A Passion for Power Sports

Motorsports in Yorkton have come a long way since 1974. Back then motorcycling was considered a "man's" sport, the Honda ATC was new to the fields and Schrader Honda was a small store downtown beside Yorkton Cycle. The owner was a 19-year-old Rick Schrader who sold bikes, looked up parts, pulled some wrenches and rode a bit too.

A couple of moves and expansions later finds Schrader’s Honda Yamaha Suzuki as one of the premier retailers of motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles in the country. What hasn’t changed at Schrader’s is their passion for riding things with motors and their commitment to customer service.

"We have been doing this for a long time and judging by what we hear from our customers and industry friends, we are doing it right," remarks General Manager Rick Bradshaw. He goes on to say, "The team here is very much a big family that rides and likes to help others do the same. Ranging in age from 15 to 55, we are an exceptional mix of youthful enthusiasm and earned experience. After doing this my whole life, the people I work with and getting to sell fun stuff are reasons I still love coming to work."

Since 2008, Bradshaw has been the guiding force behind Schrader’s as majority owner, allowing Rick Schrader to relax and do more of what he loves, including riding.

In their enormous 25,000 square foot store, Schrader’s offers much more than dream machines. They have clothing and accessories needed to ride on the street, in the dirt or over the snow. With hundreds of different helmets, goggles and gloves for all seasons, there is something for all riders at Schrader’s.

In addition, Schrader’s sees fashion as an integral part of their business with an extensive casual clothing selection. The store carries popular brands, many of which have roots in motor sports, providing jeans, tees, hoodies, shirts, shorts, bags and even bathing suits to fill the racks.

Their premier brand is Fox Racing, for which Schrader’s is proudly one of Saskatchewan’s largest retailers. This wide selection of clothes is for more than motor sports enthusiasts, it is for anyone looking for a unique style with high quality brands.

As one of the first dealerships to receive Yamaha Canada Five-Star certification, you know that Schrader’s puts a major emphasis on taking care of you after the sale. The friendly and very knowledgeable parts and accessories staff handles the parts department’s huge inventory. In addition, having and knowing what you need, they now price almost all of the hundreds of in-stock tires at a standing 25 per cent off to keep you riding for less. The six-person service department truly is and has been the focus of the operation for many years. Considering that two of the key people combine for over 70 years of experience helps to understand why Schrader’s service has won awards and recognition from around the industry.

"We strive to make your service experience as painless and timely as possible. Our factory trained technicians believe in the 'Do It Right The First Time' theory, so you can have confidence your service work is done correctly," states Service Manager, Shawn Hall.

The dedicated Schrader’s team contributes to the Yorkton community in a variety of ways including fundraisers and events, such as the extremely successful Snowarama for Easter Seals. A number also volunteer in the motorsports community spending their time working with The Yorkton Sno-Riders, Yorkton Motocross and the Women’s Motocross National Series to name a few. In the mid-90s, Bradshaw helped to revive motocross in the area by being the founding President of the Yorkton Motocross Club and getting city approval for The Millstone Raceway, where motocross is king and a new generation is learning to love the sport.

"Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki are high quality brands; they have consistently been world leaders in engine development. These brands have been staples of our business for a long time because they focus on innovations that work for the rider and improve their experience. That is why we carefully choose what items we carry in our store. We are focused on our clients before, during and after the sale," says Bradshaw.

For a shopping experience like no other where you can actually touch, feel and try items, Schrader’s is the ultimate destination. When quality and staff knowledge is what you’re looking for, trust the experts at Schrader Honda Yamaha Suzuki to get you on your dream machine.
 

by Trina Annand
Photos by TJK Divisional Services, Todd Kulcsar
Reproduced with permission, LifeStyle magazine