Dealers may already be familiar with the Ed Hardy helmets made by KBC and distributed by Tucker Rocky.
Well, Ed Hardy had much more than helmets at its enclosed booth at Dealer Expo. It displayed leather jackets and pants, women’s apparel (including a jacket, pants and a vest), motocross jerseys, textile jackets and pants, denim jackets, a full lineup of gloves, hard parts, customized scooters and even a $20,000 customized ATV.
The scooters come with a 150cc or 250cc motor and retail for $2,400 to $3,500. They feature Ed Hardy-designed saddlebags, seats and paintjobs, and at least one came with a matching helmet.
To give you an idea of the retail prices for the apparel, a nice leather jacket with a zipout hoody had an MSRP of $599. An Ed Hardy rep said that the company was looking for a distributor, and was hoping Tucker Rocky would be it. He said that the company’s goal is for dealerships to have an Ed Hardy section in their stores. To that end, the company offers POP displays and a DVD featuring testimonials from Hollywood celebrities.
Shifting to a much lower price point, Galaxy Helmets was displaying a dual-shield helmet that retails for under $100. The sunshield flips down via a lever that does not use a spring. A rep at the booth told me that this allows the mechanism to last longer.
VaVaVroom unveiled its first riding jacket along with at least eight other new items. The jacket has CE-approved armor and a snap-down hood. Last year the company added a scooter lineup to go along with its motorcycle lineup. The brand’s Web site, www.vavavroomonline.com, reportedly serves as a community where women who ride can come together to share their stories.
Lockhart Phillips Racelite Speedscreens mount to stock fittings using predrilled holes. The Lexan screens are almost half as thick and heavy as the stock ones, according to Lockhart. They come in a clear version only and were used by last year’s AMA Team Kawasaki Racing. Suggested retail is $69.95. (continued)
