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Edited Date/Time
1/23/2012 9:49pm
So I was trying to read the "amateurs aren't amateurs" thread regarding the Lake Whitney national.
Why do all the factories invest so much money into amateur racing? Do they really get a return on investment? Does anyone really buy bikes based on what other amateurs are racing?
The idea behind sponsership and supporty is a return on investment, is there any market research being done to show the effects of these investments?
Just wondering, I don't know anyone that buys bikes because of what someone else rides.
Why do all the factories invest so much money into amateur racing? Do they really get a return on investment? Does anyone really buy bikes based on what other amateurs are racing?
The idea behind sponsership and supporty is a return on investment, is there any market research being done to show the effects of these investments?
Just wondering, I don't know anyone that buys bikes because of what someone else rides.
You're kidding, right? Or maybe you don't have kids.
You're kidding, right? Or maybe you don't have kids.[/quote:2hr3s34a]
There may be a few, but mostly just because johnny down the street has a "green" bike. Not because some amateur kid is racing one.
I just don't see how this type of marketing turns into motorcycle sales, maybe I am wrong. But I think they might be after something else? I dunno.
You're kidding, right? Or maybe you don't have kids.[/quote:23hypc9f]
There may be a few, but mostly just because johnny down the street has a "green" bike. Not because some amateur kid is racing one.
I just don't see how this type of marketing turns into motorcycle sales, maybe I am wrong. But I think they might be after something else? I dunno.[/quote:23hypc9f]
Ive always wondered if anybody actually buys a honda because that Jerry McGruff raced one. Or if Ricky Carmikel ever sold a zook. Same with gear, who actually buys Thors gear because they saw Reed racing around in it?
It seems stupid to me, but I bet the factories know more then we do...
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Ive always wondered if anybody actually buys a honda because that Jerry McGruff raced one. Or if Ricky Carmikel ever sold a zook. Same with gear, who actually buys Thors gear because they saw Reed racing around in it?
It seems stupid to me, but I bet the factories know more then we do...[/quote:f5qs7u3u]
For the gear thing, it's exposure. I wouldn't buy gear because someone wore it. But the first time I saw some of the new Spring 08 thor gear on reed I was like dizam yo dat shiz is tite!
Ive always wondered if anybody actually buys a honda because that Jerry McGruff raced one. Or if Ricky Carmikel ever sold a zook. Same with gear, who actually buys Thors gear because they saw Reed racing around in it?
It seems stupid to me, but I bet the factories know more then we do...[/quote:1cswud4g]
For the gear thing, it's exposure. I wouldn't buy gear because someone wore it. But the first time I saw some of the new Spring 08 thor gear on reed I was like dizam yo dat shiz is tite![/quote:1cswud4g]
Thats what I figured with gear too.
While Hondas always seemed to outnumber the rest at the local tracks, there's no doubt that a hell of a lot more Suzukis suddenly appeared at the local track when RC was Zook-mounted. Of course they had improved their product during that time, but I'm sure it didn't hurt having RC winning titles on the yellow bike.
While Hondas always seemed to outnumber the rest at the local tracks, there's no doubt that a hell of a lot more Suzukis suddenly appeared at the local track when RC was Zook-mounted. Of course they had improved their product during that time, but I'm sure it didn't hurt having RC winning titles on the yellow bike.[/quote:10nsqwjm]
I can see people buy bikes because MC or RC was winning on them to some degree. And I can also see people buying bikes at a chance for contingency dollars.....but in the amateur ranks, I don't see kids selling bikes at all?
While Hondas always seemed to outnumber the rest at the local tracks, there's no doubt that a hell of a lot more Suzukis suddenly appeared at the local track when RC was Zook-mounted. Of course they had improved their product during that time, but I'm sure it didn't hurt having RC winning titles on the yellow bike.[/quote:5nkl0pfm]
I can see people buy bikes because MC or RC was winning on them to some degree. And I can also see people buying bikes at a chance for contingency dollars.....but in the amateur ranks, I don't see kids selling bikes at all?[/quote:5nkl0pfm]
If the starting gates are filled with that color, it's gonna have an impact.
Or if one guy is cleaning up in the Am. ranks, it's gonna sway a few folks here and there. Multiply that across the country, and you are talking about some real numbers.
To take it to the extreme, if Kawasaki stopped sponsoring Am. riders completely after this season, in a couple of seasons I'd bet it'd be rare to find a Kawasaki on the gate at a big time Am. race.....
While Hondas always seemed to outnumber the rest at the local tracks, there's no doubt that a hell of a lot more Suzukis suddenly appeared at the local track when RC was Zook-mounted. Of course they had improved their product during that time, but I'm sure it didn't hurt having RC winning titles on the yellow bike.[/quote:1gjvczvm]
I can see people buy bikes because MC or RC was winning on them to some degree. And I can also see people buying bikes at a chance for contingency dollars.....but in the amateur ranks, I don't see kids selling bikes at all?[/quote:1gjvczvm]
Like I said earlier, the factories are hoping the amateurs they sponsor will be the next RC or MC. So if the kids have spent their whole life racing Kawis as kids, they will spend atleast their first few years as a pro on their bike.
While Hondas always seemed to outnumber the rest at the local tracks, there's no doubt that a hell of a lot more Suzukis suddenly appeared at the local track when RC was Zook-mounted. Of course they had improved their product during that time, but I'm sure it didn't hurt having RC winning titles on the yellow bike.[/quote:2kgf4uxs]
I can see people buy bikes because MC or RC was winning on them to some degree. And I can also see people buying bikes at a chance for contingency dollars.....but in the amateur ranks, I don't see kids selling bikes at all?[/quote:2kgf4uxs]
Like I said earlier, the factories are hoping the amateurs they sponsor will be the next RC or MC. So if the kids have spent their whole life racing Kawis as kids, they will spend atleast their first few years as a pro on their bike.[/quote:2kgf4uxs]
I don't know if that's quite the main reason, otherwise there would only be a couple of guys getting support and there wouldn't be quite as many semis, etc....
I think most marketing folks realize that buying tendencies start really early in life. That thing with Voss many years ago was a good example. He was a hot privateer, but made it clear that the only ride he would take was a Honda deal. Most probably early on he just had it built up in his mind that a Honda was so much superior than everything else that he didn't want to ride anything else.
And then you add the layers to it. If Johnny Racer is racing in the C class on a Honda, but he sees all these guys cleaning up on Kawasakis in the B classes, he's probably going to try to get Dad to buy green the next go round. And then, like someone mentioned, all his buddies who ride but don't race at the high level are also going to want to have a green bike just like their local guy who is moving up to the B class at LLs, etc...
I think it'd be impossible to truly measure the impact of the Am. programs, but common sense tells you it's fairly significant.
I know a guy who was one of the original "factory" snowboarders. Signed a two million dollar contract to ride for Burton (I think).
Once the snowboard companies found out kids were buying boards regardless of who was riding them, he never saw another contract anywhere close to that. Closer to room and board money.
I know a guy who was one of the original "factory" snowboarders. Signed a two million dollar contract to ride for Burton (I think).
Once the snowboard companies found out kids were buying boards regardless of who was riding them, he never saw another contract anywhere close to that. Closer to room and board money.[/quote:316sp6uu]
Maybe Burton was saving all their pennies for that big contract they gave to White?
Ive always wondered if anybody actually buys a honda because that Jerry McGruff raced one. Or if Ricky Carmikel ever sold a zook. Same with gear, who actually buys Thors gear because they saw Reed racing around in it?
It seems stupid to me, but I bet the factories know more then we do...[/quote:2dg2mmdw]
I know a guy that is a multi-brand dealer. I asked him if he saw sales of Suzukis go up when RC went yellow. He said it was scary how fast he started selling Suzukis when that happened.
Ive always wondered if anybody actually buys a honda because that Jerry McGruff raced one. Or if Ricky Carmikel ever sold a zook. Same with gear, who actually buys Thors gear because they saw Reed racing around in it?
It seems stupid to me, but I bet the factories know more then we do...[/quote:39ifkbzw]
I know a guy that is a multi-brand dealer. I asked him if he saw sales of Suzukis go up when RC went yellow. He said it was scary how fast he started selling Suzukis when that happened.[/quote:39ifkbzw]
Thats a little bit sad... But as been stated before their bikes drastically improved in that time also.
Star rider's have more of an impact on their purchasing decisions.
Back then there was little to no coverage of snowboarding. It was still too much of an underground type activity with very little sport aspect attached to it.
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