Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/561797
INNOVATION FROM WITHIN PSB FOCUS This issue: Snow Next issue: Metric Motorcycles www.PowersportsBusiness.com Powersports Business • September 17, 2015 • 17 Boisjoli plays key engineering role with new Pilot TS adjustable track BY KATE SWANSON ASSISTANT EDITOR For snowmobile terrain, Ski-Doo's new Pilot TS adjustable track solves headaches faster than any medicine. With a slight turn of the hand, the Pilot TS adjusts to more than 20 positions to fine tune handling to accom- modate changing trail conditions. The idea for the innovative ski came from BRP's CEO José Boisjoli, who shared his thoughts on the engineering process and idea behind the Pilot TS ski with Powersports Business. PSB: What made you first think of this idea for an adjustable ski? JOSÉ BOISJOLI: In the winter of 2009- 10, I was snowmobiling on a trail between Québec City and the Charlevoix region. On Saturday, the tem- perature was -10 degrees Celsius, and riding conditions were icy. All day I had a hard time controlling my snowmobile, even though I'm an experienced rider. My snowmobile was always darting. Needless to say, I did not enjoy my ride. The next morning, 3 to 4 inches of snow had fallen during the night, and the weather was around -2 degrees Celsius, which made for very nice riding conditions. Contrary to the previous day, my snowmobile rode magnificently. I realized that something had to be done to make sure that our clients would consistently enjoy rid- ing our products. The following Monday I went to see our Ski-Doo engi- neering team to brainstorm o n h o w w e could resolve the problem. It took a few y e a r s , b u t we did " " Our goal is to make Ski-Doo customers' ride the most enjoyable possible. — José Boisjoli, CEO of BRP read more from José on page 18. For snowmobile terrain, Ski-Doo's new Pilot TS adjustable track solves headaches faster than any medicine. With a slight turn of the hand, the Pilot TS adjusts to more than 20 positions to fine tune handling to accom- modate changing trail conditions. The idea for the innovative ski came from BRP's CEO José Boisjoli, who shared his thoughts on the engineering process and idea behind the Pilot TS ski with Powersports Business. for very nice riding conditions. Contrary to the previous day, my snowmobile rode magnificently. I realized that something had to be done to make sure that our clients would consistently enjoy rid- ing our products. The following Monday I went to see our Ski-Doo engi- " Our goal is to make Ski-Doo " Our goal is to make Ski-Doo " customers' ride the most enjoyable possible. — José Boisjoli u w w w . p o w e r s p o r t s b u s i n e s s . c o m NEWS: Record numbers for AIMExpo . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 3 FOCUS: Dealers look forward to snow season . . . . PAGE 23 CYCLE: Dealer focuses on adventure bikes . . . . . . PAGE 34 POWER 50: Motorcycle Mall's 40th anniversary . . . . . . PAGE 46 Powersports Business has learned that Capital One recently informed its OEM partners that it will no lon- ger be renewing contracts with them; it will be reducing investments in powersports and will eventually exit the business. Capital One's lineup of OEM partners for its factory credit card business includes Can-Am, Indian, Kawasaki, Polaris, Sea-Doo, Ski- Doo, Star Motorcycles and Yamaha. In fact, Kawasaki was the first power- sports OEM to offer retail financing to its customers, beginning as a Capital One partner in 1988. Yamaha became a Capital One partner in 1994, Polaris in 2005 and BRP in 2013. Each OEM will experience a differ- ent status as a result of the announce- INSPIRING SUCCESS THROUGH MARKET INTELLIGENCE Service attitude Motoprimo Motorsports in Lakeville, Minn. increases sales with the right attitude. SEE PAGE 36 HOTNEWS Best in snow Arctiva revamps its snowmobile apparel line for the 2015-16 season. SEE PAGE 26 New Cats Arctic Cat launches its 2016 side-by-side and ATV lineup. SEE PAGE 32 Vendors say 2015 was a banner year BY LIZ KEENER MANAGING EDITOR Final attendance numbers aren't in yet, but to say there were a lot of people and a lot of motor- cycles at the 75th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally would be an understatement. The South Dakota Department of Transportation reported 510,749 vehicles entered the city of Sturgis dur- ing the official rally days of Aug. 3-9. But those were just the official days. In the 10 days prior to the Aug. 3 start, another 454,381 vehicles were reported entering the small South Dakota city that's usually home to 6,627 people, according to the sign on the edge of town. And, of course, the DOT's number only includes those who made the trek into Sturgis, though activities were also going on in Rapid City, Deadwood and other nearby areas. And it only includes vehicle numbers, not the number of people on or in vehicles. Anecdotally, many of those working at vendor booths said the crowds were heavy, starting the middle of week prior. "I got here on Friday [July 31], and in talk- ing to the mayor and some of the city officials, they said that … at least the front tail, really there was a lot more traffic and attendees than they've seen in the past," said Mike McCann, director of North American Events and Strat- egy for Harley-Davidson. He added, "You can definitely feel the excite- ment, and you can notice it after having come for a number of years that this one's a little spe- cial, and there are more people out there." Knowing that the 75th would be a banner year, the industry and others who frequent Sturgis to sell their wares were ready. The city issued 903 temporary vendor licenses this year, only 40 less than were distributed dur- ing the record-attendance-setting 60th rally in 2000, reported the Meade County Times- Tribune. And some vendors were open as early as Saturday, July 25, when Black Hills Harley- Davidson's Rally at Exit 55 launched its pre- rally festivities. Three exhibitors that were more than excited for the big anniversary year were OEMs Harley-Davidson, Polaris (Indian, Vic- tory, Slingshot) and Can-Am. HARLEY-DAVIDSON It had been clear for more than six months that See Sturgis, Page 6 PSB: FOCUS SNOW SEE PAGE 17 Big launch for Kawasaki Mule Pro-FX See Hot News, Page 3 September 17, 2015 • Volume 18, Number 11 • $3.99 Major retail financer exiting powersports industry attendance The South Dakota Department of Transportation reports that 965,130 vehicles entered the city of Sturgis from July 24-Aug. 9. This photo was taken on Monday, Aug. 3, the first official day of the rally, and the day the most vehicles (96,409) were reported entering the city. REVS UP 75 th STURGIS RALLY California's wine country provides ideal backdrop for work, play BY DAVE MCMAHON EDITOR IN CHIEF Sitting inside a well-appointed hotel in Paso Robles, Calif., the media launch of the Kawa- saki Mule Pro-FX and Pro-FXT Ranch Edition was still a day away. Yet key players in the development of the Mule Pro-FX platform from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan had just entered the lobby and were grinning ear- to-ear. The group had just returned from an afternoon of shopping at some outdoor- and powersports-industry retailers, and had gained a much better understanding of the side-by- side marketplace. Minoru Kanamori is a jack-of-all-trades for Kawasaki Motors Corp., technically the R&D See Mule, Page 13 The Kawasaki Mule Pro-FX features a 812cc 3-cylinder engine.