Moto Canada has announced that Canada Motor Import Inc. (CMI), the exclusive distributor of CFMOTO off-highway vehicles and motorcycles in Canada, has been accepted as the newest member company of the national industry association.
With the addition of CMI, Moto Canada now represents 15 leading powersports companies, including global brands such as Arctic Cat, Aprilia, BMW Motorrad, Can-Am, Ducati, GasGas, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Husqvarna, Indian Motorcycle, Kawasaki, KTM, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio, Polaris, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Triumph, Vespa, and Yamaha.
“We’re very happy to have CMI onboard with Moto Canada for the benefit of the industry and riders across the country,” says Landon French, president and CEO of Moto Canada. “Through the CFMOTO brand, CMI has grown to play a significant role in the powersports industry in Canada. Becoming part of the industry association that is the voice of powersports in Canada is a welcome and natural evolution for CMI.”
As a Tier I member, CMI will take a seat on the Moto Canada Board of Directors. The company will also participate in industry data programs, advocacy efforts with government, technical initiatives, and public campaigns promoting safe and responsible powersports use.
“For us at CMI, joining Moto Canada is about collaboration, recognition, and moving the industry forward together,” says Hélène Binet, president of CMI. “It also demonstrates our clear intent to be a serious and committed player, contributing in the right way to the growth and sustainability of the powersports industry in Canada.”
Moto Canada also confirmed that while ARGO is no longer a member of the association, Arctic Cat remains a Tier I member.
Founded in 2005 by Hélène Binet and Carl Patoine, CMI is a family-run company based in Saint-Benoît-Labre, Quebec. Since its inception, CMI has partnered with CFMOTO to bring its innovative products to the Canadian powersports market.
Brothers Rich and Ray Vreeland opened the dealership in 1990 along Route 11 near Bloomsburg. The idea was sparked the year before, when the pair quit their jobs to take a 9,700-mile cross-country trip on their Harleys, collecting dealership t-shirts along the way. That ride ultimately inspired them to launch their own store.
Over the years, Vreeland’s Harley-Davidson became a hub for local riders and enthusiasts. While the business thrived, the owners told WNEP Newswatch 16 that retirement has been on their minds for more than a decade.
The property is already on the market, and the dealership was selling off the remaining inventory in September.
“Winters are tough in the Harley business,” Rich Vreeland says in the news interview. “We just decided we didn’t want to do another one, and September 30 worked out as the right time for us.”
Looking back, the Vreelands told the station they have seen motorcycles evolve from basic speedometers and turn signals to today’s models with digital displays and advanced technology. Still, the brothers said what mattered most wasn’t the bikes, but the people.
Vreeland’s has restocked the “make an offer “ table for the final items to be sold off before closing for good on Sept. 30. “Our mission statement was always to make motorcycling fun for everyone,” Vreeland says. “I hope people remember us as a family-owned business that truly cared about its customers.”
Although closing the doors will be bittersweet for the brothers, they told the news station that they’re ready for the next chapter. We wish them a well-deserved, happy retirement!
The American Motorcyclist Association announced that Norm McDonald, an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer, racer, tuner, and businessman, died on Sept. 25 at the age of 93.
The AMA says it offers its sincere condolences to the family and friends of McDonald and wrote the following statement about his legacy:
Despite growing up with a love for speed, McDonald’s parents would not allow him to own a motorcycle — so he filled that void with hot rods and drag racing until he finally purchased a bike when he turned 17. After a brief stint in the Navy from 1952-55, McDonald’s love for motorcycling only grew, and he purchased his second bike and began his racing career shortly after.
In 1957, McDonald and fellow AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ken Johnson opened K&N Motorcycles in Loma Linda, California. It served as a service shop, with Johnson working during the day and McDonald working at night. The shop also springboarded the future of another AMA Hall of Famer, Malcolm Smith, who started working at K&N at 17 years old.
Eight years after opening K&N Motorcycles, McDonald and Johnson formed K&N Engineering, developing handlebars, fenders, and fork braces. It was at K&N where he developed the revolutionary K&N Air Filter, which was used across virtually every form of motorcycle racing.
During this time, McDonald sponsored a wide range of racers, including his sons Phil and Sam, grandson Tyler, and son-in-law Ted Boody, among others.
McDonald relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1971 and split the K&N business with Johnson, focusing solely on the dealership side of things. He eventually opened dealerships in Tulsa and Wichita, Kansas.
McDonald was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2013.
World Technician Grand Prix 2025, the global competition where 22 Yamaha motorcycle technicians will compete to see who is No. 1 in the world, makes its return on Nov. 19 after a seven-year hiatus and, for the first time ever, will be available to watch via livestream.
Running under the slogan “Master Your Craft, Make Your Mark”, the 2025 WTGP will feature 22 technicians from 19 countries and regions, who all secured their places through regional qualifiers. Contestants will compete in one of two classes, Sports Model or Commuter Model, tackling hands-on maintenance challenges and customer service scenarios that mirror real-world dealership situations.
Yamaha Motor‘s motorcycle sales network spans 180 countries and territories, and within its network are approximately 35,000 Yamaha Technical Academy-certified technicians worldwide. The WTGP is the global stage for the best technicians to showcase their maintenance skills.
The WTGP, which started in 2002, is in its ninth year of competition and will be livestreamed worldwide with commentary.
“It’s the first event in seven years due to the pandemic,” says Yogi Matsumura, who represents Yamaha’s customer experience business unit. “We hope that people watching the livestream will enjoy seeing what professionals at the pinnacle of motorcycle maintenance can do and feel the tension in the venue — much like experiencing a new Olympic event for the first time.”
The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) is highlighting two major consumer sentiment reports released in August that indicate ongoing caution among U.S. households, a trend that dealers should monitor as the fall selling season approaches.
The University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment fell to 58.2%, down from 61.7% in July. While confidence remains stronger than it was earlier this year, it is still well below 2024 levels. Buying conditions for durable goods — which include motorcycles, ATVs, and other powersports vehicles — dropped to their weakest point in a year, largely due to persistent concerns about prices.
Inflation expectations also increased, with consumers now anticipating short-term inflation at 4.8%, up from 4.5% in July. Long-term inflation expectations edged up to 3.5%.
The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index also softened, slipping from 98.7% in July to 97.4% in August. Still, more consumers reported optimism about future business conditions, and vehicle-buying plans improved slightly. Discretionary spending on categories such as entertainment and travel trended lower.
Dealer Takeaway: While broad sentiment remains subdued, interest in vehicles hasn’t disappeared. Consumers may be holding back on extras but are still weighing larger purchases, which could support powersports sales if dealers address affordability concerns and highlight long-term value.
McGrath Dubuque Harley-Davidson has been sold by Mike and Pat McGrath to John Jennerjohn and Brody Meier, according to Performance Brokerage Services.
The dealership operates out of a 53,948-square-foot facility and has been recently remodeled with design elements inspired by Dubuque’s Historic Millwork District. Located along the Mississippi River at the meeting point of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, the store has long served riders in the tri-state area.
Jennerjohn and Meier are lifelong riders and northeast Iowa natives. The pair also own Iron Hill Harley-Davidson in Waukon, Iowa, and said the Dubuque acquisition expands their regional footprint while keeping the business rooted in their home communities.
As part of the transition, the store will be renamed Key City Harley-Davidson and will remain at its current location at 145 N. Crescent Ridge in Dubuque, Iowa.
Performance Brokerage Services, which has handled nearly 900 dealership transactions in the past five years, represented the McGraths in the sale.
Motohunt announced three key updates at the recent NPDA Dealer Connect: a new integration with National Powersport Auctions (NPA), co-op marketing approval from major OEMs, and live demonstrations of its Motohunt Premium platform.
The NPA partnership enables dealers to view weekly auction run lists and request direct buy quotes directly within Motohunt, creating a seamless workflow from trade appraisal to acquisition.
“When we can work together to figure out a solution that works seamlessly between the platforms, I see that as a massive win for the dealers,” says Mike Murray, vice president of sales at NPA.
Motohunt also confirmed co-op eligibility with Can-Am, BMW Motorrad, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda, Polaris, CFMOTO, and Harley-Davidson’s Marketing Development Fund, enabling dealers to apply OEM dollars toward platform costs.
“The used market has shifted, and the old way of guessing on trades isn’t working,” says Jacob Berry, Motohunt co-founder and VP of growth. “Motohunt gives managers the data and confidence to compete in this environment.”
Motohunt is a dealer-first software platform that bills itself as the “VAuto of Powersports,” trusted by dealer groups nationwide. Learn more at dealers.
motohunt.com.
It was recently announced that BRP will be showcasing its powersports innovation on the show floor at the 2026 AIMExpo in Anaheim, California, Jan. 7-9.
“It will be great to be at AIMExpo this year, which is a terrific hub for connecting with current and future partners,” says David Baker, BRP’s vice president and general manager of North America operations. “As a leader in the powersports industry, we see the show as an ideal opportunity to engage directly with dealers and discuss the future of powersports together.”
This year’s AIMExpo will feature a panel on the future of electric vehicles in powersports. Baker will join the conversation as a panelist and share insights and expertise, helping the industry prepare for what’s next.
BRP has been on the forefront of the powersports’ EV surge, releasing a pair of electric motorcycles, Can-Am Pulse and Can-Am Origin, its electric snowmobile lineup and, most recently, the Outlander electric ATV.
“Electrification is transforming how we all do business,” Baker shares. “We’re committed to sharing what we’ve learned and collaborating to make sure our industry stays ahead of the curve.”
AIMExpo attendees are invited to visit the BRP booth to see their latest vehicles and innovations. The BRP team will be available to discuss business, what’s ahead for the industry, and to engage with both longtime partners and new connections.
“There’s a unique energy at AIMExpo that drives progress in our industry,” says Cinnamon Kernes, vice president of market expansion at the Motorcycle Industry Council. “We’re pleased to welcome BRP back, and we’re excited to see their impact at this year’s event.”
Brother’s Motorsports out of Baxter, Minnesota, was recently sold to entrepreneur Bill Bradford, the dealership announced Sept. 23 in a Facebook post.
Brother’s is a BRP dealer, selling a range of Ski-Doo, Lynx, Sea-Doo, and Can-Am on- and off-road vehicles. Brother’s sold its first machine under new ownership — a 2025 Can-Am Defender Limited HD10 — just hours after the dealership changed hands. Social media posts also indicate that the same team is still in place under Bradford’s leadership.
Bradford, an avid sledder and Polaris enthusiast, first entered the powersports business in 2022 when he purchased Wheels Powersports in Fargo, North Dakota. He said at the time of the Wheels’ deal that he’s had a strong desire to get into the powersports business for the last 20-plus years.
Bradford has different ventures throughout the Midwest, including several telecommunications stores. Now, the owner of two Midwest powersports dealerships, he says he’s happy to have Brother’s Motorsports be a part of his organization.
“This area has always held a special place in our hearts, and as an outdoor enthusiast with a deep passion for the powersports lifestyle, I’m excited to deepen our involvement in this incredible community,” Bradford says.
The International Motorcycle and Scooter Fair (INTERMOT) will return to the Kölnmesse Center in Cologne, Germany, from Dec. 4 to 7, with a new annual schedule and a focus on younger riders, digital influencers, and fresh event formats designed to showcase the future of motorcycling.
Traditionally held every two years, INTERMOT shifted to an annual cycle in 2024 following a broad reorganization of the show. Organizers say the move reflects the rapid pace of change in the motorcycle industry and the growing demand for more frequent engagement among OEMs, suppliers, and consumers.
This year’s edition will highlight riders aged 18 to 30 with dedicated attractions, including Creator Day on Dec. 6, a creator lounge, the 125cc Kickstarter section, and the action-oriented playground area featuring live stunt shows.
INTERMOT’s Kickstarter area is where young riders can learn about obtaining a license and receive tips from the pros. Digital creators and racers will take center stage, including Mariam Suhk and Viktor Stahl (@marii__official, @viktor__stahl), Cologne racer Nina Londschien (@nanaxyda), and longtime YouTube content creator Matthias Betz (@meddesyoutube). These influencers will connect with fans through live demonstrations, meet-and-greets, and content created directly from the show floor.
Beyond the creator-focused programming, INTERMOT 2025 will feature a Racing/Sport section for competitive motorsports, 125cc Kickstarter area for entry-level rider education, and a Biker Meeting area for community networking with food and beverages.
With the transition to an annual schedule, INTERMOT aims to strengthen its role as both a marketplace and community hub, blending passion for the industry with innovation.
By Brendan Baker Editor in chief
The National Powersports Dealer Association (NPDA) wrapped up its annual DealerConnect 2025 in Columbus, Ohio, with record-breaking attendance, powerful peer-to-peer engagement, and a strong message of unity for the industry’s future.
Held Sept. 21–23 at the Hilton Columbus Downtown, the event embodied its theme of “a meeting for dealers, by dealers.” Dealer attendance surged 300% over last year, filling the room for education, workshops, and networking sessions. “DealerConnect proves that we really are better together,” says NPDA Chair Bob Kee of Destination Cycle. “Our mission is to help dealers become well prepared, sustainably profitable, and exceed the expectations of a growing powersports customer base.”
Early arrivals on Saturday joined hands-on business workshops before the main program began Sunday morning. Monday and Tuesday featured keynotes from Kee, Sam Dantzler of Garage Composites, Jim Woodruff of National Powersport Auctions, and NPDA board member and Powersports Business columnist Mark Sheffield of Woods Cycle Country.
The Partner Showcase buzzed with energy as vendors — from A2C to ZiiDMS — displayed new technology, F&I tools, and marketing platforms, many offering exclusive show specials.
“The show specials were great, but the biggest value was sitting down with peers and exchanging ideas,” says NPDA founding board member Mark Peterson of Southwest Superbikes. “This event has become the best place for real dealer-to-dealer learning.”
More than 120 dealers — including two active 20 Clubs — made the trip, bringing the same collaborative energy that’s defining NPDA’s growth trajectory. Conversations spilled into hallways, breakout rooms, and the Hilton’s rooftop lounge, where dealers and vendors shared insights long after the sessions ended.
Few moments grounded the room like Jim Woodruff’s presentation on current market conditions. The NPA CEO delivered an unvarnished snapshot of where powersports stands — and where it’s headed.
“We are tracking down, unfortunately, about 7.6% for motorcycles and ATVs combined,” Woodruff says. “Not scary numbers, but not great numbers either.”
Woodruff notes that while new unit sales are down about 7% year-over-year, they remain above pre-2019 levels — a key distinction separating powersports from the downturns seen in RV and marine sectors.
“Used is fairly flat,” he says. “The use-to-new ratio is about two to one in the industry.”
For Harley-Davidson, the picture was sharper: new sales are down roughly 19%, while used sales have remained stable — a 5:1 used-to-new ratio that many dealers still struggle to reach.
“If you’re not selling five to one on Harleys, you’re below what’s happening nationally,” Woodruff shares.
Inventory, however, was a bright spot.
“Inventory levels have stabilized,” he reports. “The red line that looked scary a year ago has leveled off — we’re at a healthy balance now, roughly a one-to-one ratio.”
Woodruff emphasizes that the post-pandemic “sugar high” of inflated margins has cooled, but the fundamentals are still solid.
“Margins are still there. They haven’t disappeared,” he explains. “The real pressure is on controlling operating expenses while keeping staff engaged and customers satisfied.”
Woodruff cautions that tariffs on steel and aluminum could raise production costs by as much as 30%, potentially tightening dealer margins further. Yet, his tone remained optimistic.
“Even though we’re down from the COVID heydays, we’re still above pre-COVID benchmarks — that’s the good news,” he says. “Short-term, there are headwinds. Long-term, I’m still optimistic. Used vehicles will continue to provide a buffer.”
The following morning, Sam Dantzler brought his signature blend of humor and challenge to the DealerConnect stage, urging dealers to focus less on excuses and more on energy.
“Poor experiences — not the internet — are what drive customers away,” Dantzler says. “Attitude and enthusiasm from your staff are what bring them back.”
Dantzler pushed attendees to rethink the idea of a “selling season,” arguing that successful dealerships create opportunities all year long — especially in the slower winter months.
He reminded the audience that only 3% of Americans currently participate in powersports, but another 24% are actively considering buying a motorcycle, ATV, or side-by-side. That gap, he said, represents enormous untapped potential.
“The leader’s energy sets the tone for the entire dealership,” Dantzler says. “Change your environment, and you’ll change your results.”
He emphasized data tracking, cross-department engagement, and leadership mindset as the hidden drivers of performance.
“Every department matters,” he says. “When your team has purpose and energy, customers feel it — and they buy into it.”
Dantzler’s closing challenge was simple but powerful: build a culture that customers can feel from the moment they walk in.
Throughout the event, NPDA leaders emphasized their growing impact — from legislative advocacy to dealer education. NPDA now counts hundreds of member dealers and dozens of strategic partners, with initiatives underway to strengthen retail training, OEM collaboration, and unified dealer representation in Washington.
“Our dealer network thrives on fellowship — especially now,” says NPDA founding board member Gail Worth, who co-emceed the event. “We’ve been siloed for too long. Let’s lean on each other, learn together, and elevate the entire industry. Together, we are unstoppable.”
The success of DealerConnect 2025, Worth says, reflects not just the appetite for education but the power of community.
“Picture a massive, high-impact 20-Club gathering without the financials,” she adds. “Learning, networking, and camaraderie — that’s what makes this event electric.”
With a sold-out exhibit hall and waiting list of new vendors, NPDA confirmed DealerConnect 2026 will return to Columbus Sept. 20–22, 2026, with expanded space and
more opportunities for dealer and partner engagement.
“The feedback was overwhelming,” Kee concludes. “We’re already planning a bigger footprint, new session tracks, and even more practical takeaways for dealers. The NPDA’s future — and the industry’s — looks stronger than ever.”
The National Powersports Dealer Association represents franchised and independent dealerships across the U.S., advocating for dealer interests, providing education and data resources, and fostering collaboration across all sectors of the industry. Learn more at npda.org.
New unit sales: -7% YoY (still above 2019 levels)
Used-to-new ratio: 2:1 (industry average)
Harley-Davidson new sales: -19%
Inventory balance: 1:1 ratio (healthy equilibrium)
Margin pressure: Steady profits, rising expenses
Tariff risk: 30% cost impact from steel/aluminum
DealerConnect 2026
Hilton Columbus Downtown, Columbus, Ohio
Sept. 20–22, 2026