New Riders Turn Into New Customers: Introductory Experiences at AIMExpo

The Recreation Off-Highway Vehicle Association, ATV Safety Institute and Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) will hold Introductory Experiences for consumer show attendees at AIMExpo Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Introductory Experiences programs are geared toward persons with little or no off-road vehicle experience.

“All of the Introductory Experiences are designed to give prospective motorcyclists, ATV riders or SxS riders a taste of what the product offers in a very safe and controlled environment,” says MSF vice president Rob Gladden.

The Introductory Experiences are not rider training; instead, they are intended to get first-timers used to the vehicles and are a stepping stone to the MSF Basic RiderCourse.

“The MSF Motorcycle Introductory Experience was designed for a small training area that would fit in many dealerships’ parking lots,” says Gladden. “Sometimes, these experiences are a tipping point for people — whether they go take the next step and get into our Basic RiderCourse, or maybe they decide that motorcycling isn’t something for them.”

If you’re at AIMExpo, visit the AIMExpo Outdoors! area to see these Introductory Experiences in action and visit the MSF team at booth 1657 to learn more about bringing an Introductory Experience to your dealership. You can also find out more about the program by visiting msf-usa.org.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recently named Marilyn Stemp and Steve Piehl to its board of directors.

Stemp is a pioneering figure in the motorcycle industry, founding IronWorks Magazine with her late husband, Dennis, and becoming the first female editor of a nationally circulated, mainstream motorcycle magazine. She also revived their trade magazine, Iron Trader News; edits the monthly Kiwi Indian News; contributes to several powersports media outlets; and is the founding editor of Sturgis Rider Daily. Stemp is a noted editor and writer of several motorcycle-focused books. Her consistent support for charitable efforts in the industry include the annual Biker Belles Celebration, Las Vegas BikeFest and as campaign chair for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s development plan in 2014. She co-founded the Flying Piston charity events taking place in Daytona and Sturgis each year and is a National Ambassador for All Kids Bike. Stemp was inducted into both the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Museum's Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022 she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports by DealerNews.