By Chris Officer
Associate Editor
Eight inches of snow and single-digit degree weather didn’t stop hundreds of dealers and exhibitors from filing into the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville for the 2026 Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties Spring NVP Product Expo January 24-25.
Although attendance was down slightly compared to previous years due to the snowstorm, LeMans’ dealer-exclusive tradeshow in Derby City was a huge hit. And just in time for the start of the selling season.
Plenty of powersports dealers with swagbags in hand walked the aisles on Saturday afternoon and, despite inclement weather, made their way to the evening Meet & Greet at The Sports & Social Club in the heart of downtown Louisville’s 4th Street Live Entertainment District, where attendees enjoyed food, drinks, and entertainment.
But the heartbeat of the show was the thousands of aftermarket products on display, and Powersports Business talked to several brands that launched new products for 2026. Here’s what caught our eye.
Making big moves in 2025 is the electrical parts manufacturing company RM Stator. PSB briefly caught up with RM Strator last September in Milwaukee, when it first launched its new V-twin line of OEM replacement charging solutions. This time around, we got the chance to chat with the company’s chief engineer Evan Grist, who was showcasing the new line of Harley-Davidson replacement parts, which included flywheels, stators, and voltage regulators.
Its new V-twin stators, which feature the highest-grade lamination materials and copper winding, are resistant to nearly 400 degrees. Grist said the company leaned on its off-road experience to help it move into the V-twin segment.
“We’ve learned a lot from building high-powered systems for side-by-sides, and we integrated a lot of these improvements into our stators for high reliability,” Grist adds.
For its V-twin flywheels, RM Stator is separating itself from OEMs by building flywheels with the magnets sealed on the inside.
“Most of the Harley OEMs have exposed magnets that come loose and cause all sorts of problems,” Grist explains. “In our RM Stator flywheel, we use a marine-grade epoxy to attach the magnet to the shell, so a magnet can’t come loose and do any damage.”
Rounding out the V-twin line is the voltage regulator. Made with Mosfet technology, RM Strator’s regulators are bolt-in, with OEM-style installation and connectors that runs 50% cooler than the Harley version.
Also shining bright on the Louisville stage was Custom Dynamics, as it continues to expand its Shark Demon line with its latest LED motorcycle fog lights for 2023 and up Harley-Davidson Road Glide and Street Glide models.
With 4,140 raw lumens per pair, the lights are controlled via the integrated soft switch that controls the infotainment system. And installation is made easy thanks to the wire harness that’s included.
“You’re going to have factory integration. And any light you’re getting with factory integration, everyone is going to go nuts for,” notes Greg Gestes, sales rep for Custom Dynamics.
Gestes also gave us a sneak peek of Custom Dynamics soon-to-be-released taillights for the same H-D models. Part of the Pro Beam line, the taillights feature three selectable turn signal patterns, including a sequence-on, sequence-off, and a standard on-and-off flash pattern.
Gestes says the taillights will be dropping soon, while the LED fog lights have an MSRP of $399.95.
Steering away from the V-twin P&A, we caught up with Ravek, which recently released its glove box upgrade for the Can-Am Maverick X3.
Water and dust-tight, the glove box upgrade holds three times the capacity of the original, and bolts into the OEM cavity with no drill or teardown required, and can be installed in under 15 minutes.
“The Maverick X3 glove box from the stock OEM is really small, and everything in it gets covered with dust and dirt,” says Ravek president and co-founder Ricky Goldstein. “Your tablet, phone, jumper cables, medication … a sandwich. Anything you want access to in the cab will remain dry and clean in here.”
The Can-Am Maverick X3 glove box upgrade has an MSRP of $249.99.
Under the Drag Specialties brand, designed and built by Gilles Tooling in Germany, the floorboard kit includes an adjustable shift lever, brake lever, and floorboards for new Harley-Davidson models.
The floorboards feature fully adjustable height, width, and length, and the shift lever is also fully adjustable, which helps eliminate slop that can be common on older machines that are prone to vibration, explained Ben Osowski, LeMans Midwest parts rep.
Recommended if you’re looking to complement the floorboard kit look, are matching short- and long-armed mirrors. Retail for the complete kit runs between $1,700-$2,100, depending on color and adjustability.
The all-new Talon shell is a DOT- and ECE 22.06-rated full-face shell. It includes a fully removable, polyester moisture-wicking liner and cheek pads, a Micrometric Quick Closing chin strap, and speaker pockets for a variety of communication systems. But what makes this helmet stand out, according to Matt Poad, product specialist at Z1R, is its climate versatility, able to perform in any season or weather condition.
“All the shields on these helmets come pinlock-ready” for anti-fog inserts, and it is a “great venting helmet that really breathes well with a lot of temperature control,” he says.
The Z1R Talon full-face helmet is available in seven colorways and starts at $119.99.
Finally, we caught up with Wild Ass motorcycle seats, a company that just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Although there weren’t any new advancements with its precision air-cell constructed seats, the company is emphasizing to dealers that its cushion isn’t just limited to motorcycles.
“One thing that we’ve done forever is make everywhere you sit more comfortable,” says Craig Johnson, co-founder and CEO. “Yes, it’s designed for a motorcycle, but because of the technology and shape, you can use them anywhere you sit.”
Whether it’s the office chair, the racetrack, or UTVs, Johnson says he wants dealers to encourage their customers to think outside the box and imagine all the different ways Wild Ass seats can be utilized, other than the saddle.
Next up, Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited will be taking the NVP Product Expo back up to Milwaukee, Sept. 12-13. We hope to see you there.
With the selling season about to begin, major manufacturers are doubling down on three high-value segments for dealers — V-twin touring, adventure/dual-sport and track performance — while value brands continue to pressure pricing in off-road and cruiser categories. Here’s a closer look at some of the newest motorcycle tires dealers should be watching, with help from our sister-publication, Rider (which has tested many of these).
Segment: Cruiser / V-Twin Touring
Dunlop’s American Elite line has long been a staple in the heavyweight touring category, and the new American Elite 2 refines that formula with improvements in wet grip, stability and ride comfort.
The updated design incorporates Dunlop’s Multi-Tread technology, pairing a mileage-focused center compound with grippier shoulders to maintain cornering confidence under load. Early testing points to improved braking feel in wet conditions and better compliance over uneven pavement — both critical for fully dressed touring bikes.
For dealers, this is a core business. Touring riders replace tires consistently and prioritize brand recognition, longevity, and all-weather confidence. The American Elite 2 strengthens Dunlop’s position in a dependable, high-volume replacement category.
Segment: Standard Motorcycle / Classic
The retro and heritage motorcycle segment continues to produce steady replacement sales, and Michelin’s Road Classic speaks directly to that audience.
Visually, the tire maintains a period-correct tread pattern suited for classic machines and café builds. Underneath, however, it uses modern construction and compound technology designed to improve wet braking, straight-line stability and cornering feedback compared to older bias-ply designs.
The Road Classic is tubeless-ready but can also be used with tubes for spoked-wheel applications, making it versatile for restorations and custom builds.
For dealers serving vintage, metric heritage or European classic customers, the Road Classic provides a premium-branded upgrade that blends authenticity with modern performance.
Segment: Adventure / Dual-Sport
Adventure remains one of the strongest growth categories in powersports, and Continental continues to leverage its well-known TKC80 while expanding options with the TKC70 Rocks rear.
The TKC80 front maintains its reputation for predictable performance on gravel and loose terrain, while the TKC70 Rocks rear is designed to improve longevity and on-road manners without giving up meaningful off-road traction. The mix-and-match approach reflects a broader trend among ADV riders who tailor tire setups to their riding mix.
For dealers, the opportunity lies in stocking complementary front/rear combinations rather than single SKU sets. Riders increasingly seek advice on balancing mileage with off-road capability, and tire expertise at the counter can drive add-on accessory sales.
Segment: Off-Road / Dual-Sport
In the value segment, Shinko continues to compete aggressively with intermediate- and hard-terrain knobby options popular among trail riders and dual-sport customers.
While not a new brand to the market, Shinko’s off-road offerings remain relevant due to competitive pricing, broad sizing and credible performance. For price-sensitive customers — particularly in entry-level off-road and dual-sport categories — Shinko delivers an accessible alternative to premium motocross and enduro tires.
From a dealership perspective, value-tier tires create flexibility in presenting good/better/best options, helping prevent lost sales when customers hesitate at premium price points.
Segment: Cruiser / Touring
Shinko’s SR999 Long Haul targets cruiser riders focused on mileage and highway durability. Featuring an aramid-reinforced carcass and a compound tuned for extended tread life, the SR999 sits below premium touring options while delivering solid dry and wet performance.
For dealerships, the SR999 serves as a strategic step-down product for customers who want longevity but are shopping on price. Positioned correctly, it can help close sales without sacrificing margins across the board.
At the performance extreme, Bridgestone is introducing the Racing Battlax V03, a premium track-only tire launching in Europe and North America in 2026.
Developed using technology refined in top-tier racing — including the FIM Endurance World Championship — the V03 features newly developed compounds and redesigned front and rear profiles to increase contact patch area. Bridgestone reports a 1.3% reduction in lap times with the standard V03 and introduces a new rear “Sprint Spec” engineered for maximum peak grip, targeting sprint races and qualifying sessions with an estimated 1.9% lap-time reduction per circuit.
While track-only tires represent a smaller volume category, they reinforce brand credibility and create upsell opportunities for sportbike customers and track-day participants.