November 2016 AWP In Review
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]verage Wholesale Prices (AWP) showed surprising resilience in November, coming in above both the prior three-month average and last year’s November average. Even domestic cruiser pricing, which has been softer than usual the last few months, was up in November. This is partly due to the seasonal shift in dealer appetite for inventory as well
Consider These Trends for 2017 Growth
Dealers Can Drive loyalty and Instill confidence with New F&I Products By Glenice Wilder 2016 has been a year of change for powersports dealers. Post-recession, the industry saw some positive growth in the powersports space. This has been primarily due to independent dealer sales of pre-owned inventories over new motorcycle sales. New lenders entered the
’16 was not so Sweet, but ’17 Could be Better
[dropcap]F[/dropcap]or most motorcycle and powersports dealers, 2016 was anything but sweet. In fact, we would venture to say that it was a year most dealers would rather forget. Much of the volatility that plagued the end of 2015, carried over into 2016 and pressured not only sales, but more importantly, weighed on profits. Issues that
Printing All the News That Fits: December
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s the Greek philosopher Heraclitus noted, “The only constant is change!” Seems like the entire powersports industry was in a state of flux in 2016. Mergers, acquisitions and simple cases of the ‘grass is greener’ wanderlust made it tough to tell who the players were without a scorecard this season. From industry veteran Greg Blackwell
Thanks For Everything, 2016
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]e came up with this Year in Review idea two years ago because we thought it would be a good time to not only look back on the year, but also to look ahead a little with an outlook for what the coming year might entail. Of course, we also wanted to include some current news
Shifting Gears (November): Printing All The News That Fits
New head wrangler in Texas as Tucker Rocky/Biker’s Choice names Eric Cagle President of the Fort Worth-based distribution giant. Cagle comes from Caterpillar Inc. and Neovia Logistics where he spent 25+ years. “The opportunity to join a recognized leader in such an exciting industry was very appealing to me,” Cagle says. “The relationship this company
Eye Opener
As we slide into the winter solstice, a bonus to this time of year is that tradeshow season has virtually come to an end – at least for most of us. Our biggest event in North America, AIMExpo 2016, is now in the books. It is the last show in Orlando (for now), and the
Lead Us Not In To Indecisiveness
It doesn’t matter if you are a dealer, a product manufacturer, a service provider or a distributor – Who is in charge of making the really big “decisions” in our industry, our businesses and our dealerships?
Back in the Saddle: The Latest in Motorcycle Seats
It wasn’t too long ago that motorcycle seats were more or less an afterthought on motorcycles. Riding around on a slab of plastic, metal or hard leather was the only option riders had. Today, that is the farthest thing from the truth. Motorcycle seats are now a big aspect of the bike and are built for rider comfort.
Alpinestars Is Hip
Retro Roll-Out For Oscar Line & #NiceBike Launch [dropcap]W[/dropcap]hat’s old is new again, but what is truly cool is timeless! Alpinestars teamed up with motorcycle customizing visionary Gard Hollinger to host a re-launch of the Oscar by Alpinestars apparel line at Arch Motorcycles just before word broke that Alpinestars was expanding its cooperation with KTM
Retail Sales Environment Remained Sluggish in September
[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ur latest survey of powersports dealers indicates that the retail sales environment remained sluggish in September. The general theme from the market place is that consumers are being cautious with their spending and are often compelled to make a purchase only when heavy incentives are included. Perhaps the best example of this consumer behavior comes
Mechanical and Hydraulic Linked Brakes
Linked braking systems on motorcycles and scooters have become more common over the years. Hydraulic systems use proportioning valves, delay valves, and multiple master cylinders to combine the activation of the front and rear brakes in a smooth and logical fashion. Mechanical brake systems use equalizer junctions to link up the cables for the front
