Back in Sept of 2010 I predicted gas prices would go up, dealers wouldn't be able to find a good source of scooters, and parts / service would keep them in business during the lean months. Those that survived would be in for a scooter sales bonanza.
What ended up happening? Even at the dealer show as tire kickers came and went I said to them buy up at the auctions, swap shops, pawn shops, make a deal with the tow truck companies the day of Scooter Ragnarok is upon us! The four horsemen of the scooter takeover inflation! rising gas prices! a weak economy! and more importantly fewer dealers would come and make the boom happen again. That post-apocalyptic beyond Thunderdome vision is now upon us without Tina Turner or Mel Gibson. Yes, the summer of the scooter is here now!
Check out this article online "Day estimated that his sales are up 50 percent or more over a year ago. Ordinarily that would be a good thing, but Day said that he failed to factor in gas prices in planning for 2011. He figured it would be a typical year, and with his showroom still having leftover models from 2010 and even 2009, he didn't stock up. "We didn't order many bikes this year. Already we're finding we're going to have a hard time getting 50ccs for our customers," he said.
http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2011/05/02/lifestyle/travel/554678.txt
If you want to find parts for Orphaned or dead scooter brands and need wholesale parts for them follow / bookmark these two resources. First Scoot! Magazine online has a great article Explains how to find parts for abandoned brands like Daelim, Hyosung, United Motors, CPI, TNG, Benelli, etc... http://scootmagazine.zt02.net/zetanextpages/ScootMagazine_Dec_2010.html?currentState=32_S#
http://scootmagazine.zt02.net/zetanextpages/ScootMagazine_Dec_2010.html?currentState=32_S
Second Bookmark or favorite the MRP site link to manuals for over 150 repair manuals and PDF files for Malaguti, Diamo, TNG, Italjet, Linhai parts and more.
http://www.martinracingdealer.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=Manuals.htm
Even better bookmark the online MRP WEB CATALOG AND LEARN TO USE IT. IF YOU HAVE A STORE THE NUMBER ONE RESOURCE IS THIS LINK. BOOKMARK IT. WE HAVE 30,000 SCOOTER PARTS LISTED HERE: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d83097ef
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7vgwHCsea4
I feel like if the Scooter Market is the first line of Disney's Peter Pan is "All of this has happened before, and it will all happen again." This line has been cited as the inspiration behind the same theme in Battlestar Galactica (reimagine SyFy series) guys it is here. If you want to stay in business follow the Scooter Mavens advice.
1. Prepare for the Boom.
2. Stock parts that sell and buy from a reputable source like MRP ( http://www.mrp-speed.com )
End of Line. The Scooter Maven has spoken.
Learn from the past so you don't repeat the same mistakes. Below are some videos that can help you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLdL3KMIGiw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uV6HpjiIR0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI22ZT7mTp0
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