Posts
1616
Joined
11/9/2009
Location
Avonmore, PA
US
Didn't want to hijack the "James Stewart bought some Hondas" thread,so I started this one. Why would ANY name Pro ever need to buy a bike(s) to compete? You hear these stories every year of some deserving racer not getting a ride and looking at buying a couple bikes to race . Any local shop would probably quickly jump to loan/give James 2 or 3 bikes to be able to drop his name. I know of at least 3 local pros here in western Pa that get 2 to 3 bikes per year at n/c to practice/race on for the season and then returned in basically stock condition and sold as "so and so's" former race bike.(I know this for fact,because I orchestrated one of the deals for the rider) I can even remember back several years ago when Ryan Clark needed bikes (during the Team Solitaire days) a local western Pa Yamaha shop supplied him with bikes ,and he isnt even from around here. Certainly the stories of these well-known riders actually having to "buy" these bikes couldn't possibly be accurate. Am i missing something ???
Now that he purchased one do you know how much Honda will hand him for a 1st place sx finish=free bike!
The Shop
http://www.xtrm.com/contingency/honda/index.asp?ev=570&yr=2016&evt=1
Lets say you did it anyway. What exposure is giving away 2 bikes going to get you? If JS was going to do some autograph sessions, a day in the dirt or something else alongside the shop, then you might get a return on your investment but I'm guessing JS doesn't have much spare time at the moment and if he's going to race again soon, he doesn't want to have to do anything for your local shop and he would rather pay cash for the bikes, do whatever he needs to do and get back on the racetrack.
Even if it was to be returned at the end of the season! My guys might not be in the same league as Stew but a top 10 contender in MX1 is still legit.
Around the NY area, it seems as though even JS himself, couldn't get set up with bikes from the dealers around here.
Local dealerships get more exposure in their target market by giving local pros free bikes. The local pros are racing local events and local state series. That sells bikes to new potential customers. Kids usually get exposed to local pros before knowing much about a national series. A 7 year old kid doesn't even know or doesn't care that Dean Wilson finished 12 in a supercross they know nothing about. But if dad takes kid to local race and they watch the hot shot local pros then the kid becomes a fan in some ways first on the local level.
Hope that sorta makes some sense.
It seems to be all about who can generate Instagram views now. While I agree and grew up with the mindset your saying, it seems that no one is willing to invest within the local levels of the sport these days.
Maybe thats just me, and I would love to be wrong
This is very interesting video out what we can expect in the years to come. Watch this video and see if you don't agree with Simon. Some crazy insight I never even thought of..
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4093670/Millennials-entitled-narcissistic-lazy-s-not-fault-Expert-claims-child-wins-prize-social-media-left-Gen-Y-unable-deal-real-world.html
Pit Row
Plus, big exposure doesn't always equate big sales.
Speaking as a guy who has helped a number of Pros, they don't give you anything in return from a business standpoint. They are terrible spokesmen for products. But if you want access to races, riding school training from them for yourself or your kids, or shwag, they will hook you up or they are just your good friend. For a lot of people that's a good enough return. For a bike shop, not so much.
For my rider's practice bikes, I would be happy to even have a current/ and or clean return/ trade in. Dealers often have trade in bikes, or returned bikes laying around the shop and sales floor. instead of letting them sit to collect dust, why not help out some local privateers. Realistically your giving the bike to someone who will probably be changing all the used, damaged, or worn parts that are preventing you from selling it in the first place.
Maybe I am crazy. I'm conflicted between the old thought process of a local shop supporting professional racing, and the current attitude of if your good enough just let the OEM's do it. All I know is something needs to change to benefit the privateers, and the sport from racers to dealers on the local level
If one new kid gets hooked on riding/racing at a young age then that family over the course of 10 years may buy several bikes from the dealer. Those relationship are generated on the local level and they can last for years.
That's the dealers target market. That's why they are called local dealers. There have been several local dealers that have tried to do race teams at the national level, and guess what they are not around as teams anymore because it doesn't translate to sales at the local level. Conversely I know several local dealerships that couldn't care less about nationals, or LL and all that crap and they have been in business 30-40 years and counting.
Local racing is still homegrown and still organic and that's a local dealers target market. There are plenty of local pros who are fast on local tracks. They just don't have the money, talent, time, or maybe the care to move out of local racing scene and that's fine. They are happy racing locally and there is definitely a fan base that develops between local kids and the local pro riders. That's who the local dealers want to sponsor because it's those new riders, kids, families etc who will be coming in to dealership to buy bikes, parts, gear etc.
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