March 12, 2007 – Aftermarket Digest

Joe Rocket Will Unveil Apparel For Gold Wing
Joe Rocket will manufacture a line of co-branded, technical riding and casual Gold Wing branded apparel, announced Randy Robison, president of Robison’s Inc.
The new 2007 line of Gold Wing apparel by Joe Rocket will be a reflection of both companies’ commitment to excellence in motorcycling.
“While turning thousands of laps at 190 mph on America’s race tracks, we’ve learned a thing or two about high performance motorcycle apparel,” Robison said in a press release.
The full line of Gold Wing apparel by Joe Rocket will be in dealerships this spring.
Parts Unlimited Hires Brand Manager For Suomy Helmet
Chris Jensen has been named Suomy Helmet brand manager at Parts Unlimited.
Jensen began road racing in 1990 in his native Denmark before becoming a mechanic for a World Speedway Championship team in 1995. After following the World Superbike series as a mechanic for a few years, Jensen moved to the United States in 1998 and has held various positions within the powersports industry.
In 2002, Jensen earned the Ohlins and SBS product specialist title at Parts Unlimited and was brand manager for both lines. His work with these two brands will continue in addition to his work with Suomy.
Black Book Announces Changes To Its Value Guide
National Auto Research, publisher of the Black Book family of vehicle appraisal guides, has made changes to its Black Book Official Motorcycle and Powersports Value Guide.
The company added a fifth column of values labeled “Auction Wholesale,” which reflects the current market conditions at dealer-only wholesale auctions. These auctions, according to National Auto Research, are reaching more potential buyers and sellers through Internet simulcasts and online bidding.
Values for “Clean Trade and Fair Trade,” which represent the prevailing market at the dealership level, as well as “Loan Value” and a suggested “Retail Value” will continue to be included to meet the needs of dealers, financial institutions, insurance companies and government agencies.
Black Book also changed the name of its monthly guide from “Official Motorcycle Value Guide” to the “Official Motorcycle and Powersports Value Guide” in order to better reflect the full scope of vehicles that are included.
American Honda Approves Powersports Network
American Honda’s Motorcycle Division has made PowerSports Network (PSN) an approved Web site provider.
PSN will provide Honda dealers with Web sites that are compliant with Honda’s Dealer Web Site and Trademark Guidelines.
Honda will provide PSN access to vehicle and accessory information for use in developing and maintaining authorized Honda dealer Web sites. In addition, PSN will provide each of its multi-line Honda dealerships with a Honda-Exclusive Web Site that operates in conjunction with their multi-line Web site.
“We are excited to be able to work directly with American Honda to help their dealers develop and maintain a fully functional Web site that meets Honda guidelines and provides dealerships with the Web-based tools they need to help them promote Honda and communicate with their customers via the Internet,” said Nick Avgoulas, one of the founding members of PSN.
S&S Cycle Announces The Inclusion of Service Manuals
Engine manufacturer S&S Cycle currently has three service manuals available for its V-Series and SH-Series engines and expects to have their fourth manual, for the T-Series engine, ready this spring.
“Our service manuals have been very popular since we released the first one last year and now we’re pleased to announce we’ll be shipping the V-Series and SH-Series manuals with those engines,” said Timm Fields, director of sales and marketing for S&S Cycle. “Having educated and informed end-users is very important to us, especially with the high performance characteristics of our products and the ever-changing world of regulatory issues. These service manuals assist dealers and end-users alike on basic maintenance and service issues as they relate specifically to our products.”
Service manuals also are available for purchase at authorized S&S dealers and online at www.sscycle.com for a suggested retail price of $29.95.
Hap Jones Distributing Owner Elected to ORBA Board
Members of the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) elected Tim Williams, the owner of Hap Jones Distributing, to its board of directors.
Tracy, Calif.,-based Hap Jones Distributing has been delivering products to motorcycle dealers worldwide since 1933. Williams has worked with Hap Jones Distributing since 1979. He started his career there in the warehouse, working his way up to sales manager and then finally purchasing the company in November 2005. “Not only do I hope to help ORBA with their fight to keep land open for my business,” Williams said, “but I would also like to ensure land will be available for me to teach my future grandkids to ride.”
Texas Company Brings Customization to Scooters
Dragon Custom unveiled its new lineup of customized products for the scooter market at the 2006 Dealer Expo.
The Texas company says it’s one of the first companies to bring full customization products to the scooter market that have previously only been available to the sport bike and cruiser markets.
The company provides fully custom chromed wheels, matching sets of custom exhaust, air intakes, oil catch tanks and more.
For those who really want a complete custom look, Dragon Custom also provides full body kits and several chrome accessories to dress up the scooter.
“Scooter riders are just like owners of choppers and sport bikes,”?said Jonathan Solo, president of Dragon Custom. “They want to be different from the person riding beside them. We wanted to create products that change the public’s perception of what a scooter is. By creating a new look, we provide an aggressive street styled product that has the looks of a sport bike, but the comfort and laid back riding style a scooter provides.”
For a complete list of applicable models, please contact a Dragon Custom sales representative at sales@dragoncustom.com. More information and images can be found at www.dragoncustom.com.
Factory Connection Hires New Sales Manager
Factory Connection, a builder of suspension and related products, hired Mark Rodgers as its new West Coast sales manager.
Rodgers will be based out of the company’s Corona, Calif., office, and will focus on continued growth and development of the company’s West operations.
“Mark comes to Factory Connection with more than 10 years of experience in sales and marketing,” Steve Ross, Factory Connection’s general manager, said in a press release. “From within the motorcycle industry he has been involved with all aspects of business, from sales, marketing, racing, R&D, distribution and management. He has a wealth of knowledge, years of motorcycle industry experience.”
Before joining Factory Connection, Rodgers spent six years at White Brothers.
Besides its West Coast facility, Factory Connection also has operations in Rochester, N.H., and Quebec.
Kim Suter Builds Wheels for Forge-Tec Motorcycle
Forge-Tec Motorcycle, a manufacturer of high-end aluminum wheels and blanks supplier, said it’s introducing three new wheel designs created by bike builder Kim Suter of KC Creations.
Suter has won several awards for custom bike building. “I have been working with Forge-Tec on several exclusive 3D wheel designs and am proud to have my name associated with them,” he said in a press release.
The new Diamond 3D Series from Suter includes the Creations 3, Creations 5 and Creations 7 to suit the individual rider’s tastes.
VP Racing Fuels Names New Manager for Midwest Region
VP Racing Fuels, which produces and distributes racing fuels and other performance products, has named Jason Rueckert as its new Regional Manager-VP Midwest.
Rueckert replaces Jay Farnsworth, who was recently appointed to the newly created position of technical director for VP.
In his new position, Rueckert will be based in Terre Haute, Ind., with responsibility for all sales operations in VP’s Midwest region, including Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota.
An avid drag racer, overall racing enthusiast and veteran at VP, Rueckert has been instrumental in the growth of the company’s Midwest region during the past several years, according to Steve Burns, VP’s president and CEO. psb