Mototrax Bashing Intervention

[UPsnowbiker]

Holy cow...... I thought Timbersled got hammered excessively on this forum until this year.

Sounds like Mototrax has some issues to resolve but it would be nice to not have every topic on this forum be about a handful of dissatisfied Mototrax owners out for blood.

Moderator, is it possible to create a Mototrax problem and resolution sub forum?

Concerned owners and potential buyers should be aware of issues and fixes but it's dominating the entire forum.

 

[needpowder]

I imagine Mototrax might be wishing they had just refunded helico's kits. Probably could've saved a lot of money that way. Reap what you sow I guess. Seems like Moto for life should just make a phone call and work this chit out.

 

[NEWDUCK]

I enjoy it more than the typical what bike should I buy post.

 

[M5-]

Theres a new term in the Webster dictionary being adopted.


Motabashing :

[motobash-ing]

noun
1.
the act of beating, whipping, or thrashing: eg

We thrashed Mototrax on the internet

2.
a decisive defeat: eg

We gave Mototrax a good bashing on the internet.

def. to slag all things Mototrax.


M5

 

[needpowder]

Theres a new term in the Webster dictionary being adopted.


Motabashing :

[motobash-ing]

noun
1.
the act of beating, whipping, or thrashing: eg

We thrashed Mototrax on the internet

2.
a decisive defeat: eg

We gave Mototrax a good bashing on the internet.

def. to slag all things Mototrax.


M5

I'm not that good at math, but you might have been using it as a verb. However, I like it!

 

[Moto4Life]

I imagine Mototrax might be wishing they had just refunded helico's kits. Probably could've saved a lot of money that way. Reap what you sow I guess. Seems like Moto for life should just make a phone call and work this chit out.

While you are probably correct there is a matter of having standards, I have worked with customers to the point of loosing a lot of money and personal time, which I do not mind. But when it comes to dishonesty I feel like a person has to have standards that you always adhere to, and that's why he is stuck in his position. Regardless all of our customers on the forum are getting better info and setup advice so it's all for the better good!

 

[Norma Stitz]

While you are probably correct there is a matter of having standards, I have worked with customers to the point of loosing a lot of money and personal time, which I do not mind. But when it comes to dishonesty I feel like a person has to have standards that you always adhere to, and that's why he is stuck in his position. Regardless all of our customers on the forum are getting better info and setup advice so it's all for the better good!

Silence and denial about known problems are akin to dishonesty. And if we are handing out better info and setup advice I'll have a helping thanks because my bike is super fun but it does show signs of eating itself.

 

[w74bronco]

I'll say this, for a company that had an amazing first (omitting the scout xc of last year) year of sales due to social media and marketing, I think Moto-trax is greatly underestimating the effect that the negative feedback on those same mediums and channels will have on their sales next year. Snowest is about the only relevant knowledge base available to research these kits with actual user feedback, and the feedback here isn't glowing.

This company needs a professional GM or CEO focused solely on developing the brand, not the product. I met Randy at their office, great guy, passionate about the sport and it's progression. The Moto-trax concept speaks to that! Obviously I have no exposure to his leadership style, but from the threads on these forums, crisis management and managing the brand image are not the strong suits. When a design issue like breaking the idler shafts becomes evident, as Moto-Trax, you start your own thread on here and get way out in front of it. You don't just chime in on other threads defending yourself. This company has a direct communication pipeline to their customer base and are wasting it.

I am amazed what some of you guys have fabbed up to help make this a better kit, but my guess is that for the majority of buyers (myself included) custom metal fabbing isn't in our wheelhouse. For average Joe rider who gets to use his kit 5-8 times a year, we want something 95% reliable that doesn't break or need modification out of the gate. Maintenance is a given, but not at a ratio of 1 engine hour to 1 maintenance hour. I expect to spend an hour of wrenching on my bike and equipment for every 4-6 hour day I spend riding it.

I currently have my track up for sale and I've had 4 different people contact me, talk a little on the phone, do some internet research, then call me back and tell me they're going to look for a different kit. I'm not bad mouthing it to them either, or telling them to research on line. I'm singing the praises of how great it rides (and it is a blast to ride) and trying to get my kit sold. As buyers start assessing 2018 kits and snow-check options, the feedback and customer support here will have an effect.

 

[Jnorth]

I'll say this, for a company that had an amazing first (omitting the scout xc of last year) year of sales due to social media and marketing, I think Moto-trax is greatly underestimating the effect that the negative feedback on those same mediums and channels will have on their sales next year. Snowest is about the only relevant knowledge base available to research these kits with actual user feedback, and the feedback here isn't glowing.

This company needs a professional GM or CEO focused solely on developing the brand, not the product. I met Randy at their office, great guy, passionate about the sport and it's progression. The Moto-trax concept speaks to that! Obviously I have no exposure to his leadership style, but from the threads on these forums, crisis management and managing the brand image are not the strong suits. When a design issue like breaking the idler shafts becomes evident, as Moto-Trax, you start your own thread on here and get way out in front of it. You don't just chime in on other threads defending yourself. This company has a direct communication pipeline to their customer base and are wasting it.

I am amazed what some of you guys have fabbed up to help make this a better kit, but my guess is that for the majority of buyers (myself included) custom metal fabbing isn't in our wheelhouse. For average Joe rider who gets to use his kit 5-8 times a year, we want something 95% reliable that doesn't break or need modification out of the gate. Maintenance is a given, but not at a ratio of 1 engine hour to 1 maintenance hour. I expect to spend an hour of wrenching on my bike and equipment for every 4-6 hour day I spend riding it.

I currently have my track up for sale and I've had 4 different people contact me, talk a little on the phone, do some internet research, then call me back and tell me they're going to look for a different kit. I'm not bad mouthing it to them either, or telling them to research on line. I'm singing the praises of how great it rides (and it is a blast to ride) and trying to get my kit sold. As buyers start assessing 2018 kits and snow-check options, the feedback and customer support here will have an effect.

Well said. I also believe that The only hope mototrax has, is getting a public relations professional other than the current one. I don't believe that the kit itself would be the downfall. It's how the company handles the growing pains. Never try to defend yourself on a public forum. You will always lose. Never give a reason for a failure. Only acknowledging the problem and assure those who are upset that it is being worked on to the best of your abilities. This does not mean giving away a bunch of free parts unless it was an untested plastic bushing or a spring that will stop the kit from hammering itself apart.
This company has a very good performing kit. If they can make it durable, it will fly. $.02

 

[M5-]

I'm not certain they can recover from this bad press, certainly not by taking the route they currently are. The only way I see it happening is if they get over the warranty vs. upgrades line of thinking bite the bullet and spend some money. My gut feeling is the moneys not there. Case in point the ski mount, just send out the billet one to every customer end of story, it would generate huge good will. If they can't afford to do that then they are already dead in the water IMO. I'm kit shopping for next year and just may snow check something but there is no way I will even consider a Mototrax given what's happened to you poor guys. A kit needs to be basically bombproof end of discussion.

M5

 

[Norma Stitz]

They are throwing all their hard work down the drain for no reason. It's a shame because they have obviously put a lot into this business. All of these issues are solvable and all they need is the right person on this forum to manage the information and provide feedback to and from the company. But maybe it needs to be a person at least in their 40's. Doesn't need to be a dedicated PR person, just someone who knows how to handle these issues.

 

[mountainhorse]

I checked into it and don't see any more than usual... and many are just trying to come up with solutions in addition to MT working things out.

Social media is blunt...but I don't really see "bashing" going on here... and just spent the last 30 min looking

If you have specific post.... let me know by PM and I'll look into it.



.

 

[john6719]

I've followed several of these threads and firmly believe Mototrax would have been better off to stay off the forum. People like helico are fueled when they are given a little attention online when they should receive none.

I don't have any inside info on any of these issues or the people dealing with them, but have dealt with forums and situations exactly like this in the industry I'm in. I've had first hand experience with situations where a person has turned to forums to legitimize their complaints by bashing the company/dealer with their version. In most cases, the person greatly exaggerated the situation and/or flat out lies about the discussion or commitments made. I've never tried to step in to correct them online because it fuels the issue.

If you read carefully the posts made by helico and his "friend" that tried to defend him, you can see the conflicting details of what was really said and done. Others may see it different, but as an outsider looking in the story and clarification written by Mototrax seems much more plausible and reasonable. Especially after it was basically confirmed by another person trying to defend helico.

Mototrax has also been more open on this forum than any company I've seen. I don't see where they are hiding or not being open about their issues. If I were advising them, I'd tell them to quit having discussions on here. Post information and how a person can contact you, but do not get into issue discussions with a keyboard warrior. Pick up the phone and talk to them.

 

[Norma Stitz]

I've followed several of these threads and firmly believe Mototrax would have been better off to stay off the forum. People like helico are fueled when they are given a little attention online when they should receive none.

I don't have any inside info on any of these issues or the people dealing with them, but have dealt with forums and situations exactly like this in the industry I'm in. I've had first hand experience with situations where a person has turned to forums to legitimize their complaints by bashing the company/dealer with their version. In most cases, the person greatly exaggerated the situation and/or flat out lies about the discussion or commitments made. I've never tried to step in to correct them online because it fuels the issue.

If you read carefully the posts made by helico and his "friend" that tried to defend him, you can see the conflicting details of what was really said and done. Others may see it different, but as an outsider looking in the story and clarification written by Mototrax seems much more plausible and reasonable. Especially after it was basically confirmed by another person trying to defend helico.

Mototrax has also been more open on this forum than any company I've seen. I don't see where they are hiding or not being open about their issues. If I were advising them, I'd tell them to quit having discussions on here. Post information and how a person can contact you, but do not get into issue discussions with a keyboard warrior. Pick up the phone and talk to them.

I don't see it that way. Ya he's miffed for sure. I would be too, and I am. I own this kit also and I've been lied to repeatedly by the company. I'm a pretty patient person with this kind of thing, and I understand that this is a fringe sport, exotic hardware meant for cutting edge racing machines. But disinformation, denial and quiet refusal to address issues is what I feel like they have defaulted to. If it were one or two annoyances I could and helico might also be able to live with it. But when the insults come one after another it gets hard to stomach. They spend a lot on advertising. What they need to realize is that these first batches of customers are the people who are investing in their brand. We went out on a limb to try their untested kit, and the limb broke. sorry guys but yes it's untested if you had tested it enough not a single kit would've left the shop with nylon bushings that grenade instantly.
If they were on here saying, for instance, "hey guys we have XX number of kits with this problem and we are working on a solution" and "please watch for issues in this area because we might have a problem, please be patient" we could stomach a lot more. But so far all we have is combative attitude. I realize their email yesterday did have some of these ideas, and it's a step in the right direction! Keep it up!

So far the solutions are band aids at best. And here's the kicker- I'd be happy with a band aid IF it came with a promise to make it right. But so far all I've got is lies and .... nothing. No emails or hey hos or heads ups at all.

At this point I'm pretty much considering that they are not going to solve these problems so people like helico are really going to be helpful to me. If I can get this kit to stop eating itself I'll be happy with it. But at this point I sure can't recommend them to any of my 3 friends who are now shopping for kits since seeing my bike in the garage. So, there you have it. Sales lost. Whatever.

They can still save this thing and gain back trust but what they need to understand is that if we can't trust the KIT (we cant) then we need to be able to trust THEM (we cant). If you buy timbersled, from what I hear, you cant trust them so much, but you can trust the kit, and at the end of the day that's what we are looking for.

So, with all due respect to your industry experience, if you don't own this kit and deal with this company then I'm not sure why you'd defend them?

 

[HELICO]

I've followed several of these threads and firmly believe Mototrax would have been better off to stay off the forum. People like helico are fueled when they are given a little attention online when they should receive none.

I don't have any inside info on any of these issues or the people dealing with them, but have dealt with forums and situations exactly like this in the industry I'm in. I've had first hand experience with situations where a person has turned to forums to legitimize their complaints by bashing the company/dealer with their version. In most cases, the person greatly exaggerated the situation and/or flat out lies about the discussion or commitments made. I've never tried to step in to correct them online because it fuels the issue.

If you read carefully the posts made by helico and his "friend" that tried to defend him, you can see the conflicting details of what was really said and done. Others may see it different, but as an outsider looking in the story and clarification written by Mototrax seems much more plausible and reasonable. Especially after it was basically confirmed by another person trying to defend helico.

Mototrax has also been more open on this forum than any company I've seen. I don't see where they are hiding or not being open about their issues. If I were advising them, I'd tell them to quit having discussions on here. Post information and how a person can contact you, but do not get into issue discussions with a keyboard warrior. Pick up the phone and talk to them.

I started writing out a big song and dance then deleted it all.
Like you said you are uninform about the situation we are having with Mototrax's track system ,many are not.
Anything that I have posted on this forum is true and factual .
As far as a keyboard warrior goes, this is the first time in my 57 yrs on earth, that I have ever posted anything anywhere (it probably shows)


Brian Beresford
Cranbrook BC

 

[KTMDirtFace]

I'll be honest, at first I thought HELICO was being absurd and harsh. Maybe was? I don't know

He seems to be helping the community out now with mods he has done.

Even called me to help me work through my install. He is pretty knowledgeable on these kits, more so than my dealer is.

EDIT: Really glad to see the big post from mototrax llc so I know whats up in one place. I don't do Facebook or social media. So it was very nice to see that long post bullet pointing anything I may need to know. Before I got my kit I emailed them asking if there was any updates or tips I need to know. I got a very short reply... and that was the last email anyone has ever responded to at their main email address to me.

 

[john6719]

Appreciate the feedback. I could very well be completely wrong in my observations, wouldn't be the first time ��

Hope everyone involved gets things sorted out.

 

[Timberview01]

For what it's worth...

I have the Enduro model. Yes, I had issues with the slider bushing. Yes, I had to limp it out of the back-country once. BUT, they handled it in an acceptable way in my case.

#1 - they owned the issue
#2 - they said that they would send me a new bushing, but a more permanent fix was on its way and would be provided at no cost to me
#3 - they replaced all worn/broken pieces without question (slider bushing, track tensioners, axle spacers that the air rams attach to)
#4 - I had parts in hand within three days so I never missed a day on the snow

Also FWIW - I ordered the racer upgrade kit because I believe both parts will increase durability of the kit and ski mount. I talked to them about this kit on Tuesday, and FedEx just dropped the box off at my office this morning.

In my case, they have done a good job with communication and have followed through with what they told me they would do. I hope that all of the negativity turns a corner, because I still believe in the overall design.

 

[Grr]

please illustrate with pics the installation of the yoke

 

[jbmilek]

please illustrate with pics the installation of the yoke

X2.