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WORLD’S LUCKIEST MAN
Bob Althoff On Call-In Vs. Call-Out
EDITOR’S NOTE
Robin Hartfiel On Resolutions
LETTERS+ The Industry On The Allure Of Motorcycles
OPEN LETTERS TO THE INUDSTRY
MV Agusta Has Something To Say...
NEWS+ NVP Date Set, MX Track Owners Unite, PBS Dials In Another Deal
SHIFTING GEARS+ Personnel Postings, Courtesy MIJ
PROFILE
Christy LaCurelle MIC CEO & President
AIMExpo AND BEYOND
Where Does The Motorcycle Industry Council Go From Here?
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
MIC Board Of Directors Has A New Look
RumbleOn Releases Quarterly Results
MAKING BANK
Octane Finance For 56 RideNow
INDUSTRY RESEARCH+ Tier 2 ATV/UTV Market Report
INDUSTRY RESEARCH+ BRP By The Numbers
INDUSTRY RESEARCH+ Lenny Sims On Q3 UTV Market Insights
INDUSTRY RESEARCH+ Jim Woodruff On June NPA AWP Review
eDEALERNEWS
Charging Onto The Tradeshow Circuit
CURRENTS+ Fuell Runs Out Of Gas, Fuji-Gas Wins, eShifting Gears
NPDA DEALER
ADVOCACY+ Don Amador On Santa Brings Christmas Valley OHV Park
CONFESSIONS OF A CUSTOMER Eric Anderson On Re-Connecting
PRESS PASS+ Robin Hartfiel On EICMA
PRESS PASS+ Launching Into A New Year!
VALE+ Ave Atque Vale Mary McGee
AD INDEX This Issue Brought To You By…
BACKFIRE
A Dealer’s Perspective Of KTM
OUR TEAM
EDITORIAL
Robin Hartfiel Editor/Publisher
Bob Althoff World’s Luckiest Man
Gus Stewart Creative Director
Brenda Stiehl Production Manager
CONTRIBUTORS
Don Musick Genesys Technology Solutions
Dr. Paul Leinberger
Eric Anderson Vroom Network
Jim Woodruff National Powersport Auctions
Lenny Sims NADA Appraisal Guides
Scot Harden AMA Hall Of Fame/Harden Offroad
Alex Baylon Motorcycle Industry Jobs
Hector Cademartori Illustrations
William Douglas Little Unique Powersports
Charlie Williams Off Road Editor
Don Amador Quiet Warrior Racing
Joe Bonnello Joe B Photography
Uncle Paul Wunsch Love Cycles
The Anonymous Dealer
ADVERTISING
Robin Hartfiel Publisher (949) 489-4306 robinhartfiel@gmail.com
Brenda Stiehl Production Manager brendastiehl@dealernews.com
John Murphy Publishing Consultant johnmurphydn@gmail.com
Dealernews
World’s Luckiest Man
By Bob Althoff
CALL-IN
The definition of a “call-out” is “a statement drawing critical attention to someone’s unacceptable actions or behavior.” This is not a “call-out” per se. This is a “call-in” — call it what you will, our industry is at a crossroad!
As riders we come to many crossroads, so we ought to know how to deal with them… right? Any delta can hold dire risk; yet paradoxically every turn can hold the promise of what is ahead.
Our staff and contributors at Dealernews have a unique perch in our industry. We report on what Dealers are feeling and saying. Never is that consistent due to the diversity of 10,000+ Dealers broken up by brand, geography, etc.
There is one undeniable truth, however. Dealers are closer to the customers than anyone in our industry. What they say should be carefully considered by everyone engaged in our industry. Failure to hear them out and take heed puts us all at risk.
So, allow us this conceit.
What we hear Dealers saying is that we need consistent, reliable growth. We need new entrants to our sport. We need to move beyond the boom/bust of COVID. I don’t imagine anyone in our business will disagree with this anecdotal oversimplification.
But where will growth come from?
Behind the scenes, NPDA has worked for years to bring POWERSPORTS WORLD into being. The good news is that as of DealerConnect, it is here now. How long it will be here and how successful it will be depends on you!
Yes, you!
Dealers can and must join the effort. We can promote the channel; we can advertise (more on this to come); we can use our point-of-sale, our social media and our blast email to urge our customers to tune in to a 24 x 7 celebration of all things in the powersports world.
The Aftermarket and distributors represent a massive set of advantages to this timely and important work. They, too, feel the need for growth — and will benefit greatly as that occurs.
And now comes the “call-out” component or the “call-in” campaign:
Our OE’s need to wake up to the opportunity to use the most powerful digital medium on the planet.
The MIC needs to champion growth. And about now would be a great time to contribute their leadership and resources.
Content providers should see this as an opportunity to tell their stories. And get paid for doing so!
An “all of Industry” moment is before us. It is time to answer the call… make that the “call-in.”
Are there other pressing issues to be distracted with? You bet! Is it Harley; or KTM concerns? Is it PFAS? Or tariffs… Yes and more! However, there will always be excuses for why we are too busy to do the only thing that is necessary — in the end we must grow!
Our fun, family and inclusive culture offers so much to potentially millions of people around the world. Let’s tell our story. Let’s pick up this megaphone!
Hey you! NPDA called…
Did you answer?
Bob
Editor’s Note
By Robin Hartfiel
RESOLUTION
Trying to get a handle on what is happening in the powersports world is like arguing on the Internet! Nobody wins, no matter how loud we yell into the echo chamber!
We are facing existential threats like PFAS, foundational financial crises at major OEMs, record numbers of dealership closures (and worse the burgeoning trend to walk rather than sell), an aging customer base ready to ride off into the sunset, multiple generations of kids who never experienced my generation’s “On Any Sunday Moment” — even Malcolm Smith has passed away… and that is just the last 6 months!
We need another defining moment to meet the nicest people on a Honda, and to let the good times roll… instead we are met with ignorance, entitlement, vitriol and hatred when we turn to social media for support. Instead we get manipulated and fed misinformation online…
However it is more insidious than that as the algorithms succeed when they split us up. Inflammatory content is served to you with the intent to elicit a reaction and keep you locked into your browser longer than the microsecond it takes to swipe right… not to provide and substantive
discourse or reach well informed consensus. It is all about that emoji and ability for clickbait to suck you into a meaningless exercise in futility.
Nobody “wins” in these exchanges… except the misnamed “social” media platform that snookered you into getting flamed online rather than going riding, or better yet, doing something in the real world to better your business, better yourself or better your industry. But because Dealernews is delivered digitally and we have a footprint in most of the social media channels, I fall for it every time.
Instead of rising to the occasion, I hypocritically take the bait served up by AI, offshore click farms, crawlers, bots and just plain bastards with nothing better to do than stir the pot from the safe place of their parent’s basement. As my latest online savant suggested “Dealernews needs to do better!” After composing my magnum opus in defense of why the world is wrong, it dawned on me that AI was actually right. Dealernews does need to do better. We owe it to you to always do better. I hit “delete” walked away from the computer and hopped on my bike.
Rather than responding to the call outs in the coming year, my New Year’s Resolution is to take a page from Bob Althoff on the previous page: An “all of Industry” moment is before us. It is time to answer the call... make that the “call-in.”
Mark Twain said it best, “Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.” I resolve to present news, research and information that impact the nation’s powersports dealers as honestly, ethically and considerately as I can… just as Dealernews has done every issue since 1965…
Got to go now… Someone has just posted on TwitFaceSpace wanting to know what the best 2-stroke oil is and I have to be the first to tell them before all the other online experts can spew their nonsense! Morons!
Former Editor-in-Chief and publisher of Dealernews circa 1990-2003, Robin returns to the magazine. In addition to having been instrumental in creating the Dealernews Top 100 program (still the industry’s ultimate accolade for a motorcycle dealership), Hartfiel has worked for most of the B2B publications in the Powersports arena. Prior to the trade side, he worked as a beat reporter for a local newspaper and was an editor of publications ranging from All About Beer to VW Trends.
DEALERNEWS DISCONNECT
You guys really need to stop pushing that Chinese and Indian garbage! You should try harder. Oh, and owning two Harley dealerships is not something to brag about.
Todd White, Owner
Albany
Shooting Sports
Albany, Oregon
Huh? Cover dealer Brett Tekavec has two dealerships and serves on the NPDA Board, 12 pages of coverage went to the first ever National Powersports Dealer Association DealerConnect event, and our Advocacy columns were 10 pages of bringing the industry together via events... not sure we had an editorial agenda to “push Chinese and Indian garbage” as you put it. We were attempting to present news, research and information that impact the nation’s powersports dealers… just as we have done every issue since 1965. However, for the record, India and China are the #1 and #2 motorcycle markets in the world...
SOUND OFF!
DEALERNEWS NEEDS TO DO A DEEPER DIVE!
The industry is changing, I’ve seen when Honda was the king in the 70’s and 80’s, but lost their way in the 90’s. They became a car company. Harley-Davidson took over and put a deposit down and hoped your bike came in 6 months. But with non-motorcycle people running the company, those days are long gone. The industry has fallen on hard, sad times! Has anyone looked deep into why the dealerships are closing instead of selling out? If there is an article out there, I would love to read it.
Bill Alford
Covina, CA Via The Internet
Dealernews has not done a specific article on the trend to walk rather than sell, but there is definitely a lack of buyers for dealerships these days. Perfect storm of channel stuffing by multiple OEMs simultaneously, wholesale finance sources drying up, insurance costs, minimum wage jumps, KTM and Harley simultaneously imploding... There are a lot of factors being discussed by the pundits on the Internet, the dealers themselves, the NPDA and MIC Boards (see this issue’s cover story), but there is no single cause to walk rather than sell that we can tell.
Join in the conversation via e-mail: Editor@dealernews.com
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DealernewsFan
Check us out on Instagram: www.instagram.com/dealernews
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/Dealernews
Tune into our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@DealernewsMedia
Keep up to date on: Dealernews.com
TO
THE TEAM AT MACH 1 MOTORSPORTS,
As you prepare to leave, I felt it was only right to express how much you all mean to me and how important this place has been in my life. Jeff, James and the entire crew, thank you for creating a space that’s more than just a dealership — it’s a haven.
Hanging out here was a constant source of joy, a place where I could connect with great people during some truly strange and uncertain times. Whether it was swapping stories, sharing laughs, or just being around the buzz of bikes and likeminded riders, every moment spent at Mach 1 was something I looked forward to.
One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was walking through those doors and riding out with a Tenere 700. That bike has brought me so much happiness and adventure, and I know it’s because I got it from the best. It wasn’t just a transaction— it was an experience that felt personal, genuine, and exciting, thanks to all of you.
As a small token of appreciation, I plan to keep the Mach 1 Motorsports dealer plate frame on the bike. It’s a subtle but powerful reminder of the connection I have to this place and the people who make it what it is. Wherever I ride, it’ll be a tribute to the community you’ve built and the incredible memories we’ve shared.
Thank you for everything—your kindness, your passion for what you do, and for simply being who you are. This isn’t goodbye forever because the road always has a way of bringing riders back together. Until then, ride safe and know that you’ve made a lasting impact on one very grateful rider. With heartfelt appreciation,
Will Ken Stein Reno, NV Via Facebook
Of all the posts on dealership closures, Harley-Davidson’s issues and the KTM situation Jeff Leggit’s heartfelt announcement that Mach 1 was shutting down is the one that nearly broke the Internet. More than 730,000 views and 626 comments from the community, fellow dealers and former customers flooded Facebook alone in the first 24 hours of posting: www.facebook.
Open Letter From MV Agusta
Dear customers and MV Agusta enthusiasts,
Looking with pride at what 2024 has been for MV Agusta, we are already working on what 2025 and the years ahead will bring.
We want to involve you by sharing accurate information and the company’s results.
First, it’s important to know that all decisions, development, and operations related to MV Agusta happen in Varese. Between 2023 and 2024, 60% of the company’s management has been renewed with the addition of new professionals from the motorcycle and automotive sectors, both Italian and international. This strategy has made MV Agusta completely independent in all its operations.
Regarading the product, every phase happens internally: from initial design and briefing definitions to the development of prototypes at any level, all the way to industrialization and production. All these steps take place exclusively in Varese and at our Centro Stile MV Agusta.
All of this makes MV Agusta a reality that can proudly claim to be truly Made-In-Italy.
Commercial operations are also entirely based in Varese: sales, after-sales, customer service, and marketing are directly managed from the headquarters.
With 4,000 motorcycles sold in 2024, an annual growth of 116%, by July we had already reached the same sales volume as all of 2023. The test ride requests received in October 2024 alone equaled the total number of requests received in the entire previous year.
Deliveries of the Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro started three weeks after the official launch in July 2024, and fewer than 20 bikes are still available at Official Dealers.
Currently, the network consists of 219 points of sale, including 41 service points, with an additional 20 non-European importers, aiming to reach 250 dealers by the end of 2025. Just in the last week, we inaugurated two beautiful new dealerships in Como, Italy and Montpellier, France.
As for spare parts, there is 99% availability for models produced in the last seven years, and this year the company recorded a historic high in spare parts sold.
All motorcycles produced in Varese and their spare parts are stored in logistics hubs located in Austria for the European market, in the United States for the Americas, in Japan, and in Australia for Asia, from where they are distributed to the sales network worldwide.
In 2024, we introduced 9 new models, and the development work for the new generation of motorcycles is proceeding as planned. It will be a completely new, innovative range, designed to be at the top of the reference segments. Something no one outside the company has yet seen.
The people who made these results possible will remain in Varese, and nothing will change regarding business operations, as the ownership has never interfered with them.
The current situation of the shareholding structure is still being defined, with shareholders working together to determine the future corporate structure, aiming to ensure that MV Agusta continues to grow and reach the heights it deserves.
The entire MV Agusta team thanks you for your support and trust, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
SAVE THE DATE!
After a successful fall show in Milwaukee, LeMans is returning to its traditional spring show schedule. The 2025 Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties NVP Product Expo is set for Louisville, KY January 25- 26, 2025. The massive Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) venue has plenty of room to accommodate 300+ exhibitor booths with space left over for eBike demos.
Speaking of traditional, NVP is an old-fashioned “selling show” where dealers can stock up for spring with exclusive expo discounts and added incentives for attending dealers. Another bonus is exclusive dealer product training sessions for your entire staff. Product experts from Custom Dynamics, Drag Specialties Seats, Feuling, Legend Suspension and more will be providing the perfect tool for enhancing business growth — product knowledge.
Of course all work and no play is not the LeMans way, so following a happy hour on the show floor, the party goes mobile. Dealers can experience the Louisville Entertainment District at 4th Street Live. Mingle with friends from the industry, check out live stream coverage of the Anaheim 2 Supercross and experience the tastes of Louisville at the bash. Got questions? Ask your Parts Unlimited or Drag Specialties rep next time they drop into your dealership or e-mail events@lemanscorp.com
MX TRACK OWNERS UNITE
FullThrottle.MX founder Mike Bambrick orchestrated the first in a series of roundtables “in an exciting convergence of minds and ideas,” as he puts it. The Motocross Track Owner Roundtable drew more than 40 track owners, fostering a much-needed dialogue about the pressing issues surrounding the sport. “As the dust settles on this event, we look back at the engaging discussions that
took place, and we look forward to announcing more initiatives slated for 2025 that aim to strengthen our motocross community.”
At the forefront of the discussions, Bambrick highlighted the urgent need for collaboration among track owners. “We must tackle challenges that threaten track closures nationwide. Eric Anderson, founder of Vroom Network, emphasized the necessity of forming a formal association to champion motocross interests. “This collective effort is now more important than ever,” adds Anderson.
“The Motocross Track Owner Roundtable was a pivotal event, serving as a powerful platform for knowledge exchange, camaraderie and collective strategizing,” concludes Bambrick. “As we chart our path forward, we invite the entire motocross community to join us in championing an environment that supports growth, safety and enduring connections. Keep an eye out for upcoming initiatives in 2025—together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant motocross industry. Sign up for the next session here
ROAD WARRIORS UNITE
Speaking of uniting the industry, the upstart Powersports Rep Association, PRA, held its second general meeting on December 9th. “It did not disappoint,” noted PRA founder Sid Humphreys. “We’re grateful for all who showed up and supported this initiative, as we look to help our beloved powersports industry evolve.”
Some big announcements were made with the proclamation of some key partners and industry professionals helping spearhead this movement. “Thank you to Simon Milestone and Dealer Academy for taking on a key role in the growth of our association. Dealer Academy (as a partner), will be the hub for our training and networking within the powersports community. Chad White and Apex Culture will be another hinge point for our members success and growth.”
PRA also welcomes industry consultant Tim Calhoun to help spearhead this project. “Tim brings rep knowledge and experience to the table that we look to blueprint and pass on to generations to come,” adds Humphreys. “Special thank you to Eric Anderson for always being a phone call away — Eric has been gracious enough to lend any extra time he has to ensure the success of this launch. Another honorable mention and thanks to National Powersports Dealer Association/Dealernews Bob Althoff for supporting our cause. We appreciate the kind words and endorsement sir!”
There are many others that have shared this project and we thank you all! We look for an early 2025 launch. If you would like to learn more about the Powersports Rep Association, please click here to register.
OEM UPDATE: SSR XD150
Just in time for Moto Xmas, SSR Motorsports has launched its all-new XD150. “This is the first model in SSR’s groundbreaking XD line-up and the successor to the popular SR150 dirtbike,” explains AMA Hall of Famer Scot Harden.
Building on the legacy of the SR150, the XD150 is equipped with an air-cooled 150cc engine, inverted front forks, adjustable rear shock and 17” / 14” alloy wheels. “These features make the XD150 ideal for trail riding, offering smooth ride with a responsive engine that balances performance with comfort, and ease of operation for both seasoned riders and beginners.”
It also has something a certain 450 race bike doesn’t have, electric start! “No reason to go all Kickstart Kenny,” quips Harden. Introductory MSRP is $2,399, the XD150 has a host of premium features at a highly competitive price point… and that is just the beginning. The XD line-up is slated for an all new 250cc model as well. Stay tuned for information on this exciting new model coming from SSR Motorsports shortly.
DEALER NEWS: Eight Is Enough… Maybe
Rick and Janice Noyes have sold Carolina Coast Harley-Davidson and Beach House Harley-Davidson to Charlie Cole, Will Cole and Freddy Tedesco of the Cole Family of Harley-Davidson Dealerships in a deal dialed in by the pros at Performance Brokerage Services. Both dealerships have been family-owned and operated by Rick and Janice for three decades. “Building a business from the ground up and making it a staple in your community for over 30 years is quite a feat,” says Rick. “Selling that well-established business is another, sometimes emotional journey. It takes a different community of expertise to make that sale come to fruition. George Chaconas and his very dedicated team of experts can make that happen.”
“Over five years ago, I met with Rick and Janice Noyes at the Harley-Davidson dealer show in Milwaukee to discuss the possibility of selling two of their North Carolina stores,” shares Chaconas. “In the years following the Pandemic, Rick called me to revisit selling their stores. Shortly thereafter, my partner Courtney Bernhard and I met with him and his wife to help them prepare for a sale.”
“It was also a pleasure working with Charlie, Will, and Freddy as they were very professional and made for a smooth transition,” adds Bernhard. “In an environment where there has been a lot of uncertainty, everyone was positive and looks forward to better times ahead!”
Charlie Cole has been an award-winning Harley-Davidson dealer since 1998. He shared, “I want to thank Courtney and George at Performance Brokerage Services for presenting this incredible opportunity. This marks the third and fourth stores I’ve acquired through PBS.” With the addition, the Cole family now owns eight dealership locations across Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Carolina Coast has been renamed Shipwreck Harley-Davidson and North Carolina. Beach House Harley will be renamed Sea Breeze HarleyDavidson.
DEALER NEWS: Florida Dealership Folds
With the flurry of dealership closings this fall, we missed one of the first dominos — the September shut-down of a Florida Harley-Davidson store. According to The US Sun - News, Miracle City Harley-Davidson in Titusville, Florida, permanently closed back on September 1, “leaving many riders who recently purchased a new motorcycle without a place to take their bikes for warranty repairs. Brevard County only had three dealerships in the area, leaving two for the 600,000 people in the region to choose from.” The site now redirects people to the Space Coast Harley-Davidson dealership. “We would like to thank the local Titusville community and the local riding community for their years of support,” the dealership wrote on social media, quoted by Florida Today
WHO WON? INDUSTRY IMPACT OF PRESIDENTIAL & CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION
The next Motorcycle Industry Council Symposium will feature Senior VP of Government Relations Scott Schloegel, discussing the opportunities and issues facing our industry. As the second Trump administration begins, the powersports industry is set for a wild ride! Schloegel will also provide his take on the impact the new administration will have on policy issues, including tariffs and trade, transportation reauthorization, public lands access, electrification, PFAS and more. Mark your calendars for January 16, 10 am Pacific.
Scott will go over Trump’s nominees for agencies and departments relevant to our industry, including the Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Department of the Interior.
“Big changes are anticipated,” hints Schloegel. “This Symposium will help you get ahead of what’s to come.” Admission is free for MIC members, $50 for non-members. Click here to register.
NCM + HARLEY-DAVIDSON = 20 GROUPS
A Formula For Dealer Success
NCM Associates, formerly Spader, announces the addition of more than 100 Harley-Davidson Performance Group dealers to its 20 Group program. On November 1, 2024, NCM Associates assumed full management and support of the Harley-Davidson Performance Group Program.
“We are excited to welcome Harley-Davidson Performance Group dealers to NCM,” notes Kevin Marquet, Director of Performance Solutions. “We look forward to continuing to build
on the outstanding achievements Harley dealers have made within their Performance Groups, while also providing a full range of resources and dedicated support.”
By participating in NCM’s 20 Groups, Harley-Davidson dealers will benefit from valuable peer collaboration, deep insights, and actionable strategies to enhance their operations and drive profitability. With more than 10 Harley-Davidson 20 Groups, NCM provides the most extensive benchmark data available, allowing Harley-Davidson dealers to compare their performance against the top dealers across the nation.
For nearly 30 years, Harley-Davidson Motor Company and NCM Associates have maintained a successful partnership, working together to equip Harley-Davidson dealers with essential benchmark data, performance analytics, and operational improvements. Harley-Davidson Motor Company will continue to actively engage with the Performance Groups, offering insights and support as needed.
Not a 20 Group member? Harley-Davidson dealers interested in joining or learning more about the Harley-Davidson Performance Groups can contact NCM Associates at: info@ncmassociates.com
Join the KAYO movement today!
https://www.ridekayo.com/dealer-inquiry
Known for its mystery shopping and as a leading provider of best practice measurement, Pied Piper Management Company LLC, is ramping up. Effective January 2, 2025, Eric O’Hagan joins the team as Director, AI/ML Innovation & Integration as Pied Piper expands its artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities. O’Hagan will leverage these technologies, enhancing both new and existing products while improving client experiences and streamlining production processes. “We’re excited to welcome Eric to the team during this era of AI-driven innovation,” says Fran O’Hagan, CEO of Pied Piper. “Our clients will quickly benefit from his deep understanding of both digital retail and AI/ML technology, and we look forward to seeing the impact of his leadership as we continue advancing our services.” Prior to joining Pied Piper, Eric O’Hagan has been a motorcyclist for 20+ years as well as holding key roles in AI, ML, and digital retailing with Porsche Cars North America, Tesla Inc. and Lucid Motors. “My work will continue and accelerate Pied Piper’s integration of cutting-edge technology—not just as a user, but as an innovator in employing AI-powered solutions,” he notes. O’Hagan attended Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business and pursued studies in AI and ML at MIT’s Schwarzman College of Computing. “I’m thrilled by the opportunities we have ahead and cannot wait to contribute to this groundbreaking vision in collaboration with the Pied Piper team,” concludes O’Hagan.
For
of a trick question…
It’s a U.S. Yamaha WR450, but equipped with Yamaha Europe dual purpose bits to it to turn it into an “OE” dual sport.
Industry veteran Dan Proffer is the latest pro to discover the “Denago difference.” Proffer joins the growing roster of Regional Sales Managers and is responsible for dealers in the Central U.S. “Landing a seasoned professional like Dan is a tremendous win for Denago,” says National Sales Manager Johnny Hayes. “Proffer’s passion, dedication and Industry knowledge will be critical in shaping our future and enhancing our market presence. Dan fits perfectly
with our extremely established veteran team, which will allow him to hit the ground running.” Proffer was literally born into the business as his parents opened one of the first Kawasaki dealerships in the State of Michigan — Proffer Kawasaki — when he was 6 years old. From there, he has gone on to work for BRP, Aprilla, Scorpion Helmets, Quadski, Mahindra/ROXOR and more, specializing in Sales and Marketing. Proffer currently lives in Flint, Michigan, where he enjoys using his fleet of motorized products to enjoy the great outdoors. “Dan Proffer is a true professional in the powersports industry,” concludes Denago PowerSports GM David Garibyan. “Very talented, motivated and super knowledgeable… An amazing person to have on our team.” Meet the Denago Team in Booth #7023 at AIMExpo.
A pair of Parts Unlimited people are ready to ring in the new year at the NVP in Louisville and Las Vegas: Parts Unlimited will roll into AIMExpo wide open with 2022
AFT Production Twins Champion Jesse Janisch as the new Michelin Brand Manager . Janisch joins Parts Unlimited with plenty of powersports industry experience in sales and inventory at the dealer level . He is also an avid rider and has a pro license in Road Racing, Flat Track and SuperMoto . He is also a Local A motocross and off-road rider as well as an Endurance Ice Racer . In his spare time, Jesse enjoys MTB, road cycling, snowboarding and anything on a motorcycle. Stop by the Parts Pavilion in Las Vegas ( Booth #1009 ) to welcome Jesse to the team.
P.S.,
extra credit, what bike is Pied Piper’s Eric O’Hagan riding? Hint, it’s a little bit
Continued from page 18
LeMans Corp. also announces the newest Parts Unlimited sales rep for the Central Region covering North/ South Dakota and Minnesota is Ben Osowski, don’tcha know. Osowski comes to Parts Unlimited with several years of sales and riding experience. He started out riding dirtbikes and moved on to racing MX and then woods riding. He is part of the Paul Bunyan Forest Riders which is involved in trail maintenance and race prep for members of the organization. In his spare time, Osowski enjoys golfing, camping, traveling to exotic locales like Louisville and Las Vegas and fostering dogs.
National Powersport Auctions expanded its RV and Marine business exponentially following the Pandemic This push into rapidly growing markets resulted in the need for more crew with marine experience… welcomes Jason Lorensen aboard as Territory Sales
Manager. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Lorensen will focus on serving Dealers in the western United States. Lorensen’s career in dealerships spans over two decades. His deep industry knowledge and commitment to building lasting dealer relationships make him a valuable addition to NPA. ”Being able to assist in developing the RV and Marine divisions at NPA is an exciting challenge,” Lorensen shared. “I look forward to forming new partnerships and delivering valueto RV and Marine dealers across my territory.” NPA’s VP of Sales Mike Murray emphasized the importance of Lorensen’s addition to the team: “With an expanded RV and Marine division, we’re better equipped to support our clients and dealers nationwide. Jason’s extensive experience and dedication make him a fantastic addition, allowing us to further address the unique inventory needs of RV and Marine dealers.”
It was announced in late November that Triumph Motorcycles and Bobby Hewitt were parting ways after working together in the US SMX series. “Heading into 2025, as agreed by both parties, Bobby will step down as Team Principal of Triumph’s US Supercross and Pro Motocross activities with immediate effect” was the official wording. The partnership celebrated the launch of Triumph Racing , including the brand’s debut season in AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross with the all-new TF 250-X . “I would like to thank Triumph Motorcycles for giving me the ability and opportunity to build the Triumph Motorcycles racing program from the ground up for the past two years,” said Hewitt. “Putting together a new team and rider line-up for the 2024 and 2025 SMX Race Season will forever be one of my greatest accomplishments.”
In mid-December Triumph Racing America announced Jeremy Coker as its new General Manager. Most recently the 450 Team Manager for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing, Coker brings a wealth of expertise to the Triumph brand. The 35-year-old is charged with developing Triumph’s amateur, contingency and off-road programs, in addition to overseeing the efforts of the Triumph Factory Racing team competing in the SuperMotocross World Championship. With 15 years of experience in the AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross paddocks, Coker has enjoyed an incredibly successful career. In 2014, he joined Star Racing as a mechanic and later that year he progressed to an in-house role as Engine Technician while assisting with motorcycle R&D. After being appointed as Crew Chief for 2019 and 2020, Jeremy became Team Manager from 2021 until the end of the 2024 season. During his time at Star Racing, the team achieved remarkable success, securing 14 titles. “I am very excited to join the Triumph family,” he says. “I joined this program because I believe that the Triumph family and I can create a true masterpiece. We have a big challenge that lies ahead of us, but with the team that they have assembled already, I believe we will achieve greatness together and the sky’s the limit.” Ian Kimber – Head of Global Racing Programmes, Triumph Motorcycles — adds, “Signing someone of Jeremy’s calibre to oversee our American racing efforts builds on the solid foundation that we have put in place over the last couple of years.
TEXA software guides repair technicians through all the diagnostic phases. Motorcycles, Dirtbikes, e-Bikes, Snow Mobiles, ATV / UTV, Personal Watercraft
Leadership at the industry associations changed for the first time in a decade when Erik Pritchard announced he was stepping down last January. After an extensive search, vetting a number of highly qualified candidates, the Motorcycle Industry Council has a new CEO and President. In addition to leading the MIC, the job includes leading the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), the Recreational Off Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) and the Specialty Vehicle Industry Association (SVIA). Adding to the alphabet soup of the Associations is the fact MIC owns AIMExpo, too. We sat down with Christy LaCurelle for a recap of her first three months in office and what she sees for MIC moving forward into 2025 and beyond.
This isn’t your first rodeo, but here at the MIC, it’s a very important role at a time when the industry is in transition. We just concluded a Board of Directors meeting — the first where you officially headed things up — It certainly has been a dynamic first 90 days in office, hasn’t it?
It has a lot of learning for me, which has been nice. With four Associations here, it was a lot to dive into, but the team has been very welcoming from the staff to the board members to the industry, so it’s just been a really fun experience so far…
That is something we bandy about and take for granted: There are four Associations here under this MIC umbrella. You are responsible for more than anybody truly realizes, probably even yourself when you took the job.
It’s definitely more than I even knew about before I came here and took the role. The four associations do so much, but across the board haven’t been great at talking about it in the past. So that’s one of the reasons for me coming on board at this time. Let’s talk about the wins that we have. Let’s talk about the great things that we do to protect our industry and to train our riders and make them safer and create lifelong motorcyclists and riders and drivers of our product!
That’s a key point, lifelong riders — that is you. We first met when you were doing the KTM Junior Supercross program. But you were born into this industry.
To date ourselves, that was way back over 20 years ago. My dad raced, so from the day I was born, I was basically being taken around the track in a stroller or strapped to my mom somehow. My grandpa raced, my cousins raced and my uncle raced, so it was just a whole family thing. I was flagging at races from an early age, doing the scorecards — before electronic scoring was a thing, I just grew up around it and really loved it. You know, I have people in my high school yearbook that said, “I hope you own a race team one day,” and that type of thing, just because I loved it. Back then I said, “I’m going to do something in the sport.”
I actually started out wanting to be a forest ranger, because I wanted to do something meaningful with land use and land access. But when I found out about a job at KTM — which is how you and I met — I shifted focus into marketing, because the role that I went into at KTM ended up being part of ridership and market expansion activities. I spent a lot of my time and my career there with those types of initiatives.
Other nonprofit work that I’ve done before joining MIC was very similar — all about coaching, ridership, keeping people safe, better course markings, etc. All of that has played a part in getting me here today.
It is the perfect storm, because those are the initiatives that the MIC Board had identified as our core mission and what we needed to focus on. So you’re the right person, at the right time to get us over the hurdle of where we need to be. COVID is behind us, the bubbles behind us… Now we’ve got a brave new world to face.
Yes, now we got to keep those riders that we found during that time. A lot of the work is in programs that will help us achieve these goals. That’s great value in what MIC does for the industry that members might not be aware of… they need data to help figure out what’s next. That’s something that the MIC has as a benefit, along with all the great Government Relations work on The Hill.
any ongoing initiatives are in play, and that’s an area I didn’t realize just how much work happened. Sure, I knew the good things like the effort to keep powersports business open during COVID and getting our businesses determined as essential. But there’s so much more behind the scenes that happens here that we need to
communicate to our members about the industry as a whole.
We are our own worst enemy when it comes to communicating the good work being done, because we take it for granted. We are getting things done as an Association, but sometimes we’re talking into an echo chamber. We need to get that message amplified to our entire industry. How are you going to be able to lead us by the nose to get us to that point?
Relationship building is communication, so I’ve already started outreach in the first 90 days to try to meet some of our members across all categories of membership for all four Associations so that I can truly understand what’s happening with them and bring it back as how can we help? Similarly, I made it an agenda item to meet with every staff member that we have here, one-on-one. And for those who don’t know, we have more than 70 full-time staff members spread out between the Associations.
An all encompassing job… and time consuming, too!
Correct. And as you know, there are 31 Board members across the associations as well. It was a lot of people to meet and hear their feedback. I’m trying to take in that information and continue to grow and develop on it. We are also collaborating with other associations that are doing great work — The AMA, the NPDA, even the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. I also was fortunate enough to meet with the president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, and the VP of the RVIA, which is the RV industry association… Basically every industry has a trade association, and I’m trying to meet with them and share best practices, which has been a really helpful part of the process.
AIMEXPO AND BEYOND…
AIMExpo is the next big landmark on our industry calendar. What do you have personally planned for AIMExpo? Is that meeting the constituents, or is it work behind the scenes to put out the fires… or a little bit of everything?
Well, unless you’re a racing fan, because Supercross is technically starting the year with A1. But yes, AIME is the next big agenda item for us. We have more than 1000 dealers registered right now, which is huge! It’s the most we’ve ever had at this point in time ahead of a show. We also have more exhibitors than we’ve ever had, so we’re really excited about the size of the show and the value that the show will deliver this year.
We’re doing a lot of communication right now to get those numbers to increase. We are also letting people know about some of the speakers that we’ll have and the topics that we’ll be communicating at the show, which I think will be a great value for our members there.
That’s another element — the actual member value. We do great work. We know we do great work, but how do we get that to specifically the aftermarket and boost our aftermarket membership?
We are trying to communicate with the aftermarket members way more than we have done historically. A lot of that is through AIMExpo. There are tangible benefits for them in coming to the show. In addition to the guest speakers, there is a special lunch & learn sessions schedule with our Board members for MIC Aftermarket members. If you want to attend the lunch and speak directly to the Board, then become a member. We are also trying to find
other ways to demonstrate that they’re appreciated, and for us to get feedback from them.
So high points of the first 90 days? What are the positive takeaways that you’ve seen now that there’s so much opportunity?
That’s the biggest thing across all the associations… there are so many doors open for opportunity. We have a staff that is very open to change and ready to embrace whatever is ahead of us, I think the powersports industry is feeling the pain a little bit right now from an economic perspective, and we’re here to help… we want to serve as best we can.
So the staff that we have here is ready to move forward. We have tools and resources. We’ve got phenomenal data… There are plenty of things MIC has to offer, but the industry has to ask, because we can’t force it on them?
If there’s anything that we don’t have that people want to see, reach out and tell us! But there’s also a lot that people don’t know we offer. If you’re a member and you haven’t logged in a while, please go check up on the important topics like PFAS, which is huge for everybody right now! We update the PFAS report weekly on a state-by-state basis and what you need to do in order to make sure that you’re meeting all of those new laws that are coming out. It is there at your fingertips, we’re getting ahead of it and trying to survey our members for comments so that we can fight it for them. Staying in touch with us and being on our mailing list is really important when we need your help to help you.
Even non members can be in the loop — the RideReport is free of charge and shared with anybody in the industry, and it explains some of the things that the MIC does for its constituents, but for the industry as a whole.
Yes, the RideReport is a great resource if you’re in the industry, even if you can’t be a member right now, sign up for it, because it lets you know the highlights of everything that’s going on and what’s important. Probably one of the biggest takeaways from an MIC side is that we make sure our benefits are where they need to be, and that we’re
communicating the great things that we do. They’re going to receive more data. They’re going to receive more GR updates. They’re going to see the ridership initiatives that we’re doing. All of that will become ever more apparent than it has been.
Moving forward into 2025 everything will be easier to access because we’re going to give the website a facelift here. It’s been some time since that was done, and hopefully in the next month or so, if you come back to mic.org you will see that change!
RIDE REPORT
The Associations Welcomes New
President/CEO
Back in August of 2024, the independent boards of the Motorcycle Industry Council, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association voted to select Christy LaCurelle as President and Chief Executive Officer of all four powersports associations, representing stakeholders across the industry. LaCurelle’s first day at the Associations was on September 3, and we waited for her first 90 days in the saddle before conducting the Dealernews interview. With her background in racing, Christy likened it to the starting line at a race, naturally.
“I have made it my life’s work to help as many people as possible learn and love life on two, three, and four wheels, and being able to bring my marketing expertise and powersports passion to lead these associations is a privilege,” said LaCurelle. “I am looking forward to working with the teams to get more people riding and driving, to take training, and to always practice safe riding and driving habits whether they are on the road or the trail.”
LaCurelle has a track record of building platforms and teams that create engaged riders and safety enthusiasts.
“With Christy’s twenty years of experience, spanning all aspects of powersports, and deep industry connections, she will be able to hit the ground running and lead the teams to continued success,” said Derek Brooks, Chair of the Motorcycle Industry Council.
“Christy’s work and long-standing commitment to motorcycle safety will serve riders, RiderCoaches, and the broader training community well,” said Croft Long, Chair of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. “We are looking forward to her leading the MSF team in rider education expansion, recruiting more RiderCoaches, and growing the interest and demand for rider safety and education.”
“Earlier this year, the boards assembled a search committee to identify a leader for all four associations. I would like to thank the internal teams for their patience through this search process. This comprehensive process enabled us to connect with many qualified candidates and ultimately find that Christy is the best person to lead the organizations and its talents to seize opportunities and work through challenges with success,” said MarcAndre Deschenes, Chair of the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America.
“I want to thank Scott Schloegel and Diana Sanchez for assuming the additional responsibility of leading these associations while we conducted this extensive search process. Despite already having enormous workloads, Scott and Diana graciously and deftly led the staff through this time of tremendous change while achieving some remarkable results,” said Ryan Stiver, Chair of the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association. “Scott and Diana have ensured these associations will have a seamless transition for Christy to take us into the next chapter.”
“I am looking forward to joining the team, learning about the work, and leading the team to greater results in the future,” said LaCurelle.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
MIC Board Of Directors Election Results
Coinciding with new President Christy LaCurelle’s first 90 days in office, the Motorcycle Industry Council has voted in two new Board members and re-elected a third. Ashmore Ellis, Co-Founder and CEO of Babes Ride Out & Babes in the Dirt, and Paul Langley, Chairman and CEO of LeMans Corporation, will be joining the MIC Board of Directors in 2025. Tim Calhoun, President of Powersports Pros Consulting and chair of the MIC Aftermarket Committee, retains his seat for another term, while Jeff Brown of EagleRider and Marc McAllister of Brooks Stevens, Inc., will be leaving the board when their terms expire in January.
“The industry will face a lot of changes in the next few years with technology, trends, and policy, especially as the U.S. ushers in a new administration,” states Derek Brooks, MIC Board Chairman and Motorcycle Product Line Manager at Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. “There will be much work facing the association, so I am looking forward to working with Ashmore and Paul, who will bring their expertise and fresh perspectives to the board, and to the continued contributions of Tim. I would also like to thank Jeff and Marc for their service to the board.”
“I am excited to get the opportunity to serve on the MIC board and I look forward to working with the other board members on some of the challenges our industry is facing,” says Langley. “Working for a cause is a great motivation and I trust my experience, commitment, and willingness to collaborate on important issues will benefit the MIC and its industry members during my tenure on the board.”
“What a privilege,” Ellis enthuses. “I am thrilled to begin my term on the board of directors and look forward to contributing to the success we will have by working together to ensure motorcycling becomes more inclusive and accessible for generations to come. While serving on this board, I hope to set things in motion that will benefit, protect and engage not only a new era of riders but the industry as a whole. Looking forward to what we can accomplish over the next two years that safeguards and uplifts the future of motorcycling.”
“It is always an honor to be elected or re-elected by a peer-based vote,” claims Calhoun. “I take the role on the MIC board seriously and will continue representing the aftermarket segment of the powersports industry to the best of my ability. These last six years, we have made good strides in improving the value proposition offered to MIC members and continue to face tough regulations and legislatures head-on. I look forward to working hand-in-hand with MIC Chairman Derek Brooks, MIC President and CEO Christy LaCurelle, and MIC staff to ensure the aftermarket voice is heard and represented. I’ve had the privilege of serving alongside exceptional individuals like Marc McAllister, Jeff Brown, Robin Hartfiel and Jim Woodruff, whose dedication to amplifying the aftermarket’s voice and interests has been genuinely inspiring. I look forward to building on our momentum and continuing our collective efforts to strengthen and support the industry.”
The MIC board includes representation from across powersports. The full board roster for 2025 will be: Chairman Derek Brooks, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
Vice Chair John Hinz, KTM North America, Inc.
Secretary/Treasurer Jim Woodruff, National Powersport Auctions
David Baker, BRP
Tim Calhoun, Powersports Pros Consulting
Ashmore Ellis, Babes Ride Out & Babes in the Dirt
Kerry Graeber, Suzuki Motor USA, LLC
Robin Hartfiel, Dealernews
Paul Langley, LeMans Corporation
Erik Larson, Piaggio Group Americas
Joey Lindahl, Polaris Inc.
Rod Lopusnak, Triumph Motorcycles America
Shawn McLean, BMW Motorrad USA
Bill Savino, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Eric Sievers, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
RUMBLEON RELEASES RESULTS
Q3 Report From RideNow Parent
RideNow parent RumbleOn reported its Q3 financials. Compared to Q323, revenue was down 12.7% and net loss totaled $11.2 million compared to net loss of $16.5 million. New CEO Mike Kennedy concedes market headwinds proved to be a challenge. “During the third quarter, our team navigated an incrementally more challenging environment and delivered strong performance on key areas of the business.
Kennedy adds RumbleOn will stay the course. “Our goal communicated earlier this year to reduce new inventories by the end of 2024 is largely on track. Operating cash flows continue to significantly outperform compared to last year. Our SG&A as a percent of gross profit dollars has decreased, which evidences the increasing productivity of our operations, and we expect to drive continuous improvements in further cost optimization.”
Q3 HIGHLIGHTS
• Received commitments for $30 million of incremental capital from our three largest shareholders, of which $10 million is in the form of a backstopped common equity rights offering
• Executed term loan credit agreement amendment giving the business more flexibility to operate
• Engaged an investment bank to explore a refinancing of the Company’s debt
• Reduced inventories by $53.9 million and floor plan notes payable by $52.9 million during the quarter
• Operating cash inflows for the first nine months totaled $68.6 million compared to cash outflows of $18.5 million in 2023
• Reduced Non-Vehicle Net Debt by $25.9 million in the first nine months of 2024
• Acquired a Harley-Davidson dealership in Massachusetts in August 2024
“During the third quarter, our team navigated an incrementally more challenging environment and delivered strong performance on key areas of the business,” he notes. “Our goal communicated earlier this year to reduce new inventories by the end of 2024 is largely on track.
Operating cash flows continue to significantly outperform compared to last year. Our SG&A as a percent of gross profit dollars has decreased, which evidences the increasing productivity of our operations, and we expect to drive continuous improvements in further cost optimization,” states Kennedy.
EBITDA & Adjusted EBITDA
“We define EBITDA as net loss adjusted to add back interest expense, the impact of income taxes, depreciation and amortization and discontinued operations,” he explains. Adjusted EBITDA further adds back non-cash stock-based compensation costs, transaction costs, certain litigation expenses not associated with our ongoing operations, charges related to the 2023 proxy contest and reorganization of our Board of Directors, and other non-recurring costs and credits, as these recoveries, charges and expenses are not considered a part of our core business operations and are not necessarily an indicator of ongoing, future company performance.
Adjusted EBITDA is reduced by floor plan interest expense. Our industry typically treats Interest expense on vehicle floor plan debt as operating expense, as vehicle floor plan debt is integral to our operations and is collateralized by our powersports vehicles.
Adjusted EBITDA is one of the primary metrics we use to evaluate the financial performance of our business. We present Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it is helpful in highlighting trends in our operating results and it is frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. A reconciliation of net loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is provided below:
“I am incredibly proud of the team and their resilience in this tough environment. In addition, we have received significant support from our three largest shareholders, which aligns with our goal to deleverage our balance sheet and lower our cost of capital. We believe all of this is laying the groundwork for an improved 2025,” Kennedy concludes.
CLASS B COMMON STOCK/BACKSTOP PRIVATE OFFERING RESULTS
On December 17, RumbleOn announced the final results of its $10 million backstopped registered equity rights offering (the “Rights Offering”) for shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class B common stock”). The subscription period for the Rights Offering expired at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on December 12, 2024. The Rights Offering resulted in subscriptions for 2,043,011 shares, which represents approximately 85% of the shares offered at a price of $4.18 per share (the “Subscription Price”). The shares subscribed for in the Rights Offering are expected to be issued to participating stockholders on or about December 17, 2024.
Stone House Capital Management, LLC (the “Standby Purchaser”) has agreed to purchase from the Company in a private placement (the “Backstop Private Placement”) any shares of Class B common stock offered but not subscribed for in the Rights Offering at the Subscription Price. Because the Rights Offering was not fully subscribed, the Standby Purchaser is expected to purchase 349,333 unsubscribed shares of Class B common stock (which includes 116,555 shares that the Standby Purchaser was otherwise entitled to subscribe for in the Rights Offering) for an aggregate amount of approximately $1.5 million.
The Backstop Private Placement closed on December 19, 2024.
The Company estimates the net proceeds of the Rights Offering and the Backstop Private Placement to be approximately $9 million. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Rights Offering and Backstop Private Placement for general corporate purposes which may include repayment of the Company’s convertible senior 6.75% promissory notes due January 1, 2025. The proceeds raised will also satisfy, in part, the additional capital financing obligations of the Company pursuant to a recent amendment to the Company’s credit agreement with Oaktree.
Following the completion of the Rights Offering and the Backstop Private Placement, the Company expects to have approximately 37,713,298 shares of its Class B common stock outstanding.
Other News You Need To Know:
The offering of the Class B common stock pursuant to the Rights Offering was made pursuant to the Company’s existing effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 333-281862) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and a prospectus supplement (and the accompanying base prospectus) filed with the SEC on November 26, 2024.
The information in this press release is not complete and is subject to change. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. The Rights Offering was made only by means of the prospectus supplement (and the accompanying base prospectus) filed with the SEC on November 26, 2024.
2025 LIVE AUCTION CALENDAR
MAKING BANK!
RumbleOn, parent company to RideNow — the largest powersports chain in North America — is on the gas! They have partnered with Fintech giant Octane to launch captive financing in all 56 RideNow retail stores under the “RideNow Finance” brand. At the same time, RideNow Finance customers will benefit from broad credit coverage and a seamless, end-to-end financing experience that make it faster and easier to get outdoors on their dream vehicle.
“Our dealerships are laser focused on providing a great buying experience for our customers,” notes RumbleOn CEO Mike Kennedy. “The opportunity to ease the financing process through RideNow Finance is exactly how we will take the experience to the next level.” This partnership is the only private label branded financing for a dealership group in the nearly $30 billion powersports market, and builds on the longstanding relationship between two leaders in the space; Octane has been one of RideNow’s preferred lenders since 2017.
RideNow Powersports customers can purchase 18,000+ new and pre-owned vehicles from a large selection of manufacturers in inventory via RideNow Finance. The new private label partnership allows RideNow Powersports dealerships to leverage Octane’s digital tools and fast, easy, full-spectrum financing experience. Additionally, this partnership will help drive higher quality leads by giving RideNow Powersports dealerships the ability to run their own branded financing promotions, integrate branded financing messaging into their marketing initiatives, and reach customers throughout the lifecycle of their loan.
Although Octane has been one of RideNow’s preferred lenders since 2017, both entities believe it was time to get on the gas. “We believe that private label branded and captive financing are the future of retail financing in powersports and beyond,” said Steven Fernald, President and CFOr of Octane. “We’re excited to work with a leader in powersports – and a great partner – to bring this exciting new product to market. By giving dealerships innovative, digital tools and helping them harness the power of branded financing, we can help them drive more qualified applicants, and ultimately sell more units.
About RumbleOn
RumbleOn, Inc. (NASDAQ: RMBL), operates through two operating segments: our Powersports dealership group and Wholesale Express, LLC, an asset-light transportation services provider focused on the automotive industry. Our Powersports group is the largest powersports retail group in the United States (as measured by reported revenue, major unit sales and dealership locations), offering over 500 powersports franchises representing 50 different brands of products. Our Powersports group sells a wide selection of new and preowned products, including parts, apparel, accessories, finance & insurance products and services, and aftermarket products. We are the largest purchaser of pre-owned powersports vehicles in the United States and utilize RideNow’s Cash Offer to acquire vehicles directly from consumers.
AMA DEALER-LEVEL MEMBER BENEFITS
u Business Member ad in American Motorcyclist with current year Business Member company logos
u Discounted advertising rates
u Consumer data from product surveys sent to AMA members
u Magazine copies to dealers including member information
u Encouraging AMA organizers/state chapters to use dealerships for meeting places (bring more people to the dealers)
u Connect dealers to clubs/organizers for local events
u Dealer listings on the AMA website
u Right to display AMA Business Member logo with year on website
u Window cling acknowledging membership
Apply here https://form.jotform.com/amatech/business-member-app For more information contact Michael Kula at mkula@ama-cycle.org • (949) 466-7833 or Alex Boehm at aboehm@ama-cycle.org • (310) 662-1724
TIER 2 ATV, MOTORCYCLE & UTV MARKET REPORT
When we think of the powersports market, most of us are likely to visualize Motorcycles, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), Utility Vehicles (UTVs), Snowmobile and Personal Watercraft (PWC) supplied by big-name brands and sold by a brand-dedicated network of brick-and-mortar dealers.
However, there is another layer to the market that’s often overlooked - the non-traditional, or Tier 2, powersports vehicle market. These vehicles include Motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs and even Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs), mostly sourced from China and sold largely via the online marketplace, bigbox outlets and independent retailers.
And guess what? Sales have been strong for these second-tier brands.
While supply-chain issues haunted numerous established brands in the early 2020s, parts availability and shipping woes didn’t seem to impact many of these second-tier brands that - as a result - experienced surging sales, as container after container filled with vehicles continued to arrive unabated at U.S. ports by these importers/distributors.
Minneapolis-based research firm Power Products Marketing (PPM) keeps an eye on these markets, producing annual databases and associated reports that define the market trends.
ATV
Made up mostly of youth-size models, and benefiting from their low prices in comparison to similar size machines from major brands, the North American market for ATVs from Tier 2 distributors consisted of just over 126,300 units in 2023, according to PPM. That result is down -32.2% from 2022, which was down -22.1% from 2021.
PPM splits the Tier 2 ATV market into Youth, Entry and Recreational categories, with each of those categories split by Sport and Utility models. Youth models are smaller than 125cc, Entry models are between 126-300cc, and Recreational models are 301cc & larger.
In 2023, Youth models accounted for 55.6% of the market total, Entry models made up 22.9%, and adult-sized general Recreational models denoted 21.5%. Further, Utility models represented 53.5% of the market total while Sport models represented a 46.5% share.
Tier 2 brand ATV sales grew unabated in PPM’s database to a high of 466,000 units in 2007. However, thereafter, sales plummeted -67% from 2007 to 2009, and dropped an additional -47% from 2009 to a 12-year low in 2013. Sales in 2014 rebounded +29%, and over the next three years enjoyed +28.9% growth before again sliding -15.1% in 2018.
Thereafter, 2019 experienced growth of +11.8%, 2020 sales slipped -6.1%, 2021 sales skyrocketed +55%, 2022 sales slid back -22.1% and 2023 sales slid another -32.2%.
Why the massive downturn from a nearly half-million units in 2007?
First, from 2006 to 2008, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), American Academy of Pediatrics, and even the revered Mayo Clinic used the media to promulgate that ATVs are dangerous to children.
Then, in 2008 & 2009, as consumers coped with the worldwide recession and sales of vehicles of all types were on a downswing, the CPSC stoked the fire by mulling a ban on youth-sized ATVs and motorcycles under what was called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act – actually meant to protect children from what were described as harmful levels of lead found in imported toys. While youth-sized vehicles were eventually exempted from the Act, the damage had been done.
At the same time, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Environmental Protection Agency and CPSC worked to keep nonconforming vehicles out of the U.S., a move that slowly whittled away at the number of suppliers importing product.
Finally, many of the new importers and distributors helped accelerate their downfall; consumers and dealers discovered the value-priced machines they sold and purchased during the 2004-2008 run turned out to be unreliable. Parts were unavailable, service from sketchy dealers was subpar, and importers tended to cut and run in the face of growing dealer and consumer complaints. Many of the dealers that survived the 2009-2011 downturn were highly skeptical about taking Tier 2 brands during the recovery.
According to PPM’s database, there were 107 of the Tier 2 importer/distributors in 2007 and less than 27 in 2023. The five leading importer/distributors of Tier 2 market ATVs in 2023 included CFMoto, Maxtrade, Vitacci Motorcycles, Kayo USA and Razor. Together these five suppliers accounted for 72.2% of the market.
MOTORCYCLES
The North American market for motorcycles from Tier 2 distributors in 2023 totaled just over 172,500 units, down -23% from 2022, which was down -57.3% from a record sales high of 525,000 units in 2021.
PPM splits the Tier 2 motorcycle market by Off-Road models and On-Road models, and again by Cruiser, Dirt, Dual, Minibike, Pitbike, Sport, Standard and Trials. Off-Road models - motorcycles not classified as street-legal - represented 90.7% of sales in 2023 while On-Road models represented just 9.3% of the total.
As you can imagine, some types of two-wheeler are proving far more popular than others. Dirtbikes led the market in 2023 with a 48.2% share, followed by Minibikes (25%), Pitbikes (15.5%), Standard (3.3%), Sport (2.5%), Trials (2.5%) and Dual (1.9%). Naked Sport and Cruiser models each represented less than a 1% share.
The make-up of the market results from the vast majority of youth-sized Dirtbikes, many of which are electric-powered. Typically, these youth-sized models surge in popularity in the springtime, then again prior to the winter holidays. But, as the greater powersports market experienced during the years the Covid pandemic had families staying at home or increasing outdoor recreation, the surge in demand grew quickly and failed to wane through 2021.
The market for motorcycles from Tier 2 distributors experienced its previous zenith in 2006 & 2007. Thereafter, arguably due to the same factors that impacted the importation of ATVs, sales remained subdued to less than 100,000 units annually from 2009 through 2013, at which point the market more than doubled in size from 2014 through 2017.
The two-year period from 2018 through 2019 saw sales decline -30% before massive growth of +100% in 2020 and a further +65.7% in 2021. Thereafter, sales fell -57.3% in 2022 and -23% in 2023.
PPM’s figures show 35% of Tier 2 motorcycle sales in 2023 were Electric models, 57% were gas-powered 4-stroke and 8% were gas-powered two-stroke. Of the gas-powered models, 16% were sized 50cc or Less, 53% were 51-125cc, 25% were 126-250cc, 3.5% were 251-450cc, 2% were 451-650cc, and models 651cc & Larger represented less than 1%.
PPM’s database reveals there were 47 importer/distributors in 2007, less than 20 in 2017, and 48 in 2023. The leading importer/ distributors of Tier 2 market motorcycles include Coleman, Kayo USA, Razor, Tao Motor, SSR and Segway. Together these five suppliers accounted for 44.5% of the market.
UTILITY VEHICLES
Following two years and -17.6% of downturn, North American UTV sales in 2023 climbed in volume by +3.5% to just under 570,000 units. This following growth that saw sales skyrocket +84.3% between 2013 and 2020, according to research performed by PPM.
Initially a vehicle delegated to commercial uses - industrial, construction, turf maintenance, etc. - UTVs found favor with consumer users as it was realized manufacturers were bringing vehicles to market that could offer off-road adventure in relative comfort with golf car-like operational ease. Offerings like the Kawasaki Mule were certainly capable for light trail duty, but their designs proved overtly industrial when compared with the first major sport-oriented models to make an impact on consumer purchase decisions - the Yamaha Rhino and later Polaris RZR.
While well-known powersports brands continue to lead the market in sales, non-traditional, Tier 2 brands have been chipping away at market share in this segment over the past couple of years.
In 2021, for the first time, the top 10 purveyors of UTVs - brands like Polaris, Can-Am, Kawasaki and Honda - were joined by lesser-known names, including CFMoto and Hisun. Also experiencing remarkable growth were importers/distributors like BMS Motorsports, Coleman and Massimo. For 2023, CFMoto and Hisun again broke into the list of top 10 best-selling brands.
How, and why?
PPM says it believes growth in a few of these brands correlates with their availability via online outlets and big-box retailers - which have in recent years become a major outlet for lower-cost vehicles that couldn’t be found at traditional multi-line powersports dealerships.
In addition to CFMoto and Hisun, these other Tier 2 brands include BMS Motorsports, BV Powersports, Massimo Motor Sports, Cougar Cycle, Kandi America, Bighorn Powersports and Vitacci Motorcycles.
Home Depot retails multiple models sourced from Hisun; Lowe’s retails models sourced from Hisun, Massimo and Kandi America; Tractor Supply stocks multiple models of Coleman, Bighorn Powersports and Massimo; and Rural King offers product from Hisun and Kandi America.
According to PPM analysis, UTV retail sales from Tier 2 brand suppliers through big-box retail locations have grown substantially over the past few years, from what had been an average of 5-10,000 units pre-Covid to nearly 30,000 units in 2021 and 42,000 units in 2022 as consumer demand for UTVs exceeded what traditional major manufacturers could supply.
However, sales through Big Box retailers significantly dropped to 25,500 units in 2023 as this low-end niche of the market got hit hard by rising interest rates and difficult-to-obtain financing. According to PPM analysis, Home Depot sales dropped to just 375 units in 2023, Lowe’s dropped to 16,500 units, Rural King to 550 units, and Tractor Supply to 5,400 units.
Power Products Marketing (PPM), a Minneapolis-based research firm, has curated its Powersports retail sales data for nearly 20 years. PPM provides detailed market share data and research services to the global power equipment industry. Markets covered include Powersports, Diesel Pleasure Boats and Commercial Vessels, Farm (AG) Machinery, Construction Machinery, Lawn & Garden Equipment, Generator Sets and Underground Mining Equipment.
Power Products Marketing 7525 Mitchell Road, Suite 203
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: 952-893-6870
Fax: 952-893-6879
BRP BY THE NUMBERS
Can-Am Q2 For Fiscal Year 2025
Asuccessful Club BRP Dealer Meeting followed almost immediately by the announcement BRP was getting out of the boat business and now the news Can-Am is ringing in the New Year by taking the Maverick R platform to Dakar for the first time ever! It has certainly been a wild ride for the Canadian company as they continue to create categories like they did with Spyder/Ryker and now with the launch of the Pulse and Origin.
Coming into Club, there was a mix of anticipation for new product lines and trepidation that some of the existing product in inventory was getting a little long in the tooth. BRP dealers’ hopes and fears seemed to both have been realized in equal measures. Club highlights included the introduction of the all-new Can-Am Outlander 850 and 1000R ATVs, the Can-Am Maverick R Max SSV lineup, the Sea-Doo FishPro Apex and the Sea-Doo Switch Fish pontoon, as well as with the launch of the brand-new Can-Am Canyon 3-wheel vehicle. The bad news is that Q2 sales were down 18%, while gross profit decreased 46%!
“Our results were in line with expectations and reflect our ongoing focus on reducing network inventory to maintain our dealer value proposition,” said José Boisjoli, President and CEO of BRP. “We have made great strides on that front, but the retail environment is more challenging with the economic context pressuring consumer demand. As such, our priority is to continue to proactively manage production and inventory levels, which leads us to revise our year-end guidance.”
As planned, the Company maintained its focus on reducing network inventory levels during the three-month period ended July 31, 2024, resulting in a decrease in the volume of shipments, consequently leading to a decline in revenues compared to the same period last year. The decrease in the volume of shipments, higher sales programs due to increased promotional intensity and decreased leverage of fixed costs as a result of reduced shipments have led to a decrease in the gross profit and gross profit margin compared to the same period last year. This decrease was partially offset by favorable product mix.
BRP’s North American quarterly retail sales for Powersport Products were down 18% for the three-month period ended July 31, 2024. The decrease is mainly explained by softer industry demand in both Seasonal and Year-Round Products. The corresponding reduction in revenue is still tough to explain away: Revenues decreased by $936.1 million, or 33.7%, to $1,841.9 million for the three-month period ended July 31, 2024, compared to $2,778.0 million for the corresponding period ended July 31, 2023. The decrease in revenues was primarily due to a lower volume sold across all product lines, as the Company maintained its focus on reducing network inventory levels, and higher sales programs. The decrease was partially offset by favorable product mix across most product lines. The decrease includes a favorable foreign exchange rate variation of $29 million.
Gross profit decreased by $321.1 million, or 46.0%, to $376.5 million for the three-month period ended July 31, 2024, compared to $697.6 million for the three-month period ended July 31, 2023. Gross profit margin percentage decreased by 470 basis points to 20.4% from 25.1% for the three-month period ended July 31, 2023. The decreases in gross profit and gross profit margin percentage were the result of a lower volume sold, higher sales programs, and decreased leverage of fixed costs
as a result of reduced shipments. The decrease was partially offset by favorable product mix across most product lines. The decrease in gross profit includes a favorable foreign exchange rate variation of $9 million.
“We are coming off a successful dealer event, during which we introduced industryleading innovations, including our Can-Am electric motorcycles, reflecting our ongoing commitment to investing in R&D. Looking ahead, we have every confidence in our long-term strategy, and remain focused on building a strong future. We are best positioned to stay on top as we continue leveraging our solid business fundamentals,” concluded Boisjoli.
NEW RZR PRODUCTS FOR EVERY ADVENTURE
Dealernews Research
By Lenny Sims
MARKET INSIGHTS
UTVs have carried the load for much of the powersports market in recent years, but recent results from segment leaders like Polaris and Can-Am and the possible pending departure of Arctic Cat from the space completely showed serious slowing of new unit sales in Q3. For example, BRP’s North American quarterly retail sales for powersport products were down 18%. The decrease is mainly explained by softer industry demand in both Seasonal and YearRound Products. The corresponding reduction in revenue is still tough to explain away: Revenues decreased by $936.1 million, or 33.7%, to $1,841.9 million in Q3 2024, compared to $2,778.0 million for the corresponding period in 2023.
“Our results were in line with expectations and reflect our ongoing focus on reducing network inventory to maintain our dealer value proposition,” said José Boisjoli, President and CEO of BRP. “We have made great strides on that front, but the retail environment is more challenging with the economic context pressuring consumer demand. As such, our priority is to continue to proactively manage production and inventory levels, which leads us to revise our year-end guidance,”
Slowing new unit sales In the side-by-side segment was reflected in J.D. Power numbers as the utility segment
averaged 3.6% lower in September-October compared to July-August. It was also 4.9% lower year-over-year… a tough trend to reverse during the winter months.
The sport segment was marginally better, averaging 3.3% lower in September-October compared to July-August. Sport UTVs were also fractionally better than utility machines: The Sport UTV segment was 4.7% lower year-over-year.
Looking at motorcycles, values for the most recent 10 model years of cruisers averaged 3.5% lower in the SeptemberOctober period compared to July-August and 6.1% lower year-over-year. Sportbikes averaged 0.5% higher in September-October compared to July-August, and 5.4% higher year-over-year.
The Sportbike segment remains the standout in the Powersports marketplace, with values in the current period comparable to 2022 and not showing seasonal downward movement. Other segments reflect the realities of higher inventories and reduced customer demand.
Overall, Dealer feedback is not overly positive as the industry continues to contend with sluggish demand and increased inventories. We do not forecast notably changed conditions through the winter months.
J.D. Power Specialty Valuation Services (formerly NADAguides) is a leading provider of specialty vehicle valuation products and services to businesses. The team collects and analyzes tens of thousands of wholesale and retail transactions per month, and delivers a range of guidebooks, web service data, analysis and digital data solutions. J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world’s leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.
NOVEMBER AWP IN REVIEW
Ho-Ho-Hope you’re ready for 2025!
As we approach the end of 2024 and set our sights on the new year, we’re encouraged by recent trends in wholesale pricing and inventory performance. November’s Average Wholesale Price (AWP) data offers insights into dealer sentiment and hints at what may lie ahead in the powersports market. Dealer optimism has improved, buoyed by clarity following the election and the momentum of the holiday shopping season. Manufacturers have ramped up yearend incentives and promotions to clear inventory and spark consumer interest. We see reasons for cautious optimism while inventory build-up and financing hurdles remain challenging. With tax refunds set to bolster consumer purchasing power in Q2, financing dynamics becoming more favorable, the economy is paving the way for improved dealership traffic.
November Overview
The Domestic Cruiser and ATV/SxS segments led the charge with robust gains in AWP, reflecting strong demand. On-road motorcycles continued to exhibit consistent and predictable value trends, aligning with historical stability. Off-road segments showed improving trends, and PWC and Snowmobiles experienced significant jumps in AWP, primarily driven by a cleaner, newer inventory mix. Conversely, RV/Camper pricing declined for the third consecutive month, while Boat values softened after reaching unusually high levels earlier in the year.
Holiday Momentum and Beyond
The holiday season is a pivotal period, with consumer spending peaking between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Maintaining visibility and offering competitive pricing on new and used products will be critical to capitalize on this demand surge. We expect pricing trends to continue their gradual upward trajectory through the remainder of Q4. As we move into the early months of 2025, AWPs are likely to climb further, especially in anticipation of the spring selling season. This presents a strategic opportunity for dealers looking to acquire high value used inventory.
From all of us at NPA, thank you for your partnership. We wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a prosperous New Year filled with growth and opportunity!
NOVEMBER ‘24 VS. AVG OF PRIOR 3 MONTHS AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICE CHANGE
NOVEMBER ‘24 VS. NOVEMBER ‘23
AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICE CHANGE
CURRENTS+
MERCATO ELETTRICO
110 Volt? EICMA EV Update
Ancora opaco l’andamento del mercato a zero emissioni. Le due ruote elettriche chiudono infatti in negativo anche il nono mese dell’anno (-23,25%), immatricolando 789 veicoli. In linea il cumulato annuo, che registra una perdita a doppia cifra (-21,99%) pari a 8.098 unità…
Heading into the 110th anniversary of EICMA, the largest and oldest motorcycle industry trade show in the world, sales are a mixed bag, domestically. According to ANCMA — the trade association that hosts EICMA — the Italian motorcycle market is up for the first 9 months of 2024. September sales were +1.7 while YTD ICE motorcycle sales were 5.05% higher, registering 300,343 units… Unfortunately this buzz doesn’t seem to include eMoto sales.
“The trend of the zero-emission market is still opaque.” is the polite way ANCMA phrased it. “In fact, electric two-wheelers closed the ninth month of the year in the negative (-23.25%), registering just 789 vehicles. The cumulative annual figure was in line, recording a double-digit loss (-21.99%) of 8,098 units.”
For the latest in all things Italian, visit the Italian Trade Agency’s Pavilion at AIMExpo.
SURRON OUTSIDE THE BOX AT EICMA
Surron charged into EICMA with another tantalizing teaser for the HyperBee which looks to “bee” the EV-equivalent of a pitbike with a 14-inch front wheel and a 12-inch rear wheel putting its dimensions of say a CRF110, however still no performance specs were release. Meanwhile the best selling LightBee returns for 2025 with a host of updates, including a 2 KW bump for the motor, new colorway, new seat cover, 18-inch rear wheel to accommodate a full range of rubber and even more factory accessories to upgrade performance.
But perhaps the coolest thing was the booth itself. Looking just like the boxes scale model motos come in, the Surron pavilion looked like a giant toy store… even the “packages were labelled with Scale 1:1 just like on the toy boxes. Will we see the toy boxes at AIMExpo in Las Vegas… what about more details on the HyperBee?
“We redefine the motorcycle industry with our unconventional approach to e-Moto,” is the only thing Surron is saying for now. “Our commitment lies in crafting e-moto that not only revolutionizes the industry by creating new categories but also keeps it affordable, allowing everyone to experience the thrill.” Charge into Booth #2809 at AIMExpo, or click here for any updates: www.sur-ron.com
ALTERNATING CURRENTS
On November 25 Canadian EV effort Damon Inc. issued a letter from its Chief Executive Officer, Jay Giraud, providing an update on the Company’s development progress, funding challenges, and planned roadmap to production. Problem is that in the past
2.5 years the motorcycles had not made it into production… In fact, Giraud’s letter states, “Progress in vehicle mechanics and power electronics, both reported as 90% complete, and 70% completion of battery system development.” However he outlined a path to production “Subject to securing adequate funding, the Company intends to transition from development to production.”
Dear Damon shareholders, supporters, reservation holders and enthusiasts, I am deeply grateful for your steadfast support and dedication over the past two and half years – a period that has proven challenging for us all. Your belief in our mission has been a cornerstone of our perseverance during a time when many early-stage startups struggled to survive. You deserve a transparent account of the journey we have endured together and an understanding of the hurdles that has led us to where we are now, starting with a roadmap of what we need to do to get to production…
What Led Us Here
In the spring of 2022, Damon successfully raised a US$26M Series B financing, which marked the beginning of our efforts to raise a Series C round with the assistance of two major banks. This funding was intended to kickstart production. However, following the volatile SPAC era, the financial landscape shifted dramatically. The bursting of this bubble led to a severe downturn in the markets, and our efforts to secure a Series C production financing were unsuccessful. Despite these
circumstances, the company was able to bridge itself with the support of various investors - enough to cover essential costs, having significantly reduced expenses across the board.
The Problem:
Since early 2022, inflation rates grew to reach 40-year highs, the highest level since 1981. Simultaneously, interest rates reached 20-year highs, rocking the financial markets and virtually wiping out risk capital for private companies, especially for pre-revenue startups in the capital-intensive automotive sector. Because of this, pre-revenue electric vehicle company valuations fell by an average 85%, and very few survived. Damon is an anomaly that persevered, despite how little risk capital had been available to fund the company’s path to production. As previously noted, the company had undertaken multiple cost-cutting measures across all areas to navigate through these challenging past two years. These necessary reductions have regrettably led to significant delays. The journey has been far from easy, but these tough decisions were essential to ensure our continued operation and future success.
On December 5th— just 10 days later — announced “a strengthening of its focus on operational excellence through the appointment of Damon co-founder, Dominique (Dom) Kwong as interim CEO and Shashi Tripathi as Chairman of the board of directors. Mr. Kwong replaces Jay Giraud as CEO.”
Stay tuned!
FUELL RUNS OUT OF GAS
Rumors of Erik Buell’s former eBike venture’s demise were confirmed in late October when attorney Paul Swanson issued the following statement:
To the creditors of Fuell Inc, I am currently representing Fuell Inc. in a chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin on October 16, 2024, as case #24-25492. A trustee has been appointed to liquidate the assets of the Company. All creditors will be advised to file claims in that proceeding as it appears that there may be assets for payment of unsecured claims after all of the secured claims are paid or otherwise dealt with. A copy of the Notice of the Case is posted nearby.
Management regrets the Company has been forced to take this path. Unfortunately, the Company lacks funds to pay for the labor costs and other required services necessary to assemble and ship products to its customers, and additional funds could not be raised to pay the Company’s outstanding current liabilities or to pay for the assembly and shipment of pre-ordered electric bicycles. I hasten to add that the Company has on hand what it believes to be the parts necessary for the assembly of the bulk of, if not all of the pre-ordered electric bicycles.
As the Company has little to no funds, and no employees, it is unable to directly answer creditors’ questions concerning specific orders. Creditors may direct questions to the Trustee who will be apprised of the situation. Since there are no employees at the Company to respond to questions at this time, current inquiries to the company will go unanswered…
FUJI-GAS WINS ON RTL ELECTRIC
Veteran Trials rider Takahisa Fujinami came out of “retirement” to take HRC’s electric trials bike into its first full season of competition. Known as “Fuji-Gas” for his full throttle approach, the ageless hero swept the first three rounds of the MFJ All Japan Trial Championship at the Osaka City Trial to keep Honda’s prototype RTL electric machine undefeated. However returning to the podium doesn’t mean he has given up on his day job.
“During my time competing in the World Championship before retirement, and now supporting Toni Bou and Gabriel Marcelli as a manager, each role carries its own challenges,” he says. “However, the pressure to win these three races was unprecedented. I’m truly glad I was able to win all three and repay Honda’s expectations and the development team’s efforts. I believe this result wouldn’t have been possible without this staff.”
“It was also a great blessing to compete in front of Japanese fans one last time. Thank you!”
With the news coming from EICMA and the Q3 financials, LiveWire Chief Technical Officer Vance Strader announced he was retiring. “I’m so proud of the work that LiveWire has done and the amazing products we built together. It’s rewarding to see all the positive reactions from riders and the press — especially for the S2 platform we developed from the ground up. It was tough, but now, you’re starting to see the proof points of the modular scalable EV architecture with two models already in production, a third just announced at EICMA, and (maybe) more on the “drawing board”… And though I’m admittedly biased, having ridden hundreds of different ICE and EV motorcycles over the years, I’m especially proud of the “secret sauce” we put into every LiveWire that I believe enables them to deliver some of the best riding experiences on two wheels.” Those years included stints as CTO and head of design for LiveWire, 16 years at HarleyDavidson as Group Chief Engineer, 7 years as the Lead Project Engineer for Buell Motorcycle Company. Before his run at The Motor Company, Strader was even the lead design engineer for Team Losi high end radio controlled racing cars.
Trek executive Nick Howe , who now serves as Segway’s head of e-bike. Howe, who joined Segway in the summer of 2024 was tasked with building out the division, has more than 25 years of experience in the bike industry and has owned and operated several bike shops in Colorado. “Segway recognized that the bike industry is a different animal ,” he said. “And senior leadership knew that we were going to need a talented team with experience in that world to be as successful with e-bikes as we are with our other product lines.”
Other new hires for the e-bike program include Heather Henderson as senior brand manager. Henderson’s resume includes senior product manager and marketing roles at Trek, Cannondale and Cervélo Cycles. She has also owned and operated her own bike shop.
Sophie Eaton as sales operations director. Eaton has senior sales experience with HLC, Cinelli Bicycles, Giant Bicycle and Clif Bar. Howe and Eaton have assembled a national sales team that includes Christopher Rubin as U.S. inside sales manager. Regional sales managers include Gavin Hayes, Chandler Head, Paul Middleton, David Bell and CJ Bradbury. Also joining Segway’s U.S. e-bike team are Erica Boyd as dealer support manager, Sarah Courtney as senior product manager, Suzy Sommer as digital marketing manager and Nate Werner as retail marketing manager.
According to the scoop in Bicycle Retailer & Industry News , Larry Pizzi is the new CEO for Pedego , the largest chain of electric bike stores in North America . The e-bike industry veteran was most recently GM and chief commercial officer of Alta Cycling Group . Pizzi succeeds Brian Stech . Pizzi spent seven years with Accell North America before its transition to Alta Cycling Group in 2019. Prior to that, Pizzi spent nearly a decade at Currie Tech Corporation as President and Chief Executive Officer.
John “JT” Thompson will move from general manager to a “senior advisory role” with Giant USA in a series of leadership changes approved by its board of directors. Angelo Mascelli and Chris Lai will be co-general managers. The changes took place Dec. 1. Thompson was general manager for 13 years, including spearheading the eBike push into powersports dealerships. Dealernews did a deep dive with JT back in 2021: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=QB5k5NWYjvc&t=96s
TRANSACTION ANNOUNCEMENT
JANUARY 20-22
Charlotte, North Carolina
FEBRUARY 5-7
Las Vegas, Nevada
With over 900 dealerships sold and a 90% closing rate, we are North America’s highest volume dealership brokerage firm. Our experience is unparalleled and our reputation is governed by the utmost integrity and ethical conduct.
Our team is eager to connect, share insights, and explore new opportunities. Whether you want to learn more about our services, discuss potential collaborations, or get aquainted, we’re looking forward to connecting with you.
See you soon! Meet Our Team!
For a confidential consultation and complimentary estimate of value on your business, please contact us:
Harley-Davidson & Powersports Division
George C. Chaconas, Senior Partner, CBI/M&AMI
Office: 813. 569. 6250 | Cell: 813. 245. 2535
Email: george@performancebrokerageservices.com
Address: 2102 West Cleveland Street, Tampa, Florida 33606
MORGAN G. SLATER
JUAN C. PARDO
COURTNEY A. BERNHARD
GEORGE C. CHACONAS
Welcome to your NPDA January 2025 newsletter!
There is strength in our growing numbers, and we’re on the move in furthering our mission: “To advance our industry by elevating Dealers to be well prepared, sustainably profitable and exceed the expectations of a growing Powersports customer base.”
POWERSPORTS WORLD TV:
‘It Can Ignite Something,’ NPDA Dealer Says National Powersports Dealer Association dealers say join us for the ride! NPDA launched Powersports World TV — a free digital TV channel devoted exclusively to powersports content of all types — its own network at the recent DealerConnect National Conference. The FAST (free, ad supported TV) channel is continuing to accelerate as more viewers discover the future of streaming. Powered by cutting-edge technology Powersports World is racing for 50 million households in the US and worldwide!
“Understanding what the new Powersports World TV can do for us... looking at the opportunities to get people who have never been exposed to these types of on-road/off-road sports can really be special,” explains NPDA Board Member Brett Tekavec. “It can ignite something! We all have that story of a father, uncle, cousin, brother, sister, aunt whoever it may be that did ride... that did something that exposed us to this world. Powersports World TV opens the doors to so many more of us.”
“We have a place to invite; to inform and inspire the powersports world to join us for the ride,” adds NPDA Chair Bob Althoff. “As Dealers, there’s never been such a growth-oriented mechanism to drive customers into our stores. With the support of OEMs, aftermarket brands and other companies affiliated with our industry, we’re confident that Powersports World will be yet another tool that will help Dealers become sustainably profitable.”
A subsidiary of NPDA Powersports World TV is produced in partnership with Triple-B Media and Chet Burks Productions. Triple-B Media was founded by former executives at ESPN and has launched numerous other FAST channels.With the partnership in place, Powersports World will be able to stream live events related to motorcycles, side-by-sides, ATVs, scooters, personal watercraft (PWC), snowmobiles, industry events and more.
Miss the world premiere of PSW at DealerConnect? Join NPDA at AIMExpo for an exclusive look at the new network owned by dealers broadcasting for dealers! Click here for more details: pswtv.com/new-home-2024
GODSPEED!
Malcolm Smith’s Legacy Lives On The NPDA — along with anyone involved in our industry — was heartbroken to learn of the passing of Malcolm Smith on Nov. 26, 2024, at the age of 83. NPDA sends its condolences to Malcolm’s family, friends and all of those who were impacted by him. Malcolm was an inspiration to countless riders via his starring role in On Any Sunday, the 1971 film that introduced the passion that motorcycling brings to so many still today.
His namesake Malcolm Smith Motorsports dealership in Riverside, California, remains a testament to his success as a business owner. His racing skills, of course, earned him a spot in the American Motorcyclist Hall of Fame. The family kindly requests donations to Malcolm’s favorite charity, the Malcolm Smith Motorsports Foundation, which supports the children of Baja: www.malcolmsmithmotorsportsfoundation.org
NPDA DEALER NEWS
Charlie Cole Picks Up A Pair
A pair of NDPA Members connected when Charlie Cole turned to Performance Brokerage Services to facilitate the acquisition of two Harley-Davidson dealerships. Carolina Coast Harley-Davidson, along with its sister store on U.S. Route 17, Beach House Harley-Davidson, have been family-owned and operated by Rick and Janice Noyes for three decades. Rick and Janice will continue to own and operate New River Harley-Davidson in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
Over the last five years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of over 300 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. George C. Chaconas, Senior Partner and Courtney A. Bernhard, Partner of the Harley-Davidson & Powersports Division for Performance Brokerage Services were the exclusive sell-side advisors for this transaction.
Charlie Cole, President of the Cole Family of HarleyDavidson Dealerships, has been an award-winning HarleyDavidson dealer since 1998. He shared, “I want to thank Courtney and George at Performance Brokerage Services for presenting this incredible opportunity. This marks the third and fourth stores I’ve acquired through PBS.”
With the addition of Carolina Coast Harley-Davidson and Beach House Harley-Davidson, the Cole Family of HarleyDavidson Dealerships now owns eight dealership locations across Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Carolina Coast Harley-Davidson will be renamed Shipwreck Harley-Davidson and will remain at its current location at 6620 Market Street in Wilmington, North Carolina. Beach House Harley-Davidson will be renamed Sea Breeze Harley-Davidson and will remain at its current location at 100 Harley Davidson Drive in Shallotte, North Carolina.
NPDA 2025 ELECTION RESULTS
From left: Will Cole, Rick Noyes, Charlie Cole and Freddy Tedesco were part of the latest buy-sell transaction from Performance Brokerage Services. The North Carolina dealerships have been re-named Shipwreck Harley-Davidson and Sea Breeze HarleyDavidson.
Incumbents Re-Elected; New Member Joins Board
The National Powersports Dealer Association’s 2025 Board of Directors election took place from Dec. 9-15, and the Dealers have spoken. Of the seven spots that were available, six incumbents held their seats. Joining the NPDA Board is Justin Alpiser, Team Powersports, North Carolina, a Dealer with extensive ties throughout the powersports industry.
Board members with terms that end Dec. 31, 2026:
Jay Goodart, Lawless Harley-Davidson, Missouri
Michael Kiley, Tytler’s Cycle and Moto Union, Wisconsin
John Leach, Pete’s Cycle, Maryland
Donald B. Meyers, Jr., Harley-Davidson of Baltimore, Maryland
Mark J. Sheffield, Woods Cycle Country, Texas
Brett Tekavec, Harley-Davidson of Washington, DC and Queen City Harley-Davidson, Ohio
Justin Alpiser, Team Powersports, North Carolina, (elected to his first term)
For more information about the NPDA, click here: www.npda.org
NPDA PARTNERS TO PARTICIPATE IN TECH HUB
On Tap For AIMExpo
AIMExpo, being held Feb. 5-7, 2025, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, will feature the Digital & Tech Sector, a dedicated space for brands offering the latest technical and digital solutions to help dealers take their businesses to the next level.
Here, dealers can easily visit a hub of companies offering the latest innovations and can take part in Tech Talks — small-group discussions with tech leaders who can help them approach opportunities and challenges from a new perspective.
A host of NPDA Partners will be in the Digital & Tech Hub, including:
700Credit
Accelerate2Compliance
AppOne
Cycle Trader
LeadHelm
Rollick, Inc.
Spader Business Management/NCM Associates
The Digital & Tech Sector was created when Bob Lettis, Senior Vice President, Business Development & Partnerships at 700Credit, and Chris Yeloushan, Vice President of Dealer Development and Industry Relations at Rollick, Inc., approached the AIMExpo team after this year’s show with the idea of curating such a space to make it easier for dealers to connect with this important, fast growing market segment.
“We listened to direct dealer feedback, which led us to seek an easy way to create a digital tech hub that would feature the top digital solutions companies in the industry,” said Yeloushan. “By consolidating these innovative partners in a single place and providing Tech Talks, dealers have the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation and problem-solving sessions with one another and with our panel speakers. AIMExpo provides the perfect platform for this experience given its impact in the industry by recognizing the role technology plays in today’s dealerships.”
“Technology is driving the industry, and it’s important for dealers to adapt and adopt new innovations so they don’t get left behind,” said Lettis. “We wanted to make it easier for dealers to quickly see how some of the latest software can help them enhance their sales processes, and having this central hub allows them to quickly evaluate multiple options and offerings, since dealer needs are not all the same. We thought AIMExpo would be the perfect place to showcase The Digital & Tech Sector because it is the premier event for the powersports community to connect and learn.”
MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS PRIVILEGES
Portal Features Exclusive NPDA Dealer-Focused Content
Don’t forget to log in to the NPDA Members Portal for content exclusive to NPDA Dealer Members and get to know more about our Partners, your account information, and more.
Exclusive Look
Some of the recent exclusive content for Dealer Members that can be found on the Members Portal.
GLAD TIDINGS
Putting A Bow On 2024
By Dave McMahon, Executive Director
Time to put a bow on 2024 and unwrap a new year. As we enter the New Year, there is plenty to celebrate from our perch over here at NPDA headquarters.
For starters, the NPDA welcomed well over 100 new dealership members in 2024, continuing momentum as we celebrated the association’s 3rd Anniversary. Dealers continue to appreciate and acknowledge the work that is being done on their behalf to achieve sustainable profitability. Whether you are currently a member or plan on joining us as part of your holiday celebration to get a head start on 2025, we will always be here to Promote, Unite, Represent and Educate Dealers.
Speaking of celebrating, 2024 will go down in NPDA lore with a pair of historic milestones. The inaugural Dealer Connect conference at the Sonesta Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, brought together our Dealers and Partners for over two days to celebrate our success and build on future growth. As part of the milestone event, the NPDA revealed its all-new Powersports World TV channel, a subsidiary property of the NPDA that figures to be one of the largest drivers of growth at the retail level that our industry has seen in decades. Tune in today by clicking here.
Our Partners continue to join and renew the association as Members, realizing that a strong and healthy dealer body is imperative to their growth. We’re excited to continue to make connections between our Dealer and Partner Members in various new ways in 2025.
Dealers simply need to raise their hand — or click their mouse! — to participate in one of the NPDA’s Councils, and they did so in droves in 2024. Our Harley-Davidson Dealer Council continues to have the backs of all NPDA Harley-Davidson dealership Members. They gathered as one at AIMExpo in February, where they had a fruitful conversation with invited guest Luke Mansfield, COO of Harley-Davidson.
The Councils expanded with the formation of our first NPDA State Dealer Councils, which the Board of Directions encouraged as a way to help Dealers lessen their exposure at the state level. Seven states have had at least one State Dealer Council video meeting, with others coming up soon in January. NPDA Dealers should be on the lookout for an email invitation to their State Council meetings.
And while email continues to be our primary communication vehicle at the NPDA, we learned this year that building our relationships face-to-face adds to potential growth for all of us.
We hope you get plenty of face time with those you enjoy spending time with this holiday season. Enjoy every second and we will look forward to helping you make 2025 better in every way we can.
ENCOURAGED TO JOIN ABOUT NPDA
The National Powersports Dealer Association (NPDA) was founded in 2021 and is an association dedicated to direct interaction with our members.
Our Mission Statement is for the NPDA to empower franchised and independent Powersports Dealers through special services, products, programs, education, and advocacy of Dealer views and concerns to create a professional, successful, and profitable industry.
Our Vision is for the NPDA to advance our industry by elevating Dealers to be well prepared, sustainably profitable, and exceed the expectations of a growing Powersports customer base.
THE 80 PERCENT RULE…
Finding That Zone Of Agreement
By Don Amador
The recent Reagan biopic got me thinking about responsible land use… well, actually that is always top of mind, but it did seem topical with the elections wrapping up and the guidance it can offer all of us. Not as a political football to toss around, but as a philosophical approach to advocacy.
President Ronald Reagan is famous for a number of quotes that continue to influence American politics and policy. Reagan is not often thought of as a public land recreation icon, but for me his statement, “The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and an ally – not a 20 percent traitor” has become a cornerstone of my recreation career. It is also a road map for off-roading’s immediate and long-term future.
I believe that the OHV community should urge the new Trump Administration to continue support for federal land agency collaboration with diverse force multipliers/partners. Include all recreation groups, conservation organizations, Tribes, timber, land owners and others with a focus on planning for, and implementing, unit level projects that provide a direct public benefit.
The new cabinet appointments should authorize the increased use of youth-based conservation corps type groups (non-profits, government, Tribal, etc.) to bolster their workforce in support of ground-level trail stewardship projects.
I also believe that any agency staff downsizing in the Washington D.C. bureaucracy should include options for surging those positions out to the field. We need boots on the ground to help backfill Forest or Field Office vacant positions to implement many shovel-ready projects…. not more butts in seats in Washington DC!
Those new staff positions could make the currently stalled 1,300 acre Blue Oak Ranch OHV Staging/Camping Area addition to the BLM’s South Cow Mountain Recreation Area near Ukiah, CA a reality. Also, they could help restart the 2020 OHV Travel Management Planning process that would designate a legal trail system at Indian Valley located within the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. These are just two projects off the top of my head… we need plenty more help around the country.
Using the Reagan 80 percent rule, finding common ground with other recreation interests is easier than you think. You may not be a Reagan fan, but most of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle agree that finding that zone of agreement is a good long-term strategy. Time to tear down that wall! We need to secure access to sustainable recreation activities and protect important natural and cultural resources for future generations.
Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for over 33 years. Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don serves as the Western States Representative for the Motorcycle Industry Council. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance. Don served as a contractor to the BlueRibbon Coalition from 1996 until June, 2018. Don served on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission from 1994-2000. He has won numarous awards including being a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2018 Friend of the AMA Award. Don served as the government affairs lead for AMA District 36 in Northern California from 2019 – 2023. Don is a Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino. Don is a contributor to Dealernews Magazine. Don writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA.
WHEN TRAILS CLOSE
Confessions Of A Customer®
By Eric Anderson
RE-CONNECTING WITH CUSTOMERS 10 WAYS
A Ten Spot… ideas you may not be thinking about?
Pissed off. Mad as hell. Under-capitalized. Overinventoried. Short-staffed. Micro-managed. Outgunned. Budgetarily-squeezed. OE-pressured. Floor-traffic challenged. How the hell are you, the brick-and-mortar dealer, supposed to survive this thing? You will. You are likely hitting the “wall” of your endurance race now, however. Admittedly, there is no true finish line in retail, but with a combination of crisis management tactics and new forms of customer prospecting, you’ll make it to the next aid station and the next and…
The little voice at the back of your head is telling you every negative thing it can at this point. You’re weak. You’re insecure. You’re off the pipe. Your customers have abandoned you. Your OEMs and local bank aren’t helping. The nagging, logical voice is saying “fight” while your other paranoid voice says “flight.” This is truly a moment of choice in your business’ lifecycle — are you going to pick yourself up by your bootstraps and finish the race or lay there waiting to DNF? Even if you are a Harley or KTM dealer, nobody trained for this eventuality — the rules just changed unexpectedly and the racecourse isn’t what you thought it’d be. So, you may need some spit, wire, duct tape and a Mountain Dew to patch things together like you never imagined — sort of “Baja engineering” for your business. Like riding a bicycle, you can’t change directions… until you at least get moving again.
“Like riding a bicycle, you can’t change directions… until you at least get moving again.”
Your toughest choice will be changing your previously proven business formula… because it ain’t the same out there as it used to be. Baby Boomers, a seller’s market, free money and never-never terms made it all happen in spades back then. But now… your clutch lever is broken; the rear tire has a slow leak and it’s started to rain. You can still win this thing!
Here is a list of 10 inexpensive solutions for you to consider…right now…
1. Improve & Increase Social Media Posts. This is still voodoo to some but might be made easier with new apps. You’d be shocked at what local influencers and posters can do for you… and for how little. Blogs, photos, videos, shopping carts, eBay connections and lots more for less than $40 a month. Video is the medium, even if your quality is poor — its genuine and that’s what young people want. If it looks too corporate, it’s perceived as a lie. Yes, quantity over quality is a hard pill to swallow, but get it. Try this article if you’re new to building good campaigns avvale.co.uk/pages/a-guide-to-social-mediafor-motorcycle-shop-businesses-1 or here to include TikTok www.motorcycle.marketing/blog/what-haschanged-on-social-media-in-the-last-12-months-forbrands/
2. More Special Events. Tech Nite, Sportbike Nite, Adventure Nights, Navigation Workshops, Open House Nights and Special Weekend shows and demo days. You know the drill. Give people an excuse to ride, visit your store and hang out. Does it really cost that much to promote it on Instagram or Facebook… and on e-blasts? A few hot dogs and sodas — while they last — can result in a big increase in weekend floor traffic… and sales.
3. eBlast Campaigns. Some are doing this, and some aren’t. The more creative and engaging promotions get much higher click-thrus and attention. Keep it simple and bold with compelling images or even embedded videos. Snail mail is… over and done.
4. Advertise for free on Powersports World TV (if you’re an NPDA member). This was just announced last week to NPDA.org members. Here is the link for more information. I don’t know how much longer this “smoking deal” is going to last, but it is certainly a great buy even if the membership costs you $395 to $495 a year. Your ads can be focused directly inside your local territory. Talk to Bob Althoff (in the link) for more information. www.npda.org/pswtv
5. Drop Ship to Reconnect Big E-Comm Customers Back to You. This could also take the form of shopping carts on your website — if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Why should you give the sale to a cyber-retailer who didn’t educate your customer? If your website provider won’t or can’t supply you with shopping carts, help is on the way with new technology — standby! My big beef about today’s parts or accessory purchase from a brickand-mortar store is…the dreaded second trip to pick up what was ordered. It’s simply extraneous in this day of daily package delivery to my doorstep. If you don’t have it stock when a walk-in customer wants it, take his money and have your distributor ship it to his house directly. Anything else is a waste of gasoline and time.
Your smile is contagious. Make all your customers do the same thing
6. Use Smiles and First Names. It’s really that simple. It works better than probably anything on this list and takes less time and money too. Old-fashioned “yes.” Newfashioned “yes.”
7. Frequent Buyer Programs. Frozen yoghurt, barber shops and grocery chains use them. Why not you? A simple business card with $20 and $50 increments on it plus a unique rubber stamp and you’re in. Every $250 spent in parts and accessories earns a 20% discount on the... next single purchase. It encourages customer allegiance and keeps those bigger, planned purchases in your house.
Give tours of all your store’s departments to new and old customers forcing them to see “what’s new” for products and people. It will also add to the excitement when seeing people moving around the store. Without movement, you become a static exhibiting museum.
8. Shop Tours for Every Customer... whether they buy anything or not. Have you toured your customers around and introduced them to your staff one at a time? Make sure everyone carries business cards in their shirt pocket and hands one to each customer getting the tour. Service dept. Parts dept. Sales dept. Finance dept. Suddenly… it feels like family.
9. Reach Beyond your regular market. Scooters were the biggest opportunity when fuel prices were skyrocketing. Your problem might have been attracting nonmotorcyclists to your motorcycle store. Get over nonrider “intimidation factors” with special scooter and e-bike promos outside your normal PR box including college campuses, city services, train and bus stations, pizza delivery services, carpool lots and companies with huge parking lots of gas guzzlers. Have you invited a local radio station to do a remote transmission from your store?
Newbie or expert, we ADV riders can always learn something new about navigation and GPS functions when we get together and share knowledge. Provide the platform and space for workshops, show & shines, and bike nights.
“Cure ‘rectal myopia’ and let the sun shine in… with some new input from outside the retail powersports industry.“
10. Get Out More. If you haven’t left the store in months to look around, you may not be seeing the opportunities other businesses are trying. Cure “rectal myopia” and let the sun shine in… with some new input from outside the retail powersports industry.
If the front door swings have slowed to a snail’s pace, then you should have time to implement some of these new ideas. Get to it and re-connect with past customers while making it more enticing for new and curious customers to come visit your store.
ESPOSIZIONE INTERNAZIONALE DELLE DUE RUOTE
Marking 110 Years Of Motorcycle Shows In Milan
By Robin Hartfiel
Back in the days of Caesar’s Legions, they said all roads lead to Rome. However since the start of the motorcycle era, Milan has served as the Mecca for the two wheeled market. Since 1914 both bicycles and “powered two-wheelers” gathered at the oldest and largest trade fair in the sector. Add scooters (which were also born in Italy and now eBike to the equation and the 110th celebration was one for the record books.
The vibe at EICMA in Milan was absolutely electric! All 10 exhibit halls were filled and more than 600,000 attendees were recorded during the six days. And it looks to be contagious as closer to home “the EICMA of America” AIMExpo is already 96% sold out and more than 1,000 dealers are pre-registered.
“We are very satisfied,” said EICMA president and CEO Pietro Meda and ANCMA Trade Association Chair Paolo Magri in a joint statement. “These numbers are the best way to celebrate such a unique milestone as EICMA’s 110th anniversary.”
Technically speaking because EICMA used to take place every other year — and missed a couple of show dates like the year COVID cancelled the party — this was International
Two-Wheeler Exhibition #81. Call it what you will, there were more than 40,000 more attendees than the 2023 EICMA. There was also a record-breaking number of exhibitors on hand. More than 770 companies representing 45 countries and 2163 brands turned out for the 110th bash.
“This data confirms the relevance and attractiveness of EICMA… 26% of the exhibitors were at the Milan show for the first time,” explains Meda. Trade Day alone saw some 38,000 dealers, distributors and other industry professionals from 126 different nations participate in the event… then there was the media blitz! The number of journalists, content creators, experts and communication professionals grew +13% over 2023 from 74 countries as the media scrum exceeded 8,000 members of the 4th Estate.
The Media was drawn by the innovation of the products on display as well as the conferences, round tables and other must-attend happenings. At more than 330,000 square meters, EICMA enchanted the media and attendees alike by expanding the outdoor MotoLive area, enlivened by shows, new entertainment, motorcycle trials, 8 hours of live television coverage and, above all, by the races featuring international riders and motorsport legends.
Meda also attributes some of the success to the Virtual Gaming Arena as well as the Start Up & Security area created in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) as part of its promotion abroad and internationalization of Italian companies’ mission. ITA will also have a Pavilion at AIMExpo.
“Despite the interruption due to COVID, we never stopped investing in and looking to the future of the event, implementing services for companies, content, promotion and visitor experiences for the public,” Meda and Magri concluded. “The return of all the OEMs (including KTM and Harley-Davidson) was a source of great pride, as was that of seeing the pavilions full of young people and families: to them, to all the enthusiasts and to our partners goes our biggest thank you!”
Save the date! EICMA 2025 is set for November 4-9.
LAUNCHING INTO A NEW YEAR!
Hayabusa Flying Into 2025
By Gus Stewart
Suzuki celebrated a couple of milestones in late November as Gaige Herrera piloted his Gen 3 Hayabusa to his second consecutive NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle World Championship while Hayabusa owners flocked to the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals as part of Suzuki’s Hayabusa Homecoming, a celebration of 25 years of the company’s legendary sportbike. Dedicated enthusiasts, local dealers and at least one magazine guy were at the NHRA season ending final round at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, California, on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
Herrera had them all on their feet with a blistering 6.779-second/200.00 mph victory over Clayton Howey (7.014 seconds/184.04 mph) in round one to clinch the 2024 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle World championship and become a two-time champion in only his second full season in the class.
Herrera’s second championship capped a recordsetting season in which he also broke long-standing
NHRA records for most consecutive race wins (11, spanning the 2023 and 2024 seasons) and most consecutive elimination round wins (46) and became the fastest racer to win 20 national events, accomplishing the feat in only his 34th start.
With the title wrapped up, it was time to honor 25 years of the iconic Hayabusa. Hard to believe the legend first took flight in 1999 when the Hayabusa roared onto the scene as the world’s fastest production motorcycle.
Suzuki celebrated in style as Suzuki owners rode into VIP parking and were treated to free grandstand entry, and a limited-edition Hayabusa Homecoming gift pack. Throughout the day, fans were able to meet the Vance & Hines team in an interactive Q&A session and get up close with Chris Moore of Moore Mafia as he showcased his 206 mph Turbo Hayabusa.
The Suzuki display featured some of the fastest Hayabusa’s ever built, including the Vance & Hines race machine and Moore’s custom 25th Anniversary drag bike, along with the full line of Suzuki products. Of course there was a photo op on a Vance & Hines Pro Stock Hayabusa.
GODSPEED MOTORCYCLE MARY
Pioneer Mary McGee Inspired Generations
From Mary McGee’s Facebook page:
Dear friends, Mary Bernice McGee (nee Connor) better known as “Motorcycle Mary” passed away on November 27 at her home in Gardnerville, Nevada, surrounded by family and friends. We would like to take a moment to extend a thank you to the healthcare providers, caregivers, friends and family members who made Mary’s transition peaceful.
However you may have come to know her, Mary embodied resilience, grace, and optimism. She was a historic athlete and a motorsports pioneer who embraced life’s challenges, cared deeply for others, and made time to brighten the lives of those around her. While we are deeply saddened by this loss, we are comforted knowing that her light will continue to shine in everyone she touched.
She particularly enjoyed the last few months meeting those who learned her story through the documentary, Motorcycle Mary (see sidebar). We welcome you to share your memories so that Mary’s great spirit continues to resonate as we celebrate the extraordinary life she lived.
Dealernews had the great fortune to cover pioneer Mary McGee a couple years ago and we spoke to her on the way to Hangtown in 2024. For those who missed it, Eric Anderson’s three part series can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9cpliaYENs
In the 1950s, Mary McGee found her sense of freedom when she became the first American woman to race motorcycles. Mary’s pioneering journey of conquering sexism and her own fears paved the way for the next chapter in motorsports.
The untold story of legendary motorsports pioneer Mary McGee a.k.a. MOTORCYCLE MARY whose racing career spanned thirty years and saw Mary shatter gender norms while mastering multiple racing disciplines. Born in Alaska on the eve of World War II, McGee’s early life is riddled with fear but, with her older brother Jim’s guidance, she conquers her apprehensive nature and discovers the art of composure — a skill that serves her to take on the racetrack. Following in her brother’s footsteps, her remarkable racing odyssey begins in the world of cars, where she outshines her male competitors, only to later discover her greatest sense of freedom racing motorcycles. She was the first woman to race motorcycles in the United States. Confronted by sexism and personal tragedy, Mary perseveres, pushing herself to greater and greater heights — culminating in her most hair-raising challenge: Becoming the first person ever to solo the grueling Baja 500 on a motorcycle.
The 22-minute documentary short MOTORCYCLE MARY is directed by Haley Watson and produced by Rachel Greenwald and executive produced by two-time Oscar® winner Ben Proudfoot and seven-time Formula One World Champion, Lewis Hamilton.
THE AMA MOURNS MOTORCYCLE MARY
The American Motorcyclist Association mourns the loss of motorcycling icon and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Mary McGee — a pioneer for women riders — who passed away on Nov. 27. She was 87 years old.
As one of the first women to race motorcycles in motocross and road racing events in the United States, McGee inspired generations of women riders across the country with her acts of courage despite facing backlash due to her gender. “Mary McGee devoted her life to promoting the motorcycling lifestyle to women throughout America, and did so with unrelenting passion and spirit,” AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman said. “Her contributions to motorcycling will never be forgotten, and her legacy within our sport will live on forever.”
Born in Juneau, Alaska, on Dec. 12, 1936, McGee spent much of her youth away from motorcycling. McGee moved to the continental United States at a very young age to live with her grandparents in Iowa. In 1944, McGee’s family moved to Phoenix, AZ.
McGee’s love for auto racing began in the 1950s. In 1957, her focus shifted to motorcycling as she hopped aboard two wheels for the first time, learning to ride on a 200cc Triumph Tiger Cub that she bought from a friend. Soon after, McGee became the first woman in the United States to hold an FIM license.
Getting her start in road racing — with the goal of improving her car racing skills — McGee shifted to dirt racing in 1963, competing in an AMA District 37 enduro aboard a 250cc 1962 Honda Scrambler. In 1967, McGee became the first woman to ride the Baja 500. Eight years later, McGee completed the event — which is typically a two-person race — solo.
McGee continued to compete — racing both motorcycles and cars — until 2011. Throughout her career, McGee remained a steadfast ambassador for motorcycling, encouraging people — most notably, women — to ride.
For her efforts as a competitor and advocate for women in motorcycling, McGee was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2018.
The final result is blending our love for 2 wheels, with a little business opportunity and a full delivery of customer support! For us, the other brands just fell into place, and are a great addition to what we now prefer to vend!
During the recent unavoidable news, there have been lots of voices. From a dealer perspective, it is business as usual. We have had constant contact on financial updates, we have units now and forecasted, we have parts… in short, we have great OEM support.
As we enter the 14th year of the Spyke’s you likely now know, we can assure you we’ve encountered an immense amount of unscripted, undocumented rough terrain. Our staff, outside contacts, brands and competition have always kept us on track. We now have family in North America along with Austria.
As an enthusiast, we encourage you to support dealers, tracks, vendors and resources of your choice! Your support allows us to fuel not only your passion but also our commitment to our powersports industry.
From this side of the counter — you know where to find us Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9-6. Wednesday 9-8. Saturday 9-1. 765-586-0950 Spykesbikes.com Spykesktm@gmail.com
There is an elephant in the showroom and on the phone lines! But wait, we don’t sell elephants!? Grab your reading glasses, (not the ones you left at our counter) this is for the ones that have swung any door at Spyke’s Lafayette, IN.
About us : We are one of the few KTM Group stores in North America. Meaning we represent nearly every brand that makes up KTM North America.
Why? To simplify this we had one brand — KTM — and KTM carried us for some time; from 2008 to an acquisition in 2013. From 2013 on with the right staff and backing, the throttle was pinned. We would see a Husqvarna from time to time until we started running out of key models or losing a preferred customer bike deal to other dealers. Thus the light bulb, why not have both? Nearly two years of negotiation and discussion went on. Settling on Husqvarna and WP. These two brands together, was a great ignition, during the anxious negotiation we met key internal KTM NA Staff members along with building relationships with dealers that share our passion.
Specializing in Adventure, Dual Sport, Off-Road and EV market segments. Delivering solutions in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace.
Over 35 years of senior level executive management experience.
