FROM MINIBIKES TO CO-OWNERSHIP

Justin Ogg , co-owner , traces his roots in powersports back to his early years , when he found joy in riding minibikes , dirt bikes and anything equipped with a motor . His journey into the automotive industry eventually led him back to the powersports segment . In 2017 , he and Nate McNeilly acquired Chopper City Sports in Fridley , Minnesota , setting the stage for Chopper Powersports ’ growth journey .

“ I started at the wee age of ( he was so young , he doesn ’ t remember )… riding minibikes , dirtbikes and snowmobiles – anything with a motor had my attention .” As Ogg got older , his passion for motorcycles remained , but he initially decided to go into the automotive industry . He says a sales manager at the dealership where he worked left to follow his passion to be a sales manager at a local motorsports dealership .

“[ This sales manager ] encouraged me to go along with him . I wasn ’ t emotionally attached to selling cars by any stretch of the imagination . I figured I was young enough ( in my early 20s ) to make some money and have some fun by selling fun , and I decided to give it a shot . It didn ’ t take long to get settled into the industry . And here we are 25 years later .” It was an overnight success story that many can relate to .

“ This is an industry driven by passionate enthusiasm . I ’ ve made my life here ; all my friends are here , and I even met my wife

here , so I ’ ve been surrounded by this industry for the last 25 years .”

Ogg says he sold a motorcycle to his future wife . “ She actually bought a motorcycle from me in 2002 , I believe . It was a CBR600 . A few kids later , she ’ s still a go-fast girl who loves to ride and loves me . So we have that in common ,” he says wryly .

A couple of years after Ogg started working at a motorsports store as a sales manager , they hired McNeilly as a sales consultant . “ We immediately hit it off ,” Ogg recalls . “ We were just a couple of ‘ motoheads ’ and adrenaline junkies who were similar in age and had a lot of similar interests outside of work .” The two remained friends even after Nate left to pursue other avenues in a different industry .

Ogg says he was reunited with McNeilly about ten years ago when he returned to work at the dealership . “[ Nate ] came back and worked with us part-time . And we finally came together to make bigger plans and said , ‘ Let ’ s buy this thing .’”

THE BACK 40 McNeilly grew up with a background similar to Ogg . His family owned a farm in central Minnesota with 40 acres , tractors , snowmobiles and dirtbikes . “ I was always out back riding something . And then I got

Nate McNeilly ( left ) and his partner Justin Ogg stand in the center of their new location in

Maple Plains , Minnesota .

Ogg and McNeilly purchased this Polaris dealership in

Fridley , Minnesota in 2017 .

into racing motocross for a while , and that led to racing snowmobiles .”

McNeilly echoes what Justin said about becoming friends immediately . “ We hit it off and had a lot of fun riding and racing together . All of that kind of led us to where we are now .”

The Chopper Powersports team is active in the community , helping out local charities .

DEALERSHIP DYNAMICS AND GROWTH

McNeilly and Ogg started planning to buy the Fridley , Minnesota , Polaris dealership , Chopper City Sports , back in 2015 . However , finalizing everything took much longer , and the deal closed in April 2017 . Closing on the second location in Maple Plain , Minnesota , happened much quicker .

McNeilly says they started conversations about buying the second store in March last year . The deal closed on July 1 , 2023 .

The partners finalized the deal around the Polaris Dealer Meeting last summer . “ A lot of the negotiations happened in May ,” says McNeilly . “ And some talks happened around the Polaris show ( June ). We heard that he was ready to go when the show started . So everything went quickly from there .”

EXPANSION PLAN With the original location in Fridley , the second Chopper Powersports location is in Maple Plain , Minnesota , which , according to the two partners , is a great area with a higher median income than the other store .

See Chopper Powersports , Page 15