Chris Burandts Take on Production Pro RMK's

[Snodawg]

I dig Chris..........love watching him ride........and cheers to being on a Polaris..........they have a hot new sled. The part that I think is weird.......or funny.......or both.........is that he won't even say the name anymore. When he and Bret Rasmussen were giving there seminar at the Utah show........Bret would talk about mountain sleds and he would say, "The Arctic Cat and Polaris Pro Ride are really adapted well to the mountain style of ridding". He would actually address each sled by their respected company names.

When Chris goes to talk about Arctic Cat now he says, "that other brand" or "that other sled". Which is fine........but seems a little bit disrespectful seeing that he had many good years with Arctic Cat and was die-hard for them. Shoot.......even Bret is so humble as to admit that they are both a good sled and he calls them both by their company name. I know that for Chris.......he is just trying to be a good spokes-person for Polaris by not mentioning AC by name..........but it really looks like snubbing from the outside lookin in. That is really the only thing that I see that kinda twists my guts........just doesn't seem right ya know? Anywho.......

I love my 2010 M8........and I loved the Rev I had before that.....and the Polaris........well I am anxious to swing a leg over one of those as well when I get a chance. The products these sled companies are producing for us for mountain use have come a heck of a long way in the last 10 years.......heck.........even the last 5 years for that matter!!! Sorry just had to chime in about the one thing that bugged me.........otherwise I really wish Chris the best and I hope that everyone has a safe and fun winter ahead!!

Let It Snow!

Dave

Don't know for sure but this may be something contractual with Polaris. Just a thought.

 

[silvester]

So... is Chris going to be throwing EZ-Rydes in his Pros? They still a sponsor?

He had one last year with a Powerclaw on a Polaris, he'll have one this year on one of his Pro's.

 

[suitcase]

What I wonder about the switch is, did Chris make up his mind to go with Polaris v.s. the AC or did Polaris make him a much better deal? In return he could not pass it up. Now the new Pro is the best, in some eyes. ( I am brand loyal to Polaris, always have been, more than likely will always be. The other brands don't work for me. )

Just my two penny's

 

[i'llDooit]

im betting chris still rides his ac's when he can get away with it. probly perferrs the m8 turbo over the pro

 

[Jaynelson]

im betting chris still rides his ac's when he can get away with it. probly perferrs the m8 turbo over the pro

Won't even touch a Doo tho, right?

 

[Rick!]

What I wonder about the switch is, did Chris make up his mind to go with Polaris v.s. the AC or did Polaris make him a much better deal? In return he could not pass it up. Now the new Pro is the best, in some eyes. ( I am brand loyal to Polaris, always have been, more than likely will always be. The other brands don't work for me. )

Just my two penny's

Maybe Effenheimer knows a bit about this? One rumor is that Cat dropped him and he was available.....

 

[Diamond8]

Don't know for sure but this may be something contractual with Polaris. Just a thought.

It could be for sure..........but if so it seems kind of chicken on Polaris's part.......but being in product development myself I have seen the practice and you are right......it could be in his contract...........

 

[suitcase]

Maybe Effenheimer knows a bit about this? One rumor is that Cat dropped him and he was available.....

If that is the case, my next question would be why? Of course. That Does not make any good since, he is one of the best free riders out there. Did it get to demanding for AC HMMM.

 

[WatchThis!!!]

Who the hell is Effenheimer

 

[FatBoyzfrenchy]

I just met Chris today.
I had a good talk with him about the Pro RMK, he tells me he really like this sled and it has awesome handling and very good power.
I can't wait to get on mine out for the first ride.

FBF.

 

[mtnpull]

For all you boys saying what Chris gets paid doesn't affect the price tag you need to WAKE up. Whether Polaris chalks his salary up to R&D or to advertising, it DOES indeed affect the price tag of every Polaris snowmobile. It is called an expense. A business does not stay in business by having more expenses than income. I assure you that his salary is taken into account when it comes to pricing the snowmobiles. There is no magical fund for sponsored riders.

Additionally if you think that the Pro RMK and Chris signing on with Polaris wasn't timed extremely well you are crazy. It was a brilliant move on Polaris's part. They had the 900 which hurt them bad. Problems with 800 motors. They worked on the Pro Chassis for years in an effort to win back the market they once dominated and signed Burrandt just prior to releasing it.

Burrandt won't refer to the other brand by name because it is in his contract not to. I guarantee that one. I am sure Chris is a good guy and all, but his decision was based on career and money not because he liked the chassis better. He could make any chassis look good and would for the right price. If you think otherwise you are kidding yourself.

 

[WyoPro]

For all you boys saying what Chris gets paid doesn't affect the price tag you need to WAKE up.

Engineering, Research and Development, and New Product Introduction

Polaris employs approximately 370 persons primarily in its Roseau and Wyoming, Minnesota facilities, who are engaged in the development and testing of existing products and research and development of new products and improved production techniques. Management believes Polaris and its predecessors were the first to develop, for wide commercial use, independent front suspensions for snowmobiles, long travel rear suspensions for snowmobiles, liquid cooled snowmobile brakes, hydraulic brakes for snowmobiles, the three cylinder engine in snowmobiles, the adaptation of the MacPherson strut front suspension, “on demand” four-wheel drive systems and the Concentric Drive System for use in ORVs, the application of a forced air cooled variable power transmission system to ORVs and the use of electronic fuel injection for ORVs.

Polaris utilizes internal combustion engine testing facilities to design and optimize engine configurations for its products. Polaris utilizes specialized facilities for matching engine, exhaust system and clutch performance parameters in its products to achieve desired fuel consumption, power output, noise level and other objectives. Polaris’ engineering department is equipped to make small quantities of new product prototypes for testing by Polaris’ testing teams and for the planning of manufacturing procedures. In addition, Polaris maintains numerous test facilities where each of the products is extensively tested under actual use conditions. In 2005, Polaris completed construction of its 127,000 square-foot research and development facility in Wyoming, Minnesota for engineering, design and development personnel for Polaris’ line of engines and powertrains, ORVs and Victory motorcycles. Total cost of the facility was approximately $35 million.

Polaris expended for research and development approximately $63.0 million, $77.5 million and $73.6 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively

These numbers are for Polaris Industries as a whole, but with this kinda dough being tossed around I'm not concerned with what they pay Burandt.

 

[allied1]

That's why when Chris was working for Cat they had to cut every corner they could to pay his wages so they used $1.09 Chinese bearings in the diamond drives.

 

[WyoPro]

I could be wrong on the numbers, but I do believe in 09 Polaris sold 147,000 units (sleds) world wide. If Burandt's cost is over and above the initial they could "jack" up the price of every sled 10 bucks and pay him 1.47 Mil. I don't believe they are paying him even remotely close to that and if they were, I don't think he would be baby sitting people from Minnesota in Kremmling. I could be way off base here but that's just what I found.

 

[Reg2view]

FWIW. For 2009, there were fewer than 147,000 sled units sold worldwide by all OEMs. Polaris share was very roughly 20% of them.

 

[WyoPro]

FWIW. For 2009, there were fewer than 147,000 sled units sold worldwide by all OEMs. Polaris share was very roughly 20% of them.

Bummer, thanks for clearifying this. Guess Burandt might have caused our sleds to go up at least a 100 bucks then.

 

[AndrettiDog]

Bummer, thanks for clearifying this. Guess Burandt might have caused our sleds to go up at least a 100 bucks then.

I think there is more to it than him getting paid by Polaris. I think he gets his sleds (10 Pro Rides now) and IQR sleds for X Games.

 

[WyoPro]

I think there is more to it than him getting paid by Polaris. I think he gets his sleds (10 Pro Rides now) and IQR sleds for X Games.

I think you are absolutely correct and rightfully so. He probably gets paid well and gets sleds and what not, but in the grand scheme of things I do not believe that his involvement with Polaris cost us as consumers a large jump on the price of these new sleds. There are so many other factors involved as Polaris is large enough that with the amount of sales and revenue created through that to absorb that on pass on only a small if any amount to us.

 

[snopro_ac]

it's not really any different than, rasmussen riding the cats, i bet hibbert and his team aren't cheap, morgan got paid a ton in skidoo, they all do it and the yamahas have to swim the pond so polaris isn't any different.

 

[Peevo]

Everybody seem to focus on what Burandt gets from Polaris. Have you ever thougt about what Polaris get from Burandt? Can you imagine what all exposure in vids with burandt is worth?

It's a little like formula one. Ultra super duper high business. But in the end, for a car manufacturer, one of the best ways to use your pr budget.

I don't care what he get from polaris. I have heard he's a nice guy. And in my world you get what you deserve.