Monday, August 30, 2010

Dealer News and a lack if investigative journalism

It's a sad trend in the industry when we are down to three magazines for dealers MPN, Dealer News, and Powersports Business. Scooter dealers only count on Scoot but its mostly geared towards the consumers. It's really not a consumers magazine place to educate dealers about how to run a better shop or let you know which distributor has closed, but from time to time it happens. Still I think we've gotten to the point where no magazine can report the news for fear of reprisal and for the fact they all want to stay in business. The only good sources of information are bloggers like Guido Ebert and associated sites of professional journalists who have left the corporate world.

The economic tsunami has destroyed a lot of supply chains for parts. We've tried to get the word out on many issues like parts and where to get them. Even when we didn't buy the company I let dealers know who did and where they can get the stuff.

In the meantime what I see is a lack of professional journalism. Instead of reporting what is really going on everyone is pandering for the next ad. For example not telling dealers the distributor they are taking ads from also owns several retail outlets or sells replacement parts on EBAY. The average dealer won't know this and the average employee at the dealership will never find out because they don't have the time to investigate, but if the principal knew at the time of choosing a new brand he might not pick up a brand that drop ships and sells on Ebay. Why don't magazines list this next to every scooter brand when they do a market survey or a review of product on sale? Because it would cost them ads.

The worst situation is when you see magazines that in the past were flooded with hundreds of ads from China. Advanstar management decided that US distributors at the Dealer Expo have to pay in advance to exhibit, but the Chinese companies got away with putting a deposit down. Do you know how many Chinese companies never paid their bill? Why did Americans have to pay up front and the Asians who helped cause this mess never pay? All these policies should be reported on and exposed for what they are. If anything I think a magazine that reports on its own mistakes would be a better magazine.

We should also expose the companies that run ponzi schemes be it a Go Kart distributor selling penny stocks or a scooter importer asking dealers to buy shares. We have too many of these. Earlier this year we heard from several dealers that purchased shares in a Chinese distributor out of Texas. The Chinese importer sold shares to dealers who purchased the scooters for $500 a piece and with every scooter got shares, so they loaded up on 2007 and 2008 models of scooters that are still sitting on the floors today with no parts, support, or warranty. All of them thought they could sell these shares at a later date. The company is now gone.

Are the dealers to blame? Yes, partially, but is so is the media because I saw their ads in the Dealer News magazine and after this all went down nobody reported anything. It's like when Daelim closed. The only magazine that reported that MRP purchased some Daelim parts was Powersports Business. I have to commend them for that because they were more than happy to take ads from Daelim Motors USA and when they closed they did a service to the dealers by following up and letting them know MRP now had parts.

Right now some magazines are in an interesting position. You won't see Dealer News talking about Powersports Factory because they are in litigation.

For example Dealer News magazine is still suing Powersports Factory which by all accounts if you read this link to the SEC info has no assets and only $900, Why hasn't Dealer News reported on this since its important for scooter dealers to know this stuff. Most dealerships will not take the time to read the financials on a company all they care about is that they are buying a $500 scooter. This is the type of stuff they need to know. Sadly they dont have the time to be informed and thats what they count on the magazines for.

Advanstar Commnications, Inc. v. Power Sports Factory, Inc. & Shawn Landgraf
Advanstar Communications filed suit against us in the Superior Court of New Jersey on August 19, 2009, for $43,955 for advertising services, all of which is included in accounts payable. The Company intends to settle this lawsuit.

Read more: http://www.faqs.org/sec-filings/100623/Power-Sports-Factory-Inc_10-Q/#ixzz0y6SzB22Q

What I have discovered is that short of the major brands. Most fourth tier brands owe money to the magazines. So everyone is stuck between a rock and a hard place. You can't say so and so owes me money because then you will never get paid. Worse yet there could be a flood tomorrow in their warehouse and you will certainly be at the end of the list if you don't say something nice. So we've seen this across the board from Team Joyner closing, Daelim, United Motors ( United Motors was on cover Dealer News and had spreads in Motorcycle News at one point ) yet nobody really covered these stories. TANK Powersports is the biggest one I can think of, when they closed they owed so many magazines money it wasn't even funny. I can only imagine if some of these brands had paid their bills magazines like Scooter World and Motorcycle Industry would still be around. It's a real shame because one hand feeds another and now more than ever dealers need to know that the company they are buying from isn't running some Ponzi scheme or liquidating bikes.

Maybe its just me, but I believe in that the more information out there the market however small will be able to grow once all the scams and fly by night operations leave. Thoughts?


Why It's Important To Wear More Than Just A Helmet On Your Scooter ARMADILLO SCOOTER WEAR

By Rob Huddlestone
Reprinted from FreeArticle Zine

ARMADILLO
It is often said that it is of the utmost importance to wear the correct protection if you are riding a motorbike, though you don’t ever hear the same said about those on scooter. With traffic levels on our roads increasing, it is more important than ever for the modern scoorterist to be both stylish and safe on the roads. Personal safety is obviously more important than personal appearance.

When a scooterist comes to choose their next piece of scooter wear, not only must they consider what they thinks looks good, but they must also be careful to ensure that their clothing will offer them the ultimate in protection because they’re going to need it if they were to be involved in a road accident.

If they are correctly manufactured a scooter jacket, gloves and waterproofs can make all the difference if a rider was to fall off, this is because it will always hurt! Even during the summer when the weather is hot and wearing additional clothing is uncomfortable, you should always ensure it is worn regardless. If you were ever fortunate enough to have an accident, you’d be glad you did.

If the scooter clothing is made from d30 body armour, you can be certain that the level of protection is the highest on the market. The d30 pads provide max comfort in terms of flexibility & softness at slow rates of movement, but when there is an impact at high speed, the d30 demonstrates high quality shock absorption whereby the Intelligent Molecules lock and spread the force of the impact over the whole pad.

The d30 body armour will conform to the size and shape of your body whilst remaining invisible within your jacket, whilst still providing top quality shock absorption when required.

At the end of the day, when riding your scooter you’re going to need more than just a helmet. The next time you are purchasing scooter clothing, keep in mind that protection and comfort are just as important as how good you look.

Armadillo Scooter Wear are an online stockists of scooter jackets for men and women. All their clothing is made with d30 body armour to guarantee comfort and protection.

You can buy Armadillo Scooter Wear in the USA from any MRP dealership that is listed as a stocking Armadillo USA store or from http://www.CycleGear.com click on places to buy or retailers on the MRP website http://www.mrp-speed.com




Saturday, August 28, 2010

Dealers need to show they care.

Caring about your buyers also involves helping those that don't drive the brands you sell. My word of advice for new shops and older shops is take advantage of all the brands that have left the market by offering service to those customers.

In this evolving economy the difference between a scooter shop that cares and one that doesn't is more evident than ever. If someone comes into the shop with a Yamati QJ made scooter and you turn him away you might be turning away 10 potential repairs. It's important to know you can get these parts by contacting MRP. Many of the distributors have less expensive Chinese parts, but nobody and I mean NOBODY is the US has 12,000 SKUs of these hard to find parts for these brands like we do.

We've seen several hundred dealerships close in the past year and in many cases when I look at the name I know the history of the store. I've personally have visited several hundred shops in the last ten years and I know many Vespa shops and Honda shops that both refused to repair or service anything made in China. Well guess what many of those Hondas and Vespas have Chinese components or are made in CHINA. That's right. All the new Zongshen Piaggio scooters and Aprilia Jincheng Scooters come from China and I hate having to point this out to mechanics and dealers when they say "we don't repair Chinese." They already do they just aren't sufficiently educated with the product they sell.

The more sophisticated shop owner will know that the key to staying in business is advertising the right BUZZ words. So if the local CPI shop closed you should put that in your ads. YOU REPAIR MZ, CPI, ITALJET, MALAGUTI. Pick any brand that left the market in your local community that you can get parts for. Redstreak yes we have QMB and GY6 parts, LIFAN? LINHAI? yes we can get those parts. VENTO? We have an MRP account we can find Vento parts when the other dealers can't. That needs to be your response and add that to every single aspect of your company from Facebook to Myspace to the local paper ad.

Scooter riders expect dealers to help them. They might not be fully aware of Powersports Factory closing or not having a parts warehouse all they know is the dealer down the street sold them a scooter and now they need QJ parts. All they know is you have a repair shop and either you want to help them or you don't. We have to adapt to this new economy and rise and say YES I need to change my tactics and advertise I repair Andretti scooters. By doing this you can get every single rider of that brand in your area to come to your dealership. Think about how many local CPI, Andretti, QJ, Vento, CPI, Cubik, Diamo, Italjet, TNG Scooter dealers closed? Reach out to the hundreds of riders on the roads with these brands and you will get them as your clients.

MRP is here to help you and the dealers that are taking advantage of this are making money on repairs. All the industry projects point to this being the biggest side of the business in 2011. The question is will your dealership adapt? or will it continue with the same formula of 2008?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcxQGD2szTY



Make sure to offer parts for Benelli and other scooters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3eaouEFnT8


MRP Offers ZNEN Motor parts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK87OBdaCGA

ZNEN parts that work on TNG, LANCE, BMS, QLINK, SSP, FLY we take a closer look on how we do support for brands such as ZNEN MOTOR which have had multiple US importers for the same part numbers - AT MRP we use both the TNG and ZNEN factory numbers when doing a search on our site. The manuals are on our website to help you if you don't know the part number. http://www.mrp-speed.com

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO ON ALL THESE BRANDS SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE MONEY
Manuals
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=Manuals.htm

Stocking Dealer locator
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/locator/index.php


MRP distributes OEM parts for TNG (CMSI) select models of CF Moto Daelim Motors Korea ( parts should appear on website by mid July) Malaguti of Italy (www.Malaguti.com) Keeway Southeast (Keeway Vento QJ Andretti Yamati models) CPI Taiwan Powersports Factory Brands PSF Diamo Cubik (matches OEM Vento part numbers) as well as QJ and ZNEN (who manufacture bikes for a variety of scooter importers) such as FlyScooters Lance BMS Qlink models that were ZNEN corresponding to matching TNG parts.

Fall is almost here Get Ready to Make Real Money with Armadillo via #constantcontact

Fall is almost here Get Ready to Make Real Money with Armadillo via #constantcontact

THE FULL ARMADILLO SCOOTER CLOTHING LINE IS HERE CONTACT US NOW TO BECOME A DEALER

Friday, August 27, 2010

Happy Malaguti Yesterday owner



Happy Malaguti Yesterday owner

If you need parts for your scooter including Malaguti make sure to visit
http://www.mrp-speed.com we have all the Malaguti parts in stock.

DO YOU NEED PARTS FOR A MALAGUTI? http://www.martinracingdealer.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=Manuals.htm

TO ORDER MALAGUTI PARTS contact
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/locator/index.php



MRP distributes OEM parts for TNG (CMSI) select models of CF Moto Daelim Motors Korea ( parts should appear on website by mid July) Malaguti of Italy (www.Malaguti.com) Keeway Southeast (Keeway Vento QJ Andretti Yamati models) CPI Taiwan Powersports Factory Brands PSF Diamo Cubik (matches OEM Vento part numbers) as well as QJ and ZNEN (who manufacture bikes for a variety of scooter importers) such as FlyScooters Lance BMS Qlink models that were ZNEN corresponding to matching TNG parts.

Every scooter is someone's first ride we help the dealers and consumers find those hard to find parts. Doesn't matter what brand it is we've been doing the Chinese scooter parts thing since 2004 so we can help you find the right part.

Since January 2009 MRP has expanded by acquiring the QJ -- Keeway Southeast distribution parts warehouse the Diamo USA / LS Motorsports / Italjet USA parts warehouse CPI -- TAIWAN Distribution and TNG Scooters.

The company has OEM parts for Malaguti scooters of Italy Benelli (acquired by QJ in 2006) the Italian brand now made in China and sold in the USA under the Andretti name MH Motorhispania of Spain RX Loncin Lifan Linhai Zongshen Wangye MS UTVs and CPI Taiwan. In addition the company distributes performance parts from Athena Malossi Turbo Kit Innova Vee Rubber Duro Bando Gates Powerlink Posh Maxxis Namura Scooter Ninja Slipstreamer and MRP.

Products carried by MRP can be obtain exclusively at select Motorcycle Dealerships and Repair Shops in the USA. MRP is the one stop wholesale ONLY scooter buggy and ATV parts distributor. For a list of retailers visit www.mrp-speed.com
When it comes to parts we have it all:

Melgar Colombia Festival de las motos parte 3 SCOOTERS Y REPUESTOS!

Melgar Colombia Festival de las motos parte 3 SCOOTERS Y REPUESTOS! http://www.mrp-speed.com

On-line Shop de las piezas del scooter y del ciclomotor

MRP Continúa patrocinando a técnicos y pilotos en los Estados Unidos Puerto Rico y Panama de todas las especialidades del mundo del motor a los que asesora compartiendo con ellos todos los avances técnicos obtenidos que hacen evolucionar hacia un futuro siempre mejor el mundo de la moto al que seguimos dedicando nuestro esfuerzo y cariño todo el equipo que formamos esta empresa.
En nuestra pagina de web pueden ordenar para su tienda y en la misma semana les llega desde Buenos Aires a Bogota. La pagina tiene mas de 12 000 piezas con todos los nuevos diseños de artículos tanto en cilindros bielas cigüeñales encendidos electrónicos pistones culatas etc... que son probados en nuestros modernos bancos de pruebas con el fin de ofrecer a nuestros clientes los productos verificados con la total garantía de calidad. http://www.mrp-speed.com para lo mejor en el mundo de los scooters!


Hablamos tu idioma haci que llamen!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Visiting a Top Dealer The Skoot Skate Bike!

Why are they so good at making repairs? What is the secret?

Why do stores with ten times the employees, ten times the size and bigger brands fail and these guys grow? Because the owner advertises that he REPAIRS EVERYTHING. His adds feature all the brands even the ones he doesn't carry and his mechanics call / visit MRP once a week.

That's right. Look up the newspaper and online ads and they read " WE REPAIR MALAGUTI, ITALJET, APRILIA, VESPA, PIAGGIO, CFMOTO, TNG SCOOTERS, CPI SCOOTERS AND MORE! - He follows exactly what the Maven preaches.

So when other stores go out of business despite having more money its for a reason. Darren repairs Peugeots, United Motors, Daelims, all brands that nobody has parts for MRP we are proud to be part of his success.

http://www.mrp-speed.com

How some stores are successful and others fail

How some stores are successful and others fail

In the past two years we've watched over 500 retailers close in the US market. Many of them failed for good reason. They did not offer to repair other brands or models other than the ones they sold. Simply put in a city like Miami the way to make money is not just to have a repair shop, but to advertise you repair it all. Darren the owner of Skoot Skate Bike has never ever sold a CPI or a Malaguti scooter, but he's repaired more of them than the dealers that sold them ( actually the dealers that used to sell them on the same street have all closed ) the reason they closed had to do with the fact that they were extremely high end. Miami has had four owners of the Vespa franchise in ten years. The first three all closed. They refused to repair anything other than Vespa. The Honda dealer won't touch a United Motors bike. In Miami there are over 1,000 United Motor scooters on the street and MRP has the parts for them from QJ and CPI. So do the math if you advertise in your ads that you repair Malaguti, DAELIM, Linhai, CFMOTO, CPI, Diamo, Italket and all the other brands we have parts for won't you get more clients than the guy that just advertises one brand?

You won't get these parts anywhere else. ONLY MRP has them http://www.mrp-speed.com

Español Un mensage para nuestros clientes en el Caribe

Oye un saludo y avisen como los puedo ayudar en conseguir sus piezas cualquier cosa escribenme Kerwin de MRP llevo mas de 5 años vendiendo piezas a Puerto Rico, Venezuela, y Colombia si necesitan saber algo de los scooters llamen o escribanme y yo los ayudo, aqui tenemos mas de 12,000 piezas mas que cualquier compania de scooters en los Estados Unidos asi que sin duda llamen http://www.mrp-speed.com

MRP GY6 Roller Weights 18 X 14


MRP GY6 Roller Weights 18 X 14
GY6 4-stroke QMI152/157 QMJ152/157 engines. Some Taiwanese Brands use18X14 mm roller set for PGO made (Genuine) Buddy 125, Blur, and many other GY6 scooters. Kymco and SYM models are known to use the GY6 such as the People 200. GY6 found in ATVs, Scooters, and Buggies Roller weights are essential to upgrading any CVT engine

Roller Weights Roller Weights We highly recommend that you begin by upgrading the variator roller weights before engaging in any performance upgrades. This is the simplest of upgrades and the least expensive for the consumer. We suggest stocking every size for every brand you carry in the store. This is a minimal investment and offers a maximum return. The main rule for tuning variators is: the lighter the roller the more rpm?s are needed to push the rolls outwards through centrifugal motion to set the gear change in motion. Heavier roller weights need lower rpm?s to start moving. Heavier roller weights = slower take off speed, more acceleration, = higher maximum speed. Lighter roller weights =faster take off speed, less acceleration = lower achievable speed. The right balance is an individual choice since a scooter racer will want heavier weights to achieve a higher overall speed so that they might be faster at full throttle.

KYMCO TOP BOY COBRA DINK AIR COOLED NG BRAKE DISK 1039



KYMCO TOP BOY COBRA DINK AIR COOLED NG BRAKE DISK 1039
NG RACE DISKS AND ROTORS
NG BRAKE DISKS AND ROTORS ARE DISTRIBUTED IN THE USA BY MRP

YOU CAN BUY THEM FROM ANY OF OUR 1,000 US DEALERS CLICK HERE TO FIND THEM: Stocking Dealer locator
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/

Or you can visit http://www.cyclegear.com and order one online today.

NG has been in business for over 40 years. They are a real OEM supplier with a real factory in Spain ( they don't just outsource production like most companies these days ) the same family owned and operated management goes out to the races and sponsors top level competitions worldwide. They also sell factory OEM components to many European factories. They have a full selection of rotors available in the USA and you can find out more by visiting the MRP website.
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/SPD...
NG-1039 DISC 180x58x4 Referencia: 1039 SIDE: OUTSIDE: 180 INSIDE: 58 THICKNESS: 4 N? HOLES: 3 HOLES: 10,5 KYMCO COBRA TOP BOY Modelo KYMCO - 50 - DINK 50 - 1998 / 2001 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - P401LBD5 KYMCO - 50 - TOP BOY 50 - 1998 /

Are you driving a Diamo? CFMOTO? TNG? Linhai? Malaguti Italy? Does your local shop not know what these names mean? Well then visit one of our dealers and have them give us a call. We are the only scooter parts distributor in the USA that is solely dealer direct and we are happy to send any potential online inquiries to stocking stores. So any consumers looking for Daelim parts will have to go to a store with an MRP account or have their store buy from another dealer that has an account with us. We also sell top name scooter brands like SN Duro Innova Kenda Bridgestone Gates Powerlink

DISK BRAKE NG-1069 APRILIA ATLANTIC 200cc SR50 Ditech SR50cc



NG RACE DISKS AND ROTORS
NG BRAKE DISKS AND ROTORS ARE DISTRIBUTED IN THE USA BY MRP YOU CAN BUY THEM FROM ANY OF OUR 1,000 US DEALERS CLICK HERE TO FIND THEM: Stocking Dealer locator
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/

Or you can visit http://www.cyclegear.com and order one online today.

NG has been in business for over 40 years. They are a real OEM supplier with a real factory in Spain ( they don't just outsource production like most companies these days ) the same family owned and operated management goes out to the races and sponsors top level competitions worldwide. They also sell factory OEM components to many European factories. They have a full selection of rotors available in the USA and you can find out more by visiting the MRP website.

NG-1069 APRILIA SR 50 ATLANTIC 200
DISC 190x68x4
Referencia: 1069

SIDE:
OUTSIDE: 190
INSIDE: 68
THICKNESS: 4
N? HOLES: 3
HOLES: 8,5
Lista de modelos para DISC 190x68x4 Modelo APRILIA - 50 - SR 50 DITECH - 2003 / MOTORCYCLES - REAR - LEFT - APRILIA - 50 - SR 50 DITECH - 2003 / MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - APRILIA - 50 - SR SPORT PRO 50 (MOTOR PIAGGIO) - 2003 / MOTORCYCLES - REAR - LEFT - APRILIA - 50 - SR SPORT PRO 50 (MOTOR PIAGGIO) - 2003 / MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - APRILIA - 200 - ATLANTIC 200 - 2002 - MOTORCYCLES - REAR - RIGHT - 8213231

Monday, August 23, 2010

The Scooter Union or How I learned to stop worrying and Love Counting Pa...


The Scooter Union or How I learned to stop worrying and Love Counting Parts from other Distributors!

Commenting on Steve from the Scooter Scoops article today over at http://www.Thescooterscoop.com yes we have parts over 12,000 in fact this is how our day starts because we are still counting boxes of parts we acquired in May of 2009. Thats just how the cookie crumbles in this biz. If you need parts MRP is here to help you the dealer http://www.mrp-speed.com

http://www.thescooterscoop.com


So any consumers looking for Daelim parts will have to go to a store with an MRP account or have their store buy from another dealer that has an account with us. We also sell top name scooter brands like SN Duro Innova Kenda Bridgestone Gates Powerlink


MRP distributes OEM parts for TNG (CMSI) select models of CF Moto Daelim Motors Korea ( parts should appear on website by mid July) Malaguti of Italy (www.Malaguti.com) Keeway Southeast (Keeway Vento QJ Andretti Yamati models) CPI Taiwan Powersports Factory Brands PSF Diamo Cubik (matches OEM Vento part numbers) as well as QJ and ZNEN (who manufacture bikes for a variety of scooter importers)
such as FlyScooters Lance BMS Qlink models that were ZNEN corresponding to matching TNG parts.

Every scooter is someone's first ride we help the dealers and consumers find those hard to find parts. Doesn't matter what brand it is we've been doing the Chinese scooter parts thing since 2004 so we can help you find the right part.

Since January 2009 MRP has expanded by acquiring the QJ -- Keeway Southeast distribution parts warehouse the Diamo USA / LS Motorsports / Italjet USA parts warehouse CPI -- TAIWAN Distribution and TNG Scooters.

The company has OEM parts for Malaguti scooters of Italy Benelli (acquired by QJ in 2006) the Italian brand now made in China and sold in the USA under the Andretti name MH Motorhispania of Spain RX Loncin Lifan Linhai Zongshen Wangye MS UTVs and CPI Taiwan. In addition the company distributes performance parts from Athena Malossi Turbo Kit Innova Vee Rubber Duro Bando Gates Powerlink Posh Maxxis Namura Scooter Ninja Slipstreamer and MRP.

Products carried by MRP can be obtain exclusively at select Motorcycle Dealerships and Repair Shops in the USA. MRP is the one stop wholesale ONLY scooter buggy and ATV parts distributor. For a list of retailers visit www.mrp-speed.com
When it comes to parts we have it all:

From Scooters to Chinese UTVs we got it:

* air filters
* axles
* batteries
* battery chargers
* bearings
* belts
* body parts
* brakes
* cables
* carburetors
* CDIs
* chains
* controllers (electric)
* electronics
* Engine Parts
* engines & motors
* frame parts
* gas caps and gas tanks
* handles grips controls
* lights
* mufflers
* sprockets
* tires and tubes
* wheels

We have a ton of stuff make sure to check it out on our site. Parts for: 125cc GY6 QMI152/157 QMJ152/157 4-stroke engines 250cc 4-stroke CN250 water-cooled 172mm engines 4-stroke QMB139 engines 50cc 2-stroke D1E41QMB02 D1E41QMB H1E41QMB and 1E41QMB model engines. This motor is used on many popular Chinese scooters including the Qingqi QMQT50-B2 50cc 2-stroke 1PE40QMB Minarelli based engine and more!

Response to state-of-the-scooter-union-the-great-depressurization

Response to state-of-the-scooter-union-the-great-depressurization

I strongly believe theScooterScoops recap this past weekend was probably the best write up on the state of the US scooter industry I have seen in ages.
http://www.thescooterscoop.com/2010/08/21/state-of-the-scooter-union-the-great-depressurization/


In the interest of full disclosure I am a friend of the writer and we do disagree on many things, but we agree on one thing and that’s giving stores ideas on how to survive the downturn. It turns out I was correct in many of my predictions in 2008 that I wrote for Motorcycle Product News. You can see my articles and predictions that came true here:
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=press.htm

There are some main lessons going forward and I predict we will need to see some of these implemented for dealers to survive 2011. I’m not going to cover what happened in the timeline since Steve pretty much broke it down, nor will I comment on SSTAM which in my opinion is one of the best shops in the country – They are also a top MRP dealer so I ask that everyone support them as they restructure. Peter was a close friend and I think that his legacy goes far beyond simple unit sales. Any distributor that signs a GE agreement knows what they are signing and they are known as “Get’s Everything” for a reason. Because when you make a deal with the Devil sooner or later you end up paying hence why I stated in my articles – STOP BUYING BIKES AND FOCUS ON PARTS. The dealers that understand this point make money and survive and the dealers that don’t close. Simple it is the first law of Arakis “Adapt or Die.”

Let’s keep the industry going. There are lots of companies out there – some have done wonders for the business and bringing in new riders. I don’t agree with everyone’s policies, but I can praise and appreciate much of what they have done. I can also complement and support companies that do the right thing by dealers, who always set a higher standard and would rather fail in attempting greatness than to settle for mediocrity and I can say that much about companies like Kymco and much of what I am about to say comes from what I hear from dealers and about what I have seen them apply in the last two years.

Things aren’t all doom and gloom certain Piaggio dealers are buying all the returned units and making a huge profit. A lot of dealers are offering in-house consumer financing, some dealers are starting rentals and tours. They are making MONEY in a bad economy. However many dealers continue to do business the same way they did business last year, you can’t just cut expenses you have to change the way you are thinking. I saw this thread on 2stroke buzz and I think Steve addressed it correctly there are a lot of positives happening and for all we know if gas prices go back up things will get better. Still you have to behave like if gas prices won’t go back up and plan accordingly. The main thing is visit your local shop and buy something, and if you can (I am biased on this – buy some racing parts from MRP) simply put I don’t want to sell them to you directly; I want you to buy them from that store so that we can keep the industry alive.

If you want to see a good example of this check out Scootertronics. They adapt by repairing everything and enforce the golden MRP rule – The Vespa shop that closes goes out of business because they refuse to repair other Italian brands or a Kymco only making a store like Scootertronics bigger in the long run. A lot can be learned from this.



In the meantime for everyone else here are my predictions and what I think needs to be done for 2011.

1. The Industry needs more consolidation. Do we really need 49 distributors of bikes? Most of these companies need to close. ZNEN still has 7 distributors in the USA. Some companies like FlyScooters have woken up and realized if the Chinese have no loyalty why they should represent them, but these small regional bike distributors and dealers buying by the container need to go away. For companies like Kymco to do well we need to end this.
2. Do not give companies deposits – PERIOD. I have seen several dealers loose thousands to companies about to liquidate or with units that are stuck in Customs – you’re a fool to fall for this. Pay only for the bird in hand. The units won’t get released until next year or something will happen. There are some companies on the verge of closing calling dealers asking for deposits with the names of customers on them. Then they either contact the customer or they fail to send you the bike – don’t fall for it. If you pay for a Benelli and seven weeks have gone by without a bike you are likely not to get it.
3. If you find out the distributor no longer has a parts warehouse – that’s a good sign you’re bike isn’t going to have a warranty next year. PARTS = MONEY FOR YOU AND THE DISTRIBUTOR SO IF THEY DONT HAVE THEM YOU NEED TO FOCUS ON THEM - WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THIS - ITS THE KEY IF NOT YOU WILL PASS UP BUSINESS




4. BE SMART – Don’t offer warranties on new units if the importer closed. I have said this time and time again to people like DAELIM – if Daelim closed and that new Daelim is still on the floor the only person on the hook is the Dealer – We can help you with some parts but be smart.

5. My prediction for 2011 – Only companies that have a vested interest from the factories and are direct subsidiaries will survive companies like CFMOTO, KYMCO (only one of two joint ventures in the world for the $700 million dollar company that is Kymco) these guys have the funding to continue even if it gets worse others will stop paying warranties, backtrack on promises, and screw dealers before they literally burn. So make sure you are dealing with a brand that is well capitalized and can go for it long term. I know this because I’ve sold over 10,000 units in ten years, I worked with several brands and I have been offered the distribution again for several companies and I have passed on them because given all the market indicators it’s almost impossible for big brands to make it unless they are part of the factory. These are the guys that will not just survive but come out on top.

6. EPA and NHTSA need to do their job. The rules started getting enforced late in the game, but let’s play fair. Put the owners of Roketa in jail but make sure you don’t cut them a deal if they violated $2 million dollars worth of rules. More than one company went broke trying to live up to all the rules and comply meanwhile tons of Chinese companies got rich violating dealer state laws, EPA, warranty laws, etc…. let’s make it an even playing field.

7. Stores need to repair everything = PERIOD. Vespa only boutiques don’t work. Piaggio USA needs to expand its range of mom and pop stores and stop focusing on car dealers and Arctic Cat shops that have no business selling scooters. Set up more mom and pops. It will lead to more sales overall. In the meantime Set up an MRP account and advertise brands like TNG, MALAGUTI, CFMOTO, DIAMO, ITALJET – we purchased 7 companies in the last 18 months when you add up all the CPI scooters, Cubik, private label QJ – Vento units there are over 100,000 units out on the US roads. If only 50% are still being ridden then you need to advertise that you repair these brands like UNITED MOTOS and get their business. – That’s how you make money.




8. Build the destination shop. Obviously new unit sales aren’t generating store traffic. So focus on clothing – TRY ARMADILLO, Focus on Accessories, add an espresso bar, ice cream, put in a couch and a TV, make it a place you want to hang out not just buy oil – Look at our other articles on this.



9. Alternative Financing. = CF MOTO has the best FINANCING Program in the country right now. Contact them www.CFMOTO-US.com If you can’t get GE you need in house financing. Any dealer not taking advantage and working with a company like CF is putting their fate in the hands of GE. http://www.cfmoto-us.com/



MY PREDICTION IN THE COMING YEARS ONLY FACTORY OWNED COMPANIES LIKE CFMOTO AND KYMCO WILL SURVIVE THIS IF THE SALES KEEP GOING DOWN. SO GET THE BRANDS AND FOCUS ON THEM.

10. Focus on four to three brands. I call for an end to the 12 brand scooter shops. All they do is hog the market. I've talked about this before dealers with seven brands who are a terrible dealer for all the distributors only stock one or two models per line and sell from a catalog, basically holding up a territory and not doing a good job, this ruins the sales for the distributor and ties up a market. This type of store is a thing of the past. Pick up a brand like CF and carry the full line. Kymco alone can fill up a shop with all their models.

11. Stop supporting the dealers that work out of their garage or moms basement. Dealers, distributors, need to wake up. You do the industry a disservice by selling from your mom’s basement. Be it parts or accessories go rent a retail location.

12. Establish a strong referral program. This is a surefire way to generate cash, repeat customers, and stop relying on advertising. Reward your loyal clients and they will come back again and again. The age of selling 40 scooters a week and financing them is over.

13. Work with companies like KYMCO that have some of the best consumer financing out there – Check the video link below. CONSUMER FINANCING IS KEY just as important as the CFMOTO dealer financing this is a two front war.

CONSUMER FINANCING VIDEO KYMCO



14. Implement a Drop Marketing Program – A good way to promote your business and stay ahead of the competition. Also do trade INS – swap used for used and used for new. A lot of dealers were hesitant to do this before. Do it NOW!
15. In 2011 – Leadership will come from unexpected places. As more brands close companies like KYMCO will shine because they actually pay labor and the dealer that doesn’t get warranties will close, the guy that thought they could survive by selling cheap brand X that only gave them free parts will close, and consumers are getting smarter.
16. The auction bikes will come back for parts be they CPI, SYM, Genuine, or Chinese. Those bikes will hit the road and need parts – FOCUS ON THEM don’t hate the player – embrace the game. It’s a game of numbers and these scooters will all go back to dealers for parts and only dealers that can get parts will benefit – HINT – MRP has 12,000 parts in our system right now.
17. STOP BUYING FROM CHINESE DISTRIBUTORS THAT COMPETE WITH YOU DIRECTLY – I always hear from the small dealer that says “ the internet sales don’t affect me “ guess what they affect everyone even the guy hiding under a rock. The Internet is the world now. The failure of the system lies exclusively on the dealer base because the internet be it SHOPATRON or DENNIS KIRK is half the industry now. Why do I say this? Because they fail to enforce the rules of fair play, if anything they collectively make it worse. I put this on the same level as the US government allowing Chinese companies to take ownership in big US corporations that later makes a financial contribution to someone running for office who later fails in his duties to protect us. As Hillary Clinton once put it “How do you argue with your banker?” If you buy from a distributor whose primary goal is to sell retail and wholesale is an afterthought once your entire store is dependent on them how do you keep you business? Every time you sell their scooter the end user gets a catalog in the mail or a coupon by email. Those dealers are to blame when that same distributor lowers prices, sells the same item retail on EBay or on their site below dealer cost.

FOCUS ON KEY BRANDS THAT HELP YOU NOT BRING YOU DOWN
The small lawn mower shops could care less. Scooters are an after-thought to them. However, the serious scooter shop, the guy who has seen the ups and downs of the past decade should know better and in many cases they don’t. They are in it out of passion and fail to see the long term over the short end. The long term is the distributor will grow and you will keep working in your small shop because you buy from someone who drop ships units directly to the end user.

This is made even worse by the dealers that know this before hand and still buy from the Chinese importer that has no regard for EPA or Warranty Laws. By buying from distributors that don’t comply with the laws you set back everyone in the Powersports Industry. All the dealer groups, all the associations that for 30 years have passed laws to help dealers survive. If dealers would stop buying from these companies others would have a chance at survival, but the current economic climate have made many dealers buy more. To focus on the $699 scooter instead of focusing on the discounted quality Taiwanese scooter.

Let’s keep the industry going. Support your local shop, support the racing scene, and support the guy that works out of a real location not his mom’s basement. Stop buying scooters on Ebay and even if it costs you a dollar more buy the oil at the local shop. That’s as much as I can say for today.

A mad thank you to Steve for his article and thanks for the mention in there.

Scootertronics opens an MRP shipment - DEALERS THAT STOCK SELL!

A great example of why stocking orders pay off better than just in time orders. Here we have a top 10 Dealer ( 4 years in a row ) in the country whose numbers for his brands always exceed expectations be it Kinroad, Hammerhead, Jonway, Eton, Keeway or PIT MOTORS ( currently top CPI Dealer for 2010 ) http://www.Scootertronics.com has been leading the way for years now.

Since 2005 he has been stocking MRP parts. The secret to making money? REPAIR EVERTHING. Unlike some highend shops in his area that only repair VESPA or HONDA and refuse to repair a Genuine or Kymco - SCOOTERTRONICS will fix everything. Thats why the local Ruckus clubs go to his shop, why he sponsors the Vespa rally even if he is not the Vespa dealer, and why customers drive 80 miles to come see him. Because the shop will buy and stock parts.

HE REPAIRS ALL MAJOR BRANDS AND GETS HIS TNG, CPI , DAELIM, MALAGUTI, LINHAI, CFMOTO, GY6, LONCIN, LIFAN, CUBIK, KEEWAY, QJ, ANDRETTI, BENELLI, DIAMO, ITALJET PARTS FROM ONE SOURCE http://www.mrp-speed.com

State of the Scooter Union – The Great Depressurization

State of the Scooter Union – The Great Depressurization The best market recap of what has happened in the US scooter market the last 3 years that I have seen written by anyone. Will comment on this later.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

X50 ANDRETTI SCOOTERS LEAKING GAS PART 2 OF 2 POWERSPORTS FACTORY ISSUES

2nd in our series - X50 ANDRETTI SCOOTERS LEAKING GAS PART 2 OF 2 POWERSPORTS FACTORY ISSUES if you have a 2009 Powersports Factory unit make sure to inspect it.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Mario Andretti licensed scooters leaking gas part 2




In the recent months, several dealers and consumers have contacted MRP regarding a leaky gas tank on the 2008-2009 Benelli Andretti Pepe models in the USA, also known as the X50 BENELLI X50 OR QUATTRO NOVE. This is the one with the Mario Andretti name on it hence why we tried reaching out to him so he would correct this product defect immediately.

We have received enough questions and phone calls regarding this matter, that we felt it necessary to make this post, as there may be some dealers and consumers unaware that their gas tank is leaking. I want to thank Steve, David, and all the people out there that want the industry to grow, but want companies to behave in a responsible manner and I agree. Therefore, in the interest of safety, we feel it is important for consumers and dealers alike to inspect the X50 models and make sure their tank is not leaking. To our knowledge, this is not an official warranty issue, nor has there been a recall issued by the distributors and/or the manufacturer. We are not the agent of record, we are not the importer, we are not owners or affiliated with the company. To our knowledge the current vehicles are owned by Powersports Factory and their financial backers that is the only record we know of. We think its a matter of public importance and federal law requires that this be reported immediately when any fuel related engine matters are an issue. We are not required to report this since this is PSFs job and we have notified them time and time again. To our knowledge they have not complied with any NHTSA, Consumer Safety Board or Thread Act requirements for reporting an issue of this matter as of the time I write this. We feel it is a matter of civic duty and for the well-being of the general public that we place this notice.

Let's be straight: NHTSA and EPA can work together with Customs. This is happening now. So many brands with defects or that don't comply with US standards are FINALLY after seven years of no enforcement whatsoever being stopped at the port. The Andrettis and Benellis I wrote about are not the new 2010 models its the older 2009 vehicles leaking gas imported in 2009.

NO FICO SCAMS

I see former PSF employees running scams stealing money take this one:
People stealing money from small companies and NO FICO SCAMS

GLENN RUSSO - FORMER POWERSPORTS FACTORY FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
Now Chief Executive Officer
National Tax Credit Philadelphia
President
Avatar Financial Consultants, LLC
This guy has no Financial Licenses and goes around trying to work with people.

DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS GUY HE WILL STEAL YOUR MONEY WITH THIS SCAM HE IS INVOLVED WITH PERIOD. EMAIL US AND I WILL PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE ISSUES.

AVATAR FINANCIAL GROUP LTD entity # 2671992

GLENN M RUSSO SR
Treasurer
APT 209 313 ARCH ST
PHILADELPHIA PA 19106-51

SPRINGBOARD CAPITAL 311 SNOWGOOSE LN
MULLICA HILL, NJ 08062-3208 (609) 685-9641
He might have it registered under Elaine Russo. That's his wife and more than likely in on it since he's left everything in her name. They run another company called Spring Board Capital in NJ.

SPRINGBOARD CAPITAL 311 SNOWGOOSE LN
MULLICA HILL, NJ 08062-3208 (609) 685-9641

GLENN RUSSO WORKS WITH:
Debra Fraley a/ka/ Debra Day
a/k/a Debra White a/k/a Debbie D. White
and Marc Fraley
2970 E. Washington Ave
Gilbert, Arizona 85234
SS#: 601-26-XXXX
SS#: 527-59-XXXX
Current

GLENN M RUSSO SR
Treasurer
APT 209 313 ARCH ST
PHILADELPHIA PA 19106-51
* Chief Executive Officer at National Tax Credit Philadelphia
* President at Avatar Financial Consultants, LLC
* President at Avatar Growth and Financing

see less...
Past

* Business Development Consultant / Investment Banking Intermediary at Avatar Financial Consultants, LLC
* Board of Directors Member, Consultant and Managing Director of Avatar Financial Consultants, LLC at TSI Broadband, LLC
* Executive Vice President at Avatar Financial Group, LLC

see less...
Education

* University of Pittsburgh
* Saint Joseph's University


These people have no honor and what they do is steal from unsuspecting people on a daily basis and one way or another they are all connected by two degrees so I will call them out. Shame on you get the hell out of the industry for running your scams and stealing from stores.

X50 Andretti 2009 Gas Tank Issue LEAKING GAS - Skoot Skate Shop Miami, F...

That's it I'm going to start calling people out on their scams in this industry:



This industry has no shame, why is there such a lack of ethics in this used car industry? Mario Andretti should be on the phone right now taking these people to town motor vehicles with his name on them leak gas. Glenn Russo is a thief and a liar and steals money from people and he is a former employee of Powersports Factory, all these shaddy characters around PSF.

I will by systematically calling people out. We are in a scooter industry where distributors spit in stores faces selling directly to the public and they take it like inmates in Oz. We have distributors going around other distributors to steal brands and not pay dealers warranties, we have distributors not honoring warranties is this what is has come down to?

PSF - Not Giving People warranties.

It gets worse the former employees are running their own scams:
I see former PSF employees running scams stealing money take this one:
People stealing money from small companies and NO FICO SCAMS

GLENN RUSSO - FORMER POWERSPORTS FACTORY FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
Now Chief Executive Officer
National Tax Credit Philadelphia
President
Avatar Financial Consultants, LLC
This guy has no Financial Licenses and goes around trying to work with people.

GLENN RUSSO WORKS WITH:
Debra Fraley a/ka/ Debra Day
a/k/a Debra White a/k/a Debbie D. White
and Marc Fraley
2970 E. Washington Ave
Gilbert, Arizona 85234
SS#: 601-26-XXXX
SS#: 527-59-XXXX

These people have no honor and what they do is steal from unsuspecting people on a daily basis and one way or another they are all connected by two degrees so I will call them out. Shame on you get the hell out of the industry for running your scams and stealing from stores.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Ruckus and Metropolitan TK Exhausts AMAZING DYNO PERFORMANCE



The new 2010 TK exhausts ( turbokit.net ) for the Honda Metropolitan and Honda Ruckus look and feel amazing. The stealth flat black paint plus it's superb dyno performance is unbeaten in the 4stroke category. Check these pictures out. Available from your local MRP Dealer now!

MRP http://www.mrp-speed.com

BUY ONE GET ONE CONTINUES! UNTIL SUNDAY GET ANY KART OR ATV TIRE GET ONE FREE! via @constantcontact

BUY ONE GET ONE CONTINUES! UNTIL SUNDAY GET ANY KART OR ATV TIRE GET ONE FREE! via @constantcontact

Vespa Sunglasses, CFMOTO 300 Pistons, Daelim Parts, Benelli Gas Tanks and more! via @constantcontact

Vespa Sunglasses, CFMOTO 300 Pistons, Daelim Parts, Benelli Gas Tanks and more! via @constantcontact

1083 NG DISK BRAKE ROTOR FOR TMAX 500cc YAMAHA MAJESTY 400cc



NG DISK 1083 TMAX 500cc YAMAHA MAJESTY 400cc

NG BRAKE DISKS AND ROTORS ARE DISTRIBUTED IN THE USA BY MRP YOU CAN BUY THEM FROM ANY OF OUR 1,000 US DEALERS CLICK HERE TO FIND THEM: Stocking Dealer locator

Manuals
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=Manuals.htm

Stocking Dealer locator
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/locator/index.php


Or you can visit http://www.cyclegear.com and order one online today.

NG has been in business for over 40 years. They are a real OEM supplier with a real factory in Spain ( they don't just outsource production like most companies these days ) the same family owned and operated management goes out to the races and sponsors top level competitions worldwide. They also sell factory OEM components to many European factories. They have a full selection of rotors available in the USA and you can find out more by visiting the MRP website.


1083 NG DISK BRAKE ROTOR FOR NG-1083 YAMAHA T-MAX 500cc 400cc DISC 267x132x4 Referencia: 1083 SIDE: OUTSIDE: 267 INSIDE: 132 THICKNESS: 4 N? HOLES: 5 HOLES: 8,25 OEM: OEM REFERENCE: OBSERVACIONES: F-00,0 Modelo YAMAHA - 125 - YP R X-MAX 125 / YP R X-MAX 125 BLACK - 2005 / 2009 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - RIGHT - YAMAHA - 250 - YP 250 G GRAND MAJESTY (JAPAN) - 2004 / 2005 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - RIGHT - YAMAHA - 250 - YP R X-MAX 250 / YP R X-MAX 250 BLACK - 2005 / 2009 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - RIGHT - YAMAHA - 400 - YP MAJESTY 400 - 2004 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - YAMAHA - 400 - YP MAJESTY 400 - 2005 / 2008 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT-RIGHT - YAMAHA - 500 - XP 500 T-MAX - 2006 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - YAMAHA - 500 - XP T-MAX 500 - 2004 / 2009 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - YAMAHA - 500 - XP T-MAX 500 BLACK MAX - 2006 / 2008 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT -

Are you driving a Diamo? CFMOTO? TNG? Linhai? Malaguti Italy? Does your local shop not know what these names mean? Well then visit one of our dealers and have them give us a call. We are the only scooter parts distributor in the USA that is solely dealer direct and we are happy to send any potential online inquiries to stocking stores. So any consumers looking for Daelim parts will have to go to a store with an MRP account or have their store buy from another dealer that has an account with us. We also sell top name scooter brands like SN Duro Innova Kenda Bridgestone Gates Powerlink

Manuals
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=Manuals.htm


Stocking Dealer locator
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/locator/index.php


MRP distributes OEM parts for TNG (CMSI) select models of CF Moto Daelim Motors Korea ( parts should appear on website by mid July) Malaguti of Italy (www.Malaguti.com) Keeway Southeast (Keeway Vento QJ Andretti Yamati models) CPI Taiwan Powersports Factory Brands PSF Diamo Cubik (matches OEM Vento part numbers) as well as QJ and ZNEN (who manufacture bikes for a variety of scooter importers) such as FlyScooters Lance BMS Qlink models that were ZNEN corresponding to matching TNG parts.

Every scooter is someone’s first ride we help the dealers and consumers find those hard to find parts. Doesn't matter what brand it is we've been doing the Chinese scooter parts thing since 2004 so we can help you find the right part.

Since January 2009 MRP has expanded by acquiring the QJ – Keeway Southeast distribution parts warehouse the Diamo USA / LS Motorsports / Italjet USA parts warehouse CPI – TAIWAN Distribution and TNG Scooters.

DAELIM DELFINO 100cc S-Five 50cc Disk Brakes 1086



DAELIM DELFINO 100cc S-Five 50cc Disk Brakes 1086
http://www.mrp-speed.com

LINK TO PART
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/SPD/ng-1086--800027B2-1270849234.jsp


NG BRAKE DISKS AND ROTORS ARE DISTRIBUTED IN THE USA BY MRP YOU CAN BUY THEM FROM ANY OF OUR 1,000 US DEALERS CLICK HERE TO FIND THEM: Stocking Dealer locator
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/loc...
Or you can visit http://www.cyclegear.com and order one online today.


NG has been in business for over 40 years. They are a real OEM supplier with a real factory in Spain ( they don't just outsource production like most companies these days ) the same family owned and operated management goes out to the races and sponsors top level competitions worldwide. They also sell factory OEM components to many European factories. They have a full selection of rotors available in the USA and you can find out more by visiting the MRP website.

NG-1086 DAELIM 50cc DAELIM 125cc DELFINO DISC 190x58x4 Referencia: 1086 SIDE: OUTSIDE: 190 INSIDE: 58 THICKNESS: 4 N? HOLES: 3 HOLES: 10,5 Modelo DAELIM - 50 - S-FIVE 50 - 2008 / 2009 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - DAELIM - 125 - DELFINO 125 - 2008 / 2009 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - RIGHT - MBK (MOTOBEKANE) - 125 - SKYLINER 125 DD - 1999 / 2003 - MOTORCYCLES - REAR - RIGHT - MBK (MOTOBEKANE) - 150 - SKYLINER 150 - 2000 / 2003 - MOTORCYCLES - REAR - RIGHT - MBK (MOTOBEKANE) - 180 - SKYLINER 180 - 2003 - MOTORCYCLES - REAR - RIGHT - YAMAHA - 125 - T?EOS 125 - 1999 / 2002 - MOTORCYCLES - REAR - RIGHT - YAMAHA - 180 - MAJESTY 180 - 2003 / 2005 - MOTORCYCLES - REAR - RIGHT - YAMAHA - 180 - MAJESTY 180 LTD - 2006 - MOTORCYCLES - REAR - RIGHT -

Vendor: NG DISK BRAKES

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

DO NOT BUY SCOOTERS ON A PLANE! - The Scooter Maven advice column



DO NOT BUY SCOOTERS ON A PLANE! I cannot believe Delta Airlines even allows this its highly illegal. These Chinese companies do not care about complying with the laws. The Scooter Maven is an expert in the world of scooters and his biggest advice is do not buy new vehicles on a catalog! It's just as bad as Ebay. Our mission is to provide a resource for information for consumers, stores, and new buyers. Stay away from these deals they are too good to be true! Online and Catalog sales cannot give you PDI, Warranty ( these brands don't pay dealers or comply with lemon laws ) for more info visit http://www.mrp-speed.com

These Chinese importers do not comply with state licensing laws, warranty laws, and without a relationship with a dealer they dont comply with the Thread Act. Dealers need to stay in business and by law they must report all vehicle defects and inspect your unit. NHTSA (www.nhtsa.gov) is typically very involved as well as the CPSC (www.cpsc.gov) these Chinese drop shippers have no clue as to how these laws work much less the laws that protect you as a consumer in each state. Please BUYER BEWARE - LISTEN TO THE MAVEN!

DO NOT BUY SCOOTERS ON A PLANE! - The Scooter Maven advice column



DO NOT BUY SCOOTERS ON A PLANE! The Scooter Maven is an expert in the world of scooters and his biggest advice is do not buy new vehicles on a catalog! It's just as bad as Ebay. Our mission is to provide a resource for information for consumers, stores, and new buyers. Stay away from these deals they are too good to be true! Online and Catalog sales cannot give you PDI, Warranty ( these brands don't pay dealers or comply with lemon laws ) for more info visit http://www.mrp-speed.com


Every scooter is someone's first ride, we help the dealers and consumers find those hard to find parts. Doesn't matter what brand it is, we've been doing the Chinese scooter parts thing since 2004 so we can help you find the right part.

Since January 2009 MRP has expanded by acquiring the QJ -- Keeway Southeast distribution parts warehouse, the Diamo USA / LS Motorsports / Italjet USA parts warehouse, CPI -- TAIWAN Distribution, and TNG Scooters.

The company has OEM parts for Malaguti scooters of Italy, Benelli (acquired by QJ in 2006) the Italian brand now made in China and sold in the USA under the Andretti name, MH Motorhispania of Spain, RX, Loncin, Lifan, Linhai, Zongshen, Wangye, MS UTVs, and CPI Taiwan. In addition the company distributes performance parts from Athena, Malossi, Turbo Kit, Innova, Vee Rubber, Duro, Bando, Gates, Powerlink, Posh, Maxxis, Namura, Scooter Ninja, Slipstreamer, and MRP.

Products carried by MRP can be obtain exclusively at select Motorcycle Dealerships and Repair Shops in the USA. MRP is the one stop wholesale ONLY scooter, buggy, and ATV parts distributor. For a list of retailers visit www.mrp-speed.com
When it comes to parts we have it all:
Are you driving a Diamo? CFMOTO? TNG? Linhai? Malaguti Italy? Does your local shop not know what these names mean? Well then visit one of our dealers and have them give us a call. We are the only scooter parts distributor in the USA that is solely dealer direct and we are happy to send any potential online inquiries to stocking stores. So any consumers looking for Daelim parts will have to go to a store with an MRP account or have their store buy from another dealer that has an account with us. We also sell top name scooter brands like SN, Duro, Innova, Kenda, Bridgestone, Gates, Powerlink,

Scootertronics - Advice for new shop owners



You can order over 12,000 items from Scootertronics thanks to MRP - but the secret is that they offer everything and anything you can find at http://www.mrp-speed.com plus they stock MRP parts so if you need parts from our library of parts visit them or give them a call.

Mario Andretti didn't get paid thats why he doesn't care


Alright he didn't paid either so thats why he doesn't care.

Ok, I take that back looking online I realized Mario Andretti doesn't care if your bike explodes or catches on fire because he sued Powersports Factory as well, so more than likely he's upset about this to. Not only is it defective he didn't get paid. THIS IS ALL PUBLIC RECORD

On May 16th, 2010, we were served with a suit filed by Andretti IV, LLC, which has licensed to us, pursuant to Licensing Agreements, certain rights to use the “Andretti” name in connection with the branding and sale of our “Andretti Benelli” and “Yamati” lines of scooters. We have been in default of our obligations under the Licensing Agreements at various points in the last several years, and have been engaged in settlement agreement negotiations with Andretti IV, LLC at various times up to recently. Andretti IV, LLC terminated the Licensing Agreements on February 1, 2010. The lawsuit names the Company, Shawn Landgraf (our Chief Executive Officer) and Steve Rubakh (our President) as defendants, and seeks payments owed under the Exclusive Licensing Agreement, damages for fraudulent inducement, misrepresentations, damages to the Andretti IV name, goodwill and reputation, and preliminary injunctive relief to prevent further use by us of Andretti IV licensed rights.
http://www.faqs.org/sec-filings/100415/Power-Sports-Factory-Inc_10-K/

http://app.quotemedia.com/quotetools/showFiling.go?webmasterId=89753&name=POWER%20SPORTS%20FACTORY,%20INC:%2010-Q,%20Sub-Doc%201,%20Page%201&link=http%3A//quotemedia.10kwizard.com/filing.xml%3Frid%3D23%26ipage%3D7023030%26DSEQ%3D1%26SQDESC%3DSECTION_BODY%26doc%3D1&cp=off

In the recent months, several dealers and consumers have contacted MRP regarding a leaky gas tank on the 2008-2009 Benelli Andretti Pepe models in the USA, also known as the X50 BENELLI X50 OR QUATTRO NOVE. We have received enough questions and phone calls regarding this matter, that we felt it necessary to make this post, as there may be some dealers and consumers unaware that their gas tank is leaking. Therefore, in the interest of safety, we feel it is important for consumers and dealers alike to inspect the X50 models and make sure their tank is not leaking. To our knowledge, this is not an official warranty issue, nor has there been a recall issued by the distributors and/or the manufacturer.



The issue related to vehicle defects becomes complicated. NHTSA (www.nhtsa.gov) is typically very involved as well as the CPSC (www.cpsc.gov)

The fuel tanks on scooters is probably regulated by each of the agencies plus the lemon laws in each state since these vehicles were financed by a bank the bank is typically liable if they were notified at any point in the process of the fact that the gas tanks leaked gas or if at any point they became aware there was a defect and did not take action with the distributor or insurance company they were financing. In this case any backer of PSF and the company that does the product liability insurance. I think that the longer the issue goes un addressed the larger the investigation and more complex the issue will become. In the event that a consumer complaint is issued or an injury occurs the importer / distributor and manufacturer will have very significant liability and will get worldwide scrutiny for the current importer, as well as past affiliates.

The smart thing is for the manufacturer to proactively resolve the safety issue and to make the customer's happy in the process.


http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/PRHTML95/95101.html

Consumer Safety, State of the Industry, and Why Mario Andretti doesn't care that your scooter leaks gas!

Consumer Safety, State of the Industry, and Why Mario Andretti doesn't care that your scooter leaks gas!


I have to commend several people in the business because they really have shown some "cojones" as they say in Miami in making sure consumers in the USA are safe. I was encouraged by David the owner of JustGottaScoot.com it was a pretty big move on his part to make the call on the SYM product line.

I have a past relationship with SYM and in the interest of full disclosure ( I was the importer in a former company back in 2003 for SYM for the USA ) and I honestly think it's a great product line. However, David made it very clear in his post. His stance is based on the consumers and their needs and I applaud that. No matter how much money it costs SYM, Carter, the dealers in lemon lawsuits or warranty claims its the right thing to do. PERIOD. Thats why you have insurance.

http://www.justgottascoot.com/sym.htm#Caution I will print at the end of my re-posting here.


Also Steve who I consider a consumer advocate gently walks the line between reporter, former national sales manager for Italjet, former regional salesman for Carter SYM and still has the integrity to call them as he sees them being the first to report on the fire at Carter. Now I went ahead and issued my warning on Powersports Factory because of all the emails between dealers, calls, and complaints.


You don't see Mario Andretti getting on the phone worried his bikes are leaking gas. Any reporter that has attempted calling him or his nephews hasn't gotten a call back about PSF or the product riding on American roads with his name on it. It's a shame because right now he's got a real good chance to make amends to the riders out there with defective product with his name on it. There are solutions in place and there are people trying to help, but PSF won't pay DPS Inc, won't pay warranties as required by law, and won't send the parts out to the dealers. I honestly think it's up to Mario Andretti to come save the day. Am I wrong to call him out on it? Probably not. If he licenses his name to something he should be out there and have responsible employees that tell him what his happening. I mean he's a great Italian American, but he made a profit on the licensing so he has a duty to make sure the products are not unsafe this is like Sussane Summers licensing something that makes you fatter instead of skinnier. Same thing you have a nationally known racer selling scooters that leak gasoline, it's like an oxymoron. Clearly he needs a better secretary. I love Mario, but Motor Vehicles have laws that protect consumers so he needs to be on top of this and hopefully he will get back to some of the editors trying to get a quote or track him down.

In the recent months, several dealers and consumers have contacted MRP regarding a leaky gas tank on the 2008-2009 Benelli Andretti Pepe models in the USA, also known as the X50 BENELLI X50 OR QUATTRO NOVE. This is the one with the Mario Andretti name on it hence why we tried reaching out to him so he would correct this product defect immediately.

We have received enough questions and phone calls regarding this matter, that we felt it necessary to make this post, as there may be some dealers and consumers unaware that their gas tank is leaking. I want to thank Steve, David, and all the people out there that want the industry to grow, but want companies to behave in a responsible manner and I agree. Therefore, in the interest of safety, we feel it is important for consumers and dealers alike to inspect the X50 models and make sure their tank is not leaking. To our knowledge, this is not an official warranty issue, nor has there been a recall issued by the distributors and/or the manufacturer. We are not the agent of record, we are not the importer, we are not owners or affiliated with the company. To our knowledge the current vehicles are owned by Powersports Factory and their financial backers that is the only record we know of. We think its a matter of public importance and federal law requires that this be reported immediately when any fuel related engine matters are an issue. We are not required to report this since this is PSFs job and we have notified them time and time again. To our knowledge they have not complied with any NHTSA, Consumer Safety Board or Thread Act requirements for reporting an issue of this matter as of the time I write this. We feel it is a matter of civic duty and for the well-being of the general public that we place this notice.

Let's be straight: NHTSA and EPA can work together with Customs. This is happening now. So many brands with defects or that don't comply with US standards are FINALLY after seven years of no enforcement whatsoever being stopped at the port. The Andrettis and Benellis I wrote about are not the new 2010 models its the older 2009 vehicles leaking gas imported in 2009.

The manufacturer and importer and the distributors are clearly in the loop and this is identified in several parts of NHTSA, and is listed with EPA when the vehicles are certified. The TREAD act is complex but if it is a safety related defect (and leaking gas tanks are safety related) then OFFICIAL Documented corrective action must take place. This has no happened if anything I have seen emails where there are 20 VIN numbers with leaky gas tanks and the reply has been " what part are you talking about? " to me this is a company in denial, bankers trying to liquidate product without any regard for the law and a bunch of dealers scrambling to sell product quickly and cheaply because they don't want to solve the problem in the correct way. I have heard of dealers that instead of buying a new gas tank are putting glue on them. This only shows that in a bad economy people will resort to anything and the dealers doing this are not immune from being sued by a smart consumer. So do the right thing, if you have a vehicle leaking gas, keep records, report it, and tell the importer what has happened. DOT doesn't care that your dealership is having a hard time, they want you to do the right thing.

In the EPA application process it is required that a "Reporting Safety Defects" page be put in the owners manual. This is where consumers or dealers can report the defects directly. (In the industry we call this the snitch page and when notices are sent to the address the process gets started.)

One thing that you should be aware of is that a manufacturer MUST report safety related defects to the NHTSA . Often on vehicles a reporting process is required. It is starting to be a part of consumer protection where Customs and CPSC are able to put product off sale so this could get interesting if the manufacturer elects to act illegally. Also some international ramifications exist so exporting could be a challenge as well.

So if you are a dealer - Do the right thing. Inspect the vehicle before selling it. Make sure the defect is not there. Make sure to keep your records and report it to PSF even if they don't respond. I would continue to pressure them into doing the right thing by the people driving these motor vehicles and make sure they take corrective action for the gas tanks that have been replaced ( that they have not paid warranty on or replaced out of pocket ) and make sure as a dealer you keep all this written down. I honestly cannot endorse or promote a company that would keep something like this hidden or fail to take corrective action when it comes to the safety of the general public. I have dealt with similar issues in the past and as a precaution safety experts recommend doing a preventive recall and this is something I strong suggest.

The issue related to vehicle defects becomes complicated. NHTSA (www.nhtsa.gov) is typically very involved as well as the CPSC (www.cpsc.gov)

The fuel tanks on scooters is probably regulated by each of the agencies. I think that the longer the issue goes un addressed the larger the investigation and more complex the issue will become. In the event that a consumer complaint is issued or an injury occurs the importer / distributor and manufacturer will have very significant liability and will get worldwide scrutiny for the current importer, as well as past affiliates.

The smart thing is for the manufacturer to proactively resolve the safety issue and to make the customer's happy in the process.

http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/PRHTML95/95101.html



For real experts on the matter please contact the CSB, NHTSA, and DPS ( the industry experts on warranties and recalls in the scooter industry - Ducati, Piaggio, and several makes have always relied on them for similar issues and they have a great fuel tank replacement kit for the dealers )

DPS Technical, Inc.
1160 Dewey Way, Suite D
Upland, CA 91786
(909) 981-5228 Office
(909) 908-0685 Cellular / text
website: www.chemhelp.com

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

SUZUKI BURGMAN 650cc Replacement Disk Brake Rotor 1105

SUZUKI BURGMAN 650cc Replacement Disk Brake Rotor 1105 get them at http://www.mrp-speed.com DISC 250x117x5 Modelo SUZUKI - 650 - BURGMAN AN 650 EXECUTIVE - 2004 / 2008 - MOTORCYCLES - REAR - RIGHT -

FOR OVER 40 YEARS NG ( A REAL FACTORY BY THE WAY WITH REAL PRODUCTION THEY DONT JUST SLAP A STICK ON SOMEONE ELSES STUFF ) HAS BEEN MAKING THE BEST IN DISK ROTORS AND FINALLY THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN THE USA AT http://www.mrp-speed.com DISC BRAKES FOR ATVS MOTORCYCLES GOKARTS SCOOTERS AND MOPEDS!

Disk Rotor Yamaha BW 50cc 100cc NG 1187


NG DISK BRAKES AVAILABLE FROM MRP OEM AND RACING STYLE DISKS MODEL NUMBER 1187 - HECHO EN España - MADE IN SPAIN NG BRAKE DISK ROTOR 1187 YAMAHA BWs 100cc/50cc
http://www.mrp-speed.com
DISC 190x48x3,5
Modelo MBK (MOTOBEKANE) - 50 - BOOSTER NAKED 50, 12" WHEELS - 2008 / 2009 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - MBK (MOTOBEKANE) - 50 - BOOSTER NEXT GENERATION 50 - 1996 / 1997 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - MBK (MOTOBEKANE) - 50 - BOOSTER ROCKET 50 - 1997 / 1998 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - MBK (MOTOBEKANE) - 50 - BOOSTER SPIRIT 50 - 1999 / 2004 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - MBK (MOTOBEKANE) - 50 - BOOSTER TRACK 50 - 1997 / 1998 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - MBK (MOTOBEKANE) - 50 - NEW GENERATION 50 - 1995 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - MBK (MOTOBEKANE) - 50 - TRACK 50 - 1995 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - YAMAHA - 50 - BWS 50 MOTO GP - 1999 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - YAMAHA - 50 - SPY 50 - 1996 / 2000 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - YAMAHA - 100 - BWS 100 - 2000 / 2002 - MOTORCYCLES - FRONT - LEFT - http://www.mrp-speed.com

How to look up OEM Gaskets? Find them on the MRP SITE


Comparing Stock OEM gaskets and how to look up the part numbers.

The easiest way to look up OEM manuals on our website from Linhai to CFMOTO is to use the OEM manuals from our manual page. -USE THE FOLLOWING LINKS

Manuals
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=Manuals.htm

Stocking Dealer locator
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/locator/index.php


MRP distributes OEM parts for TNG (CMSI), select models of CF Moto, Daelim Motors Korea ( parts should appear on website by mid July) Malaguti of Italy (www.Malaguti.com) Keeway Southeast (Keeway, Vento, QJ, Andretti, Yamati models), CPI Taiwan, Powersports Factory Brands PSF, Diamo, Cubik (matches OEM Vento part numbers), as well as QJ and ZNEN (who manufacture bikes for a variety of scooter importers) such as FlyScooters, Lance, BMS, Qlink models that were ZNEN corresponding to matching TNG parts.

NG BRAKE DISK ROTOR 1078 FOR PEUGEOT 50cc to 100cc

NG BRAKE DISK ROTOR 1078 FOR PEUGEOT 50cc to 100cc available from http://www.mrp-speed.com
FOR MORE INFO WATCH THE FOLLOWING:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRFTNq...

NG Brake Disc
Are the best disk rotors available on the market both racing and OEM replacement for your scooter motorcycle moped buggy or atv

Founded in 1969 the company has been a leader in disk brake production in Europe.

The company has a full selection of OEM replacement rotors for more info visit http://www.mrp-speed.com

NG
Los mejores discos de frenos del mercado.

NG BRAKE DISC, fue fundada en 1969 y se inicio el diseño y fabricación de discos en 1997 y desde entonces hemos adquirido altos conocimientos tecnológicos, tanto del producto fabricado, como del diseño, ya que no solo fabricamos, sino que realizamos el diseño de nuestros propios discos.

NG BRAKE DISC Es una empresa formada por gente joven con mucha experiencia en el sector de discos de frenos.

Somos fabricantes de discos de alta calidad para motocicletas, ciclomotores, quads y bicicletas, entre otros.

Nuestros discos son montados por las primeras marcas mundiales y se venden en más de 17 países.

Utilizando materiales de alta calidad y una maquinaria de última tecnología, conseguimos que nuestros discos estén a la vanguardia de los sistemas actuales de frenado.

NG BRAKE DISC, cuenta con una fábrica de más de 3000 m2/sqm

NG BRAKE DISC, trabaja con marcas de fabricación como:

AJP, ALFER, BARBERAN, BETA, BRUNE, CCM, CH RACING, CLIPIC, DERBI, FACTORY BIKE, FAMEL, GAS GAS, HM MOTORCYCLES, HONDA, MONTESA, MOTO MORINI, MOTOS BORDOY, MV AUGUSTA, MOTORRAD TECHNIC, PEUGEOT, POLINI, RIEJU, SHERCO, SIDE BIKE, SUZUKI, YAMAHA

NG BRAKE DISC, Exportación OEM y recambios:

Monday, August 16, 2010

FREE ATV GOKART BUGGY TIRE SPECIAL

BUY ANY ATV GOKART OR SYM BUGGY TIRE FOR FREE WITH PURCHASE ENDS TODAY - BUY ONE GET ONE OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE http://www.MRP-SPEED.com

ITALJET 150 BY CFMOTO 150 QLINK PEGASUS PSF DIAMO CF MOTO



So this unit based off the CFMOTO 150cc LC is a very popular model. Back in 2007 Italjet America launched the Italjet 150 Torpedo for the USA 2007-2009 models use different parts and we have that manual on our site. Many of the internal parts are the same as the Diamo 150 which are the same as the following:

QLINK PEGASUS 150cc by CFMOTO
CFMOTO Echarm 150cc
Powersports Factory Yamati imported some 150cc LC
DIAMO TORINO 150cc

So any private label Echarm version will use these parts and we have them on our site under the CFMOTO and Diamo part numbers.


VISIT THIS MANUAL LINK TO LOOK THEM UP.
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=Manuals.htm

TO BUY THE PART VISIT ONE OF THESE FINE DEALERS
Stocking Dealer locator
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/locator/index.php


MRP distributes OEM parts for TNG (CMSI), select models of CF Moto, Daelim Motors Korea ( parts should appear on website by mid July) Malaguti of Italy (www.Malaguti.com) Keeway Southeast (Keeway, Vento, QJ, Andretti, Yamati models), CPI Taiwan, Powersports Factory Brands PSF, Diamo, Cubik (matches OEM Vento part numbers), as well as QJ and ZNEN (who manufacture bikes for a variety of scooter importers) such as FlyScooters, Lance, BMS, Qlink models that were ZNEN corresponding to matching TNG parts.