The Baker Built clamp type air wings with uppers for Harley-Davidson ultra classic cycles are new, informed Sales Manager Barbara Baker. She told us these air wings allow the rider to leave the lowers on year round and they are designed to keep more air off the rider and passenger when in the closed position. “In the open position, they help cool the engine; they bring in much more air to the legs, thighs and upper body, plus they help eliminate dead air space behind the windshield,” she told us, adding, the uppers adjust separately from the basic air wings. Though Baker hasn’t noticed anything in particular in the way of market trends, she said she believes the biggest threat to the industry is the influx of Asian imports and the cheap product copies into the market. “The biggest opportunity lies in the continued stress of the importance of American-made products and the industry’s continued reliability to improve and provide quality products at fair prices,” Baker explained. Sales are currently down thanks to a slower or softer market, she divulged. “Put a strong emphasis on buying quality American-made accessories,” she advised stores.

 Baker Built Air Wings
www.bakerbuilt.com

The new Baker King Kong Klutch was designed to fit 1999-2006 stock Harley-Davidson Big Twin applications, noted Director of Marketing Anthony Underwood. “The KKK features the most tremendous torque capacity of any other stock compatible clutch, while providing an extremely feather-light effort without centrifugal performance sacrifices,” he explained. Underwood added, “One innovative design advantage to the King Kong Klutch is that the 20 automotive friction plates are pushed out from the center as far as possible while still allowing it to fit stock applications.” This is said to add torque capacity without increasing spring tensions and the additional surface area is said to help with cooling as well. “Performance and quality favored over lower-cost and cheaper solutions,” is one trend he said he has seen in the Harley aftermarket accessories segment. Underwood also noted that an aging demographic soon to subside without a clear replacement lined up is what he believes is the biggest threat facing this market. Sales are the same or better than the year prior’s, he divulged, adding, “Many weaker companies dissolve as the market tightens up. We feel this business shifts our way. In addition, frustration with lesser quality products draws customers to end the cycle of woes by purchasing premium.” Underwood continued by saying premium, supported end-all solutions save frustration for the dealer and the customer alike. “American-made Harley-Davidson aftermarket product is a safe start when searching for quality,” he concluded.

Baker Drivetrain
www.bakerdrivetrain.com

Richard Schafer, director of Biker’s Choice, reported the Reno Cycle Worx Brute 200 wide tire kit for baggers offers improved looks, stability and handling and the bags remain in the stock fender location. People want more comfortable rides and so are moving towards the bagger market, he noted, adding, the company has seen a slight increase in sales due to increased market share. To him, the biggest threat to the industry is the economy and the correction of the aftermarket accessories business, Schafer told us, adding, the biggest opportunities lie in the aftermarket bolt-on parts for OEM Harley-Davidsons and providing the best customer service to their dealers. “An assortment of product and timely delivery to our dealers and ease of doing business with Biker’s Choice,” is one example of good customer service, he explained. Schafer concluded by saying, “Even though the market is correcting itself, the end consumers still want their bikes to outperform and look different from their buddies’.”

Biker’s Choice – Tucker Rocky
www.bikerschoice.com

“With the addition of Harley’s new 2008 lineup and the emergence of other brands, the handlebar biz is changing fast,” stated Cyclesmiths’ General Manager Ron Boyd. He told us the company is introducing new applications for two of its popular handlebars, the Bagger Apes. “The 13 inch and 16 inch versions are now available for 2008 Harley-Davidson Touring models with the new ‘Throttle-by-Wire’ technology,” Boyd explained, adding, Road King applications will also be available soon. “For the rest of the masses there are also new applications of standard Apehangers and beach bars, 1 3/4 inch fat bars suitable for Dyna and Softail models that come equipped with 1 3/4 inch bars and handlebar/riser combinations suitable for most metric and American cruisers,” he told us. Boyd noted two threats to the industry: the first is government regulation and the other is Harley-Davidson. “Look at the progression of the V-Rod. Accessory wise, each model changes every year; that’s a lot to keep up with for a mediocre selling product,” he explained, adding, “We see a lot of those situations with the 2008 lineup; you kind of need to predict what is going to be popular. The early bird catches the worm.” Sales are about the same as last year’s, he divulged, due to the flat market; however, certain items still sell very well. “It is really important to know parts compatibility more than ever. I think customers get most upset when they buy a part only to find it won’t work on their particular model and year,” Boyd advised.

Cyclesmiths
www.cyclesmiths.com

Küryakyn’s Director of Marketing Marc Wolfram told us the company will have a new product a day coming out in the spring and one of these products is its Widow Grips. “We try to make products that look good with lots of chrome,” he said, adding, “We also blend comfort into the design to make it user friendly.” Besides adjusting to new bike models, Wolfram said Küryakyn also offers themed products, such as the Zombie, Widow and Flamed theme lines that include grips, shift linkages, pegs and windshields. “The biggest opportunity for us is to adapt to the changing market demands and new bike models,” he explained. Sales are up across the board, Wolfram divulged. He suggested stores stock products that are in the $100 range.

Küryakyn
www.kuryakyn.com

[H-9] The all-helical gear six speed transmission gearset is the latest from S&S Cycle, informed Media and Advertising Supervisor Howard Kelly. “By using an all helical-gear design, noise is significantly reduced,” he explained. Also there is more contact area for additional strength and the gear ratios are lower between 1st to 5th and 6th is a 1:1 final drive, Kelly told us. “By coupling these new ratios with a 34 tooth output pulley, highway rpm is reduced and in town gear ratios are better,” he added. The company’s transmission and high performance clutches are becoming very popular with customers who want to fix up their used Harley-Davidsons, Kelly noted, adding, “The biggest opportunity is to be an informed dealer. By knowing what products are available when a customer walks in, you have the ability to respond to his needs quickly and intelligently. Education is the secret to a secure future in the Harley-Davidson aftermarket world, which is why we opened the S&S Training and Certification school; it let’s us educate our dealers for the future.” Kelly reported that the company’s component sales are going really well and that S&S is fortunate to be able to offer a diverse group of products allowing them to service many different parts of the market. “Today’s Harley-Davidson owner is more informed and researches a product a lot more than year’s past,” he noted, adding, “By learning about the products you sell and, even better, trying them in your own bikes, you will be able to speak to your customers from a position that they will respect and appreciate.”

S&S Cycle
www.sscycle.com

The new Ultima two inch belt drive/open primary (pictured on page 30) is “a skinny open primary that offers a more balanced ride while delivering high horsepower transfer capability,” reported Vice President Ken Francis. He told us the trend he has noticed is toward leaner looks and more balanced rides, which is provided by this narrower open primary. According to Francis the only threat he sees to this industry is when people take advantage of other’s fear regarding the economy. It’s like the old adage, ‘Nothing to fear but fear itself’, he added. Sales are up as the company continues to expand its drivetrain product line, stated Francis, who concluded by advising dealers to “display the performance and drivetrain product so customers can visualize the upgrades and accessories they want.”

Ultima Products – Midwest Motorcycle Supply
www.ultimaproducts.com