Looking Back, Looking Forward & Trying Not to Cry!
Dear Ma, I hope you’re doing good up there in Heaven. We are extremely busy down here in Big D. Things are really hectic around here this time of year and I am very grateful for that!
Apparel Pro: Full-Face Helmets
Recently, I was looking at full-face helmets at a local dealership. A variety of top brands were on hand, a range of price points was represented and there was even a mirror to check how the helmet looked…
Lower Priced Units Remain Consumer Focus
Our latest survey of powersports dealers indicates that the retail sales environment remained weak in February. The general theme in the marketplace is that consumer interest was focused on lower-priced ATV units and utility products from Can-Am, Polaris and Honda. In the recreational segment, Polaris’ heavily discounted RZR 1000 models were a topic of conversation,
Senate Motorcycle Caucus Helps Us
As we were ready to go to press and I was still ruminating over what to write my column about, in comes some late breaking news that changes everything. The Senate has formed a Motorcycle Caucus! This will certainly be welcomed by the industry and receive strong support from the Motorcycle Industry Council and American
Track Days: Preaching To The Choir?
Say “track day” and visions of go-fast guys on crotch rockets wearing Rossi and Marquez replica leathers and lids probably flash from your subconscious. Ditto for the dirt dealers who envision local pros dressed like Dungey blitzing your customers through the whoops. This dynamic is shifting, however. While the typical track days continue to preach
Southwest Superbikes: Wins The Auction Game
When playing Texas Hold ‘Em poker, a player is dealt two “hole” cards face down, then there is a round of betting where you can check, bet or fold. When all the betting has finished, three shared cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. More betting, bluffing and BS take place
Setting Up Customers’ Sport Bikes for Track Days
Sport bikes are so fast it is hard to enjoy them on the street without danger to life and license. Taking them to the race track allows the rider to enjoy the upper end of their performance envelop in a controlled environment free of slow cars, double yellow lines and speed limits.
Planned Versus Impulse Buying Behavior
As a business it is easy to benefit from impulse purchases if you are offering products for a few dollars, but how can you have those same results with products that cost $1,000 or more?
Kawasaki’s Jet Ski SX-R Lets the Good Times Float
Forty-three years ago, Kawasaki created a new phenomenon on the water with the launch of its Jet Ski watercraft. Today, Kawasaki is attempting to reawaken that sentiment as an innovator on the water with the introduction of a four-stroke stand-up PWC – the 2017 Jet Ski SX-R. Combining heritage with its race winning performance, Kawasaki
MV Agusta Relaunches in North America
The motorcycle Gods are smiling on MV Agusta – and its U.S. subsidiary, MV Agusta USA. MV rose to prominence in the ’50s and ’60s grand prix motorcycle racing era on the back of such legends as Giacomo Agostini, John Surtees and Mike Hailwood. Hoping to recapture some its heritage after tough financial times, the
Auction Action: Pre-Owned Heats Up
As Bob Dylan noted, the times they are a changin’ – and if you aren’t tuned into the pre-owned market, you could be left singing the blues! According to the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), new unit sales were off -2.7% for motorcycles and -4.7% for ATVs in 2016. As a direct consequence, the pre-owned space
Stronger Demand Drives AWP Up In March
Pre-Owned Is Heating Up Dealers around the country are reporting strong consumer demand for pre-owned vehicles. Average Wholesale Pricing (AWP) for March is up as a result, with notable price increases in almost every product category. Domestic Cruisers saw the biggest increase, up 11% over the prior three-month average, reversing last year’s softness as dealers
