Powersports Business articles from October 2005

Powersports Business archives from October 2005

Greg Mumm to head BlueRibbon group.(HOTNEWS)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... Greg Mumm has been named executive director of the BlueRibbon Coalition, replacing Clark Collins when he retires at the end of this year. An active member of the BlueRibbon board of directors for many years, Mumm, from Rapid City, S.D.,...

Japan's production, exports up in August.(HOTNEWS)
October 17, 2005... Japan's four main motorcycle manufacturers produced 125,885 units in August, up 13.9% compared to the production of 110,501 units in August 2004, said the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA). According to JAMA figures, Honda...

Ehlert reorganizes.(HOTNEWS)(appointments and promotions at Ehlert Publishing Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... Ehlert Publishing Group, Maple Grove, Minn., recently made a several organizational changes and promotions within its powersports division. Ehlert produces Powersports Business magazine. John Prusak, formerly the publisher of the Snowmobile...

Chinese outside expansion continues.(HOTNEWS)(KMB Inter Business Co. and Jialing Motors form joint venture)(United Union Parts Co. and Jiangmen Zhongyu Motor)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... Two more Chinese companies are moving out of their home country's borders to expand their motorcycle businesses. In the first deal, Thailand's KMB Inter Business Co. has agreed to link with Jialing Motors, the biggest motorcycle producer in...

Team USA wins trials, Motocross of Nations.(HOTNEWS)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... Two U.S. teams took home trophies in international motorcycle competition in September. One team won the prestigious International Trophy at the 2005 Trial des Nations in Sestriere, Italy; the other team won the 2005 Motocross of Nations, held...

Gov. Bush backs mandatory rider training.(HOTNEWS)
October 17, 2005... Florida Gov. Jeb Bush backs a proposal that all motorcyclists must take 16 hours of safety training, but shied away from endorsing a call for mandatory $50,000 rider insurance coverage. Citing a dramatic increase in motorcycle registrations...

Nova Scotia plans TT-style race.(HOTNEWS)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... The Cape Breton Festival of Speed, in association with the Isle of Man TT, announced a 52 km open road motorcycle race to be held near Sydney, Nova Scotia, Sept. 20-24, 2006. Organizers say the event will be the first of its kind in North...

Honda increases plans for Asian sales.(HOTNEWS)
October 17, 2005... Japan's Honda Motor Co. plans to spend $265 million by 2006 to expand production of motorcycles and scooters in Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan and India. Honda forecasts the region to hold a total market of 18.3 million two-wheelers...

Suzuki adds flagship cruiser.(American Suzuki Motor Corp.)(QuadRacer LT-R450)
October 17, 2005... DALLAS -- American Suzuki Motorcycle Corp. beefed up its Boulevard line for 2006 with the addition of a flagship cruiser, the M109R, a 1783 cc machine priced at $12,399, launched the hot QuadRacer LT-R450, a 450cc sport quad, and updated its...

CPSC plans ATV study.
October 17, 2005... The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted unanimously to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) pertaining to ATVs, a move commission leaders say is a significant step in a broad and comprehensive review of all...

Dealers lose sales to Asian imports.(Trendline)
October 17, 2005... EDITOR'S NOTE: During the first two weeks of August, Power Products Marketing conducted a telephone survey on behalf of Powersports Business among 203 authorized motorcycle dealers scattered across the U.S., 50 of which were authorized...

Analysts disagree on Harley-Davidson stock.
October 17, 2005... Differing opinions is what makes a horse race, they say, and so it is with stock prices, too. Early this month, two leading analysts issued dramatically different opinions on the value of Harley-Davidson (HDI) common stock. However, the sellers...

Arctic Cat increases ATV emphasis.(BOTTOM LINE)(Interview)
October 17, 2005... EDITOR'S NOTE: Arctic Cat started building 650cc engines for its ATVs in October 2004 at its plant in Thief River Falls, Minn., and shipped 1,000 of the new engines in the last fiscal year. The company says the engine has been so successful...

Memphis Shades takes service one step further.(From The Editor)(St. Jude Children's Research Hospital )
October 17, 2005... Bill Gray, the marketing guru at Memphis Shades, and I were chatting during the Parts Unlimited/Drag Specialties annual Showcase event recently when the subject of customer service came up. Shades' unique approach in tying customer service to...

Ducati first half sales slip 14.6%.(DIGEST)(Ducati Motor Holdings S.p.A.)(Illustration)
October 17, 2005... Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. reported a loss of Euro 3.5 million ($4.24 million) for the first six months of 2005, down from a profit of Euro 2.6 million during the first half of 2004, as sales slipped 14.6% to Euro 188.1 million from the same...

Honda sales down in North America.(DIGEST)
October 17, 2005... California-based American Honda Motor Co. sold 85,000 units in North America during the first quarter ended June 30, 2005, down from 126,000 units during the same period in 2004. First quarter motorcycle revenue from North America was...

KTM sales up 12% in 2005.(DIGEST)(KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... Supported by further expansion into the on-road motorcycle market, Austria's KTM Sport-motorcycle sold 80,356 units worldwide in its latest fiscal year ended August 31, up from 76,815 units retailed in fiscal 2004. Group sales revenue for the...

Fairchild appoints new CFO.(DIGEST)
October 17, 2005... The Fairchild Corporation, owner of California-based Fairchild Sports, has appointed James G. Fox as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Finance, effective October 1, 2005. Fox replaces John Flynn, who resigned as Chief Financial...

Kawasaki fires up new product development.(FOCUS: OEM Update 2006)
October 17, 2005... EDITOR'S NOTE: Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA (KMC) executives, Tony Murr, vice president-sales, Barry Beehler, vice president-planning and marketing, and Bruce Stjernstrom, director of marketing, talked with Powersports Business Editor Joe Delmont...

Piaggio busy planning for multiple brands.(FOCUS: OEM Update 2006)(Piaggio e Compagnia S.p.A. acquires Aprilia S.p.A.)
October 17, 2005... It has been nearly one year since Italy's Piaggio & Co. SpA took control of the Aprilia Group. The deal, completed in December 2004 with Aprilia shareholders Ivano Beggio and multiple financial institutions, brought Piaggio's owned two-wheeler...

Ducati may have turned the corner in North American market.(FOCUS: OEM Update 2006)(Ducati Motorcycle)(Interview)
October 17, 2005... EDITOR'S NOTE: Even as Ducati Motorcycle continues to struggle with its worldwide operations, and one of its lead investors-Texas Pacific-works to sell its 35% interest in the company, Ducati's North American operation may have turned the...

Triumph forms triple threat for 2006.(FOCUS: OEM Update 2006)(Triumph Motorcycles America Ltd.)(Daytona 650, Daytona 955i, Speed Four)
October 17, 2005... Triumph offers motorcycles in three distinct categories: Cruiser, Modern Classics and Urban Sports. For 2005, the Cruiser category includes the America, Rocket III and Speedmaster; Modern Classics includes the Bonneville, Bonneville T100 and...

BRP Refocuses ATV business, sees steady growth.(FOCUS: OEM Update 2006)(Jose Boisjoli of Bombardier Recreational Products)(Interview)
October 17, 2005... EDITOR'S NOTE: Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) reported nasty results for the second quarter this year ended July 31, 2005, posting a net loss of C$1.7 million, off some C$30.2 million from the same period last year. But BRP President...

Arctic Cat recalls Prowler XT.(ATV Digest)
October 17, 2005... Arctic Cat Inc., Thief River Falls, Minn., is recalling approximately 700 of its Prowler XT off-highway utility vehicle for brake issues. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Arctic Cat has received notice of one incident of a brake pad dislodging...

Cobra unveils new, updated quads.(ATV Digest)(2005 ECX70 of Cobra Motorcycle Manufacturing Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... Since Cobra Motorcycles introduced its 2005 ECX70 youth racing quad last spring, the machine has won the ATVA ITP Moose GNC Quad Series' 70cc Production Class National Championship and, at Loretta Lynn's, took the podium in the 70cc mod class...

Suzuki returns the QuadRacer name.(ATV)(QuadRacer LTR450 )
October 17, 2005... DALLAS -- The last time anything with the QuadRacer name was in Suzuki's ATV lineup, there was someone else named George Bush in the White House and people had just started to surf the World Wide Web (text only, though). Now, 13 years...

BRP unveils DS250, plans to race.(ATV)
October 17, 2005... New products, and renewed energy, greeted dealers at Bombardier Recreational Products' 2006 business meeting in Whistler, British Columbia, in late September. BRP officials used the meeting to showcase one new ATV, and pledged to release new...

May's Cattie Shack.(Power Profile)
October 17, 2005... CONTACT May's Cattie Shack 18 Sweet Valley Road Hunlock Creek, PA 18621 570 256-3973 www.mayscattieshack.com OWNERS Gary and Cathy May, Jason May, son BUSINESS PROFILE May's Cattie Shack opened its...

Triumph, Ducati tap new agencies.(Cycle Update)
October 17, 2005... Triumph Motorcycles USA, Newnan, Ga., has signed a new public relations firm and Ducati North America, Cupertino, Calif., has tapped a new advertising agency. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Paul Wilmot Communications (PWC) has joined Triumph,...

Myrtle Beach mulls motorcycle rallies.(Cycle Update)(Obituary)
October 17, 2005... About 100 people gathered in Myrtle Beach, S.C., this month to listen to community and business leaders discuss possible solutions to problems arising from the area's two major motorcycle rallies--the Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers...

Hayes diesel cycle sets 8 world records.(Cycle Update)(Hayes Diversified Technologies)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... An American and British design and engineering team from Hayes Diversified Technologies (HDTUSA) used a diesel-powered motorcycle to establish eight world (FIM) and three American Motorcycle Association (AMA) records at Henry Ford's racecourse...

GSX-R celebration attracts thousands.(Cycle Update)
October 17, 2005... American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, Calif., said more than 4,000 GSX-R owners attended the GSX-R Owner Appreciation Celebration this summer at four Suzuki-sponsored AMA Superbike races, as well as the Suzuki Cyclefest in Copper...

Arizona cops to ride BMW.(Cycle Update)
October 17, 2005... The Arizona Department of Public Safety plans to buy approximately 35 BMW RT 1150P models by next summer while the Scottsdale Police Department is expected to add 18 bikes. They expect to pay approximately $18,000 per unit. The agencies are...

Design Association awards BMW HP2.(MOTORCYCLE)
October 17, 2005... The Motorcycle Design Association (MDA) awarded the BMW HP2 the Best of Show Award at the 2005 Paris Mondial du Deux Roues motorcycle show. Eight models were short-listed to be judged at the show by members of the MDA. Criteria covered...

Stellican plans Indian return.(MOTORCYCLE)
October 17, 2005... Stellican Limited, the London-based private equity firm that acquired the trademarks and related intellectual property of Indian Motorcycle Company in July 2004, has plans to begin producing motorcycles in 2006. "We're pleased to report...

Flat Out Motorcycle.(Power Profile)
October 17, 2005... CONTACT Flat Out Motorcycles 8118 E. Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46219 317 890-9110 www.flatoutmotorcycles.com OWNERS Bill Starkey BUSINESS PROFILE Flat Out Motorcycle started as a small repair...

Rough Rider Harley-Davidson.(Power Profile)
October 17, 2005... CONTACT Rough Rider Harley Davidson 515 20th Ave SE Minot, ND 58701 701 839-6330 OWNERS Marge and Bill Stork BUSINESS PROFILE Bill and Marge Stork own two Rough Rider Harley Davidson dealerships; one in...

Erico among Colorado's best.(MOTORCYCLE)
October 17, 2005... Denver-based Erico Motorsports was named one of the top three winners of Colorado's Top Company of the Year award, a competition sponsored by UMB Bank, Colorado Biz Magazine and Deloitte & Touche. The Top Company of the Year program was...

Mixed messages in the PWC market: the numbers are the best in years, yet new models are few. Are the manufacturers playing it smart ... or too safe? Part 1 of two parts.(PWC)(personal watercraft)
October 17, 2005... With the long-awaited market rebound finally finding traction, many industry observers and consumers waited anxiously for the 2006 model-year introductions. The thinking? Motivated and enthusiastic industry players would build upon this...

BRP: PWC need "aggressive" marketing.(Making Waves)(Sea-Doo)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... BRP unveiled its new Sea-Doo line at the company's 2006 dealer meeting, held in Whistler, B.C., Canada, in late September. Although BRP's high-end boats were tweaked with new gauges and targeted power boosts, the biggest news came at the entry...

Madison Bay Holdings plans military product.(Making Waves)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... Madison Bay Holdings, Inc., a Seattle-based supplier of recreational vehicles, powerboats and leisure watercraft, announced plans to modify certain watercraft for use by the military. Madison Bay Holdings' marine division is involved in...

The X-3: to be or not to be.(Making Waves)(Kawasaki)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... It's been a buzz on the Internet for some time, but sorry Kawasaki X-2 fans, the much-rumored X-3 may be for real, but not in the United States. According to Kawi's Russ Brennan, the company has seen little dealer demand for that type of...

Salvage firm to auction boats.(Making Waves)
October 17, 2005... Fort Lauderdale-based National Liquidators, a vessel recovery and remarketing firm, has announced plans to sell over the Internet as many as 800 boats damaged in Hurricane Katrina. The company has partnered with Boat U.S. to salvage and sell...

PWC to the rescue.(Making Waves)(Personal watercraft)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... Personal watercraft played a key role in recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina. K38 Water Safety's Shawn Alladio joined with members of the nonprofit Surfzone Relief Operation to provide logistical support to eight Urban Search and...

Snowmobile groups intervene in lawsuit.(Snowmobile Report)(Idaho State Snowmobile Association, BlueRibbon Coalition and American Council of Snowmobile Associations )(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... Snowmobile groups with an interest in the Selkirk Mountains in northern Idaho filed a motion on September 27 to intervene in lawsuit over snowmobile access to the area. These groups include the Idaho State Snowmobile Association (ISSA), the...

New track to open in Michigan.(Snowmobile Report)(United States Snowmobile Association)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... Competitive snowmobile events in 2006 may take place at a new site in Ontonagon, Mich., following the recent approval by the U.S. Snowmobile Association. The national event will draw hundreds of visitors to the area for a weekend in early...

Illinois snowmobile club marks 30 years.(Snowmobile Report)(Midway Sno-Busters Club)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... The Midway Sno-Busters Club, formed in 1975 in Pecatonica, Ill., celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The Midway Sno-Busters oversee and maintain approximately 85 miles of trails that connect the villages of Pecatonica, Davis, Dakota,...

Team Industries wins award.(Snowmobile Report)
October 17, 2005... Bagley, Minn.-based Team Industries was named in Start magazine as a winner in its eighth annual Technology and Business (T & B) Awards. The awards given to companies that use technology to achieve its goals or overcome obstacles. Team received...

Polaris program offers donations.(SNOWMOBILE)(Polaris Industries Inc. )
October 17, 2005... For each 2006 snowmobile Polaris Industries Inc. sells this year, the company will make a monetary donation to a state or provincial snowmobile association as a part of its new Winning Riders program. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The...

Waldoch Sports.(Power Profile)
October 17, 2005... CONTACT Waldoch Sports 13824 Lake Drive Forest Lake, MN 55025 (651) 464-5776 www.waldochsports.com OWNERS John and Barb Waldoch BUSINESS PROFILE Waldoch Sports was founded in 1980 as a Yamaha and...

White Brothers to expand engine development.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)
October 17, 2005... White Brothers Performance Products, Inc., Yorba Linda, Calif., plans to expand its line of performance engine part offerings by introducing special engine packages suitable for beginners to professional racers. White Brothers offers...

S & S graduates first class.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT )(S & S Training and Certification Facility)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... In other engine news, technicians from Arlen Ness Custom Motorcycles of Daytona are the first graduates at the new S & S Training and Certification Facility in La Crosse, Wis. Pro Tuning Center certification courses give students the...

China top scooter suppliers.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)(Buyang Group Co., Ltd. and China Xingyue Group Co., Ltd)(Brief Article)
October 17, 2005... Ever wonder who is responsible for producing many of the scooters imported into the U.S. from China? Global Sources, a business-to-business trade initiator, hosts the China Exporter of the Year Awards, an event the firm says is designed to...

The third P in Profit: processes; Strategy gets you on the field, but it's execution that pays the bills!(Dealer Checkup)
October 17, 2005... Right from the start, our 20-group members discover that success comes from working smarter, not harder. The "Four P's" I've been outlining in the past few articles are fundamental to "working smarter," and your Processes are one of those...

BUB takes advantage of Midwest resources.(AFTERMARKET)(BUB Enterprises)
October 17, 2005... JANESVILLE, Wis. -- Dennis Manning is a dyed-in-the-wool California guy, who built his Grass Valley-based BUB Enterprises operation from nothing to more than $12 million in about 27 years. It's grown quickly from only about $3 million at the...

Dealer profitability increases.(Top Guns)(market share and sales of Harley-Davidson Inc. and PowerHouse Dealer)
October 17, 2005... Overall dealer profitability, as measured by Top Gun dealers nationwide, climbed in August to 9.4%, up from 7.6% in July. Overall net profit for the year through August was 8.2%, up slightly from the 8% YTD figure recorded in July and the 7.8%...

Show season begins next month.(AFTERMARKET)
October 17, 2005... First established in 2004, Advanstar's second annual Big Twin West is scheduled to be held Nov. 18-20 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Organizers say the event is designed to provide manufacturers and distributors of...

Six requirements for the salesperson.(Sales Management)
October 17, 2005... Editor's note: This is the last in a series of articles that address implementing job descriptions for your sales department. A salesperson's job description should include requirements in six basic areas: General Requirements, Appearance,...