Nelson-Rigg seeking more V-twin dealers

Company’s cooler bag was a 2016 Nifty 50 winner

Nelson-Rigg has been producing soft motorcycle luggage, apparel and motorcycle covers for more than 40 years, and this year marked the 17th annual V-Twin Expo, and yet this year was the first that Nelson-Rigg had a booth at the Cincinnati show.

Rick Brooks, brand manager for Nelson-Rigg, told Powersports Business that his company is especially homing in on the V-twin segment as of late, and the V-Twin Expo was the ideal place to talk to those dealers.

“We want to reach out to the dealers in the V-twin market. We have product in this space, and everything we have is sold through distributors, so it gives us the opportunity to reach out directly to the dealer and get feedback from the dealer as to what they like and what they don’t like and which direction the market is going. So that’s why we’re here,” he said.

Among the products Nelson-Rigg brought to the V-Twin Expo were its All Weather Dry Bags, which have an airtight roll closure that makes them 100 percent waterproof.

Also at the booth was the brand’s new RG-006 Mountable 12-Pack Cooler Bag. A 2016 Powersports Business Nifty 50 Award-winner, the cooler bag has a zipper storage compartment that easily holds 12 cans plus ice, and the waterproof lining is removable for easy cleaning. The cooler bag fits a variety of vehicles, including V-twin motorcycles.

During the Feb. 6-7 show, Brooks also talked to dealers about the brand’s rain suits and wheeled luggage, which are aimed at the bagger market.

“The V-twin market is evolving, and where the Softails were so popular, now we just see it moving into baggers,” he said. “The bagger market is really growing, and we see the Sportster and the Dyna market growing for the younger generation. So that’s kind of how we see the split. We want to get closer to the younger generation and see what’s going to work for that Sportster/bobber/Dyna market. And we want to get closer to the bagger market and do more for that.”

Attracting consumers to buying Nelson-Rigg product and dealers to carrying it is the lifetime warranty that comes will all bags and the styling that’s on par with luggage trends in the industry.

“We build quality into it, so when somebody gets something, it’s going to work; it’s going to last; it’s not going to tear out on them. The zippers aren’t going to break when they’re out on a trip, and next thing they know they’ve got a bag they’re trying to duct tape closed or Bungee cord on. So really it’s the quality that put into our product. Our fit and our finish will compare to anybody’s on the market,” Brooks said.

Nelson-Rigg’s V-twin-focused line is distributed by Drag Specialties, and HardDrive recently picked up some of the products.