Brand Opportunities
Well, fortunately, the custom parts and accessories market isn't in such a bad position that it is facing an existential crisis - and neither is S&S Cycle - far from it.
But 'spreading the risk' and diversifying the product offer is central to business best practice, both for vendors and dealers. Indeed, as S&S President Paul Skarie pointed out in AMD last month, if "the force is with you" in terms of brand values and performance heritage, there is every reason for even the most traditionally V-twin specialist vendor to spread its wings, especially if undeniable heritage, world class manufacturing and "Proven Performance" are in the brand's DNA.
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Can-Am Maverick X3 line |
It has been an open secret for a while that S&S Cycle had been among a number of "senior" V-twin brands to have been eying the possibilities for it in the burgeoning UTV/SxS market. As with others, the 'Sand Expo' at Costa Mesa, California, in September 2020 provided the launch platform for its new Off-Road Division.
The launch product line was its new S&S Power Tune XTO exhaust - initially available for select Polaris RZR, Honda Talon and, as seen here, the Can-Am Maverick X3 line.
As Paul Skarie told AMD: "S&S is the market leader in the powersports performance arena and has a long history of making big, reliable power in everything it touches. We incorporate a highly engineered muffler body and dual outlet design, with a spark arrestor, in a 100% stainless steel muffler.
"Naturally, S&S brings its own style to the SxS market and incorporates adjustable inserts that let the user optimize their system for both sound and performance. The proven baffle inserts are easily removed or replaced by pulling the end cap, and we've also made a complete tuning kit available. More durable, lighter and tunable are going to be the hallmarks of S&S in the off-road market, and the reaction at the 'Sand Expo' couldn't have been more positive."
Also seen here, S&S has leveraged its long-standing relationship as a Tier 1 OEM manufacturer for Kawasaki in the United States to launch this new complete turbo kit for Kawasaki KRX models - seen here for the KRX 1000 SxS.
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| Complete turbo kit for Kawasaki KRX models - seen here for the KRX 1000 SxS |
S&S VP of Marketing David Zemla said: "The factory KRX motor was not happy with forced induction, and it took us 18 months to sort out a combination of parts that would make the kind of power that the model deserves. Our R&D team is reporting a 50% gain in horsepower and a 0-60 time that drops from the factory 11.5 seconds to a much more fun 6.2 seconds. The kit includes a massive fan-cooled air to air intercooler (others do not) as well as a 9:1 compression piston that allow for 10 psi of boost (double that of any competitor) and a pre-loaded PV3 tuner.
“This is an incredibly well thought-out kit that includes details others do not, like larger injectors, a high flow fuel rail, and even upgraded spark plugs. It even looks right, and as the old saying goes - if something looks right, then it probably is right."
S&S CYCLE INC.