Issue #4 April 2024

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

Robin

Blake

Brenda

John

World’s Luckiest Man

By Bob Althoff

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Happy Easter!

Spring, I’m betting, is your favorite time of the year. How do I know? Well, chances are you are a motorcyclist. And as such, you now have at least three seasons of riding ahead. What could be better?

Spring is when we sell again for those of us in the Northern Tier. It’s when we meet new friends and renew old ones. It is a time of renewal and rebirth for riders of all stripes.

Every winter it seems like Spring will never come… But it does. And it’s here. Now is the time to hit the refresh button. Our sport/industry has afforded us all a very special gift. If we nurture it; if we do that Spring housekeeping; if we roll out the welcome mat and fire up the grill… if we do all that, the gift will keep on giving.

There will be storms in this industry as in others. But we have weathered those for 125 years or so. One of the brightest blooms in the Spring bouquet is the National Powersports Dealer Association. After planting the seeds at AIMExpo a couple years ago, NPDA burst into this year with 425+ Dealer members representing all 50 States and Puerto Rico. The April showers we face will bring even more flowers in May and beyond as we grow together.

Budding opportunities to work with AMA, MIC and even associations outside our industry — like our friends from the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, NADA and RVIA — have already proven fruitful.

We are at our best when we stand in support of one another — OEMs, Aftermarket and Dealers actively cultivating the common goal of sharing our unique sense of community; our fun, freedom and friendships; the adventures and misadventures on the roads and trails we travel cannot help but to grow our industry.

Easter is the perfect time to spring ahead as we celebrate the risen $47 billion (and counting) business we have built; rejoice with the 119,000 (and counting) employees we write paychecks; and renew our relationships with the millions of customers we work so hard to serve.

At this blessed time of year, it’s good to count our blessings in being in this powersports life. Roll up the garage door, back the bike out and speed headlong into those three seasons ahead!

Bob

Editor’s Note

By Robin Hartfiel

TO BE…

Or not to be?

To be, or not “to be”, that is the question… the Bard’s query seems appropriate as the tale of Swedish EV company CAKE is sounding more like a Shakespearian tragedy than an epic Viking saga. Maybe it was nobler in the mind to launch the brand despite all the slings and arrows? However founder Stefan Ytterborn’s oddly referenced ICE metaphor — “We began a thorough journey towards a clear destination, when the fuel hose was cut and only got half way, while struggling to close late stage funding during the past 18 months.” — brought about an ignominious curtain call to this passion play.

Perchance CAKE’s dream of producing the cleanest, greenest last mile mobility machine on earth was the rub? The stated goal was — “To produce the world’s cleanest motorcycle by 2025, making the entire production chain for the electric CAKE Kalk motorbike fossil-free (or as close to as possible). Without carbon offsetting, because we need to tackle the root cause, not compensate for it.”

An ambitious goal that came to an abrupt end when they pulled the plug unexpectedly February 1; last month’s eDEALERNEWS announced issuu.com/dealernews/ docs/issue_3_march_37c543f0e1a657/38

However during a time when Harley-Davidson bought STACYC, spun off it’s LiveWire division and ended its affiliation with Serial 1 e-bikes, CAKE was charging through some $74 million in funding. Since its launch in 2017, best guess is CAKE produced less than 6,000 units in 7 years… this despite Ytterborn’s admission that “we know that we will not be cash flow positive until we sell 7,500 to 10,000 vehicles annually.” Failing to reach critical mass, it seemed CAKE was engaged in amped up PR blitzes ranging from “opening experiential centers” in cosmopolitan cities around the globe to making charitable donations to anti- poacher rangers in Africa.

CAKE raised $14 million in Series A funding in 2019 followed by another $60 million Series B round in 2021 from the ironically named AMF Swedish pension fund (you can’t make this stuff up). But behind the headlines, it seems as if AMF money was the only thing keeping the electricity on. As the management team began to scramble, even more over-the-top press releases flooded out… apparently chumming the waters for another OEM to bail them out.

In retrospect, the biggest red herring of a rumored sale of 130,000 units to China should have been a red flag that something was rotten in Denmark… um, Sweden. The partnership between CAKE and Shanghai Forever was to see Forever distributing CAKE’s standard range of products, creating a country-specific model “hitting the Chinese market by H2 2024.”

Although the CAKE brand may have shuffled off this mortal coil, Ytterborn has already gotten his band back together. Even before the ink was dry on the bankruptcy filing in Swedish court “Happy to announce that the former design team at CAKE now forms to be,” he says. “Oskar Milke, David Gonzalez and Fanny Jonsson will now be offering materializing strategy, coaching organizations, developing products and product lines, from the point of why and what, through manufacturing, all the way to launch and beyond, successfully addressing the aspired user.”

Sounds like a good pitch for VC investors to hawk vaporware on Wall Street rather than hardware on Main Street? As Shakespeare concluded, “And enterprises of great pith and moment, with this regard their currents turn awry… And lose the name of action.”

Be interesting to see if “to be” can tap into the AMF pension fund again?

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.

THANKS FOR THE PLUG!

Thank you for featuring us so prominently in this month’s Dealernews at the Table of Contents Image! Your support of Atturo is noticed and greatly appreciated!

Collin Mikottis, Category Specialist: Powersports

Atturo Tire Corp. Waukegan, IL

CAKE FUEL LINE CUT?

We began a thorough journey towards a clear destination, when the fuel hose was cut and only got half way, while struggling to close late stage funding during the past 18 months. We will continue our ambition to inspire and accelerate towards zero emission, in one way or another. With humility, grief and reverence to customers, colleagues, manufacturers and suppliers, investors and other stakeholders.

Stefan Ytterborn, Founder, ex-CEO & Choreographer

CAKE — ridecake.com

Stockholm, Sweden

SOUND OFF!

POG MEMBER REMEMBERS ED YOUNGBLOOD

Ed’s contributions to our sport, as well as to his other very passionate interests, are simply immeasurable.

Ed had wanted to attend the recent 1973 ISDT reunion event, but his health issues kept him from doing so. As surely most all of you know, Ed played a very key role in that event ever coming to be.

When the Penton Owners Group got the go-ahead to create the 1973 ISDT display at The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, I called Ed and discussed the upcoming exhibit with him. Being so passionate about documenting and celebrating our sport’s history, Ed was very pleased to hear of the planned exhibit.

Ed had written some interesting back stories about the 1973 ISDT event, which Leo Keller had preserved and has kindly provided to us:

http://vinduro-de.bplaced.net/ EdYoundblood%20ISDT%20 memories%201973.pdf?fbclid=IwA R1JPtqvHGX5Urw4flWruoAhaNtiZg InPQsKjJLw1EF9Y9Ao6vAsHvxJFW0

Join in the conversation via e-mail: Editor@dealernews.com

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Keep up to date on: Dealernews.com

They are sure worth reading, and after reading them, I came to the conclusion that us riders had the better end of the deal, all we had to do was show up and ride those wonderful New England trails!

Paul Danik, Penton Motorcycles Penton Owners Group

STEMP SALUTES FELLOW STORY TELLER

I was so sad to hear of this man’s passing today. When Dennis Stemp and I were mere fledgling publishers, Ed Youngblood, the esteemed head of the American Motorcyclist Association, treated us as colleagues. Over time, and especially after Dennis passed away, Ed’s thoughtful perspective was a guide; he eventually penned his Motohistory column in #ironworksmag - an anticipated and seldom-edited contribution that I felt extremely lucky to be reading each time. Ed knew well the plight of magazine people and oh, could he tell a story!

Marilyn Stemp, Editor IronWorks Magazine/Iron Trader News/ Sturgis Rider Daily

HELP WANTED?

Are you guys currently looking for a highly motivated individual with a love and passion for Powersports?

Spencer Roberston, Commercial Sales Account Manager

McKay’s Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Via LinkedIn

We would suggest checking out our partners at Motorcycle Industry Jobs. There are literally hundreds of job postings and it costs nothing to browse through all the opportunities and apply: www.motorcycleindustryjobs.com

THE DENAGO DIFFERENCE!

Game changer! Closer to home than the hardwoods of March Madness is the showroom floor of your dealership — a fact Denago PowerSports recognizes. The pitbike, youth moto and ATV OEM announced their partnership with Northpoint Commercial Finance, bringing inventory flooring support to their growing US dealer network on the eve of the NCAA basketball tournament in March.

“Financing and Flooring support is an intricate part of being a reputable and major player in our industry,” explains Denago’s General Manager, David Garibyan. “We are committed to rising to the same level as our biggest competitors, and partnering with a financing company as respected as Northpoint completely supports this goal.”

This is definitely a “Denago Difference” adds Garibyan. “Banks are not risk-takers. If they see a future with us, it should be easy for other partners to see the same.” The terms of this offer will be communicated directly to Denago’s dealer network shortly, “but this is undoubtedly a significant step in solidifying the company’s future and accentuating The Denago Difference.”

SMAC TALK!

Suzuki Manufacturing of America Corporation (SMAC) became a 100% subsidiary of Suzuki Motor USA on March 1, 2024. SMAC stock is currently owned by Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) (20%) and Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) (80%). In turn, SMAI, owned by SMC, is the holding company of Suzuki companies operating in the United States... got it?

“One of the primary goals of this change is to expand our commitment to the growth of our entire powersports business,” explains SMO President Masami Haga. “This evolution will also enable us to build on our relationships with Suzuki dealers and SMAC vendor partners.” Haga noted that strengthening the supply chain and purchasing policies for locally sourced parts are objectives of the move as well.

Founded in 2001 and based in Rome, Georgia, SMAC is Suzuki’s All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) manufacturing facility. For more than two decades, all Suzuki adult KingQuad ATVs have been manufactured at this location. Suzuki ATVs are sold in the United States, Canada, and nearly 25 countries worldwide.

For the record, Suzuki was “first on four wheels” when threewheelers were banned by CPSC. Suzuki is credited with offering the first four-wheel ATV in 1982 with the introduction of the Suzuki LT125. That product created an all-new category of offroad recreational and utility vehicles. Since then, Suzuki has offered a full line of ATV vehicles. Suzuki’s current flagship ATV is the KingQuad 750AXi.

DEALER NEWS: HONDA POWERHOUSE ADDED TO YOUNG FAMILY OF DEALERSHIPS

Who needs March Madness when you already have a winning team? Celebrating the latest addition to their massive Young Powersports’ XL Centerville dealership campus, Young Powersports held its grand opening for their new Honda Powerhouse location on Friday, March 22. This is a party that has been a long time coming: “It’s been 20 years that Davis district and Centerville City have been trying to get a Honda dealership here,” said GM Rad Gladfelder during his speech. “With the Young family, this is how we do everything. It’s over the top.”

“Young Honda Powerhouse is such a needed facility for Davis County’s powersports community,” added Jeramie Young, director of Young Powersports. “These grand openings always provide us with a unique opportunity to engage with the people we serve, so we’re excited to show them what we’ve built here.”

Standing next to Young Powersports’ XL Centerville location, Young Honda Powerhouse greets customers with a large, glass entrance and a halo-like display over their front desk. The showroom floor features a wide variety of Honda vehicles as well as a comfortable seating area called their “Ride Red Lounge.”

“There’s a community of enthusiasts dedicated to Honda,” Jeramie Young said. “It’s a brand known for being reliable and exciting. From the building itself to the team we’ve brought in, we’ve done everything we can to make sure this facility is capable of delivering an exceptional experience.”

The grand opening of the Honda Powerhouse dealership coincides with the Young Automotive Group’s celebration of their 100-year anniversary. Founded by Jack Olsen in 1924, the company has evolved from a single location in Morgan, Utah, to a 29-dealership operation across Utah, Idaho and Montana. Young Powersports first joined the Young Automotive Group with the acquisition of their Burley, Idaho, location in 2015. Today, the powersports group has eight locations in Utah and Idaho.

DEALER NEWS: MARYLAND’S OLDEST DEALERSHIP UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

The Twigg family is pleased to share that an ownership change has occurred at Twigg Cycles and Twigg Indian Motorcycle. “Since opening the dealership 91 years ago, the fourth-generation, family-owned business has grown unlike anyone could have imagined. Now, our three new owners are looking forward to their turn to continue the Twigg Cycles’ family legacy.”

Starting in 2024, Twigg Cycles will be under new ownership. Four generations removed from their great grandfather, Brock Twigg, and his sister, Stefanie (Twigg) Koehn, are excited to continue their family legacy with the help of their partner, Kelby Brookens. “We want to thank you for your support, friendship, and loyalty over the years,” say the “new” owners. “As we look forward to the new year, we also look forward to beginning our 92nd year of business in Hagerstown, Maryland; and seeing what the next generation brings to this exciting dealership and industry.”

A Trip Down Memory Lane

In 1932, Horace “Pap” Twigg began refurbishing bicycles in his family’s kitchen and quickly found success. From there, Pap set his sights on opening a motorcycle shop, and he did just that in 1936 when he began selling Indian Motorcycles. Making customer service the focus of his new business venture, Pap’s reputation and hard work continued to propel Twigg Cycles into a full-service, multi-brand motorcycle dealership; carrying brands like Indian Motorcycle, Triumph and BSA. In 1964, Twigg Cycles became one of the first dealerships in the country to sell Yamaha and continued to grow as Suzuki was added in 1975, followed by Kawasaki in 1989, Polaris in 1993, Honda in 1996, Indian Motorcycle in 2015, and the most recent return of Triumph Motorcycles in 2022.

In 1989, Pap Twigg retired, and the business was bought by his grandson, Mike, and granddaughter-in-law, Robin. With a new vision for the future, they decided to move from their current location on Canon Avenue and began construction on an all-new building that would be the new headquarters for many years to come on 200 South Edgewood Drive in Hagerstown, Maryland.

DUCATI DELIVERS

“We announced Ducati’s financial performance for 2023 and the figures once again prove that passion, supported by hard work and a solid strategy, leads to robust results,” claims Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali. “For the second consecutive year, we closed the fiscal year with a revenue that exceeded 1 billion euros and a record operating result, confirming the validity and effectiveness of the strategic decisions and selffinanced investment policy that we have been pursuing for several years.”

Driving Ducati’s fiscal success was the delivery of 58,224 motorcycles to Ducatisti around the globe. The Multistrada V4 was the best-selling model, with 10,480 units delivered, followed by the Scrambler family (7,010 units) and the Monster (6,854 units).

Domenicali says it all adds up. “The financial results must be added to the sporting achievements, which saw us become World Champions again in both MotoGP and WorldSBK. No other motorcycle manufacturer has ever been able to win the Riders’ and Constructors’ World Titles in MotoGP and WorldSBK for two seasons in a row!”

And for 2024 dirtbikes are added to Ducati’s winning equation. “My gratitude goes to the team of women and men present in the company today: thank you for your constant commitment! All together we look forward to 2024 with determination, continuing with our brand and product range development plan and ready to explore new market horizons, as demonstrated by our entry into the world of motocross which marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Ducati — already kicked off with a remarkable performance in our debut in the Italian Motocross Championship.”

Bottom Line: “Ducati is in its best shape ever: a solid company, capable of generating the resources necessary to develop its future,” concludes Domenicali.

MSF RIDE DAY RETURNS

After successfully proving the concept in 2023, MSF has rolled out its schedule of 25 RIDE Day events at dealers and ranges from Alaska to Virginia in 2024. Pilot programs were conducted at a couple of dealerships Dealernews recently profiled, including Coleman PowerSports in Virginia and Destination Cycle in Texas.

“Through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s RIDE Day, we have created an engaging activity that connects current and curious riders with proper rider training,” explains Corey Eastman, Director of Rider Education Expansion for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. “As we have developed the event over the past 18 months, nearly 1,000 participants have taken part at 12 locations around the country — 28% of them have gone on to complete an MSF course while an additional 24% are planning to take an MSF course in the future.”

The program is certainly scalable, according to Eastman MSF recognizes nearly 2,000 training sites across the country where MSF-certified coaches teach motorcycle riding curricula. Each of these locations are eligible to host RIDE Days of their own. Regardless of the range, the two key elements of RIDE Day are MOTO Intro and SKILLS Check. Events can feature either or both of these activities.

Get more details here:

msf-usa.org/ride-day

Although the new MX bike took center stage at Triumph’s pavilion at AIMExpo, new National Sales Manager Blaine Schuttler was presented in his newly created position. A former dealer himself, his duties include cross-functional team leadership with a focus on sales team management, enterprise sales leadership and organizational implementation for U.S.A. and Canada. “Triumph is currently in one of our most aggressive growth periods in history, and we are committed to building a solid foundational team of industry-leading professionals committed to the success of our dealers, customers and the Triumph Brand,” notes Rod Lopusnak, General Manager, Triumph Motorcycles America. “Working at all levels of sales, Blaine brings a strategic and collaborative attitude to the organization, with the experience to make efficient, exponential gains… We are confident that he will help achieve our current and future goals for Triumph.” Schuttler brings his 30 years of professional powersports industry, most recently as VP of Motorcycle Sales in North America for KTM. Schuttler started as the owner and operator of a successful dealership in Canada for 10 years. This was followed by a combined 20 years as an OEM exec, including stints as District Sales Manager, followed by Sales Director for US & Canada at KTM and then graduating to Husqvarna’s Managing Director for US & Canada. “I have always had the ambition to grow in business with a brand that connects with my passion for motorcycles,” says Schuttler. “Triumph’s aggressive strategic plan to enter new market segments is both inspiring and motivating. I look forward to being an integral part of Triumph’s success in the coming years.”

Promoting from within! Kelly Rees steps up as Segway Powersports Nationals Sales Manager, effective immediately. As Segway Powersports continues expanding into new markets, and with new dealer partners being added daily to its growing list of authorized retailers, Rees will transition from his role as Regional Business Manager. His wealth of powersports industry knowledge goes back to 2008, when he opened his own performance motorcycle shop in Utah after realizing there was little retail and technical support for riders attending track days at Miller Motorsports Park. His experience taught him that the longterm success of manufacturers and retailers is the result of balanced, mutually beneficial relationships. With their sights set firmly on becoming one of the world’s leading all-terrain powersports vehicle manufacturers, Segway says Rees is the right person in the right place at the right time to serve as National Sales Manager. “I’m ready to bring a unique perspective to my new role gained through my years of retail experience,” states Rees. “One can learn so much from different retail perspectives and customer experiences by understanding both sides of the dealer-customer equation. I believe in combining a melting pot of styles and always being open to new ideas as catalysts for growth and success. I’m excited — and honored — the Segway executive team has chosen me to lead their sales staff and retail sales initiatives in the future.” Jason Walling, VP of Sales & Marketing for Segway Powersports adds, “I‘m happy to have a seasoned powersports pro like Kelly step in to lead

our sales efforts in the United States. His vast retail experience and ability to positively motivate others will help guide our sales strategies, objectives and dealer partner relationships. I have no doubt Kelly’s the right person for the job.”

Not just winging it for FLY, Jamie Nutzmann brings more than 25 years of sales expertise in global brand positioning, sales management and e-commerce to the WPS gig. Previously the director of international e-commerce and strategic accounts at Tucker Powersports, Nutzmann managed domestic and international sales teams that delivered growth on over a $165-million book of business and expanded Tucker’s direct-toconsumer (D2C) Amazon business. Prior to Tucker, Nutzmann was VP of sales at Küryakyn and Mustang Seats, where he orchestrated global growth in business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) channels, overseeing a $50-million sales portfolio. In his new role, Nutzmann will be responsible for all international relations and distributor sales performance for FLY on an international scale. While liaising closely with our internal sales, apparel, procurement and logistics teams, shipping vendors and other stakeholders invested in FLY, the international team of Courtney Schroeder, James Clough, Manuel Rodriguez and Taylor Mowry will report to him. In addition, Nutzmann will be responsible for management of WPS’s strategic marketplace positioning with Kendra Keene.

Continued on page 18

Continued from page 16

Closer to home, Western Power Sports announced the addition of Troy Ozias as senior director of field sales. In this new role, Ozias will be responsible for the strategic day-to-day operations of the entire national sales operation, leading the regional sales managers and working alongside department managers to drive overall sales business and growth. Ozias brings vast knowledge and 20+ years of sales experience in roles of increasing responsibility from a territory sales representative to regional sales VP. Most recently, Ozias worked at The Parts House based in Jacksonville, Florida, as regional vice president, where he successfully led the sales organization through transformation to expand the customer base and achieve sales targets across seven markets. Prior to that, Ozias led the sales team as regional sales director at WURTH USA , where he was responsible for 20 districts and more than 250 sales reps. Ozias graduated from Gardner Webb University with a degree in business administration.

Provost to Lightspeed at this pivotal time in the company’s growth story,” claims Doug Bayerd, Managing Partner, Private Equity at Brookfield (parent company to Lightspeed DMS LLC). “Brian is an excellent leader who enjoys developing people and building strong teams. With his track record of success leading and growing numerous mission-critical software companies, we know we have the right chief executive officer to guide Lightspeed as it accelerates plans to enhance its value for customers.” Provost has been appointed CEO, succeeding Kris Denos effective immediately. With more than 15 years of experience as a software exec, Provost most recently served as CEO of iCIMS, a global talent and recruiting SaaS (Software-as-aService) company. Provost is a graduate of Bethel University. “Lightspeed has collaborated its recreational dealerships for nearly 40 years, creating industry-specific software solutions to streamline the way dealers work,” notes Provost. “I’m excited about our path forward and our leadership position supporting such a dynamic and growing industry. “I want to thank Kris Denos for the progress that was made at Lightspeed during his tenure over the past 30+ years,” concludes Bayerd. “We sincerely appreciate his contributions and many achievements; Lightspeed would not be the success it is today without his leadership. Kris will continue to serve as an advisor to Lightspeed for some time to ensure a smooth transition.”

“We are excited to welcome Brian Howe about that! Parts Unlimited invited the entire industry to their newest

rep Devlin Howe’s turf to welcome him to the team. His welcome bash, also known as NVP in Louisville coincided with his first week on the job! As the Southeast Region rep Howe’s territory coincidentally includes Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. He joins the Parts Unlimited team with 25 years of powersports industry experience, including stints as parts, sales and service manager at the dealer level. He has vast riding experience, and his collection of bikes crosses many markets including Street, Café, Supermoto, ATV and Off-Road. When he isn’t doing windshield time or calling on dealers, Devlin enjoys traveling and sightseeing various states and countries with friends and family.

Serial dealership success story Andre Lecompte is now sharing his secrets! Lecompte is proud to announce he has started a new company Rockmoor Consulting LLC. “After 30 years in the powersports business as a salesperson, finance, sales manager, general manager and owner-operator — most recently with Temecula Harley-Davidson & BMW — I will be using this experience in operations, acquisitions and sales via in store training, group moderating, analysis and representation.” He ran the Temecula operation since acquiring it in 2015 from the Quaid Family, but before that he had a nearly six year run as GM and Partner at Central Texas HarleyDavidson, GM and top streetbike seller at San Diego House of Motorcycles, and General Sales Manager at the legendary Lynnwood Cycle Barn the better part of a decade before that. Looking to turn things around at your dealership? Contact: Andre@Rockmoorconsulting.com or click on www.rockmoorconsulting.com

PERFORMANCE EAST INC.

Winning Is A Dealership Tradition

By Dave McMahon

The Performance East logo atop Nathan Parker’s 2024 Can-Am Maverick X3 was hard to miss during coverage of the Ultra4 Racing King of the Hammers race. Equally hard to miss is a KOH race-prepped Can-Am front and center on the showroom floor. But how does a dealership from a small town in eastern North Carolina with a mudracing pedigree contribute to a race team that became the talk of Hammer Town in the California desert? Well, there’s plenty to the story of this family-owned operation.

For starters, Performance East has long been a supporter of ATV and side-by-side racers at Busco Beach ATV Park in their hometown of Goldsboro, North Carolina, located about 90 miles north of Wilmington. From GNCC on the dirt to the Southern Bounty Series for those who prefer mud racing, Performance East has been a bastion of support for their local racing customers, including the late Robert Parker. Dealership co-owners Ashley and Stuart Weeks have been dedicated to racing support for years, with staff on hand at local races and events to sell and install parts to racers in need.

Performance East, with a second location now in Cedar Point, sells heaps of Can-Am and Polaris side-by-sides and ATVs, but the XMR models and the mud racing segment in general caters to the local clientele… and that doesn’t even touch on their boat business… Since 1994, Performance East has proudly served North Carolina customers — now with more than 30 major manufacturers when you add in the marine market.

“Busco Beach ATV Park is real close and they host the Fall Bash and Mud Bash, so we always go and set up a tent and sell parts out of it,” Matt Fleetwood, operations manager at Performance East, told Dealernews. “I mean we’ll sell tires and wheels, axles, exhausts, transmissions, differentials — all the stuff that can go kaboom in a mud hole. That’s the guy we cater to.”

And you can’t talk about mud racing in these parts without mentioning the godfather of the sport, Robert Parker.

“We started sponsoring Robert a while ago, it’s been 1012 years and long before I ever got into this business,” Fleetwood said. “He was just working out of his garage back then, and he went on to pioneer the sport of mud racing around us. There were no mud races around here until he got involved. Robert had formed Team Momentum and then teamed up with Brian Fulcher so that he could do things other than the Bounty Series and mud racing… we’ve been right with them ever since.”

Having won all there was to win in the mud racing world, one of those other things was to compete at the King of the Hammers. Parker entered for the first time in 2021, when he was a co-driver. For 2022, he hopped into the driver’s seat and was joined by his son, Nathan, riding shotgun. They remained a duo for the Ultra4 Racing season. Last year, Robert was the highest placing rookie in the 4900 Pro Mod UTV Class, getting his name engraved on a trophy in honor of being the best-finishing newcomer to King of the Hammers. He ended up taking ninth overall and sixth in the class.

But just weeks after that impressive performance, tragedy struck in March 2023 when Robert died at age 38 as the result of a riding accident while at home. He is survived by his wife, Casey, and children Carleigh, Nathan and Sawyer. However, the team-dealership relationship will continue to flourish thanks to the people that make up both groups. Fulcher said he didn’t consider any final destination for Robert’s KOH rig other than showcasing it at the dealership.

“Performance East has always been Robert’s number one sponsor, and they continue to come up real big for us,” Fulcher said. “Whether it’s cars, parts, whatever we need to keep moving forward. It’s a great family-owned business. Robert liked everything about them, being big into being a Christian and family. He built his name around family and Jesus.”

HAMMER TIME!

Kyle Chaney, UTV racing superstar and a teammate of the late Robert Parker on Team Momentum, continued collecting trophies for the remainder of the 2023 season in honor of Parker. Those trophies, along with the Can-Am Maverick X3 that Parker steered to his rookie KOH honors, sit for all customers to view inside the showroom at Performance East. It’s a tribute to both the past and the future.

“At first, we were primarily supplying the team with parts and units, but last year it became more than that when we said ‘Hey, you guys go run the Hammers in the X3,’” Matt Fleetwood said. “Everybody around here knew Robert was a pioneer in mud racing, but to go out to the Hammers and do what he did, man, we were so proud. That was pretty cool.”

Last year, Team Momentum boss Brian Fulcher and Chaney took Nathan Parker, who recently turned 15 years old, under their wing in the racing world, with Mom’s support. Nathan had honed his racing skills in the GNCC ATV series as part of Team Momentum, which Robert launched in 2013. Fulcher, 43, joined the team within the last four years.

“Nathan as a little kid was always working with his Dad. He would help where he could with wrenching in their shop and was always in the dealership with Robert. He got into mud racing, bounty runs – that’s how he got started, racing is in his blood,” Fleetwood said. “After Robert’s tragic passing, his family asked him if he wanted to continue racing, and Nathan didn’t hesitate to say ‘yes.’ We wanted to continue supporting Team Momentum and the Parker Family and get Nathan back out to Hammers in his own car.”

Well, that proved to be a fruitful decision for all involved.

Fulcher was glad to share some of his time to talk to Dealernews about the Parker family and the support of Performance East on a recent drive to a race in Alabama. Fulcher relayed that Chaney, of course, claimed his fourth consecutive overall in the Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship in 2024, becoming the first person to achieve that feat. But the father-and-son Parker duo has the team boss equally excited.

“Nathan’s daddy, Robert, won the Hammers rookie program his first time out there, and now this year we took Nathan out there to race. That young man has been racing since he was 3-4 years old, but he had never raced a side-by-side until the last few years,” Fulcher said. “I asked Kyle if he would show him the ropes, and we said let’s do this. So we built him a car and Nathan started racing Ultra4. He won a race in Montana and another in Oklahoma.”

For the 2024 Hammers race, Nathan continued his torrid entry into UTV racing, winning the rookie program that his father won in 2023 and taking 11th overall…. And putting a dealership from North Carolina in front of desert racers and rock crawlers in the process.

“Nathan went out there this year and set the industry on fire, for sure,” Fulcher said. “He took a stock-tuned 2024 X3 and finished 4th out of 130-something. He lost low gear early and ran just about the whole race in high. The Can-Am race department guys came up to me after and were begging and pleading – please make sure he stays with Kyle Chaney, we need to make sure they’re together!”

Together — just like the names Robert Parker and Nathan Parker hold the first two engraved spots on that winning rookie trophy at King of the Hammers.

Speaking of winners, they don’t throw around “the next Michael Jordan” references often in eastern North Carolina, childhood home to basketball’s G.O.A.T. But it’s hard for Fulcher to describe the young driver any other way: “Nathan – that’s the next Michael Jordan of the off-road world, I can promise you that. I asked Kyle what he thought when he first saw him race, and he said ‘I thought you were like every other parent, playing up their kid. We had no clue.’”

Where does the “it” factor sit with Nathan?

“He’s all business. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Fulcher said. “To ask the questions he asks and to know what he knows at this age. His daddy was the best in the game and it’s in the genes – he and his daddy are just alike.”

For Fulcher, that’s an ideal trait for the youngster to have. “Everybody said no way is a mud racer going to come out here to California and do anything,” Fulcher said. “But let me tell you, I don’t drive 40 hours from North Carolina to get my ass whooped!”

TGB UTV IN THE USA! Landmax Launches At AIMExpo

They say good things come to those who wait, but TGB delivered the great news that the much anticipated UTV is finally coming to American dealers at AIMExpo. We got a full walk around from National Sales Manager Scotty Smith at the trade show, where it was also announced American TGB is working with Northpoint Finance to give dealers 6 months free flooring to help launch the new sideby-side. This is above and beyond the 12-month flooring offered on TGB’s range of Blade ATVs, courtesy of Dealers Direct.

“We’re introducing our 2024 Landmax 1000 EPS,” says Smith. “This will be coming in four different designs with the first one in the United States that we’re selling. This will be available to all our dealers and to the public within the next 30 days… (following the AIMExpo debut).” Although it is billed as the “ultimate workhorse,” the Landmax does come with an equal amount of creature comforts, according to Scotty.

“So as you can see, it’s got quite a nice bit of features built into it: 4,500-pound front winch — standard. Beefy front bumper — standard. 14” heels — standard.” Front tires are 27 x 9 radials, rears are 27 x 11 radials and all four corners are anchored by hydraulic disc brakes. Power steering and a tilt wheel are also standard.

And before ask, there are indeed plenty of cup holders! Six strategically placed cup holders ensure refreshments are always within arms reach! Additional interior amenities

include a digital speedometer, built-in USB port, DC 12v 20amp outlet, and a battery trickle charging outlet.

“The standard model comes with net doors, but we also have a model coming in with full doors, electric windows, heater, glass windshield with a wiper on it… basically a sealed automotive style cabin.”

At the heart of the matter is a 997cc V-Twin pumping out 83 horsepower and 90 Nm of torque. “Our V-Twin engine has been very successfully used for many years in our ATVs and other products.” Since Taiwan Golden Bee was launched to produce Vespa scooters under license back in the day, the CVT system is dialed in and coupled with EFI to ensure smooth and predicable power delivery. Depending on usage 2WD/4WD modes are backed up by 4WD diff lock/ low range when things get really sticky. There is even a turf mode — standard.

“Of course it has a tilt-bed. The Pro model that is coming out later will even have an electric tilt bed.” Speaking of the bed, Smith notes that it has been designed for a heavy 1,000-pound payload. A series of D-Rings serve as attachment points for strapping down cargo. Towing capacity is rated at 2,500 lbs.

“This is going to be a very successful model… We’ve been waiting for about a year to get this thing in. We have a lot of the Landmaxes pre-sold already,” concludes Smith. “This UTV is going to be a life changer for customers and a game changer for us!”

Dealers who missed seeing the launch at AIMExpo can contact Scotty at American TGB via email contactus@americantgb.com or click here for a Dealer application: www.americantgb.com/dealer-signup

American TGB

6665 Jimmy Carter Blvd. Norcross, GA (678) 666-3131

contactus@americantgb.com americantgb.com

SPECS AT A GLANCE ENGINE TYPE

997cc SOHC V-Twin

HORSEPOWER 83 HP

MAX TORQUE 90 Nm

TRANSMISSION

CVT System, With Selectable 2WD/4WD /4WD Diff Lock/ Turf Mode

POWER STEERING Tri-Mode Dynamic EPS

GROUND CLEARANCE 14”

CARGO BOX CAPACITY 1,000 Lbs.

TOWING CAPACITY 2,500 Lbs.

FRONT WINCH 4,500 Lbs. Capacity

BACKSTORY

By Robin Hartfiel

Hard to believe it has been a decade in the making, but good things come to those who wait, as they say. It has been that long since TGB has had its UTV in the works… even longer if you consider the 1000cc powerplant I saw being bench-tested for ATV applications, and technically I guess you could go back to 1965 for the CVT set-up that drives the new Landmax UTV that was unveiled at AIMExpo.

I first attended the Taipei International Motorcycle Show as a journalist to cover the brands that were emerging from being private-label suppliers or subsidiaries of well known players. A number of ATV journalists also toured the leading manufacturers after the trade fair ended. It was eyeopening! The bicycle guys were well aware of the production capabilities, but the powersports press was pretty clueless (I guess some things never change?).

Some of the major OEMs who were getting their vehicles produced in Taiwan were not happy when photos from Formosa of “their” products being produced on the island nation (it wasn’t me, but I saw with my own eyes the levels of fit and finish were as good as any in the world). I was later invited back as a presenter at the trade fair and a couple of the OEMs even had me as a guest crash-test dummy.

Somewhere along the way TGB President George Lin and I became friends and he shared his plan to expand from ATVs and scooters into UTVs. I was lucky enough to see his vision transformed from scribblings on a cocktail napkin to a couple of test mules, to private label pitch vehicle to prototype which was shown to the Lawn & Garden guys at GIE in 2018 to the walk-around conducted by American TGB’s new National Sales Director Scotty Smith of the vehicle that is being delivered to U.S. dealers as you read this.

“There is a promising UTV market in the US, but it is limited to a few players, such as Polaris, Honda, Kawasaki, BRP and John Deere,” said George on the eve of GIE 2018. “We would like to change that perception. This year it is time to introduce the concept of TGB as the Total Solution Provider for the UTV industry producing everything from engine packages to

complete UTVs. There are not many companies in the world like TGB… we produce everything from engines to turnkey UTVs. TGB is also a trusted supplier of key components to a growing number of strategic partners. The design and development of A-Arms, brakes, CVTs, differentials, driveshafts, EPS and even EFI systems is all done in-house.” I thought it was a strong pitch.

Although at least one implement company picked up on TGB for private label manufacturing, the turf types didn’t exactly share George’s vision… and no wonder, the UTV corral in Louisville had almost 40 “utility” machines from Bobcat and Caterpillar to ODES on hand.

After GIE, George, TGB Export Manager Daniel Hsieh and I went on a barnstorming tour of every non-powersports player we could think of from Club Car to Tomcar… still no takers. George has since retired, but the UTV project has continued… as did the brand’s efforts to crack the U.S. market. Although TGB is a leader in key ATV markets around the globe, the U.S. seemed to elude them until last year at AIMExpo when Shakeel Jiva, President of Tiger Powersports, decided it was time to play different:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=95LfLVpTVRc

“Now is the time for TGB to become known for its UTV expertise,” noted export manager Daniel Hsieh. “We continue to supply powertrain technology to well-known companies in North America, but we want the Green Industry and the powersports market to know TGB can create UTVs from sketches, through prototyping to final production machines,” said Daniel Hsieh of the 2018 GIE+EXPO.

He wasn’t wrong… and neither was George Lin. But having the right product was only one of the 4 Ps on his cocktail napkin. Looking forward to seeing the other pillars fall into place for TGB.

Dealernews Research

By Don Musick

DIFFERENT STROKES PART III

AND WHAT ABOUT OUTBOARDS?

Since the EPA deadline for production line compliance testing kicked in a year earlier for outboard manufacturers than for watercraft, they began their migration to cleaner engine technologies first. Of course, this included 4-stroke engines, but it also included emission compliant direct injected 2-strokes. Examples of the latter include Mercury Marine’s OptiMax series and the E-TEC series from Evinrude. While Mercury dropped the OptiMax in 2018 (which would have conceded the 2-stroke market to Evinrude), Evinrude exited the outboard market entirely in 2020. Today, all six major outboard manufacturers (Mercury, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Tohatsu and Nissan) employ only 4-stroke technologies. With one notable exception!

AVATAR?

No, Avator! In February 2022 Mercury Marine introduced the all-electric Avator 7.5e portable outboard. Then In April 2023 they added 20e and 35e models to the lineup. And, at CES 2024 in January, they announced an expansion of the series to include 75e and 110e models. Horsepower equivalents across all models range between3.5 and 15 HP. The 7.5e mode; features a removable battery (shown below), while the other models employ external battery packs.

Avator is a new product line for Mercury Marine and is not intended to replace high-HP 4-stroke models. Widespread dealer adoption of Avator is only beginning and currently the Mercury website shows fewer than 20 locations out of over 3,500 potential dealers.

But like electric personal watercraft, there are other manufacturers that have previously gone down this road. Most are consumer-direct but electric outboard manufacturers ePropulsion and Torqeedo have

independent dealer networks. The Torqeedo network supports ~450 US locations (40% West Marine and 60% independents) while the ePropulsion network is smaller at ~70 locations. Product offerings from each range from 1-25 HP and 3-10 HP respectively and both fall within the Avator range. A map of the Torqeedo dealer network is shown below (red dots are West Marine locations and blue dots independents).

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

There are always challengers to the status quo and newcomer Acel Power seems up to the task. According to their website, they currently offer 50 and 75 HP models and are scaling up to 250 HP by the end of 2024! Their 100 HP model is shown below.

Will they succeed in staking a claim in the high horsepower electric outboard space? Stay tuned! Minimally all of the players above, watercraft as well as outboards, are keeping the EPA happy and our planet cleaner!

From his first motorcycles (a Honda S65 and an S90) when he was 16 to 50 years later, Don Musick has never stopped twisting the throttle. Although his accomplishments in the research arena have surpassed his MX career Don has over 25 years experience with major manufacturers in the Powersports and Automotive industries specializing in e-business solutions for retail distribution networks. His solution portfolio includes the development and implementation of manufacturer/dealer extranets, consumer-direct commerce portals, manufacturer/dealer e-channel integrations as well as development of web-based sales force automation tools. For most of his career, Don has been fascinated (his wife would say obsessed) with geographic market analytics, dealer location planning and sales territory optimization. He founded Genesys Technology Solutions (GenesysTech) http://www.genesystech.com/ to develop new tools and market intelligence products to help manufacturers understand the competitive landscape of their industries, recognize opportunities and grow their businesses. A Spartan to the core, Don earned a B.S. in Physiology and PhD in Biochemistry from Michigan State University. Contact: dmusick@genesystech.com

Dealernews Research

By Lenny Sims

MARINE MARKET INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

As we get closer to boating season, the number of consumers researching the Marine Market steadily climbs… at least historically. Like powersports, the marine market was blown off course during the pandemic and some motorcycle dealers made like Chris Columbus and discovered a new world. After the uncharted waters of the COVID bubble and subsequent supply chain issues, the marine industry seems to have corrected its course. While it is not exactly smooth sailing, it is an evolving market worthy of a voyage of discovery.

Steady as she goes? Most segments of the marine market returned to fairly typical conditions in 2023, with

supply increasing and equity and financing more of a challenge. Outboards continue to serve as the industry flagship, out pacing PWC by 43% vs, 3%. Looking at individual segments, the most recent 10 model years of used outboard boat values brought 4.3% less money in the November-December period of 2023 compared to September-October, and 9.3% less in calendar-year 2023 compared to 2022.

Stern drives faced similar headwinds. The segment brought 8.2% less money in November-December compared to September-October, and 17.1% less in 2023 compared to 2022. Inboards brought 8.7% less money in November-December than September-October, and 6.9% less in 2023 than 2022.

Personal watercraft are already near and dear to many motorcycle dealers, unfortunately PWC have seen sinking residual values as well. Personal watercraft brought 5.3% less in November-December than September-October, and 15.6% less in 2023 than 2022.

Despite the ongoing market correction, outboards and inboards are still bringing strong money in historical terms, performing better than 2021 if not 2022. Stern drives are now below 2021 pricing levels on their way back to pre-pandemic pricing, and personal watercraft are performing similarly.

Bottom Line:

Keep a weather eye on the horizon and expect the course correction to continue in 2024 as headwinds increase.

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.

FEBRUARY AWP IN REVIEW

Pre-Spring Fever

Spring is right around the corner, and much like January, February has continued to produce strengthening price metrics. While we’ve been very transparent about concerns over elevated levels of new and noncurrent inventory, Average Wholesale Prices (AWPs) through the lanes continue to improve, reflecting dealer sentiment and demand for preowned. With trades and street purchases becoming more difficult to source, the auction remains the dealers’ #1 source for used products.

Heavyweight Gains

On-highway vehicles in February exhibited solid performance with 3 of the 4 categories outperforming the prior 90-days. Undoubtedly the biggest story in AWPs was the largest volume segment, Domestic Cruisers, jumping nearly 10% in February. Generally speaking, new inventory is plentiful, but many dealers still expressed concerns over the lack of quality used road bikes in their stores. This dynamic continues to push buyers into the lanes to fill their showrooms with the used inventory they still need.

Core off-highway vehicles, MX, ATV, and SxS, saw sizable dips in AWP performance last month. Notably, while Spring is most definitely a high-selling season, many of these segments see more muted “bumps” in Spring because of more diverse and varied use cases (e.g., hunting, farming, snow/desert riding). While we anticipate prices will rise in March and April, some off-highway categories may see less of a boost in the coming months.

Spring Is Here, Are You Ready?

With Spring beating down our doors, the mood in the lanes and dealer networks has shifted from uncertainty to optimism. Many regions of the country report unseasonably good weather, which is a welcome surprise to riders and dealers. While many concerns remain, the longer days, better weather, and injection of tax refunds are a tried-and-true recipe for Spring sales success. Our advice to dealers is to stay on the throttle! Use the current momentum in the lanes and on the streets to increase inventory turn times and move product. The next 60-90 days may make or break for many stores. Take advantage of the season, don’t sit on aged units, and have a plan for every trade that comes through your doors. Use the auction to fill holes, keep inventory fresh, and maximize margin opportunities this Spring.

FEBRUARY ‘24 VS. FEBRUARY ‘23

AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICE CHANGE

My Ride My Motor Oil

“I TRIED!”

SoCal Giant

Short Circuits

MULHOLLAND

CURRENTS+

SUPPLY & DEMAND

Replacement Plastic For Surrons

Love or hate ‘em, there are thousands of Surrons ripping through neighborhoods around the country. — more than 70,000 had sold through by 2022. With Surron USA launching last fall, the sky’s the limit… and so is the need for aftermarket accessories! Seeing the need for replacement plastic, Central Powersports Distribution (which also opened a Texas-based HQ last fall) is stepping up with replacement plastic for the popular Surron eBikes as well as the full range of applications for ICE motorcycles.

“CPD is beyond excited to be introducing R-Tech plastics into the USA,” says Central Powersport Distribution founder Mark Berg. “R-Tech is at the forefront of quality plastic kits and motocross products, they deserve to be in the USA with a strong effort and we can’t wait to work with them as a partner for the USA.” While you may not have heard of R-Tech, you have seen their product on the Supercross podium this season as they supply the distinctive lime green plastics on Pro Circuit’s Kawasakis.

In fact, R-Tech is one of the industry leaders in Europe offering replacement plastic for almost every OEM, including Beta, GasGas, Honda, Husaberg, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki, Sherco and Yamaha. Speaking of Yamaha and Surron specifically, Berg says R-Tech is on the case. “In the upcoming months we can expect to see plastics for fan favorites, the Yamaha T7, and Surron’s Storm Bee. In Europe they are supporting teams such as Beta’s EnduroGP team, Bud Racing Kawasaki, Fantic and Husqvarna’.”

CPD’s agreement with R-Tech Plastics of Italy is to distribute plastics, and off-road accessories in the United States. R-Tech bodywork is augmented by bike stands and handguards. “And their retro plastic kits are amazing,” concludes Berg. Dealers can order via: www.cpd-usa.com

SOFTWARE GLITCH RESULTS IN NHTSA RECALL 2024 LiveWire Del Mar Shutdown Issues

Apparently all 523 Del Mar’s released to market have software bugs serious enough for National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue a recall notice effective immediately. LiveWire Recall – VSC Software May Cause Engine Shutdown states that “An unexpected powertrain shutdown can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.”

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V149000

Manufacturer: LIVEWIRE EV, LLC

Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Potential Number of Units Affected: 523

MAKE/MODEL MODEL YEAR(S)

LIVEWIRE EV S2 DEL MAR 2024

Summary: LIVEWIRE EV, LLC (LiveWire) is recalling certain 2024 S2DM (S2 Del Mar) motorcycles. The Vehicle Supervisory Control (VSC) software may initiate and cause a powertrain shutdown as a result of internal software voltage thresholds being exceeded.

Remedy: LiveWire will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 5, 2024. Owners may contact LiveWire customer service at 1-855-387-4337. LiveWire’s number for this recall is 1001.

Notes: Dealers may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-3274236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to: www.nhtsa.gov

LIVEWIRE PERFORMANCE CRUISER LAUNCHED

The software glitch didn’t short circuit LiveWire’s rollout of the new Mulholland. “Mulholland represents a shift in design at LiveWire, as the company has reimagined the profile and silhouette of the motorcycle, which traditionally has been informed by the gas tank, while also using sustainable materials in key components for the first time.”

Jon Bekefy, head of marketing & digital at LiveWire, adds that it is “A love letter to the motorcycle experience, an introduction to a new model, and a desire to keep pushing the electric experience forward… Welcome to S2 Mulholland, the latest from LiveWire.”

The S2 Mulholland went on sale as scheduled on March 21 with inventory available immediately at all U.S. and Canadian dealers. Priced at $15,999, S2 Mulholland complements the flat track inspired S2 Del Mar currently on sale.

As LiveWire’s performance cruiser, S2 Mulholland’s design departs from traditional internal combustion motorcycles in the cruiser category — which typically celebrate the gas tank— as the electric S2 platform provided the design team with the opportunity to create a new profile and experience that prominently displays both the brake lines and wiring harness, creating a stronger connection between the human interface of the rider and motorcycle.

Weighing 432 pounds, Mulholland is capable of a 3.3 second zero to sixty time thanks to the 84 horsepower and 194 ft-lb of torque available to the rider. The 10.5 kWh pack contributes 121 miles of city riding range and 73 miles of highway range at 55mph to the riding experience. Mulholland also shares the same charging technology available on Del Mar, with both Level 1 and Level 2 equipped as standard.

Charging Times

L1, 20-80% 5.9hrs

L2, 20-80% 78 min

For a complete S2 Mulholland specs, connect here: www livewire.com/mulholland

VOLCON UPDATE

After taking over as CEO, Volcon Board Member John Kim has been trying to fast track the EV operations. In an open letter to Dealers, customers, suppliers and investors, Kim provided a progress report and announced a new roadshow-focused program to support its network of dealers and early adapter customers.

“Overall, we’ve achieved a major milestone by starting delivery,” claims Kim. “In the coming months, we will continue to ramp up Stag production and sales, while continuing to deliver our line of electric motorcycles to customers in the US and abroad.” Closer to home, Volcon is visiting its dealers.

“We’ve started our dealer roadshow for the Stag. Our sales team members began visiting dealerships in Texas at the end of February to demo and give test rides to customers. We plan a further roll-out of this roadshow over the coming months to visit all of our dealers. Furthermore, we’ve restructured our marketing efforts to focus on converting existing reservations into confirmed sales.”

He adds, “On the two-wheeled side of our business, our Grunt EVO motorcycles are in full production. We are currently delivering motorcycles to dealers all around the US and also shipping them to our international distributors. “

“I’d like to congratulate the hard work of the team at Volcon and to also thank all of our customers, dealers, suppliers and investors that have given us support throughout the years,” concludes Kim. “Thank you for helping us and I hope you will continue to be a part of our growing community.”

CURRENTS+

DEALER NEWS:

FAMILY POWERSPORTS HOSTS ELECTRIFYING EVENT

Family Powersports in Spicewood, Texas, was the one of the first dealerships in the nation to host Volcon’s long-awaited Stag demos — complete with a static vehicle greeting customers as they entered the store the last week of February. But “butts in seats” is what really sells and Family Powersports delivered some real seat of the pants impressions!

“You have to give the people what they want and every UTV owner NEEDS cargo space... There are no ifs, ands or buts about it,” quipped the crew on Instagram. “The Stag will handle heavy loads whether it’s bails of hay, debris when clearing trails, or packing out game during a hunt. The Volcon Stag could probably haul a stag.”

Customers who had deposits placed on the all-electric sideby-side were able to get some seat time in the Stag on Family Powersports own off-road demo area. Based on the lessons learned at Family Powersports’ event, the Stag began making visits to select Volcon dealerships throughout Texas in early March. New CEO John Kim claims the roadshow will reach beyond the Lone Star State in coming months.

CAKE COMEBACK?

To Be Or Not to be…

Shakespeare posed the question that the former crew from CAKE has apparently decided to answer. After an ironically worded post on social media announcing CAKE short circuited “when the fuel

hose was cut and only got half way” — and after burning through $74.4 million in funding and producing nearly 6000 bikes. While the Swedish Bankruptcy Court deals with insolvency issues, CAKE founder Stefan Ytterborn is back in the saddle… along with his former design team.

“Happy to announce that the former design team at CAKE now forms to be,” he says. According to Ytterboorn, Oskar Milke David Gonzalez and Fanny Jonsson will now be offering “Materializing strategy, coaching organizations, developing products and product lines, from the point of why and what, through manufacturing, all the way to launch and beyond, successfully addressing the aspired user.”

Lest we forget the story, CAKE had raised $14 million in Series A funding (mostly from VC sources) in 2019. This was followed by $60 million in Series B funding primarily from a Swedish pension fund. However the VC money dried up after the Silicon Valley bank scare and the Series C offering that CAKE attempted to raise starting in 2022 was simply not to be.

EYSING EV BK

Icing on the CAKE? Based in The Netherlands, Eysing had spent the past 10 years chasing its dream of designing, developing and manufacturing electric bikes. “With its focus on high-quality materials and progressive technology, Eysing builds personalized dreams for those who dare to think beyond their imagination.” However following in fellow EV dreamer CAKE, Eysing announced it was insolvent on March 1:

Eysing has gone bankrupt.

We make no excuses; unfortunately, this is the harsh reality. We take immense pride in the past 10 years we’ve dedicated to this adventure together.

We worked hard, learned a lot, thoroughly enjoyed the experience, established valuable partnerships, and created a beautiful brand. The lack of necessary financing has made it impossible to sustain our business operations. Therefore, we have taken responsibility and decided to cease operations.

When there is no foreseeable future, one must make the difficult decision to stop. It pains us deeply to have disappointed many, but we still want to express our gratitude to everyone who believed in us over the past years.

You were fantastic, and we appreciate your support!

EXPERIENCE

INDUSTRY LEADING DEALER PROFITS

All-Inclusive Dealership Program.

At Bintelli, we get it. Our comprehensive dealership program has your company covered, from inventory flooring to attractive retail financing and everything in between. Start a conversation and learn how partnering with Bintelli can help grow your business today.

BECOME A GOLF CART DEALER TODAY

SHIFTING GEARS+

To help Yamaha peddle more pedalassist products and accelerate its dealer network, the Tuning Fork folks announced two new field sales & marketing reps. Hamilton “Mo” Ory is now calling on dealers in the SouthCentral region Yamaha Power Assist Bicycles and its wholesale customers will benefit from Ory’s vast experience and perspective as a retailer and a competitor. Mo Ory started working at his local bike shop to fuel his love for racing. His natural talent on the bike propelled him through the racing ranks, competing in Cat 2 after his first season, until he switched to MTB as the category was just taking off. As the popularity of mountain bikes rose, Ory opened his own shop in Lakewood, Colorado. After many years, Ory retired from racing and eventually sold his interests in multiple Colorado bike shops. “As a racer, rider and fan, I’m very excited to join the Yamaha team and look forward to growing the e-bike category across powersports and bike-industry dealers,” Ory said. “The Yamaha brand has a deep connection to racing across various disciplines, and this is an exciting time to join the Yamaha Bicycles team and help develop its brand, programs and sales channels.”

Bill Dosek’s journey began in a bike shop in the Chicago suburbs where he quickly climbed the ranks, ultimately assuming the roles of general manager and hard goods buyer. Dosek transitioned to B2B sales for more than 10 bicycle brands, to both traditional and e-bike independent bicycle dealers spanning from Michigan to California. Yamaha Power Assist Bicycles is thrilled to leverage Dosek’s wealth of knowledge and leadership as the team continues to drive innovation and excellence in the electric bicycle sector. “I’m stoked to join the Yamaha Bicycles team as the e-bike segment continues unprecedented growth in the U.S.,” exclaims Dosek. “I look forward to helping our dealer partners succeed in the e-bike space, a market segment with long-term growth opportunity.” “Mo and Bill both bring extensive knowledge of bikes and the ever-changing landscape of e-bike sales and marketing to our team and our dealer partners in their respective regions,” notes Drew Engelmann, National Sales & Marketing Manager at Yamaha Power Assist Bicycles. “They have the experience to support both IBDs and powersports dealers looking to add Yamaha Bicycles to their showrooms.”

Greenger goes for two! A pair of powersports pros have joined the Greenger Powersports team with the addition of Randy Valade and Drew Hall to its roster. “I’m excited to have Randy and Drew join the Greenger Powersports team as we work to elevate the level of service we provide to our dealer partners,” says VP of sales & marketing JJ Pecsok. An ex-racer and 2003 Canadian 125 champ, Valade has successfully translated his time at the front of the pack to a behind the scenes role in the industry. “Randy has built a name for himself in the powersports industry as being one of the best, and I have had the privilege of knowing him for many years,” adds Pecsok. Named Greenger’s Southwest District Sales Manager, Valade joins the team with more than 18 years of experience in the powersports industry. He started racing motorcycles at a young age and worked at local motorcycle shops to fund his competitive efforts. He stopped racing Pro MX in 2005 (closing his career at the Budds Creek National) to pursue a career in the powersports industry. Since then, Valade has held a variety of marketing roles under the Tucker Powersports umbrella — most noticeably as Brand Manager for MSR and Answer Racing — and most recently was with Troy Lee Designs. He says he is excited to be making the transition to the OEM side of the industry with Greenger Powersports.

Drew Hall, appointed Southeast District Sales Manager, was also involved in the motorcycle industry from an early age. Bringing 17+ years of experience in powersports, Hall started his career as a salesperson but rapidly propelled through the ranks into dealership management . While working at Barney’s Motorcycle & Marine in Florida, he discovered his passion for e-vehicles. He helped bridge a gap in the market by adding a full line of electric motorcycles to the showroom floor, which soon became a significant driver of the business. As Greenger Powersports’ first two district sales managers, Valade and Hall will be responsible for elevating service for Greenger dealers across the nation by calling on, visiting and demonstrating products with them. They will also stay immersed in the motorcycle industry by attending trade shows within their territories and interacting with customers. Valade will cover the states of California and Arizona, while Hall’s territory includes Florida, Alabama and Georgia. “I am happy to see our sales team continue to grow and develop with the addition of our new district sales managers,” says Simon Zhu, founder and CEO of Greenger Powersports. “It will take a dedicated team effort to bring Greenger to where it needs to go, and I’m confident that these gentlemen will help us achieve our goals by bringing exceptional service to our dealers and customers while also being an integral part of their local powersports communities.”

Happy LANDings! Ex-Zero exec Shane Seymour has landed a new gig with Cleveland-based electric mobility manufacturer LAND, where he takes over as Executive Vice President of Sales, effective immediately. Seymour’s arrival signifies the company’s focus on growing sales and dealer partnerships nationally, as funding continues to push in-house production forward. “Shane’s vision and values seamlessly align with LAND’s commitment to deliver affordable, high-quality e-motorcycles, making him a valuable addition to the team,” says LAND Founder and CEO Scott Colosimo. “I am continually amazed at the caliber of talent LAND is attracting — it’s a testament to our shared passion for fueling innovation and paving a path for more riders to experience electric mobility.” With a diverse background in dealerships and sales, Seymour brings a unique combination of experience and expertise from both sides of the industry. After managing a multi-line powersports dealership, he made impactful contributions during his tenure at Zero Motorcycles, which included key leadership positions in district and regional sales before leading the sales initiatives across the U.S. and Canada. At LAND, Seymour will focus on expanding market presence and dealer networks in North America and beyond. “I am thrilled to play a role in introducing LAND to new dealers,” Seymour says. “We offer access to a broad spectrum of new customers as the transition from various

e-mobility products to the Americanmade, street-legal LAND motorcycle emerges as a logical and preferred progression.” He adds, “LAND is poised for success. Our dedication to providing Cleveland-made quality products while advancing research and development positions us as a leader in the twowheeled EV segment of our industry.”

Rings a bell… Most recently head of Brand Marketing & Creative for Volcon since 2021 and creative director for Bell Helmets, Giro and Blackburn Design for the better part of a decade before that, Casey Potter is now a car guy? “I am excited to announce I am starting a new position as Vice President Brand & Creative at Lynx Motors!” After starting with Hasbro Toys of all places, Potter headed into powersports with Bell Helmets in 2001. He spearheaded Bell’s return to prominence in powersports, heading up the complete brand re-launch in the mid-2000s. He also launched Giro into new markets via innovative B2B and B2C design initiatives. Certainly his time in powersports rings a Bell, but what is a Lynx? “Lynx is an automotive company dedicated to the revitalization of timeless classics by fusing history and innovation with OEM-level quality standards...” okay, just click here to see what the buzz is about:

www.lynx.car

GIANT LEAP BECOMES A BIG STUMBLE

Southern California Giant Short Circuits

“I tried!”

Tom Hicks is not one to throw in the towel, but when one of the world’s top dealers can’t sell something… you have to wonder. Dealernews followed the Giant Bicycles push into the powersports market very closely… and we have “covered” Tom’s dealership multiple times over the years. So when it was announced that the pilot program had failed — through no lack of effort or local promotion — we had to ask why?

“Unfortunately, we have decided to close our bicycle division completely,” Hicks conceded in the company newsletter and a follow-up call to Dealernews. “Four years ago I went to the Long Beach IMS motorcycle show and Giant e-bicycles had a booth almost next to our Triumph booth. Eddie Lawson and Eric Bostrom, whom I know, were over at the booth representing Giant Bicycles, so I went over to talk to them. After a lot of discussion with them and the Giant employees, I felt that Giant e-bicycles was going to be a great addition to SoCal Motorcycles.”

So did Giant. “Tom Hicks and his team at Southern California Motorcycles are great examples of forwardthinking retailers who understand the growing appeal of pedal assist bicycles with motorcycle enthusiasts,” said John “JT” Thompson, general manager of Giant Group USA, at the grand opening of the stand-alone store.

“We spent a ton of money on construction, displays, inventory and special bicycle tools. We built the most beautiful Giant store there is, and went to work selling electric bicycles… or tried to.” However Hicks is not one to play the blame game. Looking back doesn’t win races!

“Forward to now: we failed. Some would blame it on the industry or the economy… but I blame it on myself! I still believe in the product and the concept — Electric bicycles will be the future, just not right now.

“Maybe 10 years from now everyone will have one… but I can’t lose money until that happens. That is business!” The result of this pragmatism is to yank the bandaid off and exit the eBike business entirely.

“So now a lot of people are getting better prices than anywhere else because I am selling ALL of our bicycles, bicycle apparel, accessories, and parts at 50% off! That is below my cost, but everything has to go. We are going to get back to what we do best and that is being the number one motorcycle dealership in the United States…

And boy, do we have some expansion plans to make SoCal Motorcycles even better for you!”

IT’S

PERSONAL

AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL

Tom Hicks has never been one to shy away from a challenge. After years of OEM experience with Honda and Triumph developing dealership, he decided to practice what he had been preaching. In April 2000 he opened the doors to his dealership… and 16 months later Southern California Triumph became the #1 Triumph Dealer in the nation.

Ditto for Ducati: In April 2003, Southern California Triumph expanded and opened Southern California Ducati. Ducati North America presented the company with the award for “Top New Ducati Dealer in the U.S.” From 2003 to date, the company continues to rank as one of the top selling Ducati dealers in the U.S. and was the #1 Ducati dealer in the U.S in 2007. Most recently Southern California Motorcycles was #1 with his newest line, Royal Enfield. Along the way, he picked up eight straight Dealernews Top 100 wins, a couple of covers and extended the store’s streak of #1 Triumph Dealer 15 years in a row!

In short, Tom Hicks knows how to sell motorcycles!

After suffering a heart attack a couple years ago, Hicks has to watch his heart rate so eBikes became a means to an end, with that end being riding motorcycles. “It really is about the health aspect, but don’t get me wrong, they’re fun! Four months ago I was poo-pooing the electric bikes! I was riding a regular bike and saying that’s cheating!”

It became personal as well as professional, but when Giant eBikes giant IMS display was located next to his booth at the Long Beach Show (and his buddies Eddie Lawson and Eric Bostrom were on board), Hicks was all in! He was genuinely sold on the concept of eBikes in powersports dealerships… and a personal way to ride back into shape for motorcycles.

“These electric bicycles really help get us out riding... and we ride a bicycle to stay in shape so we can still ride motorcycles,” said the latest convert to the eBike realm at the time. Dealernews was there at Long Beach and at the grand opening of Hicks’ Giant pilot store.

“Giant was pretty excited about jumping in with me to create the only exclusive Giant electric bicycle store in a motorcycle franchise in the United States,” he explained in the April 2020 Dealernews Dealer Profile. “The decision to do this is that we Baby Boomers — the majority of the motorcyclists out there now — are getting older. People in their 50s and 60s have some physical limitations.”

“If I commit to it wholeheartedly, my customers will see that… and we committed to the Giant brand BIG time. Any dealer can add another franchise, but they must commit to stocking a full line of the product; and invest in an expert staff. He also had to write a big check to spec out all the Park Tools, truing stands and specialty equipment needed to service eBikes specifically. “It did cost more to do it right, but that is my philosophy: don’t go into something half-assed! You are either going to commit to it or you are going to fail.”

Prescient comments aside, Hick’s lack of commitment is not why the Giant experiment failed.

“As a motorcycle dealer bringing on another franchise of anything, you can’t just stuff 4-5-6 or even 10 bikes over in a corner of a room and expect them to sell. I had to start out showing the customer that we are 100% committed to Giant, the brand and 100% committed to the concept of electric bikes and 100% committed to the customer with a full array of accessories, a full service department complete with expert technicians.”

However even 100% wasn’t enough for Southern California Motorcycles to succeed in the eBike arena… for now.

Email:

PJ PARKER-COMER

BRAD E. GEORGE

JUAN C. PARDO

COURTNEY A. BERNHARD

GEORGE C. CHACONAS

News from YOUR National Powersports Dealer Association

Welcome to the March 2024 newsletter from the NPDA! More than 425 Dealers have joined us in 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.”

The Results Are In - Historic Board Election Complete

The inaugural Board election for the National Powersports Dealer Association took place March 4-8, and the Members have spoken – the six incumbents running for re-election all held their seats for another two years.

Of the seven spots that were available, the remaining one has been filled by a Dealer with extensive ties to the Powersports industry.

Along with the six incumbents, there were a total of eight outside candidates vying for position on the NPDA Board, which totals 15 members.

As stated in the NPDA bylaws, only Dealers with current “Basic” level membership were eligible to vote. “Affiliate” members (those Dealership associated with a “Basic” membership), were not eligible.

Re-elected to terms that end 12/31/2025 are the following:

Bob Althoff, Farrow Harley-Davidson, Ohio

Bob Kee, Destination Cycle, Texas

Kim Harrison, Coleman Powersports, Virginia

George Gatto, Three Rivers Harley-Davidson & Gatto Cycle Shop, Pennsylvania

Mark Peterson, Southwest Superbikes, Texas

Gail Worth, Gail’s Powersports, Missouri

The newest Board member is Jayson Davis of Powersports of Greenville in South Carolina. His term also ends 12/31/2025.

“I know every Board Member feels as I do - it is an honor to do the work we do on behalf of Dealers everywhere,” said Bob Althoff, NPDA Board Chairman. “Retail excellence, sustainable profitability and Industry growth - our focus is unwavering.”

Dave McMahon Named NPDA’s Interim Executive Director

The newest member of the NPDA staff has been moved to the top spot on the Team moving the organization forward.

Dave McMahon, who joined the staff in January as Education Director, has been named interim Executive Director.

He is the first Executive Director, interim or otherwise, for the NPDA since it was launched in May 2021. In May 2022, the NPDA hired Darris Blackford as Organizational Director. In September 2023, Blackford was joined by Tigra Tsuijkawa, who remains Membership Marketing Manager.

“Dave McMahon has great Powersports industry experience and is wellpositioned to lead this organization forward,” said Bob Althoff, NPDA Chairman. “We are very grateful to Darris for his efforts, particularly during the 16 months when he was our only Team member, for helping establish a solid base for greater success.”

This work included launching a new website, starting a monthly newsletter, establishing a successful webinar series, improving marketing and communications and bolstering the NPDA’s presence at the AIMExpo in 2023 and 2024.

McMahon will continue working with the very active NPDA Board, which includes six members who were re-elected to new terms last week. Of the seven spots that were available in the first-ever election for the organization, the remaining one was filled by a Dealer with extensive ties to the Powersports industry.

Join NPDA Executive Director Dave McMahon as he welcomes Tony Altieri, VP of Business Development at National Powersport Auctions, for this webinar aimed at increasing Dealership profitability in the pre-owned segment.

Altieri will share NPA wholesale pricing results from a variety of Powersports segments in Q1, as well as how Dealers can capitalize on the return of seasonal wholesale pricing. That’s right, a return to “normalcy” is upon us, so learn how to make sure you’re buying the right used vehicles at the right time of year.

Are you standing out from the Dealership down the street with your pre-owned inventory? Join us to learn profitability tips for pre-owned success. As always, Dealers can submit questions via the live webinar chat.

The webinar is FREE; register here.

Membership Growth Goal for 2024: 700-plus

Since its founding less than three years ago, the NPDA has grown to more than 400 Powersports Dealer members from all 50 States plus Puerto Rico. The Board of Directors of 12 men and three women are Dealers from Alaska to Virginia, Ohio to Texas.

In October 2023 we surpassed the 400-Dealer level, a big milestone, but we aren’t done yet: 0500, 600, even 700, we’re coming after you!

The fact is, we’re doing our job to help Dealers be more profitable and make our industry better.

Now we need to get stronger, and there is strength in numbers. Dealers, hundreds of your colleagues have made the relatively small commitment of $395 per year ($195 for additional rooftops), so what says YOU?

Visit www.npda.org and sign up today!

The Bigger We Are, The Better We’ll Be - JOIN THE NPDA! You Lookin’ For Us? Check Out YouTube!

Did you know: YouTube, once just a place where people posted their homemade videos, has grown into the world’s largest online video platform.

Not one to miss an opportunity to share its story, the NPDA has carved its own place in YouTube. Here you will find things like our webinar recordings, plus videos featuring our Board members extolling the merits of the ONLY nationwide Dealer organization fighting for your rights and working to help you grow your business.

Check it out!

NEW! NPDA Partner Reports

We are changing things up starting with this issue, transforming the Partner Profile — focused on a single Strategic Partner — to the new NPDA Partner Reports. All of our Partners have the opportunity to share their latest company news, insights, tips for Dealer success and more. Click the link below to read the March 2024 NPDA Partner Reports, learn firsthand what these industry leaders have to say, including:

Is Your Dealership’s Credit Card Surcharging Compliant? EDPS Can Help — Credit card surcharging is a very hot topic, and many are not doing it in a compliance way. Below are some highlights of the requirements to implement a compliant surcharge program, according to EDPS. Credit card processing surcharges are additional fees added to the price of goods or services, to offset or cover credit card processing fees. Debit card fees are not surchargeable…

Garage Composites: Defining Dealer Culture — Culture. In their first episode of Garagecast in 2024, Tony Gonzalez and Sam Dantzler from Garage Composites discussed culture. With an industry faced with challenges in inventory, interest and margin problems, they thought long and hard about what makes some Dealerships thrive – no matter the economy they face.

National Powersport Auctions: Seasonal Powersports Pricing Is Back — It has been a few years since we have seen the seasonal powersports curve, but it is officially back, according to National Powersport Auctions. “A rise in auction pricing across the country is underway for all major categories. Wholesale auction pricing started to pick up in early February and has been climbing each week since. The exact timing of the seasonal peak and average price increase cannot be predicted, but based on the data and Dealer feedback NPA has received, it looks like late April to early May.

Performance Brokerage Services: ‘Blue Sky’ Value An Important Part Of Dealership Valuation Process — When a Dealer is interested in selling his or her business, the most frequently asked question is, “What is my business worth?” The sale of a Dealership is comprised of numerous value components, each having varying methods for determining their values. Fixed assets may be sold at net book value, negotiated value, or at appraisal… But the crux of the value calculation is determining the goodwill portion of the business – also referred to as “Blue Sky.”

Scan this month’s contributors in the graphic below and click the button to read more! www.npda.org/_files/ugd/f1e82a_68229b07f37142e3a6c2fd951a3de23b.pdf

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.

www.npda.org

DEALERS AND ALL MEMBERS CALLED ON TO SIGN UP Powersports Companies Will Make a Difference at the MIC Capitol Hill Fly-In

MIC members are encouraged to be a part of the annual Capitol Hill Fly-In, April 29-30 in Washington, D.C., and have their voices heard by legislators from across the country.

The Fly-In is free for MIC members. The only member costs are hotel and transportation to and from Washington, D.C. Most meals during the MIC Fly-In activities, and all meetings at House and Senate offices, will be provided by the MIC. Non-members can attend and participate for $1,000.

MIC LEADERSHIP Association Boards Appoint Interim President and CEO, and COO

The boards of the MIC, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and the Recreational OffHighway Vehicle Association voted unanimously to appoint Scott Schloegel as acting President and CEO of the Associations. Diana Sanchez was appointed acting Chief Operating Officer.

Schloegel and Sanchez, whose appointments are effective immediately, will also continue to serve in their current roles as Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Vice President of Operations, respectively. The interim leadership was selected to ensure a seamless transition as the Associations’ search committee continues to conduct a comprehensive review of the position of President and CEO, and a subsequent search to replace outgoing President and CEO Erik Pritchard.

“I am deeply honored to be appointed in this role,” Schloegel said, “and I know that the staff at the Associations will continue the great work that all of our constituents have come to expect.”

“I look forward to working closely with Scott and the boards for a smooth transition,” Sanchez said.

Personnel Files

By Alex Baylon

THE SHADOW OF THINGS TO COME

Bye Bye Boomers!

It’s official and I’m calling it! Baby Boomers are out of the market! We have shifted straight through Gen X and Millennials and now have to recruit from an entirely new workforce. The youngest generation in today’s workforce is Gen Z, meaning Generation Z, who were born between 1995 and 2009. Let that sink in, Baby!

For the past 20 years I have noticed this accelerating shift in trends shift. MIJ is an amazing barometer of the job market tug-of-war. This is all part of the wild world of employment dynamics, where we’ve got two main players: the job seeker market and the employer market.

Picture this: in a job seeker market, it’s like being a rich kid in a multi-line dealership (Candy) store - you’ve got options to pick any bike on the showroom floor, and employers are practically begging you to join their team. Don’t get me sidetracked on the lack of Techs of any age… where was I?

Oh yeah, the employer market, it’s more like a game of musical chairs. There are way more job hunters than

there are seats at the table. So, while job seekers are calling the shots in one scenario, in the other, it’s the employers who hold all the cards. Understanding which side of the table you’re on can make all the difference in your employment journey.

For the past few years, we have experienced the wonderful world of a job seeker market.

In a job seeker market, there are more job openings available than there are qualified candidates to fill them. Job seekers have more power and leverage in negotiating terms of employment, including salary, benefits and working conditions. Employers may need to offer higher wages, better benefits, and additional perks to attract and retain talent.

In this scenario, job seekers have the luxury of choosing between multiple job offers or negotiating better terms with potential employers. Companies may need to invest more in recruitment efforts and compete aggressively to attract skilled workers…

Unfortunately for the job seekers, it is official — we are entering into an employer market!

I guess I’m as official as Punxsutawney Phil predicting an early spring. Recently I have been traveling to various dealerships across California… and I saw a shadow of change coming. I have learned a lot of dealers are doing layoffs on top of the recent trend of less job openings being posted on MIJ, which led me to the conclusion we are entering the employer’s market. There are — and always — will be exceptions and sure, there are plenty of dealers still hiring, but at the moment the increase in resumes and decrease in job postings has led me to officially call it now.

So what does this mean? In an employer market, there are fewer job openings available compared to the number of qualified candidates seeking employment.

Employers have more control and bargaining power as they have a larger pool of candidates to choose from.

Job seekers may face tougher competition for available positions, leading to fewer job offers and less negotiation power regarding terms of employment.

Employers may offer lower salaries, fewer benefits, and less flexibility in working conditions as they have less pressure to attract and retain talent.

Job seekers may need to accept less-than-ideal job offers or lower compensation packages due to limited opportunities in the market.

So how do we navigate the job market shift? First let me tell you about the job seekers that I feel are exempt from this tug of war. It should be no surprise that pretty much all mechanics of all levels, ages and skill sets are

exempt. Obviously Master Techs and “A” techs have an advantage of job security and their pick of any gig they want. Even though I am hearing about some mechanics being laid off this spring, a good mechanic is always going to be worth their weight in gold.

For the rest of you job seekers out there, it’s time to polish up that resume and revamp your networking skills! Competition is fierce, so you’ll want to stand out like a shiny dirtbike at a mud race. Don’t just rely on job postings; get out there, shake some hands, and make connections. Consider exploring new avenues to make yourself more marketable. And when it comes to negotiating, remember to be flexible but also know your worth. Employers may hold the upper hand, but that doesn’t mean you can’t negotiate for what you deserve.

Now, employers, it’s your time to rev up your recruitment game. With plenty of candidates vying for your attention, it’s essential to cast your net wide… but also be discerning. The vast majority of employers will need to hire again soon, it could be before or after the election. Employers need to look beyond just the qualifications on paper; consider factors like cultural fit and potential for growth. And don’t forget about retention strategies; keeping your team happy and engaged is key, especially when the competition

MIJ Industry #PROfiles

is fierce. Lastly, be open to negotiation with potential hires. Offering competitive salaries and benefits can make all the difference in attracting and retaining top talent.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news to job seekers out there, but it looks like I just saw my shadow. Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect job or the ideal candidate, remember to stay proactive, adaptable, and always willing to go the extra mile. In an employer market, it’s all about finding the perfect match.

Dealernews is honored to work with Motorcycle Industry Jobs to recognize the people who make up this great industry. “When you start reading the Industry #PROfles, you will notice that 80-90% of them get their start at a motorcycle dealership,” says MIJ founder Alex Baylon. “The dealers are on the front lines and have always been the heart and soul of the industry. Without motorcycle dealerships, most of us wouldn’t be where we are today, so part of our message is always going to be ‘support your local motorcycle shop.’”

In addition to recognizing industry pros, Dealernews is also working with MIJ to create a job ticker tape of the latest positions opening in the industry at the Dealernews.com site. Check it out at: www.dealernews.com/Industry-Jobs

“Tell us your story,” adds Baylon. “We would love to feature you! Click here to fill out the questionnaire: www.motorcycleindustryjobs.com/industry-profiles/

MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com founder Alex Baylon has been hiring and firing people in the powersports industry for 25 years.

Currently with a major distributor, he has also been with Dragon Alliance, Ceet Racing, MX GP Services in Europe, Acerbis USA, Motonation/Sidi Boots and Scott USA. He started MIJ as he saw a need in the industry for people who are passionate about the motorcycle industry to have an employment outlet. The motorcycle industry like many others has always recycled employees from one company to another and it has always been done by word of mouth. MIJ allows companies in the industry to post their openings and give others in and out of the industry a chance to apply and insert new blood and fresh ideas in the many opportunities in the motorcycle industry.

SAFETY FIRST Sharing Is Caring

By Donald Amador

Forget basketball, we have seen some real March Madness on the Nation’s OHV trails! More new folks availing themselves of our hard earned rights to recreate has had the unintended consequence of off riders not knowing off-road basics. Quiet Warrior Racing joins OHV advocates everywhere in encouraging responsible recreation. Enthusiasts in California are on the right track courtesy of the 2024 “SHARE THE TRAIL” themed Spring OHV Safety Week that ran March 23-31. The educational goal for this event is to help new owners of OHVs better understand the responsibility they have to drive in a safe manner since there is often two-way traffic on public land roads and trails.

The foundation for this ongoing State Park safety week program was developed by the California State Parks’ OffHighway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division and partners after robust discussions on current OHV safety issues at the August 2022 OHV Safety Summit held at the McClellan Training Center in Sacramento. That conference was attended by various key state and federal agency representatives, powersports industry leads, major OHV organizations, ROV/UTV trainers, motorized media outlets, law enforcement, competition event organizers and educational non-profits.

The primary focus was on improving/updating safety efforts to address the rapid growth of ROV/UTV/SxS use on public lands. That inaugural summit was successful as the group subsequently planted the “safety standard” in the ground and resolved to improve safety education to reduce impacts to natural resources and other user groups.

“I am glad to see the California Department of Parks and Recreation and OHMVR Division continue these key OHV safety programs,” was my comment picked up by the local media. “As a ROHVA driver coach, I have seen the importance of SxS owners enhancing their driving skills and also learning about the use of proper safety gear…

“What makes these OHV safety programs so important is that many new operators have very little if any driving experience on public land roads and trails. Often they are not aware there could be other vehicles using the same route and meeting another vehicle coming around a blind corner could be a safety hazard which is what makes these outreach programs so important.”

QWR believes it is important for the greater OHV community to “share” this important safety and responsible use message with our riding network and those new to the sport.

Dealernews Advocacy Editor Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for more than three decades. Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC., Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino, serves as the Western States Representative for the Motorcycle Industry Council and is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance. Over the years, Amador served as a contractor to the BlueRibbon Coalition from 1996-2018; served on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission from 1994-2000 and was the government affairs lead for AMA District 36 in Northern California from 2019 – 2023. He has won numerous awards, including being a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2018 Friend of the AMA Award.

NHTSA NUMBERS

While you may have missed March Madness and its full court press in California, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reminds all of us that May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. NHTSA says this is a good opportunity to increase safety messaging across all platforms. Millions of people across the United States ride motorcycles – some as a primary or secondary form of transportation, and others as a leisure ride. You can use this

material as part of your communication plan to promote motorcycle safety – for motorcyclists and drivers.

Share this information with partner organizations to help spread the message across all communities. Motorcycle facts, stats and reports from NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis:

• In 2021 there were 5,932 motorcyclists killed, 14% of all traffic fatalities. This is the highest number of motorcyclists killed since NHTSA started data collection in 1975.

• The number of motorcyclist fatalities in 2021 increased by 8% from 2020, up from 5,506 to 5,932.

• An estimated 82,686 motorcyclists were injured in 2021, a 5% increase from 78,944 motorcyclists injured in 2020.

• Per vehicle miles traveled in 2021, the fatality rate for motorcyclists (30.20) was almost 24 times the passenger car occupant fatality rate (1.26).

• 36% percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2021 were riding without valid motorcycle licenses.

• In 2021 motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes had higher percentages of alcohol impairment than drivers of any other motor vehicle type (28% for motorcycles, 24% for passenger cars, 20% for light trucks, and 3% for large trucks).

Confessions Of A Customer®

By Eric Anderson

THE OLDEST LINE IN THE BOOK!

“No Thanks! I’m Just Looking!”

Anyone in retail has already heard it a million times: No Thanks, I’m Just Looking. If fact, this was even the title of one of my favorite sales books from the 1980s. Yes, there were Dale Carnegie’s classics, but they really weren’t focused on retail selling as much as Harry Friedman’s No Thanks, Just Looking was. It still resonates in retail all these years later.

The very title spoke to me about everything that was wrong about selling inside a store full of merchandise… a warehouse where the owner subscribed to the “Hang and Hope” methodology of hanging it up and hoping to God it sells by itself. “Park and Pray” is the same thing with new units or products on a showroom floor or a shelf. The customer’s reply in the book’s title starting with “No” certainly got my attention. Here is an entire book dedicated to showing you how to do things right by using a title which indicated everything wrong about greeting a customer.

This was published well before all the “Books For Dummies” hit the scene — which is probably why I was attracted to it. I tend to learn from the “School of Ouch” before I realize more training and behavioral modification is needed. Is it time for you and your staff to re-learn this lesson?

Non-pushy sales techniques work better in our recreationally based industry than those car salesmen characters that latch onto a customer like a parasite and never let go. Harry’s specialty retail stores for custom sales training included shoes, bicycles, jewelry, and SCUBA. Several of those are

recreationally based like powersports stores while others are somewhat discretionary apparel stores. The methods he teaches in the book are easy to learn and employ natural human conversations leading to the customer making the decision to buy.

1.The first lesson this book taught me was:

“Never ask question to a customer which could possibly be answered with a “No.”

What a concept! Then and there I viscerally extracted the “May I help you?” tomfoolery from my brain, my body, my soul… forever! Every time I heard that question after that, I gave myself a mock electric shock and a jerk of the head to be sure it never flowed from my mouth again.

Why would I — or you — ever give your customer a chance to say or think of something negative inside your store? Don’t go there. After all, you sell fun, so make it a positive experience through and through, especially beginning at the front door. What is the alternative greeting you ask? Well, try using a statement instead…and say it while walking past them—not standing like a vulture on a fence waiting for a meal.

I never liked seeing a salesperson with empty hands — they look like they have nothing else to do or anywhere else to go. As a customer I prefer to see and deal with busy people. If you don’t know the customer’s name, then comment or comment on the weather, their ride they just parked, or the “nice boots” they are wearing. Select anything to start a conversation or elicit a positive reply like “Thank you!” “It certainly is!” or “Yes, I’ve had these for 5 years now.”

The other tactic is to ask an open-ended question (starting with what, where, how, when, why, who) like “Nice GSXR— what year is that?” You will get a real reply that is certainly not: “No, thanks, just grabbing some oil.” Got it?

2. The second thing this book taught me was: “The most powerful word in retail is “Here!”

You can’t say “No” to this suggestion. This single word makes it “safe” for a customer to sit on a motorcycle or take a pair of gloves into their hands. Saying the “Here” word in front of handing them something or directing them to a vehicle to sit on or in comforts the customer and reassures them that you don’t think they are being too forward, grabby or violating an unknown store policy.

Your store is not a museum, so your job is to involve customers’ third human sense — touch. Beyond seeing and hearing about the product, they should be able to touch it, too. Suddenly the customer experience zooms as they begin imagining themselves owning or using the product. An Internet experience can deliver “seeing and hearing” about the product, but only YOU can deliver the tactile sense of touching it. Leverage your strengths.

3. The third thing this book taught me was: “Make A Mess!”

Shoe salespeople are the best at using this slowly disappearing retail sales technique. It works because I have never seen a customer object to the extra closed shoe boxes off to the side. In fact, most ask out of curiosity what’s in those other boxes you brought out? When a customer asks a salesperson for a size 10 in that style over there, the salesperson brings at least 3 boxes of shoes — one in your size as requested, one half a size larger and another in a more popular selling color. While trying on the shoes the customer first selected, the other boxes get opened and shoes wrapped in tissue paper come out onto the floor… making a mess at the customer’s feet.

The same messy technique can be used for 2 or 3 motorcycles rolled forward out of the lineup, 3 or 4 helmets unboxed on the countertop, 3 jackets hanging off the mirror, or 5 to 6 pairs of various gloves piled high. This act of true salesmanship leaves a trail of labor, encourages try-ons or touching of the products, evidence of selection and choice… along with a bit of an unspoken message to buy now! The salesperson demonstrated their product knowledge while obtaining the correct fit making for a great customer experience.

If the customer does not buy, is this mess all for naught? I don’t think so, but the bigger the mess, the more pressure there is to purchase. And the customer will remember your efforts for sure… next time. If nothing else, the salesman looks busy cleaning up the mess when the next customer walks in, setting the stage for the next round of retail theater.

These 3 things I give thanks to Harry Friedman for. I now recognize good salespeople who use these techniques because they have studied their craft. I highly recommend this book to you and your sales staff. It changed my life. I know it did, because I don’t ask any questions you could ever say “No” to anymore. I am a converted buyer these days…and no longer a shopper. Thanks, Harry!

Buy your copy here directly from Harry or anywhere else you wish: thefriedmangroup.com/product/no-thanks-im-just-looking

THE GREETING

Open Ended Greeting Statements & Questions

Since every single transaction begins the same way with the greeting, you need to modify the customer’s behavior from the start by changing your approach. Here are a few ideas to help you begin exorcising the “May I help you?” idiocy from your cranium as soon as possible. Note Wal-Mart brought back greeters at the front door to deter theft — think about it. The better your greetings are to new customers, the less likely they are to shoplift because they know they are being watched.

For a different reason McDonald’s quit asking their famously suggestive 6 words “Would you like fries with that” years ago because some people said, “No thanks.” The new “choice greeting” for fast food employees is “Hello! Welcome to XYZ. My name is Violet. Will you be ordering one of the combo meals or a la carte today?”

Would any of these variations in your own words work for you in a powersports store?

• “Nice (make/model) bike! How long have you had that?”

• “Ah! Cool helmet! Is that as quiet and comfortable as I hear it is?”

• “Your bike looks like you really ride it. Where was your last adventure?”

• “I love that T-shirt! Where did you get that!?”

JANUARY 20-21, 2024

KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER

221 SOUTH 4TH STREET | LOUISVILLE, KY 40202

LEMANS LANDS LOUISVILLE

NVP Recap

Photos courtesy Scott Wallenberg & Larry Mills

LSATURDAY, JANUARY 20th

9:30 AM – 5:30 PM

eMans Corporation accelerated into 2024 by twisting the throttle to the stops for the Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties NVP Product Expo in Louisville, KY January 20-21, 2024. Proving the COVID interruption is in the rear view mirror, the distribution giant hosted the return of their triumphant in-person Expo to Louisville, Kentucky, marking the fourth year of this event staged at the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC).

9:00 AM – 3:30 PM &

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21st

“I am thrilled to witness the tremendous success of the Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties Expo in Louisville,” said newly announced Vice President of Sales & Marketing Paul Devine. “Dealer attendance, expanded exhibitor space and innovative training format truly highlight the strength and vitality of our industry. I look forward to contributing to the continued growth and excitement of this premier event in the years ahead.”

FOOD & REFRESHMENTS

As Devine noted, it is a big deal for the entire industry, literally as well as figuratively. “The Louisville NVP Product Expo is our largest expo with more than 140,000 square feet of exhibitor space!”

Served throughout the day ON THE EXPO FLOOR

Festivities kicked off at KICC on Thursday with Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties rep training. Two days of handson training and brand familiarization provided the sales team with invaluable, up-close interactions with vendors. “The knowledge gained during these sessions translated seamlessly onto the expo floor, where the sales team introduced new products to their dealers,” added Devine. With “Dealers” as the watchword, the party really got started on Saturday and Sunday, as an array of exciting new brands and products were rolled out to the retailers. Making it worth the Dealers’ time to attend, LeMan’s offered exclusive discounts and additional incentives from participating vendors. However the business led into some monkey business on Saturday night.

Vance & Hines gave the industry an exclusive first look at their new Supersport 2-into-1 system for M8 baggers at the NVP Product Expo. Highlights for the mid-length 2-1 pipes include: Long upswept headers, roadracing mufflers and 304 stainless construction.

Off the wall? Johnny Jump and Jeff Emig were in Louisville showing off the Vans’ Waffle pattern grips from ODI. The lock-on style grips offer “slip free security” for everything from pitbikes to Baggers.

The industry came together for some fun at LeMan’s legendary Meet & Greet, hosted at The Sports & Social Club in the heart of downtown Louisville’s vibrant 4th Street Live Entertainment District. The event featured a full throttle mix of food, drinks, games and live entertainment — the perfect conclusion to a successful day of networking and business engagement.

The Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties NVP continues to solidify its position as a premier gathering for industry professionals, fostering collaboration, innovation and the exchange of expertise. Plans are already underway for the next installment, promising even more growth and excitement in the years to come. The next NVP Expo is planned for September 7-8, 2024, and will be held in Milwaukee, WI.

Heads up! 6D Head Honcho Bob Weber was in the house!

Jimmy White’s back… AMS front man “stopping by” DP Brakes display.

TALKING TURN 14 AT AIMExpo

Lesley Madsen went from a trial by fire at AIMExpo 2023 as VP of Marketing for Tucker Powersports straight into the hot seat as VP of Marketing Owned Brands, Powersports for Turn 14 at AIMExpo 2024! However she has managed to keep her cool and was kind enough to explain how the new Turn 14 turnaround is working and what is coming down the track for Turn 14 Powersports.

Can you explain a little bit about the distinction between Turn 14 Distribution versus Turn 14 Powersports?

Turn 14 Distribution is the distribution side of the business, so it is the warehousing, the inventory, the sales team, IT, all the website… everything. Turn 14 Powersports is all of the brands that were acquired from Tucker. So it is the ProTapers of the world, Küryakyn, QuadBoss… all of those 11 brands that were acquired — that is Turn 14 Powersports. So we are the brand managers, product development, engineering, marketing is also there. And then Bob Schuetz, our president.

That is all based in Texas still, but it is not the old Tucker building?

This is brand new, we are moving into a new office in Keller. We are designing our offices to make them very inviting for our employees and our team members. We want to create a place where they want to come to work, and it’s a really enjoyable location. The design of the building is very modern, and it has some industrial features that just make it very unique. So we’re putting some finishing touches on it, and we hope to move in next month.

And when you move in, there will be some familiar faces, even though it’s all new digs — guys like James Simonelli who has been around this industry forever. It’s going to be new, but it’s also going to be familiar to the dealers.

Exactly. We have James Simonelli, our brand manager for TwinPower, he is there. Aaron Whitney, who a lot of people know in the industry as well, is our brand manager, Paul O’Brien, who’s been with us for years, manages ProTaper and DragonFire. And then Brent Ash, who has been in this industry for 21 years doing apparel, is here as well.

How soon can dealers expect some of this stuff to get shaken out?

I would expect in the next three to six months. We have secured our supply lines. So our suppliers are in place. Product is starting to roll in and we are placing orders. Obviously, it’s got to come over on a boat a lot of times, but we have products rolling in. We just launched some new products here at the show as well. So we are really excited for this next year.

Some of us purists will say, ‘Oh, those car guys, they’re not our market.’ And they aren’t — sometimes they’re better and smarter than we are — sometimes they’ve got things to learn from us in powersports. So you’re in a unique position to bridge that gap. But I know within the MIC, we’ve been talking about a need for standardized data and the ability to communicate faster, more efficiently, better… a rising tide floats all boats. In fact, the automotive industry has had ACES and PIES forever, yet 90% of the powersports market doesn’t know what ACES and PIES are.

One thing that we are working on is bringing over all the data. It is so important. Turn 14 Distribution is top notch when it comes to data and analytics. Their development team there has built out a website that can give a dealer anything they need to know about their product, when it’s coming, what orders they placed, what’s selling for them. They have a great dev team that will help build the API’s and connect you with the right partners in order to update your websites and have everything just flow easily. They have an entire dev team that’s there to support their customers. The way that they treat their dealers is that they are royalty. They are #1! Their culture at Turn 14, and the way that they want to help small businesses grow and dealers grow is one of the things that makes them so successful in automotive.

Turn 14, recognized as SEMA’s top distributor… a pretty phenomenal run! They may not be that familiar with the powersports side, but they are well established… they do know what they’re doing.

Yes they do. Chris and Jon, the founders, know what they’re doing. And they lead a great team and the culture that they built there really empowers their people to do good things and help support their dealers. That is what they stand for, helping the small guys. John is an entrepreneur. He comes from an entrepreneur family, and he wants to help other

entrepreneurs. So Jon and Chris have really gone straight ahead into powersports and learning the industry. They’re here at AIMExpo, they’ve been walking the show floor to really absorb it. They’ve been meeting with suppliers on the powersports side and just building those relationships.

Hopefully we’ve learned from our past. Now the powersports industry has resources that we’ve never had access to… the future actually looks pretty bright.

We are very excited about the future for Turn 14 Powersports. Just having the supply chain there, having the leadership of Bob Schuetz in there, and his knowledge of manufacturing and building a new team. We’re really excited about the future!

ANSWER RACING

Answer Racing staff was joined by former motocross and Supercross rider Nick Wey throughout the show, with the team reinforcing the Answer mantra to dealers: Answer Racing started in 1976 with the goal to provide hardcore motocross enthusiasts with products they can trust. Fast forward to today and Answer Racing has not lost sight of the original vision. We put our 40 years of experience behind bars into every product we make. Whether you are a diehard racer or a weekend warrior, we’ve got you covered.

DRAGONFIRE

DragonFire Racing brought a fully dressed unit to the show, helping showcase all of the wheels, tires and accessories the brand has to offer. Turn 14 also presented Sparco’s Polaris RZR Turbo S4 and a QuadBoss showstopper. Since 2005, DragonFire has been providing high-quality replacement parts and innovative accessories to transform any UTV. “We conquer sand dunes, we ride trails, we are savage on the track — Our love of riding fuels our passion for innovation! We create designs to make your machine the most unique in any crowd.”

KURYAKYN

James Simonelli was kind enough to give Dealernews a walk-through of the latest Küryakyn products on the show floor at AIMExpo, coming soon. For almost 40 years now, Küryakyn has made some of the best aftermarket parts for motorcycles that you can find. “A motorcycle will get you where you need to go, but it’s much more than just a vehicle — it’s a way of life,” says Simonelli.

FANTIC

Turn 14 Distribution’s Fantic e-bike course was a big hit again this year. Fantic is an undisputed leader in the e-bike world, leveraging more than 50 years of manufacturing, performance and innovation to create its expansive e-bike lineup. Drawing from its experience in motocross, Fantic was the first company in the bike market to launch a differentiated wheel design back in 2015, with 29-inch front wheels that make it easier to go over obstacles and 27.5-inch rear wheels for better traction and control.

PROTAPER

Stilez Robertson of the Yamaha Star Racing team was on hand to sign autographs on Wednesday at the ProTaper portion of the Turn 14 Pavilion. For more than 30 years ProTaper has been the brand of choice for top-level teams like Star Racing as well as pros such as Eli Tomac and Haiden Deagen.

QUADBOSS

“We’ve come a long way from selling plows and tire sealant to dealers. Since 2001, we’ve answered our customer’s growing demand for ATV and UTV parts and accessories. Today, we serve the people who work hard and play harder – with parts and accessories as dependable as them. For our all-terrain addicts to avid outdoorsmen, from winches, axles, luggage, racks to tires for any terrain, we keep you out there, running throughout the workweek and even more on the weekend.”

ED YOUNGBLOOD SEPTEMBER 28, 1943-MARCH 10, 2024

Ed was a remarkable person and I am honored to have spent 12 years with him, to become committed partners in life and work, to help me build our business Coping with Dementia. In true “Ed” form he has said he did not want any kind of a service or memorial, which I am sure does not surprise most of his longtime friends. Ed did not like to be in front of the camera or the limelight, but he preferred to be behind the scenes leading. I may do something in the future to honor him in a way that he would be okay with. But for now he has asked for any donations or memorials to go to Coping with Dementia or Dementia Education Inc, information listed in the obituary.

Ed has left pretty big shoes for me to fill for our company, but I will try to do the best that I can. One of those really big tasks was to write his obituary, I hope I did him proud.

Not only have I lost a remarkable person but the motorcycle industry has lost one of the great ones also.

I have provided you with the website that has his obituary, please feel free to write a memory or an encounter with Ed as I would like to preserve them for his family: www.heinzfh.com/obituaries/john-youngblood

Please visit this website and leave your comment about Ed. The loss of this man has been felt by more than just myself, Debbie Selsavage.

John Edward (Ed) Youngblood, 80, of Inverness FL, passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2024, peacefully at VITAS Hospice house with his partner of 12 years, Deborah Selsavage, by his side.

John Edward (Ed) Youngblood was born in Muskogee, OK on September 28, 1943; the second Son of Wayne and Ruth Elizabeth Youngblood, who preceded him in death. Ed is survived by his sons Franz Ruben of Wisconsin and John Christian of Ohio, his former wife Margaret Pernalete Youngblood, his brother William Youngblood and sisterin-law Linda Youngblood, niece, Karen Stinneford, and nephew David Youngblood, his committed partner Debbie Selsavage, and his wonderful rescue cat “Riley”.

Ed’s mother, Ruth and Debbie’s husband, Albert, had both passed from Alzheimer’s. Debbie and Ed’s life together focused upon helping others prepare for and cope with the journey of dementia. Coping with Dementia, LLC and the not-for-profit Dementia Education are institutional manifestations from their efforts.

Ed was gifted with excellent verbal and visual communication skills. He was also a visionary who thrived on challenging opportunities. At 14, he prepared newspaper marketing materials for Durnell’s Department Store in Muskogee. His income bought him a beautiful, black 1953 Studebaker with a red-leather interior, and a small, well-used HarleyDavidson motorcycle.

The motorcycle was possibly a foreshadow for most of Ed’s life, riding for more than 60 years and becoming a motorcycle historian. While earning a bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing at Oklahoma State University, Ed worked on weekends in a motorcycle repair shop, giving him respite from the books and some cash. Ed’s master’s degree was earned in English literature at the University of Ohio, Athens.

Youngblood explained his feelings on the importance of remembering and appreciating motorcycling’s heritage:

“I do not see history as just a thing in the past that happened some time ago,” he said. “I see history as an understanding of who we are and how we got where we are. When any culture, nation or industry faces a crisis, those that have the will to survive are the ones that have a deep understanding and appreciation of who they are and where they came from. That’s what gives us an understanding of our own value and gives us a will to fight for what we are and what we believe in.”

He left academics to take over the marketing and communication resources for a regional motorcycle magazine. The magazine’s rapid subscription growth was noted by the American Motorcycle Association who, within the year, recruited Ed to direct their marketing and communication division. When an unanticipated change in AMA leadership emerged, the AMA Board unanimously tapped Ed to take over the Directorship. After leaving the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) he became a founding board member of the Antique Motorcycle Foundation, which is a sister organization to the Antique Motorcycle Club of America.

Ed Youngblood had a 30-year career in non-profit management, both in the United States and with an international NGO in Geneva, Switzerland. Upon retirement in 1999, he founded his own consulting and communications company, Motohistory.net, writing nine published histories and biographies and consulting for 13 museums and galleries in motorcycle exhibits, including the Guggenheim Museums in New York and Bilbao, Spain. His knowledge and leadership of this industry is and will be deeply missed. In 2013, he closed his consulting company and in 2014 partnered with Debbie Selsavage to create Coping with Dementia LLC, which he served on a voluntary basis in communications, marketing, branding, and business strategy.

Ed is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and a PAC certified consultant. He recently founded a new non-profit called Dementia Education, Inc. It’s first projects is publication of “A Handbook for Dementia-Friendly Congregations,” and “Dementia and Firearm Safety.” Most recent publication is “A First Responder’s Guide to Dementia”, along with several other books on dementia.

Some of the things Ed will be remembered for are his love for motorcycles, cars, animals, listening to good stories, good movies, music, writing, creating and dining at waffle house. He was always looking for an opportunity to work and build relationships.

“He was working until the very end,” Debbie said. “When he entered the care facility last week, he told me he wanted to bring two things, his laptop and a little model of his BMW motorcycle.”

Youngblood left a legacy in several fields and a lasting impression to those lucky enough to have known him.

A celebration of life will be planned for a future time and place. Arrangements are under the direction of Heinz Funeral Home and Cremation of Inverness, FL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials or donations can be made in his name to Coping with Dementia LLC to continue their services and to Dementia Education Inc. at PO Box 143, Inverness, FL 34451

R.I.P. ED YOUNGBLOOD

A Long Time Friend Is Gone...

By Don Emder

Igot a phone call about a month ago from Ed Youngblood. It had been a while since we had actually spoken, but as many of us do, our communications in recent years was mostly via Facebook posts. It was nice to hear his voice, and we talked about a few things, but what I know now that I didn’t know then was that Ed was calling to say goodbye. He did it very cleverly though, leaving no hint we might not talk again.

This photo is I believe the first time he and I met. This was right before the start of the 1971 Daytona 200 when Ed and the AMA organized probably the best-ever lineup of all the factory teams there at Daytona in the grass section where they run the Supercross nowadays. There I was on the #25 BSA Rocket III alongside my teammates Mike Hailwood, Dick Mann, David Aldana and Jim Rice. And there is Ed, who at the time I believe was the Editor of the AMA magazine.

Fast forward a few more years and Ed became the President of the AMA and I was working in the industry and would see him pretty often. In 1985, Ed invited me to join the Board of Directors of the AMA’s new American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation. I was happy to get involved, especially since the time was coming to create the one major element of the AMHF’s Mission Statement that was unfulfilled...an AMA Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame.

Ed was very methodical and careful as he led the process of making sure the organization was ready for these big steps. I was very honored when he proposed in 1990 that I become the Chairman of the AMHF Board of Directors.

The museum came first, and thru donations of profits from the annual Vintage Motorcycle Days events, everything moved in the right direction. In 1999, with full support of the AMA Board of Directors, the new property and facility in Pickerington was purchased, which allowed for the creation of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame that exists there today.

Ed and the AMA/AMHF staff pretty well put the facility together. But the actual organization and Hall of Fame election process was done through a committee that included Ed, myself, Dick Mann, Bill Baird and Bill Milburn. Like always, Ed had a concept, but he trusted this group to work all the bugs out to get the elections started, which continues to this day.

Ed had many accomplishments in his career at the AMA, but his lasting legacy with the AMA was that move to Pickerington and then what the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame became, and still is.

He retired a few years later, and eventually moved to Florida where he stayed busy with programs to support people who suffer from Dementia. He eventually formed an organization called “Coping with Dementia LLC” with his life partner Debbie Selsavage.

Like Ed, I also felt my best contributions had been made for the AMHF and focused on my business, books and the motorcycle history community out west. I learned a lot from him, and was happy to help him achieve his goals and fulfill that mission of the AMHF.

Motorcycle history was important to Ed, and he helped instill that in me. I just read his obituary today posted by Debbie. She included one quote from Ed that fits so well with what I am doing now with the Trailblazers, along with my business.

Thanks Ed for all that you did for the motorcycle sport and industry, and for your great example of leadership for me and others to have learned from. Godspeed old friend, and goodbye.

AMA ON ED YOUNGBLOOD

The American Motorcyclist Association is saddened to hear about the passing of former AMA President Ed Youngblood on March 10, 2024, and offers condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Youngblood spearheaded the AMA’s efforts from 1981 to 1999 and emphasized improving member communication, growing the AMA’s government relations efforts and building stronger ties to the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme. For more information, visit: americanmotorcyclist.com/former-ama-president-edyoungblood-passes-away-at-80/?fbclid=IwAR3SzKKU_ PyVG1UIk-FrGmXR3ohO88CUXZ-R_jCIjC1jv9d4MCT4_ iNZY7k

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT WITH KOVE

Kove has been turning heads internationally for the past couple of years, but with a big pavilion at EICMA in Milan, and some heroics by Mason Klein in Dakar (Top American in the prologue and running as high as fifth before the halfway point) Gary Goodwin of GPX Moto USA decided to bring the bikes into the USA, showing them off at AIMExpo. With more than 20 years experience importing motorcycles into the U.S. this is definitely not his first rodeo… but even he will admit it has been a wild ride right out of the chute! Shortly after AIMExpo word of a management change with the parent company came down and the Internet “Experts” immediately began weighing in with the opinions from their mother’s basement. In respect to the dealers who had been looking at the line, Goodwin decided to set the record straight:

In light of some of the “panic” about a change in the CEO at Kove, I thought I’d make a few comments.

Kove is on solid ground… and so is Zhang. A lot of dumb assumptions are going around, but I guess that’s all part of today’s world. I’ve had many conversations with everyone at Kove and I assure you EVERYONE is moving forward with nothing but respect. Zhang has been a major force building a passionate team at Kove.

This is a team of many engineers, technicians, supply chain etc — You don’t produce 25,000 motorcycles in one year by yourself. It takes a team. Zhang knows that and trusts his team to continue and keep building it. CEO’s change in business all the time. Those that know the “ins and outs” of Kove understand how this is a key and beneficial time for all involved.

Zhang is a friend and amazing man; things progress in many ways and sometimes it’s hard for outsiders to see it that way.

I’m sure Kove will have more answers as well but anyway, we have bikes in stock with parts to back them… and more on the way. We just received the 50-state street legal certification for the Rally 450. The street legal rally bike is expected in June.

Off-road high and low seat Rally Pro and standard Pro 450’s in stock now

MX 250 in stock now

Coming mid to late summer 2024 Adventure 800 and Rally 800

Coming late summer 2024 MX 450

Spring is coming and it’s time to get out and ride! Here is the message from Kove:

KOVE KASH!

Retail financing is a game changer… and Kove has it!

“FreedomRoad Financial has partnered with Kove Moto USA and our growing network of dealers to help get more people out and riding,” says Gary Goodwin. “We are working weekly to get some established and proven powersports dealers into our network, and will be adding more locations to our website as quick as we can.”

As with his GPX line Goodwin says the mission is the same for Kove. “Our vision is simple: We provide highquality motorsports products at VERY reasonable prices – you don’t have to sacrifice high-quality for a lower price-point!” There are three pillars to the plan:

1) Redefine what is possible to deliver in the motorsports industry by providing BOTH affordability and highquality products for motorcycle enthusiasts of all ages.

2) Create a positive and affordable experience for our dealers and customers when it comes to recreational fun.

3) Provide a viable profit center to small motorsports dealers who, regardless of their approach, often suffer at the hands of big-box retail outlets.