Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/243961
24 • January 27, 2014 • Powersports Business MOTORCYCLE www.PowersportsBusiness.com DIGEST BMW motorcycle sales in U.S. rise in 2013 BMW Motorrad USA reported a 19.9 percent sales increase in December, compared to December 2012. The BMW Motorrad USA dealer network reported 1,101 motorcycles sold in December, an increase of 19.9 percent from the total of 918 motorcycles sold in December 2012. On the back of this performance, BWM Motorrad USA finished 2013 with 14,179 retail sales, a 17.6 percent increase over 2012. This makes 2013 the second best year in Motorrad's history in the U.S. BMW Motorrad is already looking forward to an all-time record in 2014 with the introduc- tion of five new models planned in the first quarter. EBR OPENS EUROPEAN OFFICE Erik Buell Racing (EBR) has opened an office in The Netherlands to help expand distribution and overall brand awareness across Europe. EBR's European office will be located outside Amsterdam, in the suburb of Alkmaar. EBR launched its latest product — the 1190RX — during the 2013 AIMExpo in Orlando. This new street-legal, high performance sport bike is a direct descendant of the RS super bike, which began limited production in 2011. The 1190RX weighs in at 419 pounds, yet boasts 185 horsepower and 102 feet per pound of torque in its 1190cc V-twin engine. The bike's wide torque band assures that riders have maximum power in each gear, while its 21 traction control settings allow for total control in all road conditions. The EBR 1190RX will be available at dealerships across the U.S., Europe and Australia during the first quarter of 2014. EBR's European office will also work to promote the EBR team's participation in the 2014 FIM Superbike World Championship events, where EBR will have two riders, Geoff May and Aaron Yates. European venues for the series include Spain, The Netherlands, Italy and U.K. throughout the spring of 2014. PSI CUSTOM BIKE BUILD GOES TO CHARITY Students at the PowerSport Institute, a branch campus of Ohio Technical College (OTC), recently teamed up on a custom bike build that helped make the holidays better for an untold amount of people. Students in the American V-Twin Program, led by IMBBA Master Builder and director of the program, Ron Radeke, built the bike for a raffle to benefit City Mission in Cleveland. The raffle will be held in March, with details at www.thecitymission.org. Industry companies stepped up in a big way to make the project possible. The frame was manufactured by Paul York at Thompson Choppers in Springfield, Mo. The donor bike, on which the foundation of the build started, was provided by Geico Insurance Co. The exhaust system was donated by PSI's Cleveland neighbor, SuperTrapp Exhaust, and Sherwin Williams donated the paint. ACCEL Motorcycle Products donated several electronic components, and Roger Newsome of Newsome & Works Metallizing in Akron assisted the project in a time of need with media blasting and prep work on the frame and related components. J&P Cycles provided many aftermarket parts. Students did all fabricating and painting at PSI under the guidance of staff. PSI instructor and IMBBA member Bill Zepp took the build lead to mentor the students. NEW ALUMINUM BLANKS FROM METALSPORT South Gate, Calif.-based Metalsport, Inc., is now offering 26-inch and 30-inch billet blanks, along with Vee Rubber tires for those sizes. Metalsport is offering these blanks at a special introductory price for builders who want to cut their own special designs. Metalsport is encouraging builders to stop its V-Twin Expo booth to put together an individual program designed for builders and based on projected sales volume. In addition, Metalsport has a variety of new wheel designs and products on the drawing board getting perfected by the likes of Matt Hotch and Chip Foose. Foose designed the Outkast Metalsport wheel. PSB P21x24-PSB2-Cycle.indd 24 1/15/14 12:07 PM