Hey,
There’s so much going on I’m not going to blither on about shit I’m doing. Just back from the new Indian facility. Check it out and enjoy the news:
INDIAN IS ALIVE AND GROWING ON A MOUNTAIN IN NORTH CAROLINA–I witnessed it. A lovely blonde picked me up from the airport, covered my head with a blindfold and drove me into the hills of Gastonia, then I’m not sure where, to be the first motorcycle journalist to take a tour of the Indian Plant.
Over the following weeks I will deliver reports on their plan, including marketing, the bikes, the redevelopment of the engines and chassis, their Baker 6-speed tranny and EFI testing. Here’s some background on the current deal:
Owners of Chris-Craft boats acquire Indian motorcycle brand
London (July 26, 2004) — Stellican Limited, a London-based private equity firm, today announced the acquisition of the trademarks and related intellectual property of Indian, America?s oldest and most iconic motorcycle brand.
Indian Motorcycle was founded in 1901 in Springfield, Massachusetts, two years before Harley-Davidson, and was a leader in the motorcycle industry for the next 50 years with a U.S. market share approaching 50%. The Indian motorcycle was the pride of the American road, enjoying an unmatched reputation for quality and innovation. In fact, motorcycle historians cite the Indian Chief as the originator of today?s cruiser class motorcycle. In addition to playing an important role at home in America, the company played an important role in World War II by contributing over 40,000 motorcycles to the war effort. In 1953, the company filed for bankruptcy and, for the ensuing 45 years, the Indian brand was effectively dormant. It was not until 1998 that Indian Motorcycle was restarted by a series of investor groups. Unfortunately, however, their substantial efforts to make the company profitable ultimately failed. In September, 2003, Indian Motorcycle elected to be liquidated through an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors process managed by CMA Business Credit Services in Burbank, California.
In 2002, the United States heavyweight cruiser market (over 900cc) exceeded $4 billion with over 230,000 units sold. The market recently has experienced double-digit growth rates with continued strong growth projected. The premium (+$12,000/unit) heavyweight cruiser market is considered to be the most profitable segment. This is where Indian Motorcycle competed by providing the only credible alternative to Harley- Davidson in terms of brand, heritage, style and American quality. Today, Indian has an extraordinary 94% aided brand awareness in the USA and enjoys a cult-like following among motorcycle enthusiasts and the population in general.
?I believe Indian remains among the most powerful brands in the U.S. motorcycle market, and we are delighted to own such an iconic American brand,? commented Stephen Julius, an Anglo-Italian financier and founding Partner of Stellican Limited. ?Our primary goal is to return Indian to its rightful position as a premium motorcycle brand, selling beautifully designed, high quality products and delivering world-class services. We will do so by carefully and thoughtfully developing the business from the ground up, guided by an overriding determination to remain true to the rich heritage of the Indian brand. We are long-term brand builders, obsessed with product design and quality. We have clearly demonstrated our ability to the world over the last three years with our re-launch of Chris-Craft boats, another business we own today and which we purchased out of the 2000 bankruptcy of Outboard Marine Corporation. We are confident we will repeat our success with Indian,? added Mr. Julius.
Stellican Limited is an unusual private equity firm in that it specializes in acquiring and reviving distressed companies, almost all with heritage brands, mainly in the recreational products area. Even more unusually, its capital is provided by its own principals who actively manage its portfolio companies directly. Most recently, in addition to Chris-Craft boats, Stephen Julius, through Stellican Limited, acquired and turned around the iconic Italian yacht manufacturer, Riva, and the Italian Premier League soccer team, Vicenza.
Stellican will now begin the process of determining how best to re-position and re-launch the Indian? brand, addressing such issues as where to manufacture in the USA, which engine technology to utilize, which dealers to appoint and when to re-start production. An enormous investment has already been made in product and engine development and Stellican is aware of the need to re-start production as soon aspossible once its strategy has been clearly defined. In addition to world-class motorcycles, a key component of the future strategy will be an integrated approach to the parts, accessories and apparel business.
Stellican will ensure all of Indian Motorcycle?s many constituents – suppliers, dealers, current and future customers and the motorcycle and business media – are kept informed of its plans as they develop over the coming months. Stellican will arrange one-on-one interviews with media at the appropriate juncture.
?We are excited about this challenge and are confident Indian will live up to its great potential under our ownership. This is a tremendous opportunity to revive a great American brand and we intend to do exactly that,? added David Wright, a Partner at Stellican.
BIKERNET READERS WAITING FOR BIKERNET BONNEVILLE BOOK PRE-ORDERS ARE BEING TAKEN– Just to wish you all the luck with the book. I guarantee it will fly off the racks as fast as the ?Weapan?. Hell, I don?t know where you find the time. You inspire me.
–Your ?South African? correspondent? Mikey.
MORE ON ALEXA INTERNET REPORTING–Alexa only records activity based on toolbar usage. So it is skewed and not a scientific sampling. It is another one of those internet ters like (hits) that sound like they have meaning but really have no meaning at all.
–Jeffrey Najar
President
Horse Power Marketing
Office: 919-383-0500
Mobile: 928-814-2935
BIKERNET WEEKLY TOOLING ADVICE COLUMN–HACKSAW: One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija boardprinciple. It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictablemotion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismalyour future becomes.
VISE-GRIPS: Generally used after pliers to completely round off boltheads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transferintense welding heat to the palm of your hand.
–from Buckshot
WIN A BRASS BALLS BOBBERS MOTORBIKE– Watch the pages of IronWorks Magazine to see the motorcycle build. Enter to win the Digger by subscribing or renewing an IronWorks Magazine subscription or sending a 3×5 card. Design The Giveaway BobberDesign the IronWorks/Brass Balls Bobbers Giveaway bike and we will keep track of the components that get voted on. The parts that get the most votes will be designed into the custom Bobber and will be given away at the 2009 Daytona Bike Week.
–Jeff
D&D PERFORMANCE ENTERPRISES GOES DEALER DIRECT– From the desk of Dave Rash, “The Pope of Pipe”
I wanted to take a moment and explain to our franchise and independent dealers that D&D Performance Enterprises has decided to go dealer direct and discontinue the distribution channel. We feel that in this tightening economy that we can provide improved service and better access of our Fat Cat and Boarzilla performance exhaust systems.
This change also means better bottom line performance for our dealers.
Call 817-834-8961 for details or log on to www.danddexhaust.com.
ACTION PACKED WEEKEND SO DIAL IN YOUR RIDE– Here is our cruising calendar page for future reference of events in April and May.http://www.fullthrottleusa.com/florida/cruisin.htm
TONIGHT 6pm till 9pm – OLD TOWN HARLEY-DAVIDSON MONTHLY BIKE NIGHT9841 E. Adamo Dr. Tampa, FL 813-740-9898With The Host with the Most – Radical RandyLive music, Lots of Vendors, Cold Beer, Great Food, Harley-Girls and much more.
For more info check out www.oldtownharley.com SATURDAY APRIL 12 – Gulf Coast Harley-Davidson’s 5th Anniversary Party10am till 5pmEnter to win a $2500 shopping spreeBIKINI CONTEST limited to 20 contestants – CASH PRIZES -Music By The Greg Billings Band and Rockus SUNDAY – FULL THROTTLE’S 5 BRIDGE POKER RUNGo over the 5 major bridges that connect the Tampa Bay AreaSkyway, Gandy, Howard Franklin, The Bayside and The Courtney CampbellStarts at Smitty’s Pub and Grill (3812 Manatee Ave. West Bradenton)Stops include: Smitty’s, Kahunas, Green Iguana, Tucson’s, Hennessy’s and Ends at Brothers Tavern.Maps will be given out at RegistrationSign up from 8am till 11am at Smitty’s in West BradentonLast bike in by 4:30 with trophies awards at 5pm sharp! Patches for the first 250 registered – Cost is $10 per hand or 3 for $25 For more info or questions 813-814-1424 –Tony Cianci IN THE NEWS SAVES MAGAZINE PAGES–If you need something laminated for life, like a feature of your bike, you favorite tech or that girl feature you can’t carve out of your mind, these are the guys. Just send them the magazine, the old document or your first dollar bill and they’ll laminate it to a solid board, in a very cool way, and ship it back. RENEGADE 3-PIECE BILLET RIMS–Over the last few years, Renegade has been riding on the cutting edge of custom wheel design and their new and very exclusive collection of 3-piece wheels is certain to raise the benchmark another notch. The new rims are, in fact, cut from solid blocks of billet. Each block is machined to rim shape, the center is removed and then the remaining rim is laser cut in half. The inner section is machined to any of Renegade?s signature styles from solid billet and bolted between the halves using grade 8, 12 point cap screws and lock nuts. This 3 piece design means you can order any style you like finished in black powder coat, chrome or any combination of the two. Very Cool! All Wheels are shipped complete with applicable hubs and bearings and are available in diameters from 16?-23? and widths from 2.25? to 14?. Pricing on the 3-piece Renegade starts at just $1550.00 and that includes a Lifetime Structural Warrantee! For complete details and interactive fitment chart, check out www.renegadewheels.com MORE ON CUSTOM CHROME EUROPEAN DEALER AND CUSTOM AMD SHOW–LA CROSSE, WI (April 9, 2008) S&S? Cycle Inc. announces participation in CCE?s Tenth Annual Dealer Show & the AMD European Championships in Mainz, Germany.March 27th through April 2nd found Brett Smith & Kurt Peterson of S&S Cycle in Europe for the annual CCE Dealer Show & AMD European Championships. The CCE Dealer Show celebrated its tenth Anniversary this year at the familiar Phoenix Hall; an old German tank factory located in Mainz, Germany. ?Attendance appeared to be up, the dealers were enthusiastic and CCE & AMD both did a great job in their respective areas related to this event? said Kurt Peterson; Sr. Manager or Customer Support & Distributor Relations. Each year, S&S puts on a dealer only seminar each of the two days of the show, to assist the European Dealer Network in understanding new S&S products and services provided with the release of its latest catalog. It is a great way to show the dealers we support those distributors that support us and the dealer network on a worldwide basis. S&S President Brett Smith, along with Holger Mohr & Kurt Peterson, crowned this year?s winner of the ?Presidents Pick? award. For the last three years, S&S has provided substantial prizes for 1st through 3rd place in this category. This year was no exception as S&S gave a Dual Purpose QSU including S&S ECIII/noise compliant mufflers and teardrop aircleaner for third place. Second place took home an S&S/MAC Toolbox and 187 piece toolset. This year?s 1st place winner was Jerry Greenlaw of Custom Garage in Munich, Germany. Their creation, The X-Wedge Dragon, represented a tribute to the 50th anniversary S&S is celebrating in June and the official unveiling of the X-Wedge in Europe. Jerry worked with Habermann Performance to get the chassis designed and built in time to complete this project for the European Championships. ?I think the bike turned out to be a fitting platform for the X-Wedge unveiling here in Europe? said Brett Smith, president of S&S Cycle. ?Jerry has always been a strong supporter of the S&S product line; invested in training and has always gone out of his way to make Kurt and I feel welcome when we are here.””The 10th Anniversary Custom Chrome Europe (CCE) Dealer Show was another record event in dealer and vendors attendance as well as show orders. Our team can be very proud of what they accomplished. It started as a little warehouse open house and became the leading European V-Twin dealer show. I personally appreciate the support S&S has given us throughout the years and look forward to a great season in 2008″ said Holger Mohr, president of CCE. Another surprise at the show was a sneak peek at what Freddie Krugger is showing up to LaCrosse with during the 50th celebration in June. “Freddie’s bike, named Half Day, is an example of the quality and craftsmanship we can expect to see during this summer?s celebration? said Peterson. 50 of the best builders in the world will be gathering during June 27-29th, 2008 for what is said to be the world?s largest bike build off. 50 Builders, 50 Bikes for $50,000.00. For more information, go to: www.sscycle50th.com. PLAYING IN BIKERNET STUDIO– 80 Year Old Painter Still Kicking Asphalt. Bill Riedel, Master Sign Painter and Guilder, demonstrates the unique technique of making a paint cup out of a 4″ x 6″ index card. http://www.riedelsignco.com/ Checkout more Bikernet TV and Radio Shows in Bikernet Studio. OLD SCHOOL BARTER SYSTEM BENEFITS ALL IN FOUR-WAY TRADE AT DAYTONA BIKE WEEK–Daytona Beach, Fla. — April 9, 2008 — This Daytona Bike Week saw two segments of biker culture align for the benefit of both. For those who say that the motorcycle industry has lost its way, that everyone involved today is just interested in making a buck, this story shows that there are still old-school values that people live and work by. It all started at the V-Twin Expo in Cincinnati when Ami James and Marlowe B. of Love Hate Choppers met up with Duane Ballard of Duane Ballard Custom Leather. Ami and Marlowe were working on their debut bike and knew that they would need a custom seat to match the quality of the rest of their bike. They walked the floor of the show and Duane pointed out all the seats he had done for various builders. Blown away by what they saw, Ami and Marlowe were even more impressed when Duane offered to hand tool the seat in exchange for a tattoo by Ami. Duane, a huge Evel Knievel fan, knew he wanted something to commemorate America’s first motorcycle daredevil, so he called George Sedlak, Evel Knievel’s painter, to see if he could get a sketch of the original “Color Me Lucky” helmet to use as the basis for his artwork. He was psyched about the prospect of getting tattooed by Ami and even more psyched about getting an Evel Knievel original design by George Sedlak tattooed on his leg. George took some time to work up the design from archival photos, and when they met face-to-face Duane saw the artwork of the helmet and knew it was exactly what he was looking for. Ami, being a man of his word, decided he wanted to do the tattooing while he was in Daytona, so he called a friend, Gordon Chippewa, and found a great shop that was willing to let him set-up, East Side Tattoo. Owner Chris Mack was totally psyched to help out a fellow artist. Ami wanted to add something of his own to George’s design, so he did a Ratfink type guy wearing an Evel Knievel helmet. It was an Ami James original. While Duane was getting tattooed, Ami and Marlowe B asked George Sedlak to letter Marlowe’s bike and pinstripe Ami’s bike. George agreed to do it because he loved the bikes and they seemed like good guys. Then the deal got even better when Carrie Repp of R&R Promotions offered up the Dog House Bar and Grill as the place to get it done. When George walked in, he found himself in a great space to ply his trade… in front of a huge audience. With the music blaring and bikers peering over his shoulder, the pressure was on but George lettered the bike flawlessly. As they sat and Duane got tattooed, it was obvious that everyone involved took away from the exchange something greater than simple profit. It just reinforced that, even today, when several artists get together anything can happen. Duane spotted a rug by tattoo artist Chris Hawkens, something handmade that was very reminiscent of Evel Knievel; on the spot he made a deal to trade another custom seat for the rug. Another barter deal done, and another example of how the motorcycle industry and its true biker values can shine. You can see more at:
Editor ? Florida Full Throttle Magazine
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tonyc@fullthrottleusa.com
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Oldsmar, FL 34677
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www.sedlakstudios.com
www.lovehatechoppers.com
www.dbcustomleather.com
www.myspace.com/eastsidetat
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