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April 19, 2004 – ARI’s PartSmart approved by Suzuki

American Suzuki Motor Corporation, Brea, Calif., has authorized ARI’s PartSmart electronic parts catalog software for use by their authorized dealers throughout the U.S.
Under the agreement, ARI, a provider of e-Catalog business solutions that connect manufacturers with their service and distribution networks, will manage, convert, distribute and support Suzuki’s parts catalogs for their motorcycle, ATV and outboard motor lines. In addition, ARI will market the PartSmart catalog to Suzuki’s authorized dealers in the U.S.
“We are very pleased to provide the American Suzuki parts and service catalog to authorized dealers,” said Brian E. Dearing, chairman and chief executive officer of ARI. “Since many of Suzuki’s dealers already use PartSmart for one or more of their other equipment lines, we expect that dealers will welcome the addition of Suzuki to the PartSmart family of electronic parts catalogs.”
Dearing says more than 10,000 powersports dealers worldwide use ARI’s PartSmart offering, which is also authorized by Arctic Cat, Bombardier, Harley-Davidson, Honda Marine, Kawasaki, Polaris and Yamaha.
ARI provides approximately 75 parts catalogs for approximately 56 equipment manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe. Doing business in a dozen segments of the worldwide manufactured equipment market including outdoor power, power sports, recreation vehicle, floor maintenance, auto and truck parts aftermarket, marine and construction, the company also builds and supports a full suite of multi-media electronic catalog publishing and viewing software for the Web or CD, provides catalog publishing and consulting services, and provides a template-based dealer Web site service. ARI currently operates three offices in the United States and one in Europe and has sales and service agents in Australia, England and France.
TR ATV Retreat Announced
Tucker Rocky Distributing, Ft. Worth, Texas, has scheduled its fourth annual ATV Retreat and Ride for June 4-6 at the Hatfield-McCoy Trails in West Virginia.
Offering TR reps 50% more time with vendors compared to last year’s event, the ATV Retreat and Ride includes a total of thirteen hours of rep training and a two-hour ATV excursion for all participants.
TR sales reps, split into groups of five to 10, will spend thirty minutes with each of the 32 vendors that were invited to participate.
Invitees include all new reps who joined Tucker Rocky after last years’ retreat; all regional sales managers; ATV Advisory Board members; TR senior management; vendors; and media members.
Korupt Signs with Tucker
Streetwear brand Korupt Klothing Co., Tempe, Ariz., says it has signed a national distribution deal with Tucker Rocky Distributing. Beginning May 1, 2004, consumers throughout the U.S. will have the ability to purchase Korupt Klothing through the Tucker Rocky Catalog at any of its more than 16,000 dealers nationwide.
“We are excited to add the quality line of Korupt Klothing to our growing list of apparel products”, commented Steve Johnson, president and COO of Tucker Rocky Distributing.
Check out Korupt’s Web site at www.koruptklothing.com for more information.
FXR Leaves Castle
Snowmobile outerwear maker FXR Racing, Inc., Sanford, Manitoba, says it is restructuring its U.S. dealer sales network after ending its relationship with Castle Sales of Green
Bay, Wisc.
FXR says Northern Wholesale, Lino Lakes, Minn., will now assume control of all FXR dealer sales in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, S.D. & N.D., and says FXR will provide dealer direct service in all other states.
Northern Wholesale, 800/666-1111, has been carrying the FXR line for seven years. “They have restructured their entire snowmobile division,” said Milt Reimer, FXR owner. “FXR apparel is now their top priority and they have increased their sales force accordingly.”
Matt Svendsen, former snowmobile sales manager with Yamaha Motor Corp, USA, has been hired as Western U.S. Regional Sales Manager. Based in Denver, he can be reached at 303/635-0909. FXR’s Eastern USA and Alaska sales team (413/782-4688) consists of Allan Friesen, Jeff McCrudden, Pierre Catellier and Geoff McCrudden.
Reimer says FXR also is seeking additional reps in the Eastern and Western U.S. and Alaska. “We are looking for creative, self driven, dynamic and experienced people to become part of our team,” he said. “Being a snowmobile or motocross enthusiast is a plus.”
Reimer says the entire FXR product line has been redesigned with new styles and technology, including a proprietary waterproof/breathable system, and says improved dealer programs and pricing should offer increased margins and terms or cash discount incentives for increased dealer profitability.
Cobra Introduces ATV Products
Cobra Engineering, Yorba Linda, Calif., best known for its chromed custom motorcycle exhausts and accessories, recently introduced its new line of ATV products — eight protective parts, including swingarm and chassis skid plates, linkage guards, A-Arm guards and fuel tank guards, as well as front bumpers, Nerf bars and rear grab rails.
“These new products are the natural extension of our existing ATV product mix that we’ve been making 25 years. Beyond that we felt it was time to turn things up a notch or two,” said Tim McCool, President of Cobra Engineering. “There’s a lot of me-too stuff available for consumers. With our current production capabilities and standards, we can build ATV products that set new quality standards for consumers, and we can make these products with a competitive price as well.”
McCool said all Cobra ATV products are made in the U.S.A. from premium quality aluminum alloys, and said the metric mounting hardware is zinc-plated and Loctite-patched for reliability and security, and the hardware matches OEM supplied materials.
Cobra products are sold exclusively through premier motorcycle retailers. Phone 714/692-8180 for a free catalog.
Diamond Builds Name Recognition
Buys Title Rights to Drag Race
Florida-based aftermarket supplier Diamond Powersports Inc. says it purchased the title rights to the AMA/Prostar World Finals of the U.S. Drag Racing Championships, an event scheduled for broadcast on ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel TV.
“We are constantly looking for new ways to excite our customers worldwide who ride Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha sport bikes,” said Pierre Elliott, CEO. “With our growing position in the industry, it only makes sense for Diamond Powersports to sponsor the World Finals.”
Martin Adds to Malaguti
Joel Martin, president of Miami-based Malaguti USA, the factory-backed importer of Italian-made Malaguti scooters, says he recently picked up another line of small displacement vehicles, MH Motorcycles from Spain, and started a scooter hop-up distribution business.
“MH is a small brand but will hold a couple of hundred pieces a year,” Martin told Powersports Business. The line consists of sport bikes, off-road models and a super motard powered by liquid-cooled 50cc Minarelli engines with Dell’Orto 12 carbs.
Martin says his MRP Parts (Martin Racing Performance Lines) specialize in performance parts for a variety of small displacement machines.
“What we’re doing is selling top brand performance parts at discount prices for scooters and ATVs,” he said. “At Indy, we had a lot more orders for that than anything else. They’re just doing great numbers for us.”
For more information about MH Motorcycles, visit www.Motorhispania.com To
learn more about MRP Parts, call Martin at 305/599-8993.
Blue Marble Launches
Race Support Program
Blue Marble has launched its 2004 race support program for the following markets, Motocross, Supercross, Offroad, ATV, Jet Ski, Snowcross and Arenacross.
Scot Steffy, Blue Marble Powersports national sales director, says the program is designed to help riders defray the cost of racing while reinforcing the dealer network and promoting Blue Marble Technology. “We understand that dealers need to make a profit to stay in business and the sponsorship game can cost a lot of money,” he said. “Our new program not only gives dealers the ability to work with riders, but allows them to help riders while keeping themselves in business. In most instances, we will not go directly to the rider, but through a dealer where the rider has already established a relationship.
Steffy says Blue Marble hooked up with Sponsorhouse.com to help build its race face across the U.S. and Canada.
For more information, visit Sponsor-
house.com or www.bluemarbleoil.com

Motorcycle Blue Book
Walter Buntin, president of Hap Jones Distributing, continues to provide the industry with his Motorcycle Blue Book.
Produced since 1952, the Motorcycle Blue Book is published twice each year, with January/June and July/December editions.
New model prices are provided by OEMs, used bike prices are compiled from sales statistics from actual sales averaged nationwide, and from an advisory board and select auctions. A yearly subscription is $22. For subscription information, call 800/538-6833. psb

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