20 • January 22, 2018 • Powersports Business www.PowersportsBusiness.com www.PowersportsBusiness.com

and gauge dealer expectations. Since its launch, Delacroix and Williams have each attended different industry events to raise awareness for Motoauct, such as the Quail Motorcycle Gathering, the 2017 International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, Las Vegas auctions and more. The company is currently in production of Phase Two of the Motoauct.com site, which “will offer users a host of new features to make the interface a more sophisticate site, without sacrificing the simplicity we have offered from the start.” Delacroix said the response to this site has been overwhelmingly positive for the duo. One of the most memorable experiences so far happened at the IMS show in Long Beach. With so many OEMs exhibiting “throwback bikes,” Delacroix said younger riders are look-ing more into vintage motorcycles options. “People had made comments that many of the motorcycle companies at IMS — like Moto Guzzi, Triumph, BMW, Kawasaki, Indian and Harley — all of their bikes are a throwback to these vintage bikes we have on our site right now,” said Delacroix. “A lot of the older guys are aging out, so some of these cooler retro bikes are being aimed at a different crowd. I don’t think we could have come in at a better time because we are truly vintage.” “I don’t think we could be any more pleased with the way it’s progressing,” said Williams. “One thing that we’re starting to see, and we’re humbled by it, is that this community really wants to embrace this. People are excited about it, and they are excited to see the out-comes and what happens with it.” PSB

single-sided swingarm motorcycle, and comes as an evolution of its brother the KRGT-1. This model is sport influenced with a more aggres-sive riding position while keeping its perfor-mance cruiser formulation. It’s powered by a 2032cc V-twin engine. PSB

Bike auction website dubbed ‘the future of vintage’

Arch Motorcycle makes global debut at EICMA

Selling your dealership? It’s becoming a trend

Chaconas reports buy-sell transactions up 20 percent

compared to 2016

Harley-Davidson and metric dealership fran-chise sales that were facilitated through Irvine-California-based Performance Brokerage Services took a significant forward in 2017, with 2018 likely showing a similarly active buy-sell trend. Broker George C. Chaconas reports that the company facilitated 21 percent sales transac-tions in 2017 than it did in 2016 of mostly Harley-Davidson dealerships. Here’s a look at two of the most recent trans-actions that Chaconas brokered.

ORANGE COUNTY HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOLD TO TEXAS DEALERSHIP OWNEROrange County Harley-Davidson in Irvine, California, has been sold to Mark Smith, owner of Texas dealerships Stampede Harley-David-son in Burleson and Harley-Davidson of Fort Worth. George C. Chaconas of Performance Brokerage Services facilitated the transaction. “We had been looking to expand to South-ern California and were very pleased to begin talks for Orange County Harley,” Smith said. “With the help of Juan Pardo and George Chaconas, we were able to work through a buy/sell and come to an agreement everyone was happy about.”

Smith was awarded the Burleson location in 2015, the first newly added dealership point in eight years at the time. Cousins and business partners Ray Malzo and Bill Taylor were the previous owners of Orange County Harley-Davidson, having acquired it in 1990. Established in Santa Ana in 1974, Orange County Harley-Davidson has seen many owners over the years. Eventually the dealership relocated to Irvine, where it became the largest Harley-Davidson dealer-ship in Orange County. The dealership once was used as a research facility for the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “After 28 years of being a Harley-Davidson dealer, we decided to sell Orange County Har-ley-Davidson,” Malzo said. “We reached out to George Chaconas of Performance Brokerage Services because they had sold many of my dealer-friends’ stores. George’s experience and expertise are unmatched in our industry and his communication and honesty were a breath

of fresh air. We also want to thank Juan Pardo for his exceptional follow-up and tenacity.” “After so many years building such an iconic Harley-Davidson dealership, it brings me great pleasure to have assisted Ray and Bill with accomplishing their goals,” Chaco-nas said. “I wish them both an enjoyable retirement. I am very excited for Mark as I believe he is going to experience much growth and success with his acquisition of Orange County Harley-Davidson.”

HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP IN ILLINOIS SOLDHarley-Davidson dealership broker George C. Chaconas of Performance Brokerage Services announced the sale of Nees Harley-Davidson in Galesburg, Illinois, from Phil Nees and Mike Nees to George Tragos. Tragos now owns three Harley-Davidson dealerships in Illinois.

The Nees duo established Nees Harley-Davidson in 2006, and in 2007, relocated it to its current location at 131 South Soangetaha. Phil resides in Arizona where he owns and operates other businesses. Mike continued to run the dealership until the sale. Both individu-als were seeking retirement from the Harley-Davidson business and contacted Chaconas to facilitate the sale of their dealership. “After putting our dealership on the sellout list, we hired George Chaconas of Performance Brokerage Services,” Phil said. “George edu-cated us about the current market conditions and helped us establish a more realistic ask-ing price. George is an expert at his craft and brought tremendous knowledge about our industry and the selling process.” Nees Harley-Davidson made for a great strate-gic acquisition for Tragos. He renamed the deal-ership Iron Eagle Harley-Davidson and expressed that he has big things planned for 2018. “Over the years, I have looked at many Harley-Davidson dealerships that George Chaconas and Performance Brokerage Ser-vices had listed for sale,” Tragos said. “I had also heard of the work George had done for my dealer-friends. It was a pleasure finally working closely with George as he dem-onstrated expertise and professionalism throughout the transaction.” “It brings me great pleasure to have assisted the Nees brothers with the sale of their Harley-Davidson dealership,” Chaco-nas said. “George Tragos should be able to capitalize on the potential of the business and take it to the next level. I would like to thank all the principals for remaining gentle-man throughout this process.” PSB

Keanu Reeves (on bike) and Gard Hollinger drew a crowd while unveiling three new motorcycles at EICMA in Milan. Photo by Dave McMahon/Powersports Business

ARCH #1s

Ray Malzo (left) and Mark Smith shake hands after Malzo sold his Orange County Harley-Davidson dealership to Smith, owner of two Harley-Davidson dealerships in Texas.

George Tragos (right) takes over ownership of the former Nees Harley-Davidson in Galesburg, Illinois, from Phil Nees and Mike Nees. The store has been renamed Iron Eagle Harley-Davidson.

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