Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/575161
50 • October 5, 2015 • Powersports Business MOTORCYCLE www.PowersportsBusiness.com The new Monster 1200 R, the most powerful Ducati naked bike of all time, was unveiled by Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, during the Volkswagen Group Night in Frankfurt in September. It was displayed in the Audi booth from Sept. 15-20. With its 160 hp, the Monster 1200 R is the most powerful Ducati naked of all time. Its key features include the Testastretta 11-degree DS twin-cylinder engine in its "R" version (EURO 4 homologated) and a revised chassis to ensure maximum effect and enjoy- ment on track. In addition, the brand new design of the tail and front section confirm the sporting credentials of this new version of the Monster. It's available in Ducati Red and Thrilling Black, the new Monster 1200 R will be on the market from early 2016. STI GROWS TECH 2 MXC LINE STI has unveiled five new sizes of its Tech 2 MXC tires, growing the off- road tire line with sizes for smaller off-road motorcycles. The extremely versatile Tech 2 MXC intermediate terrain tires deliver exceptional per- formance and value now for rims as small as 14 inches. The Tech 2's 4-ply carcass yields an ideal balance of durability, handling and ride. Its advanced rubber com- pound displays an exceptionally low wear rate, while its semi-wide tread pattern offers outstanding loose-terrain traction while maintaining control on hard pack. The dual compound and stiff lower sidewalls maximize durabil- ity and help extend tread wear. The Tech 2 MXC's new sizes are 70/100- 17 and 70/100-19 for the front, plus three new rear sizes including 90/100-14, 90/100-16 and 100/90-19. These new tires, plus the other five sizes of Tech 2 MXC tires, are available now at autho- rized STI retailers. KTM NAMES NEW MX FACTORY RACING SPORTS DIRECTOR Five-time world champion Joel Smets of Belgium has been appointed KTM Motocross Factory Racing sports director, Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport director has announced. "I'm pleased and proud that we have been able to bring a personality like Joel into this new position," Beirer said. "I'm confident that he is going to lead our riders onto even greater things. Joel's experience and his career achievements speak for themselves, and clearly he's also a strong role model for both our senior and junior factory riders." Although Smets came into the sport of motocross relatively late at the age of 17, he took his first world title in 1995 and won again in 1997 and 1998. His fourth and fifth titles were while he rode for KTM in 2000 and 2003. Smets started in 168 GPs dur- ing his career, and with 57 GP victories, he established himself as one of the sport's greatest riders. Smets was also six-time Bel- gian National Champion and was Belgian Sportsman of the Year in 2000. Smets joins KTM to fill this newly created position within the factory team structure and both Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team managers Claudio de Carli (MXGP) and Dirk Gruebel (MX2) welcome him on board. He will be in charge of overseeing general planning and will coordinate and facilitate training schedules to the best advantage. Smets will also be head of the race workshop in Belgium. The MXGP, MX2 and KTM Factory Junior teams will now share two comprehen- sive base camp facilities, one in Belgium and a second near Rome. The two locations will allow them to take best advantage of prevail- ing weather conditions, and to work out of two top class facilities. The Austrian work- shop at KTM Factory Racing headquarters, the exclusive location where all factory bikes and engines are built, remains the hub for the company's worldwide factory racing activi- ties, Beirer confirmed. "This new setup, along with Joel's appointment, guarantee we have the very best of everything in Italy, Austria and Belgium. With this strong management structure and excellent facilities we will always be Ready to Race!" KAWASAKI ISSUES RECALL FOR 11,836 BIKES Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. has issued a recall affecting 11,836 bikes after it was deter- mined that an ignition wire may chafe due to contact with the fuel tank, resulting in a short circuit and possible engine stall. The possibility of an engine stall heightens the risk of a crash. This recall involves certain model year 2009-15 Vulcan 1700 Voyager and 2011-15 Vulcan 1700 Vaquero motorcycles manufac- tured Feb. 2, 2009, to March 20, 2015. Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will install additional shielding and padding to prevent the ignition wire from shorting. Owners may contact Kawasaki customer service at 866/802-9381. The number for this recall is MC15-10. OKLAHOMA'S THIRD INDIAN MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIP OPENS Sooner Indian Motorcycle has opened for business at 2520 West Main Street in Nor- man, Okla. The new dealership celebrated its grand opening in September by hosting the Indian Motorcycle Demo Tour and a football game day party. The Demo Tour offers local riders the opportunity to test-ride the latest bikes from Indian Motorcycle. "We are proud to offer iconic Indian bikes to the area," said Dustin Kuykendall, general manager of Sooner Indian Motorcycle. "We think the local motorcycling community will be impressed by the engineering and crafts- manship that has gone into the rebirth of Indian Motorcycle, and we invite everybody to come down to see for themselves." Sooner Indian Motorcycle offers sales, service, parts and accessories for the entire lineup of Indian motorcycles, including the Indian Chief lineup, the Indian Roadmaster, the Indian Scout and the Indian Chief Dark Horse. The dealership also offers a full selec- tion of Indian Motorcycle apparel. HARLEY-DAVIDSON NAMES FIRST U.S. CUSTOM KING The king has been crowned. Alex Stewart of Yellowstone Harley-Davidson in Belgrade, Mont., earned bragging rights and a new motorcycle-customization royalty designa- tion — the first-ever U.S. Custom King. Stew- art and his dealership's build team assembled the winning "Next Generation Board Track Racer" as part of the inaugural Harley-David- son Custom Kings competition. Customization is one of the unique ways rid ers celebrate their individuality. The U.S. Custom Kings competition focused on redefining performance through the custom- ization expertise and ingenuity of Harley- Davidson dealers throughout the country, using the Street 750 motorcycle as the perfect canvas. Stewart and his Yellowstone Harley-David- son build team in Belgrade, Mont., entered a tricked out Street 750 motorcycle in Harley- Davidson's U.S. Custom Kings bike build competition. Nearly 100 U.S. dealerships entered the bike build-off battle featuring the Harley- Davidson Street 750 motorcycle. The entries from finalists in each of the country's seven markets were voted on by their peers at the company's recent annual dealer meeting. The six finalists vying with Stewart for the title and customization supremacy were: Led by Nick Celenza, Brian's Harley- Davidson, Langhorne, Pa. Led by Brett Sassaman, Harley-David- son of Macon, Macon, Ga. Led by Jeff Musat, Harley-Davidson of Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Ariz. Led by Kevin Winters, Lake Shore Harley-Davidson, Libertyville, Ill. Led by Doug O'Neal, Loess Hills Har- ley-Davidson, Pacific Junction, Iowa DIGEST Monster 1200 R unveiled with 160hp Tech 2 MXC tires from STI get five additional sizes. Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, aboard the Monster 1200 R durig its debut in Frankfurt. See Digest, Page 52