American IronHorse Files Chapter 11: Not All That Glitters...

Interesting turn of events on personal level. Ten years ago I was living in Dallas and working for company “A” that had an investor who had been approached by IronHorse but invested company “A” instead. During some rocky times at “A” and some heady times at IronHorse we joked that he should have put his money in IronHorse.

However, as it turned out, the investor made a bundle sticking with “A”

BTW, lost my stock options when I left “A”. While I miss what would have been $500k windfall with the old company, I also left 100 hour weeks that started at 5:30 a.m.

As an aside, I was just looking at the OCC bagger with all the Corbin accessories and great handling characteristics and I remembered a Roadliner mock up of the same for around $20k. Custom paint $4k.

Sorry, it’s tough to be the numbers guy.

You can’t be shocked if more places like IronHorse go under. I also wonder how well OCC will do. They have that huge new facility going up. That had to cost a pretty penny. Plus where will they be when TLC stops producing American Chopper – that will happen eventually.

Not being an aficionado of choppers – other than respect for artwork – I can’t understand why anyone is surprised they’re not doing well.
I can’t fathom spending that kind of money on a motorcycle (I use that term loosely) that borders on impossible to ride, does nothing a real bike does, such as go, turn, stop, handle, or allow a reasonable chance of avoiding a collision. If any vehicle on the road is a case study in ‘NOT SAFE’, it is one of those abortions with the ridiculous front end, no useable lighting, and a seating position from the Marquis de Sade. They belong in a glass case…certainly not on public roads.
Then there’s always the wonderful stigma associated with them that our sport will probably never lose.

Pete, I must partially disagree with your comments. American IronHorse, as well as other brands, produce a line of motorcycle called “Cruisers”. They a very nimble, fast, comfortable, but they are expensive. The “Slammer” SRP is around $35K while the “Outlaw”, which is what I have. sells for around $27K. I also own a “Well Dressed” 2006 Harley Davisdon Ultra Classic. If your looking for a touring bike then don’t look towards companies like OCC, Big Dog, Texas Chopper, and Ironhorse because that is not their market. But, if your want some ground pounding horsepower that does the same thing as that “Little Blue Pill” called Viagra, then try one of the “Cruisers”. Personally, I don’t like the “Choppers” either.

Jerry….I quite agree with most of what you say….
I have no time whastsoever for ‘Choppers’, however, despite being a confirmed Sportbike lover, I have ridden most of the current Honda Cruisers and the VTX’s in particular are quite pleasant in short doses. The 1800 has a great motor!

Fads. That’s what the explosion of the glamour customs are all about. Customs were once a personal artistic statement made by the owner. Manufacturing and marketing unique products is always a risky undertaking. Where some succeed is in the fact that their bread and butter comes from the smaller items. Pipes, wheels, frames, etc.

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As former editor of Thunder Roads Texas Magazine, I’m not surprised at all at the current market.

In 2005 everyone in the industry knew the crash was coming because too many people cracked open a Jireh or Drag Specialties catalog, ordered parts and fancied themselves a “master builder”.

On top of it, a lot of the builders that truly are talented don’t always have the best business minds.

Another issue is that the TV shows made it look too easy so when a builder asked a reasonable amount for the amount of hours it took to build & paint a bike, the consumer can’t justify it in their mind because to them it only takes 30 minutes (not including commercials) to build a tricked out custom.

Personally, I think it’s a shame that OCC has done so well because they are such a laugh within the industry. But at the end of the day, OCC isn’t interested in selling bikes that run properly…they are interested in moving merch (shirts, caps, die cast bikes, etc.).

This was a necessary situation for the economy to right itself and the cycle appears to be almost over.

There are so many amazingly talented builders out there that have hung in and build properly running bikes. Just in the Dallas area, you’d be hard pressed to beat the likes of Mike Dusold (Dusold Designs), Denny Garley (TC Customs), Joe & Jason Martin (Martin Bros Bikes) or Jimmie Lee and John Coen (Three Two Choppers).

I hope all of them go out of business. Personally, I think that all motorcycle manufacturers are missing the point. Transportation is the point, not looks or style. I do not understand how they think that everyone wants a racing (sport) or the naked (stripped down sport) or a cruiser. What ever happened to the CB750, KZ1000, XS1000, etc.? Do they seriously think that the baby boomers really want anything to do with those specialized styles when all they remember is the “standard” motorcycles of their youth? I like formula 1 racing, but would never want to buy a car that looked like that. I owned a couple Harleys, but would never consider buying a “look-a-like” version by any other manufacturer. I currently own a 2006 Concours and will ride it until either I can no longer ride or it can no longer be repaired. It is the last of the bikes that was still being made from the mid 80’s style. Some people have confused it for a BMW, which I take as a compliment. Even they have destroyed their classic style recently. It already does what the new Concours 14 advertising slogan claims (”It can pass anything.”). It gets great gas mileage, handles like a dream, is light enough for me at age 57 to push around in my garage, etc., it crossed the state of Missouri on one tank doing 80 to 90 mph, and it is a great commuter. It makes me want to take the road less traveled. I have 24000+ miles since 1 Mar 2006. So let the manufacturers get back to basics and let the custom builders get a real job.

What an old fool. What was the point in picking a spouse, how many children she could pop out? Transportation may be the main purpose, but looks have been valued just as long. You say you’d never drive a look alike Harley but you gladly drive a look alike BMW. Hell, you take it as a COMPLIMENT!! The reason nobody designs bikes the way they did in the mid 80s is because it looks like it came from the MID

80s!

jackass.

Pete, I will bet you have never ridden one of the Texas Choppers. It is far from any of those things you accuse it of. I ride one damn near every day. It does take a little more space to turn in a driveway etc, but when you are on a road, it rides pretty much like anything else. It rides a load better then my 83 harley low rider. I think AI did a pretty good job when they designed the bike. I agree I would never pay the price for a new one and I bought this one used. I surely wouldnt condemn these bikes before you actually ride one for more then a few hours.

Question…I bought a American Ironhorse Texas Chopper in 2005. While it is a bit of a beast, I love it. It only has 700 miles and it is in mint condition. Will Ironhorse’s financial troubles have a negative affect or a positive affect on the value of my bike? Any thoughts would be appreciated!

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michael bought a $35,000+ motorcycle and has ridden it over 700 miles in over three years!?! Wow, don’t wear that out…

Clearly a case of more dollars than sense on display, typical of the entire custom chopper scene. Pretty to look at (well, some them anyways) but not very practical if all you’re going to ride them is less than 250 miles a year – that’s a good ride distance for an afternoon…

And then there is Gregory, caught in his glory days of the 1980s. Wake up fella, the glory days of motorcycling is happening *right now* – any/every current generation motorcycle will easily out-ride/out-perform its counterpart from the 1980s or 1990s… And by the way, Kawasaki finally replaced the Concours as well.

Yup, AI is going down. I live in the DFW area and I can see one reason outside of all the other reasons why it’s down hill for them. This is not bagging on any other company. Ironhorse is a TRUE American motorcycle company. They don’t advertise like Harley. Harley has their name on everything from Barbie, beefjerky and dog clothes. When you think of motorcycles you think of Harley and not Ironhorse. Harley has filed bankruptcy before and then AMF bailed them out. This is because Harley used to be where Ironhorse is now. A true American company that didn’t depend on the Japanese market! Now you walk into a Harley dealership and you can’t pick up a merchandise that doesn’t have “Made in China, Taiwan Vietnam…etc on it. They are marketing guru’s! That’s how they stay in business, plus Harley does use Japanese parts on their bikes. Just ask an honest mechanic of Harley, or someone who is going through MMI or a former sales associate. Like I said, this is not a bike bashing, I respect all bikes and bikers. Ironhorse is pretty pricey for what you get but you get so much more from them. And if you bash AI for being an uncomfortable chopper for the price then look at majority of the wannabe hardcore Harley riders. They add ape hangers, rake out the forks and add 240’s on the rear wheel. Um…just like most choppers of AI. Except they do it for you for the same price you would spend “customizing” your Harley. I went to price a Harley Softail Deluxe and they wanted to charge me $27,000! For adding screaming eagle exhaust and windshield and a screaming eagle engine. Whoa! screaming eagle! NO! There’s not a big different in a regular harley engine and a screaming eagle, just more power. AI paints the frame the color of the bike! I love that! They have some mean looking foot pegs! Already has a fat tire and polished wheels that is not the standard spoke but customized. The paint jobs are awesome has an S&S engine and I got one priced at $24,000! So do I want the $20,000 cookie cutter Harley bike and then spend an extra $15,000 on customizing it? Or do I want to spend $30,000 on a customized bike like the Bandera? It’s not a chopper but damn it’s nice. Ride what you want cause this is America and ride it proud cause you spent your hard earned money on it.

I own a 2004 tx chopper,bought it NEW and have 24,000 miles on it. It’s been through 3 rear tires,1 front tire,brake pads and the final drive belt.Don’t knock what you don’t understand!! Iv’e been on two wheels since 1983 and love my tx chop more than any bike ive ever sat on. It’s ether in your blood or it’s not!! you haters are just wantabees that can’t cut it.

I ran a AIH dealership for 2 years. Guys would come in set on a slammer or outlaw because they “didn’t like Choppers” of those that took a test drive on both 95% bought the TX Chopper or Legend. If you have never been on one you owe it to yourself to try it. I rode almost everyday and could ride any bike in the shop. Once I rode my first TX Chopper I never got on anything else.

Danny if you love your 2004 go ride a newer one you will fall in love again. The difference in the right and left drive is amazing…

I’ve got a 2005 Texas Chopper and love it. I’ve ridden it from New York to South Dakota and back with no problem. It rides as good as my 2001 HD softail FXST that I put $25 grand into. I’m 6′4″ and go 285lbs try to find a standard bike to ride and not look like ape on a bmx bicycle the chopper fits me and its comfortable.

I have a 2005 tx chopper. It was love at first sight. People ride bikes for different reasons.I ride a tx chopper for the extream power that you get out of the S&S moter. I have the 124CI engine and have never had one problem with the engine it’s bullet proof. The speedo however is a piece of you know what. I personally know five people who bought AIM bikes and we all have the same issue with the speedo. The speedo problems aside, This bike will flat out blow any harley off the road!! And I have personally see grown men cry when after thier screaming eagle bikes get dusted off like they are standing still(V-Rod) not included. Twist the throtle on the 124 and its all wood boys! It is a shame they are out of buisness. They managed to build one of the best true v-twin hot rods ever. AIM didnt build many 124’s, get one if you can you will not be disappointed even wiht some small electrical issues.

I am 35 years old and have owned/ridden many rice rockets and owned and ridden many american v-twin bikes. For the last six years i have ridden a custom built 76 harley iron head sportster. I now own an Iron Horse Ranger with a 107 s & s engine. It rides very comfortably and ripps. I blow away all of my friends on thier HD bikes and they all love the way my bike rides and handles. You buttholes that have never ridden a custom
like this and bad mouth them with no knowlage of how they ride are F-in stupid. Dont knock what you dont know.
I put 800mi on it in the last 2 weeks and loved every second of it. PISS OFF.

I am 40yoa and ride and own HDs. Also own 3 AIHs, an ‘06 slammer, an ‘06 legend and a ‘07 judge. All ride great and very smooth, especially at high speeds, well balanced and comfy. My main bike right now is the ‘07 judge, a chopper style bike. It is a great everyday rider and is excellant for long trips. My ‘06 HD standard has taken a backseat for now.
Anyone wishing for new bikes to be made like their generation’s time is just an old fart complaining and unwilling to accept new things. Just remember when you were young and there was some old fart complaining about your new peice of crap motorcycle. Get over it. Those bikes have their place in history but don’t compare to todays bikes… and always make no mistake there is no foreign bike that can live up to an AMERICAN bike. They copy us not the other way around. If a cheap third rate bike (european being 2nd) buy rice burning trash.

I own a 2005 Texas Chopper. Bought it new and had it in the garage for two weeks. Decided to take it out for a test run one night at 1 am for its maiden run. I sat on it and wanted to roll it down the alley to the street without the engine on not to wake the neighbors. I was used to my Harley Sportster and I hadn’t ridden a bike in a long time and wasn’t used to the long front end so I wound laying it down on the cement ground. I couldn’t believe it! I hadn’t even started the engine and already had messed it up. I laid on the alley weeping like a baby! Anyway, I put it back in the garage and inspected the damage the next day and it was there alright but I got over it . I took it out for a ride a few days later and did alright. After about a month of riding I felt my foot being jammed between the rear brake pedal and the riding peg at a stop sign; I panicked hit the front brake without the rear brake and again went down. I landed on my shoulder and was hurting for about a year but nothing was broke. I had all the damages repaired shelling out about 2 large. I was going to sell the bike but it is so beautiful I just couldn’t. I guess it was partly the rush of people (mostly young) commenting on its beauty and wondering what an old geezer like me was doing on it. I was at fault, not the bike. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing when I was riding it at first that is why I had all those mishaps. I got the hang of it. There are some blemishes on the bike which I intend to have removed as soon as I can afford it. It is orange (my favorite color) with black skulls 111 cubic inch engine. The frame is pure orange but the rest of the bike has pearlescent paint mixed in with the orange. I could do without that but they tell me it adds value to the bike. I am sorry they are belly up and sorry the bike didn’t come with a maintenance manual. All I know is that I will never sell it and will bequeath it to someone through my estate.

I too don’t quite get the “chopper” craze. I’ve rescued several saveable bikes from the junk yard and customized them. Resurecting these machines was a labor of love and learning. I have always sold them for more than I had in them. None of them were ever a “chopper”, none of them were ever a Harley (or clone) and none of them ever sold for more than $8,000.
I’ve ridden several of the premium customs AI, Thunder Mountain and Big Dog just to name a few. I did not like the way any of them handled. If you want to ride a moving work of art, go for it. For my money, I want good all around performance.
Not only will the custom chopper market suffer, but with SO many of them out there in the hands of people who will be trying to unload them for whatever reason, the used market will tank also. If you own one now, you can expect to take a bath on it when and if you sell.