KTM North America taking over HBG

love them or hate them , ktm is working to a plan and the plan is working .

i could not believe the amount of ktms at my last ride day , they were everywhere .
three people at work are buying them this weekend .

they seem to be getting stronger .

PartsGuy said:

8)

Guys just to clarify. Dixie Sales Inc. made the decision to not distribute Husaberg for 2008. Husaberg was informed of this and their solution was to do it thourhg their subsidiary company KTM USA. I wish all of you the best, its been a neat ride over the last 5 years. Hopefully you will look at the past five years and agree that Barrett/Dixie made a positive contribution to the line of Husaberg here in North America.

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Thanks Roy and all of the gang at BMG/Dixie for all of your committment and hard work. It has been appreciated.

I would also like to extend a huge "thank you" to Josh, Roy, Josee and everyone else at BMG/ Dixie Sales for putting out such a strong effort in regards to the Husaberg marquee. The professionalism and dedication provided by BMG were a huge boost to Husaberg sales here in North America.

I don't fully know or understand the inner business dealings of what is currently happening to Husaberg distributorship here in North America but it sounds like, for unforseen reasons, BMG lost the distribution rights. KTM North America had the distribution rights fall (or pushed) into their laps. As a long time Husaberg rider (since 1997) I can find no possibility of a positive outcome. At best, it's probably just an interim deal until the mothership KTM of Austria can find a back woods distributor like Don Knight and co.

KTM NA is in the business of pumping KTM's into the hands of off-road enthusiasts here in the USA and has done an impressive job to say the least. (Hey, KTM is a great product)! They did not give a rats ass about selling bergs in the late 90's/ early 2000's. Now that KTM's are kicking butt everywhere, they have even less reason to give a rip about Berg's! Whoops, did I say R.I.P.?

Sorry for the negativity guys. Just seems that things are coming full circle and we're once again facing the fact that Husaberg is not a corporate success and if it is allowed to go on, the marquee is destined to keep it's status of near obscurity. On a lighter note, "near obscurity" isn't always a bad thing. Those of us who are fortunate enough to know just how supreme these bikes are when properly set up, may still get to enjoy the rush of riding one of the best bikes ever!!!! Just hope that when our dealer orders parts for us the person at KTM NA doesn't reply, "sorry that part is on back order and the order won't be filled until a quantity of 20 has been requested".

log

For what its worth, here in Oz for quite some years now, Husaberg has been distributed by the KTM importer. With solid product, enthusiastic dealers and the support of the importer, both KTM and Husaberg have gone from strength to strength here. Some KTM dealers are a bit like a supermarket, with lots of brands, which I think is to their detriment, but they sell on price. I know of one in western Sydney that has recently had KTM removed from them and handed to a small dirt bike dealer nearby. There are a few Berg and KTM combined dealerships, and as far as I can tell it doesn't hurt Berg, as the KTM marketing will get the punters through the door, and then, well who knows....

I'm not exactly sure who owns KTM/Berg here in Oz, but I do know that Jeff Leisk is a significant partner, and the public face. Some of you may recall he came second in the 500 world MX and won some stuff in the US in the 1980s.

I'm sure it'll turn out OK,
Steve

logjump said:

Just hope that when our dealer orders parts for us the person at KTM NA doesn't reply, "sorry that part is on back order and the order won't be filled until a quantity of 20 has been requested".

log

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Sorry, I must disagree :evil: :evil:

I have never ever been told that when dealing with the KTM spare parts system.

at least you guys get an explanation of what it takes to get the order filled...... :lol:

I have learnt to confirm stocks prior to ordering, and if they mention "backorder" then I try and find other options, if they exist.

bergy said:

From what I hear thru the grape vine, KTM is moving into their new warehouse, Husaberg will be in their old one next door. They have set up meetings with the reps next week to sort out how this will be handled. I'm being optimistic, KTM N.A. has been doing all the right things to get bikes and parts out there, anywhere in the woods now days is orange bikes! While I agree that Barrett has done a fantastic job bringing Husaberg from some very bad times, the rider support and dealer network is limited, here in the south it is non existent, I was the only Berg out there last year. If only we had a Boss or Fritz dealer here, someone passionate about the Husaberg! I don't think the current KTM dealers will change and bring in Husaberg, but I think with KTM behind them, new Husaberg dealers will be opening up, KTM is good at marketing.

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Are you talking about te warehouse in Lorain Ohio?

PartsGuy said:

8)

Guys just to clarify. Dixie Sales Inc. made the decision to not distribute Husaberg for 2008. Husaberg was informed of this and their solution was to do it thourhg their subsidiary company KTM USA. I wish all of you the best, its been a neat ride over the last 5 years. Hopefully you will look at the past five years and agree that Barrett/Dixie made a positive contribution to the line of Husaberg here in North America.

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My thanks to you for making the parts and bikes available to us all.

If memory serves though your original contract was for 5 years. Are you guys no longer importing KTM motorcycles as wel?? I'd like to know if BMG/freeplay is no longer selling recreational products that produce CO2, other than engines for lawn mowers, and construction equipement.

Here are a couple of links to the current and past BMG websites 07-06 and you'll be able to see the difference in company profiles. Unless I am mistaken, the 07 site has no recreational combustion engine products. They have boats but no motors for sale etc... If you look around a bit on the 07 site at the news section you'll see the freeplay launch announcement.

http://www.bmgsports.com/

http://www.barrettcorp.com/sitemap.asp

Yes, the Lorain Ohio warehouse. But then again, that is thru the grapevine, I try not to swing on grape vines!

bergy said:

Yes, the Lorain Ohio warehouse. But then again, that is thru the grapevine, I try not to swing on grape vines!

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Yes, one can never tell how strong the vine is eh?

bump to the top.

Any news???

No real news DaleEo,
Upon futher investigation of freeplay energy pl it has become apparent that the two largest shareholders (and effectivly control the company) are none other than the Barretts.So from this it seems that there could not have been any ones decision other than the Barrett family to discontinue their intrest in the MC business.

No news yet, I will check tomorrow and see what is going on.

the Lorain Ohio warehouse

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ya, that's the old neisner's department store on broadway that was headquarters back when john penton gave 'em back.
remembering things like that are one of the few fun things about being old. :lol:

nsman said:

No real news DaleEo,
Upon futher investigation of freeplay energy pl it has become apparent that the two largest shareholders (and effectivly control the company) are none other than the Barretts.So from this it seems that there could not have been any ones decision other than the Barrett family to discontinue their intrest in the MC business.

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Cracking job Holmes! Cracking!!

Kind of reminds me of a song from the late 80's I believe, "Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm".

I guess that means that i'll have to deal with my local ktm dealer who has the personality of a brick wall.....

bump to the top again

Any of you dealers out there heard anything from your reps??

I'd like to know if Bernie's, the big KTM dealer here in the Phoenix area, will take over as well. I don't mind Premier, but over here Husaberg would get a better exposure with Bernie's.

osubuckeye said:

I guess that means that i'll have to deal with my local ktm dealer who has the personality of a brick wall.....

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if you sold bikes to make a living why would you have this attitude ?

some dealers have chimpanzee like, people skills . :roll:

Personally, I don't think your KTM dealers will be stocking Berg parts now, but I could be wrong!