Dealernews Issue#9 July 2019

DN 2.0 #9

VICKI GOLDEN

Smashes Evel Live 2

AMA VINTAGE DAYS

Old Fashioned Fun!

INDUSTRY RESEARCH+ eMoto Evolution

Photo by Jeff Allen

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CONTENTS

OUR TEAM Bob Althoff W.L.M.

06 WORLD’S LUCKIEST MAN 08 EDITORS NOTE 10 LETTERS+ 12 NEWS+ 16 SHIFTING GEARS+ 20 DEALER PROFILE+ 24 INDUSTRY RESEARCH+ 26 INDUSTRY RESEARCH+ 29 SHOWTIME! COMMITS, 30 KAWASAKI BETA BRINGS DEALERS 32 AMA VINTAGE DAYS 37 eDEALER NEWS 38 eDEALER NEWS 42 eRESEARCH+ 46 VINTAGE ELECTRIC 50 OPINION+ 52 PERSONNEL FILES

Bob Althoff Musing On 50+ Years Robin Hartfiel On One Small Step...

The Industry On Dealernews News Dealers Can Use Who’s On First?

MotoWorld Of El Cajon

Dr. Paul Leinberger On A Primer For Our future Lenny Sims NADAguides On Q2 AIMExpo Updates & AMA Vintage Days

News & Notes #ColumbusRolls

Gonzo Gets Muddy

Magazine Within A Magazine The Buzz Around eBike Biz

Honda Hobbit Habit, Part II A Motorcycle For Car Guys?

William Douglas Little On Dog Days Of Summer Alex Baylon On Oranges

54 NORTHERN EXPOSURE

Stan Simpson Vice President

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EDITORIAL Robin Hartfiel Editor Gus Stewart Creative Director Brenda Stiehl Production Manager

Marq C. Smith On Motorcycle Ambasadors

DIVERSITY+

Alisa Clickenger On Women’s Issues

OF A CUSTOMER 58 CONFESSIONS

Eric Anderson On The Digital Disconnect

60 MIC RIDEREPORT 62 ADVOCACY+ 64 ADVOCACY+ 66 WÜNSCHISMS 72 OPINION+

What Does The MIC Do For You? Don Amador On Lessons Learned On The Trail TrailBlazers Hall Of Fame Scot Harden On Smells

Uncle Paul On Aliens

The Anonymous Dealer On Hallelujah Harley!

74 76 GEAR+ 78 RACE-TESTED 80 PRESS PASS+ 82 PRESS PASS+ 83 AD INDEX 84 VALE+ GEAR+

Great Rides Always Start In FirstGear New Product Picks To Click Charlie Williams Stumbles Into Some New SIDI Boots

Vicki Golden Smashes Evel Live2 Gene Romero Celebration Of Life

CONTRIBUTORS Don Musick Genesys Technology Solutions Dr. Paul Leinberger Denny+Leinberger Strategy Eric Anderson Vroom Network Lenny Sims NADA Appraisal Guides Scot Harden AMA Hall Of Fame/Harden Offroad Hector Cademartori Illustrations William Douglas Little Unique Powersports Charlie Williams Off Road Editor Marq Smith Holeshot Motorsports, Canada Alisa Clickenger Women’s Motorcycle Tours Don Amador Quiet Warrior Racing Joe Bonnello Joe B Photography Uncle Paul Wunsch Love Cycles The Anonymous Dealer Dealer Advisory Board Bob Althoff Chairman Joey Belmont Big #1 Sports Jim Boltz Lynnwood Cycle Barn/WMDA Jim Foster Killeen Power Sports George Gatto Gatto Harley-Davidson Malcolm Hunter Deeley Harley-Davidson Robert Kay Star City Motorsports Bob Kee Destination Cycle Jerry Lenz Beaverton Motorcycles Kurt Mechling Performance PowerSports Don Owens Dothan Powersports Mark Peterson Southwest Superbikes Sandy Stroope Boat World Honda Polaris

This issue Brought To You By… Ave Atque Vale Carlin Dunne

ADVERTISING John Murphy Publishing Consultant johnmurphy@dealernews.com Tigra Tsujikawa Sponsorship Manager (949) 861-0863 tigratsujikawa26@gmail.com Blake Foulds Account Executive (760) 715-3045 Blakefoulds@dealernews.com

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Dealernews Magazine P.O. Box 73640 San Clemente, CA 92673 Phone (949) 463-4319 www.dealernews.com © Copyright 2019

W.L.M.

By Bob Althoff

MUSINGS ON 50+ YEARS

H

ard to believe that we put a man on the moon 50 years ago! Closer to home, this year also marks the 50th Anniversary of Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper’s epic road trip in Easy Riders. We may have met the nicest people on a Honda, but for generations of Harley riders, that movie was a defining moment in what have become lifelong passions for two wheels.

A lot can happen in five decades, and Dealernews has been here to document the motorcycle industry’s transformation into the more expansive Powersports world. From the post war thrill seekers on military surplus Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles, the rise of the British Empire of bikes, to the Japanese influx it has been a pretty wild ride. We have seen 2-Wheelers joined by three wheeled ATCs, then four wheeled ATVs, and now back to three-wheeler machines like the Spyder and Ryker as well as the “autocycles” from Slingshot to Vanderhall.

Through it all, Dealernews and the Motorcycle Industry Council have been witnesses to history. As we have given voice to the nation’s dealers, MIC has made it possible for our industry to be heard in Washington… and beyond.

While not as visible as a moon walk, Tim Buche’s efforts have been critical to helping motorcycling make one giant leap from the Easy Riders era. For the better part of 25 years Tim stepped up as president of the Motorcycle

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Industry Council and a host of ancillary associations, including the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America and ROHVA (Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association) when it was founded in 2008.

The industry owes a big “thank you” to Tim, who has announced his (mostly) retirement after many years of faithful service to our industry! As Dealers, we don’t always see the direct connection between our well-being and the good work being done at MIC. While it is first and foremost an organization serving the OEMs, they are champions of an entire industry. Their work, especially in Washington, D.C., is vital to our collective interests.

We are also in the 50th year since the movie Easy Riders was released. It had a profound impact. Those were assuredly “different times” but an entire generation of riders knows what it means when we say “time flies when you’re havin’ fun!”

Speaking of time flying, the annual Rolling Thunder ride to Washington D.C. was, as expected, a massive reminder that we motorcyclists “will never forget.” As I joined more than a half million other riders in the last Washington, D.C. demonstration, I came away even more convinced that this 32-year-old tradition, under the leadership of Artie Muller and countless others, must never go away. Stay tuned for big news about the future of Rolling Thunder!

In the meantime, I want to thank Robin Hartfiel, Brenda Stiehl, John Murphy, Blake Foulds, Gus Stewart, our columnists, Editorial Advisory Board of dealers and many others who make Dealernews what it is today — a passionate advocate for Dealers in North America. To our advertisers who support us in this endeavor — thank you as well! We couldn’t do it without you!

See you at AIMExpo as we think about what the next 50+ years this industry will experience!

Bob Althoff W.L.M.

Editor’s Note

By Robin Hartfiel

ONE SMALL STEP FOR MOTORCYCLES…

One Giant Leap for Motorcycle Kind!

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ednesday, July 16, 1969. I was in summer school daydreaming about riding my minibike, as usual, when Mrs. Noubach wheeled a television set into the classroom. This caught my attention as never in the history of Maie Ellis Elementary School had a TV been brought in… we didn’t even have a TV at home. That day we watched Apollo 11 lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. As little kids, we had no clue that a seminal event was about to take place… but the impact was immediate.

On any Sunday I would have been riding my little red Briggs & Stratton lawn mower-engined wheelbarrow-tired minibike on laps around the horse pasture, but on Sunday July 20, 1969 I went to my grandparents’ house and watched one of the greatest events in history play out in flickering black and white. I can still remember when word came through the scratchy speakers in the massive Philco TV console: “Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.”

Suddenly anything was possible! Including the fledgling Dealer Expo being launched by Larry Hester and Bill Bagnall.

Seems the boys thought a tradeshow highlighting the best and brightest the motorcycle industry had to offer could happen. The Motorcycle & Accessory Trade Expo landed a couple places over the years, including Anaheim and the old Houston Astrodome… the shows were even held just days apart once or twice in the 1970s. Appropriately enough, Houston was home to Mission Control which coordinated every small step of Neil Armstrong’s giant leap.

Fast-forward 44 years and in a strangely parallel universe Mike Webster, who ran Larry Hester’s legacy Dealer Expo for

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its three most successful decades, and ex-Cycle World Publisher Larry Little (Bill Bagnall worked at Motorcyclist in the 1950s before he partnered with Hester to launch MDN — as in Motorcycle Dealer News) team together to launch the very first AIMExpo.

And it was held in Orlando, Florida, no less — just 50 miles as a crow flies from the same Kennedy Space Center Apollo 11 lifted off from. Just like Yogi Berra said, déjà vu all over again!

The Dealer Expo may have crashed and burned, but the need for an overarching Motorcycle & Accessory Expo persists. This year the industry gets another chance to discover Columbus as the AIMExpo returns after its Las Vegas hiatus. In another NASA parallel, AIMExpo is attempting to elevate all of us to a higher level. #TogetherWeRise, but divided we stand to fall… hard.

Does this industry have “the right stuff” to succeed? Yeah, I know I am mixing my NASA metaphors and Alan Shepard became the first American in space and John Glenn was first to orbit the Earth on Mercury missions, not an Apollo launch, but the seemingly insurmountable odds that were overcome to get Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the moon truly galvanized the world.

We may not be putting a man on the moon, but we should be rallying together as an industry. “While our industry and the way we do business continues to evolve, the one constant is that we are an industry that thrives on a strong sense of community and coming together,” says Cinnamon Kernes, Vice President & General Manager, MIC Events, promoter of AIMExpo. And because we are all in this together, AIMExpo is inviting everyone to rise to the occasion at an industry gathering. “Thursday night is for everyone who contributes to the business and passion of Powersports and those shaping our future.”

“Networking is essential when it comes to growing your business,” she adds. “It’s the opportunity to connect, learn, engage and collaborate with your peers. And while digital platforms like LinkedIn and social media have changed the way we interact, personal connections, a meaningful conversation and a handshake are statistically proven to deliver better opportunities and results in business.”

A year or so after the Apollo 11 mission, Buzz Aldrin’s daughter brought moon rocks into our classroom for show and tell. It reminded me again that anything really is possible when I held the NASA-sealed specimen bag containing a couple lunar pebbles. As a species and as a nation, we are capable of achieving some pretty incredible things.

Of course, we also create Grumpy Cat memes and take way too many selfies…

On Wednesday, September 27, 2019 I will be landing in Columbus to take part in North America’s largest motorcycle and powersports show. #TogetherWeRise indeed! https://picclick.com/Vtg-MotorcycleDealernews-Magazine-January-1977-HoustonAnaheim-351417506048.html#&gid=1&pid=3 Former Editor-in-Chief and publisher of Dealernews circa 19902003, 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 was an editor of publications ranging from All About Beer to VW Trends.

SUMMER’S HERE! DO YOU HAVE THE INVENTORY NPA is your one-stop shop for pre-owned powersports.

NPAUCTIONS.COM | 888.292.5339

THEN & NOW! Love Coleman PowerSports… bought my first motorcycle there. I went in looking for a scooter since it was so difficult to park in downtown DC. Scooters looked odd to me with those small wheels. I asked if they had a bicycle with a motor.

They took me to the basement and sold me a 1985 Honda cm200- which I asked them to put on straight handlebars and big crash bars. Apparently, they were leftovers from the Capitol Hill Police order. $700. Sold it for the same amount less than 1 year later. Coleman PowerSports were always great supporters of local racers at Summit Point.

Alice Sexton AHRMA Print Communications Director Blue Ridge, GA

JEFFRO ROCKS Thanks for the Dealernews Live! Interview with Jeff Emig. He is awesome. In his prime I happened to park next to him at Glen Helen. He was so nice. I didn’t want to bother him, but he engaged in conversation with me and my wife.

I told him that I didn’t want to bug him too much (assuming he is always bombarded by fans) and asked him to sign my ice chest. He said, “You’re not bothering me. Moments like this make it all worthwhile.” A real cool/humble guy.

Mackster Via YouTube Have you checked out Jeff’s new podcasts? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/ podcast/real-talk-447/id1453130793 https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=DUp7FAraQyc&t=12s

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FUELLED BY BUELL Erik, you designed and built one of the best bikes on the market with true innovation, then HD came along. Let your dreams be “Fuelled” by this latest innovation. Hope it is very successful.

Bill McClennen Sales & Brand Manager Modern Safety Supply Orange, CA

NEW ELECTRIC SCOOTER There is an electric scooter to compete with the 50cc mopeds. It offers the longest range, most hp and most features. Priced competitively… I am presently working to set up my dealer network. My initial dealers will be located in 40 locations — all of which are near major college campuses and have a large millennial commuter population and high net worth. My plan is to offer the best mark up possible (25% or more). See more of the CruZer scooter at http://cruzerscooter.com/about/

Ted Fuller CEO & President CruZer Scooter Vero Beach, FL

GETTING BACK ON TRACK Hey ya, Dealernews… My name is Bill Brown. I spent 22 years in the powersports business. I miss it terribly. I started in the 1990s and lived through 9/11 and the

great recession. I did everything from plunge toilets to be an owner partner. My 12-year-old son is road racing bikes and to do more with him, I had to ironically leave the business to spend more time with motorcycles.

I went to training with the master Ed Lemco and ended my time in the business with Sam Dantzler. I ate, slept and breathed the business and it crushes me to see it struggle.

One subject that kills me that manufacturers are missing is youth and proper rider development.

I tried to make a go of a mini organization in NC but struggled.

Venue was a problem, but there was a demand.

The manufactures build little bikes sure... but it isn’t what it used to be. Urban sprawl and the cost of little bikes like the CRF 50, not to mention the helicopter parent, have all contributed to the down fall of the youth push. However, I think that most of the blame lay with the manufacturers. They just don’t make it attractive at all to the dealers to sell the little stuff.

The “It’s a long game investment” strategy doesn’t help the shortterm cash flow needed to keep the doors open. I would love to start a program with dealers of any brand, to engage kids and parents on small bore machines. However, it is really hard to convince a dealership to play along. I’ve approached several in the Greensboro and Asheboro, NC area. They either lack space or just interest. I even went to an HD dealer who has tons of space and offered to rent the space. No Dice... they are all just too short sighted to understand that minis can be adult and kids together on track. So, the great question is.... how do we get venue and then how do we convert soccer mom and dad in to moto mom and dad?

So, I was wondering if in your canvasing of the dealer world out there, if you have come across a dealership or an organization that is on a similar wave length to me?

How can I help lead the charge of the youth movement? My son already races. In fact, he will be one of the first 14 to participate in the Ohvale Talent Cup with MotoAmerica in August. He is riding 300s as well. I wish I could work with a dealership or an organization to take motorcycling in to schools and share with faculty and staff just

how across the board motorcycling can be in education. Math, Physics, Chemistry and written and oral communication are so easy to convey through motorcycles. Do you know of any dealers or orgs looking for something or someone to help develop such a thing? We have to be more proactive... the reactionary route is leading to a declination and maybe a irretrievably low participation level.

if there is an organization out there that needs someone, I’d be interested to hear about it. I love motorcycles. I just couldn’t find time when I was in the business to devote to my family and my son’s racing.

Thanks for reading my rant. I’d love to help. Just need the place to go with the passion.

Bill Brown Select Cycle Martinsville, VA Some of the dealers get it, and the Balance bikes from STACYC and Strider offer an avenue for younger kids (Strider is going after Kindergarten kids, see the full story in the last issue... We are all screwed if something drastic doesn’t happen, but the industry continues to whistle past the graveyard. There are some bright spots though. IMS tour has a NewTo2 program and Harley of all brands has some stuff cooking for the youth market... finally, Check out the http://usmca.org/

EBIKES GETTING THERE The electric drive machines are looking great, batteries are pretty good and getting better, chassis technology is fine.

Market acceptance is still in question…

Sam Vanderhoof, Founder Solar Cowboyz Grass Valley, CA

SOUND OFF! Dealernews is indeed back. Join in the conversation by emails Editor@dealernews.com Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dealernews/ Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DealernewsFan/ Follow along on Dealernews.com Tune into the new YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCZE6q4gQ5EIz0nOX4WaXw1w

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HARLEY DEALERSHIP CHANGES HANDS

DEALERS ONLY

Industry veteran Tommy Todd has “finally” introduced PowerSport Strategies and Partsforu.com — a portal to facilitate commerce exclusively for dealers. “The website takes the place similar to a wholesale distributor representing various parts just like anyone else in the business,” Todd explains. “The difference in what Partsforu.com is doing is that we don’t stock anything. Instead, we represent the dealer and the thousands of new, but older unsold parts you have sitting on your shelves. We only allow your fellow dealers to search our database and once a part is found, we facilitate acquiring it making sure of two key things: 1) The parts gets shipped correctly and in a timely manner and 2) Make sure everybody gets paid.”

Who or what is PowerSport Strategies? “Plain and simple, It’s me,” says Todd. “After 30+ years in two industries that are near and dear to me — the powersports and outdoor power equipment fields — I have amassed a wealth of knowledge as to what works… and what doesn’t! Along the way, my professional experiences have paved a way for me to develop what we’re working on here. Partsforu.com is the primary product of PowerSport Strategies… Finally!”

“I say ‘Finally’ because I was subtly reminded a little while back, this has been an ongoing effort for the past decade.

Time to make it work! Also along the way I’ll be looking for and accessing products to represent to our focus market. Unique, eclectic and somewhat exclusive in nature and just a few of the points to consider. Believe you me, we’ll let you know what we take something like that on!”

Get the scoop on the dealer-only portal at: https://www.partsforu.com/faq/

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At 30,000 sq./ft. and with millions in inventory Lane Splitter Harley is one one of the largest dealerships in Northern California… it is also one of the latest operations to change hands in a deal brokered by George Chaconas of Performance Brokerage Services. Seller Jeffrey Soffer worked with Performance Brokerage Services when Rich Gargano was in the market for another Harley-Davidson store.

“When I bought my first Harley-Davidson dealership through George Chaconas several years ago, I never thought that with George’s help I would acquire three more stores with my partner Cliff Chester,” said Gargano following the purchase. “If it wasn’t for George, my lifelong dream of building a HarleyDavidson portfolio would not have come true.

Gargano and Chester own multiple dealerships, secondary retail locations and alternative retail outlets in California including San Francisco Harley-Davidson, Alcatraz HarleyDavidson at Fisherman’s Wharf, Mission Moto Harley-Davidson in Downtown San Francisco, House of Thunder Harley-Davidson in Morgan Hill, West Coast Harley-Davidson in Salinas and West Coast Harley-Davidson on Cannery Row in Monterey. In fact, all of the San Francisco Bay Area dealerships in their portfolio were acquired through Chaconas and Performance Brokerage Services.

Chester also owns Gold Rush Harley-Davidson in Elko, Nevada; Oil City Harley-Davidson in Casper, Wyoming, and Snake Harley-Davidson in Twin Falls, Idaho. While Soffer still owns Stinger Harley-Davidson in Medina, Ohio, and Alligator Alley Harley-Davidson in Sunrise, Florida, and is best known as a billion-dollar real estate developer based in Miami.

Now known as San Jose Harley-Davidson, the dealership remains at 1551 Parkmoor Avenue, San Jose, California 95128.

With corporate offices in Irvine, California, six regional offices in Utah, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Alberta and Ontario, as well as a dedicated Harley-Davidson and Powersports Division, Performance Brokerage Services provides its clients national exposure with local representation. Looking to buy or sell a dealership? Click here: https://performancebrokerageservices.com/

TALON RACE READY

On the opening evening of the Power Lab 2019 dealer experiential event at TexPlex Park featured last month, American Honda announced Team Honda Talon Racing, a new professional off-road racing effort to promote the Talon 1000R sport side-by-side.

TEAM TUCKER

The new team at Tucker has been announced following the separation of the Motorsport Aftermarket Group (MAG) companies, Tucker Powersports announced that it has completed the formation of its new leadership team. “We named key team members and recently added expertise to create Tucker’s new leadership team,” said Sebastian Bretschneider, President and CEO of Tucker (see this issue’s Shifting Gears column). “We now have a very lean and effective leadership structure in place that will enable the organization to focus on creating value for our customers and that will support and attract leading brands.”

As part of the leadership team, Danny Anderson was appointed COO; Alejandro “Hondo” Huerta is now Chief Financial Officer and industry veteran Greg Blackwell was promoted to Chief Commercial Officer, where he will lead the company’s Sales and Marketing functions. Blackwell had been serving as Tucker’s Senior VP of Sales & Marketing the past 8 months and was recently recognized as one of Dealernews’ Top 100 Leaders in Powersports.

Tucker’s leadership team is rounded out by their current VP of Sales Jason Potter, VP of Marketing Jim Barker and Director of Talent Kristin Krotosky. Tucker also changed its organizational structure which led to the elimination of several positions through the process. “Change can be challenging,” stated Bretschneider.

“We are actively supporting those employees that are affected by our transformation in their swift and successful career transitions.”

“We have now implemented changes that make us more efficient and more effective, such as a significantly strengthened balance sheet, a reduced cost base, great leaders in place and a portfolio of strong house brands. This makes Tucker much stronger and we are going to demonstrate that to the powersports industry,” he concluded.

With direct technical and engineering support from American Honda’s Powersports Division, Team Honda Talon Racing is managed by Proctor Racing Group; Proctor also drives Honda’s Off Road Ridgeline, which has won its first three races of 2019, including the SCORE International Baja 500 two days before the Power Lab unveil. To develop turbo technology for this project, Proctor is collaborating with Oscar Jackson… Jackson Racing is a world leader in high-performance products for the sportcompact automotive market and also developed the twin-turbo set-up found in Proctor’s race-winning Ridgeline.

Team Honda Talon Racing will devote the remainder of this year to designing, engineering and testing the Talon 1000R before launching a two-vehicle race effort in select events beginning 2020. Although no drivers have yet been named, planned events include: Ultra4 Racing King of the Hammers Mint 400 UTV World Championship Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno SCORE International Baja 500 SCORE International Baja 1000 In addition to its racing activities, Team Honda Talon Racing will provide trackside support for Talon drivers at non-SCORE events it campaigns. “As a team owner, I’m humbled to have the opportunity to represent Honda’s Powersports Division with the new Talon,” said Proctor Racing Group Team Principal Jeff Proctor. “Honda has a rich racing heritage, particularly in Baja, and I’m thrilled to build this side-by-side racing program and take it to the top.”

“It’s exciting to kick off the Team Honda Talon Racing side-byside racing program,” added Brandon Wilson, Advertising & Motorcycle Sports Manager at American Honda. “The Talon has been a big hit in media evaluations and on showroom floors, and it deserves a quality racing project. Considering Proctor Racing’s history with Honda’s Automotive Division, and the success of their Ridgeline racing program, they’re a great choice as a partner for this project.”

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Fortunately the sales showroom, parts, accessories and accounting areas were not affected and able to reopen within a week. However it did take 10 days to get the soggy service department dried out and back to work. “All of our damaged inventory will be salvaged by our insurance company and not made available for resale,” added Harrison. “Fortunately, only a small percentage of our new inventory was impacted.

“We appreciate your continued support and business during this time of rebuilding and promise you that we will be an even better place to service your powersports vehicles when we are done. Since 1963 our goal has been to provide our customers with the best service, selection, and quality. That continues everyday as we rebuild. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding during this challenging time.

Scot Harden crossing the Barstow-To-Vegas finish line circa 1973

TRAILBLAZERS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2020 ANNOUNCED SHADES OF THE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED COVER JINX?

Hope this is not the start of something like the infamous Sports Illustrated cover jinx, but on July 8, 2019, a portion of the Coleman PowerSports facilities in Falls Church were flooded during a major storm. “Some of our customer’s units in for repair/ maintenance were damaged as well as our service department and some of our vehicle inventory, said GM and June cover dealer Kim Harrison. “We have been working with our insurance company and customers to make sure this devastating event is handled quickly and professionally.”

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Congratulations to all of the new Trailblazers honorees who will be honored at the 76th annual banquet in April 4, 2020. The Board of Directors has approved the final list of motorcycling luminaries to be honored as part of the Class of 2020. Dealernews’ own Advocacy+ columnist Scot Harden was joined by Baja legend Johnny Campbell, Kawasaki tuner of champions Steve Johnson, Speedway champ Bruce Penhall, America’s first MXGP champ Brad Lackey and flat track favorite Bubba Shobert. The Dick Hammer Award, Trailblazers highest honor goes to Eddie Mulder and in the category of “Unsung Heroes” our pal Larry Langley will receive the Earl & Lucile Flanders Lifetime Achievement Award.

The event is always a sell-out, so start watching for details at: www.trailblazersmc.com

POLARIS POSTS Q2 PROFITS

The Q2 numbers are in and Polaris Industries posted sales of $1,779 million, up 18% from the $1,505 million for the second quarter of 2018. “Our second quarter results reflect the deft leadership and disciplined execution of our Polaris team,” claims CEO Scott Wine. “We worked diligently to overcome the impacts of tariffs, a very wet spring and an aggressive promotional environment, delivering financial results slightly favorable to expectations, but trailing our long-term performance goals.”

“The strength of our industry-leading brands and vehicles enabled us to gain share in Indian Motorcycles and drive growth in Side-by-Sides with RANGER and RZR, although our decision to assume price leadership did impact volume, specifically in our lower margin youth and value segments.

Our operational and dealer fundamentals are in good shape as we head into the critically important model year 2020 product introductions, and we anticipate improved retail performance during the second half of the year,” he adds.

Income from financial services was $20 million for the second quarter of 2019, down 7%… The decrease is primarily attributable to lower retail sales and lower penetration rates during the quarter.

Equity in loss of other affiliates was $455,000 for the second quarter of 2019 compared to $4 million for the same period last year when the company recorded charges of approximately $4 million associated with the shut down of the Eicher-Polaris joint venture in India.

Off-Road Vehicles and Snowmobiles segment sales, including PG&A, totaled $1,049 million for the second quarter of 2019, up 6% driven by increased average selling prices, particularly in side-by-sides and growth in PG&A. PG&A sales for ORV and Snowmobiles combined increased 9%.

Polaris North American ORV retail sales decreased low-single digits with side-by-sides up low-single digits and ATVs down high-single digits. Shipment unit volume was down during the quarter, in-line with retail sales declines. The motorcycle segment, including PG&A, totaled $197 million, up 15%, driven by Indian sales, particularly the new FTR1200 which began shipping globally in Q2, offset by declines in Slingshot sales. North American consumer retail sales for Indian decreased high-single digits in a weak mid- to heavy-weight two-wheel motorcycle segment that was down double digits.

Indian outperformed the market with modest market share gains in North American “We are excited to host our unrivaled dealer network at our 65th Anniversary dealer show, and look forward to demonstrating how we will continue to be the global leader in Powersports with our unwavering commitment to be a customer-centric, highly efficient growth company,” concluded Wine.

NEWS YOU CAN USE… If You Are A Dealer In Small Town America

In the middle of July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture updated the Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America to include 2018 county-level population and labor force data.

Providing statistics by a broad categories of socioeconomic factors, the Atlas encompasses demographic data from the American Community Survey (ACS), including age, race and ethnicity, migration and immigration, education, household size, and family composition.

The Atlas also explores the job front, compiling economic data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other sources, including information on employment trends, unemployment, and industrial composition of employment from the ACS. Perhaps most importantly income levels by county are broken out — can customers afford what you are offering in the first place? Income: Data on median household income and per capita income is included.

What can users do with the Atlas? Knowledge is power and USDA believes the data can not only provide a road map of your area, but can be used as a powerful tool in your dealings with the financial institutions and insurance companies… and did we mention it is free? USDA adds users can: • View county-level maps for socioeconomic indicators.

• View the entire country or zoom into specific regions, States, or county areas.

• For any county, view a pop-up window showing data for the indicators in the broad category for that county, with the option to download the selection.

• Print a version of the map or save the image in a graphics- file format that may be added to a document or presentation.

Get more details or download spreadsheets and CSV files contains all the data for all U.S. counties here: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/atlas-ofrural-and-small-town-america/businesses

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Brought To You By MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com

Motorcycle Industry Council CEO Tim Buche is set for a new role as a consultant at #2 Jenner Street beginning November 1, 2019. “Even though I have the same passion for the success of all our respective association members as I did when I assumed this role nearly 25 years ago, this succession has been planned for several years to ensure an orderly transition,” says Buche. Since joining the MIC, MSF and SVIA as president in September 1996 and the newly formed ROHVA in 2008, Buche has worked with the respective boards to set a course of improved services to their respective members to help them grow and manage their businesses, including enhanced market research, government relations and market development initiatives. Some of these efforts include the acquisition of AIMExpo, the annual Capitol FlyIn, the premier legislative advocacy event of the year for members; and the annual MIC Communications Symposium, now entering its 21st year. Buche spearheaded the renowned MSF 100 Motorcyclists Naturalistic Research study with Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and he has been a frequent advocate and speaker on behalf of on- and offhighway enthusiasts.

Beginning November 1, 2019, Erik Pritchard, current president of

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Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA), as well as general counsel for all associations under the MIC umbrella, will succeed Tim Buche as CEO and president of all four associations at that time. “Erik has proven to be an effective leader since he joined us in 2014 and assumed the presidency of SVIA and ROHVA two years ago,” says Buche.

“With exciting new initiatives under way at the associations, Erik is the right leader to work with staff to continually improve to achieve strategic plans and priorities.”

New head wrangler deep in the heart of Texas as Sebastian Bretschneider takes over as president of Tucker. The position had been open since September of 2018. Bretschneider has worked as CEO and Chief Transformation Officer for a number of private equity companies in several industries and is said to be s noted leader of businesses going through transformation. “We’re in a changing industry that requires us to focus on the critical activities that will continue to drive Tucker’s success,” said Motorsport Aftermarket Group. “His passion for people, and helping businesses succeed through their people, makes him a great addition to the experienced executive leadership team at Tucker.” Bretschneider added, “I’m honored to be selected for this position. As a businessperson, I can see the challenges facing Tucker and I’m ready to dive in to support our employees, our customers and our brands. My philosophy is simple,” continued Bretschneider. “It starts with setting the organizations priorities, determining what not to do right now, and then making sure we implement swiftly and thoroughly. I know that our customers will appreciate Tucker even more when we become the best in the industry at meeting their needs.”

MTA has upped the ante with four of a kind! Jack Ramsey, Brett Gaylord, Johnathan Davis and Sierra Shaver will now be calling on dealers in key regions of the country. Before coming to MTA, Ramsey was the GM of Princeton Powersports for more than 12 years, so he knows first hand what the dealers’ needs and expectations are. In addition to being GM, he he worked in the parts department as well as the sales department during his time at the dealership. Ramsey comes from a racing background where he spent most of his time competing in the GNCC series. Ramsey plans to pursue powersports as his avocation: “I love the industry and plan to spend my career advancing throughout.” Jack Ramsey will be located in the Northeast region, calling on dealers in West Virginia and Virginia.

Brett Gaylord also started his career in the powersports industry in 1998 where he was a parts associate at a Florida dealership. A few years later, he was hired as the P&A manager for a central Florida dealership where he stayed until 2008. In 2016, he was hired on as an outside sales executive for a regional distributor in New England. He also became the North East sales rep for Seven MX where he was awarded the “2017 Rep Of The Year” honors. When not traveling in his region, Gaylord can be found at the local MX track racing the Vet class and cheering on his son who races the 85 12-15 class. “I have been a powerpsorts

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Brought To You By MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com Continued from page 16

enthusiast since I was a little kid, I really do have the dream job.” Brett Gaylord will be located in the Northeast region covering MTA accounts in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

A Georgia native Johnathan Davis has worked in the sports nutrition industry and as a mental health therapist with an emphasis on behavior modification and psychological testing. Quite a background for a career in powersports!

However Davis has been an active rider for most of his life, starting at the age of seven with his first ATC. He progressed to a dirtbike and eventually to the street where he’s been racing a BMW S1000RR in WERA for the past few seasons. Johnathan Davis will be located in the Southeast region covering his home state of Georgia.

Sierra Shaver began her career in the powersports industry at the age of 14, working for a mom and pop dirtbike shop. She started out cleaning bathrooms and eventually worked her way up to running the shop and even working on the bikes in the service department. Shaver was born into a

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family of adrenaline junkies in Las Vegas where she grew up riding quads.

As a little girl she frequented the sand dunes with her family. Eventually, she jumped on just about anything with an engine and worked on all her toys after watching her dad for many years.

She currently races dirtbikes in various off-road series and has a championship under her belt. Shaver is passionate about the powersports industry and lives it day in and day out. She is based in the Southwest region covering dealers throughout southern Nevada and parts of Arizona.

Must be in the DNA? Ducati North America has promoted from within, elevating Jacqueline Frenzel to Network Development Manager from Sales Support. Before joining DNA a couple of years ago, she had served dealer development and sales analyst roles for Zero Motorcycles Inc., but KTM dealers will probably remember her for the decade she spent as a dealer development coordinator for KTM North America.

Beta bags to top tier industry pros to handle dealer development with Bill Anderson handling the duties in the Western states and Rod Overstreet managing the East. “My staff and I are very excited to have both Bill and Rod be a part of our sales team,” says Beta USA President Tim Pilg. “Our factory has increased production to meet the

demands of the US market, so it made sense to expand our dealer support team. The main focus is to work with our existing dealer network to provide them with the tools to be successful as well as adding new dealers in open areas where we currently have Beta riders but no dealers near them.” In fact Anderson most recently owned a Beta dealership in Spokane, Washington, His decision join Beta was a lifetime in the making as his love for motorcycles began as far back as he can remember.

In elementary school he rode his bicycle to the local Honda shop where the mechanics would let him hang out and fetch them coffee and tools. His dad got him his first minibike at the age of 10 and he was hooked. Decades later he has owned more than 30 different bikes.

“Well, it’s certainly been a wild ride since 2014,” said Overstreet. “This decision did not come easy, but the time had come to move on.” Rod’s life has been dedicated to the motorcycle industry and to the sport of off-road. Starting with his first bike at age eight, he has continued to race Motocross, Enduros, Hare Scrambles and most recently Observed Trials. Rod is a charter life member of the AMA and served as District 10 Off-Road Competition Congressman for his home state of Kentucky. Overstreet began his professional career 35 years ago, starting out in motorcycle dealerships before moving onto working with OEMs including KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas and now with Beta USA as the Eastern Region Dealer Development Manager.

“Special thanks to Mr. Tim Pilg and the entire Beta USA team for their warm welcome into the family. These guys have simply blown me away with their professionalism and courtesy. Come see the all new 2020 Beta lineup at this year’s AIMExpo in Columbus, Ohio.”

Photos By Joe Bonnello

MOTOWORLD OF EL CAJON ROCKS! The Epicenter Of Moto

By Robin Hartfiel

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alifornia has a history of rocking the powersports world… and it isn’t the earthquakes. Back in the day, the “El Cajon Zone” was the epicenter of SoCal motocross talent as Broc Glover, Ricky Johnson and Ronnie Lechien all sprang from this eastern San Diego County town to wreak havoc on the Nationals during the 1970s and ‘80s. Something about the arid conditions and baked hardpack resulted in a neighborhood that probably produced more great motocross racers than any other in the world. By the 1990s, a world class dealership emerged to support the sport and service the next generations of champions: MotoWorld Of El Cajon.

Three amigos — Glenn Bagge, Brian Juhnky and Jared Malmquist — set up shop in El Cajon and created a onestop shop and service center. Initially focused on the MX market, the dealership has managed to stay on top of trends and succeed in several other niches. They were even an early adapter of e-commerce, embracing eBay. Now they are arguably the #1 dealership in San Diego.

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Selling everything from new and used motorcycles, ATVs, PWCs, scooters, UTVs and outdoor power equipment, Motoworld has Honda, KTM, Polaris/Slingshot and Yamaha/WaveRunner franchises. But they are more than moto these days, back on August 25, 2014 they branched off with a new business venture, adding an Indian dealership next door to the original Motoworld operation.

Already successful with Polaris RZRs and having had been a Victory dealer, it was a no-brainer to add Indian when they had the chance Bagge believes. “To be in this industry and not jump when you get a chance to be a part of this legacy and heritage of Indian motorcycle that has been around since 1901… it is the first American-made motorcycle, after all,” he said at the Grand Opening. “We jumped at the opportunity.”

HISTORY Motoworld was born on May 23, 1993. The first day of business, the three partners purchased Honda Yamaha of El Cajon — a struggling 5,900 square foot shop. The name officially changed to Motoworld of El Cajon in 1995. In 2003, they moved operations to the current 34,000 square foot superstore. Indian Motorcycle of El Cajon was added a decade after that.

While Motoworld holds a couple of big events annually, their infamous Midnight Madness bashes are legendary.

Created to give back to the community, the two-day format ran from 9 a.m. to midnight and included free carnival rides and food. Searchlights sweeping the skies help draw thousands to the dealership to not only enjoy the fun, but to check out what product is available and to take advantage of any event specials.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT The dealership prides itself on community involvement within the community. Of course, they do the obligatory small business support of local title league and soccer teams to beauty pageants, but it is in the moto world that Motoworld really shines. They sponsor more than 100 local racers and are heavily involved in keeping offroad riding areas open. Continued on page 22

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Continued from page 21

A young Vicki Golden at the Midnight Madness sale back in the day.

In fact, the president of Motoworld of El Cajon is also the Chairman of the Board for the non-profit Off-Road Business Association. ORBA’s reason for being is to build an organization strong enough to stand up to the powerful environmental extremist organizations in this country that would eliminate all forms of off-highway vehicle recreation.

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THE REAL DEAL “When you ride through the hills of East County, you are in heaven,” Bagge believes. “We are East County boys through and through. And all three of us are on site every day…” Well, almost every day.

Vendor and East County neighbor Motonation president Bill Berroth recently led Motoworld’s Jared Malmquist and six of his clients on a four-day Baja Adventure.

“These dudes ride, definitely not some gringo posers…” high praise indeed coming from the former Six Days Racer/New England Enduro Champ and Baja 1000 competitor! “Motoworld of El Cajon rocks!”

Former 6 Days competitor Bill Berroth took them on a Baja adventure and says the Motoworld crew is the real deal.

VISIT US AT BOOTH

315 N. Magnolia Ave. El Cajon, CA 92020 (888) 929-9111 https://motoworldracing.com/

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1) Demographics Is Destiny You have heard this one from me before, but it is worth repeating. If you can only do one thing, do this: Make sure you understand the demographics of your market – and then tailor everything you do to meet their needs. How big is your market? How many men and how many women? What are their ages? Where do they live – in cities, suburbs, rural areas? What is their household income? How many own their own home?

How many vehicles do they own?

Dealernews Research

All of this information – and much, much more — is readily available to you (on your own market area). Every year the U.S. Census publishes the American Community Survey (https:www.census.gov>programs-surveys>acs).

The American Community Survey is the premier source for information about America’s changing population, housing and workforce and it includes such topics as: education, employment, income and earnings, language, ethnicity, race, commuting to work, veterans, family/ relationships and migration/mobility.

By Dr. Paul Leinberger

Want to know who to target? It is all there. For free!

RULES OF THE ROAD

2) The Power Of Generations You’ve probably heard the ancient proverb: “Men resemble the times more than they do their fathers.”

That is the essence of generational marketing and that is why you have heard me talking about Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials and Generation Z.

Four Rules To Live By

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t’s mid-Summer and I hope you and your customers are out there riding and enjoying the great weather!

Summer vacation is also a great time to catch up on your reading… Did you have a chance to read last month’s issue? I read it cover-to-cover and loved every word of it. Editor Robin Hartfiel opened with a wonderful column on how fast things are changing (electric motorcycles, three wheelers, growth in the 2P and 4P UTV market) and yet, how some things remain important constants (excellent customer service, tried and true methods, passion for riding).

AMA Hall of Fame Scot Harden wrote an impassioned piece on how to put in perspective the growth of the eBike market; Alisa Clickenger reminded us of the importance of the women’s market and Eric Anderson reflected on the growing sameness of powersports dealerships. Maybe most importantly of all, Robert Pandya introduced us to a wonderful new program to build ridership over time — balance bikes for kindergartners. As Robert said: “New products won’t increase sales — more riders will!”

In short, the June issue was a primer on the future of our industry — worthy of saving for future reference.

The articles also illustrated some of the important “rules of the road” we should all follow if we want to grow our business and stay ahead of our competitors.

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If you understand the factors that influence consumers’ values and buying motivations (of different generations), you stand a much better chance of spotting trends. Consequently you can reach customers ahead of your competition.

3) “You Wouldn’t Send A Fish To Discover Water” Don’t beat yourself up if you have difficulty seeing all the trends that are affecting your business. Like the fish that are immersed in water and thus are completely unaware of its existence, we are all immersed in our own dealerships and have difficulty seeing the changes taking place around us. That is why it is important to talk with your colleagues, read publications like Dealernews, attend industry gatherings and get other points-of-view.

4) Follow Other Industry Trends Mark Twain supposedly said: “An expert is a guy from another town.” Twain had a point: It is much easier to see what is happening to others than it is to see what is happening to you. That is why you should be following the trends in other industries. For example: trends in the automotive industry — move to autonomous vehicles, move to electric vehicles, decline in the number of dealerships — we can see some obvious parallels with the car guys, but you really should expand your business radar.

Want to know who to target? The American Community Survey is the premier source for information about America’s changing population, housing and workforce and it includes such topics as: education, employment, income and earnings, language, ethnicity, race, commuting to work, veterans, family/relationships and migration/mobility.

Check out the trends in the food business (the rapid expansion of third-party services such as DoorDash, Caviar, Grubhub, Postmates and Uber Eats; the explosion of food trucks, etc.). Trends in retail (growth in online sales, demise of regional shopping centers, growth in pop-up stores); trends in media (the demise of newspapers, the growth in local advertising, the increasing dominance of social media advertising and marketing).

What do trends in the automotive industry, the food business, retail and the media have to teach us? If they are examples of how consumer attitudes and behavior are changing, these trends will find their way into our business — sooner or later. So don’t ignore them.

Figure out what they might mean for your dealership — and make the trends work for you.

Four simple rules to live by. Simple… but not easy!

A perennial keynote speaker for the Motorcycle Industry Council's annual Communications Symposium, Dr. Paul Leinberger has become the powersports industry's de facto futurist/strategist. Dr. Leinberger is an expert in market/brand strategy and research with more than two decades of social trend forecasting, market strategy and strategic planning. Prior to joining TTD, he was Senior VP of GfK NOP, where he ran the company’s flagship consumer trend services, Roper Reports, as well as the company’s groundbreaking Global Visual Database. His client list reads like a Who’s Who of corporate America: Hewlett-Packard, Apple, Disney, Nordstrom, Microsoft, Levi Strauss, E.& J. Gallo Winery and Toyota, among many others. Prior to his global responsibilities at GfK NOP, Dr. Leinberger was the Corporate Manager in the Product Planning and Market Strategy department at Nissan North America. Dr. Leinberger holds a Ph.D. in organizational and social psychology and a Masters of Urban Planning (Highest Honors). He lives in Irvine, California, and his work can be seen at www.dennyleinbergerstrategy.com

JULY 2019

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Dealernews Research

By Lenny Sims

BY THE BOOK

NADAguides Market Insights Power The Market Values

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he motorcycle and powersport market has shifted gears, so to speak. The good news is that Cruisers are doing nicely and sportbikes holding steady. The bad news is utility Side-by-Sides are underperforming, and sport Side-by-Sides stable after a strong start to the year. Please note that we are only including the most recent 10 model years in our graphs now, so some of the figures will look different than previous results.

The segment saw a less notable second-quarter bump than usual, which leaves it behind 2017 by 1.5%.

Looking at motorcycle values, Cruisers are bringing 4.5% more money in the first half of 2019 compared to the same period of 2018. This result suggests the segment still has legs despite demographic trends‌ and watch for Indian waiting in the wings.

Moving over to Side-by-Sides, the utility segment is underperforming the previous two years, but is a moderate dip. UTVs are currently running 3.3% behind 2018. Sport Side-by-Sides started the year strong. but had only a slight bump in the second quarter. This segment is averaging essentially equal pricing year-over-year.

Speaking of bucking the trend, Sportbikes are outperforming last year by 3.9%. However we aren’t quite seeing a full blown resurgence of race replica 600cc sportbikes just yet.

Looking forward, consumer spending is on a hot streak. This should support values in the powersports market through the rest of the prime selling season. Stay tuned!

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About NADAguides.com NADAguides.com, the largest publisher of the most market-reflective vehicle pricing and information available for new and used cars, classic cars, motorcycles, boats, RVs and manufactured homes, offers in-depth shopping and research tools including a broad range of data, products and service and informational articles as well as tips and advice. NADAguides. com also produces electronic products, mobile applications, raw data, web services, web-syndicated products and print guidebooks. NADAguides.com is operated by National Appraisal Guides, Inc., a division of J.D. Power.

J.D. Power/NADA Guides, Inc. 3200 Park Center Drive, 13th Floor Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (800) 966-6232 Fax (714) 556-8715 www.nadaguides.com/Motorcycles JULY 2019

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North America’s Most Important Powersports Tradeshow and Industry Gathering •

See new products from 500+ OEM's, distributors, aftermarket manufacturers and service providers

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Powerful dealer education designed to make your business more profitable

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New floorplan, lifestyle features and schedule make it easier to access the products, tools and education that are most important to the growth of your business

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Free Dealer Registration Now Open at AIMExpoUSA.com

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BETA Brings Dealers To Columbus PAGE 31

AIMExpo Rocks & Columbus Rolls Out Red Carpet For Industry Party PAGE 31

AMA VINTAGE DAYS

Gonzo Gets Muddy PAGE 32

Back To School!

T Kawasaki Commits To AIMExpo

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he W800 CAFE is set to light up the show for Kawasaki.

“We’re looking forward to another positive and engaging experience at AIMExpo with our dealers and consumers,” said Bill Jenkins, SVP Sales & Operations at Kawasaki USA. “We’re excited at the opportunities the new show floor presents and look forward to showing visitors the breadth of the Kawasaki product range.”

AIMExpo presented by Nationwide will feature three neighborhoods: The Shop, The Alley and The Camp. The Shop embraces the V-Twin/Cruiser and Custom lifestyle while the Alley, with a “gritty-chic” vibe speaks to the urban/sport/small displacement motorcycle riders. The Camp will be home for on- and off-road Adventure enthusiasts on both two- and four-wheels.

These “community centers” will provide an area for engaging Shop Talks with industry experts and leaders, new product and vehicle showcases, great music and specialty concessions including local craft beers and artisan coffee.

“Tradeshows are evolving and the way exhibiting partners are participating is changing as well,” notes Cinnamon Kernes, Vice President & General Manager, MIC Events. “Attendees are also looking for experiences and the opportunity to see products in a more authentic environment. The neighborhoods on the show floor are intended to allow for a more meaningful connection between the rider, the lifestyle and the machine.

It’s great to see our partners embrace the trend,” she said.

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he 2019 Powersports DEALER Seminars at AIMExpo — a comprehensive, dealer-focused educational program — returns for the 7th consecutive year, boasting an enhanced curriculum tailored specifically for dealers. Our friends at Powersports Business have produced the Powersports DEALER Seminars @ AIMExpo since the inception. Premier sponsors are National Powersport Auctions and Synchrony.

“Following the 2018 AIMExpo, our team sought the feedback from the industry by meeting with dealers, the aftermarket and our OEM partners while also attending other industry conferences to gain better insight into the challenges that face this business and ways we can adapt.” said Cinnamon Kernes, VP & General Manager, MIC Events. “This input translated into a revamped educational platform designed to cover more relevant topics, address the current state of the market and ways to adapt to ever-changing consumer needs.”

“We’re excited to bring another must-attend lineup of seminars and speakers to AIMExpo in September,” added PSB Editor-in-Chief Dave McMahon, who strategically formulated the presentation lineup for the seventh year in a row. “As we know, the theme of this year’s show is ‘Together We Rise,’ and we’re taking that same approach to providing dealerships with the type of educational training that can simply help them grow as they return to their businesses.”

The focus is on providing attendees with critical information and tools aimed at enhancing powersports dealership profitability and operations. The curriculum is developed with the goal of improving all facets of the powersports retail business model in three key tracks: Sales & Marketing sponsored by Torque Group; Powering Profits sponsored by Aegis Powersports, and Leadership Plus sponsored by McGraw Powersports.

The Powersports DEALER Seminars @ AIMExpo is an entirely free program aimed at providing substantial ROI to dealership staff who invest their time to attend AIMExpo. Dealers are free to choose whichever sessions they would like to attend, with the average dealer attending three seminars over the two-day event.

Download the full schedule of Dealer Seminars here: https://powersportsbusiness.com/wp-content/ uploads/2019/07/PDS2019schedule2.pdf

AIMExpo Rocks & Columbus Rolls Out Red Carpet

Beta Brings Dealers To Columbus

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ot only is Beta on board with AIMExpo, they are colocating their national dealer meeting to Columbus to coincide with the event. “Offering OEMs and dealers a more efficient way to connect was one of the cornerstones of AIMExpo when it launched in 2013. It’s great to see a new OEM exhibitor taking full advantage of this platform,” said Cinnamon Kernes, Vice President & General Manager, MIC Events.

Beta will display a number of new models at the show, including RR off-road motorcycles and RR-S street-legal off-road bikes.

Attendees will also be able to see Factory Team bikes and Evo Trials bikes as well as the Beta Factory Tour Truck, which will be parked at AIMExpo to provide an eye-catching backdrop to many of its models.

As an extra bonus, Beta will display a bike that was built using its BYOB Program – Build Your Own Beta. Available to all customers, it allows anybody to create a custom build program to ensure the motorcycle is tailor-made to the way the owner rides.

“We’re very excited to be attending the 2019 AIMExpo and are looking forward to showcasing the new line of 2020 models and accessories,” said Beta USA National Marketing Manager, Kris Kalar. “We’re looking forward to a very productive AIMExpo in Columbus and visitors can find the Beta model that’s right for them at Booth #1813.”

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t is not a party unless everyone is invited, so AIMExpo is hosting a party at Park Street Cantina! That’s right, the Industry Party is open to all trade attendees with show credentials/badge, which will be checked at the door of the venue.

Networking is essential when it comes to growing your business. It’s the opportunity to connect, learn, engage and collaborate with your peers. And while digital platforms like LinkedIn and social media have changed the way we interact, personal connections, a meaningful conversation and a handshake are statistically proven to deliver better opportunities and results in business.

The powersports industry is a business that should be celebrated, and this event is a great opportunity to meet industry leaders, colleagues and peers in a relaxed atmosphere – to exchange ideas and inspiration while building new relationships. This is your industry and your party, so please join us:

WHEN: Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 6PM

WHERE: Park Street Cantina – 491 N. Park Street, Columbus, OH 43215 (one block / four-minute walk from the Convention Center and the Hilton Columbus Downtown)

AIMExpo presented by Nationwide – the only trade and consumer show for the North American Powersports Industry – takes place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on September 26-29. For FREE AIMExpo Dealer Registration, visit the registration portal: https://www.xpressreg.net/register/aime1019/attendee/ lookup.asp?src=DL&sc=&hkey=&iq=&tm=

For AIMExpo Housing, click here: https://compass.onpeak.com/e/012604984/0#hotels

JULY 2019

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I’m only a casual Flat Track fan, but I go to the Indy Mile every chance I get, and I had seen Bubba ride back in the day. In the world order of things, MotoGP roadracing would be top, then probably World MX, then Flat Track, drag racing and trials… at the very bottom would be Off Road Racing. You may have your version of the order but you get the idea.

AMA VINTAGE DAYS Gonzo Gets Muddy

By Charlie Williams

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exington, Ohio, 4th of July weekend, Mid Ohio Sports Car Course, sponsored by Honda and Avon Tires… I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful this event is.

I parked on a busy lane, I sat in my lawn chair and was entertained for hours by the bikes riding back and forth.

My corner looks like one of those third world traffic circles where near-misses are the norm.

Every bike you’ve ever owned or dreamed of will ride by if you sit long enough. Can’t wait? Better have some good shoes, it’s a big place — acres of people and bikes — miles of race tracks… Hell, there is even a Wall of Death.

The event is so big that it has to have two Grand Marshals.

Honda was our host this year and they brought out two of their heroes, 9-time National Off Road Champion Scott Summers and 3-time AMA Grand National Champ Bubba Shobert.

It was great to see Scott again, I got to watch him many times riding his XR600, the most unlikely dance partner.

Scott hung up his boots in the late 90s, he was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 2014 and other than the news that his house burnt down in 2016. it’s been pretty quiet from the Summers’ camp.

Myself, not remembering any of the ‘90s the only question I could think to ask the Champ was that I was sorry his house burnt down. That wasn’t even a question... But Scott, always the gracious champion shrugged it off. “It was just stuff, no one got hurt, insurance wrote me a check, so instead of waiting 50 years to auction all that old stuff off, I got it in one lump sum,” says Summers. Geeze, with that attitude maybe I should burn my house down?

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So the look on Bubba’s face was priceless. Here he is a 3-time Grand National Champion sitting next to Scott Summers who rode a XR600 in the woods? To the ignorant masses, winning a championship on a trail bike kinda implies maybe there’s not that much competition.

Bubba’s bikes were hand built by HRC’s finest engineers of unobtanium… my computer does not have enough zeros to calculate what the RS750 flat tracker cost to create! But to those who understand, Summers winning on a trail bike made his accomplishments even greater! Plus, we are about 3 hours from Scott’s hometown so Scott truly was the event’s star. At one point Bubba turned to Scott and muttered, “dang dude, I had no idea how famous you are!”

Honda had all their new models on display under one tent and some historic specialty bikes under another, but the actual bike that Danny Chandler rode at the Superbikers event on ABC’s Wide World of Sports is a sacred object.

I’m sure the grips are worn off of it by visitors touching the throttle that Magoo had once twisted with such wild abandon was a religious experience for me. I touched the throttle on Steve McQueen’s On Any Sunday Husqvarna when I had the chance, I touched the throttle on this bike with the same reverence.

But the biggest display Honda had going was the acres and acres of campers all powered by Honda generators. From high on the hill, it looked like a tomato farm with red Honda generators powering virtually every person there. I can see where one day Honda will just give bikes away free, just to get the generator sales down the road.

Back at my trailside lounge chair after the religious experience under the Honda tent, a six cylinder Benelli meets the six cylinder Honda and they are comparing exhaust noise at red line (that’s a cool sound!) right in front of me. The wrrrrr of electric bikes, scooters, Segways, hoverboards, minibikes, maxi bikes, loud bikes, quiet bikes, ridiculous bikes, serious bikes… This parade goes on virtually 24 hours for 4 days straight.

The very best part of this entire event is the family friendly atmosphere. Security is scarce, we are left alone to do about what ever we want. The ONLY rule I saw was that we were “not to block the road” by the mud pit. Mud Pit you say? Yes, you can’t get this many motorcyclists together without the cream rising to the top and the sludge settling to the bottom.

At the lowest point on the property there is a muddy area where kids do donuts and spin around. All harmless enough, but as the day draws to a close, the sludge comes out.

The new thing is to buy a giant UTV, put custom wheels on it, soup up the motor, make it sound like an Indy car, cover it in LED lighting and do screaming donuts for the crowd. Pretty cool, but as true motorcyclist, we appreciate riding talent. So bikes shoot out of the crowd and laps are done. Big bikes, little bikes, three wheelers, four wheelers, it’s chaos.

Then something happened that I’ve never seen. I’ve been to the Indianapolis 500 since the ‘70s, Grateful Dead shows since 1979, Daytona Bike Week, Idaho City… trust me I’ve seen some stuff. But when a naked man rode out and did a pass through the deepest and hardest part of the mud bog I had a hard time believing my eyes. OMG! What would possess some one to do this? Mud may be slippery, but it is abrasive! Particularly abrasive to tender naked skin! I don’t need to do this to know this. Two good things happened, he made it all the way through the mud and he’s a sit down rider. (did I say abrasive?)

So I’m telling the story the next day, and it turns out I know the guy! I’ve known him since he was a kid! I’m so proud.

Turns out he did it on a $110 dare. You used to be able to get away with stuff like this, but nowadays, streaking carries a string of harsh penalties and having to register as a naked mud bog rider might not be worth $110!

While “unnamed naked guy I happen to know” sat there with a T-shirt draped over his l junk, some guy walked up and asked him about what size motor he had! Only at AMA Vintage Days does a naked man get motor questions!

Don’t get the wrong idea, this is not some outlaw biker event, this is totally family friendly and I want to encourage EVERYONE to behave because we don’t want rules. No trouble? No rules.

There is Vintage Roadracing going on, hundreds of bikes and competitors. Hare Scrambles in the woods. MotoCross in the rolling pasture. Pit Bike races in the infield, Trials competition in the woods. Each discipline had hundreds of riders.

There is a giant swap meet area where about anything you don’t need can be found — wants and needs you know. But of course it gets dark again, and late at night, over in a remote corner of the property THOSE people come out. Don’t dare label THEM, I may offend someone. They are a breed, born of the Mud Bog People, but with more alcohol in their blood.

Fortunately, they are nocturnal and after sucking the life out of a couple clapped out streetbikes they slip away back into the ooze during daylight hours.

The whole weekend for me was summed up in one little scene. This could have absolutely positively been a Honda commercial. Late Sunday afternoon, I was making my last long walk back to the truck. I was passing the mud bog area and two girls about 12 years old rode up on their Honda XR75 dirt bikes. They both had helmets on and were exploring on their own. I heard the one girl exclaim: “There it is! I found it, the Mud Bog!” Today may be one of the biggest riding adventure of their lives so far, sure Dad had taken them lots of places before, but today they were exploring the vast Mid Ohio property on their own. I shuffled another 100 yards, my walk is still stiff and goat legged with chaffing (damn that mud is abrasive), but I don’t really stand out in this crowd. I spy the girl’s Dad, he was on yet another Honda XR75 but he was hiding in the bushes keeping his eye on his most precious possession, his daughters. Helicopter parenting at it’s finest!

Vintage bikes, adventures, mud and more fun than than a barrel of monkeys… and there is a Wall Of Death, too!

JULY 2019

33

I was 100 yards from the goal line when the bike quit.

I knew kicking was futile and I had seen heroic acts preformed on TV of riders like Ryan Hughes pushing their bike across the finish line. So I took off with a great fury and vengeance for the line. I made it about 30 yards before complete and utter respiratory shut down and lung collapse (actually, think more of a lung stiction where the walls stick together like a wet sandwich bag). If you experience symptoms such as feeling like a fish gasping for air while dying on the dock, or strangers asking if you’re all right? See your physician.

AMA VINTAGE DAYS HARE SCRAMBLES IT’S ALIVE… And So Is Our Hero, Barely

By Charlie Williams

I

recently reunited with the ‘83 Husqvarna 430WR I had raced back in the day. It has always belonged to my friend John Leak and after he and I raced it for several years, the kids and grandkids had ridden and unmaintained it for the past 30 years. It was in bad shape. Mice had moved in and the airbox was filled to the brim with urine-soaked insulation materials. The rest of the bike was in boxes 30 days prior to this event… and I am not a mechanic.

Through heroic efforts from the guys at Cycle Shed, Works Enduro Rider and John’s checkbook I was able to show up on a running bike. Not perfect of course, not even close.

It’s still hard to start… vintage means no such thing as magic, just trying to kick the beast. Give me a break, I’m only 6’1’’ 230 lbs.!

The bike was so close to completion I had to go for it, Vintage Days is but once a year. After a heroic thrash, the bike runs, it just won’t start if killed. My mission was to ride the hour and half long Hare Scrambles race at whatever pace I could and NOT kill it.

I accidentally got a good start and was second in the woods. The noxious clouds of partially burned castor oil belching from the pipe made for an effective smoke screen keeping the unfortunate competition at bay… all I had to do was keep rolling forward without stalling the bike!

Sounds easy enough, but may I remind our readers any Ohio trail can be as challenging as any in the world, depends on the weather, and it had been raining, copiously. Given these conditions, I’m very proud of my one hour and twenty five minute ride. Then it all fell apart within sight of the finish line.

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Long time friend Chris Cox from Honda hurried over and was going to help, together we made a few steps, my SIDI Crossfires slipped in the mud and I fell, I fell on a track marker which was a stiff 1x1 wooden stake driven in the mud, it jabbed me exactly where there was no padding in my Moose XC1 Armor Jersey. It felt like someone poked me with a sharp stick.

I’m down, the bike is down, Chris almost fell down and I’m sure it was a moment worthy of pixel capture. Eventually the girl whose legs I’d run over earlier came out to help, sweet of her, as Chris and I were making a mess of things.

This is not going to be one of those legendary YouTube clips after all, so Polly pushed the bike to the line and had to wait while Chris and I caught up. Chris and I had our arms around the others shoulders and we looked like two old women on the dock after learning the Titanic had sunk. Read pitiful.

Unfortunately, I, the rider of record, had to push across the line, you know the rules.... Curse you AHRMA! Why can’t a spectator push my bike across the line?

Awesome! That part of purgatory is over! I’m just going to sit here for a minute. An hour later I started kicking again, I had 1/4 mile back to the truck and eventually, after gathering a crowd and volunteer kickers, it fired back up! Helmet back on and ride about 50 feet and the bike dies again. My sympathetic crowd had moved on, I was alone again, kicking until giving out then pushing, then hanging over the bars heaving into my formerly pristine LS2 Subverter helmet it’s an easy cleaner!

I made it back to the truck two hours later! Lawn chair, water, strip off layers of gear, gain some of my dignity and humor back… then leg cramps strike! One minute I’m good, sitting around talking about how awesome I am, the next second I’m as stiff as a mannequin. Limbs rigid and spread like a star fish, screaming and crying in pain. This is new for me, I’ve had cramps riding, but never like this.

Much more pain and I’d have to let go and pass out, no kidding.

I had to give in and take a Doctor-prescribed muscle relaxer, half of one. Well, it knocked the cramps! And me out cold. I crawled in the back of the van to hide like a wounded animal. I haven’t really talked about the weather, but it’s the 4th of July weekend and it’s hot, hot and humid. Mid-day sun has been beating on me in full riding gear for hours, I fell asleep/passed out.

Some 30 minutes later I wake up and I’m drenched, nauseous and probably close to actually dying or needing medical help. I make a move to get up and leg cramps strike again. Vicious soul-ripping cramps. I try to cry out for help, but can only muster a faint “help” — I tried knocking on the window of the van, but both knocking and yelling took too much effort and caused more and deeper cramps, I’m being torn apart from the inside.

I’ve quit sweating and my heart rate has accelerated to full hummingbird my neck looks like one of those Amazon tree frogs. In 3 days, when AMA is towing abandoned vehicles from Mid-Ohio, they’ll find me, the toe tag will say: “Heat Stroke induced pushing motorcycle, not riding, he has a perfectly good, two-kick bike at home that he loves, but died pushing a bike he broke 36 years ago.”

I can see my team mate outside the window, he has his ear buds in listing to rap while I’m trying everything in my power to rap on the window to get his attention. Nothing.

I give up and lay there and pray, chant, promise God stuff, surrender my soul to a higher power, chew on balls of tin foil for low voltage help, suck on a rag soaked in Absinthe.

Eventually calm enters my vessel and I can relax. I make one giant move to roll out of bed and jump out of the back door of the van with out inducing another cramp. Nope, now I’m laying face down in the wet muddy grass praying some one would run over my head with a truck.

Back on the floor of the van, cramps again run rampant through my body, my diaphragm hates me, my hands freeze in grotesque shapes, sleep is thin, fits and frights last all night. I run through the day’s events, good and bad as a shot of pain runs up my neck and locks my jaw, the taste of mercury fills my mouth, tears run down my face. I can hear teeth cracking, fillings are crushed and broken. I clamp my teeth on the corner of my trophy and surrender completely. I had to reach for the phone and dial 911.

Hello Operator? Connect me with American Motorcyclist Association, I want to make reservations for next year!

I eventually get to where I can walk around, I don’t dare sit or lay, I just walk and wander, just me and the ugly after effects of my muscle relaxer. I wandered over by sign up and by golly they were passing out trophies and they called my name. I walked stiff legged like a goat, they invited me up on stage, I looked at that 16” step and man, it was going to go one of two ways, I was going to jump up and grab my trophy or I was going to jump up, cramp up and roll around on the stage screaming in agony.

I had no idea I could jump 16” vertical with out bending my legs, just ankle spring (think inner goat spirit animal).

I got my trophy, I got my picture taken, I jumped back off the stage, again, just ankle movement. I picture Gene Kelly, crowd sees Shrek.

JULY 2019

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e

ONE SMALL STEP FOR E-KIND...

Polaris Launches LRV Tribute Page 40

eRESEARCH

By The Numbers Page 42

VINTAGE ELECTRIC

Second Coming Of The Whizzer?

Page 46

“At Harley-Davidson, we are taking significant steps to lead in the electrification of motorcycling, including supporting the development of global charging infrastructure,” adds Luke Mansfield, VP and Chief Strategy Officer for Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “We look forward to providing our customers with ample opportunities to charge their LiveWire motorcycles, including having access to complimentary charging on Electrify America’s growing network.”

The new city range has been verified at 140 miles (225 km).

Additionally, the company has now disclosed a mixed range rating for highway and city riding of 88 miles (142 km). As for the fast-charging capability, The Motor Co. says their battery pack can be charged from 0-80% in 40 minutes or 0-100% in 60 minutes.

Electrify America aims to have approximately 800 total charging station sites with 3,500 chargers by December 2021.

CHARGE!

Harley-Davidson and Electrify America have announced a partnership to offer a fast-charging plan for LiveWire owners.

Owners will receive the “equivalent of 500 kilowatt-hours of complimentary charging over two years at Electrify America stations nationwide,” according to the announcement.

Electrify America will also integrate Harley-Davidson’s app into its network.

“LiveWire motorcycle customers who purchase models manufactured between August 2019 and July 2021 can enroll and manage their charging plan through the newly launched Electrify America mobile app, available for both Android and iPhone,” explains Electrify America CEO Giovanni Palazzo.

“Harley customers can take advantage of Electrify America’s network of ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers across highway and metro charging stations planned in 42 states and the District of Columbia.”

“With an average of 70 miles between each of our charging stations, we are creating a network that is premium, ubiquitous and powerful, so it makes sense that we would expand that offering to electric motorcycle owners,” Palazzo says. “We are excited to work with an iconic brand like Harley-Davidson as part of a shared commitment to advancing the electric transportation industry.”

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eMOTOGP SHOCKS SACHSENRING

Energica bounced back from a catastrophic fire to bring forth the next generation of MotoGP racing during its debut at the Sachsenring track during the inaugural weekend of MotoE. Postponed since the fire swept the pits at Jerez and destroyed the fleet of race bikes, the hard work of Energica team paid off in Germany as all the Ego Corsa motorcycles and the material necessary for the World Cup were restored in less than three months.

“After the hard work and dedication from the Italian company and all partners involved, the time has finally come for the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup to go racing,” said Energica CEO Livia Cevolini. On Friday the series was introduced by at a press conference hosted by Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, Enel X CEO Francesco Venturini and Energica’s Cevolini.

The inaugural race of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup saw a hard-fought battle for the win, with four riders dicing at the front of the pack. The E-Pole winner Niki Tuuli came out on top on his Ajo MotoE Energica Ego Corsa to edge Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing) and Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), with Tech3 E-Racing’s Hector Garzo in fourth place.

Energica and the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup will return to action at the Red Bull Ring in Austria for round two August 9-11.

GREAVES & COTTON eBIKES?

ENERGICA’S DIGITAL DEALERSHIP

Italian eBike manufacturer has introduced a “Digital Dealership concept to help jump start operations after the disastrous fire earlier this year. “Energica’s disruptive and innovative soul is now reflected in its commercial approach: a new section dedicated to end user customers is now active on the Energica website,” says Stefano Benatti, CEO, Energica Motor Company Inc. Called #MyElectric Deal(er), this section of the site is said to be the first “100% electric” digital display in the world for the purchase of Energica motorcycles. Within the #MyElectric Deal(er) section, customers can view and select motorcycles in the line-up that are in stock at all Energica dealers participating in the initiative.

“This means a virtual showroom for all the fans of the Italian company who can choose their own Energica motorcycle at any time, from any device any where in the world,” explains Benatti. #MyElectric Deal(er) includes the entire Energica line-up. Each product in the virtual showroom is guaranteed by the Modenabased manufacturer and will be delivered after a pre-delivery check made out to a certified Energica dealer is received.

Note, not yet available in the U.S. More details at: www.energicamotor.com/myelectricdeal/

Although Americans haven’t heard the names Greeves (note the different spelling) or Cotton since 1970s, Greaves Cotton is a diversified engineering company in India and still a player in the two-wheeled market to this day. Most recently Greaves Cotton upped the ante on bikes by buying into Ampere Scooters.

In June 2019, Ampere became one of the select few EV manufacturers in India to launch high-speed EV two-wheeler ‘’Zeal’’ with FAME II subsidy. In the past 10 months since the strategic acquisition of Ampere by Greaves, their marketshare has grown significantly — along with the expansion of Greaves dealer network to 325 outlets.

Apart from personal mobility solutions, Ampere also has products in the Industrial usage segment. The company claims it will continue to innovate, increase design efficiencies and focus on localization of production as part of Greaves’ companywide “Make in India” push.

“Ampere is a pure play EV company and a fast-growing player in the last mile personal mobility segment,” said Greaves Cotton Limited Managing Director/CEO Nagesh Basavanhalli.

“The investments further strengthen our commitment to transform ways in which people access and experience nextgen solutions.”

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ePOWER LRV REPLICA LAUNCHED NEW CURTISS HOT AS HADES!

Curtiss Motorcycles has unveiled Hades — the latest addition to its growing electric motorcycle lineup Designed by JT Nesbitt, Curtiss CEO Matt Chambers, says Hades is a worthy successor to the Nesbitt-designed Confederate Wraith and Confederate Hellcat motorcycles.

“The raw emotion that Nesbitt imbues into each machine is unrivaled,” claims Chambers. “His charge to harness and express dark energy through his Hades motorcycle culminates in a machine that is unmistakably his.” Nesbitt discussed his Hades, saying, “We have a deep and abiding respect for materials. Our goal with Hades is to build the least wasteful machine possible. Most of the parts on the machine serve more than one purpose. Like Miles Davis, we’re playing the fewest possible notes to convey the emotion. That’s minimalism.”

Hades’ power comes from a single horizontal battery vault that channels current through a proprietary controller and motor package. While Hades’ powertrain is still being optimized, Chambers estimates power output of 217HP and 147 lb-ft of torque. Battery capacity is projected to be 16.8 kWh at 399V. When it enters production in 2020, the Curtiss Hades motorcycle will sell for $75,000.

“Our ambition is to create the world’s best motorcycles — not the world’s best electric motorcycles,” added Nesbitt. “The fact that ours are electric is secondary. If we’re doing our job the right way, it shouldn’t matter what makes it go down the road.”

Based in Leeds, Alabama, more details on Curtiss Motorcycle Company can be found at: www.curtissmotorcycles.com

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To celebrate the legendary Apollo 11 mission that put man on the moon, Polaris Industries collaborated with the US Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) in Huntsville, Alabama to create a working replica of the Lunar Rover. As the No. 1 in off-road vehicles, this was the ultimate off-road project for Polaris. Just don’t call it “UTV” — the original was the NASA Lunar Rover Vehicle (LRV)!

Members from the original LRV crew and a NASA astronaut worked with the Polaris Lunar Rover Replica team on the project from start to finish. Polaris employees volunteered their time to work on the development of the near-exact LRV replica.

“Having the opportunity to honor legends, work with members of the original crew and lend our expertise and technologies to build this Lunar Rover Replica has been incredible,” said Bryan Ogle, manager of manufacturing at Polaris. “One of the coolest things was being able to mold the fiberglass fenders using the original 50-year-old molds. And now seeing it in action, riding it, it’s amazing.”

The new Polaris Lunar Rover Replica made its first public debut in Huntsville, Alabama at the USSRC Apollo Celebration Car Show on July 13 and will be participating a variety of events all customer long, culminating with Lap around Talladega Speedway in October. Polaris does note the replica is much faster than the original… however many of the details are true to form, including four-wheel Ackermann steering and the fiberglass fenders made using the original 50-year old molds (remember the jerry-rigged fender fix with the map).

Virtually every division of Polaris Industries participated in this out of this world EV project. “The Polaris Lunar Rover Replica encompasses Polaris’ 65-year history through its use of parts from each line of Polaris vehicles: snowmobiles, motorcycles, Slingshots, ATVs, side-by-sides, Electric GEMs and military vehicles,” proclaims the company.

Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN), the strongest product categories were found to be “performance/entrylevel e-commuters” followed by “performance/entry-level e-MTBs” (mountain bikes) as shown in Fig 9. A secondary dealer survey regarding eBike average retail pricing found nearly 65% fall in the range of $2,000-4,000 which puts them squarely in the price range of most entry-level motorcycles and scooters (Fig 10.). Big difference though… drivers license, insurance and gasoline not required!

Now you might say, “but these things are speed-limited, so that’s a big trade-off!”. Not so fast (pun intended)! Some offroad eBike models are capable of speeds in excess of 50 mph (eg. Stealth, Sur-Ron, HPC and Optibike). And if you thought mopeds were heavy (also speed-limited), most eBikes weigh in at only about 10 lbs more than their nonelectric counterparts (ie less than 50 lbs. max).

Dealernews Research

By Don Musick

Hobbit Habit Redux PART II Slicing and Dicing

J

ust like with the powersports industry, eBikes are also tailored to address the requirements of various market segments. In a recent survey of bicycle retailers by

42

Figure 9

Either/Or? With our little Hobbit (or any other moped), pedaling was an either/or proposition. You either pedaled without the engine running or you didn’t pedal while it was. In eBike world, pedaling can be an either/or, or both proposition!

Most eBikes can be operated in “Throttle Mode”, “Pedal Assist Mode” or a combination of both. Throttle mode is typically operated via twist grip, thumb paddle or push button allowing the rider to enjoy the ride without pedaling at all. Pedal Assist (also called pedelec) is activated via either torque or cadence sensors that provide power only when you are pedaling. Torque pedelecs sense your pedaling effort and adjust dynamically while cadence sensors engage only at the assist level selected. Many pedalec eBikes provide multiple assist settings as well.

Figure 10

Driving Miss Daisy Broadly, eBike propulsion is accomplished via hub (front, rear or both) or mid-drive motors.

With e-MTBs, mid-drive motors dominate and are the heaviest component of an eBike. However, ongoing refinement of motor size continues to reduce weight while increasing performance. The just announced release of new form factor Bosch eBike motors illustrates such progress.

Even more compact is the about to be released “Quartz Drive� from Kervelo (shown above) which integrates both motor and transmission (4, 6, or 8 speed). This configuration eliminates the need for a derailleur and sprocket stack which can easily be damaged in impacts. Other quality motor manufacturers include Brose, Shimano and Yamaha.

Hub motors also come in two flavors: 1) Direct-Drive and 2) Internally Geared Hub with the latter being both lighter and smaller.

Continued on page 42

JULY 2019

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Continued from page 41

Juice Box As mentioned above, Lithium-Ion Batteries have facilitated the rapid growth of the eBike market. EBike batteries voltages have evolved from 24 V to 36 V, 48 V and now 52 V. Energy capacities of 400 Wh to 500 Wh have become standards although higher capacities can be reached with dual battery configurations (e.g. Bosch). Lighter eBikes may be found with capacities of 180 Wh to 300 Wh. To put things into perspective, Juiced Bikes (www.juicedbikes.com) has put together a table for real world battery range testing for their eBike products.

The most popular eBike battery locations are: 1) mounted on a rear rack, 2) mounted on top of the down tube or 3) integrated into the frame. While frame mounting affords easier access to the battery, the cleaner frame-integrated location offers a cleaner look with added protection against damage.

44

Shifty Business Transferring juice box Watt-Hours to pavement (or dirt) is the job of the drive train. Ebike drive-train development has largely leveraged existing bicycle technologies. Derailleurs, which mechanically move the drive chain between rear wheel gear stacks, can be cable, hydraulic or electronically actuated as shown in the table above.

Alternatives to external chain/derailleur-geared systems include chain or belt driven index-geared hubs (e.g. Shimano, Alfine, Rohloff – typically electronically actuated) as well as continuous variable technology (CVT) hubs like the NuVinci N-360. Direct drives with controller-limited ranges are also found in some performance category models such as the SurRon drive shown below.

JULY 2019

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Photos by Jason Gearld

VINTAGE ELECTRIC A Motorcycle For Car Guys?

By Robin Hartfiel

W

hat started as a project in his parent’s basement — wait, he is a motorcycle guy, hear him out —Vintage Electric has evolved into something pretty serious, and fairly cool. “We joke about it internally, but it really is true to a certain extent: we build motorcycles for car guys,” says the affable Andrew Davidge. Like many of the pedalassist platforms, Davidge found himself at odds with bicycle purists and IBDs (Independent Bicycle Dealers) who refuse to stock eBikes.

No problem, he simply started delivering units directly to customers via a fleet of vans… as Dr. Paul Leinberger notes, it really is a C2B world. And Vintage Electric is all about the customer experience. “Our world class products, concierge delivery, and unrivaled customer service make it easier than ever to enjoy a new era of transportation… it just happens to be electric, and not in stock at bicycle shops.”

Another difference not having a brick & mortar base has resulted in Vintage Electric’s approach to repair and warranty work. “The bicycle industry has a growing network of mobile bike shops. The same ability we have to give our owners white glove delivery with the vans means we can provide concierge service directly from these mobile bike shops… I realize that wouldn’t work in the case of many motorcycle shops but it is something to consider.”

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However, the laid back Santa Clara, California, kid is now ready to scale up the operation. That’s where powersports dealers come in… and the fact that the team has always thought of their bikes as “motor” cycles rather than bicycles any way. “I have always loved motorcycles and the vibe at a good shop can’t be beat,” says Davidge. “My daily transportation is a Ducati… and if you know of anyone, I’m in the market for a new KTM.” As a motorcycle guy rather than a pedal-only person, Davidge thinks there are some crossover opportunities. “We offer a motorcycle dealer the best of both worlds,” he says. “With no insurance, registration or fuel costs hanging over your head, we provide the easiest, most exciting path to two wheeled adventures. Our cost to entry is considerably less than many motorcycles as well.”

So given this value proposition, Dealernews took delivery of a Cafe and a Tracker model and put them through their paces for a couple of weeks. Timing was fortuitous in that our crash test dummy/photographer’s wife had just undergone knee surgery and couldn’t jog, ride a bike (and no motorcycle, doctors orders). Marisa took to the Cafe immediately! The thumb throttle, pedal-assist system and five ride modes let her dial in as much assist as needed to keep up, without taxing the surgically repaired knee — weeks of cabin fever went by the wayside as she and Jason could finally get out of the house and do something!

Vintage Electric says the Cafe has 3X the power of the competition. The standard 750-watt rear hub motor powers the bike up to a top speed of 20 mph. Under no such medical restrictions, Jason found the optional “race mode” upgrade, good for speeds up to 36 mph much more to his liking on the Tracker!

Vintage Electric’s most powerful lithium battery, enclosed in the company’s signature aluminum battery box that looks like an old Whizzer engine to us (Google it, kids). Massive by ebike standards, the 1,123-watt battery makes for a good time… and for 75 miles, too. The battery powers a rear hubmounted direct drive motor.

The aesthetic for the bike is unabashedly borrowed from turn of the Century motorcycle board trackers. “Much like the Harleys, Indians and Flying Merkels that ruled the raceways of the early 20th Century, the Tracker electric bike exemplifies the relationship of human and machine that drives us. Early motorcycle racing was one of the purest and most visceral examples of the relentless pursuit of speed… we’d like to think that the Tracker has channeled that spirit.”

The Cafe starts at $3,995 and the Tracker, with its “big bore” motor and other upgrades goes for $4,995. Vintage Electric also offers a 2-year warranty on both mechanical and electrical components.

Vintage Electric 1725 De La Cruz, Suite 4 Santa Clara, CA 95050 Phone: 1-408-969-0836 https://www.vintageelectricbikes.com

JULY 2019

47

WHAT THEY SAID Continued from page 47

…And the thing looks cool, too, wearing a slick coat of automotive silver and crowned with that elegant motorcycle-like, vintage-inspired headlamp. But, like anything with an electric motor that’s street legal and not butt-ugly, the Tracker S isn’t exactly cheap: Almost $7,000 is a lot of cash, especially for a bicycle.

Nevertheless, this machine looks awesome and is probably just the ticket for short hops around town or to the bar. ~ Andrew Cherney Cycle Volta/Cycle World We won’t call these bikes pure style because that would sell them short. They are beautiful, but they also perform extremely well and have excellent build quality.

From style to substance. The Vintage bikes check all the boxes, and at a price that seems positively affordable for what you’re getting. ~ Tony Donaldson Electric Bike Action Though it borrows design cues from some of the most prestigious, collectorworthy motorcycles in the world, this Scrambler is no garage queen. The Vintage Electric Scrambler is a wolf in wolf’s clothing. It looks like it goes like hell and it goes as fast as it looks. It is one of the most capable bikes we’ve seen and it holds a special place in the Vintage Electric lineup. ~ Fully Charged, London If you’re sick of cookie-cutter e-bikes built solely for puttering around city centers, Vintage Electric might be the antidote you need. A couple months ago, the California e-bike maker took to cruising the coastline with the surfy Signature Cruz special edition, and now it’s veering toward twisting pavement and dusty high desert with the Scrambler S. The retro-inspired adventure e-bike becomes its most capable yet, inviting those that prefer “fire roads to freeways” to head for the road less traveled. ~ C.C. Weiss New Atlas

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later vomited somewhere in the house, or they get partially eaten, leaving only the head, which our Golden Retriever will later show up with, happily wagging and wanting someone to throw the really cool “ball” he found. (Insert your own hand-to-forehead and puke emojis here).

Okay, so back to the side-story that lets me tell you the main story: I went down to feed the donkeys. My Mastiff and my 2-year old Dane/Retriever mix, (any guess how he came to be?), were right there by the old deepfreeze where we keep the sweet feed, begging for a small bit for themselves, but good old Siri was nowhere to be found. This was odd because Siri has a sweet tooth and never misses a chance to help feed the donkeys or the horses.

I finished my task, then walked out of the barn calling for the dog…

“Siri? Hey Siri, where are you?”

My pocket answered, “I’m right here, William. How may I assist you?” Stupid iPhone!

Walking back toward the house, I finally saw my Dane sitting in the yard, holding one of her front paws up with a defeated look on her face. Knowing how clumsy she is, I hurried my pace.

After inspecting the paw and noticing some swelling around one toe and two puncture wounds at its sides, I knew exactly what had transpired. After all, I’ve had the good fortune of experiencing Copperhead bites twice myself: Once while innocently poking at one with a stick; the second time after ‘accidentally” running one over with the lawnmower and then walking back to admire my handiwork.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER Siri And The Snake

By William Douglas Little

S

iri is my 5-year old Great Dane, short for “Sirius” — also known as the Dog Star.

Of course, “Siri” is also the name of my iPhone’s digital assistant and, as you might imagine, this combination makes life somewhat difficult from time to time. More on that in a moment.

You see, to tell you about that, I really need to tell you about this: Saturday evening, I walked down to my shop to tighten the chain on my RMZ-450, then walked across the drive that separates that building from the donkey barn so that I could sprinkle a little sweet feed out for my asses. The only way to shut them up when they begin braying is to feed them (read as: they’ve trained me to feed them upon request).

Now, during the chain-tightening portion of this excursion, Siri, (the dog, not the assistant), was by my side, following her nose through my workbench in search of some mouse who keeps chewing up my shop towels in trade for some nice brown pellets. In fact, Siri loves to “help” work on the bikes and ATVs; even though her typical Great Dane klutziness usually makes more of a mess of my shop than any herd of mice ever could. (That Dane “rope-tail” alone can clear every tool from the bench in one wag).

As I finished up there, however, I noticed that she had moved out back, rummaging through the brush pile. We affectionately refer to this mound of vegetation as “the Grocery Store,” due to the tendency of all four of our dogs go shopping there for young rabbits this time of year… I should really get around to burning that 5-year old pile sometime. And, I should probably mention, those young rabbits either end up eaten in the front yard and

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I half-led/half-carried the big dog inside the house and announced to my wife, “Hey, I think Siri got bit by a snake on her paw!”

“I’ve found this on the web for ‘I’ve been bitten by a snake named Paul’,” said my pocket.

After calling my vet, (after-hours, of course… it’s always afterhours with our animals), to be reminded of the correct dosage, I wrapped 5 Benadryl tablets, 1-1/2 Rimadyl painkillers and 3 500mg Cephalexin in some lunch meat which the dog made disappear. By this point, the paw was cartoonishly swollen, she was lethargic and I was starting to wonder if she was long for this world. Copperhead bites are usually not life-threatening for large dogs, but we also have rattlesnakes in the area, so I decided I’d better go to the brush pile to see if I could find the guilty party.

Being dusk, I grabbed the two things I thought I’d need — my Glock .40 and a flashlight — then proceeded shirtless, wearing only shorts and cowboy boots, to the brush pile for my snake hunt.

Granted, my chances of actually finding a snake out in the open with the sun waning were pretty low, but I figured that if I go all the way around, kicking the brush pile, if it were a rattler I might hear the telltale, “telling-tail” sound.

So, that’s just what I did, and all the while I was subconsciously talking aloud to the snake, “I’m gonna find you, you rotten &$*%&#!

I’ll teach you to bite my dog! Poor Siri, in there nursing a swollen paw!”

“I’ve found this one the web for, ‘Nursing a swollen paw,” proclaimed my pocket.

To a neighbor watching, this must’ve been a sight to see. A beautiful red sunset hanging in the sky above, its beauty neatly enhanced in contrast with the half-crazed, mumbling lunatic below; stumbling upon limbs as he climbs around an unsightly brush pile, wearing nothing but cargo shorts and cowboy boots; his arms expertly crossed in Police-raid fashion, with a pistol in one hand and a flashlight held off-center with the other; all the while mumbling something to himself and being answered by an electronic voice, who apparently didn’t grasp the meaning of his rant, either.

Ahhh, but I wasn’t worried about other’s opinions at that moment. I was on a mission to save the life of my bike-wrenching buddy!

And so I climbed, and stumbled, and climbed again; getting madder and madder at that old snake with every thorn that tore into my legs! One way or another, it was going to come down to him or me, and when that happened, nothing was going to stop …

Just then there was a blur of movement below my right boot that happened so fast I couldn’t react. Just a flash of something in the darkness, leaping from beneath the branch I was currently stepping up to!

In my haste to protect myself, I instinctively turned my torso to aim the gun and flashlight simultaneously toward my target, but doing so changed my balance as I was mid-step from a lower branch to a higher one, and suddenly I felt the limb beneath my left cowboy boot give way! SNAP!

I tried desperately to shift my weight up to my right foot, but that only caused the stillgreen branch supporting it to bend slightly, then spring back, thrusting me backward and completely off-balance…

With the flashlight in one hand and a loaded pistol in the other, my arms were basically out of play. I had the presence of mind, (and training, I suppose), to avoid using either one to break my fall. Instead, I held out both arms in front of me in an effort to avoid any accidental discharge of my weapon…

WHAM! I landed flat on my back in the grass, some two-feet below the elevation where my left foot had previously been.

Now, there was a time when I was younger that such a fall would’ve been followed by me jumping back to my feet and immediately looking around to see if anyone had witnessed.

Not now. These days, a fall is typically followed by several moments of lying still, taking a mental assessment of the situation to see if anything is broken and then determine if I really need to get up at all, or if I can just lie there until the next day.

In this case, however, I knew that something had jumped at me from the dark bowels of the evil brush pile and I scrambled to look around, just certain that snake bite number three was going to have me eating Benadryl-filled lunch meat beside my dog on the couch.

That’s when the corner of my eye caught movement in the yard and I turned my head in time to see a white cotton ball bounding away, attached to the back of a rabbit… the same rabbit who had jumped from beneath me in the brush pile.

The wind was completely knocked out of me and I wasn’t yet positive that I hadn’t broken a rib or two. Everything hurt and I figured it might be a good idea to get my wife to come take a look at me before getting up… if nothing else, I’d have someone to listen to me whine.

And so it was then, in my moment of need — incapacitated and unable to move — that I reached out for help from that nosey, bothersome assistant…

“Hey Siri, Call my wife.”

Nothing. I mustered more breath to say it louder…

“Hey Siri, CALL MY WIFE!”

That’s when I felt the lump under my now-bruised right butt cheek and remembered which pocket my iPhone had been in. Great. Just great!

Elsewhere in this issue, Eric Anderson talks about digital detox and disconnecting from your devices. Guess I will be taking his advice whether I like it or not! However the contusion on my ass and the cracked ribs means I may have to take a rain check on that ride Eric mentioned!

Stupid iPhone!

William Douglas Little is a former radio personality, stand-up comic, an auctioneer, a former multi-line dealership owner an author and a father of three. He lives on his farm in rural Missouri with his wife Beth. Find William’s book, “Mexican Bowl Fishing: And Other Tales of Life” on Amazon.

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The wise boss said, “Before I answer your questions, would you do a favor for me?”

“Yes, sure,” said the employee.

“Would you go to the store and buy some oranges? My wife needs them.”

The young man agreed and went to the store. When he returned, the boss asked, “What kind of oranges did you buy?”

“I don’t know,” the young man answered. “You just said to buy oranges, and these are oranges. Here they are.”

“How much did they cost?” the boss asked.

“Well, I’m not sure,” was the reply. “You gave me $30. Here is your receipt, and here is your change.”

Personnel Files

By Alex Baylon

OF ORANGES & OVERACHIEVERS The Moral Of The Story

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ou can do a quick Internet search and end up with heaps and heaps of stories that will explain what it means to be a good employee. These stories are packed with the latest buzz words and attempt to show you the latest “in” theories about employee engagement and motivation. However, I am here to tell you that it is not necessary to research and then re-search online for what an employee needs to do in order to be successful.

Instead, remember the Parable of the Oranges.

The Parable Of The Oranges There was a young man who had ambitions to work for a company because it paid very well and was very prestigious.

He prepared his résumé and had several interviews.

Eventually, he was given an entry-level position.

Then he turned his ambition to his next goal—a supervisor position that would afford him even greater prestige and more pay. So he completed the tasks he was given. He came in early some mornings and stayed late so the boss would see him putting in long hours.

After five years, a supervisor position finally became available. But, much to the young man’s dismay, another employee, who had only worked for the company for six months was given the promotion. The young man was very angry, and he went to his boss and demanded an explanation.

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“Thank you,” said the boss. “Now, please have a seat and pay careful attention.”

Then the boss called in the employee who had received the promotion and asked him to do the same job. The new guy readily agreed and went to the store.

When he returned, the boss asked, “What kind of oranges did you buy?”

“Well,” the new guy replied, “the store had many varieties — there were Navel oranges, Valencia oranges, blood oranges, tangerines and many others — I didn’t know which kind to buy. But I remembered you said your wife needed the oranges, so I called her. She said she was having a party and that she was going to make orange juice. So I asked the grocer which of all these oranges would make the best orange juice. He said the Valencia orange was full of very sweet juice, so that’s what I bought. I dropped them by your home on my way back to the office. Your wife was very pleased.”

“How much did they cost?” the boss asked.

“Well, that was another problem. I didn’t know how many to buy, so I once again called your wife and asked her how many guests she was expecting. She said 20. I asked the grocer how many oranges would be needed to make juice for 20 people, and it was a lot. So, I asked the grocer if he could give me a quantity discount, and he did! These oranges normally cost 75 cents each, but I only paid 50 cents apiece. Here is your change and the receipt.”

The boss smiled and said, “Thank you; you may go.”

He looked over at the young man who had been watching.

The young man stood up, slumped his shoulders and said, “I see what you mean,” as he walked dejectedly out of the office.

(Excerpt from: Living with a Purpose: The Importance of ‘Real Intent, Randall L. Ridd)

How To Apply This Story To The Motorcycle Industry Great story, right? But how does that story help you? If you’re in the motorcycle industry, remember that meeting your personal goals isn’t going to make you the best employee.

What it will do is give you tunnel vision.

on, check with the boss’ wife! Leaving women out of the equation is never a good idea since they control the purse strings in many households and make up almost 20% of motorcycle ownership these days.

By just showing up and doing your job, you don’t stand out.

That’s what everyone is already doing… And you are ALL getting paid just to do that. In order to be more, to do more and to succeed, you have to be willing to go the extra mile for your employer. You have to be more than motivated.

Are you a parts counter employee? Don’t just hand a part to someone. Ask questions. Go the extra mile. Don’t just give good customer service, BE a good customer servant.

If you spend the time needed to become invested in your customers, your employer and the job, you’ll find something crazy will happen… your motivation and enthusiasm will push you towards your goals.

Better yet, you won’t be pushing alone. Those people who see your motivation will notice it and they’ll be in your cheering section as you strive toward the finish line!

Oh yeah, one more important lesson from the parable of the oranges: If you really want to know what is going

MIJ Industry #PROfiles

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.

JULY 2019 53

Northern Exposure

By Marq C. Smith

ARE YOU AN AMBASSADOR? It Doesn’t Matter What You Ride…

W

hen customers come into your store, your staff is there to encourage them to buy a bike, gear, parts and/or service. That’s obvious. But what about when you and your staff are not in the store?

We all go out riding our motorcycles to get away and have some motorized fun outdoors, either by ourselves, or with our friends. We socialize with other riders, telling stories of our travels, or our travails, sometimes bench racing and other times just talking trash about each other’s rides. As a shop owner, this is something we often stop doing, but I hope that most of you still get out. You are encouraging your clients to ride, so why aren’t you still riding?

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First of all, of course, it doesn’t matter what you ride, so long as you do ride; we’re all part of the great collective motorcycling universe. Second is this question: Are you an Ambassador of Motorcycling? If someone admires your bike, or motorcycling comes up in conversation, do you ask if they ride? If they did once upon a time, why did they stop? If they’ve never ridden, why not?

Maybe they never had the money when they were young?

Maybe their mother never permitted it, or their wife told them they couldn’t ride any more or at all — one of the saddest things I have ever heard of. My first thought is “You married the wrong woman,” but I digress. Or all

Photo by: Wobblycat Northern Ontario Travel

they’ve heard is how dangerous motorcycling is. Or that motorcyclists are a crude bunch, and that if they say the wrong thing, one of us will laugh at them, or give them a wedgie.

A lot of people want to ride, but just don’t know how to get started. Perhaps all they need is some encouragement.

I always mention the local riding schools, where they can get some experience on the school’s bikes. Many potential riders don’t even know that there are motorcycle riding schools where they’re able to learn to ride without owning a bike. As we all have experienced, once they get a taste of riding, most people quickly fall in love with the whole concept.

Let’s show them how friendly we are, and tell them how much fun riding is. Tell them about how much more enjoyable work is if you can ride there in the morning.

How much more rewarding road trips are on a motorcycle than in a car. How much fun you can have riding with friends to a newly discovered restaurant. That when you go down a road that you’ve been down a thousand times before, it seems so different. Explain how everyone is far more attractive in leather, everyone looks up to us, and our sex life is better!

Also, 20-somethings often don’t understand how much fun motorcycling is. It is, after all, in that strange place called “Outside” that many of them never go. Let’s encourage them to get their butts out of the basement and onto a motorcycle!

At a recent awards dinner, I asked a local politician what kind of hobbies he had. He looked at me like I was from some strange world, and then said, “You know, I really don’t have any.” We had a great discussion about riding, and he’s since been to the shop to see me and is trying to find time to take the course.

Trev Deeley, who was the importer for Harley-Davidson in Canada, was an amazing ambassador of motorcycling.

He was always promoting riding to all he met! All of the rest of us should be ambassadors as well. I always carry business cards with me, because you never know when you will get a chance to promote not only your store, but motorcycling as well.

Here in Canada we have the “Hockey Canada Ambassador” program. They say: “Hockey can’t happen without the volunteers who give the time in your community, and the young players with the passion for the game.” Well, motorcycling can’t happen without ambassadors to share our passion for two wheels.

...everyone is far more attractive in leather, everyone looks up to us, and our sex life is better!

So, let’s all become “Ambassadors of Motorcycling” no matter where we go. Motorcycling is an amazing, fun, very social activity. It behooves all of us to promote it, especially with the aging demographic we now have. Let’s promote what we do. Maybe we can be a great example to those we bump into, create some new customers, and meet some new friends along the way!

Marq C. Smith has been involved in motorcycles since he was 17 years old. He worked for Canadian HarleyDavidson importer Trev Deeley as well as being the dealer principal for his dealership Western Powersports (not to be confused with the American Distributor Western Power Sports) for 21 years. He currently works at Holeshot Motorsports, in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. He taught rider safety courses for 10 years, and still is involved in making sure new riders get proper training. When he is not working in a dealership, he tours all over North America by motorcycle. He does plenty of dirtbiking and ATV riding as well. Famous Last Words: “I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”

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I find it terribly exciting that motorcycling images are becoming such an accepted — to the point of mainstream — part of our cultural depiction of freedom, adventure and independence. Planting a stake in the ground about our own individuality is also incredibly exciting. I’ve long been standing up and saying that women are the key to the health of the entire powersports industry. Not only do women control 85% of household purchases, but women are also the ones who say, “yes my child can ride, no my child cannot ride.”

Our opportunity is also our challenge… Safety!

With electric motorcycles on the rise, as well as the plethora of scooter companies popping, there are more opportunities than ever to ease people into the sport. The equipment (or lack thereof) is no longer the problem. We have access to the best machines ever made, with more safety features and more engine variety than ever before. Now what we lack is imagination and creativity. We’re not speaking to the imaginations of new and future riders through imagery in which they can see themselves. We’re not being creative enough with or outreach to overcome the #1 objection new riders throw up against the sport: Safety!

By Alisa Clickenger

MAKING MOTORCYCLES SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE The Power Of Women & The Importance Of Safety

T

hree weeks ago I was thumbing through a popular women’s magazine trying to get some fresh ideas for a new project I am working on. One of the full page ads was for a feminine product, and a woman on a scooter took up about half the page. Two weeks ago I went to log into my American Express online account and was surprised to see a picture of two women on two motorcycles utilized to illustrate the marketing copy “Life’s An Adventure, Pack The Perfect Card” message.

Included in their media training, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation taught me to say, “with proper training motorcycle riding is as safe as any other motorized sport” with a camera pointed at me. But that’s not enough. Ewan MacGregor and Charley Boorman are doing their part by filming their third adventure The Long Way Up, but it’s still not enough. We need ten more series just like it. We need more product placement like theirs, real riders on real adventures, not just in fantasy chases in spy films.

Perhaps it’s time that women took on some of the starring roles, and we created our own stories about some outrageous and everyday powersports adventures. Because just like that little girl who got to take a ride in a Slingshot with superhero Porsche Taylor, we all want to grow up and be like the people we identify with and admire.

One week ago I saw an amazing video sponsored by Dove and aired on MIC.com featuring Black Girls Ride’s Porsche Taylor leading a group of riders to Essence Music Festival.

The video concluded with a little girl running across the street to greet Taylor who was parked in her Polaris Slingshot. In talking with Taylor, I discovered that this wasn’t part of the script or on the storyboard... it was a real-life little girl who saw someone like her (a woman of color) in a cool machine doing something out of the ordinary.

Photo by Jeff Allen

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Photos by Sophia Germer NOLA.com

Whether it takes three decades, three years or three months, when we capture the hearts, minds and imaginations of the next generation of riders — and most importantly the women who mother them — that is when the real magic will happen in this industry.

COAST TO COAST SUMMER - 2020

Every Rider Has Her Own Story

This Ride Honors the Story of WOmen Host a Women of the Road SCMR2020 lead up event at your dealership and bring more female customers to your door: - Includes an interactive presentation about long-distance touring - We’ll show a cool video about the Van Buren Sisters ride in 2016 - Includes information tailored for your dealership and riding areas Inspire and encourage women riders and passengers, as well as families, to ride more and be involved in the event.

Ready to bring more customers to your door?

CONTACT US NOW: Events@CentennialRide.com @CentennialRide @SCMR2020 www.CentennialRide.com

The Suffragists Centennial Motorcycle Ride (SCMR2020) is a multi-route cross-country motorcycle event and it will be the most inflFLuential ride in 2020 inspiring riders before, during, and after the ride.

Presented by Alisa Clickenger

“Have you ever seen a motorcycle parked outside of a psychologist’s office?” ~ Anonymous motorcyclist.

Google, Apple and Amazon are examples of complicated businesses on the back end. Yet, their sole goal was to simplify our lives as customers up front — your goal as a powersports retailer should be the same. Are you (yourself) a Prime Customer on Amazon who buys with a single click?

Then you know what I mean.

“Make it easy and they will come.” ~ Eric Anderson Help us powersports customers get back to the “simple life” of wind in our hair and riding for the horizon — the real horizon, not the screensaver photo on our computer screen!

Powersports needs to become the new recipe for modern man’s stress related ailments. A motorcycle is cheaper than a therapist, right?

Confessions Of A Customer®

By Eric Anderson

MAKE IT SO!

Simplicity Needs To Mask…

Complexity

L

ife is getting busier. Business is more complicated.

Customers are increasingly fickle and harder to reach.

The Internet is more intrusive… Darn, this retail business is harder than ever before!

FYI, everything is getting harder, but that is because we are making it so. This self-fulfilling prophecy may sound like a command hurled out from Captain Picard of the Starship Enterprise, but humans — particularly the technosavvy Americans — are overly skilled at making things more complicated than they really are. It has become too easy to overlook the simple (and important) things in life because we are more obsessed with texting an urgent, yet unimportant message on our new smart phone. The trick now is handling the complexities of life and business while making it look and feel… um… simpler to our family, friends and customers.

Your customers are addicted — not just you — to technology.

The very powersports products you sell are addictive as the TVs, computers, phones, helmet communicators, GoPros and drones we are amassing in our homes and garages.

Even our clothing is becoming complicated and “smart.”

Will it ever stop? Nope, and you as retailers need to learn how to cut through all this additional “noise” to get customers’ attention and convince them how simple it is to learn to ride, upgrade their bike, meet friends or own a new machine. Fewer words… and more pictures? Fewer shoppers… and more buyers? More word-of-mouth… and less self-serving advertising? How will you make it more compelling — and simpler — to experience the machines and magic you have for sale?

“If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself.” ~ Albert Einstein Perhaps the best way to “get grounded” in all of this would be to retreat to the mountaintop on your favorite motorcycle and isolate yourself from the madness for a few hours. Do it! What I hope you will realize is…YOU… and how important “YOU” are to the retail business. The madness from high pressure OEMs, supplying distributors, aftermarket manufacturers, payroll, insurance agents, reps, employees and demanding customers has likely sucked all of the enthusiasm for the business right out of you… or at least buried you and your true energy for motorcycling.

True? Well, it shows.

“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” ~ Socrates If you once had the exploratory gene of Thor Heyerdahl to excitedly adventure around on your powered equivalent of a Kon-Tiki raft, you need to find it again and let it out.

Never again will the world of business be the same as it once was, BUT man’s true sense of adventure will also never completely disappear… even if it has temporarily from your psyche. You sell adventure or utility (not products) and the affiliated accessories which go along for the ride.

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Perhaps your problem has been focusing more on the techno-advanced products themselves and not enough on the benefits they deliver to mankind. Dump what’s immediately urgent and focus on what’s overly important.

Simplify or die!

Show Me How To Simplify

STEP 1 Digital Detox Unplug for a day. You have likely forgotten what it’s like to be “disconnected.” Try it, you’ll like it. Isn’t it a beautiful thing to just put on a helmet and ride? Highly stressed people these days are paying for digital detox experiences… Isn’t that what a motorcycle does for us anyway?

“Progress is man’s ability to complicate simplicity.” ~ Thor Heyerdahl Okay, that may sound completely dire, theoretical, philosophical and obscure, but you need to “get it.” You have forgotten how to sell the “sizzle” of that steak because you now work in a slaughterhouse? It’s not easy to take what’s complicated and make it easy for your customers, but that’s what successful companies like Apple, Google and Amazon do best.

It’s time to temporarily shelve the sea of minutiae for the longer term vision. Mask the business complexity with the simpler reasons for customers to ride. Start with simple escape, adrenaline, adventure… masking the complexities of the backroom dealership. And, your own sake, get on a motorcycle and RIDE!

STEP 2 Share It Now, help share that enlightening “detox experience” with your customers… on motorcycles, UTVs, PWCs or other powered machinery. Once the techno-generation realizes what powersports vehicles can do to “reconnect” them with non-cyberspace adventure, they will tell their friends.

STEP 3 Sell It Only the true experience of riding a motorcycle, UTV, ATV, PWC or whatever floats their boat will enlighten your customers. All of the paid newspaper ads and social media suggestions won’t break through… Getting butts on seats will!

EVENTS Cycle Volta E-Pavilion to Power AIMExpo’s Electric Footprint Bonnier Motorcycle Group and the MIC have teamed up to create the Cycle Volta E-Pavilion, a dedicated area at AIMExpo presented by Nationwide for all electric two-wheelers, from bicycles to motorcycles.

The pavilion will feature vendor booths, test rides, and TED-style talks on how e-bike riders can become new motorcycle enthusiasts. Media and industry dignitaries are also invited to an exciting after-hours e-bike dirt race on Friday, September 27, hosted by Bonnier Motorcycle Group and AIMExpo.

“With the evolution of electric-powered bicycles and more powersports manufacturers entering the e-bike arena, more retailers are looking to add e-bikes to their showrooms,” said Andre Albert, director, sales and marketing, MIC Events. Read More

COMMUNICATIONS Motorcycles.org Develops FirstRide Experience for Media and Influencers We all want to build ridership, and that starts by helping put someone behind the handlebar for their first time. Motorcycles. org staff have been developing the Motorcycles.org FirstRide experience, a fun, three-hour session designed to give beginners their initial, brief, feet-on-the-pegs ride from point A to point B on a closed range.

“Guests can walk away from FirstRide and say, ‘I rode a motorcycle!’ It shows them that it’s something they can actually do,” said Andria Yu, director of Motorcycles.org, the industry’s media outreach program based at the MIC. “Even a brief ride is a huge accomplishment. Many people are intimidated by bikes, by the clutch, the friction zone, all the controls confronting them, while having to balance on two wheels. FirstRide is designed to ease them into motorcycling, take away their fears and give them the confidence to take the next step, whether a Basic RiderCourse or a DirtBike School class by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.”

The Motorcycles.org FirstRide program is being presented to select mainstream journalists and influencers in New York and Southern California. It serves as a proof of concept that could be used by the MIC, its members, and even dealers to reach broader audiences in larger numbers Read More

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Preserve Protect, Promote You take care of business.

We take care of the business environment.

Strong, effective representation in Washington, D.C. and state capitals • Vigorous media outreach • Industry statistics source Sales data • Educational symposiums and networking opportunities Join MIC’s 650 member companies and strengthen the industry.

Visit the MIC Business Center on the AIMExpo show floor at Booth #141 to learn how your company will benefit from membership, including how to get $200 or more off your 2019 AIMExpo Booth.

mic.org

The Coastal Commission was also confronted with the fact their staff did not consult with local government agencies that were also blindsided by the staff report.

While the vote result was significant, the key element in the Coastal Commission decision was to direct staff to work with State Parks to create a collaborative stakeholder group that would include representatives from the Coastal Commission, CA OHV Commission, State Parks, local government, OHV groups, businesses and conservation interests. That coalition would allow for more robust and meaningful discussions between the Coastal Commission and other members of the group.

OHV TURNOUT STEMS CLOSURE TIDE Oceano Dunes/Pismo Beach Saved… For Now

by Donald Amador

N

ot going to candy coat it, the OHV community came together to save one of the nation’s leading recreational riding areas. Sweet! The bittersweet news is that the battle is just beginning.

I don’t view the Coastal Commission decision so much as a major “OHV Victory” but rather an event that earned its place as a seminal moment on the land access timeline. It does however equate with such other landmarks such as the S21/CA Desert Protection Act, Clinton/Gore Roadless Initiative, 2005 Forest Service Travel Management Rule, and the 2007-2017 fight to restructure and permanently reauthorize the CA OHV Program.

Meanwhile, the Coastal Commission Staff Continue to Front OHV “Dust Plume” Hoax. While OHV lives on to fight another day in the battle for Oceano Dunes SVRA, we have some immediate action items, including:

• Encourage OHV Stakeholders to Be Active in the PWP Process • Challenge False APCD/Coastal Commission OHV Generated “Dust Plume” Assertion • Challenge Stipulated Order of Abatement • Continue to Build OHV Political Force • Be Prepared for Future Legal Challenge

First the good news: A huge crowd of 850-1,000 OHV enthusiasts, related businesses, elected officials and partners made access history at the Coastal Commission hearing held in San Luis Obispo, California. With the longterm future of motorized recreation at Oceano Dunes SVRA literally hanging in the balance, supporters packed the main hearing room and a number of overflow rooms.

The 8-2 vote to defer the Coastal Commission’s staff recommendations — and to allow the California State Park Public Works Plan (PWP) public process for Oceano Dunes SVRA to play out — was also the result of State Parks taking a strong position against the Coastal Commission report. Plenty of hard work by various parties had to happen before the hearing, as highlighted in the Los Angeles Times article below:

In the meantime, the greater OHV community should be proud of what they accomplished at the hearing. Your attendance and testimony made more of an impact than you can ever know. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend what will go down as a major milestone in OHV political history!

https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-oceano-dunesohv-california-coastal-commission-20190711-story.html

850-1,000 OHV enthusiasts, related businesses, elected officials and partners made access history at the Coastal Commission hearing.

It’s not often the Coastal Commission is forced to look impacted citizens in the eye and see firsthand how their closure proposals will devastate local businesses and communities. They are definitely not used to hearing from shop owners who will be forced to close and lay-off staff and the newly unemployed will not be able to pay their mortgages or put food on the table.

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Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for almost 29 years. Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing/Consulting. Don served as a contractor to the BlueRibbon Coalition from 1996 until June, 2018. Don served on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission from 1994-2000. He has won numerous awards including being a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2018 Friend of the AMA Award. Don currently serves as the government affairs lead for AMA District 36 in Northern California. He may be reached via email at: damador@quietwarriorracing.com

Please tread lightly and travel only on routes and in areas designated open for motor vehicle use.

Remember, Respected Access is Open Access.

THIS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT IS POWERED BY

relaxation. On a more personal level, smell is vital when it comes to sexual attraction. Body odor and pheromones play a huge role when we select a partner. Kissing, in fact, is thought to have come into existence as a way to “sniff” or “taste” a potential mate to determine their desirability as a mate.

“Got a monkey on your back….”

The same smells that plagued Ronnie’s life for a time plagued mine as well, but fortunately, there are many other smells more closely connected to my life as a motorcyclist.

Certain smells take me back to specific times and places, creating a mental image of the moment and an intense yearning to experience them again. Here are the top five smells from my life as a motorcyclist. See if any pass the sniff test with you:

Say you’ll be alright come tomorrow…”

THAT SMELL

Motorcycling’s Saving Grace

By Scot Harden

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ear the end of his short, but brilliant career as the shoeless frontman for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ronnie Van Zant penned the rock classic “That Smell.” A cautionary tale about “too much coke and too much smoke,” addiction, depravity and the toll that drugs take on the rock n’ roll lifestyle, “That Smell” became a posthumous hit and one of the band’s more relatable anthems, especially for me. By the time Ronnie wrote the words, Skynyrd was at the end of a decade long cycle of touring, recording and general hell-raising fueled by copious amounts of alcohol, speed, nicotine, barbiturates, weed and piles of cocaine. Through his lyrics, you get the sense Ronnie knew he was already in a very dark place, one foot in the grave, so to speak.

Unfortunately, before he could clean up his act, his life and the lives of several bandmates came to a tragic end in a swamp outside Gillsburg, Mississippi; the twisted wreckage of the band’s chartered Convair CV-240 standing testament to the “angel of death” that surrounded them.

5.) Orange Blossoms: The scent of orange trees in bloom takes me back to my first rides in the Southern California desert. In certain places, the smell of orange blossoms is overwhelming, especially in the spring. My strongest associations are with visits to one of my early sponsors Malcolm Smith Racing Products HQ in Riverside. Their warehouse on Marlborough Street was surrounded by acres and acres of orange groves and my spring visits coincided with the orange blossom bloom.

A visit to Malcolm’s office not only meant a chance to visit my hero, Malcolm but also a bunch of other great guys that worked on his team, guys like Jimmy Lewis, Gary Drean and Wayne Cornelius. Man, I loved those guys; so much spirit, energy, and passion. They always made me feel so welcomed.

Another place where the scent is pervasive is Borrego Springs in late March and early April. The orange groves there mix with the desert air and speak to me of renewal, of health and wellbeing. Nothing smells cleaner, fresher or more invigorating than the smell of orange trees in bloom.

I connect the smell to some exceptional people I’ve met through motorcycling and to some of my very best Dual Sport/Adventure rides.

“Whiskey bottles and brand new cars…”

“I know I been there before…”

“Look what’s going on inside you…”

Sure it burned dirtier than synthetics or petroleum-based oils and later fell out of favor for gumming up rings and creating excessive carbon deposits, but back then if you wanted a security blanket, an extra measure to prevent piston seizure, you ran “bean” or “castor” oil.

You don’t have to be a rock star to smell that smell. Instead “That Smell” draws on our collective experience that odors are closely linked to memory and emotion. The olfactory senses serve as a direct link to the limbic system, a set of structures within the brain that control mood, memory, behavior and emotion. It’s often regarded as being the oldest, most primitive part of the brain because these same structures were present in early mammals. There are smells that trigger the motorcycle industry’s collective conscious.

The Shrimp cocktail at St. Elmo’s during the Dealer Expo would be one extreme example of olfactory triggering.

The perfume industry exists almost entirely because of this connection developing fragrances that convey a vast array of emotions and feelings from desire to power, vitality to

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4) “Castor” or “Bean” Oil Pre-Mix: No smell was sweeter, more intoxicating, or created a stronger bond with motorcycle racing than the scent of “bean” oil in two-stroke exhaust. Growing up in the late ‘60s, and early ‘70s the smell of “bean” oil equated to high performance, permeating the atmosphere in the pits and alerting the senses that racing was about to take place that it was about to get serious.

No smell was more distinct. If you want another reason to hate the advent of 4-strokes, this would be a good one.

“One little problem that confronts you….”

3.) The Husqvarna Factory: To be clear, I’m talking about the original Husqvarna factory in Sweden. As a former factory rider and later an employee of Husqvarna USA, I opened many a crate with a new Husqvarna motorcycle in it, and the odor emanating from inside was unmistakable.

A combination of oils and protective solvents used in the assembly of the bike, fresh Trelleborgs, and plastic, the smell of the Husqvarna factory hit you like a long distance punch in the gut every time you opened a crate.

I loved that smell because usually it meant I was putting together my new race bike, and it always spoke the promise of more speed and better handling. My first Mag 250, my first cantilever Husky, my first liquid-cooled and singleshocked bikes — all of them exuded this exotic odor, the scent of a factory populated by a race of super smart, blond-haired engineers, all named Sven or Jon-Erik, in a cold but beautiful land far far away.

Nothing against the bikes that later came from Husqvarna Italy or even KTM, but they never smelled quite the same.

I’ll always remember that smell. It reminds me of my youth and chasing dreams.

“Just one more fix Lord, might do the trick…”

2.) Baja: Once you cross the border at San Ysidro headed south, your nostrils are immediately filled to the brim with the smell of Mexico. A mixture of dust and open car exhaust, smoldering campfires and wood burning stoves, the smell of the ocean, fish factories, diesel fuel, livestock and refuse all mixed together in one glorious aroma that slaps you in the face and lets you know without question you aren’t in Kansas anymore.

I love that smell because for me it’s connected to prerunning and racing; the promise of high adventure mixed with danger, and a degree of lawlessness. Fantastic seafood, cerveza and margaritas, hand-made flour tortillas and real Coke. Hussongs, the Bahia Hotel, Estero Beach and Mike’s Sky Rancho. My first whiff of Baja came in 1974 at the Tecate Enduro. Later that year I got my second dose

when I raced my first Baja 500, the third time in 1975 when I returned for the Baja 1000 and every year after that for almost 30 years when I was there to race or trail ride.

Now, 40 years down the road, Baja smells the same today as it did back then, thank God. A sure fire way to take four decades off my life is just by crossing the border and inhaling the good, the bad and the ugly scents.

“Ooh-ooh! That smell. Can’t you smell that smell….”

1.) The Desert After It Rains: Topping my list of all time favorite smells is the smell of the desert after a good rain.

Growing up in the desert, rainfall was rare, and when it fell it came in distinct forms; the soft, soaking rain of a winter storm; the light, windswept showers that occur in the spring and fall; the torrential downpours from the summer monsoons. The result: the smell of wet creosote and sage, cactus and mesquite, mixed with grasses like Big Galleta, Indian Rice, Fluff and Red Brome, combined with fermenting soil consisting of decomposed granite, alluvial fan, caleche and clay. Together they are quite simply the smell of heaven on earth.

The fragrance of damp desert evokes a level of anticipation and excitement that no other smell can provide, a harbinger of cooler temps, cleaner air, unlimited traction and visibility, regeneration and rebirth. Some of my absolute best days spent on this planet took place with this scent as a backdrop and why I long for it more than any other smell connected to motorcycling.

If I could bottle it, I would wear desert after a rain as cologne!

“You’re just a fool, just a fool, just a fool…”

I’m not ashamed to admit that the song “That Smell” resonates with me for the very same reason Ronnie Van Zant felt compelled to write it. I’m just grateful I fared better in the end than he did mainly because of motorcycling. At least the smells I relate to now are life affirming. BTW, the summer monsoons are about to start-up. I can almost smell rain in the air! Do any of these smells resonate with you? What does this business smell like to you?

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Scot Harden has enjoyed a nearly 40-year career as one of the world’s top off-road racers and compiled a set of records that few can match. From 1971 until his final professional race in 2007 — at the age of 51 — Harden mastered a wide range of off-road disciplines. He also has compiled an impressive executive management resume within the motorcycle industry as a brand builder, race team manager, sales professional and product planner with such companies as Husqvarna, KTM, BMW, Zero Motorcycles and Best in the Desert. Harden also is owner of Harden Offroad, a business consulting practice. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2008.

JULY 2019

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Wünschisms

By Uncle Paul

Drizzles & Dribbles, Part II Random Thoughts On Aliens

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------In last month’s installment we played “The Drizzles & Dribbles Game.” D&D is sort of like the “Stump The Mechanic” game your customers play with you. A buzz word or problem is thrown out and the knowit-all fielding the question (Uncle Paul) gets to tell everyone how little he understands about the subject.

Although each and every D&D we discuss may not have a direct, hard link to the subject of finding, hiring and maintaining motorcycle mechanics, there is a connection. Some topics in the D&Ds are managementrelated and should be addressed if we’re to cover the subject matter properly. We will get into all that next month. In the meantime, I want you to cut out these pearls of wisdom and set them aside in a special folder.

If you have been saving these since the September 1999 issue, you will have a comprehensive operations manifesto for running your service department by the time we wrap this up.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Time Management s shop owners and humans, we spend a lotta time fussin’ and frettin’ over really dumb stuff. Take that Clinton boy. The only good comin’ outta that mess is that him and Congress get so caught up in partisan politics and sexual curiosities, they don’t have time to launch wars or screw up the economy. Neither one knows what the hell’s goin’ on or what they’re even up there for. Same goes for us shop-owner types, sometimes.

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In the long haul, there are going to be some things that will happen to you and/or your business that you can’t predict, and that will react to improperly when they do occur. You might even be faced with problems above anyone’s means to solve, alter or influence. So don’t do it. Don’t take on the dragon. It’s a time-management thing.

I hate fessing up to this (the editor gest upset when I mention other magazines), but I was ready something other than Dealernews a couple of months ago and found an article on how to handle the reams of paper we owners and managers seem to collect. I don’t remember the columnist’s name, but it was well-written and had to do with a technique of shuffling paper that he called the PAT method: Prioritize it, Act on it, Toss it. Like all Aliens From Another Planet, Uncle Paul’s memory retention device is inactive most of the time.

So I cut out a little sidebar synopsis on it and taped the operating instructions for PAT to my computer. Damnedest deal, it really works.

Every employee requires a certain portion of your time.

It can be for problem solving, leadership, even routine management. Sharp observation during the trial period is an excellent time to get a handle on how well the Alien adapts to your modus operandi, as well as how much maintenance he will require. This adds or detracts from the dollar value you place on his production. It’s a big part of determining his worth to you. One or two Aliens demanding attention on a daily basis will get you believing you’ve got a day-care center for adult look-alikes back in your service department.

There are only so many hours in the day. As the “Boss” (a.k.a., Old Bald-Headed Dummy), you have the option of “not handling that right now.” Prioritize your priorities, recognize which dragons to slay and which ones not to concern yourself with. None of us can take them all on.

That’s why the Jail Bird’s Three are so important… as is PAT. Like that Clinton boy’s mess or the unified field theory… Not my problem, man. Me and my Aliens start plenty of fires on our own ¾ I can’t save the world down here on Larkin Street. Nor can you, on Main Street, USA.

Job Quality It’s the natural order of the universe for matter to seek its lowest energy level, or a state of null. So it is with Aliens From Another Planet. Your service team will “naturally” produce the lowest level of quality you allow. Quality work and the standards necessary to achieve and maintain high levels of production come from the top. The boss alone, not the Aliens, sets and maintains job quality standards.

This subject calls for a serious dose of Wünschisms: #11 “Mankind judges itself, not on what is capable of

being accomplished, but what actually occurs.” #13 “In the race for quality, there is no checkered flag…

no finish line.” #30 “If your heart and head say it’s right… send it out.” #33 “Quality standards are set by the owner of the

shop, not the mechanics. NO ONE may diddle with

my reputation, or the standards I have set, without

my expressed consent.”

#35 “Our work should be able to go anywhere in the

country and not be improved.”

amazed at the number of bike owners who don’t know how to operate a machine they’ve ridden for years. You need to qualify the situation as a legitimate service-related problem. #37 “Being a professional has more to do with attitude

and approach than skill level.”

If you employ Uncle Paul’s Draconian comeback policy, and the diagnosis ends up being owner brainlock, you will find #50 “The most difficult job in a service shop is to yourself paying two mechanics line-wages for travel time

consistently turn out quality work… every day, and owner hand-holding… Not good. Qualify the problem

every bike, without exception.” as legitimate. Then tell the crybaby… uh, customer, to sit tight; you’ll return his call shortly. #86 “Perfect work will put you out of the service business,

excellent work keeps you in it.”

Grab the mechanic and his “quality-checker buddy” and

tell them what’s going on. Brainstorm possibilities and I know you’re sayin’ to yourself, “Easy to say, hard to do.” solutions. There’s gonna be big denials back and forth, looks Noidn’t. Not if you have this single shop procedure in place… of total innocence and heavy teeth gnashing. They know a job check. I’ll expand on this later, but for now, think your policy on comebacks. Both are held responsible. Have about this: “Upon completion, every job will have a quality a good idea of what the problem actually is and come up check conducted by someone other than the mechanic with a mechanical solution before calling the owner back. assigned to that workorder.” Again: “Every workorder, every motorcycle, every job will be signed off with a quality Call the owner, tell him what’s cookin’ and how you’re approval check prior to close-out and billing.” prepared to handle it. Ask, “Is it inconvenient for you to get

the machine back to us? If you are unable to, where can Most professional mechanics can produce whatever levels we pick the motorcycle up? What’s best for you?” For gosh of job quality you require and are willing to maintain. A job sakes, don’t tell him, “Bring it in, and we’ll look at it.” He’s quality check must be conducted on every workorder. If an pissed, he’s paid for good work and now his scooter won’t Alien is unable or unwilling to produce excellent work in a start. Don’t add to his frustration, accommodate him. “Sit consistent manner, he must be terminated. tight, Brother. Help is on the way.

The Aliens, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dummer, haul buns Comebacks Read the “Job Quality” Brain Drizzle again. The quality to the crime scene armed with truck, tools and trailer. If the checker is gonna knock out most of your problems with problem can’t be fixed on the side of the road, they load up potential comebacks. If one does occur, you’ve now got owner and machine, then head back to the shop. There’s two Aliens you can pat vigorously about the head and going to be a real cat-fight all the way to the broke-down shoulders. See, you won’t get a serious quality check from bike. They will go back and forth as to who’s at fault and their Alien buddy until they are both pulled off line (and off how “unfair” Uncle Paul’s comeback policy is. You wanna the clock) to take care of a comeback problem. It it happens know something truly amazing? This scenario will only play again, or the Aliens have a string of bad luck (it’s never their out about once every few years with either of these two fault), Uncle Paul has them come in early or stay late and fix Aliens. The trauma associated with this policy must be a powerful stimulus. Future comebacks disappear like magic. the problem on their nickel.

Aliens don’t understand that while they’re straightening out Before they leave on their rescue excursion, remind the their mess during business hours, the shop is increasing Aliens not to cop an attitude in front of the customer. If its “opportunity costs.” Opportunity costs are the bucks it turns out the Aliens are idiots (for letting out work that the business is losing chokin’ chickens, which we otherwise shouldn’t have been let out), then they shouldn’t compound would be making (labor and parts income). Don’t let the their stupidity with arrogance and intimidation. Uncle Paul Aliens tell you how they take care of their comebacks ¾ you always follows up on this attitude thing. Aliens will wear tell them how to take care of their comebacks. Ya might their happy faces at all times in the company of humans. wanna add that you get kinda testy, in a physical manner, if No exceptions.

it happens too often.

Aliens can, and do, make mistakes. I understand; I just

don’t want customers catching them. If we recognize and Here’s how comebacks play out at Love Cycles: Customer calls up with a complaint: “Just left the shop, and address potential problems before they leave the shop, 95 now my bike won’t start… snivel, snivel.” Now mind ya, he times out of 100 we can get the customer to pay for taking doesn’t want to bring the bike back in, he just wants the care of these. Once the bike leaves, I’ve got no chance of damn thing to start. Handle with care. The customer is getting mo’ money. Comebacks are killers of money, Alien upset, there’s a problem and it’s our job to fix it. Grab his morale, time, customer satisfaction… you name it. workorder and see what work the shop actually performed.

Does the current problem appear related to the recent A comeback policy must be somewhat punitive to the service work? Ask Mr. Whimper, “Did you put fuel in the mechanic when applied. It shouldn’t be unfair, but a tad motorcycle? No sir, I didn’t ask if the bike had gas, I asked on the harsh side. The unpleasantness associated with the if you put fuel in it.” If your shop doesn’t have a “fill-up on policy will emphasize how costly these comebacks can be test ride” policy, most of the time the mullet just ran it out to everyone. Zero comebacks is not only possible, it’s 99% achievable with good application of a solid policy. of gas.

“Is the little red switch that reads ‘off-run-off’ in the run position? Is the little green neutral light glowing?” I’m

Continued on page 68

JULY 2019

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Continued from page 67

Scheduling/Job Juggling The minute a work order is signed by the bike owner, a scheduler/manager/service writer (a.k.a., job juggler) begins identifying and weighing all the factors that will lead to satisfactory job completion. Putting the right Alien on the right job at the right time with the right tools and right parts maximizes workorder profits.

“Take a number, wait your turn, stand in line,” reminds me of the post office. “I work for the government, and I’m here to serve.” Not only is this scheduling technique totally hostile to the concept of serving the customer, it’s a killer of production efficiency, customer relations and cash flow.

Who started that “I can’t be disturbed” business, anyway?

Aliens From Another Planet, that’s who. I wanna meet the Alien who convinced us managers that their job requires the same uninterrupted concentration as a nuclear physicist’s.

Solving the riddles of the universe, are we? Bull! Aliens can be disturbed, particularly if your scheduling procedures are geared for it. All jobs have “stopping points.” Aliens conduct work in clumps, spaced 15-30 minutes apart.

Engine building, electrical, tuning, all service jobs. Geezum, I can’t imagine a mechanic sustaining the thought process for longer periods.

A good job juggler will allow you to implement the “In An’ Out Guy.” It’s his duty to handle all quickies for the week: Oil changes, tire swaps… any job requiring three hours or less to complete. If a customer rolls up and needs the job done “now,” give it to him.

Job scheduling is darned near an art-form. The shop manager or service scheduler needs to perform a real circus act: Matching jobs to mechanics, to work loads, to parts requirements, to acts of Got, to customer time demands, to Murphy factors, to special tools, to Maude Friggert’s lunar cycle… It’s a mess, I’m tellin’ ya. It’s also absolutely necessary.

Customers I can’t even begin to tell ya how important customers are to your financial well-being… so I won’t. What we will cover in this drizzle is how to avoid problems as they relate to Aliens. This topic is a biggie.

Quotes, Contests & Comparisons: If you can’t examine the motorcycle, don’t quote it. One thing that kills the concept of flat-rate is that nothing accounts for the differences in a 10-year-old bike and one fresh off the showroom floor.

How can anybody quote the price of work over the phone?

It defies logic. Next time, ask a question of your own: “Tell me how much a green Chevrolet costs, and I’ll tell ya how much the repairs on your bike will run.”

Ditto for low-bid contests and comparison shoppers. Uncle Paul and the customer are never thinking the same thing ¾ not about the time required, parts, diagnosis… We’ve got nothing in common to work with here. Who’s the expert, anyway?

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Does the customer want a cheap job or a decent job? “We only turn out good work, and there’s nothing cheap about it.” I don’t want all the repair jobs in town, just the stuff that pays well and isn’t a hassle. “Can you afford decent mechanical work? We do excellent, reasonably priced work and don’t give a damn about beating the guy down the street. We give a six-month written warrant… been here 20 years. What does that low-bidding, motherless cretin have to offer?!” It’s near impossible to price-compare mechanical work, job function and quality. Why try?

Customers Who Play Mechanic: How come customers wanna tell me what it’ll take to fix their scooter? Hell, I’m confused enough without his help. Recently, a fella called up and said he wanted his carbs sync’d. I asked him if his valves were adjusted. He answered, “No, I just want my carbs sync’d.” I then explained how valve lash influences synchronization. My next question was why he wanted that particular job function performed on his bike. His answer?

“Cuz it don’t run good.”

Every customer has an uncle who worked on Hondas, or a friend who knows all about bikes. They also love to techtalk anyone who’ll listen. Convince the demented soul that you may not have all the answers, but their “wag” (wild-ass guess) doesn’t sound like much of a solution. “Don’t help, sir. We’ll check it out for ourselves.”

Saving The Customer Money: Any attempt to save the customer money by short-cutting job function or gambling with marginal parts is a flawed concept from the beginning.

Without fail, it’s gonna “comeback” to bike you right in your mechanical and financial butt. Listen up: The customer isn’t coming to you to “save money.” He’s there to get his scooter serviced. He’s in your shop to spend money, not save it.

As long as you turn out excellent work, in a timely fashion, price won’t be a problem. Customers fuel your efforts with cash. Leave the “saving you money” bizness to Wal-Mart and bankers. According to Wünschisms #7, “It’s O.K. to do the job properly and get paid for it.”

Romancing The Customer: Uncle Paul is reminded of his physical appearance whenever new customers display unmitigated fear on their first visit to Love Cycles.

Apparently, I don’t supply a favorable impression: About 100 pounds overweight, bald knobby head, knuckles that drag the ground… some have said I was cloned from Uncle Fester of Addams Family fame (I think I look more like Mel Gibson). First impressions are important, and new customers should be handled with special care.

Customers are naturally apprehensive on first visits, even without confronting a mug like mine. We’ve all been jerked around, overcharged and still didn’t get decent work, so it’s important to establish trust, first thing. Reinforce the notions that they are doing the right thing, that you will do the right thing, and the goods/services will be reasonably charged and delivered on time.

Continued on page 70

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Continued from page 68

Coddle them, communicate, be friendly, show some appreciation they’ve chosen your shop to patronize.

Explain your policy of allowing the mechanic to fix minor deficiencies along the way. After the R&E, if the bike is found to need additional work, tell them you’ll phone and give an update. Explain your warranty policy and payment procedures. Then introduce new customers to employees.

Walk ‘em through the shop, make them feel at ease, among friends. Uncle Paul calls it romancing the customer. Do dat.

Special Schooling Think back to the very first installment. Remember when Uncle Paul told you he didn’t put much stock in the factory training programs or certificates of achievements for attending those things? Remember dat? I may have misled you. What I should have said was, “The way Uncle Paul sees it, most of these ‘diplomas’ oughta be for attendance, maybe given for staying out of jail while the seminar was being conducted or something.” That clear enough? When I first drafted this article, I promised myself I wouldn’t get into subjects that dealers couldn’t change, alter or influence. This is a throne-level problem. We need to make an exception here.

One group of dealers says we need special training so the Aliens can do a better job. If we don’t provide special training, how will the Aliens keep up? I haven’t got a problem with that. Another group of dealers tells me it’s expensive, time consuming and hurts production — a genuine Catch-22.

Until the industry cleans up this mess and starts imparting knowledge at those seminars… it’s going to remain a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation.

The way continuing education is presently operated and maintained, I can’t give you much hope in this area. Look at factory schooling and special training seminars as part of your reward package, not something you will immediately reap benefits from. Use it as a benefit, a temporary solution until the industry decides to clean up its act. Some mechanics will slip through the cracks and learn something despite all the barriers put in front of them. Those are the guys you want to offer it to. Maybe you should offer the schooling, then pro-rate costs and bonus them back over a 12-month period. I honestly feel that if an Alien aspires to High Commander status, we shouldn’t place barriers in front of him. I just as firmly feel he should share the pain of underwriting any self-enhancement.

Wrap Up Uncle Paul is picking up false echoes in his brain-like think device. I think I emptied the damn thing with this installment. Maybe Wünschism #56 applies: “As I grow older, I have difficulty thinking in capital letters.” The D&D Game is fun to play when ya need to go back to “looking at your own self.” Kinda makes you wonder if Uncle Paul is playing a game or trying to tell you something. Our last dance is titled, “The Balancing Act.” Don’t miss it.

One group of dealers says we need special training so the Aliens can do a better job. If we don’t provide special training, how will the Aliens keep up? I haven’t got a problem with that. Another group of dealers tells me it’s expensive, time consuming and hurts production — a genuine Catch-22. Until the industry cleans up this mess and starts imparting knowledge at those seminars… it’s going to remain a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation.

*Paul Wunsch was the owner of Love Cycles, a service-only shop located in Houston, Texas.

“Wunschisms” are truisms that, according to the author, are often plagiarized or modified clichés – statements quoted so often that the employees of Love Cycles have numerically designated the most popular. Paul passed away November 21, 2003 but his wit and wisdom live on in the pages of Dealernews.

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bikes of equal quality no matter where they are built.

Triumph has a factory in Thailand that turns out great bikes.

HD has built up an image that less and less riders are buying; the market for big, fat, heavy, cruisers is dying, and they have nothing else. They came out with the Street line, which seems to be an albatross. The dealers look down on them, not realizing that they have to get the new riders on their bikes. I bet that we sold more Honda Rebels at our dealership in the last two years than all of the Streets sold in H-D dealerships within two hundred miles of us. I’d like to see the stats. I know that we have only had one client try to trade one in since the Street models came out, and he was horrified to find out what little value the local H-D dealership said it had.

Anonymous Dealer Halleluiah HarleyDavidson

Give me a Hallelujah! I said give me a Hallelujah! I said... Oh never mind!

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he reason for all of this celebration is that finally Harley-Davidson is moving out of its stuck in the mud ways that have dragged them down for the last twenty years or more. What am I talking about? The Motor Co. has decided to partner up with a Chinese and possibly an Indian company to build a small 338cc motorcycle. Finally, this might be the opening of a new philosophy whereby they will be building bikes in other countries for overseas, and hopefully our market as well.

H-D really has no choice if they want to survive. Right now they are floundering, and no one seems to be able to bring the ship back to the surface. There are long time dealerships closing, and corporate sales and profits are down. Dealerships are regularly turning off new potential customers by the way they are treated. The Motor Company cannot carry on like this for much longer.

Made in America you say. Nice sentiment, if you can get away with it, but a large percentage of H-Ds parts are at present foreign made, and it’s only the final assembly that gets done here. They have to get away from that outlook. Sure, it’s great to be proud of something that’s made in our country, but that outlook has H-D building bikes that are expensive and flawed.

KTM is partnering with Bajaj in India, and selling bikes made there worldwide, and BMW is building bikes with Kymco engines. Every one of the major Japanese manufacturers has factories all over the world, with the

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A lot of my clients are older boomers, and are looking for lighter motorcycles. If the dealerships are not pushing the Streets, what’s left? A few aging Sportster models with little power and no cachet? Before you jump on me, think about how many times you’ve heard Sportsters been described as “Women’s bikes”? Never mind that many women ride lots of large bikes and are often far better riders than I will ever be, but it seems to be, in some people’s minds, a derogatory remark.

The whole electric bike road is, to me, the wrong one.

The technology is still not there, except for a limited one as commuter vehicles. People here in North America are not usually using bikes for commuting; they are going for long rides. Until you can ride a motorcycle a minimum of 200 miles and charge it on the road in no longer than 15 minutes, no-one will be going any distance on them. I’m sure that the technology will eventually arrive, but it’s not here yet.

Let’s see some nice, small H-Ds with good power and light weight. Singles, parallel twins, and yes, v-twins. It’s going to take a whole new mindset from the customers, but mostly from the front line showroom personnel. That seems to be the weakness in the entire supply chain; staff that are looking down on the Street models.

I’m glad to see that H-D is making an effort, and I wish them well, but it’s going to take more than just providing new products, it’s going to take a real change in their culture. Take a look at the import motorcycle world, where you can get anything from a PW50 to a Goldwing, and no matter what you want, you’ll never be looked down on. That’s what it’s going to take. Are you ready for that, Motor Co.?

Yes, our international man of mystery is a real dealer; no we are not going to tell you who he is. Saying the things that you are thinking, without risking getting the franchise pulled. The Anonymous Dealer has more than three decades experience at the dealership, in every position from porter to dealer principal.

Trilobite is a new in the USA, premium brand of serious, yet relaxed look street/ adventure riding apparel.

Founded in 2011 in the Czech Republic, a country with a rich history of quality engineering, Trilobite was named after all the trilobite fossils in the local gravel pit where the company founder, Martin Solar, learned to ride.

Unlike most of the other premium brands the Trilobite collection is engineered and tested by riders then turned over to designers to refine vs. the more widespread industry practice of designers creating an item and then directly sending it to the costing department and then straight into production leaving you, the dealer, and your clients, to test it.

Using many proprietary materials combined with unique-quality materials Trilobite is a stand out brand. Whether it is Dyneena®, Raw denim, Kevlar®, Aramid, Cordura®, Cool-Max®, Wax Cotton, 3M® Scotch-Brite™, top grain goat and cow leather, Velcro® or Lycra®, Trilobite products are built using only the best and with a sharp tailored fit! Plus many items come standard with CE2 level protection.

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FirstGear Rover

By Scot Harden

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s everyone knows I am very passionate about adventure riding and spend a great deal of time out on the trail exploring and riding in remote locations. My company Harden Offroad works with some of the best companies in the world and recently I’ve been working with FirstGear to help in their brand awareness and product development efforts. I’ve been using their gear for almost two months now and I have to say I’m really impressed. Their Rover Air vented gear is the best vented gear I’ve ever tested. It fits extremely well, uses very comfortable materials in all the sensitive areas that come in contact with your skin like the neck area, and the venting works great. By the way, did I mention it looks great? Recently I tested the Rover Air vented gear in 100+ degree temps near my home in Menifee and up at Big Bear in a thunderstorm over the course of just a couple of days. In sweltering heat it’s amazing just how well it works creating a micro-climate next to your body. Once you work up just a hint of a sweat and start riding, it’s like having air-conditioning. I was equally surprised after getting caught out in a downpour just a few days later how well it worked in those conditions. As you can probably tell, I’m really looking forward to working with the FirstGear team.

Photo by Jeff Allen

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HOOLIGANS BEHIND BARS

How do you transform an ordinary hooligan into a “Super Hooligan”?

The crew at Roland Sands Design has the inside line, starting with their bar and riser kits. “When it comes to flat track racing, our riders prefer the go-to bar for the ultimate in leverage, comfort and strength,” says crew chief to the stars, Cameron Brewer. “ProTaper Tracker Bars are designed using the latest technology to be the strongest and lightest bars on the market, and the reason we trust their bars on all of our Indian Motorcycle FTR1200 Super Hooligan National Championship race bikes.” https://www.rolandsands.com/collections/37/protaper

FOX RE-ENGINEERS 360 GEAR

For more than four decades, Fox Racing has been the global leader in motocross and mountain biking apparel and protection, but they are not resting on their laurels for 2020. “Our legendary 360 gear gets a total rebuild for MX20, with a focus on premium durability, making the proven 360 gear the choice for even the toughest on and off-track conditions,” says Mark Finley, Director of Global Marketing MX for Fox Head Inc. “We have also re-engineered the V2 helmet, which now incorporates proven technology from the V3, including the “Fluid Inside” rotational management system, dual-density Varizorb EPS and MVRS (Magnetic Visor Release System).” Available in three different graphic styles for a total of 8 colorway options to match the gear, the V2 helmet is a race-ready mid-tiered solution for both adults & youth riders. https://www.foxracing.com/360-linc-multi/360_LINC_MUL. html?cgid=moto-mens-gear-sets#start=12

GET A GRIP

“We do street,” insists WPS VP Terry Baisley. “And with Highway 21 line of leathers, the cruiser crowd is covered as well.” Although FLY is still thought of as primarily an off-road gear brand by many dealers (wait until you see coverage of the FLY Summer Camp 2020 moto gear launch in the next issue), truth be told they have quite a grip on the street side. Case and point the FL-2 Gauntlet Glove featured here.

WPS says this versatile sport and track glove is as comfortable on the racetrack as it is on the streets. Check out FLY street side video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFRPkjpXTsM

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HIP ACCESSORY

A couple years ago Debra Chin wowed the judges during the PowerLily competition at AIMExpo and she is still at it with her MotoChic designs. Fine leather is hand-stitched to create a wallet that can be carried in your pocket, around your wrist, or attached to a belt loop,” she says. “The Dakota is made from rich, vegetabletanned leather that softens and develops a beautiful patina over time to make it one-of-a-kind.” Features include a classic I.D. window for easy access, ample space for multiple credit cards and it comes with a detachable leather wrist strap and silver-tone metal chain with spring snap hook. Stockists’ details available here: https://www.motochicgear.com/shop/dakota-leatherwallet/#description

RED TORPEDO HITS U.S.

Gear with grit is how U.K. based Red Torpedo classifies their casual clothing line, we just call it cool! Their first signature line of T-shirts went to infamous racer Guy Martin and now flat track favorites Jared Mees and Shayna Texter are helping Red Torpedo target U.S. customers. “Red Torpedo is a casual wear brand for bike fanatics and petrol heads, firmly rooted in the world of Motorcycle Road Racing with all of its high speed adrenaline, bravery and skill,” says agent Steve Glum. “It gives us loads of energy and a commitment to enduring quality that keeps getting better all the time. https://redtorpedousa.com/

HEMLOCK KEEPING HONDA TOP OF MIND

Hemlock Hat Company has launched a new collaboration with American Honda. The “Rip and Race” moto collection includes three unique Honda-licensed designs—The Burnout, The Holeshot and The Tribute—each of which features a patch showcasing the iconic Honda wing logo, as well as a racing-themed graphic on the hat’s fabric under-brim liner. “It has been such an honor to work with an iconic brand like American Honda,” says Hemlock founder Anthony Lora. “When thinking about motocross and racing in general, the first thought that comes to mind is Honda!” Of course, all three also boast the classic Hemlock features like adjustable drawstring with finished checkered tips, anticorrosive drawstring eyelets, 100% polyester UPF 50+ fabric and a one-size-fits-all design. https://www.hemlockhatco.com/collections/all/products/holeshot

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Additional features Charlie noted before the ride include: • All new ankle pivot system is designed to have a “hard” limit of foot/ankle hyperextension.

• A laminated “Technomicro” is used as the base material in all areas.

• Slim, cool non-bootie design.

• Calf plate system features an inner double adjustment that expands to fit even the largest calf or knee brace system!

RACE TESTING SIDI CROSSFIRE 3 TA BOOTS

By Charlie Williams

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he reports began trickling in from Mid-Ohio as our erstwhile Off-Road Editor Charlie Williams disregarded a lifetime of misery to relive his misspent youth.

The agony of victory and the thrill of “de feet” kicked off as Charlie race-tested the new Sidi Crossfire 3 TA boots at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. Despite his best efforts, Gonzo Rider got a great start and managed a podium... and with a cantankerous old kick-start bike that refused to start, to boot. In fact, if it wasn’t for the new kicks, the old Husky would have never made it… and neither would have the motorcycle!

“I had misfortune to reunited with the same 1983 Husqvarna 430WR I had raced back in the day just in time for AMA Vintage Days at Mud-Ohio, um Mid-Ohio,” was his first somewhat lucid report. “Years of abuse and neglect had been hard… and the bike was in pretty rough shape, too.”

“It’s a left-side kick which induces flashbacks of kicking any old Bultaco and the rubber cover shooting off never to be seen, while the garage door spring the Swedes foisted off on unsuspecting customers ratchets the lever back up instantly — removing ANY part of an ankle or leg in the way. Needless to say, no ordinary boot would do! Let me introduce you to my new SIDI Crossfire 3 riding boot.”

Sidi says the TA version is for those riders who prefer that feel of a sewn on sole vs. the firmer SR version. The 3 TA is otherwise identical to the 3 SR, with the exception of the sole. The TA model has a softer rubber sole that is more comfortable it you do some walking/bike wrestling in your boots (Charlie checked the box, big time as he stalled the bike just before the finish line and then had to wrangle the bike back to van). The TA sole is also designed to accommodate those with slightly wider foot… like Charlie “Duck Foot” Williams.

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Note the last point… when the cramping and muscle contractions began, the TA’s were able to fit comfortably over his distorted calves as they rippled and gyrated more than a hootchie kootchie dancer! Despite the added features, a lighter weight nylon shank instead of steel shank helps keep the weight down… good thing given the gymnastics required to kick the old 430 over.

“The Husqvarna kickstarter is longer and slightly stronger than my femur,” Charlie reported. “It’s as high as a kitchen counter, and at 4.8 pounds the SIDI Crossfire 3 is your best bet when lifting you foot over your hip to kick and kick and kick…”

Unfortunately Charlie’s post-race recap began to lose clarity and the dehydration, cramps and doctor-prescribed horse tranquilizers kicked in. Chewing on tinfoil and sucking on the absinthe-soaked rag didn’t seem to improve the clarity of of Charlie’s professional evaluation of the boots… and then there were the reports from security at MidOhio of a partially nude man prancing through the pits in his boots sometime after midnight… couldn’t have been our Charlie though, he says that is past his bedtime!

What we can tell you is that the Crossfire 3 TA boots come in seven colorways and have an MSRP of $545. For the specs that Charlie may have missed in his medically induced coma, click here: https://www.motonation.com/store/pc/viewPrd. asp?idproduct=7621&idcategory=5 Motonation 10225 Prospect Ave. Santee, CA 92071 619-401-4100 www.motonation.com

HARDEN & ASSOCIATES

Bringing a Unique Perspective to the Powersports Business

Specializing in Adventure, Dual Sport, Off-Road and EV market segments.

Delivering solutions in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace.

Over 35 years of senior level executive management experience.

• • • • • •

Brand Development Advisory Services Strategic Planning Product Development Motivational Speaking Advocate for the Sport

INDUCTED 2008

FOUNDER

Scot Harden scot.harden@harden-offroad.com

harden-offroad.com

Photos By Brandon Davis

GOING FOR THE GOLD Vicki Golden Smashes Barriers

F

orget glass ceilings, Vicki Golden was on a mission to smash through a world record 13 flaming board walls!

For Golden however, these were not the first challenges she had to face in her trailblazing career. Already the first female athlete to qualify for the night show at Supercross as well as medaling against the guys at X Games, the firewall record was the biggest stage she has ever been on… especially when co-star Axell Hodges came up short for History Channel’s Evel Live 2 TV event.

From her big entrance, flying into the San Bernardino airport riding on a Vietnam era helicopter, through a series of speed tests before it was go time in front of a national TV audience, she was determined to achieve her goal. “It was a great day for women, with Golden’s triumph echoing the U.S. Women’s National team’s Women’s World Cup Final victory earlier,” says History’s Heather Pastorini. Produced in partnership with Nitro Circus, Golden rode through 13 firewalls during the live broadcast, eclipsing the previous mark of 12 that had stood since 2007.

“Riding is my passion, so to have the opportunity to set a world record while honoring legends like Evel Knievel is incredible,” said Golden afterward. “They have set the standard for decades and I couldn’t be more proud to follow in their footsteps. I only wish that Axell could’ve had his own opportunity to make history. He had his jumps dialed and was primed to take two more records tonight.

I share this with him, though, and know he’ll be back at it very soon.”

“It’s a huge day in two ways: first, Vicki Golden being the first woman to not only attempt but break this record, which had only ever been attempted by male riders before,” said Evel Live star Travis Pastrana. “And second, having so many

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of the greats out here to be a part of this, to pay tribute to the past and show the future.” Pastrana also played the part of Evel by riding wheelies and being set on fire to kill time.

The 850-foot track, lined with 13 wooden walls that blazed up to 20-foot flames exceeding 2,000 degrees. Kudos to Alpinestars for keeping her safe and to Cameron Brewer and the RSD crew for prepping her Indian FTR 1200 S.

History has also hinted that Hodges will get another shot when he heals up from his broken ankles and maybe Golden can break her own record. Stay tuned!

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There were even commemorative T-shirts reminiscent of Romero’s championship leathers he wore in 1970 — with 100% of the proceeds going to Gene’s family.

A pantheon of legends assembled to sign the autograph card, spanning generations and disciplines. The Who’s Who of Motorcycling included Dave Aldana, Don Emde, Ronnie Jones, Dave Hansen, John Hateley, Tom Horton, Ricky Johnson, Dennis Kanegae, Keith Mashburn, Rob Morrison, Sonny Nutter, Jim Odom, Chuck Palmgren, Kenny Roberts, Bubba Shobert, Sammy Tanner, Ralph White, Eddie Wirth and Mike Yarn.

GENE ROMERO CELEBRATION OF LIFE I Dig Carnations

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n the ultimate motorcycle movie On Any Sunday, a young Gene Romero steals the scene with a classic quote that brought the house down. At the time of filming, Romero just needed to finish 3rd or better at the Sacramento Mile in order to take the 1970 AMA Grand National Champion title. “I don’t want to hurt anybody, but I’ve got to get third no matter what. I’m going to get third or come see me in the hospital. I dig carnations.”

On June 22nd, Southern California Triumph played host to a Celebration Of Life for Romero (see Vale in the May issue). Since Tom Hicks and the SoCal crew remain the #1 Triumph dealership in the nation, it was a perfect spot to host the former factory Triumph flat tracker’s send off.

Ascot promoter and lifelong friend Chris Agajanian made sure the event was top notch right down to the “Burritto” food truck serving Gene’s favorite meal, guest speakers, live music, video slide show of his career and memorabilia.

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And of course there were carnations, courtesy from his friends of District 36.

AIMExpo........................................................................28 American Cycle Finance.............................................71 Forcefield Body Armour..............................................85 Harden & Associates...................................................79 Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC)............................61 Motorcycle Industry Jobs (MIJ)..................................17 MOTOTV.........................................................................19 Motonation (SIDI)..................................................CVR 4 National Cycle...............................................................23 National Powersports Auctions (NPA)...................... 9 Performance Brokerage Services, Inc.....................36 Red Line Synthetic Oil................................................11

SHARK Helmets...........................................................49 STACYC..........................................................................41 Steelcore.......................................................................59 Suffragists...................................................................57 Tread Lightly................................................................63 Trilobite........................................................................73 Tucker Powersports...................................................... 7 United States Warranty Corporation.......................83 Vroom Network...........................................................69 Western Power Sports.............................................2-3 Woodcraft Technologies Inc. ....................................39

Shameless Plug – For the most up to date dealer news, check on the news feed at Dealernews.com, be sure to like us on Facebook and click on Dealernews’ monthly digital editions: www.dealernews.com

JULY 2019

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Ave Atque Vale Carlin Dunne 1982-2019

By Nick Razzano

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t shouldn’t have happened to Carlin.

The phrase continues to go through the minds of those who knew the multi-talented phenomenon from Santa Barbara, California, Carlin Dunne. Carlin, 36, succumbed to injuries sustained after a crash during the 2019 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), while piloting a Ducati V4 Streetfighter prototype during what was clearly a record breaking run.

Initial reports said that his bike hit a large bump in the road which caused him to lose control and crash near the summit of the 12.42 mile mountain course. An official investigation was completed by PPIHC officials which ruled out mechanical failure and stated “After reviewing footage from the incident, it appears that the rider (Dunne) high sided coming into the last turn before the finish line.”

Carlin was the first motorcycle competitor to break the prestigious 10-minute barrier and set a new course record at Pikes Peak in 2012 on a Ducati Multistrada. He intended to take back the motorcycle course record which was stolen by Chris Fillmore piloting a KTM 1290 Super Duke in the 2017 race. Ducati released a video prior to the 2019 race highlighting the V4 Streetfighter prototype, ending with “The Gloves Come Off At Pikes Peak” challenge.

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However, Dunne was not just a racer at Pikes Peak. His love for adventure and all things two wheeled led him to experience life through many exciting genres; Motocross, Trials Bikes, Baja and Off-Road Racing, Supermoto, American Flat Track, and even Freeride Mountain biking. His personality and accomplishments made him a role model for my son who started following Dunne at the ripe young age of 6. And what a role model for him to have had.

Carlin was a wonderful human being.

A team player and a genuine soul. He never gave the impression that he was better than anyone or had anything to prove, he simply wanted himself and all those around him to have a blast. He was tenacious and had a competitive spirit that made him a force to be reckoned with on the track. One of his great talents was also coaching. Carlin served as a rider mentor to racers in 2016 and 2017 at Pikes Peak with the Ducati Squadra Alpina, a program designed to orient rookie’s and assist them in learning all of the intricacies of racing up a 14,115 ft. mountain.

Dunne performed in this role amazingly and it was because of his love for the sport and genuine care for his fellow racers. He was also a personality that made its way onto to the big screen and starred in numerous documentaries. His last big film, Dust 2 Glory, followed him on a journey to

race in the prestigious Baja 1000. With limited showings in the local theater, I found myself bringing my 6-year-old boy to see the film after 10:00pm on a school night. Because, you don’t miss seeing your heroes on the big screen.

He left that theater with a whole new appreciation for racing and passion for riding.

It shouldn’t have happened to Carlin, he was too good, too experienced. The motorcycling community lost a legend, a true champion that was a proponent of adventure on two wheels. I don’t know how to explain to my son that one of his hero’s is gone. It’s hard for me to accept it. I can only explain that it was his time, that we must do the most with what we get, and to remember the good things he taught us. My boy and I will always have a reverence for that mountain, and will always appreciate the life lessons and spirit of a friend to all riders, Carlin Dunne.

Race in Peace, my friend. You are our champion every time we look up the hill.

Nick Razzano is a motorcyclist currently living in Vicenza, Italy, working for the U.S. Armed Forces. He worked with the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb as a registration official and Media liaison for 5 years and worked closely with Carlin and all those he competed with.

Forcefield Body Armour.

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For over 25 years Forcefield has made it their business to produce armour that is soft, features repeat impact performance, has 3 dimensional moulding, is lightweight, offers heat activated/form fit moulding to the riders body shape and is breathable, all very intelligent.

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Used by the moto military, moto police, professional riders and stuntmen the world over- this is a product you need to be stocking. With virtually a zero returns rate, and massive rider satisfaction, this is a unique honest and very profitable brand.

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