Dan Brown - what is the real story?

[cappisj1]

I just realized I am not old enough to really know who or what Dan Brown is or was. I know there are a bunch of aftermarket parts for 70’s Guzzi’s. Was he a real person or a company name? Is he still around?  Did he make parts for other brands?  What is the real story behind Dan Brown?

[brider]

 

Wondered many times myself. I hate his Loop footboards, but love his saddlebags. I have a set, but they're mighty pricey $$ and rare to stumble across now.

[jrt]

Greg Bender hosts a bunch of scans from DB Products on his website https://www.thisoldtractor.com/moto_guzzi_more_topics_advertisement_-_db_products.html.  It isn't exactly what you asked for, but gives you an idea of the range that he sold.
Special thanks to Charlie M. for providing the images. 

[Texas Turnip]

Dan Brown was one fine fellow that made many items for Guzzi. He had a shop in OK City that I went to many times to pick up items. If I remember correctly the EPA shut him down for having water on the floor of his shop when it was just him and his sister that ran the place. Some of the items he made were the BIG DB bags, flat top and round, big light bar that went around the bags, chrome generator cover, floor boards for Ambo and Eldo. etc.

Tex

[bigbikerrick]

I have a set of the dan brown surfboards on my 73 eldorado,and like them very much.They are huge!
Rick.

[blu guzz]

I believe he made a "ride off" stand for airhead BMW's or at least, when I bought mine, I was told that is what it was.  It worked incredibly well in an case.  Possibly a side stand as well, a big, stout thing.  I may be wrong as this was in the 90s.

[bigbikerrick]

Dan Brown made some pretty wild, "lowers" out of fiberglass, to fit the old Loops. I would love to have a pair of the DB saddlebags, with the round top lids. The round top lids are rare as hens teeth.
Rick.

[Shorty]

He also made a huge fairing. Atlas Cycles in Tulsa had an arrangement with him for goodies and a painter called the Bearded One. Ken told me he could not believe how many Guzzis he sold for big money once equipped with that aftermarket stuff and a custom paint job. Guzzi was the go to touring bike until it was knocked out by Gold Wing.

[Huzo]

Did he ever make anything small ?

[bigbikerrick]

He also made a huge fairing. Atlas Cycles in Tulsa had an arrangement with him for goodies and a painter called the Bearded One. Ken told me he could not believe how many Guzzis he sold for big money once equipped with that aftermarket stuff and a custom paint job. Guzzi was the go to touring bike until it was knocked out by Gold Wing.

I bought my 73 eldorado from the original owner, a gentleman in his late 70s from Dewey Oklahoma. He bought it from the dealer in Tulsa, Atlas Cycles, with BD Boards, saddlebag guards, but Wixom fairing and bags.  Atlas sold the bike as a "full dresser" for $3700.00 That was pretty good money in 1973 ! The original owner also told me, Atlas would dress up Guzzis,and sell them that way to touring riders.  I cant remember when honda came out with the first full dress Goldwing. I know the 75 was a naked wing,
Rick

[Vagrant]

1980 Interstate

[Bulldog9]

He liked big bags I cannot lie....

[Huzo]

He liked big bags I cannot lie....

Son of a mongoose…!

[chuck peterson]

He liked big bags I cannot lie....

Sleeps six on each side…those bags let me carry an extra 100 lbs for no reason at all on long trips…tool rolls, spare ujoint, air pump, inner tubes, kitchen sink, small children…

Solid overbuilt indestructible and amazingly huge…I nicknamed mine Big Bottom Betty..great fun to follow a fast rider…starts to look like a dancing graceful…ummmm…elephant

[Tkelly]

Built in running lights too.

[bigbikerrick]

I restored a pair of DB bags for my eldo, and had them installed for a couple of years. I went back to the Wixoms, due to the fact they are quick and easy to pop off for cleaning, etc. The dBs were a big PITA to install and remove, requiring tools. I ended up selling my dbs to a wildguzzi member. The shipping on the DB bags was astronomical, they had to ship in two separate boxes, they were so big.!
Rick

[Shorty]

I was once the MGNOC rep for Oklahoma. As such, I my phone # was public, and I got many calls from people wanting to sell their Guzzis, or parts thereof. I had a backyard full of bikes and parts. IDK how many DB bags I gave away or even threw away. Those were the days of the 100-300 dollar Eldos and Ambos. All I have left are a few parts small enough to fit in a drawer somewhere.  I wouldn't mind one last Eldo. My luck, rear main seal would shat itself one week after the title came back.... 

[brider]

I had a set of DBs on a Convert, also. Wish I had the brains then to sell the bike WITHOUT them, I doubt if they added to the selling price.

Regarding mounting: The (4) different brackets per bag WERE a PIA, and didn't adapt easily to bikes they weren't designed for. I don't have mounts for my current bags, big reason I haven't installed them yet. 90% of the bag set I've run across don't have the mounts, guess people just mis-place them.

Now, the Wixoms should get the Academy award for ease of removal/installation, the concept for retaining the bag to the mount is so laughingly simple. Those mounts are fairly easy to run across.

[Bulldog9]

Built in running lights too.

I really like the running lights on the bags. When I did my refresh, I wired them with the outer lights as running lights and inner as extra brake lights, and used LED bulbs including the tail light. I also wired in quick disconnects for the wiring. Cam almost talked me into shaving the rear of the bags to remove the bump out for the lights, but I decided to keep them.

Looking at the pics, I kinda miss the bike in black..... Oh well. What's done is done. The paint was rough, and I had 3 other black bikes, so hello Rapid Red.

Can't wait to get back to the states and get some seat time in. Hope there are some warm days in KY in the near future....

[Danimal]

I love my Dan Brown bags with DB crash guards.

[bigbikerrick]

Great looking loop, Danimal. I love the DB goodies, the "lowers" are Da Bomb!   
Rick

[Tom H]

So, is DB the one who made the extended crash bars?? I have heard of the extended, seen some pics, but have never known who made them. Would love a set or two.

I have the shorter set for the police bikes with the metal bags.

Tom

[bigbikerrick]

Dan Brown also made the cool rear fender protector that has a "V" in the center. A nice accessory that is unobtanium.
Rick.

[Stelvio Scott]

Wow!  I’ve never seen those bags before. The red ones are spectacular!  I love them.

[chuck peterson]

[kidsmoke]

couple of 'in situ' photos of DB bags on California's. Andy and Mary both put them to good use. They really are something. As an aside, the green California in the photos is for sale. Anyone wanting a vintage, carb'd mile muncher...you can't do better. Dan Brown Bags, Russell Day long, Swanee Aero Foil fairing. Any one of those is hard to come by and costly. This bike has all three.  Fashionable? Nope. Comfortable? A barcolounger on wheels that'll carve. Top that!

[Danimal]

He also made a huge fairing. Atlas Cycles in Tulsa had an arrangement with him for goodies and a painter called the Bearded One. Ken told me he could not believe how many Guzzis he sold for big money once equipped with that aftermarket stuff and a custom paint job. Guzzi was the go to touring bike until it was knocked out by Gold Wing.

I have one of those giant Dan Brown fairings complete with mounting brackets,windscreen,etc. collecting dust in my horse barn. Anyone who wants it (I have no idea why you would because it is Butt Ugly) is welcome to come by and pick it up in Apple Valley, Calif.

[bigbikerrick]

The green California II is a nice old Guzzi, that looks ready to tour. Very nicely accessorized.
Rick

[Tkelly]

How much for the green one?

[kidsmoke]

How much for the green one?

Sent you a PM so as not to clutter this thread.