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Drag NVP ‘a home run’

Vendors get positive reception to 2015 product

Legend Suspensions owner Jesse Jurrens had a formidable lineup of new products for dealers and reps to view during the Drag Specialties National Vendor Presentation in Madison, Wis., earlier this year.

And now that 2015 is closer than ever, dealers are on the cusp of being able to get those new parts onto bikes. In 2015, Legend Suspensions will release new Aero Softail suspensions and expanded Revo Coil suspension fitments for Dyna, FXR and Sportster. Dealers and reps at the Drag NVP were the first to take a look.

“The Drag NVP Showcase is always a very strong event, and NVP was attended again this year,” Jurrens said. “I was very pleased with the steady activity in our Legend booth throughout the event. The dealers were excited about the new Legend Suspensions products in 2014 and the new fitments for 2015.”

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(From left) Legend Suspensions owner Jesse Jurrens, Wade Hallett from the Drag Specialties purchasing department and Drag Specialties sales rep Duke Durham at the Drag Specialties NVP in Madison earlier this year.

Jurrens, whose Sturgis, S.D.-based company prides itself on being a “superior, American-made product,” has found that dealers have been selling 2014 Legends new Aero and Revo product at a high rate, and are excited about additional fitments for 2015.

“Dealers prefer to sell the Legend line because they know it is the best option for their customers. Legend offers the highest ride quality, lifetime warranty and the best margins,” he said.

Paul Yaffe, meanwhile, echoed Jurgens’ assessment of the NVP, as it once again boosted his Phoenix-based Bagger Nation products.

“It was awesome. It is every year and this year was no different,” Yaffe told Powersports Business. “We as vendors were excited to see the excitement from the reps. With all the new product I saw coming out there, I was super excited. I was very happy with the reps and the response to our products. It was a huge success for us.”

Yaffe, who showed about 50 products for 2014 and 2015 Harley-Davidson models at the show, saw particular interest in Bagger Nation’s saddle bags and Lid Lifter saddlebag levers, ignition switch covers and handlebars.

A new Drag Specialties-exclusive Razorback tank for H-D touring models, as well as Drag-specific saddlebags and fenders, also generated a positive response.

“We’re very excited about what Drag Specialties will be able to do with the Razorback tank,” he said.

Yaffe noted that he viewed the 2014 market as “kind of disappointing. We had a very good spring, but then summer wilted down and late summer really softened. We’ve had very modest traffic from July, and it still feels soft. It’s generally lean going into the holidays. But I like to think we’re quite a bit ahead of the curve with 2015 product. I think we’re leading the charge there, and I’m excited for the new year.”

Kevin Lehan, general manager of Drag Specialties Seats in Rogers, Minn., reflected on the positive response from the company’s custom order seat program.

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“You’re noticing more and more seats on these baggers that you can’t buy off the shelves,” he said. “We had a variety of seats in our booth and it was funny — people would walk by the booth, take a look, go about 10 feet past us then turn around and come in.”

Similarly, Brian Klock, owner of Klock Werks Kustom Cycles in Mitchell, S.D., found the Drag NVP to be “a home run.”

“Dealers were serious about getting business done, and dealers and reps were excited about our products. We know that people are going to sell what they have from us.”

Klock showed a new, “livelier and more vibrant” dealer POP display that is available for free for dealers who buy three windshields. And dealers continue to thank Klock for offering the brand’s Try It Before You Buy It program for the windshields.

“One dealer came up to me and said he wanted to shake my hand. He said, ‘I made $36,000 off you selling 60 windshields a month!’ I mean, who doesn’t want that in their parts department?”

Klock also saw continued chatter about the company’s fenders, as well as a reduction in pricing on its handlebars.

“We were one of the most expensive handlebars out there, so taking $100 off the retail price is going to be a huge benefit,” Klock said. “I mean, I was once a single-car-garage dealer guy. I know they can make it like I did, and that part jacks me up.”

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