Where do all these scooters come from? A closer look at OEMs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DYLMhbuuAo

The big news today was Benelli opening a flagship store in China for the race bikes. It was on the main page of allaboutbikes. Behind the scenes I read that Benelli is costing QJ the new Chinese owners about 5 million Euros a year in losses. So in a weird way I thought it was great that they would export the Superbikes to China despite the country not having too many places where you can go 120mph.

So I need to do a follow up video to this video from 2 years ago since OEMs are shifting again. More OEMs are shifting to Malaysia and Vietnam to outrun the higher costs in China. Last month the yuan rose for the 9th time in a row ( not by much but sufficient to make the robber barons at US banks raise eyebrows. Gasoline is going up and predicted to get to $100 a barrel by the end of the year so what does it all mean? It means companies will find a way to make the units cheaper elesewhere outside of China.

Where do all these scooters come from? A closer look at OEMs mainly the Italian brand names and the state of Italian scooter manufacturing in 2008.
From Piaggio Group owners of Aprilia, Vespa, Derbi to Malaguti (now working with CF Moto) and brands being revived by Asian owners such as Benelli, Italjet Moto, and more...
How does MRP fit in all this? How do we feel about sourcing from different lands? Hopefully some of these questions will be answered for the scooter media, dealers, and consumers who like to take a closer look at the Powersports Scooter Industry.

I need to follow up this 2008 video with the view in 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2JBo6ifveU

Going into 2011 The US Scooter Market is about USED BIKES

As we go into 2011 I feel its my duty to point out that dealers keep neglecting the Used chart that is up 38% this year. Overall the industry is down, but used continues to go up. The used market for scooters is also about to blow up as gas continues to rise.

So the main question dealers sitting on a junkeyard need to ask themselves is not what they paid for the bikes, but how much they can get for them. What are you going to retail them for? Trade ins as we approach 2011 is a fast money maker for college based stores like Gainesville, Florida or Austin, Texas. In other markets like Miami Beach transient people who live on South Beach or Key West for a few months tend to buy a scooter and quickly sell it on Craigs List or back to the dealer. These bikes often just need a piston change or a new belt so they are quick money makers.

So my advice for 2011. GET AGGRESSIVE WITH USED SCOOTERS!

Part of being a good dealer is knowing where the market is headed and those bikes selling at the tow truck auction for $100 today will be going for $899 come April when gas hits $3.90 a few hours of work, maybe $150 in parts and you just doubled your money. Where do you get the parts for these unknown brands?

MRP - The one stop shop for scooter parts! We have it all for scooters from Aprilia to Zongshen we have the largest collection of parts in North America.

Remember many of these students on a budget or the retired guys from the RV park are trying to save money so they will want a used unit before looking at the new Chinese bike. Twenty five percent of all used buyers are new to the market, they have never owned a scooter before according to Dealer News so take advantage of this. Every year three used scooters sell for every single new scooter so that equals over 200,000 units being repaired and put back into the marketplace. Having so many opportunities out there its no wonder Honda dealers are focusing on a used unit where they can make 40% instead of the new scooters where they only make 7%. The numbers don't lie.

So if you're a smart dealership make 2011 the year of the used scooter before gas hits $4.

For more information on finding used scooter parts follow the link to the current issue of Scoot Magazine.



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.

MRP is the only source for UMGLOBAL United Motors of America scooter parts now that United Motors (www.UMGlobal.com) has closed in the USA. We also offer Hyosung parts as well Franco Morini kits for scooters.

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.