Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/1268348
WheelsOfGrace.com | Volume 11 Issue 5 | 25 HANDLEBAR NEWS than 20 million units (according to the Sta sta website) and with a popula on of more than 1.3 billion this burgeoning area is only projected to keep growing, so if you're a successful motorcycle manufacturer looking to increase market share, ignore that data at your own risk. Naturally, upper- echelon manufacturers increasingly want a slice of that pie which is why Triumph Motorcycles has just announced a formal partnership with Bajaj, in order to "build a brand-new range of high-quality mid-capacity motorcycles." More specifically, the announcement goes on to say that it will be a long-term, non-equity partnership, and that the new engine and vehicle platforms to be developed will be in the 200–750cc range, "and offer multiple options to address different segments in this class," which seems to imply there is a focus on quality as well as affordability to a ract new customers to the brand. Bajaj is no stranger to partnerships, having inked a deal to co-develop small-displacement bikes with KTM back in 2016 (the Austrians' sub-400cc products are manufactured at the Bajaj produc on facility in Chakan, India). With Triumph looking to expand and diversify its product line, achieve economies of scale by manufacturing in India, and gain entry into several high-volume emerging markets (including much of Asia), the Bajaj collabora on looks like a natural fit. Plus Triumph's bikes are already well-liked in India, with models like the Tiger 800, Street Triple, and Bonneville T120 all enjoying sales successes of late (even the first batch of 40 Rocket 3 Rs sold out). In all other markets where Triumph already has a presence, the co-developed bikes will join the current product portfolio and be distributed by the Triumph-led dealer network worldwide. Triumph Motorcycles CEO Nick Bloor said: "This is an important partnership for Triumph and I am delighted that it has now formally commenced. as well as taking our brand into crucial new territories, the products that will come out of the partnership will also help a ract a younger, but s ll discerning, customer audience and is another step in our ambi ons to expand globally, par cularly in the fast-growing markets of southeast asia, but also driving growth in more mature territories like europe." HOw DOEs HARlEY's RDRs (REFlEx DEFENsIvE RIDER sYsTEM) wORk? NEw BIkE, wHAT DIs? If you've been paying a en on to Harley-Davidson news, you've likely heard of the company's new Reflex Defensive Rider Systems (RDRS), but what is it? What exactly does it do? In a nutshell, RDRS is a suite of enhancements—Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking, Cornering Enhanced Trac on Control System, Cornering Drag-Torque Slip Control System, Vehicle Hold Control, and Tire Pressure Monitoring— for HD touring bikes which matches performance to available trac on. New for most 2020 touring models, RDRS is designed to help riders retain control, especially in adverse weather or during emergency situa ons. RDRS uses bike-mounted sensors to provide feedback to the computer. That feedback tells the computer the general posi on of the bike; whether it's upright, leaned over in a curve, on an incline, or a decline. The computer then assists with braking or accelera on depending on the situa on. More on Harley-Davidson's RDRS's on pages 29 - 31. Is HONDA DEvElOpING AN AFRIcA TwIN sTREET MODEl? B Y B e n P u R v I S New patents from Japan show that Honda is working on the idea of a new street-oriented naked bike based around the Africa Twin's 1,084cc parallel-twin engine. Patents have been filed for two very different frame designs that appear to be compe ng to become the chassis for the new model. One is a combined steel and aluminum trellis frame, giving a sporty style not unlike those used by MV Agusta, while the other is a more old-fashioned—but cheaper—duplex cradle design. However, both share key hard points including iden cal engine mounts for the Africa Twin-based twin, the same wheelbase and steering angle, and the same posi onal rela onship between the seat, bar, and pegs. Even the fork and swingarm are shared between the two designs. THE cONsENsUs Eps EsTIMATEs FOR HARlEY-DAvIDsON, INc. (NYsE:HOG) March and April 2020 have been shaping up negative for Harley- Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG) shareholders, with the analysts delivered a substantial negative revision to this 2020's forecasts. Both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) forecasts went under the knife, suggesting the analysts have soured majorly on the business. Investors however, have been notably more optimistic about Harley-Davidson recently, with the stock price up a remarkable 26% to US$21.13 in the beginning of April, 2020. It will be interesting to see if the downgrade has an impact on buying demand for the company's shares. Following the downgrade, the 14 analysts covering Harley-Davidson provided consensus estimates of US$3.7b revenue in 2020, which would reflect a painful 30% decline on its sales over the past 12 months. Previously, the analysts had been modeling revenues of US$4.4b in 2020. It looks like analyst sentiment has declined substantially, with a measurable cut to revenue estimates and a pretty serious decline to earnings per share numbers as well. The most