Dealernews - December 2008 - (Page 10) INBOX HUNTER’S DREAM VEHICLE I READ YOUR ARTICLE titled “Polaris Top Dog in North American UTV Market“ (August) and found it very informative. I noticed towards the end of the article you mentioned Bad Boy Buggies offering an electrical version of the UTV, but I didn’t see any reference to their annual sales. Do you happen to have this information or know where I might be able to find it? — Rick Wartman, P.E., aero-structures instructor, U.S. Navy & Marine School of Aviation Safety, Pensacola, Fla. Dealernews contacted Dave Crocker of research firm Power Products Marketing, coauthor of the article. His reply: Bad Boy Enterprises has been marketing its four-wheel-drive electric utility vehicles since 2004. This model is manufactured by Zhuhai Eway in China, with the front and rear axles and batteries being sourced in the U.S. by Bad Boy before final assembly in Natchez, Miss. Bad Boy has been experimenting with using Chinese-manufactured axles for the last few years for a percentage of its units, but most of its units are still using Dana axles. Send comments to editors@dealernews.com (letters may be edited for clarity and length). units. The popularity of the Bad Boy SUV, especially with the endorsement of some high-profile country singers and occasional spottings on the OLN channel, has continued to boost sales to the extent that around 2,400 were sold each in 2006 and 2007. Dealernews also discovered that Bad Boy is listed in Inc. magazine’s current list of the 5,000 fastest-growing companies. The magazine reports that the company has 50 employees and had sales of $21.5 million in 2007. It also notes the MSRP of the vehicle: $8,500. Learn more at www.badboy buggies.com. The Bad Boy is reported to get 16 to 22 miles between charges in typical hunting conditions and 22 to 28 miles when doing everyday farm chores. Because of its silent characteristics, this machine is very popular with hunters, reportedly 90 percent of sales being to them. Bad Boy offers three primary colors as well as camo, but 90 percent of its sales are the camo option. Sales were small in 2004 with only 165 being sold that year. But as the operation got into full swing in 2005 the company was able to sell more than 1,000 TRUE COST OF OWNERSHIP HAS ANYONE DONE a total comparison between what it costs to drive a car vs. what it costs to ride a bike? I’ve done one comparing my 2006 Toyota Matrix (which averages 32 mpg — this is my average, not what the EPA claims) vs. my 2000 BMW R1100RT (my average: 45 mpg). What you save in gas with the bike, you spend on tires and maintenance. Tires are about twice as expensive for the bike and need replacing three times as often as the car’s tires. I realize that I do drive a car that gets good mileage, but if you do the math, even cars that get 20 mpg will cost less than a bike to keep on tires and maintained. I still commute just about every day, but I don’t try to fool myself into thinking I’m saving any money. I ride just because I would rather be on a bike than in a car. That simple. Now if they would only let me split lanes when the interstate stops moving and move to the front at traffic lights. — Timothy Noell, parts manager, Adventure BMW, Chesapeake, Va. VINTAGE GUIDE CORRECTION IN PERHAPS THE SILLIEST goof in the history of our Vintage Directory, last month we accidentally converted “Indian” into “brands from India.” (Know of any good vintage bikes from India?) The gaffe was on page 78 in the entry for Certfied Parts Corp. Here’s how the entry should have read: Certified Parts Corp. Janesville, Wis., 608-752-9441 www.certifiedpartscorp.com Original Factory Stock for Alsport/Steen, Bridgestone, Broncco, Chaparral, Eska, Formula-Micro, Fox, Indian, MCB, Rupp, Scorpion, Speedway, Ultranautics, Zundapp and many others. 10 DEALERNEWS DECEMBER 2008 CIRCLE 8 ON READER SERVICE CARD OR VISIT DEALERNEWS.COM DEALERNEWS.COM http://www.badboybuggies.com http://www.badboybuggies.com http://www.sportchrome.com http://www.certifiedpartscorp.com http://www.dealernews.com http://www.dealernews.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Dealernews - December 2008 Dealernews - December 2008 Contents From the Editors Inbox Speed Read Joe Delmont Dealernews - December 2008 Dealernews - December 2008 - Dealernews - December 2008 (Page Cover1) Dealernews - December 2008 - Dealernews - December 2008 (Page Cover2) Dealernews - December 2008 - Dealernews - December 2008 (Page 1) Dealernews - December 2008 - Contents (Page 2) Dealernews - December 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Dealernews - December 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Dealernews - December 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Dealernews - December 2008 - Contents (Page 6) Dealernews - December 2008 - Contents (Page 7) Dealernews - December 2008 - From the Editors (Page 8) Dealernews - December 2008 - From the Editors (Page 9) Dealernews - December 2008 - Inbox (Page 10) Dealernews - December 2008 - Inbox (Page 11) Dealernews - December 2008 - Speed Read (Page 12) Dealernews - December 2008 - Speed Read (Page 13) Dealernews - December 2008 - Speed Read (Page 14) Dealernews - December 2008 - Speed Read (Page 15) Dealernews - December 2008 - Speed Read (Page 16) Dealernews - December 2008 - Speed Read (Page 17) Dealernews - December 2008 - Speed Read (Page 18) Dealernews - December 2008 - Speed Read (Page 19) Dealernews - December 2008 - Speed Read (Page 20) Dealernews - December 2008 - Speed Read (Page 21) Dealernews - December 2008 - Joe Delmont (Page 22) Dealernews - December 2008 - Joe Delmont (Page 23) Dealernews - December 2008 - Joe Delmont (Page 24) Dealernews - December 2008 - Joe Delmont (Page 25) Dealernews - December 2008 - Joe Delmont (Page 26) Dealernews - December 2008 - Joe Delmont (Page 27) Dealernews - December 2008 - Joe Delmont (Page 28) Dealernews - December 2008 - Joe Delmont (Page Cover3) Dealernews - December 2008 - Joe Delmont (Page Cover4)
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.