Since its launch back in 1991, San Francisco-based Scuderia West has specialized in shall we say “eclectic” market niches. Owner Don Lemelin was once pictured on a motorcycle magazine cover with his old Laverda SFC. Although Scuderia has continued to carry Aprilia from day one (they were the #1 Aprilia dealership in the country from 1999-2004), they have since added KYMCO scooters and Victory motorcycles to the roster in recent years. However it may be with KTM that they have had their most success — in fact, Scuderia is the nation’s #1 retailer of the KTM Adventure 950s! In 2005 they even helped sponsor a Dakar Rally effort. You have to be crazy to consider the Dakar Rally as a good time, unless your are Don, the Desert Fox, who saw it as the ideal marketing opportunity.

In addition to helping support a privateer Dakar racing team, Don also decided to pay attention to something a little closer to his backyard — the Baja Peninsula. Never one to sell unproven product to his loyal customers, the first “Baja Edition By Scuderia West” 950 Rally bike was built, and since Don doesn’t believe in letting his customers have all the fun, he personally took the first test mule to Baja for some extensive “field research” (at least that is what he told the tax man). Some of the goodies worked, some didn’t.

Take tires for example — after completely destroying several sets of rubbers, Michelin Desert tires were determined to be up to Scuderia spec. “For a more serious off-road slant, the Michelins are mounted on narrower, black ‘superlaced’ Sun rims by Woodys Wheel Works,” Don explains. “They allow for a better tire selection and easier flat repairs … Plus they are just damn mean!” Click on www.woodyswheelworks.com for more. In addition to the “colorful” approach used to call attention to the test mule featured here, later generations of the Baja Edition bikes come in a stealth silver mode and a tasty black and gold version that made its way into the pages of yet another magazine; this time nothing less than the prestigious Robb Report. Some of his Bay Area competitors still think Don is crazy, though … we would agree, crazy like a fox!

— Robin Hartfiel

MAY 2006
www.MPNmag.com

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