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May 12, 2003 – Parts Unlimited, Honda continue talks

As Powersports Business previously reported, Parts Unlimited’s Moose Utility Division is contracted to be an exclusive provider of ATV hard parts branded with the Honda name. Since Sept. 2002, Parts Unlimited and representatives from American Honda Motor Co., Inc. have been debating Moose products to build and market specifically for Honda ATVs.
Racks, bags, winches, plows, and other bolt-on items are reportedly planned, and the new line, tentatively called “Honda Licensed ATV Accessories by Moose,” may debut late August or early September.
Representing Honda in the planning process is Scott Proffer, assistant manager in Honda’s Accessories and Licensing department, and representing Parts Unlimited is Special Projects Coordinator Gary Gibbs, who moved to Brea, Calif., Jan. 1, 2003, to work the agreement.
Proffer told Powersports Business that Honda wants other firms to produce key PG&A so the vehicle manufacturer can concentrate on its own corporate direction, or what Proffer described as “a focus to build top quality units — whether ATVs, PWC or motorcycles.”
While the first phase of the agreement will deal with authorizing Moose to build gear for utility quads, Proffer said that sport quad products may represent a possible phase two, but says he is keeping an open mind.
“There are unlimited opportunities here. This is a whole new project, and nobody has ever done this before — as far as licensing bolt-on accessories,” Proffer said. “We’ve been licensing Fox to build clothing and to build leather jackets, and so now this new direction is hard parts. As we proved with those other manufacturers, if we can co-market with Moose, one of the top ATV brands out there, and get the product recognized by customers and dealers, it could make us both even stronger.”
So will the Honda-branded product be the same as the Moose-branded gear?
“It could be that our Honda-branded ATV cover may be the same as the Moose-branded item,” Proffer countered, “but it’s possible that Moose could have a whole new item just for the Honda line.”
Kasea adds canadian firm
Kasea
has inked a deal with JHS Industries of Quebec, Canada, to be the official importer of the Kasea product line in Canada. Kasea Motorsports is a producer and distributor of ATVs, scooters, motorcycles and go karts sold in close to 800 dealers across the U.S. and through distributors in nine different countries. Kasea has been in business for over 10 years and has reported significant growth over the last three years.
JHS Industries, which is to be renamed in the near future, will handle all aspects of the Kasea product line including sales and marketing, parts and warranty. To contact JHS Industries call Kent Aubichon at 514-731-3862.
For more information on Kasea go to www.kasea.com or e-mail ssteffy@kasea.com.
MC Stuff wins award; signs new rep
Motorcycle Stuff
received a certificate of Export Achievement from the U.S. Export Assistance Center on Friday, April 4, 2003. Tim Dodd, company president, accepted the award from Kristi Nitsch, director of the Cape Girardeau District Office of U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Achievement Certificate recognizes companies that are business clients of the Commerce Department’s U.S. Commercial Service, and that have used their services to open new foreign markets. Motorcycle Stuff was recognized for developing new export markets including Bolivia. Terry Kinder, an international sales representative for Motorcycle Stuff who is fluent in Spanish, largely developed these new markets for the company.
The export market is important not only in the powersports industry, but also for the entire U.S. economy. U.S. exports are up from $57 billion in 1970 to $1 trillion in 2000 — an increase of nearly 10% per year.
In other news from Motorcycle Stuff, the distribution firm recently hired Bud Boyceas an outside sales representative serving the Chicago area. Boyce has over 20 years of product design and sales experience in the motorcycle industry, beginning at Vetter Corp., which was later purchased by Bell Helmets. He then worked as a freelance designer for companies including Bell, Suzuki, Cold Wave, Harley-Davidson, Yamaha, Polaris, Arctic Cat and M2R. While his most recent position was in sales for Vega Helmets, Boyce spent the majority of the past three years designing protective gear for Pro-Tec Helmets.
Western Power sports Adds Vince
Western Power Sports
is now distributing Leo Vince high performance exhaust systems for most major motorcycle brands. “They are an extremely high quality exhaust system produced in Italy with Old World craftsmanship,” says Dan Lopez, Western Power Sports product manager.
Leo Vince was founded in Monticello d’Alba, Italy, in 1987. Available in aluminum, carbon fiber and titanium, race cans and street-legal cans are available for scooters, sport bikes and four-stroke off-road and supermotard bikes. Full systems are also available for some applications.
Global Signs Diamond
Diamond Powersports, Inc.
Sunrise, Fla., a manufacturer of motorcycle parts and accessories to the motorcycle aftermarket and general merchandise markets, signed an agreement with Global Motorsports that will have the distributor offering Diamond product through its Motorcycle Stuff and Custom Chrome divisions.
Diamond Powersports, Inc. was founded in 1992. The company currently produces and manufactures 185 motorcycle parts for the aftermarket, including custom parts such as its Flame Sliders, Frame Sliders, lowering links and foot pegs. It also is a distributor of motorcycle tires, valves and other products.
Fulmer PRomotes Holbrooks
Fulmer Helmets
has promoted Scott Holbrooks to vice president. For the past 14 months Holbrooks has served as the company’s product manager. His promotion comes on the heels of a record sales year in 2002.
Fulmer sales were at record levels in 2002 as the company continued a surge that began in 1998. Over the past four years sales have increased at a 40% annual rate.
2002 was the most successful year in the company’s history, Holbrooks said. Fulmer’s new Fresno, Calif., distribution facility will offer its Western region customers improved service, he added.
New Catalogs from Parts unlimited
Parts Unlimited’s
2003 ATV catalog has more than 600 full-color pages filled with new parts like Dura Blue axles, EBC brake pads/shoes and JT sprockets, along with traditional and upgraded parts and gear from Thor, Moose Racing, Moose Hunting, Moose Utility, Cycle Country and EPI. The new Utility Vehicle section makes it easier to find products specifically for vehicles like the Mule, Ranger and Gator.
Parts new Watercraft catalog, a 172-page full-color book filled with products like Solas impellers, Worx sponsons,R&D intake grates, Slippery apparel, Thor helmets and Troy Lee Designs stickers.
New EMGO Catalog
EMGO
has released its 2003 Footrest & Kick-start/ Shift Lever catalog. The catalog contains foot pegs, floorboards, footrest clamps, kick-start levers and shift levers for motorcycles and ATVs.

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