Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/164037
6 • September 9, 2013 • Powersports Business NEWS www.PowersportsBusiness.com Suzuki unveils 2014 GSX-R1000 SE Limited edition of 50 bikes available from U.S. dealers In honor of its 50th Anniversary in America, Suzuki has introduced the limited-production Suzuki GSX-R1000 SE. A total of 50 numbered motorcycles will be sold through Suzuki dealers in America. Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) unveiled the bike during its 50th Anniversary celebration held at the Suzuki Fan Paddock during the Indy MotoGP weekend. The sport bike has many custom-designed features found SUZUKI COVER CONTINUED FROM American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) could serve as a welcome-back party for one of the cornerstone street and off-road manufacturers in the country. Powersports Business recently spoke with SMAI's Rod Lopusnak, general manager national sales, for his take on the company's future opportunities, its biggest challenges and what's ahead for the company. PSB: How did the restructuring position Suzuki Motor of America Inc. for success? ROD LOPUSNAK: Although we lost some of our peers on the auto side and it was sad to see Suzuki elect to stop selling cars in the U.S., for us on the motorcycle, ATV [and] marine side, it gives us a huge opportunity … a lot of factory support from Japan always went to the auto division. Now, when we need support — whether it's advertising dollars or focus on new product development, anything that falls under the umbrella — our parent's only talking to us now. We don't have a brother trying to steal some of our food. PSB: Other than losing the auto business, were there any other losses to your operation? RL: No. The beautiful thing is since we solidified Suzuki Motor of America we've been adding people. We've reorganized our whole sales force; we've actually brought over a good amount of people from the auto division to the motorcycle division, so those are just added benefits. It's been excellent. We've got more resources already, and it's hard for anybody to see that immediately, but given time, they're going to. Ultimately it gets down to the customer, and that's what we all want. It will make the industry stronger, it will make Suzuki stronger, and that's the key. on no other GSX-R models. Total worldwide production is 100 models. Pricing and availability will be announced soon, SMAI said. Built around the Suzuki GSX-R1000 that has won more AMA Superbike Championships than any other motorcycle in the class, the SE model adds style that is most evident in the polished and chrome-plated frame, plus the machined and polished chrome rims with clear-coated blue spokes. From its front air intake to the muffler end cap, this GSX-R SE serves up special appeal. Matching the blue wheel spokes and ram-air intake ports, the SE's fork tubes and other specompete directly with other brands, so it gives us a little bit of a monopoly for our dealers. Adventure touring, the V-Strom series, has done exceptionally well and I see a lot of future growth there. And, of course, our company DNA is the sport bike market, so I see us continuing to grow there as well. Last year we were up 21 percent in our ATVs. PSB: What's happening with your ATV lineup? RL: Our KingQuad lineup's doing really well. The QuadSport Z400 returned for 2012. There's actually more demand than we have product right now, so we're looking to increase production and fill some holes, but we want to do it cautiously. We want a nice, consistent, healthy growth instead of any big spikes. Another market that we're going to see growth in is the kids market for ATV. Because of all the lead issues, we've seen that really go away, so you're starting to see it really pick up across the board. Year-to-date, I think that market's up 5 percent, and last year it closed strong with a 9-percent increase over the previous year. We haven't jumped back in, but in the very near future … just before the holidays we will be jumping back in. We're going to return our QuadSport Z90 back, so I think that will be a nice lift for our dealers as well. PSB: How about the LT-R450 quad? RL: Not yet — we're still working on that. That model has a big piece of my heart, so that's definitely on our wish list. The sport segment is still … flattened out, so hopefully we'll see a turnaround. Last month, July, was a great month for sport. It was one of the first months in a long time that we've seen nice growth in the sport segment, so if we can see Production of the Suzuki GSXR-1000 SE is limited to 100 worldwide. the growth keep going there, then I think we have an opportunity to see the LT-R return in the future. PSB: Is SMAI developing a side-by-side? RL: We're a motorcycle, ATV [and] scooter company, and right now with our new company, 100 percent of our resources are focused on that and really setting our foundation in those three areas. Side-by-side, of course, is a piece under the powersports umbrella, so we continue to look at it and evaluate it, but there's no other information I can give you right now. There are a lot of players in that market space, but that's not to say that we will or won't get in, but at this time there are no immediate plans. cially selected components are anodized blue. That exclusive component finish is added to the fork adjusters, the steering stem nut and the ring surrounding the tachometer. Suzuki added a polished exhaust and muffler combination that's finished with a black anodized endcap. It also has a bluecolored chain, and the clutch cover, generator cover and rear shock spring are given a blue finish. The bikes also have an individually numbered serial plate secured to the bike's triple clamp, denoting each as one of only 100 built in the world. PSB the brands, and the good thing is there's a lot of incredible product out there — that's what's great for the end customer. I still believe 100 percent that if someone gets on a KingQuad and they get on a competitive model of equal price points and engines, we're extremely competitive. PSB: How do you see the ATV market long term, given the growth of side-by-sides? RL: I think there's a solid foundation for ATVs out there that for riders who want to go out and enjoy something on their own, very similar to guys who ride off-road motocross, indoor or any type of off-road. They like the individual part of the ride and I think there's a piece of that with ATVs that is coming back. Not everybody wants to have somebody behind them or next to them. PSB: How competitive is Suzuki in the street and dirt motorcycle segments? Do you need to play any catch up? PSB: How about the youth ATV segment? RL: No, I definitely don't think that we need to RL: When you take our Little League away play catch up. The thing about powersports is that it's product driven. The latest and greatest gets the most buzz, but … we're very competitive in every segment. for two, almost three years with the lead law, we basically stopped Little League for ATVs. If you stopped Little League for three years, all those kids are going to go do other things. That wasn't good for our industry, it wasn't good for ATVs in total, and it forced kids and parents to go out and make different recreational choices. That had a direct impact then, and it still has an impact today. PSB: Are you looking to enter any new product segments in the near future? RL: I would say not in the immediate future. Our immediate future is to improve our core and what we do really well. PSB: With a lot of new technology and engines in the ATV market, what do you need to compete? RL: In the 750 category we're extremely competitive. I think that we still have a phenomenal engine. I've spent a lot of time on ATVs, on all P01x07-PSB11-News.indd 6 ap th Mo eve tes me Da cia dev shi au the pu do al go pa go Do sti tra to exa all the wo yo Do Ap wi on is i RL: We're excited to be a part of it. I think it's a unique platform that AIMExpo's trying to bring to the U.S. I've spent some time at the Cologne [INTERMOT] show in the past, and I think it's a similar platform, so I think it will be very exciting for consumers. The dealers will have the opportunity to see a lot and also learn a lot, so we're going to use that as a focal point to kick off some of the new stuff that we have to show for 2014. years. During the recent turmoil, were you worried for your job security? Motocross, I still see us growing very strong there. Dual sport has been exceptional for us. I think with gas being … higher than the general public likes, it seems the dual sport does very well for us. What's nice about our brand and lineup is we have some unique models that don't W Da rea tom sto CO growth coming from? RL: It really goes across the board. BY AIMExpo? PSB: You've been with the company for 17 PSB: Any segment in particular? A PSB: What are you planning for the PSB: Where do you see the company's future RL: If you go back to 2006, our industry was at 1.8 million units, and now it's settled down around 650,000 [units]. I think the industry as a whole has balanced out, and we're definitely seeing growth so, honestly, across the board … we see growth everywhere. ww RL: There was honestly never a point that I was worried. It's simple to … look at Suzuki Motor Corporation's health. They're extremely profitable and very strong financially. The economic downturn affected everybody from the guy who delivers your mail to the gas station you go to every day. It was a huge impact. I think the issue of our industry losing 800,000 to a million units a year is a much bigger issue for everybody in this industry. [Suzuki] just elected to go down a path, we made a left, some other guys made a right, some other guys went off road. It will be interesting five years from now when you go back and review it all and see who took the best trail. PSB 8/28/13 10:01 AM ou jus tio its as tio co do rad cu in ou up ren inv inc on fun are the