Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/208245
m k's he of all our SNOWMOBILE www.PowersportsBusiness.com owners, Michael Klassen, used to have a dealership, so he was selling sleds and stuff like that. We figure this is a good market to get into." The key to its gauges and tuner boxes involves monitoring performance vitals, such as pressure, boost, temperature and RPMs, or going further by changing the engine control unit (ECU) settings to be compatible with additional performance upgrades and unlock claimed performance gains tailored to many different applications. "We're looking to hit the monitoring aspect and the tuning aspect of ECUs on all the powersports vehicles," Vollmer said. "We're looking at snowmobiles right now, and getting into UTVs, so we're going to go all the way around and try to hit what we can." WORKING WITH PERFORMANCE SHOPS The big announcement at the Bully Dog booth was its new Powersports GT (gauge tuner) aimed at the snowmobile market. Its first applications are for 800cc variants of the Polaris RMK snowmobiles, one of many mountain-specific snowmobiles that are often modified for the extreme performance needed to climb the tallest peaks. While Bully Dog is starting small, it intends to cover the entire snowmobile market in due time. The company expects 600cc versions to follow, as well as products for Ski-Doo's mountain sleds. Part of its strategy involves teaming up with big-name performance shops like SLP, BoonDocker and Silber Turbos. In such arrangements, Bully Dog would provide the hardware, while the aftermarket shops will provide the tuning to maximize performance gains with modifications like pipes, cold-air intake upgrades or turbo systems. "Those are the guys that are out on the sleds all the time. They're developing product for these sleds, and we want something to help their products sell," Vollmer said. Bully Dog intends to sell its powersports products direct on its website, through dis- P32x34-PSB14-Snow.indd 33 Powersports Business • November 4, 2013 • 33 tributors and at select speed shops across the country. FUTURE GOALS As the company works to fill out its snowmobile product line, it's concurrently working on development for its on-dirt products in the side-by-side and ATV markets. Its current focus is the popular Polaris RZR model. "The RZR is going to get us a really good market share," Vollmer said. "We can monitor engine vitals right now and can give you all of the statistics and vitals of the engine. We want to actually get in there and change ECU settings, so we're working hard to get that done." In the side-by-side arena, the Arctic Cat Wildcat and Can-Am Commander will be its focus after working on the RZR. With inJarid Vollmer, of Bully Dog's race tech department, is an accomplished National Hot Rod Diesel Association racer. He brought his personal race truck to display the power gains the tuner product provides. house interest in dirt bikes, the company may also enter that market. While it expects to compete on price, Bully Dog plans to position its Idaho- built products as better able to handle the harsh environments and conditions its modules will encounter in snowmobile and off-road applications. PSB 10/30/13 12:57 PM