AMD273 April 2022 Aftermarket Moto Design 273 April 2022 | Page 10

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Polaris has struck a deal with Qmerit , " a leader in green energy transformation with the largest nationwide network of certified electrical installers for EV charging , to provide a simple and convenient home charging installation service solution for Polaris ' s customers in USA ," says Steve Menneto , President of Off-Road . " With the launch of our new RANGER XP Kinetic , customers want a turnkey solution for fast , accessible charging . Qmerit will be the go-to resource for Polaris , and our dealers , to support these customers ' needs ."
SEMA has applauded publicprivate efforts to save the Bonneville Salt Flats , with the installation of a new water well and weather and hydrologic equipment used for measuring salt growth conditions as part of the broader Restore Bonneville program . Federal and state funds were released last year to instal the monitoring equipment and help increase the volume of salt pumped onto the Bonneville Salt Flats this year to a total of up to 500,000 tons . The collaborative restoration effort has seen SEMA and the racing community join forces with the U . S . Bureau of Land Management ( BLM ), Utah Department of Natural Resources ( DNR ), Utah Geological Survey ( UGS ) and Intrepid Potash Inc . Originally in the 1960s , the racing venue was over 13 miles in length , but the course is now eight miles or less . According to a study by the BLM , the Salt Flats have also shrunk in size from 96,000 acres to about 30,000 acres .
Texas based Volcon ePowersports (" the first all-electric off-road powersports company ") has already signed its 60th dealership in North America , having received 365 applications in just 160 days .
As part of the completion of its previously announced acquisition of Freedom Powersports , which represents 15 OEMs through 13 retail locations operated in Texas , Georgia and Alabama , RumbleOn has named Freedom founder and former CEO Kevin Lackey as the President of Retail for all Freedom locations , reporting to CEO Marshall Chesrown , with Daniel Arriaga reporting to Lackey as regional director of all Freedom retail locations . The Freedom acquisition completed on February 22nd .
Bloomington , Mn ., based SxS / UTV manufacturer Toro Company has acquired Robert and Becky Foster ' s Batesville , Arkansas based Intimidator Group - of Spartan mowers fame .

Buell Motorcycle Company Teases at Daytona with Two New Motorcycles Words and images by Steve Piehl

Visitors to Destination Daytona near Bruce Rossmeyer ' s Daytona Harley- Davidson got a sneak peek at two future motorcycles from the new Buell Motorcycle Company of Grand Rapids , Michigan . With great ceremony , CEO Bill Melvin revealed two bikes on March 5 , the Baja DR Dune Racer and the SuperTouring 1190 . The company says both motorcycles are destined for production in late 2022 or 2023 ; both are dubbed as 2023 models . The Baja DR Dune Racer was called " the world ' s fastest production dirt bike ," and with a claimed 172 hp , it just might be . It features the longtravel suspension you would expect , and this model has the extended swingarm of a hillclimber . The display bike was nicely assembled , but was clearly a one-off created for show ( and perhaps testing ). It ' s expected to sell for US $ 20,000 . The Buell SuperTouring 1190 is an interesting exercise in trying to be a sport tourer / adventure bike , while flexing its muscles as a sport bike . The 1190 cc twin-cylinder bike is said to deliver 182 hp . It looks small compared to most sport tourers and adventure bikes , and its street tires and relatively short suspension made it clear that this tourer is designed for adventures on pavement . The carbon fiber bodywork was well done and actually was a great complement to the massive Buell frame ( with fuel tank ) and large swingarm . It was displayed originally with the boxy-looking aluminum bags that ADV bike owners seem to love ( which of itself is worthy of a separate editorial ), but on another visit to the Buell display it was being shown sansbags - which gave the bike an almost naked bike look . It ' s expected the price will be in the region of $ 22,000 . Buell staff at the reveal said that both of the models are far beyond being prototypes , giving us the impression that testing is going on right now , and
likely sourcing of parts and supply chain building taking place as we speak . Both bikes are available for advanced orders now . Buell also had several of its current offerings on display , including the Hammerhead , which was introduced last year . The display bikes were ready for sale , so these new offerings were there , in part , to drive some traffic and
awareness of the Buells that are available today . Buell ' s approach on retailing isn ' t typical of most motorcycle brands today , and that ' s probably appropriate for a company of this size . As company officials explained , the organization is moving to a consumer-direct sales model on all of its products . When a customer orders a Buell motorcycle , they ' ll advise the company what dealership would be a good pickup point . If that dealer ' s not currently a Buell dealer , the company will vet the dealers and work with them to deliver the bike to the purchaser . Interesting process for a company from Michigan , the state that fought Tesla ' s consumer-direct model longer and harder than almost any other . Die-hard Buell fans are likely overjoyed to see that Liquid Asset Partners didn ' t just sell off the remnants of Erik Buell ' s former company , but stuck around and are evolving the product into new bikes and new categories . That ' s a much better " next chapter " than just about anyone had expected .
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