Up Front Research: How We Compare

Short answer: Up Front Research is Empire’s honest, sourced way of comparing the machines we sell against the competition. We use real manufacturer specs and current prices, we date every comparison, and we tell you flat out when another brand beats us on something. No cherry-picking, no games — the same straight-talk promise as our Up Front Pricing, applied to your buying decision instead of the price tag.

What is Up Front Research?

It’s the method behind every comparison you’ll see under our units. When we line up one of our bikes, ATVs, or side-by-sides against three competitors, we’re not writing an ad — we’re showing you the real trade-offs so you can decide with confidence. Every claim is sourced, every price is dated, and every comparison gets updated as the model years change.

How is this different from a normal dealer comparison?

We show you where we lose. Most “why buy ours” charts are built to win every row, which is exactly why shoppers stop believing them. Ours don’t do that. If a competitor makes more horsepower, tows more, or has a longer warranty, we say so — right there in the same chart. For example, in our side-by-side comparison we point out that Kawasaki’s Ridge makes the most power and carries the longest warranty; it just costs thousands more. Telling you the whole picture is the point.

Where do the numbers come from?

Manufacturer specifications and published industry sources — and we date them. Horsepower, towing, warranty terms, standard features, and MSRPs come from the makers’ own figures and reputable published sources, current as of the date on the comparison. Where a manufacturer doesn’t publish a number (some brands don’t publish horsepower, for instance), we say it’s an estimate rather than dressing it up as fact. Specs and prices change, so we refresh comparisons at model-year changeover.

Why should I trust it?

Because the honesty is the whole point — and it’s the same honesty behind our pricing. A comparison that admits a competitor’s strengths is one you can actually rely on for the parts where we do win. That candor isn’t a weakness; it’s the reason our customers trust us. It’s the research version of Up Front Pricing: with our pricing, the number you see already includes freight, setup, and our doc fee, so there are no surprises at the counter. With our research, the comparison you see already includes the competitor’s wins, so there are no surprises in your driveway.

The Empire promise

Up Front Pricing. Up Front Research. No games, either way. We’d rather earn your business by being straight with you than win a chart and lose your trust. Browse our inventory, read our buying guides, or text us at 509-498-3541 — and if you’re cross-shopping something specific, ask us for the honest comparison. We’ll give it to you straight.

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Empire Cycle & Powersports — Spokane Valley, WA. Up Front Pricing and Up Front Research on new and pre-owned motorcycles, ATVs, side-by-sides, and snowmobiles.