OUT WITH THE OLD?

Back when MIC convened its first Aftermarket Summit, it created a literal clash of the titans as the old guard came together to collaborate with powersports peers and gain valuable insight on the aftermarket industry. “A special thanks to Paul Langley from Parts Unlimited, Chera Gibbs from Arrowhead Engineering / Western Power Sports (WPS) and Marc McAllister from Tucker Powersports — having these leaders from the industry’s big three distributors all at the same table discussing our industry’s future was a huge step forward,” claimed Aftermarket Committee Chairman Tim Calhoun at the time. He immediately followed that up with a nod to the disruptive thinking from the upstarts and start-ups in the room. “We also had a lot of diversity, with upstarts like SUPER73 and KickstandsUp lending a fresh voice and fresh thinking to the sessions.” So what did the young guns have to tell the old guard? KickstandUp, which will be in Booth #3091 at AIMExpo, elaborates:

“As technologists and dedicated riders, we saw the pressing need for a solution that removes the high barriers to entry for riders seeking events to attend,” says Chief Engagement Officer and KickstandUp co-founder Jay Old. With the explosive growth in motorcycle sales over the past three years, it’s clear that America’s passion for two-wheeled adventure is rolling stronger than ever. But as the new generation of riders throttles up for fun, many are running into a barrier: Finding moto events to attend has been a difficult, hit-or-miss affair resulting in a familiar frustration.

Twenty years ago, the local dealership served as a powerful hub for moto culture. With a passionate staff of riders and bulletin boards packed with flyers for local events and races, dealerships provided customers with tremendous added value. As the dealer-customer relationship has grown increasingly transactional, riders are largely on their own to figure out how to enjoy their two-wheeled toys, requiring them to sift through antiquated websites or know about all the right online groups to join. Many are left all geared up with nowhere to go.

So how can our industry better connect its new riders to all the good times waiting for them, and turn their new moto fling into a lifelong passion? The new kickstandsup.com site could hold the key.

Offering the first free, easy and fast way for riders to discover all the most relevant events in their areas and across the U.S., KickstandsUp is built to meet the new generation of motorcyclists where they are, with a presentation they have come to expect.

“There are thousands of motorcycle events every year, but they’re nearly impossible to find online,” adds Old. “On a platform that plays equally well on mobile devices and desktops, visitors can browse through hundreds of upcoming rallies, meetups, races, tours, rides and more, with filters that help them narrow down by their distinct preferences. And by setting up a profile, riders unlock the ability to curate their experience, seeing only events and advertisements relevant to their riding styles. Additional features are being added every month, informed by experts in the industry.

To ensure users can easily navigate the ever-growing range of event information on the site, the team created a streamlined online experience that invites discovery and sharing.

“On-road or off-road, from scooters to roadsters to vintage choppers — there’s a huge diversity of riding interests in our moto world,” says Jon Iler, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer. “We tuned our platform to make it super simple to home in on the events that match your style, and to save, share and keep informed of upcoming events.”

Even with this robust functionality, KickstandsUp is 100% free for all — and this extends to event promoters, who can set up their own host pages on the site and instantly create their own event pages with a bare minimum of fuss and hassle.

“Our free and easy-to-use platform ensures more seat time for our growing community of two-wheeled enthusiasts — and that’s a win-win for everyone,” concludes Old. “With this focus on retention, the entire industry stands to gain from making riding more accessible to all.”

Based in San Diego, KickstandsUp Unlimited, Inc. was created by and for riders to provide a one-stop connection to all the relevant moto events and riding opportunities nearby and across the country. By bringing all the up-to-date published information into one place, and providing the simple, fast tools to filter events by user preference, we’re bridging the divide between event promoters and attendees to help strengthen moto communities, promote rider participation and create more two-wheeled joy for all.

Contact: www.kickstandsup.com IG: @kickstandsup_moto