Spare Parts that Meet the Highest Standards

Expertise: Allen Jones (l.) is advicing the customers of Corteco with his applications insights. Right now he is involved in a project on fork seals for dirt bike applications as well as for mountain bike applications.

Spare Parts in Freudenberg Quality

This puts Freudenberg Sealing Technologies in a good position to supply the motorcycle market with high-quality spare parts of its own design and manufacture. The one constant: With original parts from Freudenberg, Corteco is offering seals in original equipment quality. The same applies to filter systems and vibration-control products. “With the quality of our products, we are clearly rising above our aftermarket competition,” Jones said. “Our customers can rely on the fact that the Corteco products used in maintenance and repair have the same quality as the original parts. That is clearly added value for our customers.” Especially since the cost of a seal is manageable. In return, the seal protects more expensive components by preventing relatively severe damage or even accidents, for example.

One indication of the quality of Freudenberg seals is that famous and world-leading Japanese motorcycle manufacturers rely on them. Corteco is making sure that the products are no longer only available to major vehicle manufacturers. The independent aftermarket, that is, wholesale distributors and unaffiliated garages and repair shops, can get them, too. “Remanufacturer and tuners are very popular in the United States,” said Matt Buck, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing, North America at Corteco. “That is why we are mainly focusing on the smaller repair shops right now. Because the motorcyclists go there, for example, if they want the suspension of their vehicles to be expertly tuned.” Since seals always have to be replaced in the process, Corteco sees an ideal sales market here thanks to the quality of its parts. Freudenberg seals give repair shops an opportunity to turn to products in original equipment quality. For example, they might be made from extraordinarily high-performance, long-lasting elastomers.

High Expectations Meet High-Performance Products

“While there are whole global regions where motor scooters and motorcycles are important everyday vehicles, that’s not the case in North America,” said Buck, a sales specialist. “Here motorcycles are utilized for recreational activity for the most part. Bikers don’t have to ride a motorcycle – they want to. That’s why they have a special, close relationship with their vehicle. They want to keep it in the best possible condition. And it takes parts in original equipment quality to do that.” Not least of all, the owners know that good components have a tremendous effect on their motorcycles’ driving behavior. For example, the fork seal keeps the fork clean and maintains its performance, whether the rider is competing in motocross or driving down a highway. Dirt in a motorcycle’s suspension would impair its operation, causing steering problems. For example, the wheels could lose contact with the ground even in cases of fairly slight unevenness. That would reduce maneuverability and safety. Meanwhile, friction-optimized Freudenberg seals make sure that the motorcycle’s front fork, in particular, operates as it should. The bike should provide a good riding sensation. “With the quality of our products, we’ve seen that we are not only appealing to serious bikers but to the increasingly demanding hobbyist as well,” said Jones, a motocross expert.