I don't think it is just the economy that has killed the custom bike business, they are just not practical (although some look cool as ****).

A guy across the street from my office used to ride his street glide to work 4-5 times per week. He sold that 2 years ago and bought a custom chopper. He has ridden that thing to work maybe 5 times in the last 2 years. He is still kicking himself in the *** for selling the glide. He is not able to go on the 300 mile rides anymore and nobody is interested in buying it from him.

 

Funny I read this quote in here "The Pussification Of The American Biker Is Upon Us" it's not only in the biker world. Seems these days everyone is a little more reluctant to spend the money they use to. I have seen this all before and some how we always seem to find a way out. these are the days the yuppies go away and the true bikers come out again for round two. If you remember the AMF years.

 

Custom builders are still around.Seems they are doing mostly engine upgrades and customizing. Remember Kendall Johnson from the biker buildoff's?

http://www.kendalljohnsoncustoms.com/

 

The economy didn't just kill them. Poor quality also killed some of them. I knew a couple guys who bought American Ironhorse bikes and had nothing but problems. They were literally broke down more than they were running. It wasn't the engine or tranny. It was the **** poor Made in Taiwan or China electrical parts. I know they weren't all bad but I think a large majority of them were. They were nice bikes you just had to wonder if you were gonna make it home.

 

Nothing's deader in the USA than a fad that has died.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ruz3v...eature=related

 

Great link, LAMing......there aren't too many great voices, like Nat King Cole's, left!

 

i no of ironhorse

 

You heard it here first...the smartest thing Polaris/Victory could ever do is BUY THE RIGHTS TO THE "INDIAN" FRANCHISE.

It would be great to see Indian become a viable brand again. Victory seems to have more or less reached the pinnacle of it's development.

There is a market for people that want an American made bike that doesn't say HD on the tank, or isn't made entirely of Arlen Ness off-the-shelf parts.

 

+1 to that.

 

You've got that right although I've come to really like Darius Rucker. He has a unique voice that grabbed me the first time I heard him back in the Blowfish days. Having just finished a tour with him as our opening act I gotta say he's just gettin better with age.