PWC, motorcycle values up

The value of motorcycles, scooters and PWC are up for the month of June, as compared to May, according to Black Book.
PWC saw the largest month-over-month increase, with values up 4 percent to an average of $2,868.
In the powersports arena, street motorcycles saw the next highest increase, up 3 percent to an average of $4,222. Cruisers followed close behind, with a 2.8 percent increase to a $6,954.67 average. Also, in the two-wheel street segment, scooters increased 2.7 percent month-over-month, to a $1,481 average value. Black Book vice president and managing editor Ricky Beggs attributed the rising values to seasonal changes and increases in gas prices leading to more sales.
The off-road segment also saw increases across the board. The average off-road motorcycle value rose 2.2 percent to $1,346, while dual-sport bikes are up 1.5 percent to a $2,627 average value. ATV values are up 1.1 percent to $2,623, while UTVs rose just over half a percent to a $6,603 average.
The only powersports segment that saw decreases was snowmobiles, which dropped 1.2 percent to an average value of $2,392. Beggs said this is expected with the seasonality of the sport, as many sleds are currently in storage and put away until the snow comes again this fall and winter.

BRP mourns loss of Godbout

BRP is mourning the loss of one of its executives. Dominique Godbout, most recently the director of marketing for Sea-Doo PWC and boats, passed away May 24 after a battle with cancer. Godbout, 54, held a variety of management positions with many of BRP’s brands.
“Dominique has been a valued BRP employee, working for our recreational products division in Valcourt and in Rovaniemi, Finland, from 1992 to 2000 and later at BRP from 2007 to 2011,” said Yves Leduc, vice president and general manager of BRP’s North American Division. “His extensive marketing expertise and great passion for all our products contributed substantially to the ongoing success of our company. The powersports industry loses one of its best players and BRP also loses a friend, an employee who spoke his mind, and one who was seen by all as a role model of integrity. Our deepest condolences are extended to his family.”

Accessory salesman Saloway passes away

Motorcycle industry accessory sales and marketing master Charlie Saloway passed away May 22 due to complications related to a recent heart attack.
Saloway, 66, grew up in Minnesota and entered the motorcycle business working at Tousley’s Sport Center in Minneapolis after spending time in the Peace Corps. He went to work for Drag Specialties during the early-1980s as export sales director, mainly for the European marketplace.
From 1997-2002, he took a position in export sales with Tucker Rocky Distributing. In 2003, he accepted a sales management position with J&M Corporation, a Tucson, Ariz.,-based motorcycle audio company.
“Charlie was a master at remembering and telling good jokes and virtually everyone that came in contact with him liked him,” John J. Lazzeroni, president of J&M Corporation, and J&M vice president Melinda K. Carevich said in a statement. “I can remember going with Charlie to various industry trade shows both in the U.S.A. and Europe, and you could not get through an hour of the show without someone coming to the booth that knew Charlie, just to shake his hand and say hello.
“His contributions to the success of J&M Corporation and the industry as a whole cannot be overstated.”