Are There ANY Enthusiasts Left Within The OE Manufacturers? WCJ Quick Topic

[@1bluensx]

Kevin, I totally agree with you. I’m 54. I grew up on this stuff! First season doo in 1992. 4K out the door. My 2022 rxtx 24k out the door. It’s too damn expensive now. I can afford it, but do I want to anymore. I don’t see how younger gen can afford. I’m kinda “aged out as well” but really don’t feel like buying a boat for “everyone else”

[@markramirez3090]

I couldn't agree more. I have been a top salesman for over 13+ years in the powersports industry with over 3500 sales. We carry Sea Doo Honda suzuki Ktm can am etc.The new Reps come in and they know nothing about the products. College educated with no interest in the industry. 😢

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Kawi is asleep at the wheel with their Jet Ski division..such a shame. Maybe the big boys in Japan will crack the whip once they realize the dishonor their current leadership is bringing to the brand.

[@jeffbryner5355]

They have the sxr and 1.5 l engine that all these am companies utilize for there boats. There making there money there

[@peterwilson3913]

Agree 100%, doesn’t seem to be any youth filling in. I have to say things were a lot simpler for us. My first wrenching was at 8 years old and things made sense under the hood (sort of speaking). Also the days police brought you home and delivered you to your parent. Today I’m 73 and the need for speed and big air has somewhat changed. Another thing that has changed, these newer machines are so complicated that wrenching is in the past and digital (Dealer) is here to stay. If one can’t or doesn’t do their own maintenance and repairs the cost of someone else makes it expensive not to mention time consuming. Not sure how the younger generation gets their adrenalin fix’s. I do enjoy your articles.

[@Jetcast]

How true. A company I worked for had a private equity buyout several years back and a new CEO and new management team all came from a related industry but different sector and culture. After 4 years sales were tanking, we lost some very experienced and talented sales people, plus we no longer had innovation in the products- the ongoing product development to excite our passionate customers and inspire them to buy from us again and again. A new CEO comes in and we now see a rapid product development cycle again, something that only 4 months ago would not have been possible with the former team, It has me quite excited that there is actually a bright future again for the company. The people with experience and passion make the industry- both the employees and the customers. Without passion, there is no innovation. I wonder how many companies are in the same position but are more concerned about virtue signalling than listening to the people who are passionate, contribute, and actually participate in their target market.

[@Podchynok]

I’m in my late 30s so is my wife, we bought two Kawasaki ultras and we love it, never owned PWC before, don’t want boat since all our friends have them. Fun times.

[@stuarts3016]

Well said !

[@ajbertelson9871]

I would say sled manuf's have the most passionate people in there division now because who in their rite mind would want to continue development with the winters we keep having Maybe that's why big blue got out even with the best sled engine ever made, the 998.

[@HYDREZEN]

It’s the same with most big companies these days, it’s all about the money and shareholders dividends, they’re not bothered about hardcore riders, it’s all focus groups and profit margins that drive what happens in our sport.

[@mojo904]

Scary times ahead indeed! Things need to change in the industry...and quickly!

[@chrisbenko6616]

1000% agree, been a yami boy all my life, i got a 2016 fz-09 for 7k otd brand new, a 2018 gp1800 for 12k otd and a grizzly 700 2016 for 8k otd and now these prices are absolutely ridiculous, nobody wants to pay they prices anymore its gonna keep on dying until prices drop which doesn’t seem like they will, yami drop some atv prices this year but not enough tbh, definitely gonna keep a ski and a bike and thats it

[@alexnutcasio936]

The same is absolutely true of Harley and the rest of the motorcycle brands. Younger potential riders and former owners are aging out and have zero interest in a bike. Same is true with the boating and “ jet ski” business. There’s simply less buyers available.

[@WeTryMotorsports]

it's too bad they don't ask the people who have direct correlation to market requests. a bunch of suits will never understand what the general public actually wants. it's a real shame. if they were SMART they'd ask the third party at this point rather than a bunch of "yes" men in suits. while statistics matter, what matters more of what the public is looking for. hell even polls would do them some good at this point. out of the thousands of comments you, myself, and others deal with on a regular basis - we know more than they do at this point. just wild they can't see directly what is in front of them. the more likely scenario is that they're ignoring the short term and thinking long term... i'm talking REAL long. the idea is to strike the iron while it's not, not far after it has cooled. most of us don't even work in the industry, we're just enthusiasts who hobby and discuss. i could go on a rant for days here, so much to say and so disappointed in the large manufacturers as of late.

[@scotthooper4170]

“Aged Out” here. 😂😂😂 Still looking to ride wet & dry. Probably not so much cold! Or Hot either. But, it’s frequently hot here in the desert. And those (Caged) enclosed units will “Keep me out there longer” (and mama too). She who keeps a tight reign on the purse strings for the previously mentioned toys. My opinion here…… keep the “Pretty colors” coming on the upscale units! 😂

[@kendallburks4856]

I've noticed it's happening everywhere! Gen X is stepping back and these other newer gens are rising, and it's scary!!

[@badm0t0rf1ng3r]

You didnt have to say you didnt like rage against the machine. We knew.

[@watercraftjournal]

@@badm0t0rf1ng3r Rage in the fodder of angsty white suburban teenagers who are mad their dad didn’t buy them a new truck.

[@motoshark5847]

This is all sadly true. The Harley is example is perfect. They don't care that their motorcycles are awful and amazingly overpriced. Status symbol? Its a culture. All the manufacturers need to reign it in and make basic affordable machines.

[@darkdragonentertainment8778]

Lolol Bobby at kawi is probably the only one left. And that's just my assumption I don't even really know him like that.

[@watercraftjournal]

No, you're 100% correct but he doesn't play a role in developing new product; only preparing units for production and trial testing.

[@dariopavelic5386]

Don't worry! A lot of things will change now with Kawasaki JetSki after KMX start working. 👍👍

[@EverythingsFine82]

Any company wants reps who can sell to the demographic of customers who are likely to buy. A sales rep's job isn't necessary to be knowledgeable or passionate about a product. Their job is to influence a customer to buy through building rapport and creating a want. 18 to 34 year old male entusiasts aren't the target customers for PWCs anymore. Older folks looking for a cottage ornament is where the money is.

[@johnniemeyer3139]

I wish this wasn’t true 😢

[@51oldcrow]

That is what I said about your generation. The 55 plus say the same thing to your generation.

[@MrSxy4Ever]

Big Wheel, Green Machine, AFX/Tyco race car sets, Evel Knieval windup toy, 1974 Honda Moped, 1978 Honda XR-75, XR-100, Kawasaki Ninja ZX10R. Now I own 2 FX-SVHO's limited models. This is the path i took. I'm sure some of these items ring a bell to you guys. Oh yeah, i forgot the ROCKEM-SOCKEM robots !