| Author | Message | ||
     46champ |
http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2011/04/05/big-d og-motorcycles-halts-production/ They didn't build the kind of bike I would have bought, but it is sad to see any business shut down. Does anyone know how many of the H-D clone manufactures are left? At one time there must have been a dozen. Did Confederate out last them all? | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I never heard of them... | ||
| Stirz007 |
They had a dealer in SLC - they pulled the plug over a year ago. Not selling too many of those $30K plus rides these days. | ||
| Rex |
Confederate is still going along. They do a good job of posting items on their facebook page each day. I think most of the Clone guys are gone. Does Orange county sell any more bikes? does anyone know about Indian? I don't know how those guys can stay in business. high prices, not much there,other than aftermarket parts. and a name? | ||
| Jaimec |
I guess that supercedes this article I just read (posted yesterday): http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/4/1024/6/Motorcycle- Blog-Post/Is-Big-Dog-Motorcycles-Closing-its-Doors -.aspx | ||
| Court |
>>>>Confederate is still going along. Has confederate ever sold a street legal motorcycle? If so, how many do they make a year? I've been getting questions and I can find any evidence they have ever sold anything. | ||
| Court |
Gee. . I wonder who that sounds like? You can only paint things Sooooooo black. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
see I do not understand the appeal of these overpriced fake harley's (I don't really put confederate in the same boat because they are really different.) but these ones like big dog to me don't look any different than a regular Harley except with more chrome. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
The clone Harley thing came from when there were waiting lists for real Harleys and when you finally got to the top of the list, you got a chance to pay 150% retail. I am actually surprised they lasted this long. Every month, I would see them in the recall roundup in the MCN. Every month! I'll admit to being a bit of a confederate fanboy but I see Court's point about the actual legality of these beasties. One last little thing: When Honda makes a chopper, Choppers have jumped the shark.  Not bad for $13000. | ||
| Hootowl |
I like it. | ||
| Fahren |
I like it, too. | ||
| Kenm123t |
Sheldon Coleman was COLEMAN lanterns everything till Ron Perlman bought some stock at the IPO and bought a Judge to say the pension fund was over funded! He looted the company broke it up. Sheldon Coleman Sr personally delivered parts in the company Jet to PBI when I called up complaining the new vendor didnt have the parts for a pervious years Airconditioner. The vendor had never sold one kinda like looking for tuber parts at a Xb dealer. He asked how many people worked for me I had 9 at the time. Every one got a cooler stove lantern etc the coolers were full of Coleman camping stuff. "You ll have to get you own fuel they wouldnt let me bring it on the plane". I asked him why he just didnt send the compressor and other parts Fed Ex He said I wanted to see who wouldnt take no for answer on getting parts for a customer without cooling. I sold Coleman for several more years till Evcon took over and vendors in my area dropped them. Too bad about Big Dog If Sheldon sr and Erik had teamed up Look out Honda. I think the two would have made a good team | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Has confederate ever sold a street legal motorcycle? Didn't Brad Pitt get into a fender bender in LA on one, only to walk away and leave it on the sidewalk? | ||
| Moxnix |
Morgan, the Brit car company, has re-introduced their 3-wheeler cycle car, a line they built and sold from the early 1900s to about 1948 or so. This time it's powered by an S&S X-wedge engine, though I thought the X-wedge was never fully developed. Of course, for powering a British cycle car, that may be part of the ambiance of ownership. Looks like Confederate is now using an X-wedge derivative. | ||
| Ulynut |
Does Orange county sell any more bikes? I went by their headquarters about a week ago and the parking lot was full of cars and bikes. I don't know if they're selling bikes, but the T-shirt sales seem to be going strong. does anyone know about Indian? Indian got bought by Stellican (spelling?) Inc., the same company that bought Chris Craft. They built a brand new factory in North Carolina about 3-4 years ago. The bikes are even larger and considerably heavier than ever. I think the top of the line model costs around $40,000. I've seen ONE on the road. | ||
| Stirz007 |
Has confederate ever sold a street legal motorcycle? Yes, quite a few, actually. I can't afford one in any case, so it doesn't really matter. Court, check their website if you are really interested. They do a limited production run of each model, something like 60-100. Had a chance to chat with the owner a couple of times. The vision is to "not keep doing the same thing". Confederate is definitely after the hand-crafted, exclusive limited production boutique market. I really like their innovation and workmanship, and hate their seats and general handling. But then, if I had the bucks, I'd like to add a Wraith to my collection. One FAIL of note: West Coast Choppers. Last I heard, JJ is now running a smallish shop in Austin. | ||
| Tbolt98 |
Confederate has sold many bikes... i would also put them a little above tour standard big twin HDwannabes. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
Stirz - yes, that was in a recent moto mag that he's down in TX now. Big Dog - Yes, when they came out, it was a good idea - a harley-ish bike without the long waiting lines. BUT What I REALLY hated was the fact that they called them customs, and their owners would call them that etc etc - you walk into a dealership and there is a row of 12 of identical 'customs' with only slightly different paint jobs. Give me a break. I feel like this thread is Deja Vu - The JJ/WCC article was in a mag last month, as was (maybe same article) talk about all of the clone brands and how they've almost all disappeared. The OCC/Chopper (like this) fad has passed. The economy has tanked (though it doesnt affect as much the people who could have afforded 60k+ customs in the first place), and there isnt a market for these anymore. They had a great run, while not a fan of the style, I know they were incredibly popular half a decade ago. Times change. Hate to hear about American jobs being lost Tbolt - agreed. Confederate bikes are much more exclusive and better crafted than any of these clone companies ever made (Message edited by hybridmomentspass on April 05, 2011) | ||
| Rex |
Court, check out the confederate site on Facebook...they do a great job of showing all of the various parts, showing bikes being made and shipping, showing their new model in the works. Very expensive bikes though, but all mostly made of aluminum billet, machined. They are starting to use the X wedge motor also. Clear cover over the cam and belt side of the motor. I bet S and S lost a lot of money on the development of that motor. The chopper fad crashed, the clones crashed, and no one was using the X wedge motor to any large numbers. it is neat in how it was designed, but it big, heavy, and doesn't fit any HD frames. People cannot convert to the new motor. they would have to buy a new frame. http://www.facebook.com/ConfederateMotors | ||
| Rex |
http://confederate.com/development/?p=329 | ||
| Gohot |
Man I sure like the looks of that Honda, but what I would really have liked to have seen was the Honda Techno that they were experimenting with a few years back. But it's moot, I don't ride anymore anyway, it could be $100 or $100,000 I still wouldnt bite. When My partner was called in at the CARB office in California and fined, we paid around $700, meanwhile Jessie James was in the booth next to us had to settle for a fine of $160,000, for non-CARB bikes he had built ie. CARB = CA.Air Resorce Board | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
holy crap, 160k in fines, thats so much freaking money. Just goes to show what the bike boom did for him | ||
| Court |
That Honda is a good looking bike. Not my style, but nicely done. >>>Court, check their website if you are really interested. I am looking at their website. I see something called a C3 X132 HELLCAT that is light years from street legal. I see that to buy one I'd need to "- We will reserve your Hellcat with a 5% prepayment of $2,250.00 USD processed via credit card. " I see something called a B120 WRAITH. Again, I'm looking for legal fenders, turn signals and so forth. Perhaps the bikes on the website are just teasers. The P120 Fighter looks like it'd need tons of stuff to make it legal. I found this:
Which tells the the number they are building in . . . It LOOKS like the Hellcat is selling for about $75,000 which likely thins the herd and makes me, coupled with the fact that they've built less than 100 bikes, question the "Confederate has sold many bikes" . . but "many" is a relative term. Interesting . . I'm going to have to learn more. I think I saw that one of their models was selling for $92,000. I'm curious how much depth there is in that market . . . would you, for example, invest your 401K in a company selling $92,000 motorcycles? I think they are damn interesting looking . . . but more so as art than something I'd buy to ride. Perhaps, as I read the facebook page, I'll gain insight into the business model. Need info quick. | ||
| Swampy |
The dealership the Big Kid works at used to sell Big Dog, up until a couple of weeks ago....he was always complaining about having to make parts orders, he used to say, it was like only one person was working there and they didn't care. Parts and accessories were non-existant and with a H-D(spit) dealer directly across the street people just walked over there to buy their expenso-barge and accessories. | ||
| Blake |
>>> Confederate has sold many bikes Not so much. | ||
| Court |
>>> Confederate has sold many bikes Somewhere there are fact, I'll find them . . either in public filings or other sources. I am curious as to if there was any public "not affordable to the common man" outcry when they rolled out the $70,000 and $90,000 models like there was when Buell rolled out the 1190RS. If there really is market for $50,000+ motorcycles . . I'd like to know the demographics. I started early in the library this morning for a presentation this evening . . so I'll steal some time and do some digging in the files. Thanks for the "real world" input. The motorcycle business is changing and the last week has been a big week. Important to maintain, like a pilot, that view of the basic instruments. | ||
| Glitch |
Didn't Road Thing (Tom) have a Hell Cat? If there really is market for $50,000+ motorcycles . . I'd like to know the demographics.  At the price they go for, how many would you need to sell? On their FB page, they look to be pretty busy, IMHO they're a legitimate moto company. WRT road legal, in GA all it needs is a headlamp, tail light, and brake light. I guess you'd register it as a custom. | ||
| Jaimec |
I seem to remember reading he actually started a small fast food franchise that has been taking off... but I can't remember the name of it and I'm too lazy right now to look it up. I do recall it had nothing to do with motorcycles, though. Later: Okay, curiosity got the better of me. Cisco Burger. (Message edited by jaimec on April 06, 2011) | ||
| Sayitaintso |
I looked at the menu and got a kick outta this one Rockabilly Veggie Burger...........$5.25 / $5.55 with cheese Original or Spicy Black Bean with lettuce, tomato, red onion (grilled or raw), crunchy pickles, and sauce. For the vegetarian hillbilly rocker??? I dont know that I've ever seen one of those, they must be a rare and endangered creature. | ||
| Jaimec |
Regarding Confederate, I have to wonder too, Court. Just looking at the bikes, there is no way in HELL those things would pass an EPA noise check and I suspect they wouldn't pass an emissions test either. The lack of lighting and reflectors is another issue. Perhaps their small volume offers them an exemption? Either that, or their clientele is rich enough to be above the same laws we "peasants" must follow? Big Dog's volume was such that their bikes were, in fact, EPA compliant. Just looking at Roger Bourget's bikes, I wonder how they get away with being registered for the street too. Speaking of Bourget... is he still in business? |
