashion brand that makes gear that is both stylish and functional. Here’s a few of our favorite pieces.

In this Revival Daily Alec shows off his BIGGEST* project yet, Chris Davis gets ready to build a Kawasaki GPZ from pieces, and Andy impresses us all once again with his metal shaping skills. A jam packed Revival Daily you don’t want to miss! For more videos featuring Revival, head HERE.

Mar 04

H-D 2019 Electra Glide Standard new model announcement

By General Posts

MY19 FLHT Electra Glide Standard. Touring.

Harley-Davidson ELECTRA GLIDE STANDARD delivers an elemental Touring experience powered by the Milwaukee-Eight engine

MILWAUKEE (Mar. 4, 2019) –Powered by the muscular Milwaukee-Eight™ 107 engine, the new Electra Glide Standard is a “Dressed down Dresser” that provides a raw, fundamental riding experience inspired by Harley-Davidson’s Grand American Touring roots.

Designed for the traditional touring customer, the Electra Glide Standard is for the rider seeking to disconnect from all the noise of the day-to-day through riding. No screens, simply a motorcycle that provides and heightens the experience of the journey. This fundamental experience is a key element in the design and engineering of the Electra Glide Standard.

The Electra Glide Standard features essential Harley-Davidson styling elements such as the iconic batwing fairing, chrome trim, standard saddle bags, and cast aluminum wheels. Chrome accents are added in high-impact design areas and complemented by polished rocker, cam and derby covers and select blacked out components – a blend of traditional elements and modern trends.

“To express the stripped-back essence of the Electra Glide Standard we focused on finishes that were simple, timeless, and fundamental to the Harley-Davidson’s touring line. Chrome was added to key components and complimented by polished and blacked out parts, said Harley-Davidson’s Vice President of Styling & Design Brad Richards. “The rocker, cam, and derby covers are finished with chrome to emphasize the V-Twin shape of the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine. In addition, they add a dose of nostalgia that draws a through-line all the way back to the first Electra Glide.”

To provide a raw touring motorcycle experience without riding compromises, the Electra Glide Standard features all the latest ride and handling technology of Harley-Davidson’s Touring line such as standard electronic cruise control, hand-adjustable emulsion-technology rear shock absorbers, 49mm front forks with Showa dual bending valve suspension, and Brembo brakes with optional Reflex Linked and ABS features.

MY19 FLHT Electra Glide Standard. Touring.

A central part of the riding experience, and a highlight of the Electra Glide Standard, is its Milwaukee Eight 107 cu. in. V-twin engine that features sleek, modern styling that respects the heritage of previous Harley-Davidson big twin engines.

In the Electra Glide Standard, the Milwaukee Eight provides the performance and riding benefits that riders the world over regard and appreciate with quick throttle response, plenty of passing power, and the iconic Harley-Davidson big twin sound.

The Electra Glide Standard is a showcase of an aspect of Harley-Davidson’s More Roads promise to continue to lead the heavyweight Touring segment with compelling products that inspire more riders to fully engage in the sport of motorcycling.

The Electra Glide Standard model is offered in Vivid Black with an M.S.R.P. of $18,999*

* Prices listed are the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices for base models. Options such as color are available at additional cost. Prices exclude tax, title, licensing, registration fees, destination charges, added accessories, and additional dealer charges, if any, and are subject to change. Harley-Davidson reimburses dealers for performing manufacturer-specified pre-delivery inspection and setup tasks. Dealer prices may vary.

About Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has fulfilled dreams of personal freedom by leading the innovation of two-wheeled mobility. The company offers an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles and brings the brand to life through Harley-Davidson riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel. Learn more about how Harley-Davidson is Building the Next Generation of Riders at www.harley-davidson.com.