Images tagged "craig-watson-photo"

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  1. Jon-Erik – I agree that confidence is king. In traveling around the country (and helping on the phone) and working with dealers, I am seeing a huge hole in the confidence level. Most dealers and staff aren’t recognizing that training for all departments is what will build that confidence. We have all used and heard the phrase “knowledge is power” and todays challenges bring that to the forefront of this debate. Of course, the second part of the training issue is whether the management can REALLY train corectly. My hope is that Dealers and Managers will get the training done to assure their growth and presence in the community. Everything will begin to fall into place from there.

  2. Miss Gelschus,

    You bring up several great points in your article “Jack of all social networking sites, master of none”.

    At this point in time dealers, manufacturers, and everyone else is jumping onto social networking hoping that they can increase sales or at least not be the one that is not using social networking.

    However, many of them do not understand the negative impacts that social networking can bring. I have already seen dealers create Twitter or Facebook sites thinking this is the best way to communicate with customers and new prospects, but then lack the use and functions of the site, let them slide and in the end actually losing a customer because of the lack of communication that the customer expected.

    I warn everyone who asks me about these sites to be careful how and where you post. As you stated, use it incorrectly, and you are wasting your time and people will not take you seriously. Use it correctly, but don’t respond promptly, as a customer expects, then you lose the customer as they think this is a reflection on the person’s customer service.

    We are all talking about, many of us are using, every recreational industry is trying to promote it, but no one has described written recommendations on what site is better for selling motorcycles, dealership specials, open houses, sales promotions, etc. We as industry leaders need to do a better job of assisting people who do not understand these networks how to effectively use them.

    As an OEM, it is our responsibility to assist dealers, instruct dealers and guide dealers on how to effectively use them. To tell a dealer that they should have a dedicated internet person, when they do not even know what Twitter is, is like banging your head against the wall. More than ever, I am telling dealers to hire an intern, who understand how the social network operates and is cheap or even free labor. I can expand on this topic if you would like. I am pushing all of my dealers and consulting clients on how to effectively use each site, how each is important and how it can help their business grow.

  3. I’ve always found it invaluable to ride/drive/captain everything I’ve ever sold. If you can’t talk about personnal experience in ride, handling, etc., then your just waisting breath. You can talk all day about someone else’s reported experience, but it’s just that, second-hand infomation. Watch your client’s eyes when you tell them about your own time in or on the machine he’s interested in, they go from bored to truly interested.

  4. Neil,

    I would like someone to show dealers how to calculate the ROI on their Google keyword ads. Many of the dealers selling to consumers at cost plus 20 percent are also the dealers spending the most money on pay-per-click ads.

    I think if they realized the actual NET PROFIT that these ads did or did not create, they might raise their prices or lower their ad spend.

  5. I mean come on, sometimes living in a constant state of denial is not healthy either Gart. Save us the soapbox speeches – some salespeople only respond to angry managers. Do you hear of the Army Drill Sargent being happy and nice? Do you think he cares about YOUR day? Hell no, you do it his way – period.
    Yes, we need to focus on how to get buyers in our showrooms to buy. Yes, we need to focus on how to get the manufacturers to make the product and ship it to us dealers so we dealers are to be able to sell product. Yes, we need to focus on how to get the financing companies to finance more buyers.
    Negativity breeds insolence, insolence breeds anger, anger breeds the desire for more creative thought processes! Do not just take it lying down, get angry – get out there and sell and earn your living (and do not forget to buy)!
    It is not all puppies and flowers for the working stiff.

  6. I agree with just the price and name but I would include size too.
    A “Sales Tag” should be just enough information for those that are knowledgeable of their needs to make a selection.
    Those that are new to the type of product should see just enough information to create a need to speak with a sales person.
    I do not put prices on our major units. I want my sales consultants available and willing to assist prospects seeking out the ride that best suits their needs.
    This makes them consultants, not salespeople.

  7. We are all human.
    However prospects walk in our doors to leave the “world” behind. Everyday should be a celebration of the products we sell. You have to speak their language too. No,you cannot always leave your troubles at the front door. What you can do is walk in each and every day, happy to present the best products and convert that negative energy into passion. Passion sells.

    CB: Drill sargeants are best left in the military-If you have to yell to get your way, you are not managing your emotions, so how can you manage a shop and personnel?
    Be happy with yourself first. Define your goals personally and professionally. Build a team with common goals and conviction you can take them there.
    Or you can always go sell Maytags.
    Those guys seem real happy…

  8. The good U.K. dealers have been selling 3-4 used per new for years. Why not, the margins are better, customers can’t shop me for a better discount at a neighboring dealer or the Internet and I get along fabulously with the sales rep (me). Our used product is a big reason why we’re down as little as we are. Now is the time to prepare to expand.

  9. I figure if it is worse than the Northeast (where I am) it would be less than 6 percent. I’d love to know how to make it more, or if I am even close.
    Thanks, Eric

  10. I’m guessing their selling them at cost to reduce inventory. So I guess their margains are holdback 5 percent if they are a Honda dealer, 4 percent for others.

  11. Karin – Your comments are so correct. We (Channel Ideas, “The BOS”) tell our clients that the best way to make more money is to spend more on good people. If someone isn’t performing, the “line needs to be cut”. That doesn’t say that paying more (to new hires) automatically provides better performance but good or proven new employees will cost more yet greatly increase profit from hard and smart work. We need more dealers to understand this is a big part of making it in this down cycle of the industry.

  12. Very close Colin. Here are the answers:
    1) No. 1 in the UTV/ATV category for January-May: Polaris’ RZR
    2) No. 1 metric bike for January-May: Kawasaki’ Ninja 250
    3) OEM with two of the top three selling dual purpose bikes: Yamaha
    Thanks again to R.L. Polk for providing this data for Powersports Business readers.

  13. Hi Neil-
    The news is indeed good, especially when considering how volume impacts the percentages.
    Although, I’ll go out on a limb and temper your optimism. We are moving in the right direction, but it will be many moons before we actually see black; and, when we do, it’ll be just a little bit of black for many more moons thereafter…

  14. Many times people are frustrated at the lack of response that they give the sale to the first person who actually answers their questions. So go ahead and keep thinking it’s too time consuming…I’ll take the sale.

  15. Test Rides done right sells bikes.I designed a survey for a Victory store to determine the prospects needs (AND EXPERIENCE).At the halfway point of the pre-determined route(scenic and well traveled) The salesperson would ask(as we take the pic of the prospect next to the bike) how this vehicle met those specific needs as well as how it affected their senses.Upon returning to the shop we completed the survey reinforcing features and benefits.
    This worked extremely well.

  16. In Eastern Virginia, our gas prices are around $2.25 and have been for the past few months. However, mpg is still very much a factor in 49cc scooter sales (well over a 100mpg). Our unit scooter sales are down from last year, but so is our whole volume of MCs, ATVs and PWCs.

  17. Hey Karin! what’s going! This is Dean from Tank Sports. How you been?

    Yes, we ran Cyber Monday sales two years in a roll. Didn’t have much success because we guessed that dealers are actually spending time with their family.

    Hope to see you this year in Indy!

    Cheers!

    Dean

  18. Here in the northeast, it’s trendy to be “green”. I’ve seen more than a few non-motorcyclists buy scooters more for the idea they’re being righteous than anything else. Why do Prius owners buy a Prius? Because it LOOKS like a hybrid. If it didn’t look like a Prius, a scooter, or something else obviously very “green” they wouldn’t look twice.

  19. Makes it tough to advertise savings on PG&A when the manufacturer we represent does not allow us to advertise discounts on current available items.

  20. Jennifer,
    I think this is a great way to keep the showroom in the face of the personnel. Ownership has been a big deal for me to get from my staff. I recently hired my daughter Jen and she has made a difference, but can use some help so we will keep monitoring the site. I am not sure if complacency is the No. 1 reason. As you have stated, I tend to think it is lack of direction and focus due to a focused goal. At least it seems to be that way with me. Now that you have it, what do you do with it? How much time do you need to make it something? I will admit the better the showroom looks, the more the staff is enthused.
    Thanks
    Tim

  21. Thanks Jennifer, just waiting for Black Friday, now I think I will blow up the store. Have a great idea to make a Rockstar Christmas Tree — I need some empty cans to hang on the tree! I might even try poking holes in the side and running lights in them. Any ideas to expand on this ? Wicked

  22. Tim,
    Thank you for your response.
    For success in any aspect of business a process or procedure has to occur. The visual merchandising process starts with someone designated to be or take a leadership position of directing the stores look and appeal. One person should ultimately lead and oversee the visual merchandising. They will be the go to person and coordinate with all the departments and managers.
    Secondly, this person has to be supported in the store, all managers and staff needs to coordinate and work with this person. All staff can participate, contribute ideas and perform the task. Staff ownership is a huge benefit in any aspect of your business and I encourage you to keep them motivated. With that said, staff also needs the benefit of someone that is watching the calendar (seasons, holidays, store events). Visual merchandising is not only about product placement, it is about creating an urgency to buy. It’s keeping up with each season in a timely manner (not setting the store for holiday two weeks before Christmas) as to capture the mood of the season thus encouraging sales. People shop with their senses, eyes/ears/smell and touch. Your designation of a Visual Merchandiser/In Store Marketing leader has to been empowered and provided with and a list of requirements, duties and GOALS. The Visual Merchandisers goal is to move more products; this would include vehicle units to helmets. Of course Visual Merchandising will not replace sales staff, it is by design is to enhance the focus of consumers and drive them to buy.
    In your situation it sounds like the process of visual merchandising should be defined and implemented. Sadly, complacency is a problem in powersports; I have observed situations where that is causing (in my opinion) a lack of progression. Complacency does kill and is killing some powersport retailers. We have to change; powersport retailing has had a low bar set when it comes to visual merchandising overall. Of course many stores are excellent and have a high standard, while others still think it’s the 70’s & 80’s. One of the biggest changes in the last 10 years is the internet. The Internet has changed what people expect to find when they are shopping for products. Thankfully, the visual merchandiser can wow customers in a way the internet cannot, with instant gratification. Internet retailing, generally speaking, is about larger selection and pricing, where as Brick and Mortar stores can be about WOW, NOW and walk out the door with it.

    Perhaps your daughter is just the person for the job. Below is a list of qualities I would look for to satisfy the position.

    1.Goal oriented/Self motivated
    2.Must understand product placement/be willing to study and learn
    3.Creative (able to work with limited resources/create signage/usage of materials)
    4.Organized (can work a deadline/can find products/POP/
    5.Leader of people (able to excite and motivate)
    6.Open minded (no and I can’t and that won’t work is not going to progress the store)
    7.Resourceful (making displays out of things and stuff laying around)
    8.Communicative (able to express ideas and concepts)
    9.Clean & tidy (housekeeping issues are very important to all stores, no one wants to shop in dust land!)
    10.Able to stand up for what needs to be done (not be steam rolled uncooperative managers or staff)

    In closing, staffing is one element of successful merchandising; Fixtures/ Product placement/seasonal rotations/staff education on products/ tie-in with national and local marketing champagnes/store events or powersport events/Housekeeping and more are all other elements I hope to speak about in other blogs stay tuned.
    NOTE: We can’t control what goes on outside of our businesses doors, but what we can control should be a top priority!

    Thank you TIM! Go Forth and Kick IT …

  23. Differentiation is of course, always good, but how do you differentiate yourself in a small start-up dealership? We don’t do track days (no tracks), MotoGP and Supercross is a long ways from here, and expensive to get to, plus our product lines don’t support that kind of activity. We don’t have time for group rides (one day off a week as it is) and one salesman, and the parts tech and service tech are dirt guys and don’t care for the street (no dirt line). I rarely see any advice for new small operations with little funding – might be nice to see a series of articles aimed at this particular segment of the industry.

  24. Hi Neil-
    Great advice! You may also like to let your readers know about the service department profit potential that exists through auctions. Pick-up some pre-owned machines (either at auction or from off of the street) that will benefit from some service department love. Sell spruced-up units for a profit in the dead of winter at auctions. Good day, Matt.

  25. We joke about salesman that can’t hold margins and can only sell by discounting. We call them cheerleaders. A cheerleader salesman is one that takes it off, and you get it all the time.

    It is astounding to think that getting customer information and following up on those customers is not being done 100 percent of the time by 100 percent of anyone who would call themselves a salesman. That would be like me telling everyone I am a carpenter but not making anything out of wood. I think that would be offensive to the guys that actually are carpenters and do make stuff out of wood.

  26. We created a simple Excel Spreadsheet we call Deal Maker. On it we capture contact info, vehicle model, accessories and a running total with fees at the bottom of the form. Everything we discuss with the customer is on this sheet. Each time we contact the customer we take notes. It’s a cheap way to keep up with contacts. Our close ratio improved dramatically. Anyone outside of the impulse buyer has to be contacted at least four times to close a sale. The impulse buyer moved to another planet last year.

  27. Our company has been using Facebook since September and we reach close to 500 or more possible consumers. It is a great way to show new inventory as it hits the showroom. We also like to promote our customers that purchase units from us and help them whenever possible. It helps build customer relations beyond the sale. I am surprised that more dealers are not taking advantage of the free networks.

  28. Jennifer – Hi. I really liked what you had to say. I’d like to talk to you – I have a software company with all the Biker’s Choice products in it. But also, I’m the biggest small business advocate you’ll ever meet. I am the Northern CA Retails Solutions Provider for Quickbooks as well. I have a bundled package just for dealers (MFR’s too) – great hardware, kiosks and I’d be glad to do a training class or showcase if you’d like.

  29. As promised, here are the answers courtesy the J.D. Power and Associates study:

    The No. 1 reason a sport bike consumer will select a certain brand is (3) reputation for performance; followed by (2) reputation for durability/reliability.

    For the touring crowd, the No. 1 reason why they select a particular model is (3) comfort followed closely by (1) style/design.

    Happy New Years!

  30. There are now more female buyers and other employees in dealerships in Indiana than ever. One store have a female service manager. Nearly all of the HD motorclothes managers is female. Dealerships have hired female sales people. Dealerships are stocking way more female oriented product. Not all are perfect. there are things to improve on. Three different Indy dealers have womens nights. Yet after all of this the female specific items are the slowest moving items in the store. I understand the intimidation factor, but msf courses, ladies nights, female managers and other employees, what more do you want

  31. I think as an industry the motorcycles OE’s and the aftermarket are doing a very good job of catering to and trying to attract the female rider. Several brand managers at Parts Unlimited are female, leading to correct brand decisions that appeal to women. All of the aftermarket distributors have an emphasis on brands that are appealing to the female rider. The OE’s are offering more and more product designed with women in mind: seat height, entry level models, etc. Why are the numbers not increasing, good questions. Perhaps a bit more in-depth research at the “seat” level will supply some answers. There is no doub’t that the female rider is considered a growth area for our industry and I believe if changes are necessary they will be made.

  32. We have been working on attracting female Buyers, with some success. As a Yamaha dealer our sales of new cruisers to women riders went up by 20% with the introduction of the V-Star 950. However the FEMALE specific items in store are slow moving. Maybe we are over estimating the potential.

  33. Sorry, but I think that women buyers being 12% of the new motorcycle buyers is an incredibly high demographic. Almost too high, and probably arrived at by a huge advertsing and marketing program from the US motorcycle manufacturers / distributors. Considering that any form of motorsports is principally a male passion.

    Look at some other motorcycle venues besides street riding, like professional roadracing to motocross racing, the number of women drops to around 1%. While in professional car racing (from Indy, to F1, to NASCAR, etc) its even less, with Danica Patrick in roadracing currently the only exception. Or Ashley Force in Pro Fuel Drag Racing.

    I’m also into sports cars and hot rods, and I attend car events or track days most weekends, and out of 200-300 patricipants pulling up in Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and Corvettes, there is usually not one woman driver / car owner. How many women do you see on Speed TV’s Barrett-Jackson auction coverage bidding on $100,000 muscle cars? -0-

    Motorcycle and Motorcycle Product manufacturers would find their advertising dollars spend more wisely by targeting any and all new riders to come into the sport, male and female, by offering entry level bikes and scooters. Targeting just women alone to draw them into the sport will never be as cost effective per capita, but 88% more expensive compared to only targeting men as evidence by the current 12% of women riders in the sport, now.

    All us guys would love to have more women join us in the sport as riders and bike owners, but it will never grow beyond the current levels.

  34. Our clientele is roughly 40% women. That said, women-specific items are still slow movers. What women ARE buying are small, lightweight, easy-to-handle bikes. (Of course, we’re a scooter shop, so that’s all we sell!)

    Other than that I believe the key is treating all our customers with respect. Don’t scoff at the “beginner” questions, and don’t be surprised if a woman reveals herself to be an experienced rider. You want a welcoming, inviting, comfortable atmosphere in your shop or women will leave and never come back.

    That’s what works for us.

  35. “Sickening, shocking, unacceptable”? “It will never grow beyond the current levels”? We’re talking about business here. I don’t believe our industry is actively alienating women or we are such wise predictors of the future that we can accurately forecast what will “never” or “always” happen.

    I do believe women influence the vast majority of consumer spending and, as a multi-brand dealership business mgr, I know those decisions include many powersports purchases for themselves and others. I also believe OEM’s and PG&A manufacturers have done a good job of offering women-friendly products and will continue doing so.

    Change is incremental, business cycles and economic factors like gas prices will influence the number of new riders of both sexes. In May, our shop is hosting a chartering event for a new Star chapter instigated by two cruiser-riding women. Let’s remain focused on good business decisions and share in the fun of everyone who enjoys our passion.

  36. While I’m not sure that a lack of participation by the fairer sex in powersports is “shocking”, it is certainly a fact. Other than testosterone injections, we might think of addressing the fear factor that women mention, over and over, when confronted with anything powersports related. Women are intelligent consumers who value safety and “getting back home” as priorities in any endevour before “adrenaline rush” and “excitement”. Argue as we may for whatever biological and sociological reasons may contribute to this, when the technology became safer and easier to access, a huge increase in female participation occurred. So why do so many dealers and suppliers focus on pink helmets and lowered seats when airbag jackets and improved mass centralization will bring more sales? The answer? I’m waiting. So are millions of women, young and old. My advice, create a separate market that caters to women’s interests without diminishing the other market that men maintain. Be creative.

  37. Sell em….most everybody in our area are selling youth products…the heart of the matter is lead poisoning….It would be very hard to prove a child got lead poisoning from a motorcycle….the problem we had was when we pulled all of our accessories…incl. helmets off the shelf…a racer of ours needed a new helmet (which does save lives) and we were NOT supposed to sell it to him? We sold it…I could not deal with it if the kid were injured because he could not purchase the proper safety gear…one problem is with the manufacturers trying to get the dealers to buy the stuff when they knew for a year that the products would have to be pulled. Polaris (at first sent us a letter about 20 days before the ban went into effect) saying tough titty….your stuck with it and we wont take it back..they have since helped with flooring..just shows you how the manufactures treat the dealers….they dont care, they just want it out of their inventory…

  38. We can argue about the numbers, but the fact remains women are present at every level in powersports, as consumers, employees, owners, leaders, educators or someone that specializes in the retailing aspect. We must remember the slide rule, we also have more men participating in riding so the additional women riders may very well be still around 12 percent. With that said, we have many more women entering the dealerships to make purchases. It makes no difference if they ride or not to me, it’s what I can sell and will my staff learn or take an effort to do so….If you can’t sell to women, you need to learn how, it’s just a little technique in salesmenship

  39. Cobra Motorcycle Mfg. You know, the fastest 50s in the world that take every championship that they come across. They have a 65 too.

  40. OK here’s a big hint: one person said it. I’ll post the answer early this afternoon.

  41. OK enough suspense…

    ANSWER: The company that has the lowest percentage decline in new unit sales compared to 2008 – BMW Motorrad USA.

    The company’s end-of-year on-road sales only declined 22 percent, which is about half the decline the rest of the industry faced, stated BMW in a press release. The Motorcycle Industry Council hasn’t yet released end of year sales numbers, but at the end of the third quarter, on-road sales were off almost 44 percent.

    Last year BMW was one of just two motorcycle manufacturers to have positive growth.

    Stay tuned to Powersports Business for the full-year sales report in the coming weeks.

    Congrats Patti! You’re the only person who guessed right!

  42. Jennifer, how about 15+ years. Does the old Dorcy Tail light lenses count? Could not find any Wheelsport inventory (before your time ?)
    We still have 70+ Rocky Cycle piston kits, old Acerbis Plastics, Ceet seat covers and sticker kits.
    The good news is we bought this stuff on close outs for .10 on the dollar and we have listed most of it on Ebay. Now its moving and we are buzy selling when its cold out ! The vintage guys love us.
    Craig Silvers, Owner

  43. WOW! that is devotion to your products, Thanks for sharing your story… Whom else out there is holding? Come on you guys and gals, now is a time to laugh at these things, deal with them and move on! Never be too pround to admit something got by you, it happens to all of us from time to time!
    OUT WITH THE OLD PRODUCTS and PLEASE in with some new!

  44. I wonder how many dealers are frustrated by being told they have to “cater” to a female audience. Asking questions instead of rattling off features is called “selling” not “catering” to a particular audience. The same applies to both female and male buyers. They just want to know how it is going to enable them to have more fun or look cooler. Women buyers aren’t that different from male buyers. Motorcycle dealers have just been preaching to the choir (men who grew up riding) for so long they don’t realize that the same techniques and practices that help them sell to women, will help them sell to a broader range of men too. Maybe THAT is the reason that the motorcycle industry is having so much trouble connecting with youth? Kids are savvy, demanding consumers. They have more research at their disposal, and peer reviews are the norm. All buyers want to know “what is in it for them”, nothing to do with gender.

  45. So, how can you say Genuine didn’t discount when they offered up to $500 in accessories to close the deal? Isn’t that discounting the value of the accessories? Or, do you consider that as “value added.” In my opinion, value added and discount are interchangeable. Sounds like what you meant to say is Genuine didn’t discount the unit price in their promotion.

  46. I almost always feel the same way as your fellow in this article. I walk in, and they instantly judge me by my flannel shirt and frumpy appearance. What they don’t understand is that even though I could probably pay cash for the dealership they work for, I am still tight with the money. I want to be treated with respect and am very offended with the financing pitch. I once walked into a dealership (H-D) that we previously sold 25 years ago, only to have the salesman pitch the financing on a new Harley.

  47. Use your small size to your advantage, brag about personal service from the owner or G.M., When customers call or come in they always know who they are dealing with and you know them (by name?). I bought my first new bike from a small shop that every time I went in the owner waited on me and always knew my name. I was a loyal customer until he sold out to a large chain that did not know me and did not care. If you are a street dealer and have a team that “don’t care for the street” that is a reflection on the whole dealership, you need to fix that. Make time for that Saturday or Sunday dinner ride, make it fun, arrange a private room with a place ahead of time. Invite couples (remember who has the purse). Above all make sure personal service is your policy 24/7 and tolerate nothing less.
    Of course these are just opinions and we all know what they say about opinions………

  48. Noncurrent is soon to be a thing of the past. We are so low on Suzuki motorcycles, and Yamaha is starting to show signs of becoming less available. With dealers stretching to give product away for almost no profit, and expect it to help their current situation, they too will soon have nothing to sell used bike prices are climbing as well.

    A solid value based sales presentation, with excellent sales skills have more over benefitted us in moving noncurrent bikes, spending extra time with the customer and fitting the bike into their lifestyle and focusing on what the product will do rather than price, and age moves the old units out with out panic selling, also hire a few new salespeople everything is new to them they seem to always sell the stuff your staff views as aged!

  49. Well…..in my opinion this has got to be pretty strange. Heated seats, heated grips…all great add ons and tools for hardcore riders and for those that love to ride as many months of the year as possible, but lets be serious. Isn’t this a bit much. Personally this would be something that I would NEVER consider buying and just can not fatham the fact that your average…above average or under average rider would consider. Just my opinion. Good Luck to Entrosys…stranger things have happened. Look at the “Pet Rock”….marketing…marketing…marketing….

  50. I live outside Sacramento… I can’t tell you how many times on a ride in July I’d love to have something like this… Not necessarily that wonky looking, but it’s not an insane idea by any means.

  51. I can see a touring guy riding with that – but I’d like to try it on my ATV! People love ridiculous products, but I’d be curious to see the price tag on this bad boy. Good topic KG!

  52. The cooling part might prove to be popular, heated whatever sells well! I remember a guy around here who used to run the exhaust up his pants leg in the wintertime. And he was riding a two stroke! Hard to figure what people will do.

  53. Really great idea. We currently are using a digital photo frame at our POS station for customers to view that is loaded with new product images and they seam to like to check it out. Having a computer on the floor will take it up to a whole new level, thanks for the great tip.

  54. We’ve been using the program and think it’s great. Cam has done a great job of personalizing the messages and is very prompt in responding. We are currently using the Valentine card on Facebook and in an e-mail blast campaign.

  55. It seems that keeping warm when the weather turns cold has extended the riding season for many riders. Keeping cool has not been addressed up to now and for those in hot climates will probably look at this product. Many riders shed lot of protection in the heat in order help keep cool this type of product could help keep people safer and extend thier riding during hot days.

  56. Brilliant! Nothing to look at. Hard to figure out any details from the photo but the concept is way cool! Could be a hot product! Puns intended. If the price is right will sell a bunch to serious long distance riders and commuters.

  57. If it’ll get me a few more days/hours/miles of actually riding my bike, there’s merit to it. Will it sell? I don’t feel qualified in the slightest to answer that.

  58. Since I was unable to even get a glimpse of an MSRP for this unit, I will take a guess that it’s VERY expensive…So, if the BMW riders out there care to justify this expense, then go for it !

  59. It’s too bad that I only “feel” this when I enter a Honda Powerhouse store or some other “MEGA DEALERSHIP” that has recently expanded to try to match with Honda…Too much overhead seems to mean, buy something or get out…and that’s TOO bad !

  60. Advanstar’s new ‘Family Friendly’ policy for Vendors explicitly prohibits the seductive show models that were there in years past. (Everyone remembers LBZ’s booth – complete with stripper pole on 2nd level and real-live porn starts to service it!)

  61. Neil,

    Given that you have a better ‘dealer mailing list’ then almost anyone else; wouldn’t the returned PSB magazine be a decent indication of the number of dealers that actually closed? I realize that won’t cover the ‘terminated’ franchise dealers that decide to stay open as independants; but I would imagine that you have better data than almost anyone.

    How about a comparison with the Honda Dealer Locator List from 2007 with the one now on the site. . Did anyone else notice there is no Honda Dealer in Orlando Florida now?

  62. What happened to the age limit and the no stroller policy? We’re trying to do a 2 year deal in our booth with a kid in a stroller screaming at the top of his lungs? PRI and SEMA stop these people before they enter the expo area and lead them to the Kids Center…

  63. Hi Jennifer. I understand you’re referring to internal lighting for dealerships here, but do you have any knowledge of LED lighting for the vehicles themselves? We’re developing an electric scooter with one of our clients, and are looking for DOT approved LED headlights as the power consumption of most regular units is too high. We’re also considering using a regular unit and simply replacing the bulbs with LEDs as an interim solution, so any information on lighting suppliers in the US would be welcome. Foreign suppliers have been universally unreliable and slow to respond.

    Many thanks,

    Glynn.

  64. Tory…I have been preaching this to outdoor power dealerships for the past 5 years. It is amazing how many still believe in the concept that, “I have my customers, they know where I am at and I do not have to advertise or more importantly, market to them.” We deal strictly in targeted direct mail programs. We always encourge mailing your customers. Quite frankly, it will be your easist sale if you invite them back.

  65. >> The most successful motorcycle dealerships find ways to stand out from the crowd and build a relationship with their customers. <<

    True. Too many dealerships use the "thump" approach to increasing sales. You know the drill, where they call the sales team in to the office and "thump" on them to make more sales. Without understanding that Sales is process. Not a destination.

  66. Frank

    This is EXACTLY what Triumph did before the introduction of the Rocket III. Each dealer got a piston to show the massive size of the new engine. IT WORKED!!!!!

  67. Understanding the mergers acquisiton and investment side of a dealership is very important. Sadly very few dealer have any idea of how to proceed. While they may know how to run a successful operation, they have no idea of how to sell one. Even in today’s tough times, there are a surprising number of options. http://www.powersports-ma.com/

  68. We found the attendees to be in good spirts, but focused. It appeared to us that dealers came intent to either buy or get specific research. Their mood seemed relaxed, but business oriented. As for names, ours being 50 Below as been a conversation item and smile starter for over a decade.

  69. What’s old to you is still “new ” to the customer. Don’t panic when a new customer shows interest in an aged unit. We all get desperate in these times – I have been able to get full retail for a majority of our aged inventory. Not all sales go easy. You still have the shop till I drop guys. But we work every deal for every dollar.

  70. We find that sales continue downward with regards to your scooter sales question. Definitely sales peaked in 2008 ,mtotal off for 2009. The weather here in Colorado has been colder than usual til now, but scooter sales have yet to return. We feel that once weather is warm that person will look for product, along with rising fuel costs this should fuel a return in their sales. Thanks Roger at RMK

  71. I have had this happen to me as a consumer, i have a dealer within 20 miles of my home, i spent 1/2 an hour wandering around the sales room floor before i got fed up and left. I now travel 40 miles and across a state line to another dealership to do my business. I’m even willing to deal with the extra “out of state” stuff rather than ever going back to the local place. That first experience was 3 ATVs and 2 scooters ago!

  72. You got ignored which is terrible. Equally bad is that I don’t like dealing with those very slick salespeople who I can tell are trying to quickly determine if I’m ready to buy today. They are so phony and really turns me off to deal with those types. I always feel like they are never giving me honest advice — only telling me what they think will get me to buy today.

    I also have a guitar hobby and my favorite stores to buy from are the ones that let me come in and play and never ask me what I’m going to buy today. Those are the stores that I enjoy to visit and inevitably buy the most goods from. I guess this would be like the Starbucks approach to business — make the customer like to visit the store and they’ll stay longer give you better word-of-mouth, and in the end buy more.

  73. I believe there are a number of segments that need attention.
    Here are my top 3
    1.) Attitude-It all starts here;when prospects come through the door what do they see,hear and feel?
    2.) Aptitude-Are the staff members experts or merely inexpensive employee’s filling seats and putting in their time?
    3.) Options- When traditional financing options (In all Departments) break down what options are dealers offering to their prospects before they walk out the door?

  74. — How can websites like http://www.powersportsuperstore.com/ offer product from Tucker Rocky so cheap and still make money?
    — How does JC Whitney now qualify as a ‘Powersport dealer’ for Tucker Rocky when 2 years ago Gander Mountain didn’t (and they were actually dealers for Arctic Cat).
    — With all the warnings about the ‘Big Box’ companies getting into Powersports; it looks to me like ‘Powersports’ is trying to get into Big Box.

    The above is just an example. Scorpion now sells direct to Amazon; distributors are fulfilling their own orders through Shopatron (but only if a dealer can’t)

    Tough economic times have made manufacturers and distributors enter into deals they never would have considered 5 years ago.

    Watch out – if we (the dealers) don’t supply our customers with the product; the product will find someone that can. Time to step up your game – or get out…

  75. Karin, you bring up a great point. However, I think that their excellent customer service is driving their pricing structure. If they provide superb customer service, they get returning customers, develop relationships and are trusted in their pricing.

    As we all know, many customers shop for a year or two before they make their purchase. If they see that the price did not go up significantly or not at all, they are more likely to purchase from that dealer.

    As Scott said, it is all about the commitment. If a dealership is willing to commit to the basic principles, then the customers will keep coming back.

    On the flip side, I work with a dealer who is the most expensive dealer in the country for the products they sell. However, people buy for the customer service, the dealer events, and other benefits that the dealer offers. Paying a high price, knowing you will get a return on your investment will also drive revenues and will act differently from the traditional supply and depend model that we were all taught in econ 101.

  76. Mike I think you are right about the current economic conditions influencing the deals being made in what I would consider outside of our industry. Obviously every company deserves the right to make a profit but what about the overall damage a short term quick buck could cause? It also seems inequitable as dealers are now facing more restrictions on where they can sell parts and what they can list them for, while at the same time manufacturers and suppliers are reaching out and exploring more options. Where does the dealer fit in all of this? I think the focus needs to be on getting the consumer in the store or at least on the dealer’s web site.

  77. Is discounting hurting your business ?

    One of my clients told me that discounting is killing his bottom line. What began as a practice to reward and retain high volume customers has become a curse.

    He says that now all of his customers expect discounts on everything, parts, service, clothing and major unit sales ! He says that he is discounting 8 to 10% on average, sometimes as high as 20% to keep customers happy. I can’t imagine how he is going to stay in business at this rate.

    Are you experiencing this problem ?

    What are you doing to combat this issue ?

  78. I have an ATV powersports, it’s worth to have it even if it’s a good weather or bad. This is my buddy through all this year. You should buy it, I will assure you you won’t regret after you experience it.

  79. I think it may not just be an issue of whether or not a dealer stocks a large selection of women’s apparel – the bigger issue is how women are treated in a dealership. My personal experience this week was of being in a large multi-line showcase dealership, examining the merchandise for 25 MINUTES and of being IGNORED the entire time!! Not ONE person greeted or acknowleged me, never mind offering to help as they saw me looking…. It’s no wonder women feel initmiated! Come on dealers, make the ladies feel welcome! (it doesn’t cost a dime!).

  80. The reality here is that Lady Riders expirience may have had nothing to do with her gender.
    When I would prospect for new dealerships I would look for how I was greeted or in many cases not.
    and I was ignored alot.
    recently in our economic climate I have also observed sales people who are happier to complain about how business is off to each other and when a customer walks in they would be on such a role they ignore him or her.
    aparently a sign of a lack of sales skill and or training.
    but that is just my .02

  81. Discounting has always been around; and always been a concern, the internet has just made it easier for our customers to find. Unfortunately discounting has hurt our business some; but it has been overcome by our marketing efforts to reach more customers that are looking for great service. Discounters CAN NOT provide the same level of service as a full priced supplier. They just don’t have the margin to pay the restock fees on returns, pay the call center staff to answer questions, and stock the inventory needed to provide quick delivery times.

    My economics professor told me that when an industry begins to compete on price it is time to find another industry. I don’t think we are there yet, but there are a few discounters that were selling lots of product in 2008 that are no longer in business today. All the research I see shows that less than 10% of consumers are true price shoppers. Most are ‘Value’ shoppers – so adding value to your product and showing your customer that the price difference is justified due to your service, availability and location are all very important factors in making your customer feel like they are getting the best value.

    My experience is that people buy from people – not companies; so teach your guys how to ‘add value’ instead of discounting and you’ll keep your customer happy and keep the bottom line black for a long time to come. If a customer is willing to go to someone else for a 20% discount was he really your customer to begin with?

    We will always have to put up with discount operations – we just need to educate our customers on how we are a better long-term choice.

  82. Matt,

    You are correct, it has nothing to do with gender, but lack of customer service and lack of focus on the ultimate goal.

    A sales person will stand there and say that is not my job to sell accessories, but they are missing the big picture. That is a potential customer who may one day want a new bike. Who are they going to come see? How do new relationships start?

    Furthermore, the lack of help is a reflection on the dealership. Would you purchase a new vehicle from somewhere that you cannot get help with a jacket? What kind of help will you get when you really have a problem?

    In current economic times, it is up to the store manager / owner to use this time to train its employees and help raise its customer service levels to new heights.

    This is also a perfect time for product training. How do you assist a customer better, knowing the product and how you can get it for them. Whether it is a helmet or a new sled, knowing what is right for your customer is key.

    So, whether the customer is a male or female, the potential for them to spend a little money at your facility is key. It may be an accessories sales, but small profits pay to keep the lights on, the insurance paid and other bills paid so that there is somewhere for everyone to come to work to every day and so that there is the potential to sell a new bike because you have the ability to pay the bills and have inventory.

    More people need to look at the whole picture, but again, it starts with leadership

  83. Excellent point Fran. This in fact is one of the base concepts upon which we developed the V-SEPT CRM tool. V-SEPT enables dealers to print a brochure for the specific model and color unit the customer is interested in. The key is, to your point, the brochure is customized to the dealership and the salesperson. THe dealership can put “Long copy” on the reason to do business with them right on the brochure itself enabling the selling to continue in a very meaningful way for thoes who won’t purchase on that visit. This solves a related problem you didn’t address (future article ?)which is getting contact information from that prospect. We train dealerships to ask the customer if he would like a brochure? 90% will respond positivley. Asking for thier phone number, to print the brochure , is a comfortable and effective way to capture that critical piece of information making follow up possible.

  84. The solution to this is really VERY simple. The OEMs need to supply literature at no cost to the dealer. PERIOD!!! The fact that the dealer is expected to carry this burden of marketing is utterly ridiculous.

  85. Drum roll…

    And the manufacturer that ranks No. 1 is Victory Motorcycles with a PSI score of 107. Trailing Victory by one point was Harley-Davidson and Ducati.

    As for most improved, Triumph takes the cake. The company gained 7 percentage points for an average dealer PSI score of 104.

    For more in-depth coverage, see the May 3rd issue of Powersports Business. https://powersportsbusiness.com/output.cfm?id=2509507

  86. These are all excellent ideas for dealership videos. It is because of the popularity and benefits of YouTube that PowerSports Network recently enhanced its Web Site Flix video product for dealers by leveraging YouTube. Having dealership videos showcased on YouTube not only increases the potential audience size, but it enhances the dealership’s search engine presence. And since PSN dealer videos can be tied to specific pieces of inventory and offer links to the dealer’s site, as well as important dealership information, dealers get even more benefit from uploading their videos. Regardless of how dealers decide to leverage YouTube, it is clear that dealers should be tapping into the many benefits the service offers.

  87. PSN – great comments! That is great to hear how you are incorporating video into your website development and services that you are offering the dealerships. i know that I would be interested in learning more on how you are integrating video to assist dealers with inventory.

    Video is a great tool for dealers to use to show case inventory, the special features that the unit offers, etc.

    thanks again for the comments.

  88. Tourmaster, Cortech, Fieldsheer and Pokerrun brands all carry sizes up to Ladies 20-22. They also carry tall sizes….

  89. Do you happen to have April data? I’m curious to see if other dealers experienced what we have, which is a huge drop in mid-April and now May.

  90. Good points. I have a recommendation for your readers that use WordPress in terms of making your site mobile device friendly. As you know one of the powers of WordPress are the plug-ins. There is a slick plug-in for iPhone called WPTouch iPhone Theme. This plug-in turns any WordPress site into an iPhone compatible website. Here’s the link: http://www.bravenewcode.com/products/wptouch/.

  91. I have always been a big fan of “made in America” Polaris,,,Was real happy when they started making engines in US,,,Not happy about Mexico,,Hope negative feed back gets them to change their plan,,,BUY USA !!

  92. Being from Wisconsin, the loss of local jobs is always bad news. Polaris states that they are looking to improve their worldwide sales when in fact they are looking for cheap labor and less tax. I believe this will lower their US marketshare, as it should!

  93. Polaris may have just lost a life long customer with this move ,own seven diferent Polaris products at this time. Was proud to say Made In USA ,tried to persuade others to buy from Polaris. I know over the years some parts have been from China, Japan, Mexico, but to just shut down a plant for the almighty dollar may hurt the entire Made In USA idea!!!!! I did not consider others before, but not sure I can support a Company who maybe did not give Wisconsin a second look!!

  94. Polls are great but the data is only interesting when its specific. Personally I really like Polls via LinkedIn as the data is relevant to the voters profiles.

    Personally I’d love to see a poll or statistics on how powersport manufacturers are splitting their ad spend / marketing budgets and how important it is for them to connect with consumers via social media, blogs, forums and online or new media applications.

    Great site. thanks for the opportunity to add my thoughts!

  95. After being a Polaris dealer not so long ago and knowing how this company treats it dealers its not suprising how it treats it employees, so much for made in in america they are just all about the $$$$ forget how they affect peoples lives. They were one brand we sold and the worst company!!!!

  96. Hilarious! I have seen them. Imagine it is popular in the pits at NASCAR 🙂 I will go with stupid on this one. Would love to be in court to hear the defense for the DWI! hahahaha.

  97. Most sales consultants will perform at least some of these key skills inefficiently:

    • Inbound & Outbound Telephone
    • Follow up of Unsold Opportunities
    • Proactively prospecting current/previous owner base
    • Consistent customer contact for increased loyalty

    These issues are the justification for call centers. If call center personnel are dealing with similar issues, it is surely a matter of training.

  98. Most visitors to dealer websites are looking for one of three things:

    1) View New or Used Inventory
    2) Schedule a Service Appointment
    3) Availability of Parts

    Above the fold content and website optimization should focus on these and only these three areas.

  99. Hi Karin,
    >
    > Yes, not long ago we created a Facebook page. Got quite a bit of action
    > in the first few weeks, but it pretty much died after that. The problem
    > with social networking on the internet is like everything else. You get
    > out of it what you put into it. Money, time or both are needed. We can’t
    > afford to pay someone to spend the amount of time necessary to get the
    > full benefit from the site. Would it work? Most likely. But we are
    > spending our time at local events with direct public contact, which
    > seems to be our most effective advertising strategy. With an overworked
    > skeleton crew that allows us to keep the doors open it is impossible to
    > accomplish all the promotional options available. So yes, we have a
    > page and we could use any other means of electronic communication, but not the time or money to take advantage. I would bet that a
    > dealer extensively using social networking is doing little else.

  100. Our marketing stratagies are shifting drastically. We are spending alot more time and effort doing Facebook and Twitter these days. It turns out to be directing our message to the right people instead of a few lucky enough to see or hear the message on TV, radio or print. We made a group on FB and asked all of our employees to join and add their friends to the group. In less than 2 days, we had over 400 people interested in OUR business and our products. When we post something on the group, we let our employees know what we did and they “Share” or “Comment” on the topic. With just 7 of our employees active on FB, a general “group” comment will hit over 2000 people directly. It is impossible to calculate the entire network of people that the message can hit, but I would dare say it could be in excess of 5000 people for one posting. Again, on the first 400 people that joined our group, they were all “invited” by someone in my store. They then had the option to join or not. If they joined, they must have a genuine interest in something we sell or service here. Yes, some of the 400 people are in their early 20’s, but the future of the Powersports industry is going to someday be in their hands. What a better way to keep our face in theirs…..

  101. You are spot on, Fran!
    And, I would add that dealers can safely and easily never turn down a trade by 1.) using National Powersport Auctions’ Value Guide (shows what units have been currently selling for @ auction) through their website, http://www.npauctions.com, and by 2.) having NPA sell the unit as a consignment.
    As a matter of fact, if retail is slow, dealers can introduce a whole new revenue and profit center to their business by advertising that they buy bikes…regardless of trade intention…w/ the goal of selling at auction.

  102. When is someone going to point out that it takes more energy to produce ethanol than you actually get out of it? All it is is another corn subsidy!

  103. We have 3 dedicated e-salespeople now an sold more vehicles outside our 5 county (shrinking) PMA last month for the fist time ever. 90% of leads during business hours are responded to within 2hours in our store.

  104. Most frustrating is stocking another dealers old inventory because we bought it all when they went out of business! We seem to return OEM parts once a year from the .10 cents on the dollar buyout. the big downfall is all these non current parts and inventory are taking up the room and the cashflow that exciting new product could be having. non current doesnt draw new customers in either. we need to look into ebay selling now instead of concentrating on our local customers needs.

  105. Neil,
    I completely agree with you. I’m an industry dealership operations expert and work with hundreds of dealers across the country for the past 14 years. My professional certification is in the field of human resources and my undergraduate work was in accounting. You combine both of those two fields with a little psychology and you have discipline of human performance improvement.
    Now, on that note, it comes right to the basic task assessment that every position must go through to get to the “real job description” that we use to recruit, train, perform reviews, and ultimately discharge an employee over for performance reasons. Included in that task assessment there needs to be “Collects cutomer data from 100% of the customers 100% of the time”. If you cannot perform this task, you cannot work here? I know that is hard core however, being a general manager for a large multi-line dealership in the past, makes me wonder what else cannot that employee do. The task of providing useful and relevant data to the CRM system should be mandatory. As far as being tied into compensation by doing the assessment and enforcing the policy you are building it into their pay structure. Times have changed and our industry is using outdated job descriptions that were borrowed from other dealers decades ago. These job descriptions can provide potential legal issues and are usually out of date and not useful or relevant.

    Uncle Forrest

  106. I’ve found it best to contact a customer for approval when the actual billing exceeds 10% over the extimate. These are tough times, and we have to be fully considerate of that fact.

  107. It would also be an opportunity to sell a priority service plan so that future repairs and maintenance are budgeted for, with no surprises – offering a small intro to that plan would also be a good gesture

  108. I would put my money on the belief that women simply don’t have the desire to take the riders seat. I can’t tell you how many women wouldn’t even get on the back of a bike let alone take complete control. I don’t see any female alienation in our industry. Motorsports are simply more of a male thing and always will be. 12% seems very realistic and acceptable.

  109. Great viewpoint, Tim. You nailed it right on the head. My first thought was that with an exhaust system being the #1 aftermarket change made to street bikes riders will undoubtably take a stock system and modify it should this law get passed. Which will result in louder exhaust systems. And leave it to the politicians to put the false emissions spin in the mix. Putting their own personal agenda ahead of the ripple affect this law would have on aftermarket exhaust companies such as Leo Vince. Our economy needs a boost..not more backlash.

  110. I did write protest letters to Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) who heads my district where I live in Woodland Hills, CA, and to Governor Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. My biggest objection to SB435 as originally written was the required annual vehicle compliance inspections to re-register our motorcycles, while cars in California are not inspected at re-registration. However cars must have a paid Smog check every 2 years. Bikes do not…while we all remove our charcoal canisters and modify our exhaust the minute we bring our motorcycles home.

    They did listen to my objections (and those of others Californians I must assume) and they deleated the required annual Motorcycle vehicle inspection from the bill.

    As for the SB435 Required Noise Certification on aftermarket exhaust systems, I say “YES!” I am for it.

    Because nothing will change. Police have never enforced the current “Modified Exhaust” law on the California law books, so they will not bother to enforce SB435 when it takes effect as well. There is no difference between the old law and the new law. And the new law is still just a Fix-It Ticket like the old law, if and when it is enforced. At least the cops can now see if they pipe has an approved sticker on it. As if it matters, because in the past they could write tickets without it as well.

    I’m a hard core sportbike rider and I do have modified racing exhausts on all my street sportbikes. And I have never gotten a noise ticket in 30 years of riding in California. My local Ducati dealer illegally sells and installs Ducati Performance racing exhaust systems and CPU modules bikes on my registered street bikes in violation of state and federal laws. All metric bike dealers in CA, with the exception of Harley-Dealers who are under the eye of CARB and can’t even sell Screamin’ Eagle Performance parts, do sell and install aftermarket pipes.

    Sportbikes with race silencers are 4 times quieter than straight pipe Harleys. Sportbike People will still buy Leovince pipes with SB435.

    Still, it is the American V-twin / Harley crowd who ruin it for everyone with their straight unmuffled pipes, which you can hear from miles away on a quite Sunday morning. And I have to stop talking to my friends when those Harleys fire up and pull out up at the Rock Store. And yet, the Police never ticket them. It pisses me off. Some of my friends are cops and I ask them why not. They are bike riders themselves with modified exhausts, or the Harley riders don’t run from the Police like Sportbikers often do, and finally, they do not have the time to enforce vehicle infractions,or they’d have to write up every car and bike on the road. So loud exhaust in California will continue as always…..

    I just wish SB435 had some mandatory enforcement balls to get the straight pipe Harleys off the road.
    Tom Calhoun, meanwhile, should get off his soap box. He has nothing to complain about, rather he should be grateful that guys like me got SB435 modified so he can keep on selling illegal exhaust systems in California to street riders.

    If Calhoun has anything to worry about it is the new 200hp / 400 lb. Sportbikes are already way too fast and too light with stock exhaust systems! No one has the need to buy an aftermarket exhaust system any more. The motorcycle manufacturers will put him out of business before the State of California does.

  111. I probably talk to 40 Polaris dealers every week, and they report to me business is flat. They are not selling units like they hoped, however, any positive comments are usually on UTVs. I like good news, but I need 3 months of positive economic results before I say we are beyond stable and seeing a recovery. So I can’t wait to see what the next few months will bring.

  112. We ran holiday specials at ATV Wagon 2 years running with positive results. One of our secrets is we allowed the sale to run a week before and after Thanksgiving. We got the ‘planners’ and the ‘procrastinators’. Note your offer must be truly something great or it will not work well.

  113. I am an experienced powersport toy user, and I have seriously considered owning a 250cc Ninja. Their inexpensive, sporty, fun, and great on gas mileage. Consumers still want to have fun, but they need to do it on a budget. Small displacement, low cost machines may be considered ‘entry-level’ but due to the recession, they should be considered economy brands. I think we see a move more toward a purchasing trend rather than new entry-level riders increasing; however, the reality is the smaller-bike owner today will upgrade to a bigger bike tomorrow.

  114. 2 things.
    This is the first time I have heard of a helmet trade. We have been encouraging dealers to do jacket trades for years.
    Second, and probably goes without saying, but those trade in helmets are a huge liability. Cut them up for demo purposes, especially the high end ones. People can then see the difference.

  115. I am curious where you got your statistics in this article–80% etc. and “single biggest predictor…” Thank you, I enjoyed the article.
    Joan Rippe

  116. Thanks for the question Joan. Two different answers…

    First, the 80% statistic isn’t Pied Piper’s; it is simply an average borrowed from one manufacturer’s research.

    Your second question was about the “single biggest predictor” of internet sales success which we mention is a timely response. This fact comes from Pied Piper’s own internet sales process research, where the experiences of “real” buyers were first measured and tied to sales success. Those findings are then used to allow Pied Piper to measure those specific behaviors using “mystery shoppers.” There’s more about this unique approach, (Pied Piper has a pending business methods patent for it), at http://www.piedpiperpsi.com.

    Back to your question, for internet mystery shopping Pied Piper measures 19 different specific sales behaviors, but timeliness is the one most closely predictive of sales success.

    Merry Christmas everyone,

    Fran O’Hagan

  117. Hey Fran,
    It needs to pointed out that the JD Power release was a bit misleading in that it is not the average age of US riders that is climbing (actually the opposite is true for the first time in many years), rather that the average age of NEW motorcycle purchasers increased.
    Given the historic challenges of selling a new unit, it is believable that the most likely purchaser of a new unit is someone with cash, or outstanding credit – baby boomers.
    The Motorcycle Industry Council’s most recent survey of owners (not new purchasers) found instead that the average age has decreased for the first time in many years – and that the influence of Gen Y is being significantly felt for the first time. Of course, they’re clearly more likely to be buying a used bike, but the good news is that they’re riding, and likely to be a good prospect for a new unit down the road.
    And, given the creative destruction you describe, this younger generation will need a much different marketing communications approach than we’ve traditionally seen. Good blog…

  118. Another point to make in that situation is that a trade-in is a wholesale transaction, not a retail transaction. Using craigslist to comp asking prices and Ebay to comp actual selling prices are both good practices, but using NPA Value Guide will give the true current wholesale value. Many dealers show a customer the Value Guide as a way to ease their expectations of “retail” as a trade-in value.

  119. I believe this to be a very true statement. Going into the fourth quarter I was pleasantly surprised to see 32% average growth over the previous year, and then have a record December in my department. It has also continued into January where we will likely see as much as 40% growth. Likewise our sales and service departments are showing significant growth your the same time periods. This year is looking bright!

  120. Another one to consider, this from Dairyland Insurance:
    We are hosting two insurance seminars in Indy – on Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m. both days in Room No. 130. The title of the seminars are “Increasing Your F&I Income.”

  121. Great post! The Flip camera is definitely the easiest, unfortunately doesn’t have an external microphone input yet. If you want to use an external mic (which is a good idea) I would suggest the Kodak Zi8 – about $100 on amazon and it has an 1/8th inch input.

  122. Jennifer’s retailing principles apply to any retail or service environment. I applaud her no nonsense approach when it comes to relating to customer loyalty. Show your customers respect, warmth and share your knowledge and you won’t have to worry about the bottom line. If you’re there for them they’ll be there for you.

  123. Excellent post, wish more business would learn this concept. I’ve spent more years than I want to admit working customer service and what I see lately passing for it, is just sad and inexcusable. Thanks for sharing and let’s hope the idea spreads like wildfire.

  124. Thanks for your comment, in the big picture we see all retailers have devauled the humane resources (retail sales positions). Thankfully we do have powersports stores that take it very seriously and if they were hotels they would be rated 4 and 5 stars….I would encourage any retailer to raise the bar in humane resources and realize that the cost of lost sales due to poor service is far greater than a little more compensation for higher quality staffing.

  125. Jennifer, Thanks for the thoughts on LED lighting. In one of your articles you mention cost being a con to the product… What can we expect to pay for LED spot lights?

  126. Let me speak with the vendor I meet at Global, at that time he was not able to provide me with a exact costs. I would expect it to be about three times a standard fixture, however, they will last ten times longer. Stay tuned feel free to contact me for more information….

  127. Hi

    Thanks for taking this opportunity to talk about this, I feel strongly about it and I benefit from learning about this subject. If possible, as you gain data, please update this blog with new information. I have found it extremely useful.

    Thank you
    Buy sell classifieds

  128. Congratulations, Liz!

    Thank you for making this commitment to our industry. You’ll find the riding experience will help you with your share of our responsibility for this industry: Help dealers through education, products, services & solutions.

    I challenge everyone who works in this industry that hasn’t earned their endorsement yet to make the same commitment you have!

  129. Great post Liz. I am so excited to be presenting at ProfitX. I know mobile marketing is a hot topic throughout the powersports industry right now and I hope I can bring some clarity and strategy to dealers and businesses that want to implement this very effective medium.

    I look froward to meeting everyone.

    Ron Cariker
    President – 7 Media Group

  130. Jennifer I like your artical it is right on! As a fixture mfg. I have had many clients that were selling helmets off the floor on top of boxes. Once they purchased a few nice tower displays from us they were amazed at how the sales increased. If a product is not presented properly people are just not attracted to it enough to hold their interest and make a purchase.
    Regards- Mike

  131. Thank you! retailers that cater to a hobbie like the powersports industry too often underestimate that you more than likely need to learn and utilize retail practices including great merchandising. We are an industry ripe for another growth curve when we change our priorities and goals.

  132. How about participating in Revive Your Ride!? It is the free, industry-wide marketing program brought to you by the nearly 300 aftermarket members of the non-profit Motorcycle Industry Council. The program is designed specifically to build floor traffic for dealers and to help customers find their way to their local powersports retailer, updating their parts, accessories and gear and then back out on the road enjoying their ride.It’s simple; it’s about building consumer interest, floor traffic and sales. During the promotion periods it offers customers a chance to win money and product. Fall promotion starts October 15 through December 31. Grand prize is $10,000. Dealer incentive too. Details coming soon. See us at ProfitX. Find out more at mic.org/reviveyourride

  133. You people really have no ideal what goes on in a dealership, easy to come up with a fix when you are behind a computer. If the manufactures cannot drive in more floor traffic, most likely the dealer will have no chance. People are not looking to buy powersport toys in this economy; you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink.

  134. Liz,
    Thanks for your article. I am told by many dealers that not enough women come into their shop to carry it, or not enough women ask about gear. The part I think they are missing is that a woman often won’t feel welcome if there is nothing for them there, deterring any type of conversation or another stop in the shop. I recently did a survey of my female customer and most of them shop online. It is only partly for convenience. Many don’t have a dealer near them willing to stock for them. It is a missed opportunity for the dealer – both online and in store.

  135. this is a good reminder to establish an easy way of getting customer info & then foloow up properly – i must say, at the show, i’m great for getting the info but then it sits in a note book until the next show – shame on me, i know better…prospecting without checking the nuggets that sometimes have gold in them.

  136. Its time to care and take care of the customers you have…This is what sets you apart from the competition.

    Nice article and all retailers, don’t forget that these details make a BIG diffrence to your customers.

  137. 85% of buying decisions in a family come from the women…make your stores women friendly even if it male products. The wife more often than not has the final say if he gets a new helmet or bike….Cater to them they are in your stores, they may ride or not but while the husband is at the parts counter she is milling around looking at what she could buy for her or her family….

  138. Photos are so effective, I love to see what is new or happening from a Facebook friend or business. Show me is better than just telling me…

  139. Anybody happen to notice how much TV ad are focused on holiday (Christmas season) promotions and products. WalMart is promoting Layawaya, and so can any dealers that use light speed. Get shoppers in NOW, get them to pay cash for the item and its gone before the end of the year! Take advantage of what mainstream retailers are doing to get into peoples heads about holiday gift giving….

  140. How many of you have started to prep your stores for Holiday business????

    what is your store planning?

    How will you and your staff beat the slow season? are you just going to lie there and roll with it or can you take the challenge and make some money?

    Its sooooo easy to just say, its the slow season we will hunker down and hope it picks up…Customers need to be courted, they want to know your alive and that you have things they want…They will not likely just shop you with out a fresh or new reason.

  141. You are definitely not alone in facing that challenge, Doug. The reality is that there are many competing priorities once we return back to our daily work, which makes it more important than ever to ensure those leads are captured in an actionable way as soon as possible after they are received. An ideal solution can be to use a smartphone to capture requests directly in your customer/lead management system on the spot.

  142. Jennifer I absolutely agree with you. Excellent point to add and I also think that video is another great way to capture the attention of fans and their friends. Our industry of powersports is about the fun and excitement and video is perfect avenue to communicate that passion.

  143. flalalalalala Nov 26th is Small business shopping day! Encourage it powersports stores are small business too!

  144. Mark: You are right on with the three “A’s.” These are some key attributes that really help support the proper business processes. Unfortunately these attributes probably will have little impact if the culture within the company is not right. Culture is not a process and something that can be rolled out “starting Jan. 1.” At the core, it is the essence of how a company is going to conduct their business (both internally and externally).

    Think of top-line companies like Ritz-Carlton and American Express. What is your expectation in dealing with the culture of those two companies? Now think about the largest CPG retailer and the largest electronics retailer (whose names have been left out for politeness). If you have to return an item to the CPG store, it’s a very simple process and civil, if not friendly. Try to return a product to the electronic retailer and you feel like you are on trial for something. In the back of the store, I imagine their return processes are probably much the same. In the front of the store however, the story and experience is much different for the consumer- due to the different cultures fostered by each business. It seems the one company gives their employees the ability to address the customer’s needs while the other company’s mandate is to protect the company’s interests at all costs (aka discouraging returns).

    All of these companies may have the three A’s, but is the culture within the business- starting at the top- which ultimately determines the behavior of their employees, and ultimately the extent that those employees are allowed to go to make a customer happy.

  145. I have worked for a large volume family run dealership for 25 years now. As the sales manager, dutys included Vacuuming and waste disposal.
    The owner of the company to this day, takes out the trash and vacuums the floors.
    Serves us well..

  146. My thoughts and prayers go out to his immediate family and friends. I didn’t know John but he sounds like he was a great family man!!

  147. Linda, my prayers go out to you. I met you and John early in my career with what was then Ehlert Publishing. You were both so generous with your time and educating me; the newbee. I’ve always remembered that. I’m so very sorry to hear of John’s passing. May your great memories give you comfort during this difficult time.

    Stacey Marmolejo

  148. Motorcycle business is dead. These big guys and all their money will destroy this industry too. Its ashame, I guess the world has gone by me. There is no room for the little guy anymore, I feel like Lazarus the beggar at the door of the rich man fighting his animals for a scrap of food.

  149. Tim, this is probably why at race events, and recreational riding spots, we have experienced a boom in sales of your products and we have noticed more and more are using the LeoVince spark arrestors. They are high quality, quiet, and great value. Your philosophy is obviously taken to heart in sales and production because you truly have great products and a strong company.

    Luke
    http://www.enduroarmor.com

  150. Wow. The hypocrisy on Target’s part is stunning. Here’s a massive retailer, who’s almost as “bad” as Wal-Mart when it comes to disrupting local economies by driving out smaller retailers, forcing wages down, etc., etc. complaining because they are now getting the short end of the stick.

    As soon as I saw this stuff http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/10/amazon-pricecheck-discount, as well as Amazon’s Christmas season commercial basically telling customers to go into a store, scan the stuff and then buy it off Amazon, I knew it was only a matter of time before the S#!* hit the fan.

    It looks like it’s time for the goose to come home and roost with the crows, or the gander… Or something. 🙂

    Grab some popcorn ’cause it’s gonna get ugly.

    It’s also “funny” that Target used to use Amazon’s platform for their e-commerce, then got rid of Amazon to try to build their own e-commerce business, and proceeded to blow themselves up over and over again because of bad technology and execution.

    Now that Target is throwing this public hissy fit, the blogosphere has turned it around is accusing Target of trying to find a way to “raise prices”!
    i.e. http://blogs.smartmoney.com/paydirt/2012/01/24/targets-unique-plan-to-raise-prices/?link=SM_hp_ls4e

    Looks like more heads are gonna roll at Target. What’s wrong with those guys?

  151. This is an excellent reminder Mark, and still remarkably a very underused tool. The proliferation of social media and various public rating systems should prove that a customer’s opinion is 100 times more valuable that anything that a salesperson may say. There is a level of credibility already established if you get recommended by a friend. In this market where quality leads are much. much harder to come by, a salesperson should be doing everything they can to try to hit the ground running.

    Also on the subject of post-sale follow-up, a handwritten letter will get you much more visibility than an e-mail or printed (templated- gasp!) letter.

  152. Hi. You Gotta-Wanna is a book. It is for sale on Amazon or you can order it from me for $19.95. I do have an old 1985 CD of the 7 step Lemco procedure that does talk about You Gotta-Wanna. It is an hour long with My brothers Ed, Ron and I roll playing it out. It also has a 30 minute telephone procedure video included. It sold for $195.00 I also have a 10 subject CD That sold for 149.00. If you want all three I would send them for $195.00 plus cost of shipping. If you should be interested in sales hiring and training I have been doing it for 30 years with great results

    Hope you are having a good season.

    Cheers,

    Steve Lemco

    253-826-6110

    stevelemco@aol.com

  153. I could not agree more!

    If we have learned anything from being in business since 1958 We have learned SERVICE starts at the front door not the shop door.

    We also are a family business and treat every customer as such FAMILY.

    ASK POWERSPORTS
    central Ohio

  154. I live in Monroe,Ga and I was in east Ky riding and wanting to look at the new terex and people in the area recommended Kawasaki of Paintsville. I visited them and was so impressed with the knowledge and friendliness of Mr. Holbrooks that I purchased one. I dont think that I would have made a quick decision like that if it wasnt for them making me feel like family.

  155. Sorry, most don’t believe unemployment is down. Obama removed 2.5 million jobs as permanently gone, which changed the math and is untrue. People just stopped looking. Plus, what about the service people that will now be looking for civilian employment.

  156. You know, if you produce ZERO UNITS for a full model year…I would imagine this to be the case….Suzuki is close to being DOA.

  157. Upland is in Bloomington with that address (350 W 11th). 🙂 It has a tasting room in Indy on College and 49th. Might want to switch that up. The Indy Tasting Room addy is 4842 North College Ave.

  158. There is nothing more appealing that buying a Harley from someone who wears his pants up to his chest. Devos knows nothing about the motorcycle industry, he’s just looking for cool ways to spend his money.

  159. As a business owner i would recommend Cycle Lend in a heartbeat, they were very helpfull and always available for any kind of questions. This company is pleasant from day 1 , and i plan on continuing business with Cycle Lend for all of my lending needs for my customers.

  160. Leave the rally at May 11th-20th 2012, if changes are made do them for 2013, other wise I encourage people to attend May 11th-20th for the rally, visit springbeachrally.com for the latest news and events in the works

  161. Well,,, what is the projected retail price range of this product???

    While i fully applaud your efforts to help solve ethanol-related problems,,,,how does it TRULY solve much if it is only for vehicles used in competition?????

    unless it is going to be priced $ 4 — $ 5 dollar range it just does not seem like a good buy for the COMPETITION rider… make it STREET legal and it MIGHT be a different story…

    on a side note this fuel has been hinted around since July-ish of last year,,, whoo hoo big news!!!

    1. My thought also mike. Amazing Suzuki has pulled this scam. Sell them the engines and then sue them for using them!!! Outrageous. Amazing this angle was not covered by the story.

      1. supplier of engines suzuki Hison to have in China. Hison is sold only in China apareils Suzuki can not intervene. However, export demand suzuki conformance tests for other countries. Hison not want to pay too, are willing to sell thanks to Suzuki Motor and the copy of the shell seedoo but want to go out the dollars

  162. I agree. Not only this but if you are a woman salesman and a couple come into your store to purchase something, anything….be 100% certain you speak to the woman. When you make eye contact make it with her.Get her name and use it when you speak . When you respond to any inquiry /question look at her first and then to the man. I don’t care if the man is the one asking the question. Respond to her and include him. While a woman makes up 10% of your sales that woman will decide whether this couple returns to your store. For your mailers include her name as in “Candy & Denny it was so nice to talk with you today “. Thank you for coming into our shop. It was my pleasure speaking with you both. Hope you will consider us for your bike needs. You have the power to create a lasting relationship. Guys remember this too. Speak to the woman. Do not exclude her.

  163. I wonder if BRP will do the same thing before CFMOTO ( Zhejiang CFMOTO Power Co., Ltd.) comes out with their “jet boat” that is copied from the BRP Utopia Jet Boat. The boat is already out in other countries and the prototype will be coming to the US soon. The proto-type Can-Am Outlander 800 copy is already in the US!
    It is time these companies stand up to these Chinese “copy cats”!!!

  164. Is there additional value with Loyalty/Gift Cards?

    Would there be considerably more value if the cards could be tied to a Pre-Approved Revolving credit line?

    Has anyone tried it?

  165. I’m pretty sure that Hison copied the Suzuki engine, that is why it was described as “unlicensed”! Hison PWCs are blatant copies of Sea-Doos and Kawasaki designs, the first of which had this knock off Suzuki engine for power.

  166. Good move. This is a great series of shows, but having a not for profit industry group produce them always meant the shows couldn’t be responsive as possible to the individual markets and attendees. This move should help on that front and the new entity be more innovative in the production of the shows.

  167. “Munjal said Hero has cash reserves of about $1 billion. Investindustrial SpA, the private-equity firm that owns Ducati, is looking to sell the OEM for about $1.3 million. ”

    What?

  168. Your article says ” Investindustrial SpA, the private-equity firm that owns Ducati, is looking to sell the OEM for about $1.3 million.” For that price, I would find a way of buying Ducati! LOL!!

  169. In 2005 the CRF250R MSRP was $5999.00
    The same bike(fuel injection) now listed as a 2012 is $7500.00
    I know there have been subtle changes along the way.
    Like for instance, buyers don’t make any more money in 2012 than they did in 2005, maybe less.
    The car guys at Honda have forgot why people buy motorcycles.
    The Europeans build cool stuff, but 8 grand plus, does not help any.
    Yamaha, and Kawasaki, Suzuki, are no better. Oh you can turn the head around and call it revolutionary, I suppose. The XR750 crowd did that for years for all kinds of reasons.
    The author is right. People are riding. Out here in fly over country it is recreation,Hare Scrambles and GNCC. MX tracks are hard to find.

  170. If you click through to the article, you realize that PSB made an error… Only a factor of 1,000… 🙂

    Maybe PSB is using the same math that Dealernews uses to estimate Indy traffic? 🙂

    “Investindustrial is seeking to sell or list Ducati for as much as 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion), the Financial Times reported last month, citing Andrea Bonomi, chairman of the European buyout firm.”

  171. Most powersport stores are using the lowest cost lighting and its more costly than they know. Stores use florecent drop box light. This type of light was designed for office so that it would not cast a shadow for working in cubicals. This type of light is a general space lighting and is inefficent at lighting products to feature and draw attention. I work in too many powersports stores that do not have light for products on walls and this makes it dark and hard to see from a distance.

    FYI, customers won’t go to spaces that are dark and they won’t shop items they don’t see very well. SO pump up the lighting budget, its not the kind of thing a trip to Home Depot down the road will resolve!

    Lighting makes ALL the difference!

  172. Hi everyone,
    I’m sorry I made the mistake about the sale price. It is $1.3 billion, as many of you have found. The mistake has been corrected.

    Thank you,
    Liz Hochstedler
    Associate Editor

  173. There are already plenty of laws that cover it plus the simple fact is that if you cause an accident for any reason, you are liable.

    Failure to maintain control, unsafe safe lane change, failure to stop and on and on.

    Education, lots of education, I’m all for it. More laws….hell no!

    Besides, how is someone using their phone or navigation system any more distracted than a parent reaching over the seat to deal with the screaming child in the back? Or how about a couple arguing with each other…distracted? I think so! Or the person eating, drinking or putting makeup on? Or eading the paper propped up on the sterring wheel?

    We do not need any more laws regarding this!

  174. Please don’t stop the Ladies Events @ Dealerships!! Even if there isn’t a discount, the opportunity to check out new Ladies gear & learn some seminar skills while meeting other female riders is invaluable! Perhaps coupons can be handed out?-one for him and one for her, so your lady patrons can take the coupon home to her favorite male motorcyclist? –LMMG (97Suzuki Intruder 1400 + 09Suzuki GSX-R600, 19.25 years riding!)

  175. I purchased my 2008 ZX-10R in Germany (US Specs) brand new. I replaced 2 batteries in less than 1 yr. The first one did expire and the second went after a month in the garage. Could this be voltage regulator issue. Any info is will be helpful.

  176. All well and good…. but just how many Cruisers does Polaris need in it’s two-wheeled division … ? They are building great products… but seems like a lot of duplication to me… just sayin’

    BlueStrada

  177. There’s a reality show on now called Hotel Impossible, and the host/consultant shows the owners of their negative reviews on review sites. I think your advice about owning up to them is very good. If it’s possible for the business to post an honest, helpful review/followup/rebuttal so that others can view it, that would go a long way.

  178. Great points, Liz…thank you for bringing attention to this topic as it affects the livelihoods of everyone in our industry when customers choose whether or not to do business with our dealers.

    I’ve done a couple of studies recently to analyze the status of dealer Places pages and found results that correlate with your commentary.

    For one particular OEM, the percentage of dealers that had verified their Places page was only 43%. (If I were the head of this OEM, I’d have an initiative to have this at 100% in a month). The ratio of positive to negative reviews was 15:16….so, there is a better chance than a coin-flip that everyone that depends on these dealers (including themselves) from OEM, distributor to Mfr. has the potential for lost sales based on dealer online reputation.

    This and other digital opportunities can be addressed very easily:

    1. The OEMs must get involved. The days of “we have a web site, so we are good” were gone a couple of years ago. OEMs can easily turn their field reps loose to help their dealers secure their Places page on their dealer visits.

    2. Continued online reputation management is just as important, and there are companies that specialize in it for dealers such as Duo Web Solutions.

    3. All of us need to pay attention to what’s going on outside our industry. Let’s face it, we aren’t at the forefront of many technologies since we aren’t as large. However, it is very easy to look over the shoulders of the very-well funded ones including automotive & big box retail to see what’s new and observe consumer shopping behaviors.

    This and other digital opportunities are here for us today, and dealers need our help. They have the toughest job out of any of us.

    I challenge everyone that collects a paycheck from this industry to make a commitment of doing whatever they can to help out dealers.

    Thanks again,

    Craig

  179. I could not agree more, Liz. I’ve spoken to a few of our own accounts about this very topic after doing as you said and reading their google or manta reviews. They’re venomous!

    Strangely enough, most of the folks I’ve spoken to have an “oh well” attitude about it or “at least folks are talking about us.” I can’t understand this thinking. While there’s no need to get into an argument with some anonymous hater on the web, because that will certainly backfire, I would have to respond, were the review about my dealership.

    You are 100% right though. People see those consumer reviews and they make a difference when deciding whom to give their business to.

  180. There is still some apprehension for many dealers (and OEMs) to crack this nut. They think that one negative review is going to somehow torpedo their business and so they often look the other way and deny that anything bad ever happens in their company. No business is perfect and mistakes will happen because businesses are largely run by humans. Ignoring issues is not going to make them magically go away.

    The worst part of this whole scenario is not the guy that posted a bad review. It’s the other 80% of customers that had a problem and just went away without making a peep. At least the guy that tooted his horn gave you an opportunity to (publicly) address and fix the issue.

    Back when i was working for a large automotive group I witnessed that they thought CSI was everything. Many dealers artificially pumped up their scores by incentivizing customers with gimmicks- some as blatant as stapling a couple dollar bills to the surveys. Today the internet has educated the buyer and forced transparency among businesses. As Liz points out, measures have been put in place to dissuade business from artificially filling the balloon with all positive reviews. Customers can see through that anyhow.

    Lastly, Craig’s point is poignant- OEMs can help dealers with claiming their Google Places pages. I’ve said it to many companies before and will continue to say it- PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT YOU ANYWAY. YOU MIGHT AS WELL PARTICIPATE IN THE CONVERSATION!

    Cheers…

  181. Hi Liz: I am very pleased to read your article drawing attention to online reputation, I agree with your recommended approach on all points. One of my favorite quotes on this topic is from Warren Buffett;

    “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”

    A few notes to add:
    1) The only way to have a review removed from Google Places or any of the other review sites (ie Yelp, Yahoo Local, Bing) is if the reviewer does not utilize a valid email address when they post the review. If this happens, report it to Google and/or review site provider and it will be removed.

    2) Posting fake reviews will get your banned by Google — forever. Given that 75% of an average dealers traffic, this would be a major problem. Do not even think about this route.

    3) Bad reviews aren’t bad. What I mean by this is all reviews give you insight to your business — be honest with yourself about the validity of the statements — do you have areas to improve upon? Plus the broad platform of the web actually gives dealers an opportunity to respond in their own voice when they do get an unfair, unbalanced “bad” review. People are reasonable, they can see when a reviewer is being driven by emotion and/or their own self interest. When the owner of a dealership responds to a review like this publically, in a calm, customer-focused way, generally the result is positive.

    4) Dealers always ask “How do I get customer reviews?” A-S-K. If I was a dealer, I would invest in a few affordable laptops for my sales and finance team. When a customer has just purchased their shiny new toy hit them up for a review when they are flying high! No brainer!

    Heather Blessington
    CEO , Duo Web Solutions

  182. Hello I’am with the Arizona Precision Motorcycle Drill Team. I was wondering if your company would support us by supplying us with your shoei Helmets. In return we would like to advertize your Company at our events & performances. We also would like a banner we could put up at our Rallies and performances. I hope you will work with me by one supplying us with helmets and two by us advertizeing your products. I would like to get some sponsors to help us and you are one of them in which I have chosen. I’am looking forward to working with you . Sincerely Yours, AZ Drill Team Coordinator… Debra Wallace

    1. Hey Larry, I assume you’re referring to our enewsletter. There is an unsubscribe button at the top and bottom that should get you off the list. But, to save you a step, I’ve unsubscribed you from the Powersports Business mailing list. Let me know if you need anything else. cgerber@PowersportsBusiness.com

  183. Great news, I grew up near redbud track and trail and I was lucky to have a place to practice and race quads. This will do wonders for the local business.

  184. What do you think of that made ​​Hison gives false CE certificate and that customers who purchased ons can not register the Jets?

  185. The economy is still struggling. Typically a motorcycle is a second vehicle and isn’t practical for everyday use and the cost can’t be justified.

  186. Words cannot even describe how much fun my son has had riding his Can Am in local trail rides and have the people gather around and straight up admire this machine! One of a kind!!!! Bad Ass!

  187. After a few years of owning a power sports shop I have ran into a problem that I’m not sure how to handle. Sometimes you get a customer that will need a repair that exceeds the value of the vehicle. During this time I usually try to explain to the customer that in this case it may be best to consider, used or aftermarket parts. The problem with this is that I can’t warranty the work. Sometimes it doesn’t work out well with used or aftermarket parts and I end up fixing the vehicle the right way for free. This presents a few different problems. Do you think I’m better off just refusing this work, or quoting the outrageous price it would take to fix the vehicle? Most of the time when you refuse they take it somewhere else, which is fine with me. This however does not sound good in person to person advertising.

  188. I think this is a very worthy cause, more companies should do more for our wounded veterans if a small company can do big things, big companies should do bigger things for our wounded veterans.
    Thank you uvcountry

  189. Happy to hear that Kevin and Mona are making a comeback. I have always liked the BBC line of bikes. Welcome to San Bernardino CA

  190. Well hopefully Kevin and Mona can clean up the image of Big Bear Choppers over time. It will be a long and hard slog but the styling of the various models is still pretty cool today. There are those who say that fat tired choppers are dead but there are many more who still desire them. This is motorcycling, not a bloody fashion show.

  191. Liz, you touched on a very, very important topic. This is a critical, yet often invisible part of every company that is in business to make a profit. We provide clients with the technology to track and listen to their phone calls. It is common that new clients are often shocked by what they hear when they first start listening to their calls. Almost every business improve on their phone skills. We have clients that provide phone training for businesses and it is amazing to compare the “before and after” results.

    There was also a study conducted that called about 3000 car dealers after-hours. The results showed that 38% of them either had no voicemail or a voice mailbox that was full. That is essentially like slamming the door in the face of 40% of people that wanted something from your business.

    The other challenge with voicemail is that even when people DO reach your voicemail, 80% of them simply hang up without leaving a message. Utilizing call tracking technology, companies can capture that caller’s information regardless of whether they leave a message or not, giving you the opportunity to call them back.

    Missed Calls are another “profit leak” for companies. These are people that call your company, maybe wait through six rings, and hang up before anyone picks up. Again, with call tracking these calls are also captured and companies are instantly alerted that they missed a call.

    Thanks for shining some light on this crucial topic!

  192. The alsops are criminals. do NOT do business with these people. We that have been cheated, hope that justice will be done and that nobody will be burned by them anymore.

  193. I can’t believe anybody would glorify these scumbags. After ripping off countless people including wire fraud for overseas purchases, the audacity to tout themselves as “back in business” is sickening.
    Apparently Doc Robinson’s on Mona’s teet here and on Cyril’s blog.

  194. Kevin Alsop is a lying, cheating crook in my opinion.I sold two of my bikes to finance my dream bike (Bear Bones) after visiting B.B.C. in late October. On Nov. 14th I wired $10,000 of my hard earned $ for a deposit on my build, A week later the E- Mails, phone calls ended, My money gone now with Kevin hiding behind bankrupcy.I never recieved a phone call from Kevin as he stated in this article.Justice will be served one way or another,Watch yor back Kevin, As you know, I am not the only one you screwed.For anyone out there wanting to do business with, RAGE HARD DON’T !!!!!!

  195. SELL YOUR JUNK TO THE MEXICANS. SUPPORT MEXICO. STAY IN MEXICO THATS WERE YOU BELONG. WILL NEVER BUY AND WILL SELL ANY THING THAT YOU HAVE MADE OR SOLD. MEXICAN LOVERS////////////////////

  196. Looking to purchase replacement neck role parts for Shark Evoline 2 Helmets. Do you sell either P/N EvoLine – IN9110P OR
    EvoLine – IN9111P?

    Thanks

  197. I hope that people who have been screwed by BBC will at least put a call into or send a claim and a letter to the trustee in the bankruptcy filing by BBC and encourage them to investigate kevin and mona for fraud. How does it work that an “alleged” creditor, Simon Scott could buy assets including the name, the trademarks, the intellectual property, equipment, etc and kevin and mona are continuing on with their business as usual, manufacturing big bear chopper models, planning their ride the mountain event, keeping their BBC website and facebook? WTF?

    1. You are absolutely right Lyn, I’m not even an interested party, but I research controversial issues like this and I don’t see how this can be. I would tell anyone who lost money the first time around to file a new claim letter, print out and attach a copy of the the above article from power sports.com and other available online sources and send it to the Federal District Court Bankruptcy Trustee who did their filing for further investigation.

  198. The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation® is grateful for the ongoing support we receive from the powersports community. Motorcycle dealers around the country support our national Ride for Kids® program, which has helped us raise more than $67 million for medical research and family support since 1984. Much of that support has come from our longtime presenting sponsor, the Honda Riders Club of America.

    At our events, kids and their families can forget about cancer for a few hours and just have fun. If you haven’t experienced Ride for Kids®, we invite you to join us for the ride of a lifetime! Learn more at http://www.rideforkids.org.

  199. A very good article to read on a Monday morning! I am a sales consultant at Central Florida PowerSports,and I found the article very motivating! It is a numbers game for sure,but every NO puts you that much closer to the person who will say YES!

  200. I just came onto your post and found it quite interesting. I am also associated with SMS Marketing, SMS text Marketing ,text Marketing, text Messages marketing, and enjoy to read the stuff on the same as its rarely found on internet. Thanks again for writing such a good post.

  201. Why would the “Highway Commuting Range” be based on 50% constant speed and 50% stop-and-go? By definition, “Highway” means constant, and “City” means stop-and-go. How can you determine the “Highway Commuting Range” if the test doesn’t include actual data from 100% contstant speed highway operation? What gives?

    If the “City” range is based on 100% stop-and-go operation, then the “Highway” range should be based on 100% constant speed (over 55mph) operation. Why would it be determined any other way?

    For prospective buyers, honest range estimates are crucial for electric vehicles because when they run out- they’re out. You’re stranded. And since “The electric vehicle segment of the motorcycle market is at a crucial point”, it’s an especially bad time for the MIC to implement a new protocol that provides prospective buyers with erroneous and misleading information.

    Get it together, MIC. Honesty and facts will go a lot further in this emerging market than deceptive smoke-and-mirror tactics. The OEMs and the MIC should be straightforward and honest with the public about current EV performance- or it will come back to haunt you. Shame on you both.

  202. Those who criticize the Alsops’ obviously don’t know anything about business. Unfortunstely, Obama didn’t include them in his $768 Billion stimulous plan, like he gave to GM, AIG, JP Morgan Chase and other companies. But you all have valid complaints, you paid your hard earned money and didn’t get what you paid for…….yet. It’s gonna take time, but I’m confident they’ll make it good, somehow. Look at what they’re offering their dealers, maybe they can do something similar for you? Work through this. Owning a quality Big Bear Chopper will be well worth the wait.

    Lovin’ my 2009 DA Pro Street

  203. “Companies like Big Dog and American Iron Horse — and, most recently, Big Bear — fell victim to the Great Recession, and the market had moved on to smaller customization outfits, right?”

    to “dissatisfied”: While I see only one company which has revived from ashes. BBC-RHC – go forward!

  204. What an amazing idea to bring to the motorcycle industry. As an industry veteran i would walk in to dealerships across the USA just to check out the store and products they sold. So many times i would walk around and no one would even acknowledge i was even there. Every customer should be greeted with at least a hello. the BWW story probably contributes to the company having a record stock year.

  205. I HOPE YOU WERE NOT CHASING ANTELOPE BEING AS THAT IS CONSIDERED HARASSMENT OF WILD LIFE AND IS ILLEGAL. THIS GIVES ALL OHV’ERS A BAD NAME PLEASE REMOVE THESE ARTICLE BEFORE THE ANIMAL RIGHTS PEOPLE THROW A FIT

    1. I hope he wasn’t going faster than 70mph as that is dangerous and also gives ohv’ers a bad name. Please revise the speed limit to a respectable and safe 35mph. If you cannot do that, I advise you to take the article down before people that care about safe driving throw an absolute fit.

  206. Honda must not have even asked any of their dealers if they were happy with an overpriced outdated system, administered by an unresponsive top heavy company that doesn’t care about the users……..hence 45 minute hold times for support ……..Once again Big Red showing how out of touch they are…….hmmmm….sounds like lightspeed ……..birds of a feather

  207. Some at honda have to much time on their hands. Perhaps they could use it to come up with some new products before Polaris completely eats their lunch ! Lightspeed is in the same mindset. Zios is better and much less expensive.

  208. What kind of minor issues are they running into with the Cat? A missing door, and a blown tire after an hour of riding on a machine that has been used for testing as it was here, doesn’t exactly sound like manufacturer issues, but rather misuse/abuse. (Suspension is something entirely different). I think a real “scientific” test is needed, because anything otherwise means nothing. Take a look at any combination of riders opinions, whether it be cars, boats, snowmobiles, etc. Everyone has their own idea of what’s best, and what works for them. This type of “misleading reporting” could sway someones purchase decision. Let the facts speak and keep the personal opinions to yourselves.

  209. That’s one hell of an “Analyst”! Ever hear of a gps to check speed with? My guess is this guy has never riden an atv/utv before.

  210. Hi, this is Dave with ADP Lightspeed. At Lightspeed we take very seriously the comments of our customers and members of the powersports community. I’m not sure that “top heavy” is the correct term, however it is true that it takes a considerable amount of organization to effectively support 3000 dealers in three markets as opposed to a only a few in one market.

    If dealers are experiencing issues with ADP Lightspeed we would like to help. Our customer support group is always available at
    800-521-0339 or you can e-mail me direct at dave.johnson@adp.com. I would be glad to assist you in any way to help you become more efficient and profitable.

    Best Regards,

    Dave Johnson

  211. Why criticize the article? It was stated as non-scientific and was the opinion of an individual after taking both vehicles for a test drive. I have been debating the purchase of either the Wildcat or the RZR 900 for about a month now. I’ve been reading “scientific” comparison articles as quick as they come out and was ready to purchase the Wildcat. I’m 46 and wouldn’t mind a smoother riding vehicle. Yesterday I went to the dealer to make my purchase. I had previously taken each vehicle for a test drive around their parking lot and was happy with the Wildcat. Before I signed the papers I noticed a dirt test track behind the dealer’s store and asked if I could tear it up a bit with the Wildcat and the RZR 900. THE BEST MOVE I HAD EVER MADE. Everything that the above article stated was exactly what I noticed. But let me elaborate. My test vehicle was brand new and the Fiberglas doors rattled to the point of cracking the mounts that hold them on. I didn’t blow a tire like in the test above. I’m guessing that was a fluke. Lol. The low end torque of the Wildcat did not compare to the RZR at all and the control was not close either. While driving the RZR I had complete control in the turns, over whoops, and doing wheelies (lol – kidding about the wheelies). With the Wildcat I felt like it controlled me. I couldn’t keep the rear end where I wanted it when cornering thru whoops. I’m not a pro and you guys could probably do better, but as an average Joe after taking a test drive, my purchase went toward the RZR. I think the article above is just what the average person needs to read… Thanks.

  212. When in Vegas this past december ( 2011 ) i rented a bike from Eaglriders, I chose Eagleriders over Las Vegas harley Davidson becuase of an article i read in a motorcycle Magazine.. The service i recieved from your Outlet in Vegas was terrible, The problem started with the GPS i rented with the bike, I realize the faulty GPS is not your your responsabilty, and was told that when i phoned to tell them that it wasnt working, i spent the day pretty much lost and rode around pretty much aimlessly and could not find my way back to Eagleriders. I should mention that i rented the bike for 24 hours but only used it for a few hours becuase of the frustration i was experiancing .. When i called them for someone to either give me directions or have some one come and lead me back to your location i was treated with total disrespect, i was told that service was not included in the rental package and would have to pay for it..and was made to wait almost 2 hours at a gas station for some one to come and get me. The person i was trying to follow was pissed off and drove so fast thruogh the city i could barely keep up. Also, a shuttle back to my hotel was supposed to be included in the rental but when i asked about it i was told they didn’t have time, I had to call a taxi which cost me $30,00.. If i would of knowing how badly i was going to be treated i would of called and told them where the bike was a just took a taxi back to my hotel from the gas station.. I am Director of our local HOG Chapter and when ever bike rentals comes up i don’t hesitate to tell the other members, or anyone else, of my experiance in Las Vegas.. I’m from B.C Canada and one of the main reasons for going to Vegas at that time of year was to get away from the snow and ride…

  213. There are some definite issues with this test report. First, a blown tire and missing door are results of abuse moreso than failure of the machine. And to the poster that talked about the doors rattling, the doors aren’t fiberglass like you said. Rattling is a result of either poor setup or damage. I’ve been around several Wildcats and none have rattling in their doors.
    For the body roll, that is a result of long travel suspension that is designed like true off-road racing machines. When you move the suspension pivot arms closer to the center of the machine to achieve greater travel, body roll will increase. Center of gravity isn’t though and the machine remains quite stable. The body roll is something that most off-road racers have learned to deal with in long travel machines.
    That being said, the steering is a problem with the Wildcat, it doesn’t turn as tight as it should by any means. This an issue Arctic Cat should look at and improve.
    But for overall off-roading at speed, the Wildcat will beat the RZR XP. The RZR is a good machine, but needs to have a completely redesigned chassis to achieve the true long travel that the Wildcat has. And the RZR also needs to toughen up their suspension mount points and rear radius arms, those have both been trouble areas.
    I think the final proof in the testing would be for each individual comsumer to test drive each machine in an environment that replicates how they will drive typically. Then choose the machine that works best. Some will choose the RZR, but some will choose the Wildcat..simple as that.

  214. This is a great opportunity for all involved with motorcycles be it manufacturers, dealership and especially organized clubs and forum to advance their social interaction and increase mmembership and customer loyalty. Our app. BikerQuest has proven that for us and we will be moving to this new platform in order to create the national version of the app that will add so much functionality I encourage all to visit http://www.dsgdynamic.com and see what they can do for your organization

  215. “We’re the only ones in business”? Actually you’re not. There are other companies out there such as Desperado who continue to thrive, WITHOUT having screwed customers out of their dollars. I can’t believe the nerve of these two scumbags. It’ll come full circle Alsop…and boy is it gonna be fun to watch when you and the old lady are thrown in the can for your thieving and wire fraud. Scott Simon’s a fool.

  216. Best of luck to Zero. As the infernal combustion engine transitions to soon becoming a collector item the need will be great for alternative power. Major automotive manufacturers are well ahead in the transition. When the 24 Hours of LeMans is won by four diesels, two of them electric hybrids, the writing is on the wall.

  217. Why would you name drop Harley Davidson in the title to make it sound more interesting… Not a good title for such a simple nonsense award announcement…

  218. Informative article. I work for McGladrey and there’s a white paper on E commerce on the website ( http://bit.ly/HJbEFy ), with information on online retail, defining its scope within the retail industry

  219. This increase is a direct result of the efforts of Mr Schram. I’ve worked with Chuck over the last 11 yrs. He sets the bar very high, and is an example of how a Sales professional should treat his customers.

    I originally worked with him during his time at Polaris Industries. Chuck was all about the dealer as he realized without the dealer you have nothing.

    Too bad some of the manufacturers don’t understand this!!

    Great job Chuck.

  220. “This lawsuit is resolved and everything is clean. This lawsuit is kind of a reminder or warning to us because before we were not quite familiar with the U.S. market. But after this case happened, we know the laws in America. Now we do everything according to the American regulations and law. We do everything according to the requirements.” THEN: Could Mr. Lai explain the CPSC investigation into CF-moto powersports?

    I used to be a dealer – parts are NOT available. If you want a new float or needle and seat for a carb – u have to buy the whole carb! What a joke! The chinese do NOT understand the American market!

  221. This really ups the ante in the UTV arena! I can’t wait to take a test ride in one of these. I think it will make my beloved Rhino feel like it is stuck in quicksand:-)

  222. As avid off-road riders and enthusiasts, anything we can do to preserve and enhance off-road riding areas is welcome. In many areas of the country there are just too few great riding areas. We also have to consider not only our needs for our sport today, but the needs of our kids and grand kids now and into the future. We all have to work to preserve riding for them too.

      1. Correction: Piaggio owns Aprillia along with several other well known brands such as Moto Guzzi, Vespa, Gillera, etc.

  223. That’s the Aprilia engine that Aprilia manufactured for their automatic scooters, as in the new Aprilia SRV V-Twin Scooter. John Deere now has the power of a scooter in a side by side. John Deere should stick to making great tractors.

    1. Jared, how many scooters do you drive that have almost 850cc of motor. Just wait until you drive it.

  224. http://www.madisonrecord.com/news/244001-motor-scooter-fatality-blamed-on-deflated-tire

    Doing things by the law?
    Motor scooter fatality blamed on deflated tire
    5/15/2012 8:55 AM By Kelly Holleran
    A man has filed suit against the manufacturers and sellers of a motor scooter that he claims was produced with the wrong size tire, which resulted in an accident in which his wife died.

    Chris Holly claims he and his wife, Dawn Marie Holly, were riding on a motor scooter traveling north on Fisher Road in Clinton County near its intersection with Hazlet Park Road on May 22, 2010, when the rear tire on the bike deflated. In turn, Chris and Dawn Marie Holly were thrown from the motor scooter, according to the complaint filed May 2 in Madison County Circuit Court.

    Due to the collision, Dawn Marie Holly suffered a severe skull fracture and was killed while Chris Holly’s right ear was severed, the suit states. Chris Holly also sustained a concussion and disfigurement to his face, experienced an injury to his right shoulder, endured pain and suffering and incurred medical costs of more than $26,000, the complaint says.

    In the complaint, Chris Holly says the bike’s manufacturers allowed the bike to travel at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour, but included tires on the bike that were safe at speeds of only up to 45 miles per hour.

    “That, as a direct and proximate result of the aforesaid negligent acts of the defendants, the rear tire became severely worn after only five thousand miles of use and failed,” the suit states.

    Chris Holly names JMP Cycle and Hobby, which sold the 2009 QLink Commuter 250 motor scooter, and QLink, which manufactured the bike, as defendants. Other defendants include Turinar, which was a partner with QLink; Chain Rail Group Corp, which distributed the bike for sale; CFMOTO Powersports, which assembled the bike; ChunFeng Holding Group Hangshou Motorcycles Manufacturing, HS Motos, Chongqing Huansong Industries, Chongqing Huansong Syton, Chongqing Huansong Motorcycle Sales and Hisun, which distributed the motor scooter.

    The tire’s manufacturers — Cheng Shen Rubber Ind., Cheng Shin Rubber doing business as Maxxis International-USA, Maxxis International USA, Maxxis International Taiwan, Maxxis Tech Center USA, Toyo Tire USA, Toyo Tire Holdings of America, Toyo Tire North America and Toyo Tire North America OE Sales — are also named as defendants.

    The motorcycle and tire defendants negligently allowed the motorcycle to be designed and to contain a tire that had insufficient hardness and durability, failed to warn Chris Holly not to operate the bike at more than 45 miles per hour, failed to warn of dangerous conditions, placed a tire on a bike that was faster than the tire was capable of handling, failed to comply with the manufacturing standards of the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration and placed a tire on the bike that failed to comply with the standards of the Tire and Rim Manufacturers Association, the complaint says.

    Chris Holly will be represented by Ross T. Anderson of East St. Louis.

    Madison County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-580.

  225. I need help with info on a Diamo on-off road motorcycle ie. dealerships and repair in Maine. The bike was given to me without a lot of detail. I’d like to have a mechanic assess the thing but no one around here has ever heard of the brand.

  226. I’m not sure if I am at the right place, but I own a 1982 honda goldwing in good shape, the problem I have is the trike has no reverse, Is there a kit a person could install to alllow reverse.

  227. Patty,

    Nice overview & takeaways. Another key item is to ensure everyone in your dealership is aware of the specials available for customers.

    It’s so frustrating when a customer unlocks a special and the staff doesn’t know what to do with it…

  228. I am close to blocking power sports business!
    I am sick and tired of the power sport auction advertisment coming up everytime I click to red a artical. If you guys are that hard up for advertising dollars you should just quit the business news. I will just wait to see the newspaper once a month!!!

  229. polaris as of now is king i hope dealers are smart enough to maintain margins i would rather sell 2 and make 3000$ ten to sell 6 and make the same less work less expence more satified customers

  230. It’s nice to see them do so well. My guess is the attention they pay to their manufacturing and the customers is paying off. I should have bought some stock.

    Ken Varoli Sr.
    Motorcycle Pride LLC.

  231. Ivan, time and education will ensure that this group will be a force in ATV sales worldwide. In regards to the spares shortages issues, resolutions have come on in leaps and bounds, with the company putting together a management team that is expericenced and innovative.
    The cultural and economice diffences between east and west are not insumountable.
    Your post reeks of sour grapes….and what of the unrelated scooter post. Throw enough mud and perhaps some will stick?
    The internet is a forum for free speech and I respect your comments but time has moved on. Perhaps you should too.

  232. Honey works better than vinegar, but a basic understanding of customer service is required to “get it’. PU must reap what they sow…

  233. I have a customer with both (to make a fair comparison), he noted the Cat rode better, but did have to go back with parts falling off (exhaust, door, etc.) after a short ride. He also noted the Wildcat made for a much dirtier ride. Running in slightly wet conditions proved imposible to stay reasonably dry. RZR on the other hand, has better deflection.

  234. Not a big fan of PU but Indy show has sucked the last couple of years and I’ll never go back. Never understood the location of Indiana in the middle winter for the biggest industry show of the year. Put it somewhere like Las Vegas and you might get more dealers to attend…

  235. I lost interest in the Indy show when it grew into a chaotic maze of semis and large blocks of Chinese scooters and atvs.
    But the real problem is by the time the Indy show rolls around dealers have seen the product on the internet or have the goods already in the dealership.
    I used to go to Cincinnati to see the new products and work deals. Unfortunately going to the EXPO is like watching reruns.

  236. Doin’ the best I can, mate. I’m in Indy each year.

    Do Valley Forge and Anaheim really draw more dealers? Is it worth the extra plane tickets, double the setups, and twice the nights away?

  237. There dealer program is very bias when it come to setting up new accounts. The LeMans Corp needs to focus on the small business .they are only concerned about landing the big fish when it comes to who they accept as a dealer account. There are other companies that are starting to grow as large as them that provide excellent service to the small guy’s.

  238. This isn’t the only bad decision they have made recently. After doing business with them for 14 years and always paying my account in full every month, they decided to require a personal gurantee. So i took my four HD stores and annual $200k worth of business elsewhere.

  239. Heaven forbid you would need to return something at PU good luck with that.
    Dealers are turnig to other suppliers like Western powers sports and Tucker rocky that want there business.
    There low attandance should be a wake up call for Fred at PU the motorcycle business has changed but they have not.
    Tell Fred Fox if he is not busy come to indy and check out the Tucker Rock and Western Power Sport booths they are packed with there lost customers.

  240. as a leader in the industry and the company that most supports the sport it is a proper choice to support the dealers that got you there. Your own events may do that better.

  241. Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialities has the worse return policy and attitude of any of the major motorsports distributors in my opinion and many other dealers. I was told by an ex-road rep that during a meeting with sales staff the head of PU (Mr. Fox) stated that returns did not profit the company only sales did and no one is asking dealers to return merchandise. This is not a direct quote but shows the management’s attitude to why dealers are treated so badly. We have about a 75% refusal rate on returns by PU. PU claims items are damaged, many times when the item was never opened. Our dealership used to purchase over $50K a year and we have managed to reduce PU purchases down to less than $5K. Our policy is: “Buy from anyone other than PU!”. It is a shame when the dealers are treated like liars and cheats. The real reason PU is not going to Indy, in my opinion , is they are CHEAP!.

    Purchase from Tucker Rocky, KK , Western Power Sports. They know how to treat customers!!!!!!!!

  242. I would have never expected Harley-Davidson would make such a stupid move in outsourcing its IT offshore. With all the returning military veterans in need of sustainable jobs you would think they would take advantage of all the tax credits and place a few vets to work. I would guess the majority of the Harley owners are US veterans however the increased sales of Harleys in India have caused them to share the wealth? Another fact will be security. The average worker in India makes around $7.00 per day so I guess a hundred dollar bill will get you a thumb drive of Harley data. I’m sure competitors of Harley are lining up to acquire customer information.

    I would have never anticipated Harley Davidson to turn its back on the USA. I guess anything is possible now. What a sad day….

  243. I think I can respectfully tell you what I think of PU. My husband worked for them for years. When he died, Fred Fox did not even bother to send a sympathy card. My husband was a loyal employee.

  244. “Engine Breaking System” sounds like a terrible idea. I’m sure the article meant “Engine Braking System”.

      1. let me guess your an artic crap fan there is a reason why polaris has gained so much of the marker share in the orv’s

  245. with the rumors about pu and lemains owning or at least supplying dennis kirk and ther return policy who needs them we only buy because ther salesman in are area works hard for us to overcome some of the problems and lack of concern for dealers that the parent companys have
    sleep well mr fox internet sales tax is comming and map policies

  246. these ‘sales’ are only to dealerships to be used as demo models, and to their European office, not actually to end-users…

  247. With new adventure bike competition from Yamaha, Triumph, and Moto Guzzi, and BMW’s soaring cost of ownership, BMW has priced itself out of its most lucrative Adventure category.

    Consumers now have very good alternative options at a much lower price point.

  248. Here’s an insanely logical idea: EPA mandates gas stations have a non-ethanol pump for use in applications which require non-ethanol fuel. This allows for E-10, E-15, E-85, and non-ethanol fuel choices at the gas station. Crazy, huh? Now, explain why this will never happen…

    1. Obviously you have no idea of the cost of a dispenser. The solution is not to require E-15 and not to do an Obamacare on mandated minmum fuel purchases. It would also be costly to mandate that the valves be placed to prevent gas residual from a previous purchasse not to be left on the hose

      1. Anytime the gov’t interferes with commerce the costs increase- that I’m quite aware of. My opinion here is based on the assumption that we will be required to have ethanol-blended fuels. For me it’s a no-brainer- there should be NO ethanol in our fuel. But given the current political climate it appears ethanol is here to stay. As for costs, the local stations here that offer ethanol-free gas use pumps that previously dispensed ethanol- new dispensers were not purchased for the non-ethanol fuel (it just uses a dedicated tank). Based on this I don’t see why it would be difficult at all to have ethanol and non-ethanol at stations using the existing dispensers. If ethanol is required, a non-ethanol choice should be required too. It’s stupid, but the only logical solution.

  249. Erik Buellreceives money to produce in USA, and pretend ” this funding will allow motorcycles designed and assembled right here in East Troy to be used in China, India, Europe”
    Hummm … producing in USA to sell the bike -pretended cheap- in China… don’t you think something is wrong?

  250. Wow, first it is the Greenies and the Sierra Club, now our own military wants to close riding areas.. what next?? Come on Marines, figure out a different area to train on!!!

  251. Gee, let’s mix unskilled riders with Booze
    and not be surprised by rider fatalities!

    I’d like to see a comparison stat’s between the Sturgis and the Moto GP attendance at Laguna vs accidents and fatalities.

    I’ve taught rider safety classes for the last 30 years for all levels both street and off road and raced successfully (with out a single broken bone) for over 40 years..

    But it never fails to amaze me at the ATTITUDE of self preservation differences between mostly V twin riders who THINK(?) they are beyond the need for skill development and the rest of the riding public, who has got a clue……..

    THAT BOOZE AND BIKES IS A FATAL MIX.

    And that, Oh by the way, that maybe they were not born with “predisposed DNA ” of bike riding skills.

    Is it really such an bother to take 1 or 2 whole days out of your entire lifetime to take a class, and learn the right way to ride a bike….

    Or is your EGO AND STUPIDITY BEYOND your OWN
    SELF PRESERVATION?

    The general public call them organ donors, murdercycles and worse.

    I just call it stupid arrogance of those riders part.

    Like the comedian said……Can’t Fix Stupid…….

    Unless YOU want to !

    Signed disgusted!

  252. Did I forgot to mention…..
    That dead riders like the situations mentioned in the article above,

    are unlikely to be repeat customers, now are they?

    Now THAT’S bad for your business!

    Perhaps business owners in our industry might contemplate that fact,

    And develop a more effective proactive business survival plan than what we have in place now to keep our customers,
    the very core of our businesses……coming back.

  253. One more factorL fixing Stupid is not possible; but wearing a helmet is. MI has decided that motorcyclists do not need to wear a helmet when riding. That of course, will boost our auto insurance premium for catastrphic injuries to catastrophic premiums, which is already better than half our premium per vehicle. No common sense in this state whatsoever…

  254. we need major changes at AMA. need new management. need changes in the dirt track racing program before it is lost. numbers are down at all of the events. lets say good bye to dingbat and company.

  255. im very interested in the green and black scortch bintelli but i want the one that looks exactly like the one on this page with the all green rims and the curved tail pipe but everyplace i check with that sales the scortch dosent have with those exact rims…. are they after market rims and tail pipe or is it a different model all together plz email me asap thanks

  256. Cold beer signs every where, attitudes every where..I’m cooler than you every where.

    Hurry hurry hurry, let’s see how fast we can ride and still stay on the road..

    STAY AWAY FROM THE CENTER LINE Folks!!

    Stephen, I’m sorry guy, it’s not just V Twin riders. Education will not be remembered after a few beers and slipping into the costumes some of these “riders” wear…it is plain and simple, lack of common sense and total disregard for anyone else’s safety.

  257. The critical need is to engage the customer in a CNA, that lets the customer know you GAS(give a Shi*&()

  258. Agreed, the key is to get in the game, “showrooming” is not going to go away one day. Powersports industry needs to train P & A staff in the latest sales strategy skills.
    Engage, harvest information and do your best to make the sale or a sale on something while you have that customer in your store…..Remember, the internet drove a customer to you, how you use that is your business.

  259. I ordered an Ignition Switch for a Yahama Rhimo 450 and paid for it through Pay Pal. The Switch I was sent is the wrong one and I want to return it. Can you help. Shipper Constantine Spero Showtime Power Sports
    York, Pa. 17406 Thanks tnix@ carolina.rr.com

  260. short and sweet , I will continue to support and ride my BBC and my 2008 sled prostreet. very unfortunate chain of events however for every 5 unhappy customers there are 20 that our proud to say “I OWN A BIG BEAR CHOPPER”

  261. How about this,,, Premium gas should have NO ethenal. We pay a higher price so we should get a better fuel. It’s that simple. I’d be more than willing to pay the higher price for Premium without any ethenal and be assured that the alcohal won’t be eating up my bikes motor.

  262. I am always taken aback with those of you who have been indoctrinated by government on how you are protected while wearing a helmet–NOT!

    Are you aware that helmets only protect you to thirteen and a half miles per hour? When was the last time that you traveled at that speed?

    1. I’ve been riding motorcycles fifty some odd years, and while I own several helmets I very seldom wear either of them. The last time I wore my dome cover and the only reason I had it to begin w/ was because it was cloudy and it started to snow later in the evening. I’ve been in one accident, because a lady cut into my lane w/o leaving me a window and I hit the side of the vehicle, I wasn’t wearing a helmet, scraped the shoulder of my jacket. I carry full insurance coverage, and it’s my head, thank you very much.

  263. This is no help to me. My power tools all hate ethanol; I’ve replaced fuel lines, filters, and carb parts. My motorcycles were built in 1973, 75, 76, 78, 81, 91, and 96 — none can use ethanol. Car and truck are both 1999 — no ethanol tolerance there, either. Replacement is not in the cards, until the economy improves. LOL

    Now, AMA, if you’re listening: it’s true that most bikes don’t have 4+ gallon tanks, but even among those that do, most owners don’t wait until they’re empty before filling up. We like to ride, not push.

  264. I have a CFMOTO 2007 ATV 250ST 4X2, and after hours and hours of web searching I cannot seem to locate a complete replacement wiring harness. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

    Type: GA009-3

    Manufacture No: 07000236

  265. been waiting almost 2 years, was told the bikes would be ready in late spring , early summer. now we get to wait lord know how much longer on the paper trail. and reports from europe doesn’t paint a rosey picture the norton, leaks oil, noisey primary drive. poor engine performance. lackluster service work. # 6 has already been resold. due to problems….. owners in europe are telling me to get my deposit back !!!!

  266. 250 seems like a high employee count for a web/marketing company. We are a small website design shop, but we have migrated dealers from PSN and similar solutions to our online software. We do custom dealership website design, CMS, SEO, CRM, inventory management, ecommerce, and much more. Dealers have more options than PSN and 50 Below, they just need to look for them.

  267. Eicher sold approx 700 Bullets into the US in 2012. If they would just get around to building a new air cooled Interceptor they would sell 10,000 of them faster then you would think. The Bullet is just too small for the American market.

  268. Nice article Mark,

    After spending years in NADA 20 groups it is very important to realize where the numbers come from, how they effect the operation, and how they go together. I always got a charge out of our group when a new guy would come in with a sky high average new car gross and they all wanted to know “how he did it”. Almost always with very few exceptions his average gross in used cars was bad and when you averaged the two he was no better than most of us.
    After losing my Jeep franchise to the Chrysler Bankruptcy in 2009 and continuing with powersports I am continually amazed at the lack of analysis by dealers. I guess the lack of a monthly financial statement by the manufacturers does not force he dealers to look at the numbers on a regular basis……too bad.

  269. Warranty, warranty, warranty! Until electric bike manufacturers are serious about warranting their bikes with a minimum of a two year warranty (especially those built overseas) be very cautious. Also look for manufacturers with extended warranties.

  270. I’d love to have the new P-51. I have a 71 shovel, stock, for 35 years, but it all started with tote goats and mini bikes. Always wanted a mustang! How do i get one? Glen: Malibu, Ca. 90265

  271. Its such as you learn my mind! You appear to grasp so much about this, such as you wrote the book in it or something. I feel that you can do with some p.c. to pressure the message home a little bit, but instead of that, that is fantastic blog. A great read. I will definitely be back.

  272. What is the specs on its size some places in Ohio can not ride the trails if it’s over 50 in wide and so far the only one that is good is the razor 800

  273. Just read John’s remarks about his EagleRider experience in Las Vegas. News flash… we have things called “maps” that most people can read and use to find their way around places they are unfamiliar with. Bashing the rental company because your GPS didn’t work sounds very lame and whiney. You were at the gas station. I’m betting they had a map there. Man up and find your way around. I was in Sturgis this past August for the first time in my life and managed to ride all over that area, go into Wyoming and Montana all without the aid of a GPS. I know, sounds impossible but it’s true. Pull out the map, figure out your next couple roads, stop, figure out the next couple roads, rinse and repeat until you finish your trip. There are some aspects to John’s story that sound like genuine concerns for the level of customer service but not having a GPS is not one of them. If you can’t ride without a GPS you shouldn’t be riding at all.

  274. As a Ducati rider I feel that they need to make a lower profile bike similar to the ST series of the past. Many people want the sport touring look and feel and do not like the feel of the Multistrada. Now on the flip side in Italy / Europe the Multistrada really works well. I think American riders have different needs and Ducati needs to fill this void. Just my 2 cents, I rarely comment on things but I feel strong about this.

  275. once again BRP has ignored engine performance as well as footdoards for the manual transmission! the suspension upgrade should have been made in 2011 after input from owners, but then the after markets guys ( elka, etc ) wouldn’t have been able to nail us for big bucks! BRP responds as well as H-D when it comes to listening to customers and they are just as proud when it comes to pricing accessories! an $89’00 liscense plate frame is a good example.

  276. Stil à very Nice bike ,i have Myself the rt from 2010
    I was hoping for à new engine like for or six cilinder, THE rotax v twin is good buth give à lot of noise.
    À bigger ingine gifs more confort

  277. Might be old fashioned, but a hand brake would be nice std equip on these bikes…..What do you think???? I vote to put them on std vs getting an after market one….After all if an after market makes them, there must be a demand….

  278. As a powersports attorney myself I have to raise this question:

    Are dealers aware that Most dealer agreements prohibit a transfer to any third party without specific approval from the OEM…

  279. This is great insight, however stating Distributiors don’t care is your opinion and not a FACT. DIstributors offer retail solutions….its up to the retailers to embrace the oppurtunity.

  280. Apple stores do surveys, I filled one out, they called me personally (by the stores manager) I gave her constructive feed back. Communication with your customers is a great advantage.

  281. Its true, most dealers sites are not personal and not current and are generally not interesting enough to return to. its like an online yellow pages. Templeted mass produced websites just don’t drive enough interest….

  282. Dave Hogge and Mike Rollo are finally getting what they deserve. They’ve been playing games for a long time. Hopefully things can get turned around for the sake of the employees, but this story doesn’t look like it’s going to end well. I’m glad I was able to find a good, stable job after my short employment there. It was tough knowing that a delayed paycheck could happen during any pay period and having that dark cloud looming over my head was depressing. I hope others can find success like I did. There were a lot of good, talented people who were taken advantage of at 50 Below.

  283. I hope the spyder is not selling at the highest price ,which no one can afford to b uy and play with.
    the excise , the tax is killing the brand indeed in malaysia.

  284. Smart move by Polaris to further diversify it’s product line. Buyers of the EV bikes will then be introduced to to the rest of the Polaris product line of motorcycles, ATVs etc. Just wish I hadn’t sold my Polaris stock a couple of months ago! EV bikes would also be a great addition to have on powersports dealer floors.

    Michael Levy
    Rider Rescue / Road America
    Roadside Assistance Programs for OEMs and Dealers
    http://www.RiderRescue.com

  285. Hello, I own a Scooter shop in Boca Raton FL.
    I have a mechanic who assembles and services
    All of my Scooters. I am currently using Puma Cycles
    And am listed as one of their Dealers on their
    Website. Please e-mail me some info about your
    Company, pricing,warranty info, shipping info etc.

    Thank You,

    Ryan

  286. Jennifer – I was saying that the distributors don’t care if the product is retailed via the internet or in a brick and mortar store. And that is without a doubt my opinion, and not a FACT.

  287. Love this bike tried to get one in September 2012 but the insurance was to much. If this bike was a little cheaper, you would sell these to all generations. I am 50 and I love it.

    can-am keep up the good products.

    Thanks
    michael

  288. Oh and good luck with service maintenance, there won’t be anybody in the US that knows how to fix these suckers! The whole company is getting kicked back to the UK.

    Buy American man! These are wanna-be American British assholes! Both Alan and Neil.

  289. je trouve le spyder st 2013 vraiment magnifique dans quelque moi j en aurai 1 mais j esite encore pour la couleur je v aller voir 1 concessionnaire pour les voir en réelle et me faire une idee , il va falloir que je passe encore ma formation de 7 heures,je suis tres impatient de l avoir, par la suite faire pourquoi pas faire parti d un club can am s il y en as 1 pouvez vous me repondre merci cordialement P S : je vient de la LORRAINE pouvez vous m indiquez 1 concessionnaire, g actuellemment 1 quad t g b street-r 500cmque g depuis 1 an pour me faire la main sur ce merci de vore reponse a+

  290. Please be careful when dealing with Go Pro Powersports as the history I have with them is not very good.

  291. Update: I texted with Phil again today. He said his home finally has power, but he’s still running the dealership off a generator, and only during the daytime hours. He’s waiting for a big shipment of Yamaha generators for his customers.

  292. Being a former employee and seeing inter-office politics and favoritism at it’s best, you knew that this was inevitable. Who cares about the owners. I think the money they probably stashed away is what got them in this mess to begin with.

    My concern is two fold. 1. It’s with the folks that wake up everyday and show up to work and do their job. 50 Below pays well when they do actually pay (it was usually a week or two after your original pay date – so sometimes you’d get two checks in one pay period too bad you were already a week late on your bills — and no I’m not kidding). I think a lot of good people are going to struggle for awhile. Fortunately, Duluth is well known for it’s call centers and has Health Care and Health Insurance Companies always looking for those who are capable. I really wish those folks the best.

    2. The masses of powersports, tire, pool and spa, and financial dealerships and/or firms that bought into 50 Below’s excuses and BS. Mike and Dave are not people you want to shake hands business wise.

    In closing, I would hope that a company like ARI could win a bid for 50 Below (if possible) and become a powerhouse in the industry as well as possibly keeping jobs in the area. Good Luck to all.

  293. Suzuki got what was comming to them, I was a suzuki motorcycle and atv dealer and they just about broke us.
    They did not produce any motorcycles or atv’s in 2010 to sell we were a sitting duck. we were supposed to sell year old units and stay in business. With this bankruptcy it will hurt the motorcycle and atv business
    because the brand is already falling by the wayside and customers will be leary.

  294. In Canada, province of Québec, we see only publicity for a SUV model vehicule. What is happening with the other models… Thank you.

  295. 1) Glad the courts found a buyer for 50 Below.
    2) Sorry creditors may still not get paid. (I’m one of them).
    3) With $5M purchase price – dealer websites will have to go up in price; the math just doesn’t seem to work for me.

  296. I am sure the court appointed trustee made the right choice after doing her due diligence on both companies! Those with the deeper pockets do not always have the brightest minds behind them!

  297. Looks like greed didn’t win (Finally). This was as good of an outcome for the people of Deluth and current employee’s of 50 Below as was possible. They, luckily, will not know the bullet they just dodged by missing the acquisition freight train known as Dominion.

    1. Believe me, we have dodged a couple bullets. I don’t think any of us wanted to go to Dominion. Today was the best day at work at 50 I think I have ever had.

  298. Truth told, few of the 225 jobs reside in the powersports portion of the company. It is something of an educated guess, but the powersports division of 50 Below employs 25-35 people with a number of additional shared resources.

    I wish the best to those people that the acquisitions displace, especially those on the losing end of the creditor list.

  299. Will BMP ever consider a tilting trike configuration for the front wheels? Love my 2011 Can Am Spyder RT, but hate the creepy sensation I get when in a turn especially on a highway at 65-75 mph especially when the curve is not banked. The steering feels like it is wobbling and coould under or over steer very quickly. Forget changing the suspension-make the steering less anxiety provoking and more like a two wheeler where I felt more control-more one with the bike!

    1. spend $199 and one to two hours install bajaron swaybar just put one on and its like night and day. flat turns no pitching or leaning on turns and you can then soften front springs backto 2-3

  300. With all due respect, to call social media a “craze” is just silly. When social media starts to become “less and less important,” I’ll be out of business, so let’s see who is right here as time rolls on (hey, maybe I’m hyping it just to have a business!?)

    Social media sites were founded as follows:
    Facebook 2004
    Twitter 2006
    YouTube 2007

    The world woke up to the power of these social channels in what, 2009-2010? None of them even had ads available for the formative years.

    We are entering 2013, heading full speed into Cyber Monday which is heavily promoted by retailers through social media channels projected to bring in $1.5B — overshadowing Black Friday sales. Retailers wouldn’t buy ads if the eyeballs weren’t there so why should we not embrace this as an industry?

    Smartphones are the other reason social media is ingrained in our culture for good. Social channels are default installed on phones, people check their Facebook page before they get out of bed. Sure, the social channels may change, but they won’t go away, they will just improve and bring us more and more amazing tools to connect with friends, family and business (ever try Google Hangout?)

    Rant over,
    HB

  301. I am totally with you Ben, this is a no brainer. The problem we have is helping dealers understand this opportunity. I’ve learned to boil it down to a few facts:

    1) Google organic search and Google shopping are two totally separate algorithms behind the scenes. If you are one of the first to market in your local area with your P&A on Google Shopping, guess what — you rank on top.

    2) On the average powersports dealer website, users have to drill down 5-8 clicks to even get to a P&A detail page (which often is not even optimized). Good luck getting that sale.

    3) How to people shop online? They “Google” it. Enough said.

    Thanks for a great article! HB

  302. Excellent, concise advice…particularly the point about not posting your content as a graphic image. We see this all the time, and its a major mistake because none of that content can be seen by the search engine.

    I will add one tip we see forgotten by dealers every day:
    All images should include ALT tags, this is just a fancy name for a text description of the image. An ALT tag shows up when a user hovers over an image on a website, a little box gray pops up that shows the description. ALT tags can be added to images on the PSN, 50Below, ARI and Dealer Spike platforms — just ask your rep how to do it.

    HB

  303. In reviewing the facts of the bankruptcy and the claims from so many people who lost tens of thousands of hard earned money, it’s hard to digest that this business is allowed to be up and operating and furthermore that the dealers (who likely took deposits from customers) who lost in the past would entertain having any sort of relationship with these people. I’m glad to hear they are offering deals to companies that if they order 3 or 4 they’ll discount and try to smooze over what was lost, but what about the individual consumers, some of who are US Soldiers and some deployed, who paid out 10 or 20K and have no bike, no parts and no returned deposit? What is BBC or the Alsop’s doing for those people while they’re celebrating their proclaimed “newfound” success?

  304. Very good ethical information. Its funny how you mention technology most of everyone neglects that in your business and as well all know it can hinder the greatest of products and service alike!

  305. I really hope that the RT-LTD floorboards can be retro-fitted to the 2012 model. The uncomfortable foot pegs have been my only real complaint since I bought mine last May. Most of the after market ones look cheesy!

  306. Great article Hal. It is exactly what I have been preaching to my team and that is why I am able to spend my winter’s in sunny Florida.

  307. I’ve had my gator for almost 2 months now and 220 miles and love every minute of it, has tons of power and is a strong competitor against all other side by sides, wouldn’t change a thing on it

  308. Holy crap, this is just now being addressed in Congress? Government is terblrie. I can only imagine the fury of bike dealers affected by this.I recall reading about the original bill before the stay was issued and it seemed unreal. Then I walked into my local dealer and all of the pint-sized motorcycles were gone and it became very real.

  309. It was a great gathering of the industry members. I hope they found the Return on Impact content of interest and value. My only question is what will they chose to think and do differently in 2013?

    With my best,
    David Nour – author, Relationship Economics / Return on Impact
    CEO – The Nour Group, Inc.
    http://www.NourGroup.com

  310. Enjoying our 2009 RS SE transmission. . Sure would like adjustable foot pegs for passenger and driver as lots of leg cramping in the one knee bended position on longer rides.
    I am missing my right leg and had to install a after market hand brake kit.
    Would like to upgrade to a 2013 limited model. Sure wish a hand brake was standard equipment.
    We now have 9000 kms on 2009 RS and deliver advising all tires need replacing. Short life for tires I would think.

  311. Is extreme live auctions a scam or a rip off ???Although some dealers claim they have lost money at a live auction events these allegations are NEVER backed up with coinciding documentation or court actions???As a prospective consumer one should find that disturbing. IF they were so mistreated would they not be able to show supportive documents ?Furthermore forums such as this is are impartial and will allow ANY comments reguardless if it is a compeditor, disgruntled employee ,or posts that state untrue statements vs the truth.
    This particular auction is currently under attack by both a major compeditor and from what is suppose to be a trusted public service .The 1st efforts of the reputation assasination came from the local st loius BBB masking behind their fair business and ethics jargin.When the real story alert is this company had a B plus RATING until turning down the local chapters attempt to solicite their BBB badge .It was at that time the BBB made a solid effort to defame the auction organization on a very public level .Our records indicate that the company was originally in good standing and under 100% complete compliance and in most cases was no longer even required to respond to any complaints from the St louis office .(documentation and emails will back this up)After repeated attempts to comply with (play ball)the local chapter the auction hired outside sources to do some investigating of their own THIS IS THE 20/20 COVER STORY THAT SHOWS THE BBBs relationship with extreme live auctions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Yo8kfV9kONw THE REAL STORY ALERT
    As this investigation unfolds more important facts surrounding the slanted stories told online are developing major concerns to the readers.Like why Dealer News has been reporting all of the opinions of organizations such as the BBB and attacking public auction services while at the same time helping carry out the agenda of one of it s very own ADVERTISING contributors .As the reader enjoys these half told stories and misleading conclusions that are being drawn the reader also can enjoy some excellent advertising on not one but several places largely plastered on the Dealer News web page .Should the possability not be taken into consideration that this large wholesale powersport auction that is a paying contributor to Dealer News is not a direct beneficiary of the public assasination of character of the smaller compeditor auction????

  312. I am not much for selling cold calls but have been selling insurance for a living for 10 years. I use systems like http://learnthesalesprocess.com and a few others. We only offer life insurance to low income families so any added tips are appreciated for that specific market. It is hard working with those that cant really afford it. We even pick up payments in person. Tough.

  313. We are extremely excited in this new venture, and plan on being the biggest and best in Minnesota. With having a brand that started in 1901 (Indian) and now Triumph (1902) next door to the competition started in 1903, it should bring more business to both of us, and help IMTC cut through the thick of the thick of the (hopefully end soon) recession. We welcome all Triumph owners and enthusisas. Triumph Motorcycles of the Twin Cities (TMTC) is on it’s way!!!

    Art Welch
    Owner
    IMTC &TMTC
    651-765-9988

  314. Tucker Rocky has nearly become my main aftermarket parts suppliers. I buy 90% of my tires from them. Great service, great sales rep. Very fortunate to have them as a contact in the industry.

  315. please provide any information on buying parts for a 500 bmx or 500 xy powersport sidexside in the USA.

    thanks,
    ed

  316. Sounds great, I hope as it should be this is included in my monthly ADP lightspeed subscription price! If not then ADP should work on the “glitches” it has now that I deal with on a daily bases, or put their resources toward better educated tech line personnel

  317. Thats too bad they are moving it to October.As a small shop and sole owner operator I cant afford to close and go to the show in October as this is one of my better months of the year for sales and service.What was they thinking? Almost everyone can get away in Feb.

  318. I may be interested in a Big Iron side by side. Is there a windshield and canvas cab enclosure, available for this model? Do you sell local direct. I live about 10 to 15 miles from your address. (mason Oh.)
    thank you.

  319. Wonderful article! That is the kind of information that are supposed to be shared across the internet.

    Disgrace on Google for not positioning this put up upper!
    Come on over and visit my web site . Thank you =)

  320. Great article, Tim. You drive the point right home (on a motorcycle, I’m sure!). The point of good customer service cannot be stressed enough or underestimated. It is the key to any good business.

    The Nevada Northern Railway is located in Ely, the most remote city in the continental U.S. Since most of our visitors come a long way to see us, good customer service becomes even more important. We pride ourselves in being cheery and providing our customers – our guests – with the best experience we can. Plus, as a National Historic Landmark, it is also important to honor this special designation.

    Don’t know what a gravatar is but you can find us at http://www.nnry.com.

    Happy Holidays & Happy Rails to You!

  321. I love the bike I own a 2010 touring Model I just wish it had more horse power 100 HP is Ok for your beginer rider but I have been riding for over 20 years and I would love to C see more HP another 20 HP would be great I don’t like it when A DAM Harley passes me. Then I break out my 1200 Honda and they can’t keep up with me . Please give more HP !!!

  322. I find it interesting that you write this article as if this is a “new” thing. Yet, right in the “Other stories that might interest you…” you have stories from 2006 talking about the same vehicle.

    You should check your archives.

  323. As a Dealer Principal , 19yrs experience with Cat, I own a store that has been with Arctic Cat since the late 60’s. Every manufacturer has a product issue now and then and they all take care of those issues as best they can.
    We were also a Bombardier Dealer for 20yrs and a Polaris Dealer for 9yrs.
    The “key word” here is “were”. In 2005 we decided to get back to our roots and go with the best…..Arctic Cat.

    Today we are only an Arctic Cat Dealer and I have nothing but the best opinion of their products. Arctic Cat is making the best product in the industry today.

    Where they fall short is in marketing direction. Yes, all the cute print ads over the years and the Race Program were effective. “Were” is the key word here. My opinion is they need to clean their own marketing department up and start looking for a new national marketing agency and a new marketing direction and not continue with or replace some of the current in-house staff.

    Just my $0.02.

  324. I believe that the last 5 years has been nothing but promises they can’t keep. You need a strong dealer network to sell your products and without that it doesn’t matter how good or bad your products are if you don’t appreciate your dealers. Cat is and has always rode on Polaris’s coat tail and the recent stock surge has been just that. I would stick with a company that and does appreciate the people that make them what they are. Opinions are just opinions and this one is mine but lossing the Cats was a good move for myself and my dealership.

  325. I too am a Dealer Principal, Arctic Cat dealer for 34 years, a 1997 dealer of the year for the Eastern US, and a John Deere Dealer for 40 years. Our business was started in the snowmobile business upon its inception with Deere in 1972, I have to come to consider myself a glutten for punishment to still be involved with the recreational business of snowmobiles and atv’s I guess its for the love of the sport. We have flourished and survived with the lawn and gounds care side while still holding on to the hope that the recreation side will come into the new age of doing business as a partner with the dealers. This means having product available upon demand of a retail sold order. ie I sold a new F800RR in august and at this time still do not have it. The programs havent changed in decades. You order them in April to hopefully get them in November. With the Deere product line and others I deal with they have an order replenishment system that fills in stock in 7 to 10 days even in the busy season. Also there is a small window to actually make a fair profit on these machines because next years are introduced during the heart of the season even if it is only new decals. And if you dont order what they say you need to order you dont get any rebates on the current year models in stock. This is not the case with the L&G side, They accually put a cap on the amount of models you can have in stock based on sales history which is pretty fair & If a rebate is announced its accross the board no matter how many you ordered or sold. With the Wildcat the order program was an intial order of 4 to become a dealer. with the new Gator RSX we were allowed 2 to start and if you sold one you could get another. See what I’m saying. The machines themselves were always hard to pull in a consistent profit so you had the chance of making some on the accessories. Now Cat is selling the Parts, Garments and accessories out the back door with their new shopatron affiliation thus bypassing the dealer. While Cat may have a cool new Wildcat which truely is’nt for all areas, their side by sides havent really changed or improved since they were introduced which has been the hottest part of the market. They are getting run over by other manufactures. Polaris and Can-Am here have done their job. At this current state of doing business with these type of manufactures that have no care in the world for their partners you wont find many happy dealers or dealers left to handle this type of product.

  326. Mr Potts,

    With all due respect for your tenure in our industry…you really messed up giving up Polaris and BRP in 2005.

    I am currently still in this industry, and I used to be a multi-line dealer (NOT Polaris) selling everything but snowmobiles.

    POLARIS and BRP to a certain extent have been and ARE CURRENTLY, ON FIRE!

    Brand loyalty is wonderful, but feeding your family and helping your business grow to it’s potential are every small business owner’s duties.

    See if you can get Polaris and BRP back and watch your PROFITS SOAR!

    All my best in 2013,

    Jack

  327. I have a 2011 model which I have 13,000 miles on, my main mode of transportation. I would have liked the larger brakes on mine as the drivers around here cause more than a few panic stops. Not only that, but the brakes always feel mushy. I had to buy the aftermarket footboards. The pegs were killing me. Got rid of the muffler and went with a performance muffler. Throttle response is great now. Still wish for more low end torque like the big bikes. I don’t like to have to use high rev’s to get power from the motor. Makes it feel like riding a crotch rocket. Don’t get me wrong. I love my bike. I would probably buy one of these new ones, but then I would have to go do a bunch of mods that make mine comfortable.

  328. Through Rider Rescue dealers can also include a year free Dealer Branded roadside assistance membership (as a sales incentive on a new or used cycle)… and or sell roadside assistance as part of your F&I programs.

    This Dealer Branded Roadside Assistance program also helps ensure that riders are towed back to the selling dealership… in the event of a breakdown.

    If you have any questions, please give me a shout at mLevy@RiderRescue.com.

    Michael Levy

  329. You’re right, overhead hasn’t gone up! We only need to sell 120 CRF250Ls to pay our property taxes. Come On! Dealers can’t live on these margins in todays market place and the OEMs know this and don’t care. The only number that matters to any of them is market share. And as for the future I’d agree, this units will sell to customers who hopefully will trade up, I just hope all of us are around to sell them.

  330. Former Arctic Cat ATV and SS dealer. I gave them up in 2008-

    1) I have been in this business for over 20 years. Rep conned me into taking more product than I needed.

    2) I found out that AC was dumping excess product in Murfreesboro TN thruough and auction that was selling stufff cheaper than I could buy from them.

    AC is not loyal to their dealers. then none of the OEM’s are either.

  331. It is great!!! Our local Harley dealer Roanoke Valley Harley Davidson just added this to their options for 2013. I was told when I asked about their used bikes and yesterday my wife and I left there riding their first leased Harley. A beautiful dragonfly green FLSTFI 2006 with lots of chrome. Just what I was looking for and it was a perfect fit for the lease program. We got it for only 2yrs only because we have never leased before but could have done 3 or 4yrs. We felt we may just like another ride in 2 years….Wow it is nice to be back riding again. I firmly recommend this for anyone not looking fora new ride or who have less than good credit. It appears their 90+ % approval is right on. Love it!!!!

  332. Any push within the industry to get lenders to consider motorcycles as actual modes of transportation? i.e., not strictly for recreation? It’s dumb that I can get an interest rate of 4% on a $15-20,000 car, but if I want a $15-20,000 motorcycle, the intrest rate shoots to 10% with the same terms. I believe the latest statistics show the majority of US buyers now indicate the primary reason they’re buying a motorcycle is for transportation, so the discrimination seems like a real barrier for buyers AND sellers.

  333. Good to know that there is a store which genuinely cares for the bikes that are being serviced. The owner has such great principles that he lives by and is not selfish as he freely shares his experience and services to other bike enthusiasts. It is not just having a business but it is about creating a community.

  334. Honestly this is an individual opinion, and you know what they say about those. Each is a great choose depending on the type of riding you want it for. Nither one off the show room floor will out climb or mud the rzr 800s which may not have the top end but will no doubt give you all the bottom end and power you need for off rode trail riding. The ride isn’t as smooth but if they would put a similar suspension under them as the 800s, and get them low bars out of the way they both would better in the mud and climbing hills for sure.
    Thx

  335. I’ve ridden bikes most of my life, never liked a Harley. When I turned 50 I fell in love with Harley Davidson. I’m a retired
    Army vet and want a Harley so bad now I can taste it. At 57 yrs old I do believe I need a Harley in my life.

  336. need a grille gaurd/bumper for a 2012 Rancher 600.Also want a back windshield,and a half windshield for hunting.Also want to supe it up some.
    Thanks

  337. i am interested in the iron side utv. can you give more information about it such as warranty,accessories,shipping to marion il and of course the price

  338. So what you are saying here is the Company is ready to repeat the same mistake they did in the early 90’s when they assumed all of their “loyal” snowmobile customers would also be their TIGERSHARK customers too.

    WRONG.

    It’s debateable too if Polaris is ACAT’s “largest public peer” as you mention. BRP and Polaris both surpass the ACAT Team. Where Arctic Cat is lacking is in their weakness in fresh marketing direction. Both BRP and Polaris are killing them in marketing.

  339. Lol, Limited edition, that’s a laugh…limited edition means lets use our left over parts to piece together a rig and sell it for more money!! FYI the dash, hood and rear panels are always matching colors!

    However this is a first with the doors to be put on, A+, they should come with them anyway…they have a great structural benefit & are flashy!

    1. You are right Bill they are matching colors, but they call them Limited when they actually paint them! The Limiteds will have painted plastic, alloy wheels with buckhorn tires, colored seats, up graded shocks. But the extras that are nice here are the cab extentions, the doors, bumpers, and a first on the RZR S 800 it has EPS which they havent had yet from the factory!!!

      1. It is not “buckhorn” tires. It is Bighorn tires. The other LE RZR’s have colored seats, painted plastic, and upgraded shocks also. That is why it is an LE. The EPS, cab extensions, doors & bumpers is all is different.

  340. I’ve been riding on and off road for 40 yrs. rode honda all the time, the spyder is the best all around. I have my goldwing for sale !!. the only picks i have are the back seat is a little tight for my wife ??. I’m not going to say why.?? driver floor boards look nice on 2013 model . Need better fuel milage, a bigger engine might help that. I own a 2012 LTD. I LOVE MY BIKE . Thank You.

  341. It’s great that Kolpin is launching new product. Will they be offering it on Home Depot’s online store along with their other products?

  342. When is Yamaha going to realize they need to bring in some larger dual sports and a full blown luxury touring bike? The venerable old Road Star is history yet they still keep bringing it back, the Stratoliner/Roadliner is an over priced bike that should have never been art deco’d like it was. The other stars are great bikes but not at the price point they need to be. Honestly Yamaha has lost it’s corporate way and no longer in touch with the broad US market. We do not all live in LA!

  343. You have lost contact with the buying public. Where is the real luxury touring bike? Where are the large displacement dualsports? Where are the 250cc -300cc sport bikes? Yamaha no longer listens.

  344. about time for a change , the original chassis for most of the models dates back to the 03 RX 1. To long to wait for change. also while i am venting, i hope they continued with some of the good features like cubby holes for equipment and storage. Easy access removable side panels and hood plastics. High seat for comfortable riding. One suggestion, consider bringing back the starting rope recoil, can be used in case of starter failure and low battery situations. Thanks for the opportunity to vent. Hope to recieve a response.

  345. I’m a huge Yami loyalist and hugely disappointed with their so-called “New Sleds”. This marriage w/AC has to be economy driven and, if it is economy driven, I suppose it’s best to find creative ways to stay financially afloat. 2014 marks the 7th production year of a beautiful but aging engine by Yami. The procross platform is now entering into it’s fourth year of production. Where is the new tech that we yearn for? There is no question that the new models will likely be a better platform than it’s predecessor. But it’s all old tech in my mind. I was hoping for a new “All Yamaha” model(s) that is actually made by Yamaha. I’m certain that Yami will lose some quality control by outsourcing the assembling of their new sleds. I shall sit on the sidelines for a couple of years and see how things play out. What a bummer! How do we like this economy now?

  346. If you think for one minute that your Yamaha is any better than the others, give your head a shake. They are all junk for the money we spend. The question is, what colour of junk do you like to drive?

    1. I shook my head, Claude but I still hear voices in my head saying “Yamaha’s are better, Yamaha’s are better”! I like all the other manufacturers but in the quality build/reliability/durability department, Yamaha has it over the others. Don’t believe me? Call Jackman Power Sports. They sell and service all four brands and the owner will tell you that they rarely work on Yami’s other than normal servicing. It is why me and many others by Yamaha. They may not be the best handling or best in ride compliance, but they still ride and handle very well. And when you add the best four stroke engines in snowmobiling!!! With this marriage, Yami will address their ride/handling deficiencies and Cat will now have awesome four strokes. I personally wanted to see an all new Yami platform. What we are now getting for 2014 is your choice between a Chevy or GMC.

  347. From what I see I may try a Yamaha Viper, but the guys here won’t tell you it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Slides than burn up, ski spidles that fall out when the ski is in the air, shocks that don’t last a seasons and best of all exhaust that cost a fortune to replace. There heavy and if you don’have a long track you well get stuck on the trail. Two former owner have gone back to SKI_DOO. Like i said every brand has it’s issues. What colour do you prefer to have issues with!!!

  348. yamahas dont turn, are heavy, and normally underpowered compared to everyone else . i have been getting rid of my yamahas for the last three years and am almost completely converted to brp got a new can am outlander which literally blows the doors off the grizzly and the renegade will make even the sport quad guysthat like to dune shake in their boots. in fact the only good thing i have to say about yamahas is they almost always get you back to the truck

  349. Are you planning to have new dealers in the south suburban Chicago area? Since Kirkpatricks in Manteno stopped selling scooters, there is no nearby dealer.My freinds and I have several Kymcos but need a dealer for service and parts.

  350. “Victory is 15 years young and just getting started”

    Oops! Some people might say that after 15 years, they should be well on their way. Guess not.

  351. Victory is only 10.7 years old (98-00 and then 04 to present) just your typical Polaris Marketing trying to boost sales!

  352. About time someone came up with some foward thinking. We in the older generation could use something like that. Good thinking.

    1. Hi Rick,

      I live in Indonesia and very interesting with this Gibbs Quadski.

      Pls inform me the model, stock and price.

      Thanks,
      Toto

  353. I have a 2011 Spyder RT, Some one has said he change his muffler from stock to modified for more power. What type of muffler? Also has anyone looked into the new floorboards on a 2013 model to see if they will mount on a later model? and if so HOW. But a little bit pricy. Thanks

  354. I don’t like the new “high tech” snomobiles. Too many riders I know have too many problems. A snowmobile trip has a small window to ride and the weather creates enough obstacles without having to worry about your snowmobile starting and running properly. I have been a snowmobiler for 35+ years and only once had a serious breakdown, a 1969 ski-doo with a broken driven clutch! I curently ride a 2000 Polaris 800 XCR 9,000+ miles, no breakdowns. However, I have spent many hours at the repair shop with my buddies waiting to get their snowmobiles fixed, Ski-Doo, Arctic Cat and a 06 Yamaha that would not start a -25! From what I know the Yamaha is the highest quality snowmobile made and when I am ready for a new one I will strongly consider one! I will not buy anything that looks or smells like an Arctic Cat!!!

  355. It’s funny this article is about Addiction Motors, when the real DIY motorcycle shop in the SF Bay Area is called Moto Shop.
    http://www.BayAreaMotoShop.com

    This was the first DIY shop – which opened in late 2011 as a DIY shop only – all they do is rent stations, 1-on-1 work with a mechanic, and workshops to teach you how. They don’t hope that you will run into a problem and need to hire help, instead they help you do everything. They don’t even do any service at all – and you can do everything you want there, with or without help, from changing your tires to rebuilding an engine.

    Moto Shop prices are about half those of Addiction Motors as well.

  356. How about doing business with companies that enforce a strict MAP policy?
    Unless the manufacture truly teams with the retailer then all you have is a pricing race to the bottom

  357. Ben, love it. One thing that I rarely see read in “showrooming” articles is that using a good retail finance offer is something that generally, online retailers do not compete with. Of course, this is only for larger purchase products, but I never see it with retailers like Best Buy which is amazing.

    #4 is probably the most effective, yet most under executed, strategy. I once read a dealer’s post about being so annoyed at watching a customer come in, pull out their phone, struggle trying to use it and just watching them through the entire process. Maybe the person was trying to just check an email or something and was having trouble. ENGAGE the customer.

    Thanks Ben, Hope all is well.

  358. Hi Sir.
    I truly agree with three of the four points you noted: 2, 3 and 4.
    Regarding the video quality, for me it’s different: I want to see professional or quite professional stuff: I’m disappointed when I encounter a video that is shaky or has bad sound. Nowadays, we can do very good videos also with mobile phones, that’s why I pretend a high quality in a video that is supposed to teach me something. Not to speak if I paid for it.

  359. Suzuki is using there failure in the auto business to purge experienced dealers so they can then setup new dealers that will buy anything that Suzuki tells them. Blame their motorcycle dealers for their failures! There new dealers will be out of business in months! Same old Suzuki! They probably brought the management team back from the car business?? Game plan!! Lets not supply our dealers with inventory for three years!! Then we can terminate them for not selling enough bikes!! High five!!! It worked! Now we can hire Barney & baby bop to be in charge of dealer development ! HO HO Goodie!

    1. Sounds about right, I know a dealer that placed 9th out of 47 dealers in their “Suzuki Club” distirct standings and was terminated, so its not on performance being in the bottom 2% as they state

  360. I know a dealer that placed 9th out of 47 dealers in their “Suzuki Club” distirct standings and was terminated, so its not on performance being in the bottom 2% as they state

      1. All the dealers in the district standings were established dealers for a significant period of time, This dealer had been in operation for 40+ years!the dealer closed not only placed 9th in the district placed in the top 5 in the region on one of the sales categories assessed

  361. The dealers stuck with Suzuki through all the corporate missteps, such as not building a Side X Side type vehicle and now they are throwing 98 dealers under the bus! From a manufacturers viewpoint, I would take the 2.8 % of the retail that Suzuki is going to miss by closing these dealers. I personally do not see how they can give up any retail. As far as signing up new dealers, there will be resistance to taking on the brand in this environment . We did not receive a termination letter but are considering dropping the line.

  362. Thanks for getting this out, the suzuki reps have been very closed lip about this. There were two levels of buyout, either you got $10,000 or $5000 to get out of the way. Suzuki apparently is going for dealers in bigger towns, and if that is the way they want to take care of their existing customers, i’m sure that their market share will continue to fall. I’m one of the 98 that was cut, and the biggest problem I see is from the beginning when they filed that if there was a chance that some of the dealers were getting cut when this was over, then this might not be so hard. The reps were told to say “don’t worry, this bankruptcy isn’t going to affect anything with the motorcycles”… So we go ahead and budget and make plans for shows and order the units… Now we get less than 2 weeks to finish this relationship out????? Say all you want about the dealers being cut are less than 3% of your sales, I find that hard to believe… I wish you luck in the future but I think you and your remaining dealers are headed towards another financial meltdown in less than 5 years with your current product offering and given the state of the economy for the next 5 years… This BK has been in the plans for a while… good luck to all of you that are left.

  363. @John Paulsen. Hi guys, a comment from the UK. Suzuki UK did a similar thing some 2 years ago – 30% of the dealer network gone…but Suzuki USA didn’t say it was cutting out dealers that were in the bottom 2%. What they said was – “the 98 dealers that were rejected comprised 2.5 percent of the company’s retail sales for the past 12 months” – in other words it was a collective comment; one of those 98 dealers could have done a bundle of sales and the other 97 could have done nothing. It’s the old Pareto distribution curve, the 80:20 rule. 20% of your dealers will do 80% of your sales. Yet the costs of looking after the 80% not-so-good dealers is 4 times the cost of looking after the 20% good dealers. So, think lucky they aren’t getting rid of 80% of the network.

    If your (US) big-bike market is anything like ours in the UK, then it has been slaughtere din the past 4 years. New, over 600cc registrations are down 70% on the past 4 years here – and for most of Europe as well. I’m just surprised Honda, Yamaha etal haven’t done it as well….

  364. I would love to find gear to make PWC cruising similar to snowmobile cruising. Things like waterproof saddle bags, ways to take coolers and tents with you>
    I have been searching the internet and there is basically no gear for PWC cruising>
    Help if anyone knows where to go for this type of gear>

  365. Bryan Duerst
    22 W, barbie rand blvd.
    Hilbert, wisconsin.
    54129
    920-524-1906

    Do you will send catalog to me.
    thank you,
    Deaf Invention / Engineer,

  366. What about repairs per mile? Some bikes tend to ridden a lot; others not so much. I wouldn’t be surprised to see 50,000 miles on a BMW after four years.

    1. Good point Michael. I’m not a BMW guy, but I know quite a few people who do ride them, and they tend to put way more miles on their bikes than the typical Harley owner, or any of the Japanese cruiser bikes either for that matter.

  367. Excellent ! Although I have been railing against “that’s how we’ve ALWAYS done it” for years, glad to see the tide MAY be turning. As far as how do you hit a fast moving target- you LEAD it ! Thanks.

  368. Suzuki’s manufacturing expertise and quality is far below the other Japanese manufacturers. Harley pawns off 40 year old technology as new in the name of heritage. BMW riders are smitten with the name. I have owned Hondas and kawasakis for over 35 years and they are a class apart. Yamahas are awesome too. BMW riders do rack up a lot of miles, but so do Japanese bike riders. And some of the high stressed Japanese bikes perform beyond what the stress levels on puny Harley’s and BMW may be subjected to. Go Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki.

  369. Chuck: Sent you an email and it came back “undeliverable”. Don’t have your home phone. Give me a call. John Burton, 865 577 4642. John Burton

  370. After having two bikes with ABS, I will never own a bike without it. One word of caution on the 37% reduction in fatalities statistic however, is that statistic does not account for the demographics of the rider. A person who is safety conscious enough to pay $1,000 for ABS is different from the crotch rocket stunter who will spend that $1,000 on a chip set and pipes. One of the primary reason insurance companies give discounts for safety related items is to capture safety conscious drivers.

  371. Yup, my dealer (3 miles away) got his ticket yanked;
    now, the nearest Suzuki dealer is 45 minutes away. Translated into gas money, that adds about twelve bucks to my round trip. Guess I won’t be bringing friends there to have a look around, and I’ll probably buy more parts on line.

    I’m not a dealer; I’m a customer. In my garage are a ’73 TS90,
    ’76 GS750A, ’81 GS450, and two (’96 and ’97) RF900Rs
    that all feel like orphans.

  372. Just curious as to what brand was the most reliable. I can’t imagine why that isn’t mentioned here. Seems like when some brands sales click up a couple of points in a quarter it’s a major headline . Anyone wanna guess?

  373. Well there you have it. Parent company goes BK so it can get rid of the dealers, both auto and POWERSPORTS it deems unworthy. Then forms a “NEW COMPANY” run by the same people out of the same offices selling the same product. Sound like something you have heard of before? Can you say Chrysler / GM? The fact that something like this happens is just wrong. The parent company has money to start another corporation but not run the old one? Our government started a scary trend when they scripted the 09′ auto fiasco when it comes to the dealer body, Dealers are independent businesses that consider a franchise an asset and it should be treated as such. Chrysler dealers got ZERO compensation and were left with all their parts, tools and vehicles, to bad they are your inventory, do with it what ever you can. The Suzuki dealers were LUCKY to get what they did, if you can call that luck. How do I know these things? I was one of the UNLUCKY Jeep dealers.

  374. Well there you have it. Parent company goes BK so it can get rid of the dealers, both auto and POWERSPORTS it deems unworthy. Then forms a “NEW COMPANY” run by the same people out of the same offices selling the same product. Sound like something you have heard of before? Can you say Chrysler / GM? The fact that something like this happens is just wrong. The parent company has money to start another corporation but not run the old one? Our government started a scary trend when they scripted the 09′ auto fiasco when it comes to the dealer body, Dealers are independent businesses that consider a franchise an asset and it should be treated as such. Chrysler dealers got ZERO compensation and were left with all their parts, tools and vehicles, to bad they are your inventory, do with it what ever you can. The Suzuki dealers were LUCKY to get what they did, if you can call that luck. How do I know these things? I was one of the UNLUCKY Jeep dealers

  375. Well there you have it. Parent company goes BK so it can get rid of the dealers, both auto and POWERSPORTS it deems unworthy. Then forms a “NEW COMPANY” run by the same people out of the same offices selling the same product. Sound like something you have heard of before? Can you say Chrysler / GM? The fact that something like this happens is just wrong. The parent company has money to start another corporation but not run the old one? Our government started a scary trend when they scripted the 09′ auto fiasco when it comes to the dealer body, Dealers are independent businesses that consider a franchise an asset and it should be treated as such. Chrysler dealers got ZERO compensation and were left with all their parts, tools and vehicles, to bad they are your inventory, do with it what ever you can. The Suzuki dealers were LUCKY to get what they did, if you can call that luck. How do I know these things? I was one of the UNLUCKY Jeep dealers

  376. Yes they are about to be the rulers of the road. Although will we be here at that time, the parts departments cannot make money with the advent of the i-phone in our dealership. I actually would like a blue tooth blocker for our store. That way I don’t continue to loose money being a fitting room for the cheapest person out there.

  377. The problem with reports like this and the numbers they used is that it doesn’t tell the whole story, it doesn’t provide context. Yes, in raw numbers, the number of motorcycle fatalities has gone up. But the rate of fatalities compared to the number of motorcycle registrations has not — it’s actually declined. If you go to the website for the Federal Highway Administration you can find motorcycle registrations by year and then compare those numbers to the reported fatalities from NHTSA. Whether you look at the fatality rate per 100,000 registrations, or you just compare the percentage increase in registrations to the percentage increase in fatalities, you’ll find that the rate of fatalities has actually declined. For example, in 2005, the rate of motorcycle related fatalities per 100,000 registered motorcycles was 73.48; in 2010 the rate was 56.21. A different example: from 2009 to 2010 there was a 1.01% increase in the number of registered motorcycles, but their was only a 0.73% increase in the number of motorcycle related fatalities. While every single fatality is a tragedy, we’re doing something right in the motorcycle community to reduce the rate of fatalities.

  378. I absolutely agree. The internet also will and is killing everyone who has to match the price. We do give discounts for all these fields, hoping that we get the widget sale. Does the widget sale make any difference at all then when we have to match the internet sale price then give them a discount for being an enthusiast. Of course we are not double discounting on the internet sale, but, we really need the 100% of the widget to pay the light bill.

  379. At Last!! Alan Gibbs and his team have been battling not only technical issues but the impressive might of our disconnected beaurocracies (i.e.: conflict between road use regulators and maritime regulators – especially in relqtion to the
    humdinga!!) To succeed now is remarkable and to be applauded. I wish them every success and can’t wait until we can get them here in its “native New Zealand”.

    Mike R

  380. about 2 weeks ago I submitted a letter in regards to the mounting bracket on the cf moto z6ex for the spare tire kit, well the bracket broke in half on one side not where the weld is but on the inside of the weld, the bracket is not strong enough for the amount of weight and flex it takes when Igo riding at the dunes. the dunes have alot of wash board type terrian and the tire really flexes up and down. The dealer did replace the back part of the role cage. I have 100 miles on the z6 and the first one broke at 70 miles, the new one has been on for 30 miles and I can see a small hair line crack starting in the same place as the first one. To keep replacing this part of the role cage is a real inconvience and cost to take to the dealer which is 100 miles from my home. When this one breaks is cf moto just going the keep replacing the back roll cage.That seems to be very expensive for cf moto and myself. I hope cf moto will consider a refund on the spare tire kit which will be cheaper than keep replacing it.

  381. I am trying to build a garage to accomodate the new 4 seater Honda Pioneer 700-4 UTV. Can you give me the overall length, width and height?

  382. Look for further shakeups. Jenkins and his team are clueless and it should not take long for the new guy to see it. A demo program, seven pages long, that takes a lawyer to comprehend and requires the dealer to keep each demo rider profile for 7 years is what they come up with . Many dealers are on verge of credit hold and KMC continues to shove product at them. If a dealer fails to keep up with the floorplan interest then KMC’s viewpoint is that they were poor businessmen. Yeah right .

  383. i am a marine mechanic and have a scanner for yamaha motor that i used to do my job and i dont have to pay an annual fee i would like to purchase one for seadoo but i can understand why i have to pay an annual fee and if i dont would the scanner stop working

  384. I have been riding the trike style of motorcycle since 2004. I had to wait until 2010 to have a dealer close enough to consider a can-am. When I test rode my first rt I instantly fell in love with it. After having it for a few days I quickly become discouraged with how to perform the daily maintenance checks before going on a relative long ride(250+ miles). I cannot ride until I check my oil and coolant level. I can’t believe there hasn’t been extensive complaints with this concern. I have rode 4 other models of trikes which don’t need to be mentioned by model type but I feel the can-am needs the most low speed practice of any of them.It took me all of 1000 mi. to feel totally comfortable with speeds of 70 mph and higher.As said before my experince with trikes is alot (60,000 mi. or more) and I tell everyone who calls or asks to really take their time. This is a fabulose machine but definitely the most under powered touring motorcycle on the road. As what has been mentioned many times b efore I wish the company would listen to the rider more than the cosmetic designers.

    1. Rodney . . . check your oil and coolant when you return from a ride . . . then you know its good for the next one, and you don’t have to spend the time warming it up to full operating temp before starting out. I check my air before I ride, and everything else when I get home.

  385. Why don’t you bring the Sym 400I to the states, it would compete with the Burgman 400. I have a RV 250 from Sym but would like a little more power for on freeways and long trips. I really like the scooter and I think a 400 would be just right for me

    Thanks,
    Jerry

  386. Ok…I’d like to be one of these so-called mystery shoppers here in Fresno CA…most of the sales people here are as cold as ice….I can’t recall even one of them encouraging me to take a demo ride, much less even barely suggest I take one…..they make you feel very small for even asking about it. I understand they have certain protections to make, for instance, if you have a lot of 20 somethings coming in to ride Ninjas all day, that might be a problem….but for someone like me 45+ looking for a bike, a few brief test rides would be helpful to me, but it’s sure no comfortable process in trying to demo a bike here.

  387. This sounds like it was written by the people at Suzuki… I’m sure that their “growth” will be high this first month… The didn’t have any inventory to ship a year ago…

  388. Your article is right on the money. We have the same problem here in Quebec (Canada). 2 weeks ago we just launched a new loyalty card program and the customer reception is great. Staff is happy to sell at full price and within 6 weeks our parts margin went up by 6%. The system is all automated with our DMS so it’s easy for the staff and customer friendly. There is so much you can do with program like this, sky is the limit, and on top of that you get all the data on how your customers are spending their dollars in your shop. It’s amazing and we should have started it earlier. It’s the best move we’ve ever done in the last decade!
    Don’t wait and jump in the wagon while it’s time!
    Gaby Gregoire, GM/owner at Gregoire Sport

    1. Gaby – would you mind sharing the name of the service provider you use to manage your loyalty program? Thanks – Jaimie

  389. All of you guys who tell them to take it down just shut up. All they are doing is testing these machines to their max and you complain about speed and wildlife when you guys all know that when you get something you test it too because everyone does

  390. Your assessment of the tour is contradictory. On one had you go for the theory that “everyone” cheated so the field was level. Then you buy the mathematical certainty that LA would win. If so, why didn’t he win every tour he entered?

    One level one, you are correct. the field was level. What you miss is that the best athlete won and thus your ‘faith’ in the sport can be renewed.

    Don’t put so much faith in TH, who’s biggest ax to grind, just like the crazy Amish guy, is that he got caught and LA didn’t.

    In the end LA was the master of the 49.9% and they weren’t.

  391. A 1 million $$ bike that is going to be competitive in a class (CRT) that will most likely be shelved by the time it becomes available…not too smart.

  392. I just bought a Victory Cross Country 2012. I would like to know what performance kits are offered. I do a lot of long rides, so I need something reliable.

  393. Hi folks, I am a semi retired aircraft flight line mechanic from the Aviation World. I started a “fledgling business ” dealing with the repair of motorcycles, ATV’s , Golf carts , Scooters and Go-carts. The response has been more than I can handle. After being under the FAA and NTSB microscope for 25 years I felt I needed a break from the “dot your I’s and cross your T’s world” and go back to my early fondness of motorcycles and ATV’s. I was shocked at the lack of inaccessibility to talk to anyone in tech support, #2 the hoops that people have to jump through to get get some very basic info. The PDF file I loaded was very good with one exception . I was working on a 1997 Explorer 400 two stroke and had issues with the “helicopter word amount of maintenance ” just for changing fluids and some errors in the file. I own a 2004 Ranger. Long story short I believe you folks need not block out the private small shops for the service we provide for folks with older Polaris equipment ! Especially when most of the “dealers” have a policy of not working on anything over ten years old. Great for guys like me! but , what if Boeing aircraft or McDonald aircraft did that ? You not be able to afford to fly half of the commercial fleet out there ! “Supply VS Demand ” Regards, Tom

  394. Kudos to Sam for receiving this award. Sam is instrumental in bringing new found successes to dealers and helped me achieve my goals. I recommend his services to anyone that wants to make more $$ and make their life easier!

  395. Nice job for HD, too bad new policies are strangling any aftermarket dealers, and with so many substandard parts used on the new machines , we will have 50 years of work if HD never produced another motorcycle.

  396. Its a very god idea for the riders and the fans, theywill launch a new fan experience display at the Monster Energy Supercross Party in the Pits and lunch some Thor’s helmet, boot and some protectors. They also give some facility for the visitors and the fans.
    Thor MX

  397. We continue to see strong demand for both Arctic Cat & Can-Am UTV Parts & Accessories @ 4x4utv.com
    Polaris is definitely feeling the heat. Competition breeds better innovation & a better product selection for the Sidebyside consumer.

  398. Just purchased a RTS 2013, have’t rode much yet, but can’t find the miles per gal. listed anywhere. Can you tell me what to expect on city driving and hwy. Is there any news letters published by the company re. recalls etc.?

  399. I think that Grom is going to be a huge hit for Honda. Hits the youth market, and the customizers and modifiers. I’ve noticed a few forums already popping up like GromForum.com which is usually a good sign for any new moto launch. Our dealership will be loading up on them!

  400. Hi Robert
    Thanks for the info. Can I get one in Pearl White duco? Its an outstdngn colour.
    Regards
    Neil.

  401. I work for Ride West BMW, and almost all of my tasks are customer events, customer rides, and customer service. During all of these activities I am being paid and yet not selling a product, at least directly. At the end of the day, like everything else in a dealership, customer service costs money, To do it well and consistently costs more money. If you invest in customer service as an expense, you can perhaps think through the problem more clearly. At least in theory, my efforts bring more sales and profit to the dealership than the cost of my employment. This is tough to track, because some of the sales activity I create cannot be traced back to me, but at the end of the day it is either worth the risk to the business or it is not. I expect to see more people doing what I do in the future.

  402. “That, as a direct and proximate result of the aforesaid negligent acts of the defendants, the rear tire became severely worn after only five thousand miles of use and failed,” the suit states.

    I just replaced my rear tire on the same model scooter at 4,300 miles. It was showing cord in the center. By 5,000 miles that tire would be dangerously worn. The Honda Helix has the same size tire since 1986 with no lawsuits. Scooters don’t kill people, people kill themselves.

  403. Appreciate Hammerhead supporting their Dealer’s by not selling to Major Retailer’s and Inter net Business’s.

    Business is tough enough right now without trying to compete against selling in box and price Discounters!

    We were given a protected Sales territory when we started and don’t worry about have another dealer set up a few miles down road by another Distributor or Importer.

    Dealer support, parts support are good. Plus, reimbursement for Labor on warranty repair.

    Hammerhead is a profit maker @ our Shop!

    Jon @ Service Shop
    Georgia

  404. Don’t forget that after accepting deposits on bikes they knew were
    not going to be built, they also left almost 1000 bikes on safety recall
    Do you think they are still fixing those dangerous frames?
    I think not.

  405. Same as David we do a lot of events ,rides, sponsorships and such and it is hard to pinpoint what works and what does not. The thing that gets me is the number of people I run into at the events who did not know we even existed so my idea is that if I get one new customer to come in and get taken care of by us, then it is worth it!

  406. Guess we found out what kind of junk they stuck out there. Guess I need to get off the trails and buy a dairy farm to use this.

  407. I believe that DealerExpo, in addition to attempting to retain motorcycle stakeholders, has a big opportunity to promote more in the Side-by-Side space via partnerships. They need to make some serious changes to regain their Mojo. AIMExpo is clearly executing a well-developed strategy while the Indy Expo seems to be trapped without one. Props to Larry Little, Mike Webster and Company.

  408. I am glad to see that Tucker is going to be involved in Florida, especially since the Chicago dealer Reps are obviously burnt out on going. The people that they brought to the table, depressingly enough ARAI included are burnt out on people as well. I realize my life in the motorcycle business is to continue to train people and keep “new blood” energetic about our industry, so they will stay, the horrible representation Tucker Rocky has has at my dealership makes me happy to see the change in event location. Maybe as they look at where the sales are at currently and last year, and then review those dealers again next year to see their new sales, if the reps get their people excited enough, that is, maybe then someone will review the bad service these old burnt out reps are giving the mid-west.

  409. Sounds like a great idea and it is so true. I like the tax comparison with the state fair. Reminds me of over the road trucks and the railroad they tax the trucks and subsidize the railroad to compete with the trucks for the same freight then turn around and say that the rails do it cheaper. So where do we join this partners thing??

  410. As a former sports quad rider I can say why I made the switch and it is more than just getting older.

    1) Changing terrain. When I started riding 20 or so years ago they off road powersports industry wasn’t nearly as big. The sxs didn’t even exist, atvs still had mostly lower power and small tires, and the trails weren’t crowded and most land where I grew up wasn’t posted and nobody seemed to care much where you rode. The trails that I grew up riding still had DIRT on them, were still kinda smooth and didn’t have huge ruts. Fast forward to now, there are lots more atvs and sxs’s out there. The have more power huge mud tires over 30 inches tall and they are all crowded onto much less land that is legal or available to ride. This means that the dirt is mostly long gone from lots of riding areas and you are riding on roots, rocks, ruts, and mud pits dug to china by giant mud tires. This change in terrain has made it very hard to enjoy a sport atv with 4.5 inches of ground clearance getting you stuck often, and a solid rear axle beating you over the worn terrain.

    2) The improvement of 4×4 atvs. When I started riding a 4×4 atv was pathetically slow and about as much fun to ride as a lawn mower. They had horrible suspension, and would to out at about 40 mph. Back then if you wanted to go fast you needed a banshee, 250r or the like. Now a top of the line 4×4 will out run a top of the line sport quad in a straight line and handles well enought to keep up with it on the trail. They have suspension that handles everything other than jumps and mx style whoops much more smoothly along with larger tires more ground clearance and 4 wheel drive that means less getting stuck.

    I still own a sport atv but will probably sell it because the amount of areas where it is more fun to ride than my big bore 4×4 just doesn’t justify keeping it. There aren’t enough riding areas open to me that aren’t so worn out from use that I can enjoy riding it without getting beat up and stuck constantly.

  411. Congratulations to Gibbs on their persistence. This looks like it will have significant appeal to government, military, and search/rescue.

    Very few hybrid vehicles do either of their main functions very well, and at $40K, 45 mph, and single operator capacity this will have a limited appeal in the consumer market.

    That said, the markets that it will appeal to are enormous, and I wish Gibbs all the success.

    Kevin J.

  412. I would appreciate a phone call or at least a point of contact. I am still a stock holder and would like to know what is going on with the business.

  413. Attitude is everything, it is contagious. I have always stated that you are a product of your environment. It starts at the top and always will. Agree with this totally.. Wish more work places in the world read this.

  414. What business leaders used to pass off as content — marketing collateral, communications, advertising, white papers — is in light of the Internet useless. Most businesses pay tens of thousands of dollars for IT companies to build websites and when they discover the IT company doesn’t provide the website content, they give them content that’s been hanging around the office for years.

    Business leaders and IT companies need to recognize that content has equal if not more value than the code that surrounds it. Giving “developers” the same content you’ve been pushing for years so they have something to paste in between the code is akin to going into your businesses’ bank account and permanently deleting the credit side of your businesses’ balance sheet. – Sheila Carmody, Content Specialist for Guaranteed Press

  415. As a former retailer and a (now) 24 year POS system reseller – I find your comments to be of interest, and also ‘spot on’. As your readers are aware, consumers drive not only technology but also price. Brick and mortar retailers everywhere bemoan the shopper who shops on price only. And worse, comes into their store for information and then buys on-line. Clearly that customer has no sense of loyalty nor values service.

    Many of those same retailers don’t see the irony when they do the same thing to those who provide services to them – for example, POS resellers and the folks who develop and maintain the software. Unwillingness to pay support fees or maintenance fees or reasonable prices means that the very folks you need to make sure your system will work (today and tomorrow) are less likely to be there when you need them.

    I caution your readers who think they can ‘get something for nothing’ from a ‘Johnny Come Lately’ POS company. That’s an unsustainable business model. It’s only a race to the bottom for those foolish enough to play that game. As any retailer knows, you can’t take a loss on your best sellers to drive traffic and ‘make it up in volume’… (Retail 101)

  416. I think this is an interesting article as well and agree with many of the points. John Derry comments are spot-on in the second paragraph about retailers not seeing the irony when they are not willing to pay a few hundred dollars a month for support fees. As long as SaaS companies continue to compete over price instead of quality products and customer service it’s going to end up hurting everyone in the long run. It’s no different than two dealerships who are across the street from each other and start competing over price eventually they both will go out of business because no one wins when you start devaluing your products and killing your margins.

    As a SaaS company the only way you’re able to stay on top and offer free or discounted products is to have a mixture of free and paid products or start cutting costs (like customer support and outsourcing your development to overseas contractors who don’t know the first thing about creating great software). At More Than Rewards (www.morethanrewards.com) all of our software development is done in house and never outsourced and even our 100% Free Sales CRM System (FreePowersportCRM.com) includes free phone support from a live customer service person who picks up the phone in 3 rings less, all based out of our Milwaukee Wisconsin office. The reason is because I personally believe that regardless of how great your software product may be and how affordable it is if you don’t have a team of Rock Star Customer Service People on the front lines who love talking and listening to dealers about their needs and helping them accomplish their goals you’re setting yourself up for failure in this industry.

    It’s important that we all educate retailers that value of those monthly support fees, it’s not about paying for the software it’s about paying for the support of it.

  417. It looks great, but it has taken many of it’s cues from the recently introduced arctic cat wildcat, such as the bigger motor, more suspension travel, more room for the driver. The starting price for this vehicle is 19,999.00, and thats the base model. The 2013 arctic cat wildcat limited can be purchased for just over 15,000. I wonder if it is worth the extra $5,000?

    1. Yes! I waited to purchased the wildcat because I didn’t want to own a stamped sheet metal frame. I loved my green arctic cat, custom roll cage, roof, lights, wheels and sound system. It killed it on the trails in Havasu. Then I took it to Glamis. Belt after belt was replaced. I purchased a clutch, clutch fan cooling grills, and all was good. Test drove the wildcatX, that is what they should have came out with in the first place. Then Polaris released the xp1000 with a tubular frame. Tested it bought it, it will be at next weeks sand show in Orange County with a custom roll cage, roof, lights, etc… I sold my wildcat, and feel abused for all the work we had to do to get it to perform in the sand. Arctic cat released it too soon the x should have been their first release…

  418. Just about every dune ride we go on we have to tow our friends wildcat back to camp. I wouldn’t buy one of those if it were 10K!
    Spend the extra money for the better SxS.

  419. you cant compare the wildcat to the maverick or the razor artic cat got bad reviews and that why the are cheap and got no power and on top of that you take a shower . I own 2 razor 900 xp and I just order the new 2014 and they are the best and even in front of the BRP from far .

  420. I am trying to find out when the 2014 Piaggio BV 350 scooters are going to be available in the US. Specifically if the blue color will be available as it is only in Europe now and if there any changes in the 2014 models

    1. I own the the wildcat 1000, the maverick, the xp 900, the jagged x Rzr and have driven them all aggressively..
      When it comes to over all performance in the UTV sport class no one currently matches Polaris in overall performance. I have placed a deposit for the first rzr 1000 coming to my preferred dealership. I do not profit one way or another from endorsing any brand. I’m just a serious offroader with an expensive and informed habit.

      Regards to all,

      JB3

  421. Back in the early 90’s I was working full time at a car rental place until I saw an ad at the bike shop hiring sales people. Steve was there doing a week long class that I ended up taking and absolutely LOVED it. I’m still in the industry today and incorporate all of his wisdom on a daily basis. You gotta wanna!

  422. I own a2012 rsv4-great bike. Live in Florida/ bought from superbikes out of Houston Texas. Bobby the owner is a class act. Had a warrantee issue with radiator– a recall! Took to unique superbikes- aprillias dealer in miami. Totally unprofessional and a poor representation for such a great bike. There r a lot of great bikes that can be purchased– where people have a much stronger service base ten aprillia. You will never gain respect or penetrate the exotic sport bike market with such poor representation!

  423. I have to say, when BELL stops selling helmets in Wal-Mart, marking them as motorcycle helmets, maybe we will consider purchasing them, until then, no.
    reason being, any wingnut can work at Wal-Mart, the proper care of a helmet is not taken there, and people need to be educated on what they are buying. I am 100% positive that the buyers of helmets that buy there are not and this just puts more possibility of a consumer purchasing a damaged helmet.

  424. Here we go….again…..

    Through Sunday, Aug. 12….
    9 people had died as a result of crashes near the Sturgis rally.
    The ninth person to die was Sheila Coleman, 43, who lost control of her motorcycle and struck a pickup. Coleman wasn’t wearing a helmet.

    The number of fatal accidents more than doubled to nine this year,
    The total number of crashes 108. Injury crashes, 50 this year.

    During the rally,
    251 DUI arrests were made,

    36 felony arrests were made,
    with all but two coming from drug-related offenses.

    This year 1,189 citations were issued.

    What a bad Joke this all is….

    Like this huge collection of idiots!
    The perfect recipe for dead and injured riders.
    They can’t even do basic things like ride around a corner, or use brakes.

    But the dealers are all glad to keep cashing those buyers checks!
    No brains and no balls to do what’s right even to protect their own future income…..just keep grabbing that money….

    Until it’s all gone away.

    Thanks,
    Thanks a lot….

    MORONS……..

    I’m proud NOT to be a “moron cycle rider”….like these fools.

    Just a responsible motorcyclist….

  425. Combine BOOZE, BABES, AND MOTORCYCLES. Then add guys trying to impress anyone they can, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? A cotillion.

  426. As a disabled veteran I need a side x side for my property. I will use it to harrow, pull out dead trees with the winch, and just get around. I am excited to see this machine in person and ready to pounce if it’s as good as I imagine it will be. My local dealer, Temecula Motorsports, said it will arrive the end of August. Can’t wait!!!!!!!

  427. I’ve got a deposit on a CTX700 in red with the fairing, but this bike is not only about the DCT which also comes with ABS braking. These options may greatly improve the chance that a new rider will choose a new Honda, but really, a beginner should think more about the size and weight of his or her first ride than the ease of the transmission system only.

    It should be noted, that while the DCT/ABS, noted as “D” on the model nameplates of the CTX700 and CTX700N (CTX700D and CTX700ND, respectively) allows a rider to not have to worry about shifting for city riding, that the D version has some negatives as well. Three drawbacks of the D models: They add a whopping $1,000 to the price of each model, which is as much as a 14% premium; they add a 22 lb weight penalty; and the D models also reduce estimated mpg by 3. Alternatively, when choosing this bike in standard form, it is still a really easy-to-ride and affordable motorcycle due to its low center of gravity and low seat height and low starting MSRP for a bike of this size / features ($6,999 for the N model and $7800 for the fairing model).

    Most of the articles out there about this bike focus almost exclusively on the automatic transmission, but it would be nice if the authors included some of the other technologies and the great value of this bike without the DCT and ABS. Personally, I’m trading a 330 cc scooter for this ride while not sacrificing a single mile per gallon and getting a new bike at a really good price!

    What I’ve found on various forums is that, so far, Honda is attracting a lot of current and former scooter riders who finally see a motorcycle that makes alot of practical sense and some returning riders who have some mobility issues. I’ve also seen a few true newbies considering one of the CTX Ds, but they should consider a smaller bike and/or a used bike and a safety course before jumping on a brand new 700 cc bike, and that’s what the senior members have been recommending to them.

  428. Thanks for your perspective Sheila. I agree we need to continually reinforce the SEO value of content, along with the important fact that you point out, which is separating “content” from “code.”

    In the primary industries we serve (powersports, tire & wheel, OPE, Marine, RV) we often find dealers work hard to post original content upon website launch, but then forget or don’t see the value in updating it on a quarterly basis.

    A few links of interest on this topic:
    Google Content Quality Guidelines: http://bit.ly/17AleoI

    NEW (as of Aug 8th) Google Webspam Report in Webmaster Tools: http://bit.ly/15fWZdK

  429. 1. Do you offer power steering?
    2. Do you have a transmission with very low gearing for terribly steep hills?
    On my estate I need to traverse the steepest hills anywhere.

    I have a number of utvs. Kubotas, Yamahas, Polaris. I have the 2013 Polaris Rzr 570 which would be perfect if not for the unbearably loud noise.

    I like what you are doing.

    Paul S. Cooper

  430. Hello ,

    I retired from the m/c industry 8 months ago. Now I am a customer. To relate somewhat to your story, I shopped the dealership I was employed by. Here are some issues I had come to realize from a customers view point. First parts dept., If it is not in front of them, they will not look. After a month of trying to get a certain part, I went online, and ordered it myself. From the same source the dealership would have ordered thru. Service was another problem, which again took about a month to resolve, after practically hand guiding the process. Then sales, I called on a Saturday, and was told I needed to leave a message. Seems to me, as competitive as the market is today, someone should take the call. Fortunately I can let the dealer principal know about the short comings. Sometimes, customers just fade away.

  431. You apparently turned on this salesperson’s “machismo” switch. There’s no room for that on the sales floor, with a male or female customer. Overselling a customer in size, price and… sexy-factor?… will just result in them either walking away or, if they fall for it once, not becoming a return customer. On a larger scale, its bad for the whole industry, when people have a bad buying and/or ownership experience because they get scared by their too-big bike, get buried by their too-big payments, or fall terribly short on the… “sexpectations”?… they most likely aren’t going to buy another bike. They’re more likely to take a wash selling this one, making them even more unhappy with the moto-experience, and leaving the industry all together (and sharing the bad experiences with all their other friends).

    Getting a customer to “buy in” to powersports isn’t the job of a sales person working on the floor… The customer has already convinced themselves they are interested in it if they’re walking onto your sales floor asking questions. A good sales person knows this and sees his/her job is to listen, understand, and share product and industry expertise and knowledge to get the customer onto the right bike at the right time for their experience… whether they are a man or a woman. If I were the your salesperson’s manager, this guy would be getting some serious training in the area of customer relations and respect.

  432. Finally, someone debunks that hoary old adage, “If not part of the solution you’re part of the problem”! Bravo! Take that, you one-dimensional thinkers out there! And all of these are gems, not the least that details are important (“Look at it from 30,000 feet”) and that Horatio Algers was a business consultant (“The harder you work, the luckier you get.”). Kudos to you, Mr. Graham, we need more voices of reason such as yours!

  433. John,

    How about when all of the press releases from a Marketing Agency…have the Marketing Agency in the headline? Time to be cynical….

  434. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY FOR TRADER TO TAKE MORE MONEY FROM THE DEALERS FOR NON-SENSE ADVERTISING. THEY KEEP CREATING NEW WAYS BECAUSE THE BOOKS ARE GONE NOW. THE TRADER ONLINE SITE ISNT EVEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY AND CLEANED REGULARLY LIKE IT SHOULD BE. AS A CONSUMER, I WOULD GET PRETTY UPSET THAT A BUNCH OF DEALER ADS POP UP WHEN I AM SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC. I WOULD ALSO BE UPSET THAT ADS PLACED 3 YEARS AGO ARE STILL POPPING UP AND ARE USELESS. THEY FOCUS TOO MUCH ON WAYS TO SUCK THE MONEY OUT OF THE DEALERS AND NOT ENOUGH ON HOW TO MAKE THEIR SITE AND PROGRAM BETTER. I SIGNED UP FOR THIS BECAUSE I DIDNT WANT TO CHANCE LOSING THE SPOT, BUT AFTER MORE RESEARCH I WILL PROBABLY BE CANCELING IT.

  435. you gotta be kidding me these things are as much is a new Audi TT convertible… gotta be insane. and in any of the videos I never seen any extensive ATV driving it was always flat easy terrain sand or dirt. absolutely no small jumps or anything like a quad so you say. in one video I look like one of the wheels with a little cocked the wrong way sort of cheesy like. just how reliable and durable is the suspension and that gearing mechanism that raises and lowers the wheels. this things about the size of a small Volkswagen is it not…. my opinion it’s WAY overpriced just because it does two things sort of. it looks more of a water vehicles than land I would saydriving on land is its second option not first,

  436. Some very worthwhile and exciting looking educational sessions. Unfortunately I see no mobile marketing education. As mobile continues to shape the landscape of ALL digital marketing and media consumption it seems a mobile-specific session would have been of great interest to attendees. From mobile SEO to mobile website optimization to mobile customer notifications it’s clear the industry is in need of direction.

  437. A well written article, which rings true for me, 100%. (Great pic, too, Leslie.)
    It’s year three for me (motorcycling at age 50) & I can’t tell you how many times salesmen have tried to talk me into a bigger bike (I currently have the XL1200 Low) and tell me how sexy it is for a girl/woman to ride. To me, that’s not appropriate in the business arena, esp. when I’m preparing to plunk down $$$. Thanks, but now maybe I’ll buy a used one from another site so I don’t have to feel objectified.
    And, actually, I find comments like that intrusive when I’m riding, too. I’ve had total strangers come up to me to tell me how sexy they find a woman who rides her own…& I don’t invite these conversations. I’m more like, “Buddy, who cares what you think? I’m here to ride.”

  438. I am a new owner of a 2013 CF MOTO Z6 and I am looking to fully “supe” it up, one this gets off the ground I’d love to get an email so I can start adding power. Thanks.

  439. Hello,

    Am from saudi arabia , i wanna know when it will be in the saudi arabia market?

    If i wanna buy it from you directolly how is that?

    Best regards,
    Khalid

  440. The two biggest advantages to carrying the Hammerhead brand is: their continued loyalty to us, the authorized Dealers; and their product quality.

    Hammerhead does not stagnate. They have continued to do design changes throughout the years that keep up with the times, and enhance the appeal.

    This year we especially like the new embossed sport style seats. Can’t wait to see what’s next!!

  441. A statement like, “An average increase in cylinder head temperature of 2%–8% was noted and 2%–11% for the EGT” makes no sense unless temperatures were plotted on the Kelvin scale.

    Sounds good: “CO emissions were reduced on average by 37% with E15 compared to E0.”
    Sounds bad: “Formaldehyde emissions increased consistently for E15 fuel by 35%.” And by as much as 100%.
    Which would you rather be breathing? Depends on the absolute levels, which are not stated in terms of “harmfulness” of these emissions. Is any tested level harmful?

    The regulated emissions changed very little, even though run leaner on Ethanol. Is there an environmental benefit? BSFC went up (fuel mileage decreased) with Ethanol. Is there an environmental benefit? (More Ethanol-laced fuel must be stored and transported to achieve the same amount of end-vehicle travel.)

    Interestingly, one of the highest concerns of owners of seasonal vehicles was not studied: “Long-term effects of sustained usage of E15 were not studied as part of this effort. Materials compatibility was not part of the study.”
    And there’s this: “In addition, more work with the engine oil to determine if there is any effect and correlation on lubricity and ethanol content should be conducted.”

    OK — so will the EPA address this as it figures out ways to burn Ethanol we don’t need to burn, or should we trade in our sleds for snowshoes (and our motorcycles for Schwinns)?

  442. Even though we’re a car dealership I love reading about bikes. We get so many bikes into the lot on trades that I have to keep up to speed on them. Don’t get to see too many Suzukis though, I guess everyone really holds onto them! This new 2013 model looks fantastic though.

  443. VERY SAD TO SEE ANY CYCLE SHOP CLOSING, BUT WITH DISPOSABLE INCOME GOING AWAY, AND THE MANY OTHER THINGS TO SPEND ON FOR ENJOYMENT, THIS MAY BE A TREND IN THE INDUSTRY, HOPEFULLY NOT. BUT LOOKING FORWARD I DO NOT SEE A PLUS FOR THE INDUSTRY OTHER THAN SERVICE.

  444. Though I am not a sportbike guy I am a Buell rider and look forward to seeing EBR succeed. What I really want to see is EBR manufacturing an adventure bike with that 1190 engine. The 1190AX. Hurry the heck up Erik.

  445. Just wanted to see if you could include us into this Colorado flood relief page. Details on donations on our website. We are located in Boulder Colorado and we are taking $50 from each major unit we sell, a portion of our service labor sales and a portion of Parts sales. Let me know if you need more info Thanks!

  446. Yup, first to market with SXS, but lets be honest, Arctic Cat kicked their a$$ with the Wildcat. It is simply a better machine.

  447. Interesting, We were just having a meeting about sales and preparations for christimas sales. We are trying to add new ideas for sales pitching and customers trust the store before becoming a price shopper.
    The article is excellent and we learned a lot of it.

    Thank You for the input.

  448. Easily one of the best articles I have read on this subject in some time. The content is bang on and is something we (salesmen/women) need to remember. Doesn’t matter if we are in retail or distribution, building the show and the relationship is as essential as having the right product to offer.
    Thank you, I’ll make a point of reviewing with my dealers.

  449. I Was just wondering if anyone else was injured due to this recall ? As I was involved in a accident back in September as a result of this clutch incident and Harley did a complete investagation on the 2014 I was ridding, now this recall has been made public less then a month later. Any info would be grealty appreciated. Thank you.

  450. Thanks for your article, Giving good service and experience in the powersports retailers is crucial to growth and survival.

    I hope all retailers that have been caught up with not making a change in how they engage customers reads this and now!

  451. Congratulations !! Do not forget the small Mom & Pop shops which come up with a lot of ideas and still cater to long time customers or clients on a new description of needs which don’t recquire internet and armchair riders who should see their local expert , I.E. Shop for parts ,service and advice , since most of us are enthusiasts and have made large investments only to compete wit our own vendors . Norman , Sussex Hills Ltd. I suppose we will start charging more for labor and add a consultation fee .

  452. Great First Year.! ..Seminars were for the most part very good ….Great Location & Timing…Hope to see this grow in future years….

  453. Hi Tom,

    Congratulations on your development manager job! So happy to learn of your success! I wish you nothing but the best! I wish to speak to you. Please call me @ 323 717 9190.

    Thanks.

    Liz

  454. i worked for don in athens many years ago but because i crashed my bike on the way to work i had to leave him. please give him my regards

  455. I think opening up the 300 CC Class up to 360 CC’s would get a lot more participation. For example, some manufacturers have 350 CC four-strokes, but come on give them a chance to ride what they want. We could go on about rules, the AMA, that dead horse has been flogged so many times that is all we’ll say about the AMA here. Rider’s Race bikes they like and anyone who has ridden a 300 cc to say 430 cc 2-Stroke know’s they are a sweet ride.
    Power is manageable and they are light and flickable. I think this class has a great chance of making a real impact on the Fun Factor in MX. Good job Europe, as usual!!!

    Give it a few years of success, hopefully, we’ll have that class in SX and outdoors in the US.

  456. We purchased a 2013 CF Moto Z6 ex 600 in May 25, 2013. We are having trouble with the axles coming out of the rear end. We have took it back to the dealer 3 times for the axles. This all started in August 2013 we have got to ride our moto about 5 times in the last 3 months. The mountains where we live a beautiful right now and we can not get out and enjoy them. Needless to say we are very disgusted with our CF moto . We should have bought something else. In my opinion they need to fix this problem with the rear end.

    1. Same problem here. Right rear axle keeps popping out. CFMoto rep has come to look at ours and with no answer. I was trying to give these guys a chance, but looks like I may be going with Polaris very soon.

  457. What’s the purpose? I can see it now. My local Cycle Trader rep comes in telling me that I need to have these extensions because Dominion management thinks its a great idea and they have a quota to meet. And if I don’t take their silly domains I’ll be missing out on a great deal. Come on man!!!

    Realistically this is just another ploy for Dominion to get more revenue from dealers.

  458. It’s unfortunate our government continues to enact laws, rules and regulations to protect us from ourselves. Certainly there are other issues and concerns much more pressing than this!

  459. I’m not sure dealers will want to switch all their printed materials over to a long winded URL. Where’s the value to the dealer and, more importantly, the consumer. Definitely not easier to remember.

    Was the $$$ spent on this really something DOminion needed. Been told improvements were coming for PSN for years and this is all they to show. Can’t wait to be disappointed by DX1 whenever it comes out.

    Note to Dominion. Put first things first. This is not one of them.

  460. As I have just sold my XVZ Royal Star I finally made up my mind to purchase the matt orange RSS SM5 spyder!
    So I go to the local dealership in Brisbane (Australia) with money in hand and they tell me I can’t have a manual…only automatic!!!!!!!!!

    What!!!!!!!!!!!! Why on God’s earth would the best looking version be changed in this year to auto only?????? Really and I mean really devastated.

    So…what do I have to do to get a right hand drive version in manual and the colour I want one asks……any suggestions?

  461. I have lived over-seas in countries that offer public health care. I was amazed at how their federal government used public health as a lever to enact all levels of rules and regulations. I am VERY concerned that we are seeing this socialist thinking already taking hold with our more visible federally enforced public healthcare. I implore all that read this to be very aware of the negative impact to your personal liberties that these rules and regulations may have. They may seem “right” in the immediate light, but can be very damaging in the long run.

  462. This is a insult to women riders ever where. I’am glad my beloved father an husband are not alive to read this crap. My father started riding in 1929. I came into his life late but he going to pass that joy on. He taught many women to ride as did my husband. All on big big bikes I have never had a small street bike my current bike is Electra Glide. I have found the big problem is not the size of the bike but stupidity of the rider. The old timers had a saying buy what your gonna ride. No starter bikes this way you learn the bike inside an out. I guess next year dealers will have tricycles with pedal back up. Just a little helper for the women rider

    1. Dorothy, thanks for your comment, and I commend you on your ability to start on a big motorcycle. My brother (and an MSF course) taught me to ride 25 years ago, and I started on a little Honda to build my skills and confidence. I have since ridden an Ultra across the country and also put my knee down while cornering on a racetrack. But, that took some time and practice.

      Having done research for many years on the women’s market, I found that most women do not have the confidence that you do. So, starting on a small bike gives them the ability to gain skills and balance. This is something I noticed especially with shorter women. Enjoy the ride!

  463. Me and my wife Karen took our new Viking to Mena Arkansas the last week in October. We road every trail on the map that was open in Wolf Pen Gap. We enjoyed cruising through the woods in our SxS as much anything we have ever done on vacation.
    The new Viking handled every trail with a since of ease and confidence. I never felt like we were in a situations the Viking couldn’t handle even on trail #8 that every one warned us about .
    On the first day the couple that went with us was on 4 wheelers and Donna turned hers over on the rocks and she road with us the next two day while the bruises healed. With three full figured adults and the bed full of ice chest and picnicking supplies the Viking was loaded heavy for trails we were on and handled the trails great.
    The only real problem I got with the Viking is it is very loud to the point of needing ear plugs which is not cool. I changed break in oil at 20 hours while we were there with Bel-Ray 15w-50 synthetic blend and it did dampen some of the engine noise but I feel like Yamaha needs to come up with a solution to this problem.

    Yours truly
    Hard of hearing
    In Oklahoma

  464. I love it ! Think ill use some in the near future ! This will allow me to use my new product in areas not ordinarily accessible. ! Great concept ! My father had the 1st amphicar back in the 70s in my area. Hope both our new products takes off across the country. !
    Love it
    Art Preller
    Port Arthur Limb Lines

  465. Hello, I have a J-Series Jaybrake Forward control with brushed alu. finish. I need the full rubber toe peg; mine vibrated off going down the highway. Is there any way we can order that from Jaybrake through drag specialties?

  466. Godspeed, we never know when our time will be up, but we continue doing what we love, knowing that sometimes our maker calls us home! God Bless, Kurt’s family and friends.

  467. This is the one I will trade my 03 standard for and will it also be made in Ohio a fact I bring up to a lot of my twin head buddy’s that this is an American made bike

  468. Should have hired those guys way back when you bought Ziios. Instead, DM let the ad guys think they were king and literally, pressured everybody to leave the company because they knew better. Results speak for themselves. I hope it turns out better this time around.

  469. How can I get my hands on one of those tuners for my snowmobile? I’m riding a 201. Skidoo Renegade 800 e-tec. I usally put on a 1000 miles a season and wouldn’t mind having a tuner to tweak the sled a little.

  470. Kevin and Mona left us hanging as a dealer. We stepped up and bought several bikes toward the end and asked for their assistance . We offered to pay all expenses’, for them to attend a large Bike show in Spokane as their was still a lot of excitement about their products. They were a no show and wouldn’t return calls.They never paid their warranty claims, and we had to eat the expenses. They left a lot of customers hanging out waiting for parts. We jumped through a lot of hoops to become a dealer and to comply with all their rules. It was all one sided. These two cost their dealers a lot of money that they put in their pocket. Great bike, but if you have to deal with these two, think twice and walk away while you can!

  471. Ebay propaganda at its best. Thousands of small sellers are being restricted from selling yet being charged store fees by ebay while unable to list or sell anything in their stores! Ebay’s tactics towards small sellers: In 2008 John Donahoe (CEO) made it clear he wanted to move away from a flea market operation to brand name big box retailers. With numerous policies that were enacted to eliminate small sellers (chief among these the flawed DSR system) he has been succeeding with a vengeance. 1) The DSR system adversely impacts small sellers more swiftly and egregiously then it does the favored big box and high volume retailers. 2) 15,000 small sellers were axed by ebay on August 6, 2013. 3) The automatic five-star DSR glitch/malfunction that ebay has admitted not fixing was responsible for at least some those purged getting purged because many were only out of compliance by one DSR star 3) The elimination of the policy compliance feature on the seller dashboard. If anybody thinks that was not purposefully done to hurt small sellers, I have some acreage on the moon I will sell you 4) ebay’s latest user agreement update that went into effect October 26 granting itself permission to hide sellers’ listings. The majority of sellers on the ebay discussion boards think ebay had already been hiding sellers’ listings 5) Ebay’s numerous moves in past user agreement opt ins or opt outs to try to insulate or protect itself from class action lawsuits 6) this new managed returns issue (see new user agreement) 7) the fee hikes 8) the misuse/abuse of the DSR system and Guardrail or Quick Decline and trending to rob good decent sellers of TRS status and discounts they would get as well as suspend or restirct them from selling.

    1. Rich,

      You make some valid points. We all know eBay is not a perfect market place, but the solution that Shopatron is incorporating is directly supporting the small retailers, not big box. The brand is using it’s power to create consumer confidence purchasing through this channel. The brands are able to market the products in the best way possible and capture the sales for the mom & pop retailers who are stocking their products through a traditional retail business model.

      Shopatron is one of the few companies out there that is keeping small businesses alive…

      1. Shopatron “appears” to be supporting dealers; but so few dealers are actually participating that the OEM ships many of the orders direct to the consumer (bypassing the local dealer AND the online dealer) – and in reality; if an OEM wants it can choose to ship the order direct from its warehouse, before the order even hits the board for bidding by dealers.

        eBay works pretty good, but the fees are killer; much like Amazon fees, Shopatron fees, and any PPC at google. figure 8-10% of Sales in fees, so much less take home for the owner when selling anywhere other than his own site.

        Seems that the OEMs could just as easily put a ‘get quote from local dealer’ like Yamaha is doing. No fees to Yamaha, No fees to Dealer; customer is contacted by local shop.

        just my 2 cents

  472. I don’t know who blew the pie-in-the-sky happy smoke up your ass, but this article is DEAD WRONG! We lost 88,130 acres to base expansion and now will have the opportunity to ride in 56,439 acres of fresh bomb craters. Johnson Valley Off-Road Recreation Area has been reduced from 188,000 acres to 43,431 acres. This is by no means any sort of victory for the southern California off-road community!

  473. Shopatron’s dirty little secret is that the Manufacturer can choose to fulfil the order themselves if they want, bypassing the local dealer. So while Shopatron ‘SHOULD’ be supporting local dealer if he has the item in stock; in practice the participation is so low for Shopatron that many of the orders are fulfilled by the Manufacturer.

  474. Please be more transparent regarding financial details of your Bel Ray purchase.

    I own 1,500 shares of your stock which is down approximately 30% from my purdhase.

  475. I continue to be highly impressed with the success of Polaris and their expansion into adjacent segments.

    I continue to wonder why no mfg has filled the void in smaller, lower cost, 4WD vehicles capable of transporting 2-4 passengers. Think of the footprint of 4 person golf cart with convertible seat/box on the back for light utility. The problem with current offerings is they are too large; they take an entire garage stall, and have extraneous equipment that adds cost. Maybe a 4-stroke/ electric hybrid???

  476. This is part of the overall shift in what ebay is becoming: a showcase venue for big box retailers, corporate giants, etc. The day of the small mom and pop seller at ebay is essentially over…

  477. Yamaha has been one of the best, I think they are the best, manufacturers of motorsports products in the world. Further their fairness to consumers and dealers ranks as the best. Too often they have suffered needlessly, from ridiculous lawsuits, and copycats. Great that they won this lawsuit.

  478. I have a 2008 teryx had a 3″ lift put on it an I’m looking for axles that will add for the differ ants an the cost can u help me. Thanks tony Ps. I’ve already broke one oem axle it was popping when I would make a turn I felt like the axle was to short after the lift. Please let me no Thanks

  479. This is bad news for the off-road racing community. I feel horrible for the families, friends and by standers that witnessed this incident. this was nothing more than a horrible accident that could have been avoided by using some common sense. The fact is, off-road racing is dangerous and spectating can be equally as dangerous. Common sense is required when spectating and being too close to a race course with 6000lb trucks coming racing towards you at 60, 70 and sometimes greater than 80 mph. The BLM and racing promoters are going to consider whether racing on public lands is worth doing at all due to this judgment. I wouldn’t be surprised to see all racing events halted due to insurance constraints and liability concerns. By no means am I trying to detract from the incident or the fact that these families lost loved ones because of this accident, but only that it WAS an accident, and it could have happened with people spectating anyone jumping their truck, buggy, quad, or any other type of OHV. It happens all too often. This was simply an accident where people took the responsibility to be too close to the race track for the thrill and because of that accident, the state and promoters are paying for that lack of judgment or common sense.

  480. Indian sales to be as big as it’s Ranger sales! What are they smoking? How many times has the Indian brands resurrection been attempted? Most bikers who know of the original Indian heritage are dead. I believe Polaris business model for the Indian is flawed. They desire stand alone stores. How many existing successful dealers would be willing to make this kind of commitment in this economy? Indian should be a stand beside Victory brand/model in the showrooms od their existing Victory dealer network.

  481. Alot of the Triumph dealers around this area are complaining and fighting over the customer; there is an abundance of product and dealerships on every corner. One dealer showed me his invoice on a leftover motorcycle I was interested in and I was shocked. He had offered it to me for 1000.00 below his cost! When I visited another nearby dealer and expressed an interest in the same bike, (there are so many I can easily go to 3 or 4 in a day), he offered his same non-current bike for 1500.00 below cost and I had not even asked for a discount!. When I told him I knew that was below cost and asked how he could afford to do that, he told me that he had actually paid about 800.00 additional in interest on the bike already and needed to move it. As encouraging as it looks to see all this new growth for the Triumph company, clearly, this can’t be good for Triumph in the long run. As many new dealerships as have opened up, as many have closed… I worry about purchasing a product that seems to be a “gadget” as opposed to a lifestyle; I want to be able to come back to the same dealer for service and commoraderie and have him happy to see me; and I sure hope he is still there!. Who in their right mind would want to put in the long hours required to sell and service these bikes if they not only can’t earn a living, but eventually need to close their doors to prevent losing money? Only someone with more cents than sense.

  482. It was obvious to EVERYONE including the EPA that the vast majority of Chinese bikes were not legal whatsoever. They allowed it to continue for years. A quick inspection of ANY of those bikes told the story. No DOT and EPA labels, fake labels etc. A 5 minute run on any dyno also showed the story. I have talked to EPA people who knew full well what was going on and were told to tread softly by their superiors in DC

    Why were they openly allowed to flagrantly sell illegal and unsafe bike while the rest of us followed the rules scrupulously?

  483. THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK OUGHT TO PROMOTE OFF -ROAD MOTORCYCLING AS MUCH AS HE DOES SNOWMOBILING .. DID YOU KNOW MOST NEW YORK’S SNOW MOBILE TRAILS ARE CLOSED TO ATV AND DIRT BIKES AFTER THE SNOW MELTS….

  484. yes N.Y.S. wants winter tourism for the snowmoble industry and for the economy of parts of upstate new york, which is ok, but the N.Y.S has totally almost ruined the ATV business in all of the upstate because the D.E.C can’t understand they would help a bigger area than just tug hill by putting in some trails for ATV users (that has paid in almost 53 million dollars in trail maintance fees that are mandatory in the state) and there are no state atv trails, just the DEC and parks police chaseing anyone who tries to ride. the state D.E,C police have been co-opted by the green people so if you so much as turn a leaf in the woods, your a danger to the enviroment and if caught, fined. the state needs to wake up, atv is 5 times that of the sled industry in dollars and cents no snow needed

  485. If it’s true that “EPA people who knew full well what was going on and were told to tread softly by their superiors in DC” then it makes sense that these people were busted after what was obviously a very careful documentation period to gather evidence. The EPA isn’t stupid enough to march into import companies and announce to everyone that they’re there to check out compliance stickers. They like any enforcement agency will gather evidence before acting. Looks to me like they did everything by the book and now have a strong case.

  486. Wonderful! I wish Elio much success! If I may make a suggestion. Install a rear back up/ rear view camera with object warning sensor since there is no rear window.

  487. Wish your product were coming along a little quicker, promises/projections are lagging a little, this will be a great product when it gets to market.

    Baited Breath,

    Martin

  488. I am 77 years old and would love to be a salesman for this wonderful vehicle that i invested over 6 months ago. I can’t wait to be able to show my “friends” who were very skeptical of my investment into the future. May God bless this venture for all the success it deserves. Best to all of you who have been working so hard to meet the goals set before you.

  489. I made my deposit in July 2013 and I am no. 1432 on the $1000 reservation list..I just hope I live long enough to get my red elio..Im 68 years old but I stiil go to the gym three times a week so maybe I will still be here when production starts…been saving towards mine since last year..got $5700 saved already…Elio will be the best thing that’s happened in this country in the last fifty years….I wont give up unless I kick the bucket…..

  490. Love it so far. But i would like to see a diesel engine made available , that would push fuel economy over 100 mpg. Also have not heard anybody speak of a warranty .

  491. Can’t wait for mine..#830. First trip is to the dragon’s tail. Then south to Key West. Call it a bucket list I guess I just want to hit the road and not look back. This car will get the miles put on it. Just wish it would be built sooner. Keep the fait! Life rocks let’s roll.

  492. Sat in the prototype in Orlando last month. Adequate room for two adults in tandem. Invested shortly thereafter. My reservation deposit is still being “processed”‘ but I am hopefull to be in the 5000’s. Real excitement building around this thing. Maybe a “rallye” in the East Coast some day?

  493. Big congratulations to Paul Elio and his team for having the courage and drive to get this far with his unique concept. Having explored the eliomotors.com website, I was excited to learn of the low entry price, $6,800, product content, and of the creative way to pay for the vehicle. This type of customer focused solution is exactly why Elio Motors might have staying power. Best wishes, Mr. Elio!

  494. Simple, efficient, safe, cool looking, and way smarter than the so-called “SmartCar” at half the price. I’ve driven motor cycles since I was 15 (46 years ago) and this would be the next best thing without the wind noise and limited weather use. GIT – R – DUN !!!!

  495. Great write up!!! An incredible experience to be a part of this build 🙂 can’t wait to wrench again!

  496. Attention grabbing title! Makes everyone raise an eyebrow in curiosity as they click the mouse on this article!
    I couldn’t agree more. In the midwest snowbelt, we have to look for seasonal fillers and ways to amp them up anyway possible. We support WOMEN ON SNOW, an organized group of women riders on snowmobiles. In our speed run and drag race venues for sleds we have teamed up with Snow Divas snow apparel and offer free and bonus gear to all women participants thus increasing their involvement and recognizing them further into a family sport. In the racing snowmobile segment mostly dominated by males, young and old, we’ve shown the biggest part of our show is the brave women raising over $30,000 last year with a bikini run on snowmobiles to benefit PINK RIBBON RIDERS, a breast cancer research organization. We are in our 11th year of doing this, so imagine the money raised for a great cause, thanks to women’s involvement. Others see what some are doing and step up to be involved, further growing the cause and sport. Same thing applies to summer sports, for us mostly bike riding and boating/pontooning. Its amazing to see how many women are riding atvs. sometimes its and couples thing, sometimes a lead in to family sporting. Looking at it from a RV angle, camping starts with couples and families, so tying other sports to RVing helps keeping the female involved in other things…. sometimes the mom takes the lead in these activities mentoring other females. Good article, keep it up!

  497. We purchased the Big Iron in February of 2013. The equipment was very hard to get going, you had to push the gas peddle almost to the floor to get it going. Had the equipment for 8 months and the piece of equipment wouldn’t even run. Called the dealer, he said it was because we didn’t have any oil in the motor. We checked the oil there was oil on the dip stick, we checked that a few times before the problem became extreme. The oil was not the problem, but we now have a piece of equipment that we have to pay 4 more years of payments on, and it doesn’t run. The company in Ohio also accepted the dealers excuse as a reason to make our warrenty void.
    I would not recommend this piece of equipment to anyone, because if something does happen to it, you will be paying for it to be fixed out of your pocket. Thank you Power sport for the great experience we have had with you. What you do unto others, others will do unto you.
    Ivan Robinson

  498. I don’t know where Charlene resides, perhaps Milwaukee, but my “local” dealer sold 78 bikes last year in a relatively small market. Not bad for a niche brand. I currently need to travel over 80 miles to purchase or get the warranty service on my bikes. I hope that the Triumph dealer expansion will result in a closer dealership.
    I’m pretty sure that Triumph has a minimum spacing between dealerships. Older dealerships that may be closer if their locations are “grandfathered”.
    I know that some very small volume dealerships have been squeezed out as Triumph is looking for dealerships that will handle larger volumes.

  499. Interesting that in previuos articles, this was not to have affected the 250, oops, 225, oops, now 121I employees.

  500. I would like to know what the voters of the Nifty 50 Contest were looking for? Yuasa’s entry of the GYZ32HL is the Industry’s largest Powersports battery in the world! It is definitely going to help Dealers make a profit!! A one of a kind battery.

  501. I find it VERY hard to believe sales are UP when they let so many dealers go…… keep drinking the koolaid!

  502. Jim Winn has a Big Future Ahead!! with his “Custom Hand Made American Bike” select licensed builder network concept for 2014 and beyond… I believe the “Wild West Motor Company” will be an intricate part of building and fueling the future growth & success of the motorcycle business market in a powerful way.

    Congrats! Jim you got the “hootsbah” to make this happen 😉

    Tim Alan E.P./Host “American Spirit” Motorcycle Series
    Pres./CEO Third Day Entertainment, Inc.

  503. Finally some competition to keep the likes of Dominion and ARI on their toes. And it will be integrated and actually work with the DMS.

  504. at least somebody is checking the Chinese I can’t believe it’s the federal government !!!! you have to cut corners to make stuff cheap.they should look at some of these cheap scooters from China.because there’s some of them that should not be on the road.

  505. Just trying to get a ballpark figure on a 2003 Mud Hens trailer. Average condition. 2,100 unladen weight if that helps. Any information would be appreciated.

    Thank You

  506. Nice idea, but way too expensive. One could buy a top of the line 2 person atv, a two person jet ski, a trailer for each, and still have several thousand dollars left in their pocket! Each of those individual machines would no doubt perform much much better at their intended task than that oversized, overweight hulk! At the price, size, and weight, I just don’t see it being a hot seller….more of a fad.

    1. I agree, one of my customers brought one in and it was huge and the back end resembled that of a Yugo car! and sounds like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car in the water not so bad but on land one of these rolls on top of you something is broken on both you and the machine. I dont think its even 4 wheel drive.. at any rate, i would not buy this for my family. Consumers may buy this if it was $10k but $40k ? I bought a new 2013 Corvette 3LT convertible for $41k

  507. I have seen the automoto and the Bonzai on the internet. What is the difference? They look just alike.

  508. This is great, I wasn’t aware of this but thanks to you now I am. Just wondering, if the event was in late January, why are you reporting on it in mid March? It would’ve been great to know about this ahead of time. That being said, I will look forward to it for next year! Thanks!

  509. I would love to c more prices and more dealership around my way so I may contact them. I think that what u have is the most awesome boat – 4 wheeler made. When we are hunting & fishing it would be a great thing to have.

    1. Chris,
      In the U.S., I believe the Quadski is only available to register as an ATV or a personal watercraft. It’s only allowed on-road in areas that allow ATV use on-road.

      Thank you,
      Liz Keener
      Managing Editor

  510. I am sure this is a horribly difficult pill to swallow but you have to give this guy your respect for the way he handed it. Sign of a true sportsman.

  511. I know these folks – they play hard but work smart & hard too – I’m jealous of them but in a positive manner – they are both kids to me but that’s what gives me hope for the future – I tip my hat to P & S ….. & the entire Del Amo team … again!

  512. It’s mid April and Elio hasn’t leased any space yet at the plant. Nobody will be producing parts for it until Elio definitely has a production site and is getting the line set-up for production. Since Elio has always been trying to get his venture financed by tax payer dollars I bet he’s holding off on signing a lease until all the testing is done then ask Caddo and Louisiana to provide loans to get started or he’ll go elsewhere.

    Toyota needs another assembly plant for producing their pick-up line so the Caddo plant would be ideal for them and the region’s economy more than this shady operator’s puddle jumper.

  513. Appreciate the post on Jim, Mark. To those that might be wondering, we are working on an industry memorial gathering for Jim, and are seeking a good venue. If you want to make sure you get the info on it, send me an email at larryl@marketplaceevents.com and I’ll put you on the list. Jim was a genuine one-of-a-kind, and he left a lot of great memories for many of us.
    Larry Little

  514. Losing access to public lands is not a victory for off-roaders. We now have 24% of the land we had before. Talk about putting lipstick on a pig. I guess we can be happy we didn’t lose it all. This in no way was a victory. We lost most of our access and in turn got a “designation”. PSB should now has no credibility.

  515. I am so sorry to hear the news of Jim. His class, integrity, and genuine qualities shall remain an example for this industry. The comments above by Mark and Larry say so much. I must concur that if I had ever had a boss in this biz, I would have wanted it to be Jim Hansen.

  516. I am disappointed that Arctic Cat did not acknowledge my completed survey. I have some suggestions that would improve their product, if they would be kind enough to respond.
    Thank you,
    Terry

  517. Hal,

    We didn’t upgrade from NXT (borland) to NXT (SQL) due to performance issues. You have to remember all the times we heard that there weren’t any issues with NXT, and then after an upgrade we spent weeks trying to fix the damage.

    Good news is the PostgreSQL and Ubuntu combination of EVO seem to be much more well thought out and consistent.

    We are currently evaluating EVO -vs- Ziios and hope to be on a new system within the next 140 days!

    Take Care Hal – good to see you’re still trying to show us dealers in the caves the light! LOL

  518. Glad to see this article and the focus on children riders. Although there is a lot of focus on off road bikes and gear many times this leads to having your children join you for rides on the street and in North America street riding gear for kids is next to nonexistent.
    For this reason http://www.kinderriderinc.com was created. we developed a full line of children’s street riding protective apparel. We also have accessories for adults and the bikes they ride.
    Our children are the future riders. It is our responsibility to keep them safe and by doing so make them responsible adult riders.

    Michael Kaiser
    Owner of KinderRider Inc

  519. There will never be another like Jim. I am greatly saddened by his passing and my deepest sympathy goes out to his family. What a loss to us all.

    I had the distinct privilege of working with Jim for 11 years, not nearly enough time to learn all he had to teach. Jim was my mentor, my dear friend, a man I greatly admired not just for his abilities, but for the kind of person he was. Back in 1994 or ’95, Jim took a chance on a little known editor from New York with a less-than-sane reputation. He gave me a break, then tutored me to a whole new level of professionalism. Thank you, Jim, you were loved and you will be dearly missed.

  520. I had the privilege of working for Jim from 2002 – 2005 on Rider and our other titles at the time at EPG. He was a class act.. And funny – he had such a rich, long history in the motorcycle business and was an epic story teller. I learned much from him, not just about the business but about life, and am deeply saddened that he has passed. Jim was a great man.

  521. All this super development of great machines from all the big brands with little or no care for that young generation. They will leave the sport because of the $3000.00 +,- entry price for an 90 – 110cc ATV.
    The winner will be X-Box. Kids are a different group now and if we want sales in the future they need to be looked after and we have to get them riding. The dealers that are helping those owners of the small Chinese units are at least selling parts, shop time and all the other products that riders need. They will now have a chance to move that owner onto their brand because they have helped them through this stage. Big buck baby boomers are quickly leaving their riding days behind. Who is replacing them………hope we can keep them interested with more and better priced units from our OEM partners. We all had to start somewhere, I hope we can change that trend from a SONY and the couch..

  522. That is great information but can you tell us what retail sales were in comparison. All manufactures have been “really encouraging” their dealers to order additional inventory.

  523. I have a 250rv and it only has 1250 miles and I love it but how can I get a service manuel for this bike . I know that you do not make it anymore but it is a great bike

  524. WHAT A GREAT STORY, GREG. TRIUMPH CO. IS THE MOST ADVANCED COMPKANY IN THE US, AND PROBABLY THE WORLD.

    A “TREMENDOUS ATTENTION” TO THE MANY DEALERS IS ALWAYS A MUST IN LEADING A COMPANY TO THE TOP. I KNOW,BECAUSE I TOO WAS A MARKETING VICE-PRESIDENT OF WISCONSIN AND INDIANDA BLUE CROSS & BLUE SHIELD FOR MANY YEARS. WE TOO PUT IST OUR CUSTOMERS AND THAT IS WHY WE WERE #I IN THE NATION ALSO.

    ALL OF YOU EMPLOYEES OF TRIUMPH N.A ALREADY KNOW GREG IS A GREAT LEADER OF YOUR COMPANY THAT YOU WORK FOR. HE OFTEN TELLS ME THAT ‘YOU GUYS” ARE THE MOST PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES AROUND. HE,IS SO PROUD OF YOU ALL. KEEP UP YOUR GREATE POSTIVE ATTITTUDE TOWARD TRIUMP SUCCESS OFTHE FUTURE AS WELL AS YOUR OWN PERSONAL SUCCEES AS WELL. YOU MUST BE GREAT FOR GREG TO HAVE YOU ON THE PAYROLL.

    “SANTA JIM” HEICHELBECH. YES, I AM PROFESSIONAL SANTA, AND HAVE BEEN NOW FOR MANY DECADES. I AM SO PROUD OF MY SON , GREG..

  525. The best aftermarket 2in 1 aftermarket exhaust for Harley Davidson sportster and Dyna .
    Very good sound a lot of torque!

  526. I. Am looking at taking them distributions rights ago of your for the Middle Eeat Region
    my direct number is 973 39454675
    Email Naveen bhattyau

  527. I have been responsible for establishing Sabre A Dallas based US Corpiration in 11 countries within the Middle Esat region.
    I shall be grateful if I am given an opportunity to take care of the distribution
    Of your Quadski in the same region Thanking you in anticipation of a positive Response
    NAVEEN BHATTY

  528. I agree with most of your statements, Gary, but I think are advantages for an OEM supplier in the aftermarket world if it is done right. The fact that TEAM has an extensive engineering group to draw upon makes our products that much more robust and proven. The “street cred” of being a supplier to the large OEM’s is also a great selling point.
    I think consumers today are much better educated and have can get much more product information via the internet, so promoting with glitz and gloss isn’t as important as making a great product. That said, promotion and consumer education is still vital.

  529. is triumph building a electric bike small and compact ? would be a great sell to young bikers and green Come on Greg

  530. Steve, thanks.

    Mark, thanks for your comments. TEAM is one of the companies in that 10%, a company that can thrive in both worlds. You have the advantage of being a recognized pioneer in the CVT category especially and your company has decades of experience. I would say that OEM suppliers can have an inherent advantage in tooling and engineering-intensive systems like yours. But in other markets like lighting where things can be imported from low-cost mfg countries the big OEM suppliers are finding themselves outmaneuvered in the aftermarket. Ironically those same aftermarket brands often have zero chance of selling engineered systems to OEMs.

  531. Gary,

    Spot on assessment. The OEM supplier needs brand identity to accelerate his success in the aftermarket. Without, the supplier must build the link that is his contribution to the OEM’s -products performance, what his product contributes to such performance all without diluting his significance to OEM. Remember the OEM wants to differentiate.

    Tom

  532. Tell the dealers we are serious. I went to my local dealer twice to look a a bike. I brought my kids with me too. They wanted me to buy the bike. I was pretty close but wanted to think a bit.
    I asked him to follow up. He never did. He lost a sale. I dont think i’ll go to a dealer to get my next Bike or to service it for that matter, i’ll do that myself.

  533. ” You can also offer both Ladies Nights and Men’s Nights to show gender equality.” If gender equality is what we are looking for here, why are we segregating based on gender? Why not simply have a bike night, instead of having a “ladies night”, and a “Men’s night”?

    1. Tony, some women prefer women-only events. I’ve seen this in research, and heard it in thousands of conversations with women in the last 20 years. Not all women feel this way, but many do. It also seems Gen X and Boomer women are more likely to prefer women-only. So, it’s just an option, not a requirement.

  534. Now take all that incredible engineering and wrap a aerodynamic body around it.Not only will it go faster,the range of the vehicle at optimum cruise speed can gain as much as double.We can also reduce the horsepower by a sizable amount and while losing some acceleration,we can still hit the same top speed and gain even more in range.I’m hoping Lighting and other manufactures explore aerodynamics,big gains in performance await them

  535. I think it’s great that Bultaco is back! It’s a brand that has been missing from the industry for too long. It’s a shame that you miss-spelled their name in the title of your article.

  536. Mike,
    Thank you for pointing out our error. The headline has been fixed.

    — Liz Keener, managing editor

  537. Great article Chris,

    This reminds me of a book I read called Bare Knuckle People Management. http://amzn.com/1935618482

    They “classify” employees in similar groups and talk about how to deal with them. One of the biggest mistakes I see new managers make is they try “fix the problem children”. This takes away their time from the golden children who are the people really make their business successful, those are the people they should be investing in. I say fire the Red Herring of the companies because even though they may have all the knowledge their bad attitude will quickly destroy your business if you keep them around, they are a cancer. You’ll be glad you did in the long run and you’ll quickly find out that you really didn’t need them as much as you thought you did.

  538. Team Orthopedics rider Jack Pfeifer was disqualified from the race on Sunday after a post race tear down revealed illegal motor modifications. The team was aware of the disqualification before they left the track that day. Which means they knew they were disqualified before they sent out this press release to several different publications. Some of the folks promoting the series are choosing to compete on illegal machinery; cheating the folks that follow the rules, pay the money, and drive the miles to get there.

  539. Jack Pfeifer and the British Customs Team knew thay had been protested and disqualified before they left Willow Springs and sent out their news release which should have read “British Customs Team caught cheating”
    It seems rather disingenuous on their part not to mention this seemingly insignificant fact in their news release
    Bill Milburn

  540. This ride produced memories and impressions that will last a life time (of course I am old, so probably not that long). What a great endeavor and fun undertajing

  541. I liked the looks of the Indian Chief. However, there is a reason the dealership requests long pants for a test drive. After my buddy took one for a drive, I sat on it with shorts on and burned my right calf off the muffler. You might want to put muffler guards on the bikes, because I’m not the only one that has been burned. My friend said there was a lot of vibration from the bike and I believe him. You might want to get that fixed as well. Looks are deceiving. It’s great to be married to a beautiful women, but what counts is she is adequate in other parts of the house, namely the kitchen and bedroom. Take that into account unless you are a good cook right? Love the last years model yellow with brown saddlebags. Sweet! Engine and Price, questionable. Thanks.

  542. What a fantastic story of hope and determination, coupled with strong life values. I LOVE reading such positive stories, having direct knowledge of how effective they are in changing lives through my own work with youth here down under!

  543. I stocked more product 30 years ago prior internet . A small shop can make a larger profit on service rather than the latest and greatest . Young kids look at your parts get # and now punch in their I-Phone . Service sells , more models more inventory that is obsolete more vendors selling on the net . {MAG} A 5$ per hour employee now costs $18 per hour . A small sop is much better off with service and hard parts , how many auto parts stores ,hardware stores , etc. have you seen close in the last 10 years ? There has never been a large margin on cycle parts and why should I compete with the Mag group or motorcycle wharehouse or clients purchasing out of statee and not paying 7% sales tax ? Do you want us to sell @ 10% and make our profit on S&H ? Norman Gross Sussex Hills

  544. It would be appreciated if when ‘reporting’ on an issue -even if the ‘report’ has been filed by a different media outlet- that you would identify the area of concern in addition to the story link (you are headlining the item after all)
    – for those not familiar with smaller cities/areas of Wisconsin this story has no context.

  545. Took delivery of a BMW R1200RT/ SE in April 24, My wife had to go into Hospital to have an operation on the 25 April, so after the recuperation period, she was looking forward to riding our new bike! Only to be told we are not able to ride it owing to a fault!!! needless to say the wife isn’t HAPPY about this, 1). because we dont know when it will be rectified and 2). We only use the bike in fine weather, and like she says if its not recified quickly we will have a £14.310 bike in the garage that is taxed and insured- (wasted money!) and if we cannot use it this year (bad weather-after it is recitified) we will have lost “how many thousand” If we have to wait any lenght of time, she says she would rather have our money back and buy a new bike in the spring of next year— can’t say as I blame her when I look at it like that! We all should stick together and want compensation from BMW-even if only for the Tax and insurance we are out of pocket for.

  546. Really. PSN used to be the best in the business and this is what the best they have. Please share something of value next time.

  547. Congratulations Curtis! And Thank You for being a MOTOTV customer. We are confident that the MOTOTV services you recently installed in your dealership will add to the atmosphere and success of your store.

  548. Along with our courageous freedom fighting men and women,you too Sir have shown your true colors as a Great American.From this day forward,
    your selfless wonderful act of respect will be implemented in my store however or wherever possible, Thank you.
    Respectfully,
    Bill Meyer
    Wild River Sport & Marine
    Trego,WI

  549. This article could have been shortened to say “these models return with bold new graphics and increased pricing”. The embarrassment of the industry continues at Suzuki…..epic fail!!! I genuinely feel sorry for any single line Suzuki dealer still holding on, as they continue to receive disappointment with every “new” model year press launch!

  550. While I don’t necessarily agree with the NHTSA using tax dollars to lobby state governments, I think they absolutely can and should use more resources to educate the public on motorcycle safety issues. There are still far too many bikers being seriously injured, disabled or dying due to unsafe driving and riding practices. Both bikers and other motor vehicle operators need to be constantly informed and reminded to use safe driving practices to reduce these injuries and deaths.

  551. They should save the time and energy on this project…
    Electrics are impractical as an only vehicle due to the limited range and recharge time……

    1. Design will improve, batteries will improve, charging methods will improve…

      I wonder what the range of the first horseless carriages were? We are on the verge of an energy revolution whether its electric or hydrogen or whatever. Embrace these steps, this is awesome stuff. Good job Harley Davidson! Be on the forefront, let the companies that don’t embrace change eat your dust.

  552. I’d be more worried about ripping around on this as a fourwheeler, a rock or log come up and crack the bottom or even make a hole unknowingly. Then of course you ride into a lake and sink your $40,000 machine. It would be interesting to know what the underneath is made of.

  553. A good way to stop oil leaks , oil carry over and heat . Has it got a Toyota Prius engine and a Nippon Denso starter with Showa forks ? Will the parts be made in the U.S . or just assembled here ? Mexico or Brazil . Norman Sussex Hills

  554. Great article Samantha! I like the Facebook changes. Original content is what I like to read. It only makes sense that our Buyers and Sellers feel the same 🙂

  555. If you’re a current More Than Rewards customer you can it bundled with our other services at a discount rate as well. Just give us a call at 414-326-4100 for more info or if you have questions.

    Thank You!
    Jason Brethorst
    President/CEO
    More Than Rewards

  556. I am from turkey. Its been 2 years yamaha has canceled the distributorship in turkey and they are trying to sell their products in the market. But they cannot. Because turks use to sell bikes with a minimum profit but now japanese people couldnt understand the market so they still want to sell the products on 10-20% profit line. A bike used to have a price lets say 5000$ became 6000-6500$ so now everone buys the taiwanese sym or kymco with 3000-3500$ range. It was logical paying for a bike 1000$ difference to get more quality but now its nearly double price.

  557. Hello im interested in getting a franchise in the area O North Myrtle Beach , South Carolina. There in that area even the golf carts are permitted to be on all roads except major road. .Please contact me 856-305-4101 grants is the way to go all police and rescue would be interested in this vehicle. I have the knowledge to make this happen

    But I have been involved in police work for over 30 years and have a lot of contacts with other depts. and police unions. This vehicle would be useful in all areas of law enforcement and fire and rescue. Beach patrolling and homeland security. Im retired right now but just before most police depts. received up to two Harley Davidsons free from the federal government on grants.

  558. As an update, Mad River Harley-Davidson, Rock-N-Roll City Harley-Davidson, Rubber City Harley-Davidson and Adventure Harley-Davidson have rescheduled the Ride the Circuit event for Saturday, Aug. 30.

  559. One thing that has really struck me about the motorcycle business is the number of people in the industry who are mixing their passion with their job.

    In a lot of respects this is good, but in many others, it’s a death knell.

    Motorcycling is very much a fringe pursuit, and focusing on candidates who are ‘into’ bikes or ‘know the industry’ drastically reduces the talent pool.

    In some industries that also attract ‘passionate’ employees, there’s a strong argument in favor of that approach.

    But in the case of motorcycling, being able to pull a wheelie or having a 20-year-old race trophy on your office shelf doesn’t have any bearing on being able to do a managerial job well.

  560. Good point, Chris. Having a passion for excellence as a manager is certainly more critical to being a successful manager than being an enthusiast. However, not having a love of powersports makes it difficult to accept the work-load and proportionately low wages that go along with our business. The same situation often holds true for dealership owners. We have a high percentage of very passionate owners with limited business skills and knowledge. This leads to an understandably poor survival rate for many of them. However, non-powersports folks who invest in dealerships often become disillusioned with the complexity of the business and the low return on investment relative to other business ventures.

  561. 175hp. 1,700 lbs. 10hp per 100 lbs. that’s as much launch trust as a twin engine Cessna (aircraft). 10 fold that of a “standard car”, 10 (ten) TIMES!!! oMg at a tenth the cost of an Atom!! DA BOMB!!!!!!

  562. The prototype bike looks great and appears to draw very favorable feedback. I feel this would be a great addition to the Harley range of bikes. The only issue I see is the 50+ mile range. This would work well as a commuter bike, but most recreational riders generally ride more than 50 miles at a time.
    I haven’t seen much discussion, but I have question about the size/dimensions of the bike. Being short of stature, I would like to see a seat height that would be appropriate for riders 5’2″ – 5’6″ with little to no modifications.

  563. So….just wondering, yes or no, is it, or can it be street legal, and how would I go about registering this vehicle with Massachusetts DMV, I would like to be able to “drive” to Martha’s Vinyard on the thing and be able to “drive” around the streets legally, license plate and all, that would be nice, …..very naaaa-ice!!

  564. Hi Dave,
    About two years ago I bought a UTV called Tiger side by side Chinese.
    I have never be able to find a repair company or dealer .
    It is a manual transmission and the clutch was roasted so needs a new one.
    Probably 20 hours on the machine , 20 miles

    If you know anyone that I can get parts or service any where in North America that would be a great help.

    Thanks Dan-el
    604 6490385

  565. Slingshot should sell well in Southern California. Who will be the 1st to put a turbo on it? A turbo will be a perfect match, as the low end power is at it’s max and top end will handle the enhancement nicely. A great canyon carver, the younger males are pegged to buy the Slingshot, but maybe it is a good substitute for older riders.

  566. Very cool bike and concept. This model has actually been on sale in Europe for quite some time. A lot of space for a story about a bike that is a non-story in North America because is 0 chance of it making it to these shores. But the RC390? That is another story…

  567. I think that Scottsdale is so LUCKY to have been chosen for the location of this historical building event! I am also LUCKY because I get to drive by everyday and watch the progress of it!

  568. Just another copycat effort from these guys to emulate the industry leading products from Moose Utility Division.

  569. So proud to support the businesses of such an awesome and generous man! Thank you Bob Parsons! GOD Bless You!

  570. They are going backwards! This should have been a 2 or 3 cylinder with pressurized lubrication and made in AMERICA!

  571. Please send me more info on your hydraulic brush cutter.
    I have a TERRAMITE T5C tractor (front loader/back hoe).
    Could my TERRAMITE drive your mower?
    What is the pressure requirement to drive your
    mower?

    Thank you,
    Bob

  572. The risk with the Skully is the head shape. Are there multiple head shape options? If not, it is an expensive piece of hardware to cause discomfort to a rider.

  573. 2 questions:

    1) Is it offered in a 3/4 size helmet too?
    2) What about fit? Hate to put down a down payment to find it doesn’t fit me comfortably.

  574. Is the helmit snell approved? And can you turn off the rear view camera I would like to have one for the bike and also use it for my race car

  575. this is about time and the O.E.M.s could learn from this too !!!! they spend all there money trying to get customers back in the door to look at there models at the dealerships, but they support shop-a-tron and others that ship cheap oem parts over the internet, so the customer who needs a brake lever that you have on your shelf never comes in to see new or used of what you may have, and you can’t ever ask the question “would you like to trade yours for a new or used one that we have. usually the parts come from states that have low overhead incl. land taxes, payroll overhead and i would bet have sub-standard dealership!!! there would be shouts of joy if the OEM company put this policy in effect, wake up!!! before all dealer ships start closeing down!!!!

  576. They will be selling a lot of the seat covers once everyone finds out that swimsuit colors rub off on the white stock seat

  577. I’ve been searching the planet for some accessories for my z8 in Australia. It’s really frustrating. I found some on the Canadian web site only!! Why is that??

  578. Hi I’m Ben from Tirana Albania. ZipCode:1000
    I want to buy one Spark 90hp direct from you online,can you give me the price including the shipping cost to Albania with aircargo .

    Best regards
    Ben

  579. The few changes in the ATV lineup can all be attributed to one thing, and it isn’t “better feel”; it’s emissions standards. In effect, it sounds like they leaned everything out for a more complete burn, going so far as a dual plug head! Just what the customer needs! It looks like the LTZ 400 was dropped also. Damn shame.

  580. Government overreach !! Nothing new!! I am glad to see the AMA is on top of this and put it out so people like my self can view it . Thanks Thomas

  581. This is a real bad idea. There is a lot to pay attention to while riding. This will just create sensory overload. Not to mention that just because your on a motorcycle, it does’t make you a good motorcycle rider.

    1. I think you missed the point of the helmet…it’s to allow the rider to see more of his/her surroundings. Full-face helmets decrease a rider’s peripheral vision as well as decrease sounds from all sides. Being able to see more and to have that peripheral vision restored without having to ride helmetless is a good thing.

  582. My hat is definitely off to Polaris – as a non Polaris dealer, you guys just keep kicking ….. & even when we’re down hey, you fight, you fight to win …congrats

  583. Finally some competition for Cycle Trader/Boat Trader and the rest of the Dominion web sites. Good luck guys.

  584. If you want to be treated like a VIP go the AIMExpo. Larry and Mike just stepped up their game. Lee Rocker show was incredible. Thank you for a great time.

  585. I would like to have the Japanese Motorcycle Export Statistics as of Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha to Middle East countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan for our reference, starting 2013 and 2014 Model Year products.
    Thanks and regards,
    Paul

  586. Not sure who going to receive this or where it goes but I am not very happy on hearing that my closes CanAm shop Ashburton South Island New Zealand is losing its francise they have serve me very will over the last 2 years I have brought 2 spyders off them I live in Christchurch South Island New Zealand it is far enough away to be traveling down to Ashburton (1hour) to have my spyder service or have anything on it I am now thinking of selling it I don’t really want but I am not traveling any further in the they have sold a lot of Spyders at this outlet and have a name in the Canterbury district
    Please pass this on to whom should get at BRP
    I do thankyou for reading this but I do realise it will full on deaf ears

    kind regards
    Kevin Ager

  587. Even if true, this may potentially back-fire on Arctic Cat. To think that a company would sue on a safety feature that is good for the industry as a whole is not in their best interest.

    They did not think this through – when it comes to safety, some things are best shared with others, even your competition. The potential for negative publicity, especially in the social society we live in, may do more harm than good.

    1. The technology is important for sure. Arctic Cat is not saying they can’t use it, they are saying they should be compensated. If allegations are true, BRP should have licensed the technology from Arctic Cat.

  588. The problem with every OEM company that makes units is they only want to sell to adults. If they don’t look at the entry level “kids market” our whole industry is in trouble. Kids are different today…..cell phones, X-Box, PlayStation and staying inside are the norm now. Boomers are leaving the sport and only a few kids are entering it. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see where this will end up. Affordable quality kids units is the answer……..but that won’t happen. WAKE up OEM’s and visualize our industry 5-10 years down the road.

  589. I think Yamaha wants to make another run as they did in the early 80’s to be at the top of the metric brands – the company that addresses dealer profitability by having the most desired products consistently will get my vote & my best efforts[& my investment $s]. I believe they may do it this time around – the metric companies seem to be a bit sluggish compared to American branded marques – are they ‘fat’ cats? I don’t know – but they seem to be content with their current positioning …. I like being at or near the top – kissing my sister is not my idea of #1

  590. well, I guess HD’s success which has made their dealer groups’s profitability the envy of the ‘rest’ of us now bites them – nice to be able to afford top quality attorneys – “ET tu Brutus”.

  591. Perhaps this should happen more often. Most OEM are on a different playing field and never understand how much resourses a Dealership uses to promote their products.

  592. Just like to say I have a 2006 vegas jackpot and a 2007 kingpin tour motorcycles and they are great bikes no problems at all..the new Indian motorcycle are also great bikes….Ride on………..Bob

  593. I think there is some good info here, especially for dealerships that are new to social media. I do disagree somewhat with your advice regarding multiple hashtags in one Tweet, comment or post. Some search engines recognize excessive use of hashtags as spam and could relegate such content to the black list. Also, in my personal experience, while young people may enjoy the coded world of hashtag mania, many of the people who buy cruisers (my customers) are older and find the whole #Hashtag this-#Hashtag that – a bit much.

    Using hashtags sparingly, to generate an easy way for people to follow your stream makes sense. Using them just because you can – not so much.

    Thanks for taking the time to write the post.

  594. All the selected panelists will likely for us on the strength or new and used unit sales in the industry. Please also discuss the strength and weaknesses of the aftermarket as well relating to distributor consolidation, vertical market control from manufacturers and distributors, etc. Include trends or swings toward e-commerce retailers and Amazon Powersports. Where do riders shop these days for easynadd-on accessories and gear?

  595. Marshall was a great distributor, and will be missed. It is really sad to see this race to the bottom. There are things more important then price (although Marshall was right there with price). Many of these mergers are going to leave brick and mortar stores with less product available competing against there own distributor.

    Dealers: remember the big distributors are just going after parts sales today and do not care if you are in business next year, they are ready to take advantage to the next dealer.

    Every time you open your wallet (wholesale, retail or services) you are voting, and small short term profits are not worth your future.

    Best of luck to everyone at Marshall, I will continue to purchase very little from WPS.

  596. what the cant you leave us alone we are off in the desert playing . you people voting on things like this havent got your shoes dirty ever, but your going to make laws that affect us on how we can go play and spend our free time. we have thousands to hundred of thousands invested in off road toys and your messing with it. last year helmet law , ok think of this what about you in a convertibal car on the freeway why arnt you in a helmet to be safe ??? or would that mess up your hair for your meetings ???

  597. How do I get hold of the new Matchless Co? Very interested in new Model X. A web address, email contact, etc. Thanks

  598. Are you kidding me….is their any place else you can stick your friggin nose??what next??…will you try to limit the orgazams I have to insure my heart doesn’t get overworked??……please stay out of our recreation, if we all wanted to be safe in the eyes of the insurance commissioners we would bubble wrap ourself and sit on the porch.

  599. I think that the UTVS are very safe and need no more safety features added to it it would just take the fun out of them

  600. It’s not right for them to pass a bill when they don’t understand the off road vehicle world of people that enjoy getting out for some good riding .part of why we do is some danger and risk .so for you to try and push laws on this without knowing full knowledge of the sport is insane. I’m for it being safe but don’t enforce rules like a every day driving vehicle because that’s not what you have

  601. if I want a high performance machine to play and have a good time that should be my right. Im sick and tired of the government putting regulations on everything. My family fought for my freedom and with all these damn rules and regulations its just not a free country anymore.I can make my own decisions in my life its up to me not the government!!!! Its sad that with all the world trouble going on there going to worry about Off road vehicle size!!! Come On Man!!!!

  602. yes we want safe off road vehicles but unless u get off road in these very safe vehicles ( I own 3 my self )
    you can not text book design and build them. mfg’s have done a great job of testing and building safe off road vehicles mandates will cause many people to modify factory built units and become more un safe unless you can get off road in them you need to leave them alone

  603. We should be able to ride the road to get to were we’re going. .people wreck everyday in a car..no body stops us from driving them..I love to ride and not everyone has and way to haul them so I see nothing wrong with it..

  604. I use Marshall predominantly for most of our aftermarket parts, I hope WPS will live up to the same standards! I do use WPS as a secondary supplier and they seem very well organized, and our rep Katie Jilek is so great to work with, I am sure that will continue.

  605. I just looked at the email with Bob Parsons standing between a Harley and a truck and I’m wandering where I can find a grille with “USMC” for my 2013 Silverado, that’s on the truck in the email. I’m a Viet Nam vet 62 to 68, MOS 3531 truck driver, 2 1/2 ton, for 3/9. Thanks for any help on any info on the grille. Bob Jost, 314-852-7912.

  606. Quote: “Indian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company, today announced its itinerary for the International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach…”

    WHY, Why do you and most of the other “Motorcycle Publication” continue to print this garbage. Try Google. FACTS are important. “Indian Motorcycle” is NOT AMERICA’S FIRST MOTORCYCLE COMPANY.

    1899
    American entrepreneur and bicycle manufacturer Charles H. Metz creates America’s first production motorcycle (he’s also been credited with coining the term “motorcycle”).

  607. Polaris is very smart – the other brands seem to be content with not learning from previous mis-steps as well as not looking to far into the future or looking aound at what the market is doing – I don’t know how their dealer group’s profitability is but I do know that the stock holders are pleased. CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ACQUISITION…..

  608. can’t wait to find out how to become a dealer in central mexico since there is a
    lot of places where it would be of good use!

  609. I,m a proud owner of a 2013 victory cross country and once again polaris has hit another one out of the park,I would love to have the new scout sitting right next to my XC polaris once again went out of the box to produce a one of a kind production bike like no other.For anyone out their looking for a midsize cruiser that Harley folks can,t say it,s another Harley copy this could be the bike for you,not only does it look nothing like a Harley you can be sure it,s technologically superior to Harley in every way.Way to go Polaris keep those hits coming.

  610. Have they not learned their lesson? — let’s bring on a private equity guy with no industry experience to resolve our massive aged inventory issue, stagnant product line, and fed-up dealer base. ‘Cat is a total comedy of errors, soon to be relegated to history.

  611. “The ATV had a high center of gravity with no rollover driver retention”…wait what? You couldn’t tell this before you purchased (or operated) the ATV? That’s most likely what Suzuki’s lawyers said to the plaintiff’s lawyers who advised the plaintiff not to go there.

  612. This past Saturday night, we too were broken into and had 4 units stolen. Two Honda Rukus’s, a 2015 CRF250r and a 2015 CRF450r. Little Ephrata Pa doesn’t seem to be excluded from this same problem We also are anxious to catch the scum bags and will reward anybody that can supply information to recover the bikes and especially those involved.

  613. Colleen,

    As always great advice.

    Let me suggest something we did for many years that initially sounds like a disconnect. We used our relationship with a commercial landscaper and offered our “better location for him” use of our parking lot for his X Mass tree sales.

    The X Mass spirit grew and many customers that never would stop by our Dealership were drawn in. The store of course carried the X Mass décor inside and our market so expanded.

  614. If you actually look at the details in the CPSC report, it doesn’t a genius to figure out that the manufacturers are just being forced to add features to make the vehicles idiot proof.

    If you eliminate those riders not wearing seatbelts and not wearing helmets, the serious incident rate is miniscule. Less than driving around a city in a car.

    The manufacturers provide seatbelts and if drivers choose not to wear them then they only have themselves to blame. But these protection agencies feel the need to protect us from ourselves and force the cost onto everyone. So instead of just providing seatbelts the manufacturers have to put in an electronic warning system in every vehicle even if 90% of people wear seatbelts all the time already.

    Next stop airbags!

  615. I live near Charlotte NC and I can not find a dealer near me. I have been looking at the alligator 700 on line and would love to see one in person. Maybe I need to become a dealer?

  616. Technology for the sake of technology is nice if you’re doing pure R&D or in the world of academia. The real challenge is making it work to add value to your customers and, from what I hear, the jury is still out on DX1. Only time and the market place will tell if they were successful.

  617. My Son got the Flash in August an other than spedometer cable malfunction(which the dealer drove 14 miles to replace) it really runs nice. He zips all over our town of Eustis with no problems at all. Our 500 mile maintenance is coming up and I can’t wait to check out the new Havoc I am pretty sure I am going to buy for me!

  618. OK, since when is Shopatron shipping orders from “distribution centers and warehouses when fulfilling orders online.” ????????

    They have been very adamant about only shipping from a dealer’s inventory and very quick to penalize if that is not strictly followed. So, now the dealer is getting cut-out and ” distribution centers and warehouses” are being utilized directly?

  619. You need a 100 miles range and a quick recharge option available at service stations.

    A bayonet type battery that can quickly be exchange with a fully charge battery at a service station booth , paying with a credit card would do.

  620. I would like some kind of response from Shopatron and/or ARI on this. Exactly how are “distribution centers and warehouses” involved in this perfect new symbiosis? This completely flies in the face of the current Shopatron rules that we dealers, that are smart enough to take advantage of this system already on our own, have been strictly held to. So, are the rules being changed now? Are we all going to be able to use “distribution centers and warehouses” as is stated in this press release? I do not like the smell of this.

  621. Lots of hype for something that they thought would have been ready 2-3 years ago. Let’s just hope it can live up to the lofty expectations or it will be just another strong arm sale from the CTOL reps.

  622. Hi Rick: As the article states, dealers are playing a significant role in the development of DX1. In fact, we just held our second advisory council meeting last week. If you are a dealer or work in a dealership, we welcome your participation! The DX1 advisory council was established to solicit feedback from throughout the industry. If you are interested in participating, please contact me at neil.pascale@dominionpowersports.com. Thanks!

  623. Why do you make it so hard to shop your manuals? I want to be able to hit your website pull up the manual I want to shop. Go directly to the parts I want to check out pull the part numbers and head to my dealer and order them or just call my dealer and place my order. Every time I try this it becomes a major pain in the ass. I have dealt with Drag Specialties for nearl 30 years and don’t want to use anyone else!! Try checking out Denis Kirk and maybe get some ideas how to make your catalogs more user friendly. Thank you from a long time customer. Ed Williams.

  624. Ok, I bought this and love it. Indeed it is bad-ass. BUT! It could use an attachable face shield. In cold weather with just glasses or goggles, the cold air makes the eyes water badly and fogging up is an issue. Will try better anti-fog….still looking for that. Some type of face shield design would be great.
    Thom

  625. Harley should use the costco Powersports program to display a HD at the costco. the program sends the buyers to the dealership. Over three quarters of the members had never been to my shop

  626. Good to read NAMSM Blaine Schuttler’s enthusiasm for Husqvarna bikes. Husky’s name faced a lot of head winds over the last 20 plus years. Having said that, it is refreshing to see an old European bike name like the Husky fighting back on firm footing. Let the dirt fly. Congrats to Blaine Schuttlers

  627. Im gonna try to break this down as easy as I can make it. You (thats means You liberal government officials) need to worry more about fixing this country’s problems that our hard earned tax dollars pay you to do and stop making up little clicks such as the CPSC to suck the life out of us proud to be free US citizens! If i want to put my family in my utv and ride all over this country I will. If i want to load up with my buddies and hit the extreme trails around where we live I will. This isnt some third world country and you cant mandate and restrict everything we do. Ppl are gonna be killed or hurt in every activity known to man “thats life”. I think WE as off road riders have enough sense to not wanna get hurt and take every precaution to try not let that happen. So wont you do us all a favor and grow some balls and not worry about extracurricular activities we hard working Americans enjoy and call your liberal buddy in congress and tell them that this country needs to be self sufficient again and have them stop being in the shirt pocket of the president and his epa regime and put some wv and ky coalminers, some PA steelworkers, Midwest farmers and every other working trade that they have let China, Korea, Mexico, Vietnam etc.. inherit the jobs of. That seems more to me like a days work. The leaders of this country need to get there priorities in line. And we as Americans need to push and get rid of electoral votes so we as the American ppl that live in this country can decide by popular votes who leads us and not let you gravy train riding politicians decide who you want to keep in office so your jobs protected!! Im sick of the nonsense that keeps running rampant in this country. Wake up America because if you dont your getting ready to watch your own funeral! Even you pie eating government officials “if you dont start working for the better good of this country Soon”You will not have a job, family, or future to enjoy. If your to bullheaded to see that hide in your temporary office and watch. 18 trillion dollar deficit to China wont be wrote off as an IOU forever. God Bless

  628. So sorry to hear. Steve was a great guy and did a lot for the sport of off road riding. I remember an awesome ride with him in southern Jersey that showed me what single track was and how much fun we had. “Keep swinging kid” will always be my memory of him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

    1. Hi Doug, in the coming posts we will be covering in greater detail some of the things I have learned over the years. Most of it the hard way, but learned none the less! I hope that the things I have tried, some worked great, many failed in epic fashion, will help others to see their way clear of trouble with warranty claims! Thanks for contributing to the discussion and I hope to see more discussion on here.

      Anyone have any funny stories to share about warranty claims? I would love to hear them!

      Brandon

  629. Well… I guess from your assessment if you are a metric ‘ cookie cutter” dealer you should just throw in the towel.
    If we are doomed as metric dealers then who is going to launch the next generation of riders. ? Is BMW going to do the missionary work with 1400.00 dirt bikes to give the new riders the first taste of 2 wheeling ?
    As a metric dealer since 1972 I am offended how the magazines and industry pundits have written off this segment of the industry. /have you met the nicest people on a Ducati ?

  630. Who else would be the official motorcycle of Sturgis? It’s not like there are any other brands making headlines and disrupting the sacred “Harley” market…

  631. I hope they can one day make this more affordable for the hard working middle class. I love the idea of only storing one item in the winter and more space in the shed. $40K is an awfull lot of money. See what you can do. Great idea and looks fun.

  632. what good are the new street models to Cal dealers if they dont meet C.A.R.B., seems like no effort was put forth to California dealsrs

  633. If I were a dealer, I’m supposed to be excited because………. this looks like a warmed over rhino? I must be missing something.

  634. Yamaha quality, more nimbleness over the rocks, top speed 60+, price is right, my Rhinos went 40mph, w/o CDI+, I do not need to go 80, lots of low end up the hills, decent top speed, more nimbleness, might end up being my favorite ride. I have a CF Moto Z Force 800 which does 70 mph+, and am having fun in the largest OHV Park in California, Ocotillo Wells, TruckHaven and Salton City area. Viva La Riviera!

  635. It is NOT a motorcycle……sorry for those hoping otherwise, but it just isn’t a motorcycle by any accepted standard.

  636. If they are serious about growing their business in the U S then why don’t we have a side by side to offer in the sizzling off road business? Plus their ATV’s are way over priced compared to competitors.

  637. Well said Mr. Stickney – As a proponent of defending your profitability, I couldn’t have said it any better. I just hope they listen…and grab the sword.

  638. I own a 05 660 rhino
    It took me everywhere & brought me back
    Very good workhorse
    This new wolverine-R to me does not have a WoW – factor look ; so I will give if the benefit of the doubt on a test ride and why is camo always more $$$$ on a dirt machine .
    my rhino is hunter green and when I want camo I hit the mud in the end you have to wash your machine anyhow
    YAMAHA rider since the 70s

  639. Having just lost a sale to these folks who, against DMW regulations, delivered a new Triumph to a buyer around 500 miles away (and in my backyard) at a price well below invoice, I’m not quite as impressed with their #1 volume status. When this distinction is “bought” by drastically reducing profits and skirting regulations, the distinction as “No. 1 Triumph dealer” seems a little empty.

  640. I’m excited to see the new Wolverine. Have a 2012 Grizzly 700 and if its anything like that, I will definitely consider purchasing one. It’s nice to see Yamaha get into the sport utv game. So sick of hearing Razor this and Razor that. Was considering buying a trail cat X but will definitely have to compare now!! My Grizzly has been extremely reliable with no break downs after two years and over 5000 miles.

  641. Many times, I have put off firing an employee because I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to replace them, or they’d create too big a hole in my organization.
    After the problem employee was gone. I didn’t regret it once. Not once.

  642. Dean,

    A very warm greeting more important it’s great to to see that all your hard work over many years and many exposures has been rewarded to you!

    I have great memories of you when you Tim, Ben first started!

    Barbara and I wish you all the success in the future!

    David Bolton
    1-949-525-7372

  643. Oops!, top speed 50? That is okay for some, if rock climbing and trail riding is your use. But for overall performance, a high performance clutch, or other speed enhancing modification is needed. When Yamaha builds a SxS that will do all that and go 60/70, I am a buyer, as they have VERY dependable machinery.

  644. My $0.02
    When the “Sacred Cow” as defined here, rears its head, not just maybe but that IS reflective on the ownership and management of the business and therefore the team. This is somewhat compromising to everyone in the pyramid paradigm and it wouldn’t matter if the pyramid was right side up or my personal favorite, upside down.
    When an individual employee reach’s this point of no return as described who’s responsible for them getting there? They’ve obviously been there a good while or we wouldn’t be enjoying this discussion.
    Who takes the responsibility that this once happy productive “Cow”, (as these mostly good people often referred to, and instead of saying “they were great last year, what happened to them” and instead say ” They were great last year, what have I not done to keep them inspired?” At what time frame are we thinking a person enters this “Pasture”? Always at 5 years, 8 years, 12 -15 Years? What career work environment are you building/managing?
    I have been and am a fan of reallocation of resources to save jobs and give new fresh perspectives and have done it successfully more than once.
    But take that “cow” and see that there is that blend of employee that still, loves their job, loves their customers and customers love them. They eat sleep and breathe their job, make tough sacrifices in their life to accommodate their co workers, customers and schedule. Has always received good reviews and not just in general, but overall is a senior employee extraordinaire. Not a “Problem Child” but one real person knowingly dependent on their schedule, their hours, their income to exist and in short make a living. Perhaps a single parent, a struggling student do you even know what struggles they have. This employee has been there these many years, has an intimate knowledge of your organization, your business, your customers and vice versa. Shows up on time, stays late, takes the blame when nobody else will, and is productive in every definition.
    Is it acceptable to target these individuals with tactics that make them saddened you’d treat them in such a disrespectful manner? That they’re no longer thrilled to be there due to not a specific change in policy but an emotional change in their work environment. A change in the way they’re treated or thought of. They are human, they’ve been neglected and relationships strained maybe due to management changes, team changes or double standards, (yes they exist), favoritism and deceit. Out and out jealousy by managers or other employees. That to have wages cut, hours downsized made them feel unnecessary or made to feel unwanted feel that your “Done” with them, or worse, . . just plain hurt them.
    Now that we beat them, downtrodden them, run new hires over the top of them, removed their privileges, cut their benefits, that one not a dealers fault in most cases but nevertheless, have been shown with new policies they’re not trusted anymore. Usually because somebody earlier stole something or abused a privilege and now instead of just punishing the guilty, they’re all guilty. I’d ask any dealer that I’d consult with, “Can you put yourself in their shoes?”. . really?. . no I mean really.

    Do you really know what’s going on in your business and with your employees or do you care? Do you delegate, knowingly or unknowingly, these ever so important tasks and findings to a subordinate that possibly doesn’t care but for one?

    Are we going to reach a point that we agree that’s its just easier to fire your mistakes than it is to fix them?

    Famous quotes from famous people are proven to inspire so, here’s a couple out of hundreds:
    “The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.” ~ Harvey Firestone
    “ The Secret of My Success is a Two Word Answer: Know People” ~ Harvey Firestone

    Thanks for listening

    20 Year Industry Rep.
    35 years Business Administration & Management * Distribution
    Traveling Road Rep * Motorcycle Industry Advocate* Motorsports Enthusiast
    Ex Off Road Racer * Dad * Grandfather * Brother * Son * Husband * Trailrider

  645. I think this was a good move for Polaris. There is a market here. It isn’t a motorcycle but surely a motorsport application. Regardless, I bet it is a blast to ride and something that people with or without a lack of balance can enjoy on the street or flat track. I like the whole side by side concept. Its fun to take a friend with you. If the sales go well for them, I’d be curious to see if a race class develops. TT anyone?

    As a note, new technologies are always a learning experience for the whole industry. Can-Am gambled with the Spyder and it paid off. Technologically it is much like a bunch of other machines put together. But the whole package is what we learned from. What people like, what they don’t, what lasts, what breaks. While the package was not a stretch technologically it was a stretch for the motorsports industry. We have learned people like them and they sell well with the proper marketing.

    Keep up the drive Polaris, I’m curious to see what you do next.

    K

  646. Kids entry level units are way to expensive from the OEM dealers.
    Dad or Granddad might try a non OEM brand but the OEM dealers kick them down the road when they come asking for help. That chance for a new rider dies in the back of the garage and the kid returns to X-Box and cell phone.
    OEM dealer should be embracing these new customers. These cheaper units are just a stage in a riding adventure. Help them and take the time to expose them to their OEM brand and all the other products needed to ride.
    All the parts needed for these units are available from companies like WPS.
    The most important point as Liz said keep them riding or we as an industry will be toast in 10-20 years.

  647. To clarify, when I was talking about no-pressure demos, I was talking about the four-wheel variety. I would never encourage putting an untrained rider on a motorcycle or scooter. And I do still think that side-by-side and ATV demo riders would need some instruction, an easy course to ride and and full supervision.

    — Liz Keener, managing editor, Powersports Business

  648. great article, your point is, get out there, look at new ways to attract new customers in places that are not the norm. We have been able to draw consumers in typical ways, but the stores I see doing well are constantly trying new things, ways to attract buyers. This can be any kind of sales year you want it to be, look at new ideas

  649. Peter, what is a “non-OEM” brand?
    OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer so any powersports manufacturer is an OEM. I think you are trying be clever and rallude to the Chinese import brands that do not support a dealer network and sell through non-powersports retailers. Dealers quite rightly refuse to service these vehicles. There are no parts, no tech training and these low quality vehicles to which you refer have no resale value. You expect a dealer to enter into a situation servicing these unfamiliar units they did not sell initially, whose importer is here today and gone tomorrow, and expose themselves to liabilities without support of the brand and risk their business. NO way.

    The problems are far deeper that the simplistic recommendations of the author. The Millennial, as this sought after generation is called, are not eschewing just the motorcycle but motor vehicles in general. The number of young adults without automobile driver’s licenses in increasing as these young adults move to dense urban areas and live without need for personal transport. They do not connect vehicle ownership with freedom or maturity, they will be the ZipCar renter not the motorbike buyer. I believe the baby boomers and the whole “biker” milieu has made motorcycling look grossly unappealing so that the great majority of today potential buyers can not envision themselves as the unsavory characters that dominate the public face of riding today. See the South Park episode on Bikers for a snapshot of this generation’s attitude.

    We need to recast the motorcycle as a mode of transport that provides some utility not a recreational toy. What is the advantage?
    Absolutely none. Lane-sharing for example would make a bike an attractive commuter choice. Are you supporting lane sharing?
    Insurance costs kill the ardor of many would be buyers, the difficultly of getting licensed presents a high barrier that’s costly in some places. Do you support Insurance reform? Free rider training as is available in a few states perhaps would help but what really the motorcycle business needs is a new purpose for riding. That is not being presented

    I can tell you from decades in the business that ball-sports do not sell bikes, do not generate prospects andwill not engender the new rider interest we need to survive as a industry.. Even at best 2.5% of any event like state fairs or concerts attendees are ever going to be possible consumers of two-wheeled vehicles. Work out the ROI in that prospect. What Groupon offer can a powersports retailer offer to attract a new rider? To offer you a dinner on Groupon the business must discount by 50% and when you buy that $30 certificate worth $60 through Groupon the Groupon folks keep half so you the business nets about 25% of the normal value. High mark-up dinners where the owner hopes you buy some booze to he won’t loose his shirt on the deal are why stuff like that works. What does a motorcycle retailer have? Training classes? Try that some time.

  650. Bye bye Kieth maybe the new boss will get back to loyal people of the brand before they switch to Indian Motorcycles like I did. The Motor Company is not what it used to be because these new type executives are not people who ride and really love motorcycles and what they are all about. These guys can only think $$$ and in the long run it’s about more than just money ! Good luck Matt, to late to bring me back to Harley Davidson but with better communications with your customers may keep the next guy from leaving.

    Go Indian Motorcycles !

    Thanks

    Mike Fox – Hoka Hey Rider# 601
    Professional Long Rider

  651. The problems are far deeper that the simplistic recommendations of the author. The Millennial, as this sought after generation is called, are not eschewing just the motorcycle but motor vehicles in general. The number of young adults without automobile driver’s licenses is increasing as these young adults move to dense urban areas and live without need for personal transport. They do not connect vehicle ownership with freedom or maturity, they will be the ZipCar renter not the motorbike buyer. I believe the baby boomers and the whole “biker” milieu has made motorcycling look grossly unappealing so that the great majority of today’s potential buyers can not envision themselves as the unsavory characters that dominate the public face of riding today. See the South Park episode on Bikers for a snapshot of this generation’s attitude.

    We need to recast the motorcycle as a mode of transport that provides some utility not a recreational toy. What is the advantage?
    Absolutely none. Lane-sharing for example would make a bike an attractive commuter choice. Are you supporting lane sharing?
    Insurance costs kill the ardor of many would be buyers, the difficultly of getting licensed presents a high barrier that’s costly in some places. Do you support Insurance reform? Free rider training as is available in a few states perhaps would help but what really the motorcycle business needs is a new purpose for riding. That is not being presented

    I can tell you from decades in the business that ball-sports do not sell bikes, do not generate prospects and will not engender the new rider interest we need to survive as a industry. Even at best 2.5% of any event like state fairs or concerts’ attendees are ever going to be possible consumers of two-wheeled vehicles. Work out the ROI in that prospect.

    What Groupon offer can a powersports retailer offer to attract a new rider? To offer you a dinner on Groupon the business must discount by 50% and when you buy that $30 certificate worth $60 through Groupon the Groupon folks keep half so you the business nets about 25% of the normal value. High mark-up dinners where the owner hopes you buy some booze so he won’t loose his shirt on the deal are why stuff like that works. What does a motorcycle retailer have? Training classes? Try that some time.

    1. Then you don’t keep abreast of the market, if you’ve never heard of them. Been around 2-3 years in most parts of the US. But if you’re thinking about buying a Chinese ute, I’d stay with the better known ones like HISun, Linhai, or CFMoto. You should have heard of those.

  652. Yeah it IS a blast to ride; with the Polaris execs selling off their stock and this ‘Slingshot’ already proving itself in sales figures, and Polaris filing a patent for an electric V-Twin Cruiser-type cycle – – I’m grabbing as much Polaris stock as I can get.
    The steering-rack problem is a minor hiccup, and the electric Cruiser is maybe 6 to 9 months from being market-ready (but, I didn’t say THAT ).

  653. The “Slingshot” responds very well to horsepower upgrades, also. But when we put a turbocharger on it, we had to splice in a F.A.S.T. computer because the stock ECU couldn’t be tuned for the turbo. Added larger injectors & a “Snow” boost-cooler also . . the dyno showed that we doubled the horsepower at the drive wheel.

  654. Congratulations Rod I wish you all the best in getting Suzuki back to its proper position in the powersports industry.

  655. Way to expensive since you can’t use it on the road and is only a one person toy. Great idea. Make me a two person road usable. Boy is it cute. Would look good at MickeyRats this summer

  656. It would be awesome if you guys made the tuner for the polaris iq chassis I have a 2010 dragon switchback 800 and would use one for sure thanks guys!

  657. Certainly is not a motorcycle and when the first person dies in a Slingshot accident, the lawyers will go after the retailers and manufacturer under the premise that it should have had airbags and side impact protection… and it will be an easy win.

    This is an automobile and it should have to meet auto safety standards, I know for a fact that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Ruckersville, Virginia has already opened an investigation. The IIHS has a lot of clout with NHTSA.

  658. i think this is just wrong,Simmons,was way off on this one and should have never even reached a court room,i have owned several ski doo`s and have not put a simmons ski on any of them and do not plan too,anytime soon

  659. Having been selling Hammerhead for ten years now I have to say that they have proven themselves to be leaders in the industry. They are constantly improving the best product out there and have always stood behind it. Their commitment and integrity are beyond the norm for other companies in this field. While I’m sure I have not made life easy for Henry, Garrett, Iris, Chad and Sam at times, they have always come through for me and in turn my customers. I don’t ever have to worry about making any promises that will not get backed up, they have proven it time after time and that is why they stand out over the rest!

  660. Hal,

    You have been my favorite columnist in PSB and I will miss the stories you share from our industry and life in general. All the best to you with your family and future endeavors. Thanks for sharing your insights.

    Gary Gustafson

  661. Forest – Thank You for doing this blog. Many dealers could greatly benefit from reading and heading this article. The number of people who own and manage a dealership and don’t understand this value is staggering. I hope you get good response from this…

  662. Whether or not it’s a “plan” by Arctic Cat to put out smaller dealers, it is not uncommon for manufacturers to place dealers in close proximity as their ultimate goal is to move units regardless of dealer profit, all the while keeping the original dealers level of inventory the same (best case) even though the market will be shared.

    In my 30+ years in the powersport/marine industry, I have seen many dealers have to close due to increased price competition and the consumers willingness to travel 50-100 miles for a better deal that can’t be matched due to better incentives to bigger dealers. I would be willing to bet that the BassPro shop will be buying machines at an advantage due to larger commitment, while not providing any kind of service.

    In NY, the law states that the manufacturer has to provide the same pricing and incentives to ALL dealers, but the manufacturers continue their tiered pricing policies because no one has the money to fight them.

    While not being able to make money on the machine sale, we used to be able to make some money on PG&A, but the internet is killing that aspect of the business, again because of competition from larger dealers with better buying programs, or competition from our “partners’ the manufacturers.

    There is a reason that manufacturers such as Arctic Cat has lost 50% of their dealer base, and the above are a few of them.

  663. Yes, the dealers are the wholesalers, because they have to discount their prices, or lose deals. The factory is the retailer, in a sense, as they set their price and get it.
    Also, where have the margins gone to? The % of profit gets smaller each year.
    The Chinese products have more allure now, as they are building better (some of them), machines with higher percentages of profit.

  664. As a Slingshot owner in South Carolina they do not require a motorcycle endorsement or helmet. However, please remember that everyone, and I mean everyone, on the road is looking at you and trying to get in position to take a picture of you and the Slingshot. I’ve had a few close calls already with cars drifting i to me. Otherwise, just love it.

  665. I have 2013 victory cross country tour ..I am in my 50s and just like to point out my likes, the leg room, the good looks, the power and performance, I am one of them typical guys who will not part of my victory not even for an Indian as a matter fact,I think the victory is a better bike for me then the Indian..now I will point out my dislikes ,guess I’ll have to get back with you on that ?as I believe I do not have any.

  666. Has there been any thought given to offering a different gear sprocket setup. I spent a lot of money and plan on putting lots of miles on it. However I don’t for see many miles on motor costing lots of money due to the very high REVS, I’m sure you already know about this problem. I live in Nevada right now the speed limit is 75mph soon to be going up to 85mph currently @ 70mph the motor is tacking 5100rpm that’s ok if all one wants to ride between 65/70mph.
    Also I tried to purchase a Pearl White trailer and was informed that they are no longer made, only trailer offered is BLACK, yah I know paint it looks ok until it gets scratched or rock chipped. Please reply I am interested in your opinion!
    Very Sincerely;
    Michael Aurrecoechea

  667. Sorry to hear of Steve’s passing. He started me riding, bought my first bike from him after taking his advice to take the motorcycle safety course. He was a great guy. Will be missed.

  668. Good to see the powersports industry is growing! I see more and more people riding ATVs, and Motorcycles than ever before.

  669. i completely agree with your statements in this section i recently started a new position in a store that needed this in such a bad way. i have been working on getting it whipped into shape and now it shows so much easier. the cleaning and sorting is a task, but the results are truly amazing.

  670. After driving the Slingshot, I was impressed with the overall package, the power, the handling, and the looks. The GM Enecotech engine is a coup for both companies, and the Polaris engineers have done their job well, with all of the performance and safety features built in.

  671. Great, now MC dealers will take another step towards the automotive industry, and what a cluster that is….

  672. Back in 2012 didn’t Polaris move half of their unit production to Mexico in order to cut operating costs. I am also pretty sure that saved the company right at 32 million dollars.

  673. This was never a big deal as most Kansas side powersports dealers have traditionally been closed on Sundays. Only a fairly new HD dealer in Olathe started with Sunday hours. More likely MO dealers will face competition from each other now.

  674. He is a great guy and has done an outstanding job along with the other executives at Polaris.

    Too bad the other OEMs won’t step up and hire top notch people!

  675. Sea-Doo has had the iBR (intelligent brake & reverse) since 2009. The machine starts in neutral, brakes on the go, reverses when stopped, etc… Only took someone else 6 years to figure out their own design? They shouldn’t be bragging and receiving awards for something that’s old already.

  676. I would like to see figures showing what percentage of the ATV and UTV market each of the major manufacturers have. One power sports distributor told me that their research indicated that Polaris had 78% of that market.

  677. So sorry to hear about Steve’s passing. I bought my 1997 Valkyrie from him in 2000. He was always very nice to me. He had the best selection of bikes and accessories any where. I talked to Steve in April of 2014 and he
    said he would be celebrating his 40th year in business. HE WILL BE MISSED BY MANY THAT HE TOUCHED.

    Gary Chiaramonti

  678. So sorry to hear of Danes’ passing. I met him at Daytona, and enjoyed talking with him. He was a real credit to the motorcycling community, and a true gentleman. He will be missed.

    RIP, Dane

  679. This is an interesting vehicle. Looks like a large Grom. It appears to be setup as a street bike more so than a dirt bike. I could see bopping along a fire road on it. I’m not sure how freeway capable it would be so I’m not sure how it would sell as an economy transportation vehicle in the US. Probably would do well in 3rd world countries with irregular paved/dirt roads.

  680. Honda has been doing a good job in the American market on entry level
    and small sport entry level. This will be nice once the economy picks
    up in a year and a half.

    Please tell the car guys we need some excitement in the car lines. Whats
    there is good but the cake needs some frosting on it besides motorcycles.
    How about something to compete with the Mazda sports car which will be
    out late this year. it should be small, clean in style, and mid-engined.
    It should have basic comforts but it should also be low tech and free of
    4 wheel steering and all the other unnecessary accouterments. The price
    should be under 50,000.00 so we can stack em high and watch em fly.

  681. That’s a lot of staff for 1200 sales. Figuring an average wholesale price of $11,000, that’s $13,200,000 in revenue or about $100,000 per employee. Estimate $7,000,000-$12,000,000 in losses in 2014.

  682. I blog quite often and I seriously thank you for your content.
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  683. Love my stratoliner ,they were perfect up until 2010.
    Nothing about this effort says anything but boredom and poverty . Id rather have a power chair .

  684. Honda is onto something here. Its like a baby bmw gs for people who want something rougher than a scooter but not a full fledged touring-adventure motorcycle. Love the storage space and easy-going “dont care for the bad boy HD biker look” pastel color scheme. Its a way more utilitarian, lower maintenance, not as misbehaving, competitor to the Ducati Scrambler… ¡ gotta start saving !

  685. BMW’s lights will be shining just a bit more brightly with Sarah involved. Congratulations my Super Friend. Best to you. BMW is indeed fortunate.
    Doc

  686. Yamaha innovates a product with style and precision. It will find a market, and those that but it will love it. I have many Yamahas, love my FZ09!

  687. This is fabulous! truly makes me #southdakotaproud It is always great when someone who innovated like Strider has gives back to the community, continue to lead by example we are proud of you all!

    1. Hi TJ!

      I know this is the unconventional way of contacting you, but I am a Vendor for your Dealerships and wonder if you may be able to contact me via phone real quick for your new Dealership? I definitely have something for your Grand Opening as well as for the Elko Jamboree! 888-722-4537 ext 150. Thank You!

  688. Tony Poll is the man! If there is a guy that knows how to take care of customers and provide a high level of service -its Tony Poll. Lucky for Polaris to have such a top notch, qualified guy in the project. Polaris leads the pack in terms of power sports because of their people people like Tony.

  689. Great
    But they should have a Map policy and quit selling to certain distributors and opening new ones like Moto Mummy that sell retail at $10.00 over cost.

  690. Right on Suzuki… ! This brand is a strong player when it comes to
    performance and imagination. Sizzle has built this industry and
    Suzuki has a great record when it comes to being a strong
    player in that department!

    Mike
    Everett Powersports

  691. Liz, You are spot on with this. I shake my head when our advertisers continue to promote these events or ,worse, use this imagery in their ads.
    We’d be interested in reprinting this…
    Brian
    Backroads

  692. Last year we had a bike wash with mail models in speedos, or in Australian slang, budgie smugglers 😉

    It went off the many female motorcyclists and some wives getting a photo with the boys, oh and with the bike 🙂

    Do it for both sexes as well as the riding events.

    Its is amazing how we had not negative comments.

  693. Hmmm, these look EXACTLY like the HISUN HS 500 and 700 units, but they couldn’t be because Cub Cadet is “introducing” these. Good units, but it appears Cub Cadet is rebadging another manufacturer’s unit as their own.

  694. Great job Liz. You made your point fairly I believe. I am of the belief that bikini babes will always be part of the motorcycling culture. But there is a appropriate time and place for that and a motorcycle dealership or a motorcycle related advertisement is doing itself a disservice to both genders when they use a bikini clad model to try and sell their products. Leave the bikini babes to the bars in Sturgis and Daytona.

  695. Gentlemen: I have just learned of your Atlas Job Site Vehicle. I find it very impressive! I am considering a purchase for the purpose of converting it into an off-the-road mini-pumper Fire Engine for use at Street festivals where a full size Fire Engine could not enter as well as use in city parks and other off road wild land type locations. One item that I do not see is turn signals and four way flashers and back up lights in your accessories section. Turn signals would be a must as this machine will be driven down streets and in school stadium areas and in parks and other areas that have people on foot and people in motor vehicles that the crew would need to communicate to by the use of turn signals and four way flashers. Do you have a turn signal/4-way flasher system available for this Atlas JSV? Thank you for your time and reply

  696. Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Genevieve, I agree with you that the bikini girls as a whole aren’t going anywhere in a while, but this is something I’ve been meaning to address for a while. Again, I’m just trying to start a conversation about the topic and to get dealers and others in the industry to at least take a second look at an event and who it caters to before offering it.

  697. Finally Got To See The Roadmaster at aDealer, I Will Be Purchacing A Touring Bike In The Future. I Own 2 All ready , But They Are Not Touring Bikes, ONE is a 2012 FATBOY LO,THE other A V: Star 1100 Silverado, I Love Both These Bikes And Intend To Keep,,,But The Wife And I Want A True Touring Bike For Her Comfort. I Do Like The New Roadmaster,But My Wife Honostly Went Nuts Over It, So Much So That She Frequently Brings Up The Sbject,,,So I Guess We Will See Where This Goes, ANYWAY , Great Job, Nice Bike.

  698. As a woman business owner, I occasionally get approached to advertise or participate in events and magazines that sport bikini clad women. For me personally, that type of marketing is not compatible with our mission of giving back to children’s charities nor is it very welcoming to me as a women.

    Certain events stand out for their more inclusive approach to marketing, like AIM Expo, and Cafe Racer Magazine. Kudos to those who see the larger marketplace and welcome the growing numbers of women entering as riders and bike owners.

  699. Here’s hoping some other mfr picks up the line and moves it forward. It would be a shame for all of Erik and Co.s work to be wasted. As someone who visited there frequently I can vouch that there are some very talented and experienced people there in East Troy.

  700. I own a 2013 cf moto z6 .. Would I buy another yes .. I was very impressed with the utv .. The construction and quality are comparable to that of polaris.. It may look like a rzr but it is its own machine .. I have put my 600cc up against a rzr 800cc not the s with h.o. motor stock vs stock .. The only thing is the rzr had a higher top speed I topped out at 60 flat the rzr 800 65mph .. 200cc more and 7k later I feel my 600 that I paid $8999 was the better machine .. With accessories that came stock roof, windshield, adjustable steering wheel, colored digital dash, diff lock, alloy wheels, four point seat belts, 3000 lb winch .. I’m glad to see KTM working with cf moto .. Check out some of my videos on youtube

  701. Eric Buell is the original comeback kid and he never quits. I’m going to take advantage of the situation and buy the 1190 RS I’ve been lusting for at a discount. I suspect the investment from Hero may have had some issues…..

  702. Thank you Yamaha! Any more OEMs willing to step up?

    Nepal is in desperate need of help. It is one of the poorest countries on earth and a little goes a long way there.

  703. Erik is one of the great passionate product champions of our times.

    A fantastic engineer and clear thinker.

    Entrepreneurs thrive on success / failure cycles and we are all looking forward to Erik`s next chapter.

  704. Liz, you are dead on the money. There is a culture of “Old Guys” and the traditional V-twin bikes that still don’t get it that they are grandpa’s age and it just looks weird when they are at these bikini events. I have the similar problem when it seems every biker event feels the need to cater to the outlaw or “Bad Ass” image. What ever happened to the Honda slogan image of normal people ride motorcycles too?

    Tim

  705. My theory is, if you wouldn’t want your mom to see it, then you probably shouldn’t do it. That should include your wife and your daughters. No bikini washes here. Thanks for a great article.

  706. I’d really like to have maybe 2 of these helmets so my wife and I can converse while riding. Piping the Bluetooth music through the helmet would drastically reduce any hearing loss I may have acquired over the years.

  707. Instead of the wind blowing on my ears and the street glide stereo cranked right up, I’m thinking that I could listen to it at a decent non-ear damaging level.

  708. BMW was taking the Lexis plan to introduce their sport bikes to the general public. Introduce a high feature, high value, high horsepower motorcycle at a very reasonable price to get the general public (sport bike rider) to pick their bike over the known/previously owned brands. Than bring the price up to where it should be while only introducing new features to the same bike little by little every year.
    Now that the price is up $15900.00 and cost of a full featured model over $20k (way up) from its original average sale price of $13499.00 and the price of maintenance is well known, those customers are flowing back the brands that have carried the sport bike industry for the last 40 years. Different form Lexis that created a direct competitor to the euro brands and kept the value for the price very high and quality and low cost of maintenance and ownership a priority. Lexis took customers from all types of drivers and car owners. BMW is failing to bring new buyers in. They are returning to the “snobbish” reputation they had 5-10 years ago. Sales are dropping and their ownership diversity is also dropping. A change in marketing, and direction is needed!

  709. I appreciate that we want to put a positive spin on the industry, and particularly on the future of an American-owned company, but it really is misleading to have an analyst say ” dealers generally positive reaction to these (inventory) changes” when said dealers just gave ACAT a Satisfaction Index score of 12 out of 100 immediate, 18 out of 100 3-5 years projected. 12-18% Satisfaction is in NO WAY the response of dealers confident in their brand. How about a real, in-depth discussion/analysis with real ‘Cat dealers, as opposed to powersports articles as written by the Street?

  710. Arctic Cat should be building motorcycles to try to catch up with Polaris. How much longer are they going to let Polaris gather steam and become unstoppable? C’mon AC. Grow some onions!

  711. I strongly believe that sex sells frequently and woman know it. I personally would never use sex to sell purely from a Christian viewpoint. However, it must be said the display of woman in most everything is rampant.

    Why do races have trophy girls? Why is there a Miss Sprint Cup? Why is there a Miss America? A Miss Universe? Other than looking good what on earth are they there for? Why is Victoria’s Secret so big? Why do mothers teach their daughters about make-up and getting their nails and toes done. Why are little girls putting lipstick on? Why are there so many low cut tops and long slits appearing at every awards show on TV? Why do I need to listen to my 10-year old granddaughter state she needs to get her “toes” done? Are you kidding me? Blame the mothers of America on that one!

    I think it is all wrong as it is used strictly to display body parts. My looking at the display is not justifiable but in general most guys are going to look. Despite being Christian it is difficult not to look. Because that’s the way it is.

    Both men and women are wrong when it comes to these types of displays. In my opinion of course. However, it is obvious so many women love putting themselves on display. Will this ever change? I doubt it. Call it nature of the beast if you will.

    Leslie, women could put an end to this quickly if they chose to do so. My money is betting they won’t. Leslie, you need to address these issues with all womankind. I think most guys are at least OK enough with the display of flesh that they will not pull the plug on purchasing. Sure some will… but most will not.

    Sex, primarily the female body, is on display everywhere. Leslie, pick a segment of the world at large. Example, let’s take sports. Why don’t you actively campaign to get women out of display-your-body mode and get them to participate in the sport itself. Why is that hot looking girl always ready to stand behind the guy getting out of his race car? With a smile that won’t quit? If Danica wins are they going to have some hunk of a man standing behind Danica with a smile that just won’t stop?

    Let me know how it goes. That might be the beginning of understanding whether sex sells or not. Best of luck!

  712. Arctic Cat has been doing great things with its products and we as the dealers have seen it. If Arctic Cat would promote its products a little better they could defiantly be one of the top contenders in the market especially with their Prowlers and Wildcats. On a further note, remove your products from Bass Pro Shops. Every time we go somewhere that has a Bass Pro I go in and talk to them about the Arctic Cats but I don’t get even half of the information I should if I were looking to buy an ATV or UTV.

  713. Some powersports dealers have told me that they are selling ATVs and UTVs to customers because of street legal programs. In many places you can use your UTV like a car.

  714. Only one thing comes to mind – noise. As a fellow racer, I show up to races where 90%+ of the quads are just way too loud. Most tracks and areas hate quads (and dirt bikes alike) for the noise. This means less places to ride, and less sales for the dealerships.

    Why don’t the factory quads just come quiet? And why don’t sanctions such as AMA enforce quiter rules? Until that get solves, the sport ATV market won’t recover. We live in a modern world now where there’s a lot of opposition to noise pollution, as opposed to in the past.

    1. Have you ever ridden a stock ATV? Even tho they are “race” or “pure sport” they still have the emmission standards of any vehicle that will likely spend more time on the trails than track. The anemic exhaust systems then come from the factory on these machines are well below 95 db. In stock trim someone could ride one through your back yard without you hearing them. The problem is these exhaust systems bottle up a lot of horsepower, so naturally most prefer to fit an aftermarket system on there to let the engine breath and unleash the potential. Factory MX bikes on the other hand, come outfitted with the track in mind, and are generally louder and more geared to be “race ready”.

  715. Things are a bit more grim than this article implies. This is the first article, though, that at least states that a change of corporate culture is much needed. The only way to bring that about, IMHO, is to invest in facilities far from the frozen tundra so as to attract some new talent to the company. The fact that they are investing $27M in MN makes that seem highly unlikely in the short to medium term, and that is sad.

  716. Billy,

    Thanks for your comments! You are right about both men and women needing to address this. Fathers and mothers should teach their daughters AND sons to dress for respect (not attention). They should also teach their kids to boycott brands who sexually exploit women in their ads.

    On my end, I’ve spent several decades speaking to dealers, groups and having one-on-one conversations to encourage women to participate in sports (motorcycling, bicycling, triathlon) instead of just being eye-candy and dressing like an umbrella girl.

    Sometimes one conversation can change a person’s mind. I will continue doing what I can. As Mother Teresa said, ““Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

    Leslie

  717. please tell all your loyal fans that you at Yamaha are going to release a pure sport sidexside.everyone is getting frustrated waiting in limbo.we need a motor with tons of hp and torque.so please lead the side xside category once again.

  718. This is all and well but a good start would be to let everyone know where the hell the existing few dealer that you do have are located in the good ole U.S.A. so as too maybe get a hands on look at these sweet machine’s..Right now I’m so frustrated with searching for the basic information on these that I’ll more then likely buy another bike ,Too Bad I love these machine’s.

  719. Sounds to me like Tucker Rocky is going to be shipping all of superstores orders. Hurting brick and mortar stores even more

  720. My congratulations to Ray. In my 30 years of being a Harley dealer, I have found Ray to be a best friend. I have been impressed with his dealership operations and his racing accomplishments.

  721. Well written article and could not agree more. I live by the creed “Price is what you pay, Value is what you get”. From the start we have always seen ourselves as brand ambassadors for all the companies and their product lines we represent. To get into “price wars” with other companies is a losing proposition for all parties involved. Period! Too many “Walmarts” in the industry to start off with. Besides, I work to damn hard to not deserve full margin on my products. I have actually dropped product lines from our inventory because they were selling their wares consumer direct for way below our own dealer cost. Don’t need the hassle.

  722. We currently ride a 15 xp1k and are very intereseted in the Yamaha pure sport ..Being raised on yamaha and honda quality looking forward to a quality fast machine..Any info would be great!

  723. Hi Leslie, you recently wrote about the selling of sex and product. Have you arrived at any thoughts how to combat this issue? A primary problem is how willing women are to get involved in advertising of this nature. Guys are going to look at scantily clad women; until women step up to the plate and say No the problem will continue on. This is really a female issue as guy’s can ask for sexy images but the woman is in control of saying No.

    That No is powerful but you need to get women to understand the power they have to control this type of problem. I just don’t think women will stop in large enough numbers to make the issue go away. The power of the dollar is apparently strong enough to make many women want to continue to degrade themselves. And, to look foolish in these ads. Companies such as Victoria Secret are well aware of how many women want to look sexy. Just look at the commercials.

    Does sex sell? Sad to say but Yes It Does.

  724. I would like to request a copy of the print catalog to:
    stacy cooper 355 wray rd. BUCHANAN GA.30113

  725. ” Employees may justify stealing because they feel under appreciated and possibly underpaid. ”
    Bingo !
    Retail is a tough go for employers, but a lot of places do not pay their staff a decent living wage.
    Its shortsighted, in my opinion, and results in the situations described….

  726. Keith,
    While I don’t know Indian’s plans for the future, currently the closest dealership to Syracuse is Dick’s Indian Motorcycle of Rome in Rome, N.Y.

    – Liz Keener, managing editor, PSB

  727. It’s about time. The industry needs a full training program to replace the huge gaps left when we lost the RPM/Assurant programs. Dealer Candidate School will be a welcome return. All the best to Tony and Sam.

  728. Congratulations! It takes courage to listen to your body, even if you do not like the message, at first, that you are hearing. Now you can use that same passion and focus in your next endeavor to achieve historic results.

  729. It’s great to see others exploring custom ideas with the new Scout.
    We are currently developing new front and rear wheel and tire combinations. Some frame trimming is required but we’ve already mounted 200 x 18′ rear and 150 x 17″ front wheels / tires. and are developing a 240 on a 8.5″ wide rear kit now. Lots more coming from Xchoppers.com!

    http://xchoppers.com/g/d/17985-2/PICT0177-1-web+6-27-15.jpg

    http://xchoppers.com/g/d/17952-2/PICT0179-stage+1-web.jpg

  730. Spectacular! Thank you for this wonderful scripted account of my grandfather and his very best friend for life, Arthur Davidson. Their friendship and loyalty spanned almost five decades.

    The Harley Family supports this effort. Thank you for bringing this
    history to The Discovery Channel.

    Margo

  731. So the US market is tapped out on folks willing to write checks for high-dollar new scooters?

  732. Let’ see — ride for an hour, charge for 9 hours. Rinse, repeat. I don’t think we’re quite there yet. N’est-ce pas?

  733. If HERO had actually paid Erik Buell Racing what they owed in full for these assets before 4/15/15 , there is a probability that the company could be in operation today and 150+ EBR employees would still be employed .

    This could have been a power play by HERO to pay cents on the dollar for money rightfully owed to EBR

  734. The challenger 500 seems to be way under powered, is there a kids mode set up on these ? any ideas????

  735. Good post, Chris. But I do think that Problem #2 deserves more discussion here. Although I get your point that experience does not necessarily equal proficiency, I disagree with the quote, “Practice doesn’t make Perfect — Practice just makes Permanent.” for the following reason:

    Practice does make perfect if it involves iteration, in which each repetition of the process (an iteration) has the aim of approaching a desired target. The results of each iteration are used as the starting point for the next iteration.

    Since one accepted definition of practice is “repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill so as to acquire or maintain proficiency in it”, then it follows that if one is ‘practicing’, one is also improving on each cycle (iteration).

    Alas, a recent study appears to confuse/commingle ‘practice’ with mere ‘repetition’ (iteration vs. loop?), which by definition are not the same thing, hence an erroneous conclusion is derived from their findings.

    Your article will open someone’s eyes which is good for the industry, so thanks for that Chris.

  736. I attended the 2015 Sturgis Rally.
    Last year in Nebraska we lost 225 souls to all MV crashes, that is 4.33 people die each week in NE or .0000023 of the population.

    This year in Sturgis it is .0000082 of the participant population.
    We all need to be safe and practice 360 degree situational awareness at all times, as well as not being under the influence.

    The vast majority of riders I encountered were very respectful and the statistics show this fact. Be safe, Dan “Z”

  737. Good luck to Bruce and Eric. Hopefully the prevailing winds have switched direction and are now at Eric’s back for a change. Eric’s always had that fever, the “Cowbell fever” to be different but great.

  738. Yall come down to the land of cotton & Dixie flags. You’ll find us southern boys real good at burying new Razors in the mud just hours after signing the finance papers.

  739. I think you are doing your customers a great disservice by this approach. Saying “only” or “just” makes the amount in question seem trivial. Most people I know work hard for their money. I go the other way, let them know that I know it’s a substantial sum, but this is the value they get for their money. Your approach was the status quo in the 70’s thru the 90’s, but times have thankfully changed. Customers have been underestimated far too long.

  740. I agree that there is a time and place for cussing, and while you’re at work is not the time and within marketing is not the place. As an avid “potty mouth,” I can confirm that frequently swearing at home or amongst friends makes it challenging to break the habit elsewhere. However, I’m a highly intelligent individual and a proficient linguist, so I find it ignorant when people say foul language is a “crutch for people with little intelligence.” I also find it laughable that you, Leslie, are offended when people call you a bad**s. Learn to take a compliment, even if it’s not in your language of choice. Aside from that, I complete agree with your view on cussing.

    1. Jake, thanks for the comment! I know many highly educated people who swear, including several good friends and family members. I don’t believe it is a crutch for those with little intelligence. That’s what I was taught from my mom, so my initial perception of someone who swears a lot is influenced by growing up with her.

      I do know that people who call me a bad— are giving me a compliment. I just smile. I haven’t ever told anyone directly that it makes me cringe a bit. It isn’t my goal in life to clean up the language of others. I just wanted to share what I’ve experienced in professional environments, both at corporate and dealership levels.

  741. Congrats Dungey! Now Martin take care of your business too so we can get a Minnesota championship sweep of both classes!

  742. I’m glad Honda has stepped it up, but if your not a level 5 dealer good luck with getting enough to meet demand. Even if your a Honda only dealer you will be limited to what you can get.

  743. Everyone knows the best way, even Non-Riders. Until you are there and have rode and had fun, KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOURSELF !!!

  744. Les…great column!

    I think the growing prevalence of “casual” language in business settings mirrors a growing coarseness in society in general. For example, I’m frequently amazed at the language or messaging people will slap on the bumper or back window of a truck. I often wonder if they ever drive to their mother’s house…

    And you are right about a generational difference…the language that seeps out of my (very intelligent, college-educated) 20-year-old daughter’s mouth in front of her parents has never been uttered my me around my parents. She’s starting a career at Nike and I’ve warned her more than once that bad language habits could put her in an embarrassing spot some day.

  745. As a boomer, I can cuss with the best of them or not at all, depending on the audience. I see the problem primarily with gen X’s not being able to filter it out that I don’t see with the gen Y’s.

    I hadn’t really thought about cuss words in Marketing before now and although it wouldn’t bother me (I’ve been conditioned), I would definitely agree that it’s unprofessional no matter the media.

    What I see as even a bigger problem is the use of the buzz word/phrase of the moment. While it’s hard to judge how long any word will remain at the top of the popularity pyramid, I feel any use of said word/phrase in marketing after it has plateaued is seriously detrimental, and to me, only shows a lack of creativity by those still using it.

    That said, I plead with this forum to help eliminate the word “amazing” from our vocabulary for all time. It’s been used so much that it no longer has any meaning. Honestly, it’s time to put a fork in that one, cause it’s done!

    Pun intended…

  746. I THINK ROYAL INFIELD IS GOING TO SHOOT THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT BY DOING THIS TO THEIR DEALERS AND THEY ALSO WONT HAVE ANY LEFT AFTER THIS TO SERVICE THEIR PRODUCTS ! WHAT DO YOU THINK ??

  747. I purchased a 2012 XY Poweraport 500 UE brand new in Aug 2013. The dealership where I bought it no longer sells these UTV ‘s.–Bill McCandless Ford in Mercer Pa. 16137
    I need a battery for mine and have looked all over and can’t find one. The dealership ‘s service department simply told me that they haven’t been able to get parts for 2 years.
    My UTV has less than 50 miles on it . I would like to get some use out of it but since the battery needs to be replaced –I can’t even start it.
    Can you please help me.
    Beverly Thompson
    89 Lytle School Road
    Sandy Lake Pa
    16145

    1. You may be able to find an equivalent battery at:
      http://www.batterysharks.com

      Just ordered one for one of my buggies & it fit/functioned perfectly at a fraction of the retail price!

      Just punch in the basic battery code to see if they have anything that crosses over.

  748. I’m excited that this great history and new player is entering the UTV/ATV market with quality products with some great No gasoline options!

  749. If we don’t find a way of getting kids off the couch (X-BOX) and cell phones we won’t have a generation of riders to worry about.
    Get small units down to a reasonable cost if we want any chance of keeping our industry vital. Picture us 10-15 years from now with fewer riders filling our industries pipeline. Just look at your own kids and grand kids and take careful note of what you see.

    1. Peter I agree with you. Where the next generation of riders is going to come from is a chilling thought right?

  750. Well, this article is about 3 weeks behind. The motorcycle manufacturing part of EBR was purchased by Atlantic Metals Group on August 5. New owner Bruce Belfer says he plans to restart motorcycle production in East Troy ASAP.

  751. I’m interested in forwarding resume and to further details discuss senior level staffing. I am an industry pro with 30 years in value added distribution and 15 years importing and market development of Chinese motor sports product.

  752. I think this drive train is the way that the rest of the industry will start going with the higher HP units and the ability to keep the CVT belts together as with the Polaris and Can Am units currently. However, being an ex Yamaha dealer, they have come out too late. Of course they will sell some as they will do it as the rest of the Jap OEM’s do, it will be a limited availability at first, the price will stay up due to the limited availability, then here comes the reps getting their marching orders from headquarters, if you want to get some of these 1000’s, (which will be the only thing that will be selling for them as a company), you will have to take all of this old slow moving inventory from them… The economic outlook for the next few years isn’t good and these manufacturers continue to keep their heads buried in the sand… what good is a $20000 unit going to do you when the economy is crap and no one will have money to go and play anymore? once they get a VW 2.0T with a DSG trannie mouned in a side by side they will have something. For those that have weathered the storm from 2009, I think you better get ready to watch it happen all over again.

    1. I think you are exactly correct. look how long razors are sitting in stock before they sell. Ask any Polaris dealer that’s not on the west coast. We need units that we can sell to everyone at a reasonable price. our sport is going away with $10K ATV, and $8K dirt bikes. Awesome unit Yamaha, but headed in the wrong direction with current economy.

  753. With the inception of the Wolverine, I thought I would have to wait a few years to see a larger cc sport utv out of Yamaha. This is a huge surprise!! With the 5 speed manual transmission and base price thousands less then competitors 1000’s I think Yamaha is going to set the industry on their backsides. If these are half as reliable as the Grizzlies, their sure to be a huge success., I can’t wait for my dealer to get their first. It will be gone and sitting in my garage the next day!!!

    1. 5 speed manual transmission is a great idea, but you are wrong about prices. It is the highest-priced 1000cc sport side-by-side in the market..some competitors have it beat by over $3k on msrp

  754. One thing people miss out on when reporting the news in the motorcycle business in Sturgis is that there are actual motorcycle aftermarket businesses located in the town of Sturgis. Samson Exhaust moved here two years ago with a huge manufacturing plant located in the Sturgis Industrial Park. Industrial Park you ask? Yes, Industrial Park I say. It exists just a mile from the action off the Whitewood service road and very visable from Interstate 90. Daily tours of the facility and how to make exhaust is demonstrated during the Rally.

  755. Urgent…or important? The CEO who has it together knows the difference. The buzzing smart phone is urgent, but most often not important. BTW–thanks for not being too busy to have dinner with us tonight. We may have changed the course of history over one meal.

    1. Thanks Eric! I agree – if we could somehow harness our combined mental horsepower, we might have enough to kickstart a ’72 Bultaco! I really look forward to working with you in the laboratory. -CC

  756. Verrry interesting. The changing dynamics of the motorcycle business right now as a whole are fascinating. We are maturing as an industry and headed in a new direction, I really like what I see !!

  757. A lot of us have been waiting and finally it looks like Honda is getting back
    into the game of exciting, sporty, performance machinery. Now all we have to
    do is make that engine a two liter, tone it down a little and put in into
    a two seat mid-enging chassis similer to the S-600.

    Mike Leibold
    Everett Powersports

  758. i am looking for a price on the brutis with insulated cab with air and heat also
    a price on a snow blower ,bucket and a grabbler. I live in Mackey Onario
    k0j0b0 phone # is 613-586-2615

  759. at 20K plus cost…please tell me that the manual 5 speed is integrated into paddle shifting in the steering wheel? two hands on the wheel for aggressive driving is in high demand I would think?

  760. These new Cub Cadets are Hisun/Bennche and are just Chinese UTVs rebadged. I canceled my order with the local Cub Cadet dealer and will buy a John Deere or Honda. Why the deception from Cub Cadet????

  761. In the future, it would be helpful if the article lets the readers know where the expanding dealership is located. I had to Google the name to discover they are located in Alabama.
    Other than that, it was a good article. Congratulations to Dothan’s on the upgrade.

  762. In the Kabota RTV line up, do you have plans building one with more speed, in the neighborhood of 45 MPH or so, possibly with a gas engine?

  763. Ryan or anyone – Can someone please get me in contact with Mr Poll?
    I have tried to call and change my 3 yr contract to a 5 yr only a few weeks after I purchased it and the team has no idea how to do this.
    They don’t even realize that I could cancel my contract and get 100% refund and buy another one. So I really need someone that knows how to take care of customers.

    1. Please email me….I had difficulties in obtaining a camshaft and went directly to the factory in China. They require wiring them the money before they will ship. Please email me and I can give you contacts.

  764. Aprilia adds Tuono V4 1100, RSV4 models November 5, 2014. It is now September 30, 2015 and there is no Rich Accessories Catalogue, nor is the V4-MP to be found anywhere on the internet! How do you explain that?

  765. as a current dealer, i must say i’m happy to see new product – the price & marketability, as well as economy are things beyond my control. the last 8 years have been difficult for some of us & i include myself but a rough 8 years out of 45 isn’t a bad ratio – negative comments without a solution are not the answer [as ED LEMCO would say] – i’m not seeing the industry thru rose colored glasses & i have changed – we must – it certainly isn’t the good ole days but hopefully, the best is yet to come from Yamaha & my dealerships & you too…

  766. “Safety is the number 1 requisite for operating a motorcycle. The exhilaration is embodied in the sport. Fun is overwhelming. Caution, and the right mental outlook are all important in operating.
    Oncoming cars turn left in front of you. Be ready for them. Cars ahead of you will make sudden U turns, be ready for them. Cars will switch lanes in front of you, be prepared. In those times when there are no cars around, enjoy. Live in the moment? That is motorcycling. Next to flying, there is no better way to to motor!

  767. I race one at the dunes with my can am maverick and he lost bad I was hoping it would be faster now I don’t want one

  768. Hello,
    I have a 2007 Honda foreman 500 with a blown motor and was just wondering if you had and salvage motors from insurance claims or anything and the prices.
    Thank you,
    Tyler Stephens

  769. I just got the 2015 Vaterra 1100. Great machine however the gas cap is damn near impossible to take off and put in!!! I emailed XY on this and they replied that they do have one that works. They quoted me $120 to shop me one!!! I hope to God this is not a window into the future with this machine and company! If you have an alternative please email me any ideas.

  770. Great stuff Chris
    You point out a fundamental to success. The most under rated position in any company is the receptionist, ‘Ambassador of first impressions’

  771. As a former service manager, I must say it is not always the service departments fault. 90% of the time the sales person will tell the customer the plan covers any “little” issue that will arise. We all know that this is not true. A lot of these plans have guidelines that the sales person neglects to tell the customer because they want to make the sale and get them out the door, not caring that the service manager will have to deal with the repercussions if and when the customer comes back.

  772. Thank you for your insight into how important it is to be appreciative of our customers, employees, and others who make it possible for us to pursue our passions!

  773. The first time I saw Christy Lee, I was so very impressed of her mechanical knowledge of automobiles that encourage me to become a student of auto mechanics. Can Christy recommend a good technical school to enroll in this course? I would also love to have an autographed photo of Christy.
    November 19, 2015.

    Sincerely,

    David Garcia

  774. What a load of crap. CARB wastes so much time and money on trying to enforce its ridiculous rules on motorcycles. They need to take that time and money and put it into things that might actually make a difference, motorcycles have no impact on air quality in California, the number of them on the road and trails and their small amount of combustion gasses compared to automobiles and semi’s is like 100,000 to 1. Even if every motorcycle in the entire state of California had straight pipes with no emission controls it would have zero impact.
    CARB – get a freaking life, take that wasted time and money and invest it in something that might actually matter.

  775. My Dad felt giving me a pat on the back might ‘weaken’ me so i never got one – while in the Army, my most favorite NCO, Sgt Jackson, an E7 with the 173rd Aborne gave me responsibility & assignments – i volunteered all the time & he rewarded me with making higher ‘rank’ – i have been stingy with my pat on the backs – this article was good & i will learn from it. thanks!!

  776. Yes but this is being shot in Romania..not even in the usa. How do you do a story about an american made product in a foreign country. This thing is a joke already.
    I BET THESE PEOPLE WILL NOT EVEN BE CASTING REAL LIFE TYPES..but rather their actors in hollywood

  777. The numbers would be even higher for the yxz if it weren’t so ugly! I think the transmission was responsible for the majority of it’s popularity.

  778. Joyce,We have the Kioti Keys in stock and we would only need your Model and Serial number to get you the cocerrt one, they are $9.95 each. Also we would need some more information on your tractor to give you an estimate such as the Model number of the Tractor, Loader, and Backhoe, and the size and specs on the scraper. You can call us a 775-882-1225 or email me back if you have any more questions.ThanksTrevor KolbusS and W Feeds

  779. Jean it all depends on the brand but I would look for a Suzuki or a Honda. I still feel Suzuki has a betetr engine but that’s my opinion. There are a lot of Suzuki dealers in Missouri depending on which city you reside.

  780. Ran across your machine while looking at a Cub Cadet UTV from tractor supply. Spoke with Samantha at Blackwell Outdoors in Hammond La., and will see her on Saturday to test the MSU 400, hope it tests as good as it looks, if so I will purchase. Hope you get a dealer in the Panhandle of Fl. real soon.

    1. I purchased the MSU 500 from Tractor Supply in Pensacola Florida on Black Friday. We went straight from TSC to the hunting club. I was able to go everywhere my Polaris Sportsman 500 went without dogging the machine or pushing any limits while breaking it in. Currently 17.2 hours without the first glitch. There are definitely some improvements to make (e.g. seat mounting, and the fuse panel). I would consider both as simple adjustments. Truthfully for half the price as the competition who can complain.

  781. Great to see more effort put towards mobile for the powersports industry. My company, 7 Media Group, has been fortunate to work with dealerships all across the country for more than 6 years providing extensive mobile marketing solutions. We’ve managed a tremendous amount of very successful mobile campaigns and practices. The mobile kiosks, counter tablets, we deployed about 3 years ago has shown huge success for driving new customer engagement as well as off-site acquisition. With the geolocation services we’ve employed tied to our SMS system and our new mobile app opens the door to so much more for dealers of all sizes and locations. The more conversation out there on mobile the better it will serve the powersports industry!

  782. Congratulations Greg! Wonderful company, great folks, your a great addition. Best Wish’s on your continuing career!

  783. I was part of this ride and it was a blast. I think there was close to 200+ bikers that were riding. All had a good time and it was all fot a great cause. Thanks go out to Kris and Ray Price for putting this together.

  784. I wish Triumph cared as much about their North American dealers as they do about the awesome motorcycles they build.

  785. Revisionist history. The so-called Creepy (deliberately so) King was introduced in 2004, and along with a full complement of business and marketing strategies too extensive to detail, the King became a veritable pop culture hit. Jay Leno invited the King to become part of his in-show skits that ran more than two dozen times on the Tonight Show. The King drew lines of fans for photos at the Super Bowl longer than any NFL legend present. Microsoft teamed up with Burger King to develop a suite of X-Box games that featured the Creepy King and sold over 2.4 million games, making it the second best selling suite of games in X-Box history. Burger King had more Nielsen/IAG top ten rankings for its advertising on measures of likability and recall than ever before or after the 2003-2010 period. Most importantly, During the six year run of 2004-2010 Burger King enjoyed SIX CONSECUTIVE YEARS of same store sales growth at a +5.0% CAGR never accomplished before or since. How do I know? I was the President and Chief Marketing Officer from 2003-2010 responsible for the work that was recognized by ADWEEK as “Advertiser of the Decade” for the 2000’s. History is apparently written not by its victors but by people who weren’t even there. But I’m sure you are right.

  786. Looks a lot more chopper than cruiser. Especially from what I can imagine as the riding position. My idea what a “cruiser” should be is like the Honda Magna. Isn’t anyone into comfort anymore besides the behemoth Gold Wing?

  787. Hi I’m considering buying a 50cc wolf blaze motorscooter.My concerns are top speed,durability,dependability,and strength.Im a 50Yrs old 275 man and My scooters are My only source of transportation.Is The blaze 50 a 2 stroke.can it be modified to go faster? What is the top speed and weighs limit?I have reliability issues with Chinese scooters,are the Wolf Blaze motorscooter dependable and reliable? what size Wheels for the 50? Thanks God Bless…Merry Christmas

  788. I knew TP as a child and kept in sporadic contact with him since our years at Saint Emydius catholic school. I remember his quick wit, fearlessness and generosity. TP helped me select and purchase my first Harley which I rode yearly in the News Years Ride.

    God’s promise is not that He prevents bad things from happening…but that He is always there when they do.

  789. Product and company is horrible. I purchased. Titan EUTV, the guy that imports them went out of business and refuses to be kind enough to reply to emails which I know he’s getting. Company who makes the car is http://www.xyvehicle.com and they too suck, they don’t speak English, you can’t leave a message and they don’t reply to emails. My advice to everyone, you get what you pay for. Stick with Polaris, Honda, John Deere, etc..names and brands you know.

  790. Massimo doesn’t manufacture ANYTHING. They buy the Hisun line of ATV/UTVs and rebadge them as Massimo. People should know what they are buying, Massimo is just a name, it is NOT the product.

  791. I am new to do this for the company I work for and I was wondering what is the best way or best website to do the pay-per-click program on to get the most business? I already post on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Yelp, Bing and Google Plus. Is there anything else I can do to draw in traffic?

  792. The question is, how to promote to young adults. How do we get them excited about the lower cost, the fun, new safety equipment so they are encouraged to visit motorcycle dealerships. It is scary how old our customer base is when visiting shows and dealerships.

  793. FROM THE PORTFOLIO YOU MENTIONED & WHAT LITTLE KNOWLEDGE I HAVE AS TO WHAT THE OUTCOME, IT APPEARS THAT THEY BUY VERY RIGHT & LIQUIDATE WITH LESS REGARD TO BUILDING & INVESTING THE FAILED COMPANY. MAKES BIG ‘CENTS’ TO THEM I’M SURE. NO erik THOUGH SO PROBABLY NO MORE buell …AS WE KNOW IT …..OH WELL, IT HAPPENS.

  794. Great post Liz! You could also certainly add to this post…

    Quit looking at your phone when…
    – You’re with your kids
    – When you’re with your spouse
    – When on a date
    – When walking down the street about to walk into a man hole!

    When we all hear that ding… it’s always so tempting to look down at our phones. But whether we’re with our kids or customers… it often tells people more about us when we DON’T look down when we hear that text ding on our phones. Just my two cents.

    Happy New Year all!

  795. Liz,

    Phone distraction any time, opened lap tops (not relevent) in meetings drive me nuts- stay focused and respect the present. Focus will show interest and increase productivity from projects to sales.

    Tom

  796. That right your High School Masonry Instructor. Saw your name on Andys FB page last night.
    Thought it would be nice to say hello. I also read your article in Power Sports Business.Very well done.My phone # is 860-896-3330 in Vernon. If you have time and would like to call feel free.
    P.S. I still have something of yours that you left in the shop.

    Take care Bob

  797. I’m 67, retired from power sports after 20 years moving metal , 6 days a week , 10-12 hours per day. Franchised dealer for HONDA , Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Polaris , & others. Sold over 30,000 units retail. I’ve been preaching your words for years to all who would listen. Prior to PS was a MAZDA dealer & in auto business 23 years. I started selling old beat up cars , trucks , boats, m/c in my front yard on a rural route. Young man you need to write your own book!
    What set me on fire was “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill
    Read it , if you haven’t already. Thanks for your motivation this morning. I really needed it. Fighting health issues. ??
    Peace of Jesus to you, Byron Hager
    byron807@gmail.com

  798. Great Choice, not only for a partnership but both companies are solid choices. Love this event having participated last year it is a must do, class act event. Join the ride up the coast and enjoy the camaraderie that is Motorcycles!!

  799. We at H2RO Magazine are very pleased to witness the approach FlyDive has taken and the product they’ve brought to market. We’ve flown the X-Board and really enjoyed the experience. H2RO Magazine is the official magazine of Hydroflight Sports and as much as we get stoked about the world’s top athletes and their amazing abilities the idea is to have the entire world flying and having fun. Companies like FlyDive will help make that a reality.

    Keep up the great work!

    Blaine

  800. Arguably the most important component of any business is the customer. Without customers you don’t have a business. Hence one would think that greatest possible attention would be placed on making the customer deliriously happy – and one would be wrong! In the current business model, customer satisfaction is sort of a byproduct. It is thought to be incidental to the delivery of a great product. The idea is that if the customer gets what he came for, he’ll be back.
    However, a Gallup study about customer attrition found that 82 percent of customers who stopped doing business with a company did not do so because of a bad product. 82% of customers stopped doing business with a company because of poor customer experience.
    Customer experience is the new black. It’s the secret behind the massive success of companies like Apple, Amazon and Zappos and it is repeatable in any industry.
    Interestingly, customer experience doesn’t have all that much to do with how you feel about the customer; rather it has to do with how you feel about your company, how you feel about your own job. Customer experience is about the atmosphere in a company. It is about culture.

    Culture can’t be faked. It has to be authentic and it arises out of three components – personal clarity, corporate clarity and team clarity. Combine those three and you get an atmosphere of passionate engagement that creates infinitely more productivity, higher profits, greater retention and best of all customers who become raving fans and refer your business to others.

  801. The EPA will eventually assure the implementation of legislation by congress which limits any ability of government agencies to write regulation exterior to congress.

    Further, I foresee a splintered EPA divided among several different bodies none of which posses the single power to shut down industry or control the use of individually owned assets.

    I see an EPA stripped of all its current power and its entire regulatory ability being forced through congressional approval. Its movement to eliminate the racing and performance parts industry in the United States in the means of the end to the elimination of its power.

  802. Interesting read from my former colleague. One thing I would have liked to see in this article is the power of Social Media and online marketing. To many dealerships neglect the internet or use the same old boring Website because they have this preconceived idea that there is no way to compete with the so called “big boy” online sites. I have found in my 10 years of Powersports experience that your most powerful tool to keep your customers coming back and bringing in new customers is the internet. I feel that every major dealership should have a department dedicated just to the internet. After all we are now living in the digital age where 2 out of 3 people have their faces glued to their smartphones. So why not take advantage of it. There is very little overhead and much larger margins to be made with a internet department.

    Great article Napoleon. Make sure you pay attention to this guy he is one of the smartest people I have ever had the pleasure of working with in the Powersports Industry.

  803. I have to ask; how Cycle Gear can consider themselves as “omni-channel”? And yes I had to look it up….here http://omnichannel.me/what-is-omnichannel/ It is basically defined as all things about your brand can be accessed anywhere, all social media, advertising, retail stores, websites. So when I shop at home and go out to buy the products, I can get the same experience, same price, same products EVERYWHERE. Hence the name OMNI. They are more Multi-Channel. I cannot (and don’t want to) buy BILT at my local Honda dealer….Heck I can’t even check stock at my local Cycle Gear store from their website.
    This all being said. It is a good thing to think about for all dealers. IF Cycle Gear can succeed in truly being omni-channel in 116+ stores they will rule. I challenge all motorcycle dealers with one location to be as OMNI as they can with their brand.
    Lola.

  804. I just have one question: where are the other brands with any kind of advertising or awareness campaigns? I swear – the entire industry is engineering driven: we build the best products and the customers will come!! NEWSFLASH – the entire world is transitioning to sales + marketing driven: let’s really focus on a customer segment, understand their needs, wants, desires, aspirations, and lifestyle choices and cater to not only what they need to do but (#CRAZYTALK) anticipate what they’ll need from us tomorrow! Before I leave this earth, I’d like to see just ONE powersports company do this – not even well. Just an attempt at it would be earth shattering!

  805. Congrats to Randy and his team at Baxter Cycles! They have been one of the best Triumph dealers year after year, and I am sure they will do the same for Royal Enfield.

  806. Its funny that you mentioned this, theres a conversation going on on an Indian forum discussing whether Indian needs to advertise more and they question Harley increase in advertising budget.

  807. One point that is being missed is that kids start on the cheaper import units. Yes they are cheap but dealers need to keep them riding. We all started on what we could afford.
    Kids are different today, if the unit is not working they are happy to ride the couch with X-Box, Playstation or their cell phone. Take that young generation out of your future sales projection and look at that picture 5-10 years down the road.
    Help those young riders stay in the sport.

  808. Here, here, David, as the producer of a weekly motorcycle podcast the hog radio show and owner of a small marketing agency I have longed to sell a MFG on doing exactly what you stated.

    After plenty of personal efforts along with many talks with industry insiders both in person and on the show it’s come to my understanding that MFG do not have budgets to do what you are proposing nor do they even care.

    At least H-D is doing an awareness campaign based on an emotional appeal as the pull to bring people to their platform. Fathers and sons watch Basketball together so maybe H-D gets that connection and leveraging it to reach these watchers.

  809. I have been a Royal Enfield dealer for just under 2 years. I was roped in by believing the propaganda that Royal sales are doubling every year. Well, I soon found out that this is not only true, but now in 2016, most of the USE TO BE 100 dealers are shutting their doors to the new RENA or Royal Enfield distributor here in the USA. I don’t know if there are any dealers left standing in California now, and I know many of the long time USA dealers have kicked the new Royal Enfield out of their dealership due to rudeness, unprofessional behavior from management, and impossible must meet sales goals.
    I spoke with many other fellow RE dealers across the country, and they all said that sales have slumped for years. Most consumers have never heard of the brand, and the factory does almost nothing to improve that.
    I have a feeling that 2016 will be the year that the RE brand will shrink to nothing, and possibly disappear from the USA completely.

  810. It’s great to have Dave back on board. My new service manager and I will be enjoying his insight. Thank you,

  811. Sorry to hear Dave has left CF Moto. He was a great influence in getting me started with this Company as a dealer. For that help I”am greatful I feel they have lost a good man.

  812. If a motorcycle endorsement is not needed, there is no legitimate reason the vehicle should not meet DOT auto standards. It is not a motorcycle it is a sports car.

  813. Sad to hear about Dave. I really liked him and he was one of the reasons we signed on with CF MOTO. Hopefully the new management team can do as good a Job expanding the Company’s US brand.

    Jason Karns

  814. Let me get this straight? A “Canadian” company, building product in “Mexico”, and then selling it to maybe it’s largest customer base in the USA…….?? I think the Metric companies have more faith in the USA. Just saying!

  815. Is there a way I can get that 31 point inspection on all the models
    That would help with the PD process at the dealership level

  816. Outstanding article, Forrest! I am “walking around myself,” and going to have a “peaceful energy” challenge with myself- until it becomes a habit! Thank you for this!

  817. Gordy – this is absolutely the crux of the issue. Clearly the Slingshot does not meet DOT auto crash standards, so calling it a “motorcycle” gives Polaris (and other 3-wheeler OEMs) a loophole.

    Frankly, I’m surprised that the Legislature would want to go down this slippery slope. Are they someday going to allow manufacturers to sell cars in MN that don’t meet DOT standards? (not likely)

  818. This is a stupid move. I will buy much less Kolpin product since I won’t be able to bundle purchases with other items from Tucker/Rocky or WPS. Going independent takes small dealers out of the market for their products.

  819. Good stuff Dave! The easy jobs are just that – but a tough job can really test your metal. I often found that jobs went sideways because of paperwork and the communication that goes with the job. Always follow through with your process (never rush) and when in doubt, talk it out! Keep the customer in the communication loop and you will have a much better chance of making it turn out right. When the customer knows you are human but are doing everything you can to help, you will have a customer that will continue to work with you.

  820. These products are the very best products on the market today. The slogan “Universal” Cleaning products has proven itself to me! I use it on my Bayliner, my GXT Seadoo, my Yamaha 250 and my Harley Softail Delux… Good Stuff!!!

  821. It is great to see that Roger Skime is still out there promoting the brand he helped build. They are smart to have him involved.

  822. We’ve had dozens of dealers drive enormous traffic to their YouTube channels through their texting clubs. It’s no secret video consumed on mobile devices is massive. The click through rates and video views through SMS communication cannot be overstated.

  823. How will the DOL treat commisioned sales people? Are they considered exempt, or do we have to convert them to hourly?

  824. Hey KJ….you can email me at forrest@powersportsmc.com with your specific questions. The focus of this new legislation is on salaried managers. We can thank POUTUS for this. Anyway—historically people who are paid a salary are exempt from overtime—if they meet the criteria/tests specified by the DOL. Many people misclassify employees as salary to skirt overtime payments. This new legislation is aimed at solving those problems. You question is interesting as some dealerships do not feel that commissioned sales people are not subject to overtime. However I have two clients that went through Wage and Hour audits where the ruling was that they are. Always check with your legal counsel and or the Wage and Hour people to make sure that you are in compliance with state and federal laws.

  825. ALSO—-lets say that you pay your employee $10 per hour and they earn a $40 commission. Lets say they work 42 hours in a pay period. Not only is the 2 hours subject to overtime, but so is the commission. Keep in mind that your state may be different than the feds. The general rule of thumb is you have to follow the rules that benefit the employee more. So many people out there are not taking the commission into account when calculating overtime.

  826. My best advice to your question is call the Wage and Hour division of the department of labor.
    Here is one link I found interesting. The lady I spoke to was very friendly. It appears there are special rules that govern automotive dealerships—which powersports may be classified under which provides for exemption status under overtime regulations.

    The following link is for retail establishments. https://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs20.pdf

    I tried to access the automobile regulations but the link said that is being revised and coming soon.

  827. Looking for a retailer to buy another Arthur Fulmer helmet. Been wearing these helmets longer than I can remember. I’m currently looking for another 3/4 flat black with quick detach face shield and drop down sun visor made in the helmet. I would appreciate any help you can give me to find a new helmet in the Knoxville, Tennessee area
    Thanks, Dave Danaher

  828. I think the main fuse went out on my 2015 Intimidator. It has the power lift bed. How do I lift the bed without power? I see the battery from underneath but cannot get to it.

  829. I am considering puting a used 2004 Kolpin 90cc ATV. If the recall work has not yet been done on it, is it still possible to get it done? Do you know how to go about doing that? Thanks.

  830. Congratulations Bennett!! I always loved working with you as a vendor back in the late 80’s and early 90’s. You have done a terrific job helping to growing Polaris!! Enjoy retirement.

  831. Congratulations Bennett, you are to be commended on the direction you brought to Polaris and the growth the Company has achieved. Enjoy your retirement.

  832. Congratulations Bennett. It was a pleasure and a joy working with you in the early years!

  833. Congratulations Bennett! You are an inspirational leader and were a great pleasure to work with. Have a great retirement.

  834. Congrats to Dennis McNeal. There is a reason YMC is the coveted franchise. All dealers (and riders), love Yamaha!

  835. You will be missed Bennett. If you plan on doing any consulting I would love to avail myself of your sage advice.
    Best wishes in this next chapter.
    Ross H. Liberty
    Factory Pipe, LLC

  836. Congrats to Tim Buche on the honor and we look forward to watching the AIM Expo grow and bring the sport to the future. The moves that the MIC had made for the smaller dealers to continue to benefit from the numbers and data is encouraging. High tide floats all boats and the information is key. Keep up the great work!!

  837. Liz, I agree that costumer satisfaction is extremely important. This was a great topic!
    I look forward to reading your blog in the future!

  838. Great insight on an everyday situation. A great wrench once told me, “If you start getting frustrated with a job, walk away for a few minutes”. The longer an undetectable problem eludes us, the more the situation can be problematic. Walking away a few minutes, calming down then re-attacking the problem often results with the solution staring you in the face. Service departments can make or break a dealership, and as you mention, the service writers catch the best and worst of a customer. It is so very important for dealerships to put the right people on the front lines to deal with customers and properly communicate situations; hopefully avoiding the customer blow up. Lastly, dealerships have to take some of the responsibility for come-backs. There is so much pressure these days on getting bikes off the lifts, many times Techs feel pressured to overlook some mechanical issues or “temporarily” fix a problem. Flat-rate pay is a devils advocate of this mindset. As Techs, customers lives are in our hands, be thorough, be diligent, and do the job correctly the first time. A customer may be irritated a job took longer than expected, but will most likely be thankful for a Tech making sure the job is done right the first time.

  839. Will this be available for civilian purchases and what will be the estimated cost per unit?

  840. “Motorcycle” or electric bicycle? Note that all of it’s running gear is sourced from mountain bikes. Where’s the line drawn between an electric bicycle and electric motorcycle?

  841. Despite “orderly marketing” provisions in dealer franchise agreements, you really can’t be limited to whom you sell to as long as provide the same levels of support that you do to the local customers. It should not just be a vessel to unload excess inventory.

    it is the dealers choice to sell a product at the price that they see fit. If they “choose” to loose money, that is their prerogative and you should be grateful that you did not have to lose that money.

  842. Hi Rich,

    That would be another title for an article, “Communication is Key” or Communication is Critical.” The trust in motorcycle shops is undermined by the actions of other businesses, such as car shops, who don’t always operate in a trustworthy manner. For example, with the exception of a menu item service I cannot remember the last time a car dealer did the work at the estimate they gave me. It’s always more. Additionally, the last 4-services on my trucks and cars omitted greasing the steering linkage. All they did was change the engine oil. For this and other reasons it’s imperative that motorcycle service advisors take the time to explain what will be performed, maintain updates through the process and set aside time to explain the work and answer questions when the customer picks up their bike. Good thoughts! Thanks Rich

  843. Hi Thomas,

    All great thoughts – Thanks!

    I like the walk away for a minute suggestion when confronted with a tough situation. Here’s an admission. I always write my articles and let them stew at least overnight before emailing them to my clients. With a 24-hour break my mind operates differently on the second pass and I always make changes – for the better. Paul Dean, famous writer at Cycle World magazine taught me this many years ago when I wrote a dyno article for the old Big Twin magazine. Ride well – Be Profitable!

  844. Excellent article! In order for the compliance program to work there has to be a dedicated compliance officer and regular training of staff members.

  845. It would seem that ALL of these bikes should be recalled for this airbag issue. Last time I checked Gold Wing riders get on their bikes and ride to all areas of the country (including places with high humidity). Hence, someone who bought their Gold Wing in New York and who rides down on their Gold Wing and spends their winters in Florida… could be at serious risk of their airbag degrading.

  846. I’m also surprised that Honda is not including all units. I believe they tried the same regional roll-out with the auto airbag recall, and look how well that went for them. I’m also surprised that NHTSA approved this plan. stay tuned…

  847. The dealer I purchased my Goldwing from (in Michigan) got it from a Honda warehouse in Ohio. So now, because I live in Michigan, it isn’t being recalled but if I had bought the same bike while living in Ohio or, if I sell it to someone in Ohio (just 35 miles away) it WOULD be recalled. So where is the logic in that? I know, I know – there isn’t any…

  848. Awesome article. Spot on. (Tom cruise brought me into sport bikes in 1986 with the ninja! )

  849. Very good article and very good point. There is a dealer in the Midwest who deals specifically with old Broncos and does a great job of doing exactly what you’ve written about. Thank you for sharing Jim.

  850. Excellent article , I agree wholeheartedly with your theory. There is nothing engaging when you post the obvious. A car dealership has cars to sell , we already know this. And whether you think the car is special or rare it doesn’t matter. Show me a post of that car leading the parade in a local community . Or just maybe being washed by a local benefit high school car wash and now you have my attention. Well written and nice job.

  851. Might have to have the SCR950, I have had 100+ motorcycles, mostly Yamaha, and my favorite, so far is the FZ09 (I own 3!), and I still have a Road Warrior, and 3 dirt bikes, WR250, Wr450 (both with REKLUSE), and an old DT125.’
    I love you YAMAHA, YOU are the BEST. I bleed BLUE!!!

  852. PASSSION!!
    That’s what McNeal has and YMC has!
    Best products in the world.
    Period!
    Best Franchise in the world.
    I started selling YMC products in 1968.
    Personally recorded an average 0f 70 motorcycle sales each month for 2 year period, 1970-71.
    Partner in 2 Yamaha dealerships today. Have a dozen (3 FZ09’s!), Yamaha motorsport products.
    Living the dream.
    Fortunate enough to have worked with Ben Wantanabe, and great people before and after.
    Good going Dennis! We are both LIVING THE DREAM!

  853. So Honda has successfully redesigned the entire XR line EXCEPT the big bikes. The US needs a new XR400!!! and probably a new XR650. Call them CRF400F and CRF650F. Then, make street legal versions! Call Them CRF400L and CRF650L. Build them in the same factory that builds the bikes listed above (not Japan, but I think Thailand or Malaysia?) and sell them for an affordable price. Then maybe we will get some new off-road riders buying bikes and accessories. Is anyone listening? Am I crazy?

  854. Dennis us a great asset to Yamaha Motors-USA. He was always approachable at conventions and is truly interested in the success of the dealers. (Thanks again for not accepting my “order” for 10,000 V=Max’s.)

  855. Fantastic article – breaking down the stereotypes and providing great advice on how to sell to millennials.

  856. Harley Davidson has its ups and downs.. What concerns me is the increased Harley dealerships closing and the movement within the market itself… people are just not coming back to Motorcycles since the 2008 disaster and we still have bumps to get over for the next few years…

  857. Enjoyable read Chris… I’ve been fascinated with the sociology of this subject for several months now…

    The Young, Urban, Creative, Millenn-intelligensia… What motivates them, what are they excited about, what makes them buy certain products, who are their heroes?

    The top three most important values for this age group are Authentic, Socially Aware, and Reassuring/Validation…

    Synchronistically, is that these same values held so dear to Millennials are also EagleRider’s four core brand pillars…

    I think the OEM’s need to look deeper than just marketing tactics for this age group… The OEM’s need to take a long hard look inside themselves, and ask who they are, and what they stand for… Their core values need to be about passion, and sharing the excitement of what they produce, in additional to a bottom line number on a Wallstreet Investors Spread sheet.

  858. Jim… Not sure if you’ve mentioned using Facebook Custom Audience. As you know, it’s easier to sell to current customers than to look for new ones. Using Custom Audiences strengthens your existing connections. You can “target” ads to the audience you’ve created on Facebook, Instagram, and Audience Network using your existing customer list. You can create the list by using your current customer email addresses.

  859. Steve is an extremely good operator, and an even better person. The power sports industry could use more folks like Steve.

  860. Its great they are getting mainstream press for our industry as we need as much of that in a positive light these days. Congratulations!

  861. Congratulations to the three new owners of APS! The best possible scenario to restore APS to its original place of honor in the Powersports industry! Cheers, Bill, Mark and Robert!

  862. Kim,

    Well done. To fully engage your audience and drive action,messages have to reach customers at exactly the right time and through the right channel. There’s been a great deal of talk about real-time email marketing — a strategy that offers a solution to the conundrum of right message, right time, right place. As data continues to grow, so does the sophistication of real-time marketing. Real-time email marketing uses real-time data to create highly targeted and timely content that fulfills consumers’ expectations of instant gratification and personalization. The success of your real-time email marketing strategy depends on one crucial aspect: data… Behavioral Data, Geographic Data, Demographic Data. Real-time email marketing allows you to extend a solution to your audience at the right place and at the time they need it most. By using behavioral, geographic and demographic customer data, you can ensure your real-time marketing messages yield favorable results — immediately.

  863. Hello, I’ve just rrecently started rresearching your 700 llandmaster , you ddefinitely need more info out there! Called century cart cconnection in cCleveland they are out of stock wanted to go and look at one! So step up the pproductio ! Lo looking forward to ttrying one out! Thanks

  864. Dot 4 seems to gel and sieze master cylinder , have two clients with master cyl . failure after two years . Evidently HD uses Dot 4 for antilock system , dot 5 was fine for the last 30 years . Why change and as I understand cannot be changed without hose and seal replacement , especially when worried about insurance issues and compliance mods . on late model units

  865. Just purchased black FZ10. I have approximately 700 miles on it. This is one special motorcycle. Thanks Yamaha!!?

  866. As the man who developed and introduced the QuadBoss brand, this story is 100% false. Tire sealant was not intro’ed until a few years after brand launch. Also, Soft Luggage, ramps, a winch and a few others were in the initial roll out. Don’t re-write history.

  867. Great stuff! Hellbender you should post video of the rides as well. Definitely great that Hellbender was able to add a bunch of extra smiles to some folks faces that day!

  868. One other thought to add – I was talking with a friend of mine recently who called his local dealer to see about a routine service and maybe a carb rejet. He was told they can’t touch his bike for 5-6 weeks. This is yet another negative indicator of a shortage of technicians. Keep in mind that when customers have to wait more than a few days to get routine work done they will take their business elsewhere (maybe for good) or worse yet, decide to sell their bike because it’s more trouble than it’s worth.

  869. Loved your article! Good tie and quote in this recent article, http://www.bmxnews.com/2016/07/next-week-strider-worlds-come-san-francisco/:

    “Hardboiled BMXers may look at the phrase “Strider World Championships” and dismiss it with a cynical scoff. That’s a mistake. Strider rider participation is massively-important for bringing new generations of BMX racers into the sport. Afterall, there are 61% more “balance bike” racers in USA BMX than there are pros! Strider racing is a “gateway” to BMX Racing, and we need to encourage it however we can.”

    I wonder how many powersports dealers have partnerships with BMX tracks (and are really maximizing those)?

    I just spent the weekend in San Francisco at the big event and saw a TON of parents with moto and powersport-themed shirts with their kids with custom branded Striders (Honda, Yamaha, KTM, Harley, etc).

    Several of the kids make motorcycle noises while riding their Strider Bikes!

  870. my working process, listen to the coach, follow directions carefully, but if for any reason, that doesn’t work, wing it. at that point what have you got to loose.

  871. After a very poor to nonexistent winter, Arctic Cat tried to push an excessive number of 2017 snowmobiles on their dealers who were already carrying excessive “carry over” inventory. In one instance, a dealer that sold approximately 50 units and was carrying almost 100 leftovers was given a target of more 100 new 2017 units (in order to be eligible for programs, and floor plan protection). The dealer countered with an offer to take 50-60 units…more than he needed or wanted, but still a good number considering the “carry over units and previous season sales. Due to the programs, if not acceptable he stated that after 40 years he would have to give up the Arctic Cat line. Arctic Cat rejected the the offer, and the rest is, as they say history.

    We have lost two 40+ year dealers in our area alone due to this mentality. I’m not too bright, but I was raised with the understanding that “a piece of the pie was better than none”. I don’t understand the short sighted corporate mentality. It’s not like there are people waiting in line to to take on a power sports dealership in our area (or others, I’m sure). Especially a brand who’s product line is pretty much stagnant when compared to the competition. Mr. Metz seemed to come into the company offering hope for the dealers, but all we’ve seen is more of the same.

  872. GREAT piece Colleen, thank you.

    I have been running these programs for small business for over 2 years now and after 20 years in the SMB online lead generation business, I can honestly say I have never seen any platform work better than Facebook Ads Network for SMB’s. Affordable and highly targetable by demographic and hyper-local geo. I love this network.

  873. This was past along to me, and how great. So glad Comet continues. I worked at Hoffco/Comet over 35 years before John Bratt – Tenax took it to its knees. I worked with Jay and and his father during transition and several months with Ed Killion after the move to Wisconsin.
    Great products, keep it going and growing

  874. Congrats to the team and everyone involved. It takes a ton of effort and sponsorship to get to that level. The dedication over the years is amazing. Happy for you all, continued success!

  875. I have to say that this is a very good blog. As an industry expert in dealership operations, accounting, and human resources I concur with Bruce in almost every word he writes this month. I agree that the P&A department must be treated as a stand alone profit center. I also agree with him on how the parts department has a tendency to be abused and stolen from internally. There is an old statistic that 70% of your inventory shrinkage comes internally. That means that 30% of your shrinkage is coming from your customers. The 70% that is internal probably isn’t theft per se, but it is a violation of sound internal controls on dealership assets. And having sound and solid internal controls is what good accounting is all about.

  876. Hey Jay,

    I like the new logo. Good job in taking the old and making it new. Have not heard from you for awhile so I guess things are progressing. Keep up the good work. Say Hello to Ed.

    Chuck Sieb

  877. CONGRATS SARAH. Nice to have met u at Max open house. Now retired but more and more involved with bikes than ever. After living with bikes and ridding for more than 40 years let me tell u what works and not . E mail me if I can help u. Since I could not get Mercedes to built a bike I want BMW to get better.

  878. I am interested in the exhaust System for my yamaha. Do I need to Re-Flash My ECU? how and where can I buy one ASAP. I am from Bolivia, South America.

  879. How can I become a dealer, I see a huge market emerging, here in Connecticut, the DMV is a nightmare and quality scooters are just so undeniably convenient. I’m trying to get one today in watertown! 1599 is alot of money to me but if I can finance half, I have a feeling I ll be on one by tomorrow.

  880. Road test vehicle before working on it QUALIFY BIKE !!! NO cel phone or texting while working !!! Qualify work with Mgr and client !! So much wasted time today with younger people {35 and down } who need constant contact on smartphones !!! TIME CLOCK AND WORK ORDERS PUNCHED . I want competent “mechanic please” Leave credentials home and just LISTEN to client and mgr and get work DONE in timely efficient fashion . This is not a union shop !! We are ready to eliminate help and problems with high cost of business , no more bolt on aftermarket junk and just supply quality hard parts not easily available on NET . I am not only small shop with a large investment that is prepared to downsize . OE parts are harder to come by and we have same clients for 40 + years , Look how many small shops have closed in last 15 years . Many of us do not want to compete with the net

  881. Great comments Norman. I tried to stick primarily to technical traits in this blog and your additions fit nicely into desirable work habits and work ethics. I admire folks like yourself who are challenged every day with obstacles to your success. Keep up the good work and know that you are very much appreciated.

    One solution to employee cell phone use and smoking that dealers have instituted is to limit those activities to two official work breaks and one lunch break per day.

  882. I’d love it if BMW produced a bike similar to this with old school looks and new school tech (brakes, fuel injection, HP). Simplicity in design never goes out of style.

  883. I can’t find my bill for September for my Yamaha 192 boat is there a way I can get info on where to send payment or a duplicate bill

  884. Congratulations Chris on becoming an entrepreneur! With your successful background, intelligence, and drive, you’ll be selling a lot of Triumphs, Arctic Cats, and more. All the best to you and your family.

    Don Jensen
    FXR Factory Racing

  885. Chris, Wow what a great step and opportunity for you, I the k it is a great move! I have known you for 16 plus years and ill say that this seems like the very best “fit” for you, plus you’ve always really been you own boss, LOL. All The Best! Pete

  886. Been searching for a side by side and I like the yamaha viking a lot more than the rest of the competition. Will try to buy me one pretty soon.

  887. Jim, – wouldn’t it be better if the MIC got all the OEMs together and did a national ad to show where all the dealers are? I believe that is what the fast food chains have done.

  888. Chris,
    Outstanding! It sounds like a great opportunity. MTS is now under new ownership. I have also taken the plunge and bought the business.

    I read your posts regularly and I think that this is a venture that you will absolutely knock it out of the park.

    I hope that you remember MTS from your days at EagleRider. We are going to aggressively go after new business. One of my new plans is to offer our roadside assistance to dealerships. We have successfully started with some west coast dealers. We will cover all makes and models, new or used, from a scooter to a trike.

    Sorry to turn congrats in to a pitch, however I did not have your contact info. I had to go with what I had. If you’re interested, drop me a line. Good Luck!

  889. As I read this blog and being a 20 Grp member for over 15 years, it still amazes me that items Bruce referred to are NEWS to some dealerships. These are NOT new trend setting ideas…but should be simple operating procedures for the last 40 Years.
    I guess it never can be assumed….

  890. This closing comes as no surprise to me. Multiple staff changes, almost empty showroom, and failure to respond to customer communication are symptoms of a lack of leadership and management involvement. Long ago I recommended another Polaris dealer from Northeast Ohio to Polaris for the Indian franchise, but evidently that request and franchise requests from sasid dealer fell on deaf ears. Now we are left without a dealer and without a IMRG sponsor, not to mention a service and parts facility. Evidently Polaris was enamored of a new group with a flashy presentation instead of proven motorcycle professionals. This one falls squarely on Polaris as well as the owners of AHM.

  891. Just bought a Suzuki Kingquad 500AXI power steering in Donegal Ireland 2016 model. Beautiful bike, well made with one exception. The black steel wheels are poorly painted with evidence of undercoat in crevices and signs of dust under paint, very sloppy. Tried to get an e-mail for production, but none available to the public. They really should be let know as quality control is letting this stuff out to the public. Someone needs a good talking to.

  892. I find that many companies do not have a defined mobile strategy (or at least something that two employees can articulate the same). Despite that, they still have a presence on mobile because someone told them they had to.

    And your point is right, Ron. Often companies try to cram all of their full website into the smaller screen (thank you ‘adaptive,’ for saving many f those from the abyss). The truth is people searching on mobile want an experience that is trimmed downed and streamlined. They want to find what they want with minimal clicks, and for crying out loud, DO NOT MAKE THEM TYPE! Mobile form filling is usually cumbersome at best.

    While the SBA definition still holds true, it does not address the medium, as you point out. That decision rests with the advertiser, who needs to take into consideration all of the consumer-facing touchpoints and do their best to accommodate the needs and wants of each person on each of those trails.

  893. A thought that constantly pushes at me when I read about this subject matter is the consistent disregard for the parts that the Service Dept. sells. A good running store is moving approximately 48% of their parts sales through service and the profit the shop sees on that transaction is shuffled to the Parts Dept. In many cases, the Service Dept looks up the part, sells the part, and invoices the part to the end customer. When a dealer says their Service Dept isn’t profitable… where would the numbers be if the Service Department didn’t use the in-house parts supply?

  894. Excellent comments Jeff. Having worked with so many dealerships for many years I know a great many of them don’t know what they don’t know. ha Seriously, they do business as usual and try to be ahead of the game on mobile but until someone with expertise gives them some feedback and direction on how to proceed they just continue to flounder and lose customers. And in some cases they don’t want to face the hard truth that they may not be doing as well as they think they are when it comes to their strategy. But the dealerships that devote real resources to a mobile solution across the board almost always find success and much more satisfied customers. Thanks again for the comments!

  895. I can’t believe the same company now owns Pro Armor, Rubicon Express, Pro Comp, Smittybuilt, 4 Wheel Parts, 4WD, Poison Spyder etc.. and that this company is Polaris Industries.. just wow.

  896. This is very succinct article and I really enjoyed reading it. As an inside sales representative for an after market distributor I hear this day in an day out from all of my dealers. Everything from no MAP on OEM parts, (why go to a dealer when they can get them for next to nothing on line) to force feeding yearly OEM accessories that they already have sitting on their shelves from three, four, five years ago. I will have to disagree about the KLIM partnership. KLIM, Bell and a host of others manufacturers have gone retail direct within the last few years with very aggressive direct marketing and sales campaigns. Just sign up on their websites. You will be astonished. Their marketing is much more advanced than Tucker Rocky/Motorcycle Superstore. You can go on designated rides with KLIM that include a great barbequed lunch to winning a $600.00 autographed helmet from a World Super Bike star from another manufacturer and the list is endless. If you think these PUBICLY OWNED CORPORATIONS would rather you sell to the retail customer then them then you should rethink that aspect.Thanks again for a great article and everybody remember to vote like a motorcyclist. grassroots@ama.org has information on who voted for land closures in your districts, etc., and keeps you up to date with things that could or could not effect your area in regards to any type of motorsports. I urge you to sign up with them, it is free, and they are very active and informative.

  897. Rod Copes and Royal Enfield employee such as Anthony Loffredo know how to attract and retain customers by making motorcycling fun – like it’s supposed to be! They and others on the US team will most certainly grow the Royal Enfield brand in the US.

  898. Record Crowd???
    Where?
    Seriously The only number I believe is that there were more exhibitors walking around than dealers

  899. This show is one of the worst shows and an expense drain.
    If the goal of AIM is to be a consumer show then just focus on consumers.
    Any exhibitor that attends to market to other Dealers is wasting their Money and time.
    Start attracting larger OEM dealers and give them a reason to attend.

  900. Congrats on a successful Parts career and good luck in the service segment. Thank you for sharing your success story as there are many of us who can benefit from the experience you had.

  901. AMEN !!! Congratulations Chris! “Experience” is a lot more than a slogan on corporate advertising. Experiences are what we share with our guests, and employees every day. Thanks for all you did at ER. You are gonna CRUSH it with your team.
    -Dave

  902. As the owner of a rental fleet of ATV’s and snowmobiles we have tried many brands of ATV’s and side by sides I concur 100% with the Polaris GARBAGE comment above. We have had to sell every one of our RZR’s because they spend more time in the shop than they do on the trails and their ATV’s aren’t much better. It baffles me why the masses keep flocking to them. I guess slick and excessive marketing beats quality (at least in the short term).

  903. I’m not surprised either, AHM’was the only game in town or would have bought some ware else, total used car salesman approach. I’m hoping Randy’s offers the Indian lineup

  904. I really wish Yamaha had a better way of hiring people that have a true passion to work for the company.I understand a person is not qualified for every job,but seems to me if someone showed a true,honest passion,along with being a very long term Yamaha customer,somebody would recognize this.Maybe someone within the hallowed halls of Yamaha Motor Corporation will see my comments.Thanks

  905. is this for s&s only or are metrics included? i am a finance manager at a metric dealer and could use used financing. thanks

  906. Very nice honor, it’s easy to see why Polaris is an industry leader !!!
    Having been a 34 & 1/2 year employee of Suzuki it would have been nice to have been recognized for my service instead of a “BUMS RUSH” out the door.

    CONGRATULATIONS MARLYS !!!

  907. Congratulations Marlys on a job done with dedication and excelence unequaled.
    Having been a Polaris dealer since 1982 I can safely say Marlys Knutson has had a hand on every dealer show, new product launch and anniversary celebration at Polaris Industries for decades.
    Polaris will have to hire 3 people to match the capacity of Marlys Knutson, the new gen empoyee wouldn’t dream of taking on the same level of responsibility and work load.
    I will persoanlly miss Marlys and wish her all the best in her retirment well earned.

  908. Marlys has made Polaris a better company I am a newly retired Dealer and work with her though three CEOs and not of one would give her up. Employees and friends like Marlys are Priceless Congradulatios and enjoy your next life’s step.

  909. I have always closed my shop on statutory holidays. As Jessica says, holidays should always be for getting together with friends and family. We open 250 or more days a year; certainly everyone can get organised enough to buy their oil or gloves on the days we are open. It’s the same reason i have always closed on Sundays; my staff work hard all week, and they need a day to get out with their friends and have some down time.

  910. I had mine since September of 2015. My question is why are they N/A at places like Walmart, Target and even at the USPS? Also, certain banks have still not issued chip cards to consumers. Are we liable there as well?

  911. That’s great. This year, due to the fact that Christmas and New Years falls on a weekend, I gave my employees 11/23 off. Normally they get today off as well as Christmas Eve and Day and New Years Eve and Day, all as paid holidays. This year, I am giving them the Monday after both holiday weekends off as well as 11/23 to make up for it.
    Now one thing I will say is that my employees aren’t exactly grateful. By law, I do not need to give them any of the holidays off this year nor comp time. I didn’t even get a thank you and to top it off, I heard mutterings about them being entitled to the additional day off. You just cannot please anyone these days I guess.

  912. Well it’s true. I was a part of that cut, “position eliminated”. I was with TR for over 11 yrs as a successful outside sales rep and then relocated to Ft Worth to be part of the e-business group. Time for a new challenge!

  913. Thanks for your insights Gary
    Reality checks by real world experts of visionary ideas and products is often not included, or regarded as simple negativity or resistance to change. These checks are often most valuable when they are sourced from folks outside of the internal ‘loop’. I’ve seen multiple large financial and time investment projects and products move forward that were not based on clear analytics, but simply because executives felt pressure to change and/or run faster.

  914. I know Victor Hernandez from selling with him at LS2. I live about 50 miles from your distribution center in Hunmble Tx and would be thrilled to help you introduce your battery to Powersport dealers in Tx. I am a Ind Rep working Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and all points in between. My current brands are LS2 Helmets, Sena, Race Sport Lighting.

  915. Yup, I was laid off too. I was part of the Helmet & Apparel team and supported all the reps in my region. After over two decades in retail powersports management,I had found my dream job. With the help of a great team of reps, I was able to improve our sales numbers from last (23rd in the company) to 5th, with over 30% growth in a down market. Tucker was a great place to work, but unfortunately I got swept up in the cutbacks. Finding work in this side of the industry, at this time of the year, has not been easy, but I’m confident I will find my another dream job.

  916. Like it or not the dealership showroom experience has changed forever. As a Harley Davidson sales manager for 17 years I have said good bye to the days of taking a deposit for a new bike sale and calling the customer 6 months latter to come and pick up their new bike. Over supply, a declining customer base and automotive mentality new dealerships have all turn the supply and demand model that worked so well for so many years on its head.
    Now to say that a walk through the dealership and a free t shirt is going to convert an internet buyer into a customer for your showroom is a long shot at best. You might salvage 1 in 50 or 1 in 200. Your only chose is to do what the car guys do. Once you get the customer in the door don’t let them leave until you have sold them a bike or you have reduced your deal to an unacceptable profit margin. Once they walk out they are likely gone for good.
    It’s no longer about holding to MSRP and expecting the customer to buy. It’s about volume sales and that’s really the only thing the manufacturer cares about. You won’t make it by holding out for the grosses you had in the past. You will need to step up your used vehicle sales, diversify within your used inventory, find wholesale product to supplement your inventory and take every new and used bike deal that offers so reasonable profit margin.
    Once you have captured that customer spend the money to keep them in your store. Make them an MVP customer. Make sure they don’t have a bad service experience in your store. And if they do spend the money to make it right for them. Give them reasons to buy parts and accessories at your store rather than on line.
    It’s getting much harder and only the most determined will survive. My mother used to say “getting old is not for the faint of heart.” I would say that in a brick and mortar store today “dealing with retail sales is not for the faint of heart either.”

  917. Please get your facts correct. Your definition of an ATV is incorrect. Average wight of today’s atv are higher than what you have quoted. In addition the speed that you quoted “75 miles per hour” is no where close to possible speed. An average ATV can attain speeds of maybe 55 mph under perfect conditions, not 75 mph. I have been an ATV dealer for 20 years and have seen the increase in power but along with that the handling and ride have improved 10 fold compared to the power increase. Yes, I agree that full size ATVs are no place for children,either as driver or passenger of a single seat ATV, but the fault here is the parent, not the machine.

  918. Wow David,

    this is a great tool for any dealer to print out and keep in a binder for reference. Perfect time of year too as we can start planning now for after the holidays. Thank you for sharing your experience and providing this step by step instructional on in store presentations. We can use more of this on the metric side of the house and I will be sharing this piece with my customers. Have a great holiday season!

  919. If there are any good Polaris Technicians that want to come to Alaska and work in a well established dealership, we have an opening and can assist with housing/moving cost if you are a good technician with experience. Send an email if you fit this description.

  920. In other words: try harder.

    After 15+ years in the motorcycle industry, there’s nothing more annoying than yet another article from a millennial telling us that the key to success is “ignore pricing concerns or the way that customers treat you, and just work harder to sell every other aspect of your business.”

    Do we really need a lesson in this? Of course not–we’ve been promoting customer service and a positive dealership experience for decades. But if that’s all you have to offer, instead of some insight into how a legitimately customer-oriented dealership can survive in the age of faceless online retailers, and the electronics-addicted, entitlement-having, low-FICO generation that values pricing over experience, then spare us these rehashed “advice” articles.

  921. Americans will pay more for products made in the USA. We want to keep our dollars working here at home pay taxes, building infrastructure and people chasing the American dream. Our operating cost in the USA is higher but for a reason we respect human dignity.

  922. Thank you. This was his life. He loved Harley Davidson and GRHD more than anything (besides our babies)

    Much love.

  923. Polaris marketing and merchandise is terrible, but the motorcycles are very nice. Every Harley owner owes Polaris a thank you as Harley has improved their product due to increased competition. Polaris needs to hire someone who know how to market and sell these beautiful bike or they risk becoming Victory all over again.

  924. I feel terrible for the customers. It must be horrible to be so ignorant that you’re not aware an engine gets hot. Or, that you can be burned on a motorcycle engine.

  925. Seriously ? How damn dumb can you be and such a ridiculous lawsuit ! Whatever happened to what was once known as common sense ?

  926. When will they being back 450r race quad screw the utvs most of us cant afford utvs and have nowhere to ride vehicle that size in tight woods.or at least a 700cc sportquad!

  927. As a contemporary of yours from Wisconsin, I am amazed at the changes in motorcycling (both good and bad) in the 46 years i have been in the industry.
    I have been fortunate to have had and still am offered the many opportunities for the enjoyable, creative, and unique aspects of our sport. Until I went past a dealership and saw the bikes in the window I thought all bikes were purchased in boxes and baskets (my first five were). I still have only bought three new bikes in my lifetime and promptly went out and crashed them all.
    I enjoyed talking with you at Indy and wish you all the best in your future endeavors!
    Bill W. Madison, Wis.

    1. Congratulations on your retirement.
      Still wrenching on my own.
      I specialize in British motorcycles, my first is a Norton commando S 1970, great bike . I purchased it in 1977 still in my garage. 68 BSA and a 67 Ducati 250. I bought a 1999 Road King in 2013 from a mutual friend. 93K never tore down.
      MMI was the best experience for me , great school

  928. I think its a sad day for Distributors and Retailers to be joined at the hip like this. The small brick and mortar stores of the day are being pushed farther and farther under the rug. When they run out of real people to represent their product and provide hands on customer support maybe they will rethink it?
    Then again maybe the new world can function without hands on support?

  929. Hi Dave,
    I just want to congratulate you on your retirement.
    I know even though you are retired (semi) you will still have motorcycles in your life.
    I hope our paths cross again somewhere down the road.
    Wally from Canada

  930. These two have been joined at the hip with TR/MAG for a few years – MAG finally decided that Operating Motorcycle Superstore as a standalone site wasn’t worth all the staff in Oregon or PayPerClick they were paying – soon they will decide that they don’t need the staff at J&P and will close its doors too. Customers can ask dealers what they need and then go to J&P/Superstore (aka Tucker Rocky) and buy it direct – eventually we dealers will be ‘delivery stations’ for the OEMs once they figure out how to get around state laws that make them sell through dealers (Tesla Did it). This might all lower the costs of things from China; but it sure doesn’t seem good for the industry.

  931. There will always be a need for customer service, and actually with some companies (like big telecom) it’s one of their most important differentiating factors. The modern consumer has been presented with amazing online selection paired to fast and inexpensive shipping options. Comparatively, going into a brick and mortar where the chances of them having exactly what you want at a competitive price are low.

    Retail centers of nearly every industry have had this problem recently. Book stores are (and were) a wonderful example of this. The key was to NOT cut promotions, inventory and disincentivize walk-ins through high prices, aggressive staff, etc. Instead, surviving companies created reasons for people to walk in on a regular basis. People will spend a little extra to support a company they feel genuinely cares about both their customers and the industry they’re in. Most niche businesses heavily rely on this.

    Unfortunately many industry players and consumers have had negative experience with dealerships who fundamentally didn’t change fast enough. It used to be customers had to come into the shop and that afforded some stores a certain bit of “attitiude” (to put it nicely) and complacency which drove parties to find alternate sales and buying methods.

    Seeing it from a consumer’s standpoint it makes sense. Why should I drive at least 20-30 minutes to a place that will likely be closed by the time I can get there; and where people have historically been rude or, at best, uninformed and unhelpful. Then pay more on top of that? No thanks. Obviously not every dealership is/was like this, but many were and still are. Even some of the good ones are just sitting on land, waiting for the real estate value to go up, then sell — lock, stock and barrel.

    TR/MAG are responding to what they feel are a change in the powersports retail landscape. When times change and demand shifts away from whatever product or service we’re offering, it’s up to us to adapt and find new ways to offer value in what we’re capable of doing. Not saying it’s easy, but that it’s worth at least considering.

    Finally, dealerships are tremendously important to the future of motorcycling. They can be inspiration, education, entertainment and expertise centers which build community bonds that online sales simply cannot do. Seeing a new rider learn about safety gear, make the right choice and learn healthy attitudes to becoming a safe/responsible rider has many levels of rewards; and money can be one of them if done correctly. Agree or disagree? I’d love to hear it!

  932. You vote with your wallet.

    I choose to purchase my parts from smaller distributors and recommend only parts and accessories that are protected.

    MTA, Automatic, K&L have been great to us. We dropped WPS and Parts Unlimited years ago and have not missed them, if it was not for a good rep, Tuckerrocky would have been gone long ago.

  933. Very well said Carl,
    Dealers measure performance in “pace” and “units” delivered and kick customers across the curb as such. For many of those consumers the “unit” will become a lifetime memory and experience and the dealer will likely be forgotten in the process……except as they complicated and frustrated the consumer.
    If you cannot satisfy me as a human……try making sure that my “unit” is treated like something special and you will have me returning to your shop
    Dave W

  934. Successful in that they moved inventory or successful in that they made money? I would really be interested in hearing ROI numbers. Cost per UP; close ratio; etc. . . The folks at Freedom are forward thinkers for sure – just wondering how the real $ worked out.

  935. Dave,

    I have enjoyed your straight talk and advice to dealers. Never pitching, just passing along best practices gained from you rocking it from 71 to present. A REAL Powersports “Iron butt”!

    Enjoy AZ

    Tad Kilgore

  936. You focus on your “new” brand and do nothing for the established brand that allowed you to be where you are to purchase your “new” brand and wonder why the first is not succeeding? Makes perfect business sense to no one ever. The Victory brand has an established loyal base and you forgot about them. Now you have written them off completely. For the most part I can almost guarantee that they will not cross over to Indian. The Victory owners wanted to be different and were proud of having the best performing American V-twin on the market. You have left them broken and hollow, do not expect them to return to your other lines. Great job at cutting your own throat…. the bleed out will be slow and laughed at by those with HD oil stains on their garage floors.

  937. I agree with Justin. Looks like an oil stain on my garage floor From my next bike. Back to Harley at least you know they are not going anywhere.

  938. Absolutely. Having owned a Kingpin and currently on a Vision, I’m very disappointed.
    I went from HD to Victory. I won’t be going back to HD, and Indian is just another version of the same old thing.
    Looks like I’ll be moving over to BMW.

  939. However, let’s not kid ourselves on the funding for either of these brands (Victory & Indian), including the Slingshot fad that is quickly waning. It seems to me Polaris is too concerned about the market optics of growth of adjacent acquisitions and underfunded what built the company (Sleds and ORVs) and simply turned a blind eye or two … i.e. quality times 20. Indian is Scott Wine’s legacy now … the Chief just pushed in all his chips. But, will it be enough to save his backside? The market is losing patience and so are us dealers.

  940. This is the last straw!! I have been with Polaris since 1978. Snowmobiles, ATV, Ranger, and multiple Victories. I am going to Arctic Cat and HD. Don’t seem to need my business.

  941. Bill, I purchased a 2016 Limited. A bike that is in no way cheap. Just so you know, the Limited has water cooled exhaust valves. I’ve never been burned on any of my other bikes in the 50 years I’ve been riding. This bike ran so hot it would make my right leg come close to blistering. This occurs when riding in heavy traffic for long periods. So, any riding below 45 MPH is not good. I put fans on the bike to reduce the heat. They worked only to a point. My girl was the heat recipient when they were on.I took the catalytic converter off. That too made a difference but minor. Ambient temp above 80 or so meant that day was going to be rough if the bike speed was bellow 60. So, “Freeloader”, I think not. A bad design? Maybe. I throw this right at the feet of the EPA. All the manufactures are having a rough time meeting the strict mandates placed upon them by folks that “mean well” but have no clue.

  942. Jeffrey, please rid one of these bikes in 85 degree or above weather. Get stuck in 45 MPH traffic and get back to me. In fact, wait in a 2 and 1/2 mile back up, stop and go traffic, then get back to me. There is a problem.

  943. As an industry guy i absolutley hate to see any brand or any dealer for tha matter go away. That being said, this is a business not a charity and a very tough business at that. I’d like to consider why there are no “stand alone” Victory dealers. The fact is that the brand is not profitible enough to support the expenses. I know several dealers that carry Vic and they are bummed but at the end of the day they will refocus on their other OE brands and still have plenty of selection for their customer base. Many people were ready for a Vic closure announcement years ago, it didnt happen and we got enthrawled with the idea that it was going to be around forever… Look for Indian to broaden the model offering and continue its missin to offer an alternative to HD.

    We will miss you Vic, it was a really good run and you proved that it could be done. In a stronger economy with less governmental regulations and Snowflakes telling the rest of us what, where, and how we can ride, there may have been enough opportunity to keep the lights on.

  944. As a former Victory Dealer (’99-’07), my heart goes out to all the Victory dealers and customers who stuck with the brand for all these years. Their investment, hard work, time and dedication to Victory will never be truly appreciated by former or current executives at Polaris or, their Board of Directors.

    Polaris is a corporate behemoth that missed the mark in supporting, consulting and working with the Victory dealer network, its loyal customer base and potential buyers. I can’t recall if there was ever a time where they they acted upon any advice or input given to them.

    Instead, Polaris focused on stuffing units down dealers throats at their annual meetings in order to increase revenue numbers on their P&L, please shareholders and make bonuses – despite heavy inventory levels and lack of sales. I had many Victory dealer reps during my time with Victory, all of them agreed with the issues we were facing as dealers regarding sell through of inventory and building the Victory brand. However, all of them claimed they couldn’t do anything about it. They were just “doing their jobs” and “how many units can we put you down for next year”.

    Working with dealers, listening to customers and understanding the wants and needs of potential buyers facilitates product development, styling and improvement along with increased sales and brand loyalty. It’s Business 101.

    Polaris missed the mark with Victory. Let’s hope and pray they don’t have the same disconnect with Indian.

    I’m not holding my breath…

  945. I sold Victory motorcycles as well as owned a couple of them. I am so bitterly disappointed in this move you can count me out as a customer of any Polaris product.

  946. My heart goes out to Victory dealers and Victory customers, as well as those who specialize in customizing Victory.

    Obviously a lot of unhappy comments found here. Having managed a Victory store for a few years I’m surprised Victory hung in there as well as it did. Fabulous motorcycle in terms of quality it just never moved the needle in the marketplace. I think Indian is going to go well beyond anything Victory ever did but time will tell. Ultimately the market place rules. Victory truly built a better mouse trap but the market basically had little to no interest in it.

  947. The problem is that they clearly didn’t know the business. They promoted sales people into management positions that had no experience or actual knowledge of the industry and they failed to listen to anyone that did. They had money and connections but no experience. Akin to someone thinking that they can open a bar or even bartend because they drink. A little more involved….

  948. After a horrid experience with the Harley Davidson service network, while owning a Buell, I have completely soured on H/D. Not only are they VASTLY over priced their support network, while vast, is sub-par and elitist. I ended my relation ship with my Buell and purchased a used Yamaha Venture Royale to “bridge the gap” to my next new motorcycle. Looks like, with Victory leaving the picture, I will be turning towards either another Yamaha or a BMW. What a shame… $25K and up is simply too much for a damn motorcycle. I don’t care what anyone says… And Indian falls into that price range too. There simply aren’t enough “rich” people to support 2 different American brands that have the bulk of their model range more costly than a mid-size car. Period…

  949. Ditto. Enjoying my 2017 Octane for now, but next bike will be a BMW. Don’t care for HD and not really into Indians either. Total misread of the market by Polaris.

  950. I am assuming that this article didn’t mean to come across as discriminatory but the men interviewed did refer to the potential candidate in the F&I position as “him” and “the guy”. Just wanted to note that some of the best F&I managers in the industry are in fact women. I am a female Finance Manager at a powersports business (previously in the automotive industry) and would gladly take on any male equal to my position anytime. It is becoming more and more common to see women in this field. Although, I don’t see as many in Motorcycle F&I as I do in ATV/UTV/SxS F&I.

    I would have to say however that I strongly agree with Greg Mackey, that anyone looking for an F&I manager should choose someone who has been promoted from sales. Your sales people have a stong understanding of what is needed and required to sell and close a deal. They know pretty much what is expected of them and shouldn’t be as hard to train in F&I.

  951. I really enjoyed reading this. As a long-time dealership guy, I feel this is even more important today since so many consumers go online and when they do walk through your door you likely have one chance to grab them as a customer. Many larger scale dealers seem to have forgotten this or take the approach that there are plenty of customers around and still pre-judge people. I will bring this up in our next store meeting.

  952. Great article, Napolean! I love the acronym and will be using it in many conversations over the coming months.

    This also reminds me of the recent report I read on Chick Fila and a couple of other retail franchises who reported record earnings and credited them to ‘creating a unique customer experience’. Being proactive and polite goes a long way.

  953. Great article. There are multiple points that you hit on that I have been trying to get the dealership where I work to understand for months now. It’s nice to be able to show them this so it shows I am not just making this stuff up.

  954. This sucks on every level. Anytime you have one “group” that owns this many dealerships, in the same area, the customer looses. One person I know already got rid of their Harley and bought an Indian. Two more have stated they were going to the motorcycle show to see what Honda has to offer. Not only are they driving people away from the local dealers, they are also driving people away from Harley.

  955. I stopped going to wcmc dealerships because of the loss of quality in there parts dept and service departments. I have known Ozzi and his wife and found the lack of customer service on going throught the dealership of WCMC I am sorry to see this monopoly which may force me to go out of state for anything Harley.

  956. i saw it coming. i was in the market to buy a new bike and got the runaround so iwent to a local dealer a little further away and got the deal i wanted then two weeks later that dealership was bought by them. now i’ll have to go to indiana. thats ok though its a nice ride.

  957. Been a long time customer of the Windy City operation and had the opportunity to meet and speak with Ozzie and his wife on multiple occasions as they ride and are active in the riding community. Two of the most genuine people I’ve met and their Dealerships always take exceptional care of my wife and me. So happy to see this and reap the benefits an operation like this will provide to the entire riding community! Now I can use my maintenance plans, gift cards etc. at any of these locations and I know this Ozzie’s drive to be the best in class. Thanks for all you’re doing Windy City and see ya on the road!

  958. I think this is a great article that should be motivating every dealer who reads it to become better at building strong relationships with their customers. Training is the key here with continuous follow up! I encourage all who read this to not look at training as a cost. Training is an investment in the future and the profitability of the dealership. Customers today will go anywhere to buy their stuff. Let relationship building with your customer be your dealerships competitive advantage. Be smart!

  959. So a year ago I got s sweet deal from citylymits by going back and forth between them and Woodstock.
    Can’t do that again!

  960. Thank you for your comments Marty, now more than ever there needs to be an investment in employee training and hiring capable people for not only service and sales but also for the parts and accessory departments. My company is making a major investment in recreating our digital platform in the way of a new mobile friendly website that can manage our dealers needs and better present our brands. I wish you a great year.

  961. Very sad news to hear of Pat’s passing. She has been a friend of the industry for many years and her tireless efforts help keep the information and technology needed available for our industry leaders during the many ups and downs we have managed through has been greatly valued by me and many others. We will all miss Pat badly. God Speed Pat!

  962. Pat was truly one of the “rocks” within the industry whom many of us counted on for critical information. She always maintained high standards in her work and everyone respected her for never wavering from them. She will be missed greatly.

  963. Well said. Having spent many years in dealerships and more as a powersports manufacturer’s rep, and with over 10 years as a powersports business consultant, I fully agree with your comments. Lack of empowerment of our managers is a chronic problem I find in many of our dealerships. This not only stifles growth for the dealership, it causes turnover in key positions. Good managers won’t stay around long unless they are allowed to actually manage.

  964. Shame on Polaris:
    Having a 25+ year involvement in this Industry it is sad to see Polaris abandon their Dealers and their Aftermarket Support Groups. We the after market believed and sunk a Hell of a lot of monies and time into (Victory Brand) from Polaris to be kicked to the side None of us will ever recoup are tooling cost But the biggest shame is the Consumers who bought into it and were Proud of owning a Victory to find out they were abandoned for sake of the Indian Brand which has not Proven itself as the Victory already have. Its all about the Greed of the Board and Trusties that a great Marketing Exec pitched that the Indian Brand will have a bigger following more money to be made. I will no longer Support Polaris Products your Heart is not into the Motorcycle community . Former Indian R&D employee. The second coming Gilroy Ca. Indian Motorcycle Company.

  965. Well Said Justin Lowe. I was very close to buying a victory after my Harley Davidson was written off last year. Ever since the Victory brand hit the market i have been a big fan. Powerful bikes, good looks, and quality and reliability in a cruiser segment that was un-heard of. Even as i sit and type this response i can’t believe what i just read. I fail to understand Victory did not think it was established in the Market nor how the Indian Brand could live on. I like the Indian bikes but, all spite aside, the people that bought victory will not be the ones buying Indian. Even now as i think of the bikes i pass on the street all summer long, Indian remains to either be the most un-noticed or unpopular.

    What seems even a bigger shame then winding the brand down is that they did not shop it out for sale. I guess sticking to dirt and snow is more profitable. Truly a shame.

  966. I also see as a win-win. Dealers don’t have to spend as much time on non-performing ads, and consumers don’t have to weed through hundreds of duplicate ads.

  967. Great article Liz! Fast, loud and always something going on that kids love. I try to take my kid to one IMS and one rally per year… and she loves it. Probably the most family friendly rally of them all is Laconia Bike Week in New Hampshire in June. When you’re done “working” and looking at motorcycles… you can rent a wave runner and go out on Lake Winnipesaukee to cool off with the kiddos. Just a great family fun week in the summer that can really help to get the whole family excited about all things powersports.

    Sorry I missed you in Minneapolis. If I had known you would be there… it would have been great to meet up.

  968. Is it possible for you to advise if this product is available in Canada…primarily the west coast Vancouver B.C. area?

  969. The sky is not falling, just adjusting to reality after several years of automotive style ‘book cooking’ by the previous regime. He is not there anymore. I hear many brands and markets suffer from this, I look forward to moving forwards closer to the truth.

  970. durmas what up buddy???????// greg pacheco from boston here! miss ya bud. found u on here!!!!! give me a call u animal! 5086416762

  971. Hi Brent and thank you! So kind of you. You know we ride too, and have done all of this from day one with nothing but Riders in mind (b/c we’re on the road and customers too!:). We’ve put our blood, sweat and tears into creating friendly, fun yet professional and skilled dealerships for all our Harley needs. Thank you for your support; it is genuinely appreciated! Ride like the wind….

  972. Hi Jim and sorry you feel this way.
    Actually, the rider wins with all of this.
    Hope you’ll read up on the tremendous benefits; plus the undaunting value of the brand. Best Regards.

  973. Hi Allen. You said you know us, so that means you know we are brothers and sisters of the wind… and have done all of this since day one to increase and improve the level of service and experience in the dealerships, to make them as cool inside as it is being out on the road. Would appreciate hearing from you; your note hit my heart like a knife, prob b/c all we do, live and breathe is serving the riding community with all of our hearts and soul. Be well.

  974. Polaris has now placed themselves behind Triumph as the worst manufacturer with the worst policies.
    The Officers have methodically shoved units down the dealers throats, at strategic times, so that the stock value would rise, allowing chief officers to sell their share options at top value, while leaving the dealers to figure out how to sell the excess units forced on them. The merry go round is almost over, as BRP and Yamaha are coming out with better side by sides, which was the only strong market that Polaris had as they have eliminated watercraft and Victory lines. Poor Anchorage dealership was forced to take on so many snowmobiles that they finally closed their doors…..a sign of the times, that Polaris caused.

  975. Congrats to the Cox family and to Kevin Dunn! Though I live in California I very much look forward to visiting this newest H.D. Store.

  976. I thought we were always told that the GOP was good for our industry?

    Now we are looking at restrictions on motorcycles imported from Europe, public forest land getting sold to corporations, parks losing funding, and our customers getting pay cuts eliminating discretionary spending for many families.

    But no, we are supposed to blindly follow a corrupt party (both are corrupt). It is time for people to think on their own, vote in their best interest, and hold elected officials accountable. They work for us (the people), not the other way around.

    You elected them, what were you expecting?

  977. Yet they pull the plug on Victory?
    Something doesn’t add up.
    Maybe the budget for executive compensation needs some realignment?

  978. Two of my friends have been riding BMW bikes from Portland, Oregon to the Southern tip of South America beginning October 2016 and ending sometime around the first of April 2017. Your bikes have served them well and their amazing journey is titled “Riding4Adventure”.
    These are not your usual motorcycle riders or racers so it truly is an adventure for both of them.

  979. Not even going to comment.
    Just waiting (for months) for my warrantied Slingshot swingarm to come in, so I can drive my Slingshot again.
    Scott Wine and crew. They have cashed in their stock options, they are Deca Millionaires + now.

  980. So many great points in this article: respect for people, focus on the front line staff, deep consideration of the effects on the organization as a whole, collaborative problem solving… Looking forward to reading more!

  981. In my opinion, one big element missing from this article is the impact of the current sport ATVs price and the affect of meeting current emissions standards on out of the box performance. MSRP on the latest generation YFZ450R is $8999. For this price you get an ATV that is corked up from the factory to meet emissions standards that closed course vehicles, aka dirt bikes, do not. Bang for your buck is a huge loss on a current sport ATV. YZ450F dirt bikes with a similar motor stock are rated near 55 hp while the YFZ450R stock is around 35. In order to get the YFZ up to par you have to buy an aftermarket intake, exhaust, and replacement ECU at a cost of an addional $1500-2000.

    MSRP for the current YZ450F dirtbike is $8699 (often much cheaper still for a leftover). Why would I pay the above mentioned price for a YFZ450R only to have to pay all the extra cost to defeat the emissions junk? I would just buy the dirt bike and be done with it and I think many others would agree with me. If I was dead set on the ATV I would just buy a used one and still come out ahead.

  982. I attended this event it was very impressed with the dealership and it’s staff. The staff was very informative and really seem to have knowledge and understanding of the BMW line and the products they sell. Congratulations to Pro Caliber and BMW I think this is going to make an amazing addition to the Vancouver area

  983. Must be a slow news day. Polaris reported that 2 months ago. They also talked about where, which is the razr line. A bit disappointed in powersports news. We expect new or at least recent news.

  984. Please keep up artic cat s great products there is just a few minor changes I would make in the wildcat I have been riding a wildcat since it came on the market I love it !

  985. Looks really sharp. I sent this to my friend who I go to Daytona with that has a 07 road king and always seems to have problems with it. The price looks good also. Even with many options this bike has to be reasonable. Unfortunately BMW is barely represented at Daytona. BMW of Daytona had 1 rack of shirts, no stickers, patches or other things that people might be looking for. Maybe I’ll get a job with BMW and we can design some stuff and have a booths at all bike rally’s. I’m sure there’s a good market for it

  986. hopefully ? Honda will bring a lot of employees with them ! so that the show has some customers
    er at least people strolling around

  987. I can’t believe that polaris had a real recall on the heat shield, had me take it 30 miles to a dealer to have that so-called improved one was so sad nearly pitiful! The heat that comes up from the exhaust to the passengers back seat didn’t change at all. The still should be addressed because it is bad! I would have loved to be the engineer who designed it and get his wage for something a kid could have come up with! STILL HOT,

  988. OH LIZ! I feel your pain. Just this week I called a client and by the time the employee I wanted to talk to picked up I had completely forgot why I was calling in the first place. Because I can multi task pretty well coupled with the fact that there was no on hold message or music I was completely startled when they picked up at least five minutes later. Again nice post!

  989. As Connecticut’s first and only dealership under Polaris, Brookfield Indian Motorcycle is proud to carry the Indian and Victory brands. The latter bikes are phenomenal, their owners are quite passionate, but the stark reality is that we sell 15 IMs for every VM. We will miss the VMs, but are quite excited about the future of Indian Motorcycle. These bikes are world class, bullet proof, precise, powerful and works of art. We are confident that new models will also hit the high water mark.

  990. What is happening to the motorcycle market in the US? We sell Honda and KTM but are seeing the same thing. New sales are declining. Pre owned sales are good with good profit margins. Honda keeps pulling back and dropping models. If it weren’t for the “baby boomers” motorcycle sales would be nothing. Fourty years ago the motorcycle image was bad but at least there was an image. Now it’s an invisible image.

  991. Don’t despair brudda. You gotta help grow that market. Younguns need some structure and different avenues of fun. Get em on a bike, get em licensed and show em a good time.

  992. Imagine what Felds ratings could be, if their track designs were not injuring all their star riders?

    It seams self defeating for a business, to be killing off the golden goose that makes your entertainment/cash flow, work in the first place.

    I would like to see a rider boycott, until Feld starts paying our athlete riders the cash their due relative to the risks their taking, verses other televised ball sports for example.

    Start at $25,000 per rider “gate money” for everyone that makes it to the main.
    And provide complete accident health care for injuries.

    Feld…It far past time… So stop “pimping” our athletes…. just to turn a buck for yourself.

    Oh, and I’d also like to see the “real” ratings numbers….

  993. In the aftermarket world, the most important aspect of any part is proper installation. Reducing the product cost is a fast way to put any company on a path to zero. With limited funds from discounting, the business will attend less training’s, provide less quality customer service & eventually become what we know as the Walmart or Best Buy of customer service. We are a high-end car audio dealer in Fort Lauderdale, FL & we know what the other shops lack…..proper installation. It’s not about the products, it’s about the entire package.

  994. What are the overall dimensions i.e.
    Height , width , length
    .In regards to length, can the rear cargo be removed or does it need to ,to be under 12 feet.

  995. Greed is what killed Victory. Greed led Polaris to set up a 2nd motorcycle channel for Indian. What they should have done is take the top 35-50% of the Victory dealer network and allowed them top buy Indians as an expansion of their MC line. When Victory sales collapsed (every MC dealer knew it would) shrink that side of product line. Place a small Victory logo on some of the new Indian models and everybody would be happy and even more Indians would have been sold at this date.

  996. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke just suspended all RAC (resource advisory committee) activity until September. This will freeze all pending OHV work that the RAC was working on. In our area (Oregon) this will greatly impact the momentum for recreational activities that were in-process — set us back at least a year or more.

  997. The fly in the ointment are states such as Utah that are selling off public land that is now close to everyone except the new landowner. Lyman Family Farm Inc bought over 5,000 acres of previous public land and places a gate and lock barring entrance. If these states continue down this idiotic path of selling off land we’ll have no place other than Disneyland and the National Parks to visit

  998. Great artilcle Lauren. The most profitable customer is your current customer. Nurture them for repeat business of accessories, service and their next big purchase. The second most profitable is the referral (which you will get as you mentioned them telling their friends). The trust hurdle is already greatly reduced by their referring friend.

  999. Fantastic article Scott! Everyone thinks that online is the place to be and that offline is dead. You need to have a mix of both. You can use offline to drive people online and vise-versa. Especially with the mailings, you can target market your demographics and psychographics of your ideal client. Mailing lists can be purchased for any number of things. As you stated, there is not a lot of competition in the mailbox today.

  1000. Although non-digital marketing has its place, it can be limiting and expensive especially if you are trying to get customers attention. Creating attention via social media, for example, can most efficient and inexpensive if done right, particularly since most customers are on their devices more often than not.

  1001. I had the pleasure of meeting Nicky and his brothers back in the Joe Rocket days. Always respectful of us old guys and fun to be around.

    My heart cries for Nicky and family.

  1002. Nice article, Liz! Kudos to PSB for recognizing and showcasing our industry leaders. Exec of the Year couldn’t have been bestowed upon a more honorable dude…exec of the decade more like it…

  1003. With a 60% TAX being added to the cost of goods, the only way a company can hope to compete in Asia and grow its market share and strengthen the organization back in the states, is to find a way to avoid a 60% tax. (by strengthening the company back in the U.S.A. through investment in Asia will help to ensure the Jobs in the U.S.A continue on), That way is to invest in a manufacturing facility in that country which has a very able employee pool that offers a high level of manufacturing capabilities.

  1004. I would like to give an “atta boy” to Jeremy Paul Gauthier in Nacogdoches at Lumberjack Harley.
    For a young person he’s has a vast knowledge about Harley Davidson motorcycles. Super easy to talk to, never rude or act like he’s too busy to answer the simplest of questions. Great employee! He’s also a champ at using a calculator! He definitely knows how to add things up! Never has he used the “subtraction” tab when I’m there. Lol.
    Would also like to mention the rest of the people there. Saul, Tom, Bobby, Pam and the others there. Always make me feel welcome. Always smiling as if they’re living the dream. I hope one day I’ll be able to purchase a new bike from Saul. The boy along with Tom and Trent try each time I go in. Saul hit below the belt one day and made me tear drive a “Ulta” the bike I want. All that did was fuel the fire! Being unemployed I can’t but hopefully I’ll land a job soon and I’ll be able to trade in my softail and get a good used bike.

    I just wanted to drop a line or two about the “gang” in Nacogdoches…if all of your other shops are as good as these you have an outstanding group of employees

  1005. Herly Davidson is a passonable bike. Anyone can use the bike as your wish. If it is used for racing, it will be amazing ride then. I am a user of this bike and I am very happy it.

  1006. Glenice, thank you for the great post and contribution to the PSB site. Synchrony Financial is proud to be a long-standing member of the Powersports finance community with 25+ years of consumer lending in the Industry. I want to echo the points that you made and reiterate the importance of evaluating who your lending options are, what the benefits/drawbacks are of working with each lender, and how to best take advantage of each relationship to ensure every sale closes as it was contemplated by the consumer in the most efficient and timely way possible. The Synchrony Financial solution gives dealers the ability to design and craft a customized Installment Loan solution on both NEW and USED Powersports vehicles for their customers that focuses on i) 24/7/365 credit decisioning ii) Monday – Sunday underwriting support and iii) advance structures that give customers the ability to package the entire purchase (including TT&L, PG&A, Bolt-ons, GAP, Extended Warranty, etc.) in one consolidated loan package. We welcome the opportunity to work with any and all dealers selling Yamaha, Polaris, Suzuki, Kawasaki, KTM, Husqvarna, KYMCO, CFMOTO and Scarab Jet Boats. To learn more, visit http://powersports.synchronybusiness.com/

  1007. One definition of commodity: a good or service whose wide availability typically leads to smaller profit margins and diminishes the importance of factors (such as brand name) other than price….

    The above definition is perfect regarding the state of the snowmobile industry….too much product at the dealer level has everyone shopping price. Your (name a brand/model) is identical to the dealer down the street with the only thing separating them is how much money you’re willing to lose. The industry needs to limit production to create a “shortage” of sorts in order to create demand and give the buyer a reason to buy. H-D did this very successfully for years.

    While you may have lost $$ on a machine in the past, you used to be able to make a little by selling ancillary items, but the internet and multi-level buying programs have allowed those with deep pockets to capitalize on additional savings and the “little guys” left holding the bag.

  1008. Good article Bruce. Like you, I’ve experienced the negative side of the absentee owner both as a DSM and a consultant. It’s even more interesting now with the large number of multi-store conglomerates in the industry. They have yet another dynamic that is largely dependent on corporate “Directors.” They are all over the board when it comes to effective management.

    Keep up the good work. Looking forward to part 2. I suspect you will hit on one of the most common management issues we have with the “typical” dealership.

  1009. Thanks for the kind words, Steve. I agree with your comments regarding the multi-store conglomerates. Those directors you speak about never get a real feel for what’s going on and that puts them in a position of being reactive instead of proactive.

    Thanks for the feedback and I hope you do enjoy part 2 as well.

    All the best.

  1010. What is AIM trying to be?
    If this is supposed to be a Business to Business show why does this matter?
    Harley is not going so they can show New Bikes to other dealers they are going to show Bikes to Consumers.
    Is this a Consumer show or a show to sell items to a legitimate Motorcycle dealer or a Consumer show to do test rides.
    Please figure out what this show is and who should attend!!

  1011. We have been renting these Polaris Slings since they first came out. We had a few of these 2015 with the steering issue and we are thankful non of our riders ever got hurt. Highly recommend getting all the recalls done. There are a few new ones that have come out recently (radiator reservoir and the rear swing arm) they can literally leave you on the side of the road. It happened to us already. If interested in buying one, you can try it out with us if you live local to us. Slingshot Rentals Miami

  1012. Levitach made some really important points and praised the Motor Company often. What was lacking was praise of his dealers. It’s the dealers that continue to make HDMC successful by positively impacting the end user in millions of ways daily. He missed that and he showed his main focus is on international sales. For the last 10-years domestic dealers have been made to feel like the forgotten sons. It’s time HDMC gets back to basics – take care of their domestic dealers, suppliers and riders first. International sales should be the icing on the north American cake.

  1013. YES! Awesome job Kolpin. No need for dealers or retailers – consumers worldwide can now shop online and have your product delivered directly to their door.

  1014. And for those of us that don’t want a Quadzilla or a ginormous 700 utv but, still want a little “sport” in our ride, how about the Ozark 250? What an outstanding quad! Or a QuadSport 250? Come on Suzuki. If you don’t offer anything in this segment, people like myself will ultimately go elsewhere.

  1015. Most bike night “future clients ” are sport shoppers and tire kickers . Just make an appearance , scout out trends and demographics for your area . CALL CLIENTS BACK a few days after work is performed , Show an interest and demonstrate product installed on your machine or employee bikes , as times changed and we offer alternative to mail order and internet and continue to stick with Mfg. that enforce MAP policies . Who owns Dennis Kirk , JP Cycles , Motorcycle Stuff , Etc. ? Educate customers and charge a premium for client supplied parts to pay for training ,tools , service manuals ,etc . All service business is fighting same animal today but how much time can we give away ???? Slow economy over last 12 years has forced Mfg. to undercut brick and mortar stores . All these “sales” seminars do not really apply to small shop with less than $500,000 in gross revenue .

  1016. Good article. Thank you for driving this home. It hurts so many businesses – not just in the powersports industry…

  1017. Thanks Steve. A stronger and healthier dealer network makes for a stronger and healthier powersports industry.

  1018. I’m all for small operations and local business. Slavens is not a KTM dealer. He has a mail order accessory store and youtube following. Just keeping facts straight.

  1019. My apologies John, for this oversight but you are incorrect in your statement as well. While he offers online sales he does a phenomenal job in store and with his customers, this being the key point that he has built a great audience by paying attention to the needs and wants of a specific audience. Calling him a “mail order” dealer is a term that has long since past and quite frankly undermines the quality of service he offers to his customers. He is also a rider and drives passion for our industry: something many dealers could take away as a lesson for a fresh approach to their customers.

    TC

  1020. I don’t think it’s the pipes they are talking about. If you have one, you know. I was really surprised at the amount of heat coming off this engine where the seat and tank meet. Not so bad when riding but stopped it feels like your sitting on hot coals. I was extremely happy they had a heat deflector after market part I could get. It didn’t solve it, but certainly helped.

  1021. Is there any way that I can get the Velcro that attaches to the dump bed of a 2004 Rhino 660 4X4? I have the Tommy Tooper cover the velco that held it on came off. Thank you.

  1022. I love this article! Those dealers who invest in training thrive in a learning culture. Not investing in training is akin to a dealer not advertising. The machine slows down and eventually stops. As an accountant and operations expert in the powersports market you can only minimize costs so much. You can watch how much you are spending on post-it notes and paper clips. Shift your eyes up the profit and loss statement to the sales numbers….this is where training impacts are felt. Always watch your expenses but invest in training your staff to grow the top numbers.

  1023. I WORK FOR A DEALER THAT SALES ARCTIC CAT. THE BIGGEST DOWNFALL THAT ARCTIC CAT (TEXTRON) HAS RIGHT NOW IS THEIR ONLY PRIME LENDER THEY HAVE IS SHEFFIELD. DON’T MISS UNDERSTAND WHAT I’M SAYING SHEFFIELD IS AWESOME BUT TYPICALLY ONLY BUY CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE A EXTREMELY EXCELLENT CREDIT HISTORY AND/OR AT LEAST A 690 OR HIGHER. ARCTIC CAT aka TEXTRON NEEDS ANOTHER PRIME LENDER LIKE SYNCHRONY OR CAPITAL ONE AND THEIR SALES WOULD INCREASE. I’VE BEEN WITH MY CURRENT DEALERSHIP FOR 6 MONS AND THE CUSTOMERS ARE THEIR, BUT LENDING IS VERY LIMITED AND 8 OUT OF 10 CUSTOMER’S THAT WANT A TEXTRON PRODUCT DON’T/CAN’T PUT MONEY DOWN OR THEY DON’T WANT TO GO SUB-PRIME.

  1024. Nice article with great practical advice all dealers should embrace. Mike made a great point as well, but I would add one word; “GOOD” leadership.

    According to a recent Gallup survey, the reality is that fewer than 20% of our “managers” have management skills and less than that have leadership capabilities. It really falls on the owners and GMs to create a positive culture in the dealership. Sadly, some owners are the source of the problem rather than being part of the solution.

    In these cases, the business operation could only improve if they would hire the right GM and back away from active management of the dealership.

  1025. I meant to say – all great points Mr. Smith in my prior post, but was on small screen.

    So – GREAT POINTS Mr. Smith! Dealers need a trusted friend or advisor to come in to store and shop it – make a list of all the issues – and then take action on those negatives.

    Good Point Steve. I’ve been fortunate to only have good Leadership (or maybe just the smarts not to follow bad leaders).

    Bad apple will spoil the whole batch – If the whiteboard in the employee lounge has a countdown to the end of the week then you might have a problem?

    (Unless you are taking all the staff on a ‘Team Building’ ride – then CONGRATULATIONS! You get it!)

    Run it like a business – love it like a hobby!

  1026. Another good article Bruce. In my former life as a DSM I was initially blessed with a company that based our incentive programs on retail sell-through. Sadly, that went away when the company changed direction under new upper management. There are still a few companies that “get it” when it comes to the retail vs. wholesale process.

    Regrettably, their good intentions are often overridden by needs to satisfy shareholders or meet unrealistic wholesale goals due to factory production that was planned well before the economy or consumers changed the market. We called this forecasting (due to long lead times for production) the “crystal ball process.” Instead of driving retail harder as soon as the product became available (or even before) with aggressive consumer programs, the common reaction was to push the product into the dealer and end up creating dealer rebates at a later date. (That is another topic all by itself – how rebates can be better structured to benefit the dealer instead of penalizing them, etc.) Keep up the good work. I really enjoy your articles.

  1027. Great feedback, Steve! I agree that there are a few companies left that get the retail vs wholesale process but unfortunately, they are a minority. Hammering wholesale without creating retail is a short term solution yet creates an inventory problem for dealers that costs OEM’s later on in having to rebate that product at a later date.

    Thanks for your comments.

    Bruce

  1028. I’m glad that you talked about looking into the snowmobile trailer market for different enclosed options. My wife and I have been looking for a good enclosed trailer that we could use all around from taking the toys to moving things, and I think that a snowmobile style would be good for us! I’ve actually been wanting some snowmobiles in the future, so being able to get an enclosed trailer that would accommodate those would be helpful! Thanks for the tip!

  1029. As importantly, as part of the morning’s program, the Motorcycle Industry Council will be sharing an initiative being formulated by the MIC to enable individuals and families to take their first ride. Those that ride understand how powerful it is to instill the emotional spark that occurs during that experience.

  1030. Ohh Spoonman. The industry just won’t be the same without seeing your shining smile at the trade shows. Thank you for being a friend and a most esteemed colleague.

  1031. Thank you for putting a lot of important and useful information into a very compact article. Every business today needs to recognize the ever-increasing significance of staying on top of Reputation Management.

  1032. Thanks Joe, for getting me started as my first Sales Manager in the 80’s. You taught me a lot. Enjoy retirement.

  1033. Congratulations Joe on your well deserved retirement! You will be missed , your expertise and knowledge of batteries has been appreciated! Thanks for your support and it has been a pleasure to work with you for my 39 years as a rep for Parts Unlimited.

  1034. Hello my name is Joshua gessinger iv Ben racing Arctic Cat Snowmobiles since 2004 started with snow X with good success with 3 championships and many wins and podiums then went to XC racing in 2010 in pro 600 and pro open with U.S.C.C which is now RMR with great results top 3 in points from 2010 to 2016 and won championship in pro 600 and open 2014 im a tuner and mechanic also do cars and trucks but anyhow very excited about ur power sports tuner it just blows out all other Snowmobile tuners on the market priced rite looks simple and would love one fore my new ZR6000 XC racer
    Thanks josh

  1035. Congratulations on your retirement ! Your help to me over the years is still fresh in my mind, and I appreciate it !!!

  1036. All I see on the internet is bad reviews I’m very sceptical about buying one and I hunt all over Arizona

  1037. Your friends at Zayre are thinking of you. Yes, Zayre is long gone but you’re friends are still here.

    Good Luck to you.

  1038. Great Piece Gary and at least in my opinion spot on. While VR can trick the mind into the sense of reality and movement, it cannot recreate the physical. The sensory experience of riding is both mental and physical and in a world where I recently heard two kids sitting outside of a basketball gym telling each other how “cool’ playing VR basketball was rather than dribbling down the court it is worrisome. Thank you for this well written piece.

  1039. E-bikes are my favorite. I frequently use my bike to do the 1.5 miles in the hills to my brothers place on the weekend to see my nephew. I also take trips with my friends in the parks frequently. We are a lot more considerate than most mountain bikers as we are there for the view, not the adrenaline.

  1040. Good article! I completely agree with your thoughts. This is the best time to get staff trained and resolve some of those facility shortcomings that contribute to inefficiencies in various departments. It’s also a great time for management to review the processes that have been implemented to see if they need to be updated or replaced. Keep the good ideas coming.

  1041. Spot-on, bingo, come on down your a winner. Great comments and well founded Bruce. Dealer principals should hold a meeting and read through this with every department then discuss how to change this paradigm as it is crippling and avoidable. Good luck with your next challenge.

  1042. Best wishes for your future Bruce. You and I are certainly kindred spirits…I think we share the same brain sometimes. Everything you just put into words matches what I believe. As Tim said; “Spot-on.”

    Stay safe.

  1043. Thanks very much, Tim. Many of the solutions to those issues lay within the dealership itself but they have to be a priority. Problems don’t go away.
    Thanks for the well wishes and all the best to you.

    Bruce

  1044. Wow! Sounds like a rookie salesman on the floor at this dealership. There are more lessons to be learned. Unless you are helping the next person in line at Subway Sandwiches, “can I help you?” is one of the worst questions a salesman can lead with. EVERYONE’s natural reaction is to deny that inquiry. “No, I’m all set” and “just looking” are two of our natural defenses to ward off bad salespeople who want to give us a pitch instead of digging deeper to find out more about our wants and needs. While I give this guy a point for asking a question, questions like “what color do you like better?,” “convertible or hardtop?,” or an ice-breaking comment like, “Camaro or Corvette? The decades old debate!” would be great conversation starters and pave the way for more qualifying questions. Unfortunately for this salesman, he was done before he even started.

  1045. Thanks very much, Steve. I’m honored to know that we share so many business beliefs.

    All the best with your new venture. I know you’ll do well and I hope that more dealers invest in more training and getting outside help from industry professionals like you, when required. For some, their future depends on it.

    Take care

  1046. Jim… great feedback. While I certainly agree that facebook is a great way to market and advertise your dealership… it is definitely not the only way. I’d definitely say that facebook is likely the primary and best community interaction tool for folks that have already bought a bike from a dealer. Additionally it can also be a great tool to bring in new customers as well.

    That said, often when customers are in the midst of finding a new dealer for the first time… it’s important to also incorporate google business reviews as well as Yelp business reviews into a dealership’s overall strategy.

    People these days rarely even buy a slice a pizza without first checking on line reviews… and when they are first beginning their search for a new dealer… often customers are putting in key words into a search engine such as “motorcycle dealer chicago”. In order to capitalize on at least the google part of the marketing… it’s important to:

    1) set up google business page
    2) make sure all your key words attract the customers that you want to attract to your page
    3) take amazing care of all your customers (of course you already do!)
    4) ask your customers to leave positive feedback on all your pages (google, facebook, yelp)

    The more positive feedback that your customers leave on all the above pages… the higher your dealership will rank when new customers are searching for a new dealership to spend their money.

    Good luck out there!

  1047. It’s easier to sell to current customers than to look for new ones, to strengthen existing customer connections try using Facebook Custom Audiences or Twitter Tailored Audiences. If you have a customer list or data from your DMS, like purchaser email addresses, that’s all you need. If you don’t have your customers email address you can always add one with email append. Once you create your Custom Audience or Tailored Audience, you can reach your customers directly on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

    Respectfully,
    Thomas Heenan
    TowerData

  1048. Actually highly target audiences can be built for Boosted posts too. Even boosting a post $1 is better than not boosting a post on a company page, because only a tiny percentage of the people who Like your page will ever see the un-Boosted posts.

  1049. Great information Colleen. Not sure I agree with dropping direct mail, though, unless you are referring to a random mass mailing. A sweet discount offer in the mail to existing customers at the right time can still get them to come in, and the ones that do are nearly 100% closeable. It is also traceable if they must bring in the coupon to get the discount.

  1050. Liz –

    I had a great time moderating that class. I always learn new things when I teach, and appreciated what Justin was doing and the discussion on staff surveys. Before I do an on-site assessment of a dealership, I send the dealer an employee survey form with instructions on gathering their responses while ensuring anonymity. Their responses provide valuable information about potential management issues as well as insights into areas that require improvements or procedure changes.

    I encourage all dealers to conduct employee surveys with simple questions like; “What are the top 5 improvements you would like to see?” I also encourage the periodic use of a motivation factors discussion with each employee. Using monetary rewards as incentives doesn’t always get the job done. Knowing the top 3 things that motivate them at any given time helps owners and managers create individual incentive programs that actually produce results.

  1051. Maybe this will help their sales but I doubt it they should have went with more outdoor or hunting things instead of the NBA most of the players under contract to ride ATVs and utvs cuz they scared they might get hurt I mean with the millions of dollars I see the same thing with Kymco going with NHRA I didn’t see them prosper from a bunch of sales but good luck to them

  1052. It’s interesting to learn that there are these ATVs specifically designed to be ridden by the youth. Additionally, having a youth ATV has a throttle limiter would be significant to keeping the children safe. I’m actually thinking of a way on how to include our son and daughters in our ATV rides every now and then. I’m glad that I could try getting these for them with the reassurance of their safety. I’ll go have a look if I can get one of these online or at least as close to it.

  1053. The new Guzzi V85 project promises more new models to come based on the drivetrain package shown, is a possible Griso replacement in the works? We can also hope a new LeMans is forthcoming, but I am willing to wait for the water pumper for that. Stay tuned more goodies to come from Mandello. Ciao

  1054. I loved your article. I used to be an implementation consultant and still work from time to time in that capacity. Here are some additional thoughts that come from my experiences:
    1. The dealer decides when to implement, not the sales person. I have seen too many DMS sales people dominate the decision and move the dealer way too fast. Remember DMS salespeople are commission based.
    2. Most DMS providers are more willing to “deal” when it is close to the end of their fiscal year. Find out when that is and then slow your roll on dealing with pushy DMS salespeople.
    3. Onsite training is a must but I disagree with 3 days. It needs to be a week bell to bell. If you are closed on a Monday then have your trainer or trainers fly in Sunday night and work till the close of business on the last day of your work week. They work for you and not the other way around. I have seen trainers say I have a flight to catch at 2 on Friday. If this is the case only pay for fractional days.
    4. Accounting Accounting Accounting! Many trainers are not fluent in all areas of the system. Ask for the DMS providers best trainers that understand parts, service, sales, and ACCOUNTING. If need be have two trainers onsite if one does not understand accounting.
    5. Remember that YOU the dealer need to take charge, control the sales process, and be engaged in every aspect of the system conversion.
    6. Ongoing training. Training does not occur in a vacuum. The best implementations that I have ever seen were ones that had follow up training after the dealership went “live”.
    7. This is the most important thing. If your DMS provider leaves you in the lurch or in a big mess give me a call…..I understand the beast within.

  1055. Perhaps the biggest issue of all has been left out of this story: Millennials do not appear to be interested in motorcycles at all. In fact, many of today’s teenagers don’t even show an interest in getting a drivers license when they turn of age. A fact which is simply astounding to me. But then again… you’re talking about a group of people that expect their vehicle to do the driving for them. Although they have 2 thumbs which do seem to move remarkably quickly.

    With the average age of a motorcycle owner continuing to go higher and higher this industry has its share of problems. I have no idea how to fix it. It seems to be broken at this point in time with no apparent answers on how to do a turn-around.

    I’ve got 35 years in the motorcycle business. In retrospect, always easy, I wish I had never entered the industry. Could have made far more money in automotive. Passion? It’s not what it’s cracked up to be all the time. The 1st collapse I was involved in was ATC’s and now I’ve been lucky enough to go thru a 2nd collapse.

    I love motorcycles and I love dealerships. But I am sick of the motorcycle industry anymore to be frank. Enjoyed some excellent years I must admit but the love affair is over.

  1056. Great that HD puts up $562K. (now that they have some competition)

    That said,
    Baseball, Football and Basketball players.. won’t even… yawn.. for any money, that small.

    Face it, the $562k, isn’t even a “rounding error” on the books of a NFL or baseball, owner!

    If we want to be in the BIG Sports Leagues….and compete with those other sports,

    The Manufacturers need to step up those purses significantly!

  1057. Mr. Tetreault’s notion that everyone’s powersports business is within their own control at a localized level is a great fantasy of potential with no respect for reality and particular conditions beyond the participants control. As an example, I am an active participant in this industry with 35 years experience in generating sales at both the retail & distributor levels which currently find me unemployed at a six line (OEM) dealer (BMW, HONDA, KAWASAKI, MOTO GUZZI, SUZUKI & YAMAHA) with only ONE sales generator (ONE sales person) remaining.
    I apologize in advance for any insensitivity I may be addressing to Mr. Tetreault, but I wish to ask him what local control of business he may have had on the recent announcement of his employers’ (Tucker Rocky Dist.) parent company’s (MAG) bankruptcy proceedings?

  1058. The Scout appears to be carrying the Indian line currently. It’s a great looking bike and rides extremely well. However, as a member of two Indian forums, the Scout has and still is suffering from quality and reliability issues. More than half of Scout owners who responded to a forum poll, had “starter” issues with their Scout, which appears to be more of an issue in colder climates. One member quoted that it’s hard to believe that a company that makes snowmobiles can’t fix a starter issue. Several Scout owners have been stranded and/or unable to use their bikes, and worrying if your bike is going to start doesn’t and won’t do well for future sales. I would hate to see Indian go down again, but they must resolve their current quality issues on their existing models before they expand their line. Also, a couple of members who had to sell their Scouts after about a year of ownership advised that they were lucky to get half of what they paid new. I know you take a hit on a new bike, but resale should be on par with Harley if Indian hopes to be a long term success. Good luck to the Tribe!

  1059. Great article, Forrest. A dealership without a plan is like a ship without a rudder. A business owner is either making things happen, watching things happen or wondering what happened. The first choice is the hardest but offers the greatest returns.

    Thanks for the great read!

    Bruce Marcia

  1060. I’m surprised with all the recalls and lawsuits regarding their product, they feel the need to introduce new models. As a owner of a Polaris, why don’t you concentrate on taking care of current owners?

  1061. Ryan – Very well said and right on the money. While the aging issue has been acknowledged and is being addressed (to some degree) by the manufacturers, the activities that can bring about the necessary changes must ultimately be embraced and driven by the dealers.

  1062. I am going to have to almost completely disagree with you. Yes I agree that social media is a tool that all dealerships should be utilizing, but without an effective call to action, and an attractive product, it’s nothing but newsfeed white noise. The industry needs to better identify what is going to attract younger riders. We are selling analog products in a digital age. You are never going to convince a younger person that they need a motorcycle more than they need their style or technology. The industry needs to instead integrate itself with modern style and technology. Manufacturers need to start being more concerned with building products that target a broader audience, instead of building products that will impress industry insiders, and win the next class shootout. The best example I can give you of what is wrong with the industry would be the new Goldwing. The motorcycle with the most modern technology is built for the oldest, and least technologically proficient, riders. All while the bikes being manufactured and targeted to the younger, and most technologically proficient riders, are almost completely lacking of any attractive technological features. I could go on and on, but in my humble opinion, unless the industry presents a technologically advanced class of bikes to integrate into the lifestyles of younger riders, we will keep having the same conversation about aging riders and shrinking markets.

  1063. I can’t believe you would publish this! My dealer Group doesn’t post pricing online and we are the most successful HD group in America. Our BDC contributes 50% of the business in our dealerships. It’s called a sales process. 80% of customers buy something different than they originally planned. That’s not baiting and switching!! We hold margin and get people on their dream bikes. Very disappointing article.

  1064. Reply from Kensey Edwards:

    Adam – thanks for the feedback. We’re glad to hear that you haven’t experienced any of these things with your listings. I think that’s a true testament to the reputation your dealership has in your community and the brand you’ve built.

    My guess would be, based on the data, that there are other dealerships that might not have the same experience – so we want to provide any data we can glean from our consumer audience that might be helpful and improve their online performance.

    We are always looking for suggestions on other topics we could explore and I’d love your thoughts. My direct email is kensey.edwards@cycletrader.com.

  1065. Smokey Mtn Harley deserves to be number one….Great store,huge inventory’s and the help could not have been more helpful and nice…..Congrats to Smokey Mtn. Harley

  1066. I hadn’t talk to Pat in almost 7 years but when I saw that she had passed away this morning it was truly shocking and very sad. She never had to give me the time a day but she always did and I’m grateful to her for that. I don’t know how she’ll be replaced.

  1067. Congratulations on the unprecedented dealer expansion, and best of luck for future success! I’m a new Mahindra compact tractor owner and am impressed with its design, quality and performance.

  1068. Good article. Recruiting and hiring processes are certainly not strengths for most dealers. Few dealers practice ongoing recruiting to accumulate a stack of resumes’ of possible candidates to interview when the time comes. Once we do get prospects in for the interview, we seldom ask the right questions to uncover their attitude and aptitude for the job.

  1069. As to part-time employees: many, if not most, part-timers have a weak knowledge base and/or limited skills. We’re in an industry where 1 weak employee effectively turns the entire store into a bunch of idiots if you listen to the comments on social media.

    It is critical the part-timer is capable of pulling off an intelligent conversation with your customer despite the lack of knowledge and/or skills. Minus that you will frequently have people commenting how the store sucks. If you’re going this route attempt to get someone that appears to be capable of pulling off that intelligent conversation, make sure sure they receive as much training as possible and stay on top of their conversations with the customer base. This is really true of the entire staff but heavily more so with most part-timers.

  1070. The problem isn’t the Union but rather the absolute fact that Harley is in trouble as their sales their downturn. They don’t have a product that younger folks want anymore. Pure and simple lack of interest in the product and a company that has been unable to develop something that sells.

    The point about tariffs is important. When those countries import bikes into the US there is no duty while anything we make is taxed heavily(50% and more) to the point that Harley has been forced to build in those countries if they want any chance of being successful. Whether you’re a Trump supporter or not these specific trade deals cost Americans their job. With no tariff there is not much incentive to build here. Transportation costs are a red herring. I am experienced in shipping containers and it is not all that expensive on a relative basis.

  1071. Steve,

    You are absolutely right. However—the industry needs to change or we will continue hiring the right person for the wrong job. Our processes determine our success in almost every decision we make in a dealership or any business for that matter. Thank you for your input.

  1072. You are one of the ones that made the industry a good place to work. Many good memories, lots of hard work that seemed more like just doing what we all love to do. There are many of us that have spent years at this profession sharing knowledge, and building our careers together that could not have done it without the support of one another. We all enjoyed what we did and we did it well. Good times and good friends. We gave it our best and it gave it back. Good time to retire for sure!!! Best of luck and enjoy !! You will be missed

  1073. This incident caused a social media event yesterday, going viral on at least one platform. It was a bad play on the part of the JAX city workers, and the video of the lady disparaging the customer who was a military veteran was particularly damning. I wonder though how many FB likes the dealership got? And I agree with their position; you have to figure out a way to put a positive spin on it- make some cool refreshing lemonade…

  1074. Nice to see my motorcycle industry ideas and concepts being implemented at the highest levels !

    Earlier in the year, Tim Buche (MIC/MSF) called me about the declining motorcycle industry sales, asking what I think, looking for “big picture” solutions. My being in our industry for over 50 years, I laid out the situation.

    Over an hour conversation ensued, where I described the importance and need for a critical grass roots RIDE initiative and all the elements needed and why.

    I detailed and supplied the ” RIDE initiative program concept and even the “RIDE” name as well as “adventures start here”, and “My First RIDE” (in many cases word for word), in that phone discussion that I now am happy to see in print and the many press releases.

    Tim Buche, brought it directly to the MIC board, which quickly acted upon it with all the manufacturers.

    It is all about planting the “seed” and getting new riders, people from “outside our sport”, involved, right now, to keep this industry alive and growing well into the future.

    It’s all about the big picture,
    Focusing on the customers experience, the riders “adventure”, and getting that back into our industry.

    The demand for products will come from the riders, both old and new, seeking new exciting adventures and riding opportunities both individually and as a social opportunity, so we also have to include ensuring the availability of having the OHV lands, waters, and places to “adventure” both on, and to, as well.

    (In the mid 1980’s, I also supplied the concepts and layout for the MSF Dirt Bike Schools (CRE and ITR Trail Schools) for the very same reasons.

    New riders now, become repeat customers for a multitude of products and services in the future.

    We (our industry) are in competition with every other activity out in the world today, not just power sports.

    We need to focus…on being “facilitators of fun”….
    dedicated to the supplying, enhancing or facilitating our customers, next adventure and experiences, no matter if it’s on 2, 3 or 4 wheels or watercraft or beyond.

    Apple “gets it”…
    Amazon “get’s it”
    and they have grown to be the biggest companies in the world, doing just that.

    Let customers from all walks of life, know you have the products and services that can take them to exciting adventures…… anywhere their minds can dream of.

    Sanatra famously said something to the effect of….

    “If you think its hard dealing with customers….
    Try doing business… without them!”

    My thanks to Tim Buche, and the MIC Board, for making this RIDE initiative program, happen so quickly.

    I hope it was soon enough, to save our industry.

    Get ready to ride,

    Stephen May
    CEO
    Options & Solutions Inc.
    208-683-2600

  1075. Excellent article Tony – well put and right on the money (literally). The more these points can be reinforced the better. It takes a lot to get some dealers to recognize the reality of the “skinny deal” mentality.

    Keep up the good work!

  1076. Thanks Tony. It’s tough to lose money on every sale but make it up in volume! I don’t understand why some store owners decide they are not worth much, but I suppose they get to be right about that. We all need to focus more on what’s inside our four walls vs what that discounter down the road is doing. I would add that going from 8% gross margin to 12% gross margin has minimal effect on a customer spending $10,000 or more but it’s a truly life-changing event for the dealership. The same principal holds for every other department too. “Retail” is not a four letter word and a race to the bottom only produces losers.

  1077. Is Air ride out of business or what. I have an air ride trailer that I really love. But it is in need of repair. Am I out of luck on getting this trailer fixed. If not by air ride, if they don’t exist any longer, who can I take this thing to for repairs.

  1078. High volume and low margins work well at grocery stores and places like Wal Mart. I’ve yet to see any real longevity at a Powersports dealership who operate with that strategy. In fact, during the 17 years i was involved with inventory finance, one of the common denominators of the dealers I had to repossess or shut down, was weak margins. Profit is not a dirty word.

    I’ll assume the turns and margins you are talking about pertains to the parts dept only because I rarely if ever saw dealerships with an overall turn of 4. It isn’t realistic in this seasonal business. I think the bigger issue with parts margins is that most dealers don’t charge enough. You can give me financials from 10 different dealers and I’ll show you that the majority have a 29% margin because they think marking up P&A 40% means 40% profit. Don’t worry about competing with online discounters. That’s a race to the bottom. Price is important only in the absence of value. Give your customers a reason to buy from you. Personally, I don’t mind paying a little more if I’m well taken care of.

    I agree with you that inventory management is very important. Dealers need to utilize their DMS and focus on quick moving parts and be more pragmatic when it comes to P&A bookings which will help improve turns.

    Thanks,
    Bruce Marcia
    bruce@bm-associates.com

  1079. Yet another Socialist Utopian electric mobility idea not well thought through, and therefore immediately destined for complete failure. Anyone looking at the weather patterns for Pittsburgh will understand that these scooters will only be available to use from May to September
    Further during those months it rains an average of 9 days each month, which means in a 20-22 working day month nearly 1/2 of the days are taken by rain events.
    There are viable solutions to massive city traffic, open cockpit electric scooters which can achieve 30mph maximum with a 35 mile range are not in part of that picture

  1080. Forrest – I’m with you all the way on this one. Every point you made is right on target. Many of the top managers I’ve worked with are over 50 and all of the top GMs I’ve helped dealers acquire are in the same category.

    I only hope more dealers and OEs will take your article to heart.

  1081. Makes a lot of sense to me. Dealers and OEM’s need to look for talent every day! Excellent thoughts, Forrest sometimes is just does not pay to get fancy. Keep it in the tool box for talented and experienced staff additions.

  1082. Great article, Forrest. Experience can make the difference in growth and profit not to mention saving a business from frustration of going down the wrong path.

    Dealers would benefit in having older, experienced managers with a proven record in key positions not only to improve success but also to mentor younger staff, as you mentioned so that strong management continues into the future.

  1083. It would have been nice to mention the late Gene Rocchi, who started Rocky Cycle, as a powerhouse distributor from the west coast.

  1084. Gene and Olga Rocchi, Joe Piazza Sr, Jim Busa, and a ton more on the Rocky side.
    Along with Ed Tucker, was Bob Nickell, Steve Johnson, Andre Lacy, along with hundreds of great folks in both companies in Sales and Operations. The list could easily go on and on. Today’s tucker is a great blend of tenured and new folks.

  1085. I love the sentiment of the article. I adore the idea of ongoing personal development. The kicker is the people that need it most abstain. When asked why they aren’t participating in provided educational programs, they say things like “We’re too busy at the shop to get it done during work hours” — or “yeah, but I don’t get paid for training”.

    This attitude is systemic and hopefully, articles like the one here drive the point that what’s in it for you is Personal Development, a sense of pride in a job well-done, and possible more income as the efficiency in your position grows. Some of these people are good at their jobs – almost by accident… just imagine what success would look like if done on purpose.

  1086. Harley has been manufacturing off-shore for years…why is this new news, accept that Harley is now trying to lay the blame on Trump. Stupid move.

  1087. Sorry, Harley, Your decision to kick more sand in the face of the American worker just gives me one more reason not to even consider a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Or should I say Harlwei-Javidson motorcycle? Your products get less American every day, and frankly it is disturbing to me. You can’t continue to outsource American jobs and then dare to wave the flag. I support the President.

  1088. Harley is a declining company. Their earnings etc. prove it. Blaming the decline and closure of the KS plant on EU tariffs is ridiculous and downright embarrassing. India is a great example of what Trump is saying. Harley was first not allowed to sell there at all. When they finally were the tariff was 150%. That meant that if Harley wanted to sell in that market they needed to build an Indian factory to do so. Were it not for unfair tariffs Harley could have built those bikes in the US.

    When Indian bikes are imported into the US they pay a few percent if anything. How is that fair?

  1089. our succumbing to the outrageous tariffs imposed on our exports over the years is what got us to this point. You can’t negotiate anything from a point of weakness or lack of resolve. I expect a number of the unfair foreign trading partners to become more negotiable this year.

  1090. It is pretty clear that unless your vehicle was designed specifically to work with this Ethanol crap, it will damage your vehicle. If the corn lobby has their way, this will happen. We cannot allow it. E15 will not only damage your motorcycle (again, unless that motorcycle has been designed specifically to run E15 fuel, which to my knowledge NONE are) you also void your warranty. So after you damage your bike, you will be left holding the bag for the repair bill. So where is your fuel cost savings then?

    The real danger here is blender pumps. E15 can and should only be allowed IF it is pumped from its own nozzle. But idiots like those that run the communist republic of Kalifornia have no regard for the rights of their own citizens. If it were not for CARB and resistance from groups like the AMA, blender pumps with E15 would already be in play. And let’s face it, once E15 is allowed in, it’s only a matter of time before E10 goes away completely. We have already lost E0 in the Communist Republic. We have to stand up and stop this! Protect your bike and your freedom of fuel choice or lose it forever.

  1091. Trump has the Harley thing well thought out. Honda left Ohio five years ago and Polaris/ Indian will be moving production soon as long as the tariffs continue. I can’t see Yamaha or Suzuki coming here and Kawasaki certainly won’t expand. He must be talking to a big player in the U. S. market.

  1092. How exactly is that knocking Harley? He is pushing the motorcycle industry to catch up with the car industry. Also let’s be honest, this was just a prime opportunity for Harley to divulge their plans to move some manufacturing over to Europe. They have been talking globalization of the brand for a while now. Certainly takes the heat off of them for doing it. None of which they deserve. My question would be why didn’t they do it earlier?

  1093. Kurt, thank you for the reply. I agree with you and encounter this quite often myself. I guess our only response can be that training is an investment into oneself in which the employer also benefits. I myself was the victim of this in my career. I had taken a class towards and MBA in Business which my employer denied the reimbursement claim based on the fact that they didn’t feel it was relevant to my career. I pushed back but ultimately lost the argument and subsequently never returned because my employer did not support it and figured they wanted me to focus on other things. Well, I hurt myself in the long run because I did not get that education and training which I think is valuable to my career and professional development. What’s the saying, “hindsight is 20/20?”

  1094. Spot-on Forrest! During my years as a DSM, embezzlement was among the largest causes of dealership failures. Simple controls such as those you suggest would have prevented most of these. Keep up the good work.

  1095. What concerns me is the shear number of dealers out there that are vulnerable. In my experience Steve, a dealer will not do any of the things I suggest until after they become a victim. Sad but true.

  1096. The two features that I’ve most wanted and asked for for years have finally been added! A built-in RAM mount system and a phone charging outlet. Question though, does anyone know, will the 12V outlet be available as an option on the non-supercharged FX HO?

  1097. Great article and reminder for an issue that plagues most dealerships. I would take exception to the comment suggesting that the age and gender of the person buying contributes to the success of purchasing. I believe that’s a generalization that borders discrimination. Taking that position, the age and gender of the dealer principle could also skew that vision of how that parts manager is performing. A strong parts manager, regardless of age and gender will canvas counter and floor staff for input before bookings and then review with the GM.

    The article contains lots of great ideas and insight and if I could add anything, it would be to remind dealers that many OEMs allow you to return a portion of your hard parts that you’ve purchased in the last year. Please take advantage of that.

  1098. I met Greg Blackwell on an extended weekend to KTM, while employed by Ducati North America. He struck me then as a solid player in the industry and I expect to see good things from him in this new role. I like how the immediate focus is on Dealer interaction and gaining data on what it is that would really serve them. Good luck Greg!

  1099. We recommend implementing Marketing Automation with your web provider! While third party companies do offer it, having full access to the back-end of your website platform makes your provider the best choice. Dealer Spike offers this service for our customers.

  1100. Based on your comments, the Rule changes are just like the changes made to handicap Honda’s to the point of being uncompetitive years ago. It’s really too bad when the sport is beginning to increase in size and popularity – after languishing for so many years with only the “AMA brand” on the track. You would have thought those children would have grown up by now.

  1101. Flat Track has been a “Harley” sport and it seems like the rule changes, past and present, are meant to keep it that way. Unfortunate.

  1102. Looks like Suzuki is taking a play out of Yamaha’s play book! Announcing a bike as new, then giving a due date of two years out is poor at best!! Yamaha did this with the Tenere T7 and it just told the buyers it was time to buy something else…..

  1103. The new katana seems to be Suzuki’s answer to a question no one is asking. I have been a Suzuki dealer since ’96 and have not only seen, but have experienced the highs and lows of the brand. Every year at the dealer show we are scolded for asking THE question: When is Suzuki coming out with a side-by-side?. We always get the same answer in the same defiant tone. This terrifies me for Suzuki.
    I don’t like side by sides. I don’t understand spending twenty large on one.. But the fact is they are what’s keeping our doors open. You see, today’s kids don’t care for motorcycles… If not for the older consumer with disposable income purchasing Mules and Rangers we have closed our shop years ago. Several friends who have sixteen year old sons tell me that they don’t even want to get their automobile driver’s license! The new kids are different – steeped on VR in video games they evidently don’t care for the real thing.
    IMHO if you aren’t selling something the people with all the money want and desire, you won’t be in business long. Although it is rather late in the game to be entering the side-by-side game, Suzuki COULD hit a homerun by giving the performance crowd a ‘busa powered sport machine with paddle shifting dual sport transmission and QUALITY components. Anything short of that is pointless…

  1104. I remember when the V-Rod came out. Customers were paying 5 grand over MSRP for those bikes, and then 2 years later the MSRP dropped by 5-7 grand. Those early adopters were buried in those bikes and completely removed from the trade-in cycle. That whole program left a bad taste in a lot of mouths. I think you’d be crazy to spend $30 grand on the LW, because you are paying 10K for the bike and 20K for the name. Wait 2 years and buy a used one for 10K, or buy a new Zero.

  1105. Great article! As the former Marketing Director at RIVA Motorsports in South Florida, I can tell you this is very accurate with regards to the challenges a dealer faces when it comes to putting up events as well as participating in them. Number 4 is certainly one to not be forgotten. Otherwise, all the work you put in can be disregarded.

  1106. I had the privilege of working in the office of Dudley Perkins Harley Davidson in the late 1980’s. TP was great to work with, kind, helpful and always in good humor. When I bought my own Heritage Softail there in 1989 he used his “in” with the factory and had my Harley custom painted especially for me. I’m sad to hear that he passed away so young. We’ll meet again, this I truly believe.

  1107. Great article, but not only is it important for the SEO crawlers, but also for visitors who may have trouble reading. The alt attribute is used by “screen reader” software so that a person who is listening to the content of a webpage (for instance, a person who is blind or may have Dyslexia) can interact with this element.

  1108. Motorcyclists who depend on parts from Europe to keep their motorcycles in safe, working order will face increased cost and decreased availability under this proposal. This will result in motorcyclists putting off critical maintenance and will keep their vehicles off the road, negatively affecting the countless small businesses that depend on motorcycle-based tourism. Additionally, this proposed tariff will cause serious, and potentially irreversible, harm to American small- and medium-sized business owners selling the motorcycles, parts and accessories.

    Should the availability of products be hindered through unjustified trade sanctions on European-produced motorcycles, dealerships may close, leaving countless Americans without jobs. The negative effects of the proposed trade sanctions will not only harm the motorcycle sales industry, but will spread through the aftermarket equipment sector, recreation equipment sales, the sports entertainment industry and further down the line.

  1109. Unfortunately Textron is trying to cut its way to profitability with the Arctic Cat line of products. Long term dealers (and personnel) are being cut left and right without any thought of the potential impact at the consumer level. In the past the “old” company would put dealers on opposite corners in order to get distribution, but now dealers are being forced to sever their Arctic Cat relationship, leaving customers, very loyal ones at that, with no one for sales & service within 30-50 mile radius. We’ve seen the affect of attrition from dealership closures 5 years ago when Arctic Cat was “clinging to life” and pushing excessive product was their only option, forcing dealers into a take or leave it position. 2 local “big number” dealers (40+ years each) closed and very few of their customers traveled to other Cat dealers, but instead jumped to the competition. The current deal with Tracker/Cabella’s unfortunately could be the death knell to a great product with a proud history. I don’t think the current regime at Textron understands the relationship snowmobile and atv customers have with their dealers. These machine purchases are made due to the comfort level one has with the dealership and it’s sales/service department. The business is unique in that the consumer wants to see consistency in personnel, be known by his first name, be able to share his stories/experiences with them. I don’t see the “Tracker/Cabella” experience being one that meets those needs with the employee turnover and experience level…or lack thereof. I could be wrong…wife and kids have told me this many times over the years but I think in an effort to “right the Arctic Cat ship”, Textron is on a path to sinking it. Keeping my fingers crossed!!

  1110. This looks like a fun series of events. It should be a great way to connect with a core user group and inspire all Ducati riders. As stated these were done in a small way back in the day, Ducati revs Road Atlanta and Homestead were other events that were very well received by dealers and enthusiasts. Throw a cool party and they will come- it moved the needle with dealer engagement and sales! Nice also to see the slate of guest riders, great talents as well as nice guys in that list!

  1111. Excellent article. I encounter these folks is in so many dealerships. Often, these people are not being properly managed or removed and as a result, they sometimes end up destroying a good dealership.

  1112. That would be awesome to have come wintertime. Granted, I’ll have to first get a UTV before I could acquire the track system. As you said, I could use the track year-round but I do think it would perform the best during the snowy season.

  1113. Too bad. In my experience (20 plus years in the industry) and absentee owner is the kiss of death for a dealership. Looks like the floor plan provider found bikes out of trust or just plainly had enough.

    As for price slashing – selling at a loss and making it up in volume has never been a winning strategy. I hope the dealers bond is enough to help out the customers who have paid for product

  1114. A start would be more automatic options from manufacturers so to draw more new riders, including more women. (At least for all 500cc and smaller displacement options including sport models) I say women specifically because my wife made this exact statement not even 4 months ago when I introduced her to dirt bikes.

    This would cover all 4 steps presented by MIC!

    I understand there is a cost increase usually associated with automatic transmissions… That said, I challenge the manufacturers to put on their creative thinking caps and figure out how to bring the costs down and make automatic options a reality, not a rarity. Honda already has the DCT, so they could arguably be the leader in this new initiative…

  1115. Love this article and complete agree. I’m surprised in this Me Too culture corporations still allow dealers to hold these misogynistic events. Women ridership has increased dramatically as well as younger riders. They’d attract a lot more customers if everything wasn’t an objectifying women event.

  1116. As a JEEP owner I feel that allowing this product to remain on the market devalues my investment in a JEEP vehicle. On road, off road, whatever; it is a cheap looking likely cheaply engineered and manufactured knock off of an American icon. I hope JEEP prevails, otherwise it will be open plagiarism on anything worthwhile.

      1. Actually it did work out well. Harley wound up owning 60% of the US cruiser market and still owns over 50% of that same market. As a business you need to protect what’s yours and the Roxor is a clear knock off.

        1. Its seems like a great compliment to Mahindra that Jeep owners themselves are worried about this UTV. And calling it a cheap knock off is hilarious. The turbo diesel engine in the Roxor will outlast any Jeep engine in production. It is used in vehicles outside the US in places with horrible road conditions. Good luck to Mahindra even though I don’t think they need it. Worst case scenario they might have to redesign the body a bit lol.

    1. Raymond, Mahindra purchased Willys after WWII, so they have been producing the design for far longer than Chrysler. It doesn’t devalue your Jeep, as they do not compete in the same street legal market.
      They are actually well built, as Mahindra has been producing this style of vehicle for more than 70 years!
      Frankly, anybody seeing the Roxor is more likely to mistake it for a Willys, or AMC CJ5 than your modern Fiat Jeep

  1117. Jeep….or Chrysler Fiat is no more Keep than the Roxor. Both owe their existence to Willys and Kaiser and American Motors. That said the Mahindra line certainly has stayed true to the heritage and design and for far longer. If your modern Jeep feels threatened then I’m sure it’s your own insecurity rather than any real infringement.

  1118. Raymond, you mentioned JEEP not CJ, that should be the only vehicle in comparison, 5,7 or 8. I didn’t hear any competitors complaining when the Wrangler wore square headlights that a competitor probably had, just JEEP people. Having had a CJ5 for 3.5 years and 80k miles being towed back 200 miles when a roll pin in transmission came out and left me in reverse gear miles up a trail. Traded in with no half shafts up front or front drive shaft because I drove it like the old CJ commercials depicted.
    So if you’re like the majority of new JEEP Wrangler owners that don’t even see a forest service road leave the real utility side of a now OFF ROAD ONLY VEHICLE to the people who want a turn key modern RELIABLE UTV.

    1. Jeep never has been a reliable vehicle, only has been a half way there start, for off-roading.
      Marketing has made it the ute/sport ride it is.
      You’ve spoken the truth.

  1119. The two vehicles are different period. Why take an $80 K vehicle out on the trail, when you can purchase a vehicle that is cheaper and easier to repair. I see this working out for Roxor and building a street version as well. This way you can drive to your off road camping or hunting spot. If you desire a vehicle, with all the bells and whistles that can run all day on the interstate at 75 mph than purchase a Jeep. I love both of them.

  1120. This is nonsense. The Mahindra Roxor is based on an original Jeep design. However, Mahindra purchased the license/the rights from Willys many, many years ago. Further, every subsequent owner of the brand including FCA most happily re-signed those agreements with Mahindra along the way. The Roxor is NOTHING like a modern Wrangler and no buyer out there interested in a modern Wrangler would want a Roxor instead. Original Jeeps were designed to be a tractor you could also take to town. Our lifestyles have changed such that very few people need a tractor, let alone one you can take to town. Modern Wranglers have aweso.e capabilities and comfort, but they would be marginal as a serious off pavement tool, like a tractor. One does not dilute the other, they do not cross paths normally, and if anything at all, having the retro styled Roxor around only enhances the Wranglers appeal.

  1121. Somehow Spirit Mountain’s reliance on Snocross has been kept quiet until now. Probably because Minnesota’s “silent sports” advocates hate snowmobiles and would ban every one of them if they could. I think that this situation shows that recreational user groups should all cut each other some slack and show some civility whether motorized or non-motorized.

  1122. Congrats Pete.
    We are so happy for you. You deserve it for all the many years you worked for your accomplishments.
    Many more years of health and happiness.

  1123. I had the pleasure of meeting Mike and his staff at a Spader 20 Group meeting. They are genuinely good people and care about the industry. Best of luck with the “new” venture!

  1124. I have a pioneer 700 2013 use it on my mountain ranch took your little bed off made a 4×5 foot flat bed I haul 7 120 pound bales over steep rough terrain all these years 6,000 miles never been in shop I keep air cleaner, oil changed and I adjusted the valves they weren’t bad what a rig

  1125. Excellent points! If I could add to the conversation, I see parts purchased at a discount being receipted at book value with no corresponding accounting for the discounted amount. Don’t forget to account for purchase discounts!

  1126. Forrest has hit the nail on the head once again with this outstanding article. Dealerships (or companies) that fail to recognize and respond to changing customer (and employee) needs and behavioral trends struggle to grow or even survive in the long term.

    A big part of this is the ability of the store’s leaders to adapt and apply the proper management techniques to drive/allow the dealership to evolve with the market. It is too easy to slide into the “this is how we’ve always done it…” model. This is simply not a good leadership model for success.

    Thanks Forrest – nice work.

    1. Thank you Steve! I have been intrigued by the field of leadership for so long—so much I am getting my doctorate in education in the field of organizational leadership and innovation. I see so many dealerships that have the potential to be great! It all comes down to the leadership of the dealership. Leading with a transactional iron fist all the time is a recipe for lackluster performance, low dealership morale, high employee turnover, and lower overall profit. We need to foster innovation in all that we do in the dealership. Again thank you for your compliment on this month’s blog.

  1127. A lot of the dealers that I work with in my 20 Groups are seriously considering dropping motocross bikes from their dealerships. Thefts of these models have been out of control for the last couple of years now. Couple that with margins in the MX segment being the worst of any products dealers sell (motocross customers are the only people we deal with who have more time than money) and I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of dealers exit stage left.

    1. Mark
      I understand why you and some of the dealers in your group feel the way you do but I also disagree with your outlook of the dirt bike segment of the industry. I also understand when some dealers look at the segment is does seem to be a diminished return and may not be worth the trouble.

      It is my opinion that you are not looking at the entire picture of how that segment effects a store, although each market does need to be looked at differently and with an open mind. There are many dealer’s nation wide that do very good with dirt bikes because they understand their market and the segment. Also, if understood the segment’s P, G&A can easily be the highest of any segment in the store and since the industry went to four stroke race bikes, the service department should also benefit. Also please do let KTM know that dirt bikes are a waste of time because they have been fooled into believing that their market share gains were based on them

      As far as your sentiment about the buyer not having money, you could not be more wrong, in today’s world a $10,000 dirt bike is very common, also riders with multiple bikes are just as common. Furthermore, most dirt bike buyers own ATV’s, UTV’s and street bikes. So, the notion that they do not have money is absurd and disingenuous. If a store cannot retain this buyer for their other units, the customer is not the problem.

      I invite you to spent a day on a dealership showroom and just ask each customer what got them into the motorcycle lifestyle and I will venture to say dirt bikes will be a large percentage of the answers you receive. With this in mind a big part of a dealership’s future is based on the dirt bike segment.

      I could go on about how management and personnel are the biggest reason for the dirt bike segment failure’s or any segment for that matter in a dealership but that would take hours. I recently was working with an executive from Hyundai and I asked him what he thought about Ford’s planed departure from selling sedan’s his reply hits home in the motorcycle industry also. “We will welcome the increases in business of low profit sedan buyers. It will be our job to keep them and have them in our fold when they buy a high profit SUV. I bet your competition will be just as happy as Hyundai.

      1. SM

        I can easily debate you on every front here, but I don’t want to write a novel.

        I managed powersports dealers for over 20 years, and for a couple of those I was a manager at one of the largest motocross dealers in the country. The best way to do volume in MX is to give them away. The typical motocrosser will drive 300 miles to save $200. As I said, most have more time than money. The majority of them also want sponsorship and no charge next day air on parts orders because they waited until the last minute to order the stuff they needed for the weekend ride.

        You couldn’t be more wrong on the PG&A opportunity. The UTV segment owns that opportunity, with many dealers now making more money on PG&A sold to the vehicle than they do on the vehicle sale. Many motocrossers now buy their gear from discounters on the internet, and with the exception of the richest riders, it’s rare to see a motocross bike in a service department because few of them are willing to pay $135 an hour for the work.

        Probably the only area you are close is the common $10,000 dirt bike, but if the dealer had to pay $9500 to the OEM for that model, then I can easily show you where that margin just doesn’t pencil in support of long term dealership success.

        I normally don’t call out OEM’s, but a lot of my dealers carry multiple brands. With a lot of them, I’ve done an exercise where we look at brand viability. I can tell you that the orange one is always at the bottom of the list, and it’s now to the point where many dealers are pushing back and saying enough is enough. Look up my LinkedIn article on brand viability. It’s been an eye opener for a lot of dealers.

        In my time, kids did start out on small motocross bikes, but today’s kids grow up staring and phones and other small screens. Our industry is perceived as dangerous (I’ve had more than one friend die on the motocross track, they aren’t wrong). My personal opinion is that our best opportunity is to get asses in seats in the late teens and early twenties, when many people are getting out from underneath their parents and looking for adventure. Personally, I’d much rather put a customer on a Ninja than a motocrosser.

        There’s a big difference between a business and a hobby. Every brand and segment needs to make sense from all angles. Motocross is hard to justify when measure on its own strengths. You take the huge losses from ongoing thefts and in many stores every bike sold is not a profit opportunity, but an expense.

        1. In most store’s UTV’s do lead in PG&A with $1,200 GP per copy being a good benchmark and that is a great profit center. I have worked with dealerships that are north of that amount on dirt bikes when play bikes are remove.
          If you are any you are worried about showroom front end gross on every bike you should start looking for a different industry, that model is as dated as the mascot on a Sinclair gas station sign.
          I like you could debate this for hours and have debated this subject with many dealers have and proven them wrong on many occasions. You did not address the number one point, these customers buy and own most then the one dirt bike we are debating.
          I can actually prove you wrong and never step in your store. Go to Light Speed and pull the last 50 new dirt bikes you have sold. Now go to you CRM and see anyhow times they have been touched since they purchased. I am willing to bet over 50% have never been touch and that there are no remarks of the other unis they own. Now have the call center of your CRM call them and ask them if they own other units and where they bought them. I bet you will be surprised.
          One note “the every segment has to make money”, I understand that to an extent but it has LEMCO training written all over it and that system is just like the Sinclair sign I spoke of above. you will never get to $20,000,000 with a 7%+net thinking like the 80’s . Let connect via Linked in
          Steve Mitchum.

          1. I knew Ed. Wasn’t a fan of everything he had to say, but he did have a way of taking processes from dealers and sharing them with the industry. Anyone who takes everything that a consultant has to say is bound to fail, but listening, digesting, and utilizing the best ideas has worked well for us in the past, and continues to work well for us.

            If I’m only making an assumption on something then I’ll say it up front, but I’m a data guy and I’ve looked at these stats with lots of dealers. While there might be the occasional home run on a dirt bike, as a whole, that segment doesn’t even come close to holding a candle against UTV’s when it comes to upselling. Showroom space costs a lot of money. When we still have brands and segments that are profitable, it’s nuts to devote significant space to unprofitable ones.

            We still operate in an industry where we have the opportunity to make money on the vehicles we sell. To suggest that we don’t is way off base and shows how out of touch you are. We are not the auto industry, where with many brands they can’t make money on their vehicles, but we can. And I work with many dealers that do. At least 5 powersports dealers I work with make a legitimate 7% net, so that Sinclair sign is still lit up nice and bright.

            You are also wrong on the follow up front. 90% of our customers at our dealership are touched at least twice a year, on their birthday and the anniversary of their last purchase. We even have a process to move old customers to new sales staff when we have turnover. Repeats and referrals are 50% + of our business. That doesn’t happen when you ignore customers.

            Once again, you are essentially wrong on every point. Luckily, we live in America, and you have the right to express your opinions. I’ll stick with the facts.

  1128. It was nice for the network to say what to look for when buying a bike outside the dealer, but these bikes are traditionally re-sold. The VIN is ground off, and they’re being ridden down city streets in packs as we all know. Until there becomes a serious crackdown on the these thieves/wheelie show-offs, the demand will always be there. I realize that hurting them is publicity that most cities and counties would rather avoid, but I’ve seen them hurt others while having a complete disregard for the law. So why does the law-abiding citizen come second? And just as bad, the shop owners who lose bikes and revenue?

  1129. When they were in Clifton 50 years ago, they were great. Recently in the Hope location, not so much. It appeared they didn’t want to be there over the past 5 years or so. I hope someone buys the building and puts a store in it with quality management and personnel.

  1130. Careful how you judge a dealership or the owner until you have walked a mile in their shoes or dealt with the factory in the tough times.

  1131. Kymco is a great company, but could use some help!! I hope he will show them how to grow and bring some dealer support.

  1132. Congrats Dennis. I am sure you will bring them additional success as you did for Yamaha when you were here.

  1133. I just made a decision to close my dealership, Doc’s Harley-Davidson in St. Louis. This was a hard decision but I was concerned for my team and for my customers. I told my staff that they will be paid and they did not have to take their sick days or use their vacation pay. This is a people business but we have to take care of our staff first. Somehow, I know we will all get through this uncertain time, God willing. Be safe out there everyone. Beth Ernst/Owner

  1134. This sounds like a sensible approach to staying open. I think it is unreasonable to shut down the whole country and insure an economic collapse. Common sense must prevail! Good hygiene and common courtesy will go a long way to preventing the spread of this illness but allow people to continue their lives and occupations. Personally, I do not trust the government “experts” from either party in the federal or state governments. They have an agenda and are mainly looking towards November 2020. We should not have to give up our freedoms to remain safe. It’s possible to have both. Again, my hats off to GP Motorsports for staying open! You are even in California so you really are swimming upstream.

  1135. Time to keep employees busy with service and organization of parts department , soft remodel and creative advertising ” keep safe on a motorcycle as well as distance from germs during you daily commute

  1136. Dennis
    Congratulations, they will benefit from your experience!
    Dennis Kanegae

  1137. The pricing is the real killer now a days on sport quads, why the heck is a utility a lot cheaper then a sport quad with the same size engine. I dont think everything else on the atv should raise the price by thousands, then there is the dealer markup from the actual cost of the production. I want to by a sport quad so bad but it is priced out of my range, i can by a decent car for what they cost now. I am a banshee lover, for the love of god bring that back to the market for the reasonable price it used to be and i guarantee you after a year or two they will sell like hotcakes!

  1138. Not quite sure about how I feel when a supplier competes directly with their dealers. It’s a conflict of interest and can easily drive a wedge into the relationship.

  1139. Where is the outrage over the government suspending our constitutional rights in the name of “keeping us safe”? They have presented the options as either keep people safe or protect our economy and let people die. Our country has faced many grave dangers in it’s history and did not suspend our rights. It is possible to have our economy AND be concerned with people. We should not have to lose our jobs and businesses because our “leaders” say so. Push back and tell your mayors, state representatives and federal congress people this is not acceptable! It seems that everyone is rolling over and submitting without even questioning the plan. With the federal programs they are just going to make us dependent on the government to exist. Ask questions of the government officials and tell them it is NOT OK to trample on the freedoms and rights hundreds of thousands of our men and women died to protect! Take your business back! Sure, you can take the necessary hygiene protections for your employees and customers but DO NOT SHUT DOWN your businesses!

  1140. Seems like the closures seem to be hitting HD dealers more than the metric ones. Could be that they are just getting more media coverage. Also looks like it’s smaller SRL type locations where the business can be rolled up into another nearby location.

    As this pandemic drags on I expect to see the pace of closures picking up speed. We’ve had too many OEMs and too many dealers for too long now, it was always going to take something like this to reset the count to where it needs to be for the survivors to have good and viable businesses.

  1141. This is sad. They are the 4th HD store to close this week by my reckoning. What’s going on here?

  1142. I haven’t looked at the specific HD executive compensation package, but for most public companies the salary component is usually a small piece of total compensation. You want to really move the needle, then shut off stock options. During a crisis stock prices can be cheap and there is often a lot more upside to them than when times are good.

    For each executive that moves on, you can typically save 20-50 front line jobs. I know what cuts I’d be looking at.

  1143. It was an obvious strategic and collaborative partnership for both companies,” said Ali Metel, CEO of LendCare Capital. “By combining the resources and reach of a world-renowned leisure manufacturer with the No. 1 non-prime powersports lending company in Canada, we will be able to extend specialized financing opportunities to more Canadian consumers.”
    Thanks

  1144. Harley – Davidson cannot see the forest through the trees. They are heading towards being a grass roots company again but have the blinders on for how they got to where they are. They need to support the grass root dealers that stuck with them through thick and thin.

  1145. Wake up Harley….The big MALL Stores are NO GOOD….I myself won’t do my buying from them….Small home town dealers is where its at,They know your name when you walk in and your kids play with there kids at school and at the park….Small Family dealers ….Remember that Harley!!!!

  1146. If this show is to be moved to January, also move it to a warmer climate. I can’t tell you how many years I went to the Indy Dealer Show hating the weather. I will probably skip this year due to the cold. Vegas or Florida are good ideas.

  1147. It’s unfortunate that manufacturers aren’t producing 450s right now especially the ltr 450 . Glad to see the yfz still being made!! from what I scene and here numbers are starting to grow on the starting line maybe once the sxs market peaks maybe we’ll see manufacturers get back into it that’s what I hope for new 450 quads soon !!!! I would go pick one up tommarow if one were to get released especially the quad racer 450

  1148. I expect SSB will be a great Yamaha franchise. I follow them online, and they have a great reputation and are masters at social messaging.

    Congrats

    Mark J. Sheffield

  1149. Thanks Mark! We appreciate your comments! Very excited to add Yamaha while we also continue to be Minnesota’s largest seller of pre-owned motorcycles. -Brian Cox

  1150. According to some international news some of their production lines have been shut down due to being hit by ransomware. Wonder if this is related?

  1151. When the Victory’s came out and were quickly declared the most trouble free bike in the world as well as JD Powers Initial quality award winner in consecutive years , I knew then that Polaris was an American company to be reckoned with with high quality and high performing products. The Vics were miles ahead of the other “foreign built American ” motorcycle company and in the world of ATV’s they were the new King on the block!! So it makes sense to give awards to a company that loves our country like they do!! Makes sense!! THEY MAKE THE BEST STUFF!!

  1152. After being in the courts for 10 years, the only people who won in this lawsuit were the attorneys.

  1153. As a Jeep owner I am in agreement with the ITC ruling. A genuine made in USA JEEP is an investment in a US brand and US manufacturing. I’m pleased that there will not be a cheap knockoffs running about, devaluing the JEEP brand.

    1. A US brand owned by an Italian company? I’m a Jeep fan, but they’ve strayed too far from their roots. Also, it’s not a cheap knockoff. They are evolutions of the original Jeeps, licensed by Mahindra. These are more Jeep-like than most current Jeeps, following the KISS school of thought.

  1154. The Roxor is a very well built machine which is assembled in Michigan making US jobs I bought one in 2019 we liked so well bought another in 2020 great fun machine mine our both plated for hwy. 30 mile to gal. Strong machine after Diesel Freak Tune stage 2

  1155. Those that are Fiat/Jeep owners/fans,.. should not be concerned what the Roxor looks like…it is a side by side off road vehicle which in my estimation will only see use on private land….some states allow street use (like my state ,Louisiana,.. but must have many things added to the base Roxor just to be legal….& are limited to non interstate use & a top speed not to exceed 35mph.)
    I would consider having one, but closest dealer is too far away.
    🇺🇸⚓

  1156. Sounds like a first amendment law suit is coming to the doors of Polaris very soon. Polaris cannot consider itself speech police, regardless of how people might feel in the heat of the moment, and how they might react under their 1st amendment right. Polaris has no authority to force its opinions an ideals upon independent Americans.

    Polaris might not agree, Heck I might not agree with what was stated. But America is a free nation with freedom of speech. Sometimes that speech goes against the grain of others beliefs, however its still allowed.

    America is not Polaris America… It does not need Polaris taking action against independent business people in order to force its speech control agenda upon Americans. What Polaris did was wrong, and they should never be praised for such Communistic action

    Polaris needs to immediately apologize for its unconstitutional actions..

    If Polaris does not want to be associated with the dealership because of their ideals. let things stand at that juncture. Polaris went too far, forcing the dealership to align with its personal ideals in violation of the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution.

    1. The 1st amendment applies to the government. Polaris can Certainly pull its relationship with a dealer fo what a dealer says or does. It’s not a 1st amendment issue.

  1157. Each manufacturer has a “morals” clause that they can point to in situations like this. I disagree with the previous comments regarding over stretching by Polaris, but applaud them for seeking an amicable solution to keep 100 people employed. One can only hope that it is not simply a smoke screen by the dealership ownership to retain the franchise.

    I would expect my manufacturer to uphold the value of the brand as Polaris did. You may not like how Polaris or Harley have handled this, you as an independent business person have the option to represent the brand properly and if you choose to violate policy then you must live with the consequences.

    Don’t care if your Polaris, McDonald’s, Ford or any other franchise, when you sign your name you commit to following the agreement and acting responsibly.

  1158. Closing your Wisconsin location and building new plant in Mexico. Priorities……

  1159. whats wrong with building ur plant in America or Canada????won’t be buying anything made by BRP….Period!

  1160. It looks like a really cool vehicle. You can tell that Jeep is taking it seriously as they recently updated their 2021 models to include some items that used to be optional upgrades.

    1. Really? Show a manufacture in recreation or automotive that has never had a recall…China bot are you?

  1161. We are in a mud market and these shocks aren’t really anything that interests our customers. With that being said, what’s the technical difference between Can-Am’s Smart-Shox and Polaris’ Dynamix shocks (that have been out for a couple of years)?

  1162. Who cares about what the investors think, the stock has already been sold? What they need is a CEO who understands the industry and who can put customers at the front of the priority list. Start placing shareholder value as the most important metric, and that will be the final mail in the coffin.

    1. Mark I couldn’t say it better, I also have a large portion of my personal investment portfolio in HOG, the customer must come first, the common stock HOG shareholder will benefit at some point when the balance sheet is strong.

  1163. Hey vp you want to double your atv sales bring the banshee back just the way it was unless you can make it better which I’m sure you can I know y’all probably want but you’ve brought back the 2 stroke dirt bikes why not just put it out there that you might be bringing it back watch the buzz you get thanks you want regret it

  1164. Mark,
    Another great write up. In the last 2 months I have visited 30+ stores in 4 states and have seen some interesting situations. Some stores are 100% appointment only while others are acting as if there is no COVID 19 at all. All stores are reporting excellent to record breaking sales volumes. The one thing that has me caught off guard is that some stores so focused on the new unit sale that they are not asking for, or pursuing the trade. This market will push buyers into the private sector, the more trades that are not taken in, the greater the opportunity that a dealer loses out to a private party transaction. Work every deal as if it is 2012. You will increase your margins today while protecting your market tomorrow.

  1165. I think it’s inevitable that our industry is moving in this direction (at least a portion of it), but one thing that is really being overlooked is the training for technicians who are going to have to work on these machines. Electricity is dangerous and I have some concerns that we’ll see multiple building fires and injured technicians before the OEMs take service training seriously.

    I was a tank mechanic in the Military. While the main system on the Abrams was only 24 volts, that was provided by 6 deep cell batteries in a series/parallel configuration. At over 2000 amps, 24 Volts was enough to vaporize rings and the necklaces that dog tags hang on. You saw many techs in the Army who were missing a finger, or had permanent scars around their necks. Lessons hard learned.

  1166. WHY CAN I NOT FIND ANY PLACE THAT SELL HORN AND LIGHTING KITS FOR THE RUSTLER 850? CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE AVAILABLE

  1167. Having worked with Brad, he was the most effective DSM at Honda. He made a real difference!

  1168. Good choice, coming out with the Pan American first. Adventure bikes are hot and getting that model out will help H-D get back on their feet. Now they need about two smaller versions; an 800cc as well as a 500 to 550 cc version, small and lighter and ready for more difficult terrain but still comfortable on the street.

  1169. The 300 sounds nice but my question is: Is there a continuous drain in the foot wells so water doesn’t collect when stored outdoors? (Covers trap ant moisture and cause mildew, discoloration and adhesive failure of the glues down pads.)

    1. Lift the tongue of the trailer. A drain to the hull would cause hull to fill with water while riding!

      If you use the watercraft you would understand more than your storage issues

    2. My advice is to either keep it in a garage, or to keep it covered up one way or another. Pretty simple and fairly reasonable investment for a fairly expensive toy!!! Ya think?

    3. Evan a hole the size of a quarter would probably quickly fill up with debris. At our dealership, we had some tripods made with a trailer ball welded on the top. They are about 30″ tall, and we put them under the trailer hitch when they are being stored. Any water runs right off.

  1170. You just have to tip the legs on your lift or whatever storage method you use, so that the footwells drain when stored.

  1171. Congrats Boswell’s Harley….Very impressive numbers….I lived in So.Indiana in the 1990’s I road my Harley to Boswell’s Nashville to look around and have a burger….They had a small restaurant in the dealer ship…..very nice shop indeed!!!!

  1172. As a victim that died and was revived by emt members after colliding with a two seater Razor driving on the street in Tucson, Arizona., I would say that harder endorsement tests should have to be passed with more than just a low minimum. Most of these guys are meeting the minimum for street legal/safety requirements here. Turn signal kits using your existing brake lights are dangerous and should be outlawed. From a side view in a passing zone the blinking of one side (the only side visible) it just appears the operator is tapping the brakes. No side mirror to check before turning left and poof a brutal collision. I was on a sport touring bike and lost! Aftermarket accessories are cool and hip but they don’t convey the level of communicated intentions that stock, street legal amber lenses and integrated turn signals in side mirrors do. Red lenses were intended to indicate brake lights in 99% of the cases. Amber turn signaling. I used to get VW buggies street legal for customers and mimicking the auto industry’s safety is best for your safety and those around you. It should be the law. I hate that we compromise other driver’s safety to try and cheat the process or due to fine line technicalities.

    1. You make a compelling case for DOT approved (amber) turn signals. I agree. I am happy that you survived and can contribute to this conversation. As long as we are on the subject of DOT and vehicle lighting, why not retrofit all brake lamps with a rheostat like component so the person behind can tell the intentions of the one braking. People who annoyingly ride their brakes would have dimly lit brake lights while a full on threshold braking maneuver would result in very bright brake lights. If you know the intentions of the drivers around you – and they know YOUR intentions – I don’t think we would have many accidents.

    2. Have you ever followed a trailer? Brake lamp and turn signal are the same circuit. Both left and right sides are red. Amber dictates clearance.

    3. My 2018 chevy has red trun signals from factory. I do not agree with that statement. I understand you got hurt but accidents happen that’s why I got rid of my bike something goes wrong its you and the road that’s it. I hit a deer at 70mph. Fix the bike rode it 3 more years and got rid of it.
      Sorry to hear you got hurt but if we agreed with your statement then motorcycle would be illegal. More people get killed on them then just about any other motorized vehicle . These are the risks we take buying and riding our toys.

    4. I completely disagree… signals and brake lights have traditionally always been the same circuit, bulb and color. On fully 90%+ of road going vehicles and trailers. I’ve been a diesel mechanic for over 15 years and I promise you you’re absolutely and unequivocally WRONG about that.

      Secondly… anyone who blames a lack of laws or safety regulations for their own failures and short comings deserves a wake up call.

      I drive extremely aggressively when I’m in my car or truck. I tailgate, I speed, the accelerator is basically an on/off switch when I’m driving. But when I ride my bike. I’m completely the opposite. I don’t speed excessively, I don’t tailgate vehicles that could kill me and I’m hyper vigilant. It’s up to YOU to make sure your ride doesn’t end up in death. And that you make it home.

  1173. I have a question, for WI and MN residents. I’m from South Dakota, if I’m driving a car I can drive all the streets and roads. South Dakota considers a licensed side by side a legal automobile. If it is a legal vehicle in another state, can you point me to a state law that makes my side by side illegal in your state.

    1. They do not meet WI definition of a motor vehicle for use on public roads . WI ss 340.01(35). More information can be founder in WI Trans 305 and chapter 23.33.

  1174. I think this is totally ridiculous that these types of vehicles gain entry not only to off road state trails but also the open road. The UTVs they produce now are as big as trucks nearly, and tear up the trails just as much, yet dirtbikes arent allowed on either on or off road, state ATV trails. The more that we see this type of legislation pass, the more of a market these larger UTVs will have and produce ones that are capable of going faster, being larger and seating more people, as an alternative to cars with none if the safety. And by effect tearing up the streets, and especially, especially the trails that people enjoy.

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  1176. I have always wanted to drive a slingshot. I love the design but I’ve heard it can be a little uncomfortable. I’m glad to hear that the 2020 slingshot has a more comfortable driving experience.

  1177. I got to test out the Overland 1000 a couple of months back. It’s a beast. If they hit their target MSRP, they won’t be able to build them fast enough.

    1. I haven’t had much experience with CFMOTO’s products. Speaking strictly about their branding and design – I love what they’re putting out there.

  1178. Have a 2009 RXP with Riva upgrades. Exhaust hose come off and ski was under water for one hour. State Farm paid 4800 for repairs. When ski was return motor smokes badly on idle. Looking for a tech to repair engine in the Ind Ohio Kentucky area. Please call. Thanks

  1179. So another one is closing their doors too, Pomona Valley Harley-Davidson (PVHD), a factory-authorized Harley-Davidson dealership opened their doors in 1936. Closing them on December 31, 2020. It getting to be depressing.

  1180. Without inventory, the outcome of the presidency want matter! Folks, we have to get back to work.

  1181. Please Please inform me how I can get a replacement air filter for my 2019 kymco 700i. You would think that if you want a customer base you would have a web site to at least be able too order a air filter.

    thank you

  1182. If Biden gets in we are doomed. The power sports business will be over. Life as we know it will change in a negative way. Freedoms will be lost and they will control your life. 401K’s will plummet.

    1. GEEZ! We’ve managed to survive every US president, good or bad. This will be no different. Stop being such a Nervous Nancy..

    2. Out of curiousity, under what Democratic administration did any of things you predict actually happen? The only 2 economic collapses in the past 20 years or so have happened with Republicans in the White House.

    3. The view from the Frozen North is a little different. While Biden may not be wonderful for Canada, Trump will be disastrous for the rest of the world. He is already an off colour joke. The man is the same person he has been all his life. I truly wonder about the sanity of his supporters.

  1183. I figured Harley would pull out of flaT TRACKING EVER SINCE THEY STARTED GETTING THERE ASS KIKCKED BY KAWASAKI AND INDIAN IT MUST SUCK THAT YOU HAVE TO DEPEND ON RULE CHANGES OVER THE YEARS TO STAY A FACTOR

  1184. Leaving it up to dealers to create and run teams with a contingency program. I see the production twins doing well with a dealer but the super twin has a little way to go yet. Will be interesting to see what happens over on the drag racing side.

  1185. How the mighty have fallen. I’ve been going to flat track races since 1973. I rooted against the factory Harleys because they won all the time. The last several years, I have rooted for them because they were getting their butts kicked by the factory Indian team. Lately, they have been getting beaten by pretty much any Indian in the field.

  1186. I am excited to see this technology being brought into the PWC segment, and it has additional benefits beyond those mentioned in the article. I highly suggest those questioning this type of power vs traditional gas power, to dig deep into the website of Taiga Motors, seek out the ever-growing number of reviews. It certainly appears that Taiga has done their homework internally, coupled with plenty of field-sourced test feedback, to arrive at their ORCA offering. I am thoroughly impressed.

    This product opens doors to waters that are closed to gas-powered craft, eliminates the typical noise and fuel pollution that will have plenty of people cheering, and cancels out the inevitable maintenance that is required annually with a gas-powered unit. Collectively, this becomes a great offering for cottage owners, tour companies, resort rental fleets, and the list goes on. I believe Taiga has developed a winner with its Orca line, and I’m very much pondering becoming a proud owner myself, very soon.

    To the comment about servicing these units, I entrust that Taiga will fully, and properly train all personnel that will be working on these, however there isn’t much to tinker with vs. a gas-powered PWC.

  1187. Wanting find a replacement motor or parts for a Kearns 50CC kids quad ATV.
    Any idea where I can find this information?
    Any idea how to determine correct model or identifying markets so I can match parts and or engine?

  1188. So sad for this family dealership….They will rebuild because they have a great attitude and wonderful community support…..Even more sad is Harley corporate turning their back on these folks….But in todays world and the current management at Harley I’m not supprised….stand tall D&S you’ll be better than ever….

  1189. Notifications of how to vie and when would be helpful. Seems Road Racing is hard to follow which includes Moto GP and now this coverage. A clear understanding would be appreciated.

  1190. i have a 2014 odes raider 800. i am looking to buy a front wheel hub and front axel for my machine. i cannot find anywhere. can you guys help..

  1191. The South St. Paul store was still McNamara Cycle Sales in 1969. It was owned and operated by my father, Richard McNamara into the early 70s. My father was very proud that someone paid to have “McNamara Cycle Sales” along with “See South St. Paul Hitching Post” printed in the telephone directory up until the 90s. His customers loved him and he assumed enough customers must have still asked about McNamara Cycle Sales to cause someone to print that after all those years. I miss you Dad.

  1192. Some misunderstandings about batteries in EV/e-bikes need to be cleared up:
    1. “five years from now, there are going to be a lot of powersports dealers with electric bikes sitting in the corners of their showrooms. The bikes will be new, but the batteries will be dead” Unlike lead-acid batteries, well-built Li Ion batteries common in E-Bikes and EVs maintain their charge well and wear out only as a function of the number of recharges. They all have Battery-Management-Systems (BMS) built-in to protect the cells so they can be recharged hundreds and thousands of times. They keep their charge for many months without requiring a battery tender.
    2. “…, and replacing those batteries will cost more than the bike originally did.” The opposite will be true. Battery costs have been dropping due to automotive demand. A li-ion cell purchased today would have been double the price in 2017. If you’re serious about selling EVs or E-bikes, make sure to know the manufacturer has been around and plans to be around to support and upgrade batteries when the current ones wear out. In the future, either they’ll be cheaper, or you’ll get more energy storage in the same package and same price. That’s the trend. https://cleantechnica.com/2020/02/19/bloombergnef-lithium-ion-battery-cell-densities-have-almost-tripled-since-2010/

  1193. Paul, it is an understatement to say ” job well done” a tremendous asset to S&S and to the motorcycle industry. I suspect we have not heard the last from you ! enjoy the time with your family.

  1194. I would like to wish Paul a happy retirement and all the best to you and your family . Although we never met , I was a n engine machinist for 50 years , and S & S dealer for around 25 of those years (4699) , I dealt with Rosie , and Torger , and many others over the years . From sales to tech. , it was always a great pleasure, so to you and all your crew , a huge Thank You . Once again , Happy Retirement !! Mike Riley

  1195. Since the closure of Valley Forge Harley & Chester Springs Harley in PA has left a huge void in the Montgomery & Chester Co. area. I sure wish Harley Davidson would consider a second look at the area that is located 20+ miles outside of Philadelphia.

  1196. After having a good amount of time on the indian challenger and the new road glide harley is not even close us harley fans should have demanded a real motorbike years ago but we let them run on the popularity now are bikes suck and the motor company hasnt responded we need to take a look at triumph and indian and maybe we could get a clue disgruntled ex harley mechanic

  1197. Suzuki epitomized the term Insanity doing the same thing expecting a different result, that is why dealers are dropping the brand!

  1198. Hello I’m looking to start a jet ski rental business but I’m looking to lease the jet ski instead of buying them

  1199. I’ve been friends with the Hattiesburg gang for almost 15 years. They run a great dealership.

  1200. I met Paul back in the 90s when he was working at Dynojet. Shortly after he went to Supertrapp. Then he returned to Dynojet to replace me when I left to strike out on my own. I learned a lot from Paul, about motorcycles, the industry and how to manage a department. He is one of the best and I wish him well in his future endeavors. Dave Koshollek

  1201. I haven’t heard “The Big Four” in a while. I do hope Suzuki can start bringing excitement to a broader audience again.

  1202. I got my gunslinger in 1999 registered it in 2000 since I moved to Maine don’t drive that much.. I’m upgrading to new lights tires etc. I’m taking it down to frame then polishing everything as soon as it gets warmer.
    I was told it was the only kit sold and they stoped making that model cost to much .its 113 cc S&S I think it’s 130 Hp
    I have a vin # but can’t find it in DMV looking for old licence . Love it but going to sell it.

  1203. It’s sad to see these dealerships closing. These were the dealers that supported Harley during the hard years, 1980’s when AMF didn’t have the money to support them, these dealers created a network of dealers around USA and used their money to promote Harley.

    We lost another long-time dealer in Southern California. Pomona Valley Harley-Davidson closed its door permanently at the end of December 2020. They served the Pomona Valley area since 1936.

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  1205. Joan Jett is still alive? She must be in the triple digits by now. I bet she will connect well with retirees.

  1206. I am interested in leasing a Can AM SPYDER F3-S .My name is Antonio Westmoreland and my phone number is 301-302-5546.I hope to hear from you soon.

  1207. I took my 1990 108 c apart and didn’t mark the parts for reassembly how do I find the marks to reassemble this in the right position

  1208. where is the bearcat groomer special? you guys nailed in in 2016-2019 and then stopped making it? the trail groomers are struggling w other off brands.

  1209. This is great news! Kudos to Maine for responding to the increased demand in off road riding access by expanding their trail system and access. I wish the lower New England states would get on board with this.

  1210. Polaris must be receiving a block grant for developing yet another autonomous vehicle. Most people don’t trust computer controlled vehicles which are not bound to a track of some type. There is just too much opportunity for variation to rare its ugly head and creating a risk to both humans and private property. In a world accelerating hatred via Hegelian dialectics. Its easy to understand how one bent upon destruction via war in antithesis would take advantage of such a platform as their method of delivering a terrorist attack.

    Where its obvious we need methodologies to reduce the volume of traffic in cities (where emissions are the absolute worst), autonomous vehicles are not the answer, as they only consolidate the emissions and transfer the congestion onto a different platform. As long as there are millions of people attempting to access a small area from 9am to 5pm there will always be the issue of congestion, regardless of the vehicle platform. It ludicrous to think that somehow the creation of a vehicle platform which requires massive electric infrastructure, somehow will magically reduce emissions. The only possible reason for attempting to create an autonomous vehicle platform is control, aka government controls over how individuals travel.

    The problem with cities is concentrated volume. Therefore, concentrated volume is what needs to change. If we have learned anything from this recent pandemic, it’s that employees don’t need to travel into a city to sit in an office for 8 hours per day, and that directly addresses concentrated volume. The other focal point which would address concentrated volume is timing, not everyone needs to be in a specific place by 9am… There are after all, 24 hours in a day.

    If folks like Polaris want to help, create a vehicle that can provide transportation, which does not rely upon paved roadways. Imagine that environmental improvement.

  1211. Good to see HD enter into one of the strongest segments in the Powersports business. I hope this will bring a new customer into the HD delaer ship. Most important is that they feel welcome in what will be a new dealer experience for this demographic. Could be a big winner for the motor company, fingers crossed !!

  1212. I would be happy if I could get somebody to call me back. I bought a Slingshot from the dealer in Prince George, VA. They supposed to have ordered a fuel gauge sensor for the new Slingshot I bought, but have not called me about it and when I called its been on back order. I tried to schedule my my first check (500 mile), I left a voice mail at service section with no call back, I called the seller with no call back, I called for a manager and they gave me the service section, I tried to schedule the service and he asked me to leave my name and number and he would call back. I asked to be transferred to the store manager and left a voice mail and no call back. This is not the first time I have had a service section issue.

  1213. Still building overpriced Crap, but there apparently is an endless supply of idiots to buy it Can only imagine how bad the electric stuff will be.

  1214. OMG Kim!! I just saw this. As a customer and former employee I want to say this location will be missed and it was an honor to work for you all those years.

  1215. Today I drove an hour and 45 min to the power sports /ride now dealer In Ocala , Fl. After our experience with the sailed manager Dave. I will never again do business with this chain. We were ready to drop $ 30,000 today and he was so rude. We looked at a package deal slingshot and trailer. Trailer had a few issues we wanted taken care of. Dave stepped away and came back with an offer of $1000.00 off the quote ,we would need to do the repairs ourselves. We told him we wanted the repairs done through the dealer. He stood up extended his had and told us to have a good day turned around and walked away. Dave was very Arrogant and extremely rude. Needless to say we won’t be doing business with any RideNow dealers ever. I intend to contact manufacturers of the products and inform them of our experience.

  1216. Saw These guys (https://www.imotorsportsinc.com/) on Cycle trader. They had a Honda CBR 900 series for around $4000 I called on a Monday 05/24 spoke with a gentleman in sales. He informed me the bike was sold I then asked about another Honda CBR 600 Red blue and grey paint $5,499 he said that was sold as well but it was listed on cycle trader and their website. I also asked about an Orange and Black Honda CBR 600 and he informed me that it was at another store but he could get it in if I were interested. I told him I would be interested if the price is right, he then said the price was listed on the website and They don’t Haggle prices the price is $5,999 for a preowned Honda CBR 600cc. Kelly Blue Book value for the Bike is $5,360. I thought I could get it for in between $4,500 to $5,000. This is a business, Dont Businesses haggle prices Im pretty sure you got it at a Fraction of the price. Fully upset they are this gunho About charging customers Over Market Value Price (Kelly Blue Book), With me being a Cash buyer just trying to save a few dollars.

  1217. This is the same concerned Gov. who set by and let the rioters destroy Portland!!!!! How do these guys get in to office????

  1218. I just got refused on a purchase because sales “manager” Josh Attawaysaid that Yamaha manufacture warranty says I Cannot RIDE my 3yr in front of me on a little 50 4-wheeler. I clearly stated that my child would NOT BE touching g the controls! Josh states, “well, I would’ve had to ask anyway!” So I said: “You’re Refusing my $2000+ purchase!?” Josh knods his head in a “yes” motion! I think to myself & then out loud; “u can’t refuse a sale, based on a “RIDER” ask & answered statement!?” Josh then starts to walk-way while saying; “I’m not gonna argue with you!” WOWWW

  1219. I had the best experience shopping online with J&P Cycles. Correct part, super fast delivery! I’m about to pull up their website and buy some more stuff for my Harley!

  1220. For all those screwed by bankruptcy. and chapter 11 or 7 filings, sorry for your loss, it sucks.

    But I hope you kept that in mind when and if you voted for the “Art of the Deal”. The guy who boosted how he screwed people in his second book and made fun of the banks that lend him money and he bought everything back for Pennies on the Dollar. Hailed at the great “Entrepreneur” a business genius and defended with “Its just business” or “Thats the way things work”.

  1221. I’m looking for a starter for a 2015 bad boy onslaught 550 4×4 cant find one for it anywhere please contact me at 432 209 6785

  1222. WCMC has ruined any “mom and pop” dealerships they got their hands on. Been riding Harley for over 20 years and have visited EVERY dealership in the Chicagoland area within a 200 mile radius. I can vouch that this “group” does ruin the shopping experience for the customer as well as ruin relationships with their own employees. I’ve known several employees over the last 20 years, and have spoken to them after hours on rides or pit stops, and they ALL say that Ozzie and his crew start out fine when they take over a dealership, but it doesn’t take long for his true colors to show. Aside from knowing this information from former employees, I can vouch from personal experience. I would rather go out of my way and buy/service my rides at a non WCMC dealership. I myself have found Uke’s in Kenosha to be a great dealership !! I would highly recommend them without hesitation. Been doing my regular business there for over ten years, but have visited them many years ago, still when they were located in an smaller dealership few miles away. Again, do your own research. There’s a reason some of these acquired WCMC dealerships are closing?? Read between the lines.

  1223. Am having some problems with my Battery Powered Bad Boy side by side. Battery related issue. Please don’t leave all your dedicated Bad Boy owners alone with no help.

  1224. I have a 900 bad boy side by side when it gets warm you will not shift no specs for a lining primary and secondary clutch I installed a new clutch when it’s cold it shifts great when it gets warm I can’t shift it I have to shut it off and restart it in gear there has to be something nobody knows anything

  1225. I was just contacted by my dealer and I was advised that the number of mules he could order was reduced. Now instead of getting my 4010 in August or September, I’ll now have to wait until November or December. My health is not good and I really need my mule asap. Can anyone there help me?

  1226. Hi my name is John
    We purchased the wave blaster motor 760 motor some years back now it’s time for it to get overhaul we’re not sure if it is a 760 so if I give you the serial number I hope you can help me with some information about the motor serial number is 28819 any help would be much appreciated28819

  1227. Hi we need a carburetor and both shift cables for forward and reverse any help?
    It’s a trail rover 500TX 2014

  1228. I am interested in becoming a certified technician to work on BRP/CanAm products. Would appreciate more information please. Cathy

  1229. I have a 2007 Electric 4 x 4 Bad Boy Buggy model BB-AMS4
    I need to buy a service manual for it.
    Where can I buy one? I live in Hudson NY 12534
    Thank you,

  1230. Does the Arctic Cat 2006 T660 Turbo Touring LE have a diamond drive since it has a pull out, push in mechanical reverse? Thanks.

  1231. I have a set of delkron shovelhead cases serial number DKM186867
    Trying to find out what year they were made or where I can find how to brake down the serial numbers

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