Powersports Business articles from December 2004

Powersports Business archives from December 2004

INTERMOT may return to Cologne.(HOT NEWS)(motorcycles exhibition)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Germany's motorcycle industry association, the Industrie-Verbandes Motorrad (IVM), says INTERMOT 2006 may move to Cologne, returning to the city that served as the motorcycle trade fair location until 1996. IVM's contract expires at the...

In memorium: Nate Stewart.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
December 6, 2004... Nate Stewart, director of purchasing for Custom Chrome and Motorcycle Stuff, died Sunday Nov. 21, 2004, while attending the Big Twin West Show in Las Vegas, Nev. Stewart died in his sleep. He was 58. Stewart joined Custom Chrome in...

Harley adds director.(HOT NEWS)(Harley-Davidson Inc., )(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Harley-Davidson, Inc. has named Judson C. Green to the company's board of directors, effective Nov. 18, 2004. Green is president and CEO of NAVTEQ Corporation. NAVTEQ is a developer and supplier of digital map information for navigation...

Yamaha names president.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. has tapped Senior Managing Director Takashi Kajikawa to serve as the company's new president, replacing Tooru Hasegawa. Hasegawa will become the chairman of the board and incumbent chairman Ryuichi Yamashita will step...

Wittman named Polaris director of retail and dealer development.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Polaris Industries Inc. has promoted Paige Wittman to director of retail and dealer development, effective in December. She will replace Steve Menneto who has been named-director of consumer sales. Wittman was named manager of global sales...

Triumph has new Web site.(HOT NEWS)(Triumph Motorcycle)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Triumph Motorcycle has launched a new international Web site as part of a global advertising campaign. The new site is targeting Triumph's nine key markets: the UK, U.S., Japan, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Scandinavia and...

Bridgestone adds rep.(HOT NEWS)(Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC, Nashville, Tenn., has hired Steve Turner as a sales representative in the company's motorcycle tire group. Turner has more than 14 years experience in the industry, working in various...

Penton joins KTM.(HOT NEWS)(KTM Motorsports)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Jack Penton has joined KTM Motorsports, Inc. as off-road racing and promotions coordinator. Reporting to Ron Heben, KTM's motorsports marketing manager, Penton will focus on the AMA Enduro series and the Grand National Cross Country series,...

AMA Pro Racing renames series websites.(HOT NEWS)(motorcycle racing)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... To more closely align each series website with its respective racing brand, AMA Pro Racing has renamed its family of series websites. USMotocross.com is now available at www.amasupercross.com or www.amamotocross.com. USSuperbike.com has been...

KTM plans to develop concept store in Ohio.(HOT NEWS)(KTM Motorsports)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Officials at KTM Motorsports, Inc. say they signed an agreement with Matt Glawe, president of Avon Laporte Cycles, Elyria, Ohio, to form a partnership that will continue the operation of the dealership as a "KTM Concept Store." KTM says...

Investment group may increase holdings in KTM.(HOT NEWS)(KTM Motorsports)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Austrian industrial investment company Cross Industrie Holding reportedly plans to make a play for a larger portion of KTM. The investment firm plans a capital increase, calculated at Euro 60 million ($78.2 million) based on the current...

NMDA signs agreements with AEGON.(HOT NEWS)(National Motorcycle Dealers Association )(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... The National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA), a subsidiary of MBA Holdings (MBAH) and MBA Holdings Inc., Scottsdale, Ariz., has signed an agency agreement with AEGON N.V. to sell credit life/health & accident insurance and GAP insurance...

Performance Plus adds service contract.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Service contract provider Performance Plus, in conjunction with Dealers Assurance Company and SouthwestRE of Albuquerque, N.M., is offering a new service contract option to Harley-Davidson and Big-Twin related dealers retailing modified bikes....

Schutte starts PR firm.(HOT NEWS)(Pat Schutte, Public Relations)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... High Profile Public Relations, LLC, is a new powersports industry PR company specializing in media campaigns for corporate and individual clients. Company founder Pat Schutte has worked as the media director for the THQ/AMA Supercross Series...

Motorsports expands.(HOT NEWS)(Motorsports International)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Motorsports International, Auburn, Mass., broke ground on Nov. 1 for a larger retail store. President Michael Wade said the new facility is expected to open in late spring 2005. The 33,000-sq-ft facility will be more than twice the...

Industry conference examines future.
December 6, 2004... Economist Esmael Adibi, Ph.D., discusses the national and regional economic outlook during the Motorcycle Industry Council's Inroads To The Future VI conference in Tustin, Calif., Nov. 18. Look for a complete report on the conference in the...

Global gets new financing package.(Global Motorsport Group)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Global Motorsport Group, Inc., Morgan Hill, Calif., has obtained a new three-year $90 million credit package. The international distributor has been working on a refinancing package for nearly a year. Proceeds from the new credit facility will...

MV Agusta comes back with Proton.(MV Agusta Motor)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Things are looking up for MV Agusta Motor SpA now that Malaysian car maker Proton has opened its checkbook. A court in Italy has ruled that temporary receivership proceedings against MV Agusta Motor, initiated in November 2002, should be...

ATV safety, regulation are concerns.(All Terrain Vehicles)
December 6, 2004... Bennett Morgan, general manager of Polaris Industries' $1.1 billion ATV business, says there are key two issues facing the industry that perhaps don't get enough discussion: an under-developed ATV trail system and machine safety. When he...

Yamaha: sales are strong but supply is tight.
December 6, 2004... Bob Starr, manager of corporate communications at Yamaha Motor Corporation, says that things are going well for the OEM and its dealers, but he notes that the company is walking a fine line between maximum profitability and lost sales. ...

BRP continues to make changes.
December 6, 2004... When Bombardier, Inc., the giant international manufacturing operation, spun off its recreational products business in December 2003, the move set in motion a series of reorganizations, cutbacks, relocations and asset sales. Most recently,...

Cat moves ahead on engine production.(Arctic Cat, snowmobile makers)
December 6, 2004... Arctic Cat, Thief River Falls, Minn., has begun production of its proprietary 641cc four-stroke engine and expects to begin producing ATVs with the new powerplant early next year. At the same time, Arctic said it is working on the...

It's time to start preparing for Nifty Fifty.(From The Editor)
December 6, 2004... If you're planning to introduce a product or service at the Dealer Expo in February for delivery next year, make sure you send it in for consideration as one of the Nifty Fifty products to be introduced at the show. Each year, the editors...

Ducati posts $12.7 million loss.(DIGEST)(Ducati Motor)
December 6, 2004... Ducati Motor Holdings SpA posted a loss of Euro 9.8 million ($12.7 million) for the nine-month period ended Sept. 30, 2004. This compares to a Euro 7 million ($9.04 million) loss for the January-September period of 2003. Revenue was Euro...

Giant Motorsports posts sales gain.(DIGEST)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Powersports retailer Giant Motorsports, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: GMOS) said revenues for its third quarter of 2004, ended Sept. 30, were $26.3 million, up $13.6 million, or 107%, from the $12.7 million reported for the quarter ending Sept. 30,...

Suzuki's 2Q sales up, income down.(DIGEST)(Suzuki Motor)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp. posted net income of 12.12 billion yen ($114.4 million) in its second quarter ended Sept. 30, down from last year's 12.43 billion yen ($119.5) because of rising costs and a stronger yen eroding overseas earnings, the...

Piaggio rebounds from loss.(DIGEST)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Piaggio & C. SpA says net profit for the first nine months of 2004 was Euro 19.9 million, compared to a Euro 34.3 million loss for the same period last year. Cost cutting, lower interest payments and a new, more flexible agreement with unions...

KTM sales, profits up for year.(DIGEST)(KTM Motor-Fahrzeugbau AG (Austria))(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... KTM posted after-tax profit of Euro 26.8 million ($34.56 million) for fiscal 2003, which ended Aug. 31, 2004--52% higher than profit from fiscal 2002. The Austrian company sold 76,815 motorcycles worldwide compared to 70,514 in the previous...

More suppliers, more options, more sales.(FOCUS: Helmets)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Whether a state has a helmet law or not, walk into any powersports dealership and you'll likely see a wide array of helmets on display. And why not? With suppliers offering dealer margins of 30% to 50%, helmet sales are easy money. There's...

Snell testing for 2005 helmet standards.(FOCUS)(Snell Memorial Foundation)
December 6, 2004... The Snell Memorial Foundation says M2005 and SA/K2005 Standards have been finalized and certification testing to these standards have begun. Certification to the M2005 and SA/K2005 Standards for helmets meeting those requirements started...

Helmet suppliers reveal new models, updates.(FOCUS: HELMETS)
December 6, 2004... ARAI Arais 2005 helmet line features 10 street and off-road models harboring 52 graphics and colors. At the top of the line, Arai's RX-7 Corsair has 10 new racer graphics, including a new Colin Edwards in three different colors, a new...

Deere taps Cycle Country as accessory provider.(ATV Digest)(Cycle Country Accessories Corp., Deere & Co.)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Officials at Cycle Country Accessories Corp., Milford, Iowa, say John Deere (NYSE:DE) has selected the company to provide accessories for Deere's new line of Utility ATVs sourced through BRP. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] John Deere designed...

Oregon cops attend ATV workshop.(ATV Digest)(All Terrain Vehicle )(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department conducted an all-terrain vehicle law enforcement workshop Dec. 1 in Salem. Federal, state and local law enforcement officers from throughout Oregon were invited to attend the forum.

Seven months for felony hit and run.(ATV Digest)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... A Virginia court sentenced a 21-year-old Fairfax. Va. man to seven months in jail for leaving the scene of an accident during which Michael Pinkerton, marketing director for the Hatfield/McCoy Trail System in West Virginia, had his arm severed....

Wested offers Hagglund amphibious units.(ATV Digest)(WestEd Equipment)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... WestEd Equipment, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, is selling amphibious all-terrain vehicles designed for the military. The 4,103 lb. Hagglund personnel carrier and a slightly lighter cargo carrier were built for the British, Canadian and...

Honda releases 2005 Foreman TRX500: an old workhorse gets an overhaul.(ATV)(Honda Motor Company Ltd.)
December 6, 2004... Foreman models often got overlooked when it came to updates by engineers. Several new models were unleashed from Honda factories, all-the-while the 1998 version of the Foreman TRX450 sat waiting patiently for a trendy makeover. ...

Arctic building diesel quad with Roush.(ATV)(Arctic Cat Inc., Roush Technologies)
December 6, 2004... Arctic Cat is working with Roush Technologies, a British subsidiary of U.S.-based Roush Industries, Inc., to develop an ATV that runs off of diesel fuel. The project is part of the British Army's requirement that all its vehicles use the same...

Suzuki/Yamaha of Dalton.(Power Profile)(Company Profile)
December 6, 2004... CONTACT 205 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Dalton, GA 30721 706/278-1620 www.teamsyd.com OWNERS Greg and Vickie Roberts BUSINESS PROFILE 7,500-sq.-ft. dealership founded at the present location in 1990....

Representatives from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki joined editors of ATV Magazine and ATV Sport.(All Terrain Vehicle )(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Representatives from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki joined editors of ATV Magazine and ATV Sport--sister publications to Powersports Business--for their annual ATV Trials at Hungry Valley SVRA near Gorman, Calif. Editors spent five days...

Milwaukee approves H-D land purchase.(Cycle Update)(Milwaukee Common Council, Harley-Davidson Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... The Milwaukee Common Council has approved property rezoning, site redevelopment guidelines, the creation of a Tax Incremental District, and the sale of 20 acres to Harley-Davidson, Inc. for the company's planned $95 million museum. ...

Honda features new models on CycleTrader.(Cycle Update)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Honda has become the latest OEM to showcase its motorcycles in the Manufacturer Showcase on CycleTrader.com. The Manufacturer Showcase allows visitors--i.e., consumers--to preview the new bike models from featured manufacturers. All of a...

Inventor shops cycle-copter hybrid.(Cycle Update)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... John Bakker, the Dutch inventor of a motorcycle-helicopter hybrid, says he is showing his vehicle to several Montreal-based manufacturers. Although Bakker won't name the Canadian firms negotiating with Spark Design, a Rotterdam-based...

Dreer testing new Norton.(MOTORCYCLE)(Kenny Dreer, Norton Motors Ltd.)
December 6, 2004... Testing on the new 952 Commando continues at Norton Motorsports in Gladstone, Ore. Norton President Kenny Dreer likened the bike's current position to being in the "red zone" during a football game. "We are standing on the 5 yard-line with...

Suzuki's DL650, the versatile V-Strom.(MOTORCYCLE)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 6, 2004... It didn't take long after Suzuki's release of the SV650 to show company officials they had a great all-arounder in their line-up. After record sales, they introduced a 1000cc model hoping for similar success. Suzuki then discovered it had...

Redline motorsports.(Power Profile)(Company Profile)
December 6, 2004... CONTACT 7331 George Washington Memorial Highway Yorktown, VA 23692 757/989-5000 www.redlinemotors.com OWNER David Lillard BUSINESS PROFILE 12,000-sq.-ft. dealership that was purpose-built in 1995. Carries...

Quaid Harley-Davidson/Buell.(Power Profile)(Company Profile)
December 6, 2004... CONTACT 25160 Redlands Boulevard Loma Linda, CA 92354 909/796-8399 www.quaid.net OWNERS Bob, Rich, Glenn, and Gordon Quaid [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BUSINESS PROFILE 20,000-sq.-ft. dealership founded by...

APBA to expand racing awareness.(Making Waves)(American Powerboat Association)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... While racing may indeed have the potential to rebound, the American Powerboat Association's Patrick Mell says that nothing will happen until more enthusiasts are made aware of the simple fact that they can race. According to Mell, countless...

IJSBA to elect first democratic board.(Making Waves)(Internatioanl Jet Sport Boating Association)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... The democratic process is once again in full swing. While the Internatioanl Jet Sport Boating Association has been run by a Transition Committee for much of the past year, the first democratic elections of a new board have been tentatively...

Racing close-up, part two: optimism on the horizon.(PWC)(Personal WaterCrafts)
December 6, 2004... Editors Note: This is the second in a two-part series focusing on the current state of personal watercraft racing in the United States. Last issue, we focused on several of the many challenges facing the sport. This issue, we look at some of...

Arctic cat partners with UND.(Snowmobile Report)(Arctic Cat Inc., University of North Dakota)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Arctic Cat is helping the University of North Dakota (UND) test its earth-observing sensor that will be launched into space, Arctic Cat said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The company is donating the use of its Noise, Vibration and Harshness...

Group complains about snowmobile letters.(Snowmobile Report)(Public Citizen, consumer group)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Consumer group Public Citizen, in a complaint filed Nov. 18 with the House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, accused House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Calif., of violating rules for taxpayer-funded mail, including...

Polaris reveals changes in Snow Division.(SNOWMOBILE)
December 6, 2004... If market share numbers can tell a story, then Polaris' new snowmobile division general manager Eric Lindquist can weave a tale, complete with a moral. After firmly clinching the title of market-share leader in snowmobile sales since the...

Yellowstone plan approved, then challenged in two lawsuits.(SNOWMOBILE)
December 6, 2004... On Nov. 5, the National Park Service (NPS) announced a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Temporary Winter Use Plans Environment Assessment for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial...

Bickford's Sport Center.(Power Profile)(Company Profile)
December 6, 2004... CONTACT 1664 Dover Road Epsom, NM 03234 603/736-9050 www.bickfordssportcenter.com OWNERS Paula and Bill Bickford [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BUSINESS PROFILE The dealership was founded in 1969 by the...

Smith Optics reorganizes.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)
December 6, 2004... The recent retirement of Marketing Senior Vice President Kerry Marumoto has spurred officials at Smith Optics to re-evaluate and revamp the company's departmental structure. "Kerry's knowledge and experience will be missed by the marketing...

Langley leaves Progressive.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)(Larry Langley starts with Travelcade Seats)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Larry Langley has left Progressive Suspension and can now be found at Travelcade Seats. Langley worked at Progressive for the past 12 years, ending his stint as head of media relations on Nov. 18. "It was a very tough decision to make...

Edelbrock 1Q revenues drop 5.9%.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Edelbrock Corporation, Torrance, Calif., reported net income of $350,000, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the first quarter of its 2005 fiscal year ended Sept. 25, 2004. This compares to net income of $467,000, or $0.09 per diluted share, for...

Corbin offers gift package.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)
December 6, 2004... Corbin is again offering the Corbin Gift Certificate program for the Holidays. Corbin dealers will receive a package along with their point of purchase hangers and program information Here's how it works: 1. Customers purchase gift...

Blackwidow offers Cannondale parts.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)
December 6, 2004... Blackwidow ATV Works, Inc., Salt Lake City, now offers an online ordering and delivery system devoted to hard-to-find Cannondale ATV and motorcycle parts. Blackwidow company officials say they have contracted with several parts...

MAG Europe expands web offering.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Thomas Breed, Managing Director of MAG Europe, says the company now offers approximately 4,000 part-numbers and 1,500 pictures in its online catalog. Visit www.mageurope.net to see what MAG is doing overseas.

Global releases 2005 catalog.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Global Motorsport Group, Inc. has released its 2005 Custom Chrome Catalog. Company officials say the catalog, with 1,400 pages featuring more than 21,000 products, is the most comprehensive product offering in Custom Chrome's 35-year...

Mototech offers 10% discount.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)
December 6, 2004... MotoTech Solutions says it will offer a 10% discount on all first-time dealer orders of PowerPegz. This discount offer will be for a limited time only. PowerPegz are a rotating off-road motorcycle footpeg that improves stability and riding...

Maxsym introduces four-strokes.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)
December 6, 2004... UK-based Maxsym Engine Technology Ltd. revealed its GP500 and GP600 four-stroke competition engines while at INTERMOT in September. Designed for motorcycles, karts, ATVs and single-seat racecars, these parallel twins incorporate Maxsym's...

Chainsaw accounting and balance sheets.(Dealer Dollers)
December 6, 2004... The room was filled with the owners of 25 dealerships from around the country. They were attending a Lightspeed Dealer Principal class in Salt Lake City where I was presenting ways to improve performance and make dealerships more profitable....

No industry experience? That's not necessarily a problem.(Marketing Trends)
December 6, 2004... Companies today face the same daunting problem that confounds so many job seekers. It's the high hurdle of transferable experience. Whether it's an individual attempting to get a job or a company trying to break into a new market, both are...

Gerbing heated Dalby creek jacket.(MOTORCYCLE)
December 6, 2004... Specifications -- Dalby Creek electrically heated jacket keeps riders warm in winter weather and is available in five colors, sizes from XS to XXL. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Benefits -- Operates on 77 Watts of 12-volt power for plenty of...

Roadgear TG102 digital tire gauge.(MOTORCYCLE)
December 6, 2004... Specifications -- Digital display measures from 5.0 to 99.5 psi in half-pound increments. Benefits -- Compact, sturdy, accurate. Roadgear reports that it is accurate to [+ or -] 1 percent. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Suggested Retail...

GoClaws tire accessory.(ATV)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Specifications -- GoClaws says it uses the patented Pascal-Tech hydraulic gripping chambers that grab snow, mud or sand. The tire accessories are offered in three sizes with six adjustable, interchangeable modules that provide traction for two...

Lazer Star YFZ450 handlerbar headlight kit.(ATV)
December 6, 2004... Specifications -- Lazer Star claims its CNC machined billet custom headlight kit for the Yamaha YFZ450 will get a lot of power out of the stock stator. The headlight kit comes with a billet aluminum handlebar clamp with two "Shorty" billet...

Magura JACK.05 hydraulic clutch.(ATV)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Specifications -- This Magura JACK.05 hydraulic clutch claims to have a beefed-up slave cylinder and longer pull distance that creates more room for light touch clutch functions. The piston rod has been increased from 2mm to 3mm and comes...

October dealer profit declines.(Top Guns)
December 6, 2004... Overall dealer profitability, as measured by Top Gun dealers nationwide, declined in October to 8.4%, down from 10.8% in September. Overall net profit for the year through October was 8.4%, an improvement over the 7.6% YTD figure recorded in...

Tips for checking a prospect's references.(Sales Management)
December 6, 2004... This is the sixth in a series of articles that addresses the issue of hiring the right salespeople for your dealership. You must be careful with the information you get from references. It is often subjective. What someone else might...

Looking for the latest products in the powersports industry?(PAID ADVERTISING)(Advertisement)
December 6, 2004... Powersports Business presents this WEB SITE/CATALOG showcase of companies that you will want to research. Please take the time to visit these Web sites or circle the reader service number on the accompanying Reader Service Card in this issue....

Murray to start marketing firm.(HOT NEWS)(Maurice Murray)(Brief Article)
December 27, 2004... Maurice Murray, senior vice president of brand development at Global Motorsport Group, plans to leave the company Dec. 31, 2004, to set up his own strategic marketing business, Powersports Business has learned. Murray told Powersports Business...

NADA launches Web tool.(HOT NEWS)(NAD Aguides.com)(Brief Article)
December 27, 2004... NAD Aguides.com, Costa Mesa, Calif., launched a new Internet-based building and pricing tool for powersports vehicles. The tool gives online shoppers the ability to investigate various new vehicles, including detailed specifications and...

Ehlert acquires consumer show producer.(HOT NEWS)(Ehlert Publishing Group Inc., American Recreation Unlimited Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 27, 2004... Ehlert Publishing Group, Inc., owner of Powersports Business magazine, has acquired American Recreation Unlimited, Inc. (ARU), a Minnesota-based producer of three of the largest and longest-running family-oriented consumer shows in the Midwest....

Senate bill closes loophole.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
December 27, 2004... The U.S. Senate has passed a bill prohibiting health insurers from denying benefits to people injured while participating in legal transportation and recreational activities. The bill was authored by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Sen. Susan...

Japan cycle production down 5.3%.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
December 27, 2004... Japan produced 165,860 motorized two-wheelers during October 2004, up 7,063 units or 4.4% compared to the 158,797 units registered for October 2003, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA). The organization also...

Proton reveals cost-cutting idea.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
December 27, 2004... Tengku Kan Sri Mahaleel Ariff, chief executive of Malaysian automotive group Proton, reportedly intends to ask suppliers of MV Agusta to move parts production to Asia in order to reduce component costs by approximately 30%. Proton recently...

MBA Insurance covers cycle rental.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
December 27, 2004... MBA Insurance, Scottsdale, Ariz., is offering a new, national motorcycle rental insurance program in partnership with American Modern Insurance Group of Cincinnati. Josephine Johnson, MBA's marketing director, told Powersports Business...

PWC still banned at Biscayne Park.(HOT NEWS)(Personal watercraft)(Brief Article)
December 27, 2004... Biscayne National Park, located in Miami near Key Biscayne and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, banned personal watercraft use in 2000 by enacting locally a federal National Park Service rule that allowed individual parks to prohibit...

SMART car offered by ZAP.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
December 27, 2004... ZAP, the publicly-owned Northern California company that has operated for the past decade in the electric car, bike and scooter market, says it has received its first 100-unit block purchase order for the SMART car from a U.S. auto dealer. ...

United Motors, MRP sign agreement.(HOT NEWS)(Martin Racing Performance Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 27, 2004... United Motors (UM) and Martin Racing Performance Inc. (MRP), formerly Malaguti USA Inc., have signed an exclusive aftermarket performance parts development agreement. United Motors of America, Inc, supplies ATVs, dirt bikes, street legal...

Pirelli drops distributor.(HOT NEWS)(California Race Services, Pirelli & Company S.p.A.)(Brief Article)
December 27, 2004... Pirelli's motorcycle tire division said that, effective immediately, California Race Services is no longer a licensed Pirelli race-tire distributor. West Coast racers should direct all Pirelli race tire requests and inquiries to Josh Bryan...