Yoshimura Parts Ways With Tucker, Joins WPS

On Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, Yoshimura parted ways with Tucker Powersports and signed a new distribution agreement with Western Powersports. Tucker Powersports dealers received the following email about the company’s relationship with Yoshimura that day:

Dear Tucker Dealer,

This is to advise you that we are ending our relationship with Yoshimura today.

We will continue to sell our current inventory of Yoshimura products until supplies are depleted. If you have an order in the Tucker system for a product in our inventory, that order will be fulfilled on our normal schedule.

This decision was a mutual agreement from both companies, based on each company’s business plans. Tucker values the opportunity to work with Yoshimura for many years.

Please contact your Tucker Rep if you have any questions.

Shortly afterward, Yoshimura sent out its own press release on the subject, titled, “Yoshimura Dissolving Distribution Partnership with Tucker Powersports”:

As of Oct. 1, Yoshimura is dissolving its distribution partnership with Tucker Powersports. After a 20-year relationship, we find ourselves at a difficult crossroads and have made the decision to part ways with Tucker Powersports as a distribution partner. Tucker will continue to fill backorders through the end of 2022 as their final orders are filled. Please contact your local Tucker Representative for any question regarding any outstanding Yoshimura orders with them. We would like to thank Tucker Powersports for an amazing 20 years and wish them nothing but success in the future.

On the heels of that notice, a final one came out from Western Power Sports, titled, “Western Power Sports Named Exclusive U.S. Distributor of Yoshimura Products”:

Western Power Sports (WPS) announced that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Yoshimura R&D of America, Inc., a premium aftermarket exhaust systems company, to become the sole distributor of Yoshimura products in the U.S., effective October 1, 2022.

The agreement expands on a collaboration that began in 2017 and underscores the companies’ commitment to uncompromising quality and service standards. WPS dealers nationwide will gain exclusive, first-to-market access to Yoshimura’s exceptional line of high-performance mufflers and exhaust systems and accessories for street and off-road motorcycles as well as select ATVs and UTVs.

“WPS is proud of the strong relationship we developed with Yoshimura over the past five years,” said Steve Lester, president, WPS. “Our two companies share a single-minded vision and passion for powersports. Through this alignment, WPS has earned Yoshimura’s trust. Being awarded the exclusive rights to distribute Yoshimura products in the U.S. is a responsibility we do not take lightly and are honored to take on.

“The exclusive distribution of Yoshimura’s superior products through WPS’ reliable dealer network and passionate powersports sales force is the next step in growing this partnership and will allow us to succeed together for years to come,” Lester continued.

The WPS dealer network is well acquainted with Yoshimura’s outstanding, technologically advanced product lines. Its Signature Series exhaust systems cover the entire powersports spectrum, while its Race Series systems are for closed course competition. All feature innovative design elements, high-quality materials and craftsmanship for which the legacy brand is known.

“We are excited to announce that WPS is now the exclusive U.S. distributor for Yoshimura products,” said Yusaku Yoshimura, president, Yoshimura R&D of America. “Our relationship with them has exceeded our expectations over the past several years, and we are sure this new endeavor will make our partnership even stronger.

“We trust in the WPS team’s invaluable industry experience, extensive resources and — most importantly — their passion for powersports. We believe this decision will help us to better service dealers and end users moving into the future,” Yoshimura said.

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.