| Street Exhaust
Market Report
“Consumers visit dealerships for a tangible product experience, where products are in stock for them to see, feel, experience and take with them,” stated John “Baron” Vaughan-Chaldy, of Baron Custom Accessories. Dealers can have an advantage over Internet based stores by keeping street exhaust products in stock so that when customers walk in, they can ride away with a set of pipes that are perfect for them, instead of having to wait for them to arrive a few days later. To help satisfy your customer’s ‘right now’ mentality, when it comes to buying a new exhaust system, we’ve compiled a list of some of the latest exhaust products in this month’s Market Report.
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The Nasty Boy 4-2-4 exhaust system for Yamaha Ventures 1999-2008 and Royal Star TD 2005-2008 is new from Baron Custom Accessories, reported CEO John ‘Baron’
Vaughan-Chaldy. This system features a unique slip-on four pipe design exiting from the rear of the bike, with two horizontally parallel pipes on both sides of the bike nestled under the bags, described
Vaughan-Chaldy, who added, custom exhaust tips are available. He told us the company’s sales are up when compared to last year’s. “People are looking for quieter systems and are more open to slip-on exhaust,” he explained, adding, Baron specializes in unique slip-on systems. “Sound abuse is the biggest threat,”
Vaughan-Chaldy told us, and finding ways to reduce noise while still improving sound and performance will be the biggest opportunity for the street exhaust market. Consumers still want to buy exhaust, but dealer/retailers need to ensure that they are aware of its sound quality before they buy, stated
Vaughan-Chaldy. “Dealers need to recognize that today’s consumers want instant gratification and while they are in your store you are never closer to their ability to purchase from you,” he continued. He concluded by saying, “Today more than ever, brick and mortar stores better have the products in stock, or they will not be capitalizing on their number one asset of being the place where consumers can achieve instant gratification.”
Baron Custom Accessories
311 Industrial Way, #1
Fallbrook, CA 92028
Phone: 888-278-2819
Fax: 760-731-1284
www.baroncustom.com |
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New from EMGO International are the Harley XL slip-on mufflers – drag pipes and slash cuts for 1980-2003 and 2004-up models, informed Operations Manager Greg
Tysor. These mufflers offer a slip fit at a bargain price, he explained, adding, noise is a hot topic from street to racing and customers are better informed about which pipes will best fit what they need. “Slip fit mufflers are an easy way to change the overall appearance of the bike,” noted
Tysor. He said a big opportunity for dealers to make a sale is to sell items related to exhaust changes like jet kits, dyno runs, filters, etc. Street exhaust sales are up at
EMGO, said Tysor, who concluded by advising dealers that they need to improve in-store displays in order to improve their ability to compete with Internet sales.
EMGO International
P.O. Box 664
Mableton, GA 30126
Phone: 770-944-3532
Fax: 770-944-7672
emgo@emgo.com |
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National Cycle Sales and Marketing Manager Ann Willey reported the company has released its Peacemakers exhaust for the metric cruiser and American V-Twin market. This exhaust is easy to use and features “a control mount switch that activates diverter valve technology, which enables riders to get the sound they want in a performance exhaust,” described Willey. With the current issues regarding noise, diverter valve technology is a convenient way for riders to choose between stock and loud noise when riding, she explained, adding, the biggest opportunity stores have is to add products like the Peacemakers to their exhaust mix. Sales are up, Willey divulged, because “the Peacemakers exhaust addresses a real concern in a reliable, well engineered product.” She advised retailers to look closely at what each product’s performance claims are and the quality of each product. “Variable sound exhausts sell best when they are heard,” Willey continued, “The unique operation of Peacemakers exhaust make it the perfect product for demonstration.”
National Cycle
2200 Maywood Drive
Maywood, IL 60153
Phone: 877-972-7336
Fax: 708-343-0625
www.nationalcycle.com |
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“Direct factory replacement slip-on mufflers for the Harley-Davidson model FatBob is our newest addition to the Rush performance line,” stated National Sales Manager Adam Daniel. “The biggest feature we have with the new slip-on mufflers, as well as the rest of our line, are interchangeable baffles,” he added. Daniel told us the benefit of having these baffles is that it allows the customer to choose their desired sound level, which allows for flexibility in both tone and performance. Another feature he said customers will enjoy is the chrome on the mufflers give it a nice blue tint that riders have come to love from the Motor Company. “We’ve found a considerable trend in the demand for high-quality slip-on mufflers that will sound like a Harley-Davidson should, while giving riders the performance they expect without breaking their pocketbooks,” noted Daniel. He continued by saying the biggest threat the exhaust market faces is that the manufacturers are loosing sight of what their loyal and potential customers want by not listening to them anymore. “Street exhaust manufacturing is not only about producing an all American-made quality product, but being able to adapt rapidly to changing consumer demands and standing behind it,” he explained. The biggest opportunity for the exhaust market, on the other hand, is the growth rate, Daniel said, adding, “It has been climbing without sign of stopping since people are looking at two wheels as being a more attractive way of traveling and leisure than ever before.” Rush’s exhaust sales are up from this time last year, he divulged. Daniel concluded by saying, “Dealer/retailers need to understand the exhaust and how it will react under different circumstances such as performance engine modification and air/fuel ratios.”
Rush Racing Products
2777 E. 83rd Pl.
Merrillville, IN 46410
Phone: 800-362-1701
Fax: 219-942-0700
www.rushracingproducts.com |
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New from Ti Force Exhausts is the Ti Force titanium full exhaust system with carbon fiber canister and conical end cap for the 2008 Suzuki GSX 1300R
Hayabusa, reported spokesperson Steve Ionescu. These great looking, high performance and lightweight pipes offer excellent flow, improved power from idle to redline and a deep mellow sound all at a competitive price, he explained. Ionescu told us he has noted a move towards more slip-on/bolt-on exhausts as well as performance becoming second to style in customer’s demands for street exhaust. Government regulations, emissions and sound levels have made the standard exhausts quite heavy and restrictive, Ionescu stated, adding, “At the same time, aftermarket exhausts can take these new regulations as an opportunity to offer high performance, lighter weight exhaust systems that look and sound great.” The company’s full exhaust system sales have stabilized, while slip-on and bolt-on exhaust sales have increased, he divulged, adding, “There are more brands than ever on the market, with large variations in quality and performance. Customers need more information and details from the sales person to make the best decision.”
Ti Force Exhausts – Orient Express
28 Grand Blvd., North
Brentwood, NY 11717
Phone: 800-645-6521
Fax: 631-231-9557
www.orientexpress.com |
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Larry Miller, vice president of sales, reported Ultima Products has released its new Big Growl exhaust pipes for the metric cruiser market. “These 2 1/4 inch pipes for the popular Yamaha Roadster (1999-2006 models) feature thick wall tubing, reinforced mounting brackets and quality chrome,” he explained, adding, they come in four styles: Snub Nose, Long Rifles, Straight Shooters and Sharp Shooters. “The metric cruiser riders are wanting the custom pipe opportunities available to the Harley-Davidson market,” Miller noted, adding, “Bringing exhaust performance opportunities to a continually diversified cruiser market is our expanding goal.” Performance exhaust sales are up because Ultima has continued to expand its line with ‘step tuned pipes’ and performance pipes for
Softails, Sportsters and Yamaha Roadstars, divulged Miller. He concluded by reminding retailers to remember to display the pipes on a bike on the showroom floor is essential to helping your customers find the pipes they are looking
for.
Ultima Products –
Midwest Motorcycle Supply
Phone: 800-325-3914
Fax: 636-931-3300
www.ultimaproducts.com |
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The Monster Oval slip-ons from Vance & Hines “represent the future of touring slip-ons,” stated Marketing Director John Potts, who continued by saying, “The ovalized five inch round muffler gives Monster Ovals twice the internal volume of other slip-on mufflers for better flow, more power and less noise.” These pipes are encased in full coverage, one piece formed heat shields with machined end caps in either chrome or black and include the option of a catalyst based system, explained Potts. He told us, “Full injection tuning has become a standard, where the consumer now knows they need to tune their fuel injected motorcycle after changing the exhaust.” Finding ways to solve the problematic regulations in California are critical right now, Potts divulged, adding, Vance & Hines is working on several options that offer quieter systems with more power like the Big Radius 2-1 and Monster Ovals. Sales are continuing to grow as the company moves into the New Year, but Potts said there are still many challenges ahead. “We are pushing hard to make 2008 a great year – we are doing more events, publishing more ads and continuing our new product development with Monster Ovals and the new black line of ceramic coated exhausts,” he explained. Potts concluded by saying, “We’re known for our exhausts and fuelpak and for 2008 we have expanded to add VO2 air intake to make Vance & Hines the one company dealers can get it all from.”
Vance & Hines
13861 Rosecrans Ave.
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Phone: 562-592-2529
Fax: 562-802-0110
www.vanceandhines.com |
In order to compete with Web based stores, dealerships need to capitalize on their main advantage: being able to fill their customer’s desire to have the product now by keeping a healthy supply of exhaust pipes in stock and displayed on the floor for customers to see, feel and experience. We would like to thank these street exhaust companies for their participation in this feature and remind our readers to read our report on the latest street performance products, elsewhere in this issue. |
