It is sad to see the demise of Micky and Faran. I can understand that any good corporation must look at all expenditures on a cost to return basis. I am sure it is relatively simple accounting process to determine a cost for each of the Spyder 5, but it must be difficult to determine their return value.
And while it is popular to bash corporations for looking at their bottom line, there simply would not be a workable free enterprise system producing great products at reasonable prices without it. Sentiment is a great thing but corporations that operate too heavily on it are doomed to fail.
I can frankly see why BRP was tempted to eliminate Mickey. I know that sounds harsh and it isn't meant in any way as a derogatory remark against him. I've met Mickey and he is a great guy and a great pick. He is friendly, outgoing, articulate and a really nice guy. He worked as hard as anyone to live up to his appointed position. My hat is off to him.
But his 'Uniqueness' factor was not high. What I mean by that is you already have 3 other, diverse, knowledgeable males involved here (though not 'Young'). I know this may sound mean but I'm trying to put myself in BRP's shoes.
Putting myself in those same shoes I do not understand cutting Faran. Ok, so I like Faran, but you have to admit she is a very likable person, just as is Mickey (who I've already stated I like as well). But IMHO Faran brings a lot more to the marketing table.
She is female and there is a huge (and growing) female ridership on the Spyder. More than this, I think female ridership is different than with any other open air road vehicle on the planet. I think ladies on Spyders generally consider themselves to be equals with male riders. I just do not see this on Harley's, for example. Motorcycles are generally considered to be a man's realm. I know there are exceptions, maybe quite a few, but I'm talking about the big picture.
Before I get myself it too much trouble, I just want to say I know there are ladies on Harley's (and everything else) that can go toe-to-toe with the best men. But is this the overwhelming norm? I don't think so.
In contrast, ladies on Spyders are a force to be reckoned with. I don't mean this as a male female competition necessarily. What I mean is that not only do the ladies feel like equals, men, for the most part, also consider them equals.
Ok, so I'm doing a very sorry job of conveying what I am trying to get at here so I'll just cut to the chase. Faran was (IMHO) the perfect blend of attributes to both represent existing Spyder riders and encourage those who might be considering owning a Spyder.
When corporations make a high profile move like cutting back on the Spyder 5 it sends a message to both existing and potential customers (just like it did when they appointed them). Now this cut isn't getting the marketing hype that the appointments did, but it is still going to send a message. The question that BRP has to answer is; what message?
Some are going to take this as a BRP corporate attitude of not caring about their female customer base. How else can you look at it? I think it is a mistake and I hope BRP doesn't find out the hard way what a representative like Faran (the only female member of the Spyder 5) is really worth.
pps: :yikes: Sorry about that.... Designed to be taken in context but even so, reading that intro again I decided to edit it a bit.
