First Ride Review from Rider Magazine: 2017 Harley-Davidson Milwaukee-Eight Touring Bikes

By Greg Drevenstedt Rider Magazine            September 08, 2016

The Motorcycle Industry Social Media Roundup: The top 10 hashtags in the business this month

Use the following Top 10 hashtags 

to best market your dealership on social media this month!

#dualsport

#caferacer

#harleydavidson

#fortyeight

#honda

#windtherapy

#yamaha

#lowcountry

#universalbikers

#velomacchi

Shared feature article from Powersports Business: AIMExpo sees record consumer crowd

From Powersports Business: October 27, 2016

Article from Powersports Business

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Just over one week ago the Fourth Annual American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) bid farewell to its founding host city of Orlando, Florida, capping off a memorable tenure inside the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) that included a record number of consumer attendees. North America’s premier powersports trade show welcomed a combined 18,399 total attendees over the course of the four-day affair, highlighted by 12,029 consumer enthusiasts who filled the aisles and booths of the 451 exhibiting companies and numerous show features over the weekend.

With global and North American debuts from OEM participants Honda, KTM, Suzuki, and Yamaha, combined with introductions from a wide array of gear and aftermarket companies, there was plenty to see and do at AIMExpo 2016, both indoors and out. In addition to the latest motorcycles, a wide variety of powersports machines including Sea-Doo and Yamaha watercraft, Ski-Doo snowmobiles, and Yamaha boats greeted indoor visitors while the latest two, three, and four-wheeled vehicles from BMW, BRP, Can-Am, KYMCO, Suzuki, and Yamaha were up for demo rides at AIMExpo Outdoors! Given the numerous offerings, consumer attendance grew more than seven percent (7.4%) from the previous year.

AIMExpo 2016 experienced the effects of Mother Nature just prior to the start of the event when Hurricane Matthew traveled up the southeastern coast, leaving destruction in its wake. While Central Florida was fortunate enough to avoid direct impact from the historic storm, many registered exhibitors, dealers, media, and international visitors were adversely affected by Matthew and were unable to attend.

Even with the weather-related challenges, 2,459 dealer attendees were on hand over the four days of AIMExpo 2016, representing 1,116 dealerships from 49 states and Puerto Rico. In addition to visits conducted during trade-only days, a large number of dealers visited the show over the weekend, including approximately 400 retailers picking up dealer/buyer credentials during the event’s consumer days. Attendance by dealers taking advantage of the complementary Powersports DEALER Seminars @ AIMExpo filled 1087 seats, earning critical and valuable knowledge on how to enhance the profitability and operations of their business from influencers representing the powersports industry, and beyond.

AIMExpo’s global impact continued to resonate as well, with a total of 44 countries represented across all attendees. Counting international visitors and dealer/buyers, 6,370 trade attendees were on hand for B2B and I2I (Industry to Industry) business and networking during the four days of AIMExpo, including 3,029 exhibitor attendees and 630 industry personnel members. They were joined by 252 members of the media, who documented all the new model and product introductions for millions of enthusiasts around the world.

Collectively, the 18,000-plus attendees at AIMExpo 2016 contributed to more than 32 million social media impressions via Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and YouTube. This growth of more than 10 million impressions year-to-year demonstrates AIMExpo attendees are more engaged than ever during their experience at the event, eagerly sharing their stories while interacting with other attendees and exhibitors.

As the sun goes down on AIMExpo in Orlando, the stage is set for the industry’s highly anticipated move to Columbus, Ohio, next September. With its close proximity to the densest population of dealerships in the country, a state-of-the-art host facility at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, and a city center that welcomes and will become all things powersports, the desirable location in America’s heartland is poised to boost AIMExpo attendee numbers across the board during its landmark fifth year. With an average early-fall temperature of 65 degrees in the month of September, Columbus will be buzzing throughout the four-day celebration, scheduled for September 21-24, 2017.

All material, infographics, and visual materials have been sourced from original article from PowersportsBusiness.com. 
All content on this post is share-only and original credits and content rights remain with Powersports Business.

Changes in the Consumer Buying Experience

The New Consumer Buying Process

The purchase of a new motorcycle or RV is a BIG decision, and it’s no surprise that consumers take their ultimate buying decision incredibly seriously. Not only a weighty financial decision, this next motorcycle or RV is also something these consumers dream about long before they ever venture into the dealership to sign the closing paperwork. After all, 76% of prospective buyers say that they'd be willing to drive more than 2 hours to purchase their next unit. (5)

With internet users making up 88% of the US population, the path to purchase a unit has drastically changed. 86% of these consumers research extensively online before finalizing a purchase decision, spending an average of 123 days educating themselves on what the market has to offer. (3) They want to know what a fair purchase price looks like, how these units will fit into their personal lifestyles, and which dealerships can truly meet each and every one of their needs.

With so much information available online, prospects are now turning to the internet before ever stepping foot in a dealership. 70% never actually contact a dealership prior to their initial visitation, making online listings the very first place consumers actually interact with your dealership. (4)

Analyzing Consumers’ Online Behavior

Diving into a deeper, more comprehensive analysis of online consumer behavior is no new concept. Experts at Google have written on it extensively, with several articles published focusing specifically on the automotive industry. Just a few of these publications include:

• The Car Buying Process: One Consumer’s 900+ Digital Interactions
• The Zero Moment of Truth Automotive Study
• ZMOT: Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

Whether you refer to them as micro-moments, interactions, or connections, these behavioral patterns reflect a significant change in how buyers are choosing to shop. However, in the end, it is still what drives walk-in traffic to your dealership, and what helps attract consumers from well outside your immediate geographic location.

Using our audience of more than 4.3 million monthly motorcycle and RV consumers, we’ve chosen to look closer at how prospective buyers are connecting with our dealers and their listings in 2016, aside from phone and email leads.

The Bottom Line

What we’re seeing is clear. Consumers are connecting with our dealers now more than ever, relying on dealer listings to help them decide what unit will best fit their budget, lifestyle, and amenity needs. As we continuously track these trends, we gain the opportunity to understand the RV and powersports consumer now more than ever before.

Motorcyclist Magazine announces 2016 Motorcycle of the Year award winners

Motorcyclist Magazine, a publication produced for riders for over a century, recently announced the winners of their 2016 Motorcycle of the Year Awards. The distinction recognizes some of the best and most innovative new models, technologies, and individuals on the market. The selection of winners by the Motorcyclist staff requires careful attention to a number of vehicle and industry factors, including culture shifts, sport advancements, industry changes and fluctuations, and people, companies, and organizations who have contributed to the further development of motorcycling as a whole. This year's awards crowned the following titles to deserving winners, including Motorcycle of the Year, Best New Technology, Motorcyclist of the Year, and many, many more.

Below we've shared just a few of Motorcyclist's top picks for 2016- check out their website and see for yourself who won this year! 

Motorcycle of the Year - Triumph Street Twin

Best Sportbike - Yamaha YZF-RI

Best Touring Bike - Indian Roadmaster

Best Bang for the Buck - Yamaha FZ07

Best Dreambike - Honda RC213V-S

Want the full list? Keep reading to find out who took this year's top picks. Congrats to this year's winning bikes, individuals and innovations from all of us here at Cycle Trader!

First Ride Review from ADV Moto: The 2016 Honda Africa Twin

Yet again, ADV Moto has come out with an awesome new review on Honda's 2016 model of the Africa Twin. We've shared some of expert motorcycle journalist Scotty Breauxman's pros and cons about the bike and a taste of his thoughts on how it rides - but you've GOT to visit ADV Moto's page and read the whole article. Talk about on point. Not just helpful, but honest and super in-depth- which is what we all know we need when it comes to deciding what our next big bike purchase is going to be. 

Click here to visit ADV Moto's article on the Africa Twin for 2016!

PROS	CONS
▲ Sturdy suspension and wheels	▼ Good luck getting one this year
▲ Narrow profile feels more like a dirtbike	▼ Obnoxiously undersized footpegs
▲ Game changing DCT option

Let’s get straight to the point: The CRF 1000L “Africa Twin” has been so highly anticipated as the next standard of adventure that Big Red has no choice but to raise the bar for BMW, KTM and the others. Honda has come with their A-game and the final verdict may be surprising to riders of all skill levels and taste: I’ll take the DCT (Automatic) Dual Clutch Transmission model as the “do-it-all” adventure steed. Before we tried it in the dirt, the DCT model was dismissed as the intro/beginner model for newbies. After switching back and forth between the 2 models, we found the DCT to be more manageable, safer and fun to operate than its manual sibling.

The DCT is actually a "net" higher performance machine whose transmission resembles a Porsche or Ferrari.  With its left-side finger and thumb controlled "paddle shifting", the rider can override the automatic mode with subtle push-button up and down gear changes.  Don't kid around, the standard model is a sturdy beast but the DCT is on another level.  It takes a little bit of getting used to and riders will find themselves reaching for foot and hand levers for the first few miles.  But after acclimating to the DCT system, the rider is relieved of using mind and motor skills on shifting and can focus more attention on line selection, throttle and braking.

Read ADV Moto's FULL REVIEW of Honda's new Africa Twin!

Five Hot 50/50 Tires - Great insight and very informative for both your dealership's sales reps and your customers!

AN ADV MOTO SPECIAL FEATURE

Picking the best dual sport tires for your bike requires the ability to anticipate where most of your riding will take place while respecting the limitations of the tire. Adventure bikes are versatile machines that are designed to be capable on most surfaces. While a skilled rider can take a bike almost anywhere with nearly any tire, for most novices, tires are generally the deciding factor that determine where a bike can go.

There's a trade-off with dual sport tires. What we gain in off road traction, we loose in tarmac performance, and vice versa. Manufacturers normally rate dual sports tires for both road and off-road use, and the ones that perform equally as good on road as they do off are called 50/50 tires. 

2016 saw even more offerings in this rising tire category. As such, knowing which dual sport tire meets your personal riding style can take some testing. Proven models like Continental’s popular TKC80 will fit most riders' needs, but many other brands compare well and can be more budget-friendly.  The following is a list of Five Hot 50/50s for 2016 with their unique features and advantages.  

This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all 50/50 tires and we welcome input on your favorite tire(s) in the comments section. Read the full article on ADVMoto today!

MOTOZ TRACTIONATOR ADV

MotoZ's Tractionators are among the newer DOT-approved dual sports models, and in some ways these are the direct rivals of Continental’s well-regarded TKC80s. Users report that these tires are great for off-road use.

The Tractionators come in a range sizes that fit 21/18 wheels. They are built with either bias-ply or bias-belt carcasses, depending on the size. The aggressive tread is designed for good off-road performance, with blocky patterns that grip nicely on dirt and rocky ground. To make this configuration ride as well on roads, the tires have all-natural rubber construction with a rounded profile for good cornering on asphalt. This design rolls quietly and smoothly on every kind of hard surface and as well as confidently on the trail. Users are getting about 5,000 miles out of their rear tires.

With MotoZ’s designers focused on off-road performance. While the Tractionators excel off road, you won’t be compromising much with these if you’ll be racking most of your miles on roads. Motorcyclists who live far from their stomping grounds can easily justify the general performance of these tires.

PROS                                     CONS

▲ Durable natural-rubber compound.	▼ Best on hard and dry surfaces.
▲ Composite deep treads optimized for cornering.	▼ Lacks sidewall marks for DIY mounting and balancing.
▲ Great traction on all surfaces.	▼ Wears bares in around 5,000 miles or so.
▲ Quiet and smooth on pavement

MICHELIN ANAKEE WILD

The Michelin Anakee Wild is one of the best handling 50/50 tires around. It is a tire that performs best on dirt but also rolls and corners as well as a street tire. Much of its design advantage is found in its radial construction and offset curved block pattern. The Anakee Wild can roll as smoothly as most street models and remain as long lasting, yet hit the trails with a surefootedness second to none.

The alternating knob patterns act to make the tire more rigid while teeth channels work to pass fluids and debris picked up from the ground. Large center blocks create a contact patch that results in stability, especially when carving down inclines. The front tire tracks through sand efficiently and its grooved rubber gains better traction in the wet, on dirt or mud.

Anakee Wilds are radials that come in a short range of sizes that fit 19/17 wheels. Their quality is shown in the carcass construction and block reinforcements, details that attest to the level of engineering involved.

It is not uncommon for owners to report 5,000 miles off their rears on loaded bikes. The Anakee Wilds have slightly better traction on uneven terrain at lower speeds and are acquiring a considerable reputation as great sports adventure tires. They are the current favorite of many, and the likely pick of those who spend a considerable amount of time off the asphalt.

Check out ADVMoto's full review of the Michelin Anakee Wild!

PROS	CONS
▲ Alternating knob pattern has great grip.	▼ Lots of road noise.
▲ Muddy and gravelly water shed through teeth channels.	▼ Slightly less on-road traction at lower speeds.
▲ Block ridges on outer knobs work for stable cornering.
▲ Radial durability and wear resistance, tubeless available.

Where to Buy:

MITAS E-10

There is no tire that’s can work perfectly in every condition, but the hybrid radial/bias-ply Mitas E-10 scores high marks for both on and off road traction as well as tread life. The well-balanced profile justifies its 50/50 dual-sport labeling and then some.

On trails, the aggressive tread and soft compound work to grip loose dirt, inspiring confidence. In most trail conditions, The E-10 shows off its design advantages through traction and agility, offering great maneuverability when navigating through loose and rocky terrain. The tough sidewall of the upgraded Dakar model further protects the rim from the occasional pinch flat in the event of hard-edged side impacts.

Coming in a range of 17”, 18”, 19”, and 21-inch sizes, the E-10 outclasses most dual sport models optimized for the street. In wet situations, its limitations are reached quickly, but it generally performs well on both dry pavement and dirt. The Mitas E-10 is the best overall choice for bikers who want a 50/50 tire and travel long distances on asphalt.

PROS	CONS
▲ Big block thread is optimized for all surfaces.	▼ Does not quite match knobbier tires in off-road performance.
▲ Durable radial/bias-ply hybrid wears well on roads.	▼ On wet roads the narrower patterns reach their limits.
▲ Dakar-model sidewall offers more puncture-resistance, tubeless available	▼ Somewhat noisier on-road than chunky competitors.

 Where to Buy:

SHINKO 804 / 805 BIG BLOCK

Shinko’s tread pattern follows a strategy similar to the Continental TKC80’s. The knobs of these DOT-approved models feature blocky protrusions for better grip on off-road surfaces, yet the profile is low enough for good performance on the highway. 

The bias-ply sidewall construction works for better cornering by increasing rigidity, making the tire stable while cornering and giving the rider ample feedback.

Through mud and sand the Shinkos act like paddles. While excelling off road, the 804/805's deliver great road mileage. These tires are best for bikers who like to cruise sweeping roads on the way to the trails.

The Shinko 804/805's feature higher load and speed ratings with a tube-less option, making them an excellent choice for bigger adventure bikes like BMW's R1200GS. Shinko offers sizes that fit 17”, 18”, 19”, and 21-inch rims, and are the budget pick as they offer good value for the money.

PROS	CONS
▲ Aggressive treads with self-cleaning design.	▼ Optimized more for road mileage than performance.
▲ Street-focused design for stable cornering.	▼ Can have tight front fender clearance with some bikes.
▲ Handles smoothly on pavement.
▲ Inexpensive 50/50 performance, tube-less available.

Where to Buy:

                       

VEE RUBBER VRM-401

The Vee Rubber VRM-401 tires are light compared to their rivals due to their Kevlar-belt construction, which is good for heavier loads and bigger engines. Large spacing between knobs help these tires shed mud and water easily. The front’s round crown helps for better cornering on and off road and the rear does not sway or chase pavement cracks at speed.

With its aggressive tread composed of multifaceted blocks, the front hooks up nicely with gravelly and sandy surfaces, although it’s still a knobby tire that requires bikers to be cautious while riding on wet asphalt.

The VRM-401s are designed for larger bikes and come in 17”, 18”, 19”, and 21-inch sizes to match. Like the Mitas, the 401s are good all-around tires with a slight emphasis on off-road handling. These should be a confident pick for bikers on long and even transcontinental tours.

Check out ADVMoto's full review of the Vee Rubber VRM401!

PROS	CONS
▲ Alternate block facets produce good traction.	▼ Low mileage with heavy use.
▲ Stronger and stiffer sidewall.	▼ Larger sizes can be hard to seat on rims.
▲ Quiet on the road.

Chunky tires for go-anywhere bikes

The fact is that picking a dual sport tire depends as much on your personal preferences as on the situations you normally find yourself in. Some bikers believe that knobbier tires generally tend to less traction and cornering ability on slick roads than regular tires, but these 50/50s mostly prove the exception. You should always ride according to your own limits, whatever you choose.

With a growing variety of options available, you can find a pair of dual sports that best meets your budget and handles well on the types of terrain you encounter the most.

Author Biography

Lucas Knight has spent the last 10 years developing his riding skills and working with motorcycles and enthusiasts alike. He's built up an incredible passion for travelling by motorbike and wishes show his devotion by contributing to the motorcyclist community. 

Lucas's MotorManner.com turns his knowledge and experience into useful and interesting information for the motorcycle lover.