Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/730410
4 • October 3, 2016 • Powersports Business NEWS www.PowersportsBusiness.com www.powersportsbusiness.com Editorial and Sales: 763.383.4400 Subscriber Service: 847.513.6025 EDITOR IN CHIEF: Dave McMahon 763/383-4411 (dmcmahon@powersportsbusiness.com) MANAGING EDITOR: Liz Keener 763/383-4413 (lkeener@powersportsbusiness.com) ASSISTANT EDITOR: Kate Swanson 763/383-4412 (kswanson@powersportsbusiness.com) DIGITAL MARKETING COORDINATOR: Shauna Spencer MANAGING ART DIRECTOR: Dodi Vessels ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR: Nicole Siewert PRODUCTION ARTIST: Kelsey Houle PRODUCTION MANAGER: Angela Schmieg PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Cherri Perschmann NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Allison Gruhn 763/383-4467 (agruhn@powersportsbusiness.com) NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Mark Rosacker 763/383-4433 (mrosacker@powersportsbusiness.com) NATIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE Michael Kula 763/383-4440 (mkula@powersportsbusiness.com) CEO: Marion Minor SR. VICE PRESIDENT/FINANCE & OPERATIONS: Gerald Winkel SR. VICE PRESIDENT/MARKET DEVELOPMENT: Joanne Juda-Prainito GROUP PUBLISHER/MOTORCYCLE, POWERSPORTS: David J. Voll SALES OPERATIONS MANAGER: Bernadette Wohlman CONTRIBUTORS: COLUMNISTS: Mark Mooney, Sam Dantzler DEALER ADVISORY BOARD: Hooksett Kawasaki-Polaris, Jim Whalley; Hacker's Yamaha & Honda, Rick Hacker; Honda/Polaris of Lubbock, Morris Baker; All Action Water Sports, Ray Leps POWERSPORTS BUSINESS (ISSN #1522-7944) is published 15 times per year – monthly except twice in May and December, the Market Data Book in September – by EPG Media/Specialty Information Media, 10405 6th Avenue North, Suite 210 Minneapolis, MN 55441. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN and additional mailing offices. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: Free to qualified members of the motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, snowmobile and personal watercraft industries. Annual subscription rate is $56 per year for U.S residents, $76 for Canadian residents and $96 for residents in other countries. 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Copyright 2016 by EPG Media & Specialty Information. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited unless expressly authorized by publisher. REPRINTS: For more information on e-prints or reprints from Powersports Business, contact Robin Cooper, 763/383-4400 ext. 4491. Printed in U.S.A. watercraft and the Spyder, and obviously, the Maverick X3 was the biggest news of the event. But overall, I'm very happy. There was a good reaction worldwide." MAVERICK X3 Can-Am's latest off-road model was sure to be the highlight, as the brand began releasing teasers on July 28 and continued sharing teaser photos and video up until the unveil. The 154 hp, turbocharged X3 with a 102- inch wheelbase and up to 24 inches of suspen- sion was immediately a hit among dealers. Two X3s were driven from backstage to pass each other in front of the stage before each sit- ting atop their own dirt platforms flanking the stage. Trophy truck racer BJ Baldwin and rally car driver Ken Block then described their expe- riences riding the side-by-side in the desert. As soon as the presentation was over, deal- ers clamored to the units in front of them, as well as those in the Club BRP showroom to get a better look. Can-Am then set up a live video reveal on Facebook, shot from the showroom. The video has earned 72,000 views and nearly 1,000 comments. Boisjoli describes the Maverick X3 and the Defender, released in 2015, as Can-Am's sec- ond generation of side-by-sides, following the release of the first generation Commander and the original Maverick, which were unveiled in 2010 and 2012, respectively. "We designed from a white piece of paper, a brand-new sport side-by-side, and the results are, I would say, outstanding," he told Powers- ports Business. BRP relied on its experience in developing high-performance snowmobiles, ATVs and watercraft when creating this new flagship for the side-by-side line. "The high end, the sport unit, is always building the halo over the brand. And for us, now the Can-Am X3 is, I believe, the best sport side-by-side on the market. It's raising the image of the overall Can-Am brand, which is very beneficial," Boisjoli said. Dealers appeared to be equally excited, as trying to get near an X3 in the showroom immediately following the unveil was nearly impossible, and conversations overheard throughout the showroom were enthusiastic. "My first reaction: amazing! It looks awe- some and rides awesome," reported Eric Osner, president of Crossroad Powersports in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. With orders coming into the dealership as soon as he returned from Orlando, Osner was positive the X3 will be a good seller in his area. Chris Watts, vice president of America's Motor Sports, with three locations in Tennes- see, also received deposits in the first week after the X3 was unveiled. "I was excited to see BRP come out with a machine that surpasses the competition, not just catch up to it," he said. Wade Rice, owner of Rice Honda Suzuki in Rapid City, South Dakota, was impressed with the seating position, the motor platform and the shocks. "The 64-inch is going to sell better in South Dakota because the trail systems are narrower, so at least when they take the same 64 to the dunes, they've still got all the horsepower they need," he said. T h e s i d e - b y - s i d e comes in three configura- tions: the 64-inch-wide Maverick X3 and Mav- erick X3 X ds, and the 72-inch-wide Maverick X3 X rs. 2017 SEA-DOOS Though the Maverick X3 was the star of the night, the first vehicle to drop from the ceiling at the Orange County Conven- tion Center was the Sea- Doo Spark Trixx. Designed specifically for novices to perform tricks on the water, the Spark Trixx offers a Vari- able Trim System (VTS), handlebars with an adjust- able riser and step wedges. Clearly targeted at the mil- lennial market, the Spark Trixx was another can't-miss in the Club BRP showroom. A stand held a unit upright in a mock tail-stand with a mannequin on board to demonstrate the Trixx's abilities. "Everything around Spark is successful. We introduced the unit in 2013, and the Spark did what we wanted — it re-sparked the industry by bringing new customers to the store, it energized the dealer, and all of this is positive momentum," Boisjoli said. "Now the Spark Trixx is a different thing, and I think it will bring even more younger people than the existing Spark." Dealers were also happy to hear the price on the recreation GTI and GTS models has been lowered for 2017. The GTS now starts at $7,699, while the 2017 GTI has an $8,899 start- ing MSRP. Both models also had their engines swapped out for the 900 ACE HO and dropped 150 pounds by adding the Polytec hull. Watts said, "I believe the lower pricing will help us take some more share away from Yamaha. I know we get some budget-minded customers that don't want the Spark that gravi- tate to the VX, so I believe this will keep them on a Sea-Doo." "The watercraft industry since 2013 is growing again. Dealers are coming out of an excellent season, and that's everywhere in the world," Boisjoli explained. "Because dealers had a very good season, the mood with the new models was very positive. And I could not be more happy with our watercraft busi- ness right now." "Everybody's going to want to do that," Rice said about the Trixx's tail-stands. "[Sea- Doo is] definitely bringing the watercraft market back to life and keeping the price down to where people can afford them. It's just good family fun. You see so many people buy those, and it's a good thing to go on the weekend, and everybody can have a good time. Sea-Doos are an awesome product for bringing the family together." Another dealer from Texas said with two large lakes nearby, he'll sell more Sparks with the Trixx in the lineup, but the GTI, which is a top seller in his area, should also move well with the lower price. BRP CONTINUED FROM THE COVER Spyder showcased its new F3 Limited in the Club BRP showroom. Sea-Doo unveiled the Spark Trixx as well as updates to other models. See BRP, Page 5 BRP president and CEO José Boisjoli, right, talks to dealers in the Club BRP showroom at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando.