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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: oldbike54 on May 23, 2016, 06:45:25 PM

Title: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: oldbike54 on May 23, 2016, 06:45:25 PM
 OK you experts , tell us what MC company shut down due to a plane crash ? Hint , happened in this century . Bonus points for knowing where it started , and where the factory was when the horrible accident occurred .

 Dusty
Title: Re: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: LowRyter on May 23, 2016, 07:10:27 PM
that outfit in Tulsa.  The founder & CEO and his key guy was killed.

Don't remember the name.   Seems like it had a Scandinavian connection. 
Title: Re: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: twowings on May 23, 2016, 07:52:08 PM
Yeah, it was on South Highway 75 south of Glenpool...they even built a test track on the factory grounds...can't remember the name but I passed it a hundred times while under construction...


U.S. Highland!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: Turin on May 23, 2016, 08:22:58 PM
excelsior-henderson?
Title: Re: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: oldbike54 on May 23, 2016, 08:27:27 PM
excelsior-henderson?

 No they crashed and burned sans airplane  :evil: The company in question had a real shot . I've been holding this question in reserve for a long time .

 Dusty
Title: Re: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: Guzzidad on May 23, 2016, 08:41:52 PM
   Cannondale?
Title: Re: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: oldbike54 on May 23, 2016, 08:43:19 PM
   Cannondale?

 No , but a good guess .

 Dusty
Title: Re: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: Turin on May 23, 2016, 09:03:22 PM
 I cheated. Would have never gotten that.
Title: Re: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: twowings on May 23, 2016, 09:36:12 PM
(http://kotv.images.worldnow.com/images/12794384_BG1.jpg)

http://www.newson6.com/story/12794384/future-of-glenpool-business-unsure-after-fatal-weekend-plane-crash (http://www.newson6.com/story/12794384/future-of-glenpool-business-unsure-after-fatal-weekend-plane-crash)

U.S. Highland, dammit!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: oldbike54 on May 23, 2016, 09:40:47 PM
U.S. Highland, dammit!  :laugh:

 Yep , the whole operation turned into a zoo  :shocked: :evil: Where did the company start ?

 Actually got to ride one of their enduro models for a few minutes , they would have been a success.

  Dusty
Title: Re: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: twowings on May 23, 2016, 09:47:42 PM
Well, Mats Malmberg was from Sweden, so um.....er.......Swe den?
Title: Re: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: Turin on May 23, 2016, 09:54:20 PM
Did they actually sell any to the public?
Title: Re: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: oldbike54 on May 23, 2016, 09:59:29 PM
Did they actually sell any to the public?

 Not to my knowledge , but they had several well sorted pre-production models . One of the MX'ers and one enduro model found their way to Muskogee for a local hot shoe to evaluate , got a few minutes on the enduro . Very similar to a period KTM .

 Dusty
Title: Re: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: twowings on May 23, 2016, 10:00:45 PM
I don't think they had established a retail dealer network when the tragedy happened....they had shown some prototypes around town and if they actually took any pre-orders, I cannot say...I've never seen one in the flesh...they had big plans but not a good idea to put the three top executives on the same flight...it was a neat little factory and would have provided 100-200 jobs locally...the test track was pretty cool right outside the factory door....

More info if anyone is interested:

http://www.newson6.com/story/23393128/ntsb-blames-pilots-medications-for-deadly-2010-plane-crash-in-tulsa (http://www.newson6.com/story/23393128/ntsb-blames-pilots-medications-for-deadly-2010-plane-crash-in-tulsa)

http://thekneeslider.com/us-highland-build-to-order-motorcycle-manufacturing-in-tulsa-oklahoma/ (http://thekneeslider.com/us-highland-build-to-order-motorcycle-manufacturing-in-tulsa-oklahoma/)

http://www.ushighland.com/engines/ (http://www.ushighland.com/engines/)

https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2010/06/15/2011-us-highland-american-motorcycles/ (https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2010/06/15/2011-us-highland-american-motorcycles/)
Title: Re: Lost motorcycle company
Post by: cruzziguzzi on May 24, 2016, 08:58:15 AM
Never heard of them but I might have been out of the country during their run-up.

Looks like an interesting concept. Seems they were modularizing a single and twin. I'd have loved to have seen the street-tracker developed. The street sport looked a little too Spondon/MZ for me but it was only a starting point I guess

(http://canadamotoguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/US-Highland.jpg)

Todd.