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U.S. HIGHLAND BUILDS A LINE OF AMERICAN OFF-ROAD MOTORCYCLES– U.S. Highland prepares to launch new bike line Motorcycle and engine manufacturer U.S. Highland Inc. is getting ready to launch its motorcycle line this summer, and that means expansion and jobs at its Mounds, Okla., headquarters.
The company moved there from Sweden two years ago and has about 30 employees, but expects to need 10 times that number when it expands into as many as five new buildings to produce street and off-road bikes.
Executives announced plans for the expansion to accommodate motorcycle production and more space for R&D.
Chief Operating Officer Chase Bales told Tulsa World the company plans to launch a retail line of bikes in the coming months and will also begin manufacturing engines and motors for other companies.
“We’ll need a few hundred more people in a few months,” says Bales, who is also a part-owner of the company.
Mats Malmberg, a former professional rider in Europe and founder of the company, moved to take advantage of the larger American market. “It’s a much bigger market for motorcycles here,” said Malmberg, who still designs and tests the company’s prototype bikes.
Medlin said he expects a large portion of business to come from making its engines for other companies. He said the company has several deals in the works but he could not discuss specifics.
–Posted by Holly Wagner
Published courtesy of DealerNews: www.dealernews.com
Sonny Barger Book Signing – You don’t want to miss this event.– These events always end up with the books being sold out. Reserve your autographed copy of Sonny’s latest book today. Call KO at 714-771-9000 or email kbunnyo@cox.net
Zipper?s 2010 Catalog Preview Is Now Available for Download!– Zipper’s Performance Products is pleased to announce the release of their 2010 Catalog Preview, featuring exciting, value-packed performance products for American V-Twins! In the new catalog, you will find “Best in Class” performance packages and components, including the Award Winning ThunderMax EFI System, Red Shift Cams and other Zipper’s products designed to give your ride the winning edge.
For 29 years, Zipper’s Performance Products has been on the cutting edge of improving the performance of Harley-Davidson? motorcycles. Since 2000, they?ve teamed with Thunder Heart Performance Corporation to develop ThunderMax EFI into the most user-friendly system available for your motorcycle. This product consistently rates at the top of customer satisfaction polls for ease of use, installation and outstanding results!
Go to www.ZippersPerformance.com/Downloads/ to download the latest catalog. From here you can print a copy or you can download the catalog and save it to your desktop.
Zipper?s expert Sales and Support staff is a phone call or e-mail away and ready to assist you with your performance needs. Zipper?s mission is to provide their customers with world class products that exceed the demands of today’s rider, while delivering outstanding customer service. Zipper?s Performance hopes you’ll find this latest product offering to be a valuable resource.
ZIPPER?S PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
6655-A Amberton Drive, Elkridge, MD 21075
Phone 410.579.2828 Fax 410.579.2835
www.zippersperformance.com ? www.Thunder-Max.com
Hardy Butts Bike Rally; June 11th to 13th, 2010– THE second annual Hardy Butts Bike Rally will be staged at Lloret De Mar north of Barcelona on Spain’s north east coast from June 11th to 13th.
This year the event makes its debut as an Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building Affiliate with the winner of the World Champs scrutinized custom show winning expenses contribution to compete at the World Championship at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Being staged with city and regional Costa Brava tourism authority backing, the event made its own debut last year, and will be headquartered under the palm trees of the city’s picturesque downtown Mediterranean beach-side plaza.
With additional backing from Spanish Custom Machines magazine, Custom Chrome Europe and Girona Custom Motorcycles, the event will feature ‘FreeStyle’ V-twin and liquid-cooled platform customizing.
www.harleybutts.com
Swap Meet At Kundratic a Success, Party and Silent Auction Coming Up– We told you about the swapmeet over at Kundratic Kustom Motorcycles a little while ago. Obviously it went very well despite the nasty weather over at the East Coast. Chris sent me the scoop, so here it goes:
The Spring Swap Meet at Kundratic Kustom Motorcycles went well with the storms holding off just long enough. Attendance was down just a little due to the weather but all who showed had a great time. Lots of killer deals to be had and vendors went home happy. Couldn’t ask for more! Hot rod parts were just as popular as motorcycle parts. The sweet Triumph wasn’t sold but it’s still available. Shop manuals and tanks were a plenty and QBall was onsite with his book Living the Life. Tons of story swapping and beer drinking, the perfect end to a long work week. The Fall Swap Meet will be in October so mark your calenders now!
On a different note, the guys at Kundratic Motorcycle have their Round-UP III coming up on June 12th. It’s said to be Baltimore City ‘s baddest motorcycle party – bikes, bands, babes & beer!
Even though this event is a great excuse for a party, it isn’t all for nothing: Every year they hold a silent auction to benefit the Polycystic Kidney Disease foundation. This foundation was chosen because this disease hit very close to home and as of today there is no known cure. Each year Kundratic gather up all kinds of swag from artists, shops, junkyards, bands and anyone else who can help out. Prize packages are put together with all the collected merchandise and everyone bids. So if you have something you would like to donate (t-shirts, stickers, WHATEVER), or know someone who does, shoot them an e-mail at kundratickustoms@kundratickustoms.com , give them a shout at 410-633-3113, or scoot on over to www.kundratickustoms.com.
– – C.S. Berg
LET’S CUT A DUSTY TRAIL–I don’t get it. It’s windy again today in Los Angeles. Southern California is hit with wind a couple of times in March, that’s it, unless it comes after a rain storm. But this year we’ve experienced bustling, dust ruffling wind for months. I wish it would knock it off. It creates too much dust in the shop.
Yesterday, a couple of brothers coerced me into a ride across town to the Santa Fe Imports, an Italian deli. It’s supposed to be a monthly bobber run for lunch. I raced a 2009, 96-inch twin cam with Bassani Exhaust and K&N intake, on my Sturgis chop. The old S&S 93-inch Shovel kicked ass. Once more, it’s running like a champ, then I broke one of those safety pin seat springs again. Those fuckin’ things don’t work for shit. Maybe it’s the chrome that makes ’em brittle. There was a mix-up on the dates, but the italian lunch was damn good. We may try again next weekend. Hell, it’s only two miles away.
Okay, so I’m about to launch another Cantina soap, dedicated to the madman Agent Zebra. I’ll post a Bonneville update and a feature on the Sturgis Chop from 2005. It will be a kick to write about all the changes the bike has been through over the last five years, what broke and what didn’t. Then we’ll work on the D&D exhaust for Jeremiah’s Shovel. That’s going to be a kick. Oh, and next Thursday, hopefully, I’ll post some shots of the finished Bikernet Hearse. And the Canyon Carver promised the Bub’s slip-on Wimmer intake tech. So the week will be jammed with content. Plus, content flies at us constantly, so hang on.
Let’s Ride
–Bandit
