Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/561797
8 • September 17, 2015 • Powersports Business NEWS www.PowersportsBusiness.com them to really learn about our brands, so it's extremely important to our calendar year just as Daytona is and some of the other ral- lies that we go to, that we support. But being able to get face to face with your customer and trying to talk about your brand and your product, you can't replace that with anything else," he said. Even by the afternoon of the first day of the rally, Menneto noted that traffic had been up, with a good-sized crowd forming as early as Wednes- day, July 29. Polaris not only saw interested par- ties who currently ride bikes from other brands, but the OEM's employees also had the chance to interact with droves of people who already ride Indian, Victory or Slingshot motorcycles. "A lot of folks back in Medina [Minne- sota] and Spirit Lake [Iowa] and Wyoming [Minn.] and Osceola [Wisconsin], they all put their hearts and souls into these two brands [Indian and Victory]. And it's really cool to see as you look up and down the strip, there are a lot more Indians and Victorys at this rally, and we love seeing that. And then, of course, we have Slingshot, and it's cool to see that, and people are getting into that brand, too. And even here you see our off- road Rangers and RZRs running around," Menneto said. "When you look at Polaris at Sturgis, and you look at all the different brands and vehicles we have, we're loving where we are. We're proud of where we are in terms of our market share and where we are in terms of how many vehicles you see and how many satisfied customers we have." CAN-AM SPYDER Joining Harley-Davidson and Polaris down- town for the first time ever was BRP's Can-Am Spyder. The brand had previously attended Sturgis, offering test rides at a site outside of the city, but for the 75th, Can-Am had a whole new presence on Fourth Street between Main and Lazelle streets. "This year we wanted to have a down- town presence, be down in the heart of everything," explained Brian Manning of Spyder media relations. On top of its first-ever downtown booth, Spyder also launched an all-new model in Sturgis, revealing the 2016 F3-S Special Series in Triple Black on Friday, July 31. Manning said the black-on-black-on-black Spyder was perfect for the Sturgis crowd. "Definitely, they like it. They come by and say, 'I like the white; it looks sharp. I like the touring one; it looks sharp. But, man, this colorway; it's awesome; I've got to have one,'" Manning said. "Or they'll look at it and say, 'My wife's going to want this,' and they'll walk away with their head down," he laughed. Spyder also had its touring models on dis- play and demonstrated the UFit System on the F3 models as well. "The reception's been awesome," Manning said on the first day of the rally. "We've gotten a ton of foot traffic and a great opportunity to cross paths with people that are walking around the streets." The downtown display not only gave Spy- der an opportunity to show its motorcycles to those who were walking around downtown, but it also gave the brand another oppor- tunity to encourage riders to visit Hesrud's Chevrolet in Sturgis, where Spyder hosted factory test rides. "We're doing demo promotions here, so we'll let people know that the demo truck isn't too far away. They can sign up for them, head up and take a test ride, so we'll get them a nice quality test ride. It's a beautiful area out here, obviously, with the hills and stuff, and it's a lot of fun," Manning said. Though two-wheelers were the dominant rides during the Sturgis Rally, one didn't have to go far to find Spyders among the pack. "Just driving into town you just see a lot of Spyders out on the road, and we love that," Manning said. "Sturgis is a place for all motorcyclists; it's a Harley-type event, but at the end of the day, it's people that love just riding in the open air. Spyder gives you all of that; it's the freedom of the open road, and to see as many Spyders as we do on the road is just incredible." 2016 RALLY The 75th Sturgis Rally concluded on Sunday, Aug. 9, but the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally website already has started its countdown for the 76th rally, which is set for Aug. 8-14, 2016. PSB STURGIS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 An Indian Motorcycle staffer assists a rider in getting fit for handlebars on the Indian Scout at the Polaris booth on Lazelle Street. Polaris doubled the size of its display from 2014 to 2015. Brian Manning (back to camera) talks to prospects at Spyder's first-ever downtown Sturgis exhibit.