Appolson’s Schedules 2018 Polaris Snowmobile Demo Rides

The annual Appolson’s Performance Center snowmobile demo rides have been scheduled for January 27^th. The demo rides, along with a picnic lunch, will be held out of their Hamburg showroom from 10:30-2:00 pm. There will also be a youth sled on hand for kids to try out. Those wanting to try the new 2018 line-up may sign up online at http://bit.ly/2018APCSnowDemo for a timeslot.

Due to the great winter Western New York is seeing in 2018, the dealership is also offering a customer appreciation ride-in and ride-out that day as well. Customers will be able to ride their sleds on the trail system to the store, have a picnic lunch, and then head out on a customer appreciation ride at 3 pm. Those customers wishing to demo ride along the way on the trails can also sign up at the above website.

Sign-ups will be collected until slots are filled or through noon on January 25^th, whichever comes first. For more information, you can contact Appolson’s Performance Center at 716-649-1090, by email at marketing@appolson.com, or via their website at appolson.com.

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2017 Wrap Up

Happy New Year! We hope you had a happy holiday season. It was nice to have a white Christmas for the first time in a few years and we know a lot of you took advantage of trails being open. While the first few days of January tend to be a time for looking ahead, we wanted to talk about a few of our favorite moments from 2017.

We got lucky enough to have our annual Snowmobile Demo ride a few weeks late in February. We ran it right out of our back door. People loved seeing our service shop and trying out the 2017 Polaris line-up. There was a good camaraderie and it was nice and toasty over the grilled hot dogs and hamburgers.

In June, we had an ORV demo ride at KB Moto. It was a muddy, sunny day. We got to ride with customers, show off some of the cool Polaris side by sides and ATVs, and even took some videos of trail riding.

The end of July brought our annual Blast on the Beach. This year it was a really windy affair. We still had a full slate of riders and a ton of fun. Our workers managed to get a little color during the day and a lot of laughs with our customers and beach goers.

We’re looking forward to making more memories with you all in 2018. It doesn’t look like we have to do much of a snow dance for our upcoming Snowmobile Demo Ride, but we’ll knock on wood and turn around three times any way, just in case. Happy Holidays from the Appolson’s Team!

Snowmobile FAQ

Snow, baby, snow! If the weather forecast has you feeling like Elsa from Frozen, you’re probably getting pretty excited about trails potentially opening in just a couple weeks. If you’re new to the sport or just not sure on some items, we have the answers to all your pressing questions. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions.

1. What do I need to be able to ride in New York?

You must be registered in New York State, even if you’re from out of state or our of country, unless it’s one of the days NYS waves registration requirements. You also need liability coverage on the sled. You do not need to join a snowmobile club, however it is recommended as it takes your registration fee from $100 to $45!

2. How much insurance is needed?

You must have liability insurance that provides coverage for any one person sustaining injury or death of at least $10,000 and for two or more persons involved in an accident of at least $20,000 and at least $5,000 for damage of property of another. You must carry proof of insurance with you.

3. Where can I ride?

New York State has a pretty great trail system, with over 10,000 miles of designated and registration supported trails.

4. What do I need to wear?

New York State law requires you to wear a DOT approved snowmobile helmet. Helmet fit is very important, so if you’re not sure, ask a salesperson to help you find the right size. Other than that, you should wear warm clothing like a snowmobile suit or jacket and pants. Boots and gloves are also recommended.

5. Does Appolson’s rent snowmobiles?

No, we do not rent any vehicles.

6. Do I need to take a safety course?

Any person over eighteen may operate a snowmobile on lands where public snowmobiling is allowed without taking a snowmobile safety course. Kids 10-14 years old may operate a snowmobile when they have a safety certificate and are with someone over 18 years old. Kids 14-18 years old who have their safety certificate may operate a snowmobile as an adult on lands where snowmobiling is permitted. There’s even an online course you can take!

7. Is there any required safety equipment for the sled?

You need a working headlight, tail light, brake light, and working muffler system.

Winterizing Your Snowmobile

It’s no secret the last couple of winter seasons have been less than fun for us snowmobilers here in Western New York. But with snow in the forecast later this week and the end of bow hunting season scheduled for the 19th, it’s not hard to get excited to hit the trails! But with two light winters in our rearview, is your sled ready to go?

No matter your preferred brand, it’s always a good idea to do a thorough service on your sled before going out on your first ride of the season. Whether you like to get your own hands dirty or bring it in to our certified service shop, we can help you out.

First up, check your oil level. It’s not a bad idea to do an oil change at the start of the season. This way you ensure that no moisture snuck its way into your oil while your sled was taking a snooze. Next up, check your spark plug. If it is wet or blackened, you need to change it out.

Check your coolant level and add or change if needed. Look at your air box and make sure it’s clear. With crossing roads a part of almost every trail these days, it’s so important to have your brakes in proper working order. Check the brake pads, fluids, and general braking operation.

If you’re sensing a theme here – you’re right. It’s check everything. The motor mounts, choke and idle adjustments, battery, lights, and carbides all need to be checked. Grease all fittings and then get back to checking things. Check the sliders, idler wheels, shocks, track alignment, track tension, and in general if there are any rips or missing studs (if you’ve got a studded track). Check your ski alignment, drive belt, clutches, and all cables. Finally, check your chain case drive fluid level.

If anything you’ve checked looks like it needs to be replaced or will soon need to be, make sure you have spares on hand so you’re not stranded on the trails. Extra spark plugs, oil, and a belt are good things to bring along with you on your rides or at least have stocked in your trailer or truck. We can help you out with service or parts six days a week. And if you’ve had enough of your old sled, we’ve got a huge stock of new to get you upgraded for your best ride experience.

Now get outside and do your snow dance then turn your PJs inside out and get a good night’s rest. Braaap!

2017 Blast on the Beach Wrap Up

We love when we’re able to get to know our customers and our community better. This past Saturday’s annual Blast on the Beach event is no exception. The town of Hamburg puts on a day long party at Hamburg Beach and invites us to be a part of that, doing demo rides on our WaveRunners. We take pre-registrations and have a lot of sign ups during the day of people who get curious as to what we’re doing.

This Saturday’s weather was a little rough, with a pretty stiff wind hitting the beach all day. That didn’t stop people from riding. We were filled up on ride slots from noon until five, with kids and adults alike loving the opportunity to hit the water for some splashes and fun.

Our favorite part of this event is seeing the faces of each kid after they get to go out on a ride with their parent or with one of our staff members. Their eyes are lit up and they have huge smiles on their faces and inevitably ask if they can go again!

If you didn’t get a chance to ride with us on Saturday, don’t worry – we do personal test drives! To schedule, call us at 716-649-1090 or go to our website and fill out a request here.

Motorcycle and Scooter Services

You might not see many on-road vehicles in our showroom, but if you were to come into the service shop, you’d see quite a few back there! A lot of people are unaware that we offer many different services for our two and three wheeled friends. As we say all the time, we love to ride and we want you to have the safest ride possible. The road riding season is short, so make the most of it by not missing any time! Some of the services we offer:

• New York State Motorcycle Inspection
• New York State Scooter Inspection
• Oil Change
• Motorcycle/Scooter Complete Service
• Tire Changes
• Detailing

Make sure you get your bike regularly serviced and inspected so you don’t get stranded somewhere. And if you’re looking to upgrade your riding gear this summer, we can help you out there too. You can call us at 716-649-1090 or go to our service department website to make an appointment. Have a great ride and ride safe!

Come to Appolson’s Beach Party!

We are happy to once again be part of the Hamburg Town Beach annual party. The Blast on the Beach is being held on July 29^th this year, just twelve days away! It’s always a fun time for us to spend the day outside, and who doesn’t love the beach in July?

Last year’s event was a huge success. We filled up all of our pre-registration slots before the event and were able to stay out on the water a little longer with all the walk ups.

We had a lot of adults and kids who got to experience the water in a brand new way Saturday.

 

We are once again taking pre-registration sign-ups for this event. Each pre-registrant will get a voucher for a free hot dog lunch at Longboards as well as be able to pick what part of the day they want their time slot in. If you are planning on signing your little one up, please keep in mind it is required they have an adult parent or guardian with them at all times for supervision.

If you are interested in signing up for the Blast on the Beach, please go to http://bit.ly/2017BlastontheBeach and sign up by noon on July 27^th. We will call all registrants with their exact time slot on Friday, July 28^th.

Watercraft Safety

Now that we’ve hit July, I think we can safely say that summer is here and we’re happy to be out on the water! New riders and seasoned riders alike may not be aware of all the regulations in New York State regarding personal watercraft usage. It is required that each rider (whether driver or passenger) wears a life jacket. The PWC must have:

• an engine cut-off lanyard,
• a sound producing device (like a whistle),
• a visual distress signal (like a safety flag), and
• a fire extinguisher (on waters under the US Coast Guard jurisdiction.)

It is recommended, though not required, that each rider has footwear, eyewear (goggles or sunglasses), a wet suit, and gloves.

In New York, it is required that all owners and operators successfully complete a boating safety course and operators must be at least 14 years old. Operation is, of course, not allowed between sunset and sunrise. Neither is weaving through congested traffic, jumping the wake of another watercraft, playing chicken, or using your vehicle within 500 feet of a bathing beach or swim area. If you happen to be renting a personal watercraft, you must be at least 16 years old and prove it with photo ID. You must also be able to show correct operating procedures, proper use of the safety equipment, and must have proof of completion of the boating safety course.

Some best practices when out on the water include not operating too close to shore, docks, marinas, fisherman, or launching areas, not disturbing wildlife or operating in environmentally sensitive areas, and not forcing larger watercraft like boats or shipping vessels to move unnecessarily. If you have a passenger on the back of your PWC, practice a little extra caution as they can lose their grip on you, fall off (or be ejected), and get injured.

Once you have all these practices and measures in place, you’re set to get out on the water!

Summerizing Your Snowmobile

It’s hard to believe we are just days from the end of June. It wasn’t a great winter for snow enthusiasts in Western New York, but many of our customers told us they were able to get some good riding in up north and down in the Chautauqua region. While we provide summerization at our service shop, we understand some people like to take the wrench to their own machines too.

First things first, give your machine a good and thorough cleaning. When storing any machine for an extended period of time, store it with gas in the tank (the fuller the better) in order to reduce the risk of condensation forming. You should add fuel stabilizer to the tank. If you have a fuel injector, add injector cleaner to that as well. Run the engine to temp and then fog the motor.

Degrease your motor and suspension, including using forced air to blow off excess water. Use silicone spray on the engine compartment and suspension as well. Grease all of the applicable points. Check your chain case oil and coolant levels. Remove your drive belt. If your sled has a battery, remove it, charge it, and put it on a shelf. Then it’s time to put your sled to bed for the summer season.

Choosing Your WaveRunner

After the last two summers of hot weather lasting long into the fall, you want to get out on the water and feel the spray of our local lakes as you speed across them. You may need to upgrade your current watercraft or get your very first and you’re not sure what the best choice is. The Yamaha WaveRunner line up just turned the big 3-0 last year and it’s still as strong as ever. Whether you just want to cruise or take the family tubing, there’s a machine for every activity and every budget.

The EX Series is brand new for Yamaha this year. It’s tailored for the more budget conscious purchaser, as well as the first time buyer. These crafts still pack a fun and playful watercraft experience into their lightweight SMC hull. You can have up to three people on the craft and there’s even a tow hook on the back. The EX, EX Sport, and EX Deluxe all retail for less than $9,000.

Taking a step up, the VX Series is consistently our best sellers, year in and year out. The high-end style and technology at a reasonable price makes them hard to resist. The VX and VX Deluxe are great machines for those who are still price conscious but want a little more luxury. The VX Cruiser offers a stadium style seat that gives everyone their own space. The VX Limited is the best bang for your buck – literally. It includes all the accessories you need to have for a fun summer with the family and friends. Need a little more power? The VX Cruiser HO puts you there faster.

The FX Series offers impressive performance and luxury features while also being the longest and most stable personal watercraft in the industry. The FX HO and Cruiser HO offer the same size engine while the Cruiser gives you that stadium style seating. Looking for even more power? Step on up to the FX SVHO and Cruiser SVHO! These PWCs offer a supercharged experience for those who like to push the speed limit. New this season, is the FX Limited SVHO. It has the same power as the FX SVHO with the same outrageous number of accessories as the VX Limited to give you a complete WaveRunner experience.

Back this year for the first time in over a decade is the GP series. Last seen in 2003, the GP was a powerhouse on the race circuit but was left behind as manufacturers moved from a two-stroke to a four-stroke engine. The GP1800 has been winning races around the world since it was released this model year. Sharp turning, a supercharged SVHO engine, and an extra light NanoXcel2 hull put this craft head and shoulders above the rest.

Rounding out the performance race crafts are the VXR and SuperJet. The VXR combines fun and race styling for a day on the water that’ll leave you with a smile. The SuperJet is the only stand up watercraft in the Yamaha line up and for closed course competition only.

No matter what WaveRunner you choose, your summer is certain to be full of laughs and good times. The spectacular Western New York waterways are waiting for you to join us out in the waves!