May 10, 2004 – Automatic goes off-road, picks up Acerbis

Planning to expand the powersports markets served in the northeast, officials at Automatic Distributors, Bangor, Maine, traditionally a snowmobile, ATV and trailer distribution specialist, recently announced the company’s intention to offer a selection of off-road products.
Highlighted in a 400-page catalog available by early June, Automatic’s new off-road offerings are anchored by a line of 1,080 items to be furnished by Acerbis USA.
Although it sells its plastics through Parts Unlimited, Acerbis USA has served the industry dealer-direct in most capacities since its inception in 1983. The deal with Automatic was finalized in February.
“What it includes is all the riding gear – jerseys; pants; gloves; roost protectors; knee and elbow guards; boots; enduro jackets; enduro pants; kidney belts and socks — plus the Acerbis plastic products,” Automatic’s Mike Haggerty told Powersports Business.
“We’ve been aggressively entering the dirt bike market since Indy, and have added more than 4,000 new part numbers to inventory. This new Acerbis venture means bringing in 1,080 of its item numbers to Automatic Distributors warehouse by June 1, 2004, with 90% of it stocked by May 15.”
Serving more than 12,000 retailers, Automatic Distributors ships anywhere in the 50 states at reduced second day air rates, and ships same-day service to much of the northeast.
LeoVince opens U.S. headquarters
LeoVince USA has opened a new 4,000-plus sq. ft. facility in Richmond, Calif., in the San Francisco Bay area, to serve as the U.S. headquarters for the LeoVince brands of motorcycle and scooter exhaust systems.
“We are excited to have developed a very usable space to house our marketing, sales and racing efforts,” said Tim Calhoun, LeoVince’s U.S. sales and marketing manager. “A unique aspect of the facility is that we will have a complete R&D center including a dynamometer to enable us to quickly develop new products both for consumers and our racing partners.”
The facility houses offices for the sales and marketing department, the R&D center, a presentation and display area, a video conference center and, being an Italian firm, an espresso bar.
LeoVince is a division of Sito Gruppo Industriale based in Monticello d’Alba, Italy. Sito claims to be the largest exhaust manufacturer in Europe. LeoVince USA brands include SBK for sportbikes; Silvertail for cruisers; Scoot for scooters; and X3 for off-road and ATVs. For more information, visit www.leovince.com. LeoVince products are distributed to U.S. motorcycle dealers by Western Power Sports, 800/999-3388.
Motion Pro Theft
A loaded 28′ Freightliner RV/Bike Hauler was stolen from Motion Pro Inc. last month while parked in San Carlos, Calif. Taken April 12 or 13, the rig was found abandoned in Oakland, Calif. on April 14.
Missing from the hauler was the stereo and TV, a 1967 Suzuki TM250 MX, ID# TM250-10019; a 1972 Honda CT70 MiniTrail; a 1970 Yamaha JT-1 Mini-Enduro, ID# JT1028564; and a 1991 Honda CR500 MX, ID# JH2PE0203MM000710.
Contact Motion Pro’s Chris Carter at 650/594-9600, ext.101 or email at chris@motionpro.com if you can offer any information.
Bell Sports Sells 100 Million Helmets
Bell Sports, a pioneer in protective helmets for bicyclists, racecar drivers and motorcyclists, has announced it has sold an unprecedented 100 million helmets worldwide since its founding in 1954. Bell’s helmet business today spans motorsports, competitive and recreational cycling, extreme sports and snow sports. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, the company has operations in Santa Cruz, Calif.; Rantoul, Ill.; York, Penn.; Hong Kong; and Limerick, Ireland. Bell Sports distributes its products in 45 countries. More information is available at www.bellsports.com.
Diamond Adds Personnel
Diamond Powersports, Sunrise, Fla., recently beefed up its shipping departments with the acquisition of two new key personnel, Andre Humber and Tonia Elliott. Humber, currently studying for a degree in Business Administration, has been placed as director of Shipping & Receiving; Elliott was given the responsibility as Packaging Manager.
For more information about Diamond Powersports, call 800/466-8606.
Storz Performance 2004 Catalog
The ’04 Storz Performance catalog contains information on the new range of Storz/Ceriani forks, including a new fork kit for V-Rods, two new inverted style forks, and the 49mm Chopper fork. New raked triple tree kits are also now available for stock 41mm diameter fork tubes as well as the 49mm Chopper fork, as are Storz dirt track style conversion kits for Sportsters, accessories for Buells, and a complete line of top and side-mount steering damper kits for sportbikes. The complete catalog can be viewed on the Storz Performance Web site, www.storzperf.com. Dealers seeking a free copy may call 805/641-9540.
Parts Unlimited 2004 ATV catalog
Parts Unlimited recently released its 2004 ATV catalog, packed with more than 800 full-color pages of products that add comfort, performance and versatility to the ATV experience, along with up-to-date technical information on everything the company sells. psb