interesting read, highland motorcycles and GG

[jostby]

I found this over at the RMD site posted by Wudsracer/Jim Cook
....

Due to some web surfing this morning, I found that Highland Motors
is now US Highland, Inc, and is headquartered in the Tulsa area.
Since this is so close (respectively) to Fayetteville, AR, I called
them up and invited them to this year's Wudi Ride (in 10 days).
( I also sent an email.) They told me that they were going to be at
the GNCC this weekend, and would get back with me on the Wudi12 ride.

Browsing their web site, I found some glitches in the "bike specs"
part, then called them and told them about it. The site is still cool,
and the bikes look really good.
http://www.highland.se/


If I hear a positive response, I will post it here.

To reply to my own post...

I just got off the phone with one of the US Highland, Inc people. He
called me back. (How about that?)


He said that he had to decline my offer for being a guest at the
Wudi12, although they would like to have joined us, because they were
going to be in Europe that weekend. I asked him what was up, and he
told me that they were negotiating with the banks to take control of
GasGas; and that they wanted to bring the GasGas trials bikes
manufacturing to their facility in the Tulsa area. (That's what he
said.)
When I asked him about the enduro bikes, his answer made it obvious
that they had no interest in them. I then asked him about the parts
stock for the enduro line. He said that they had not really considered
that. I told him of my background, and said that if they bought
GasGas, and they would consider selling the off-road line's parts
stock, I would help them in any way that I possibly could.
This is an interesting development, indeed.
You heard it first, right here on rmd. Now, we just wait and see
what happens. Hmmmm....

 

[jhendr3702]

i have the highland website bookmarked... have been watching it, kinda new and intersting.. had no idea of that..

 

[nhrider]

A mag had a review of Highland bikes. They couldn't even ride it because it had some kind of problem.

 

[Rick]

Dirt Rider had a little bit on the Highland...yea, they said it broke down on them.....

 

[SideshowBob]

Dirt Rider had a little bit on the Highland...yea, they said it broke down on them.....

Not a great way to start off.

 

[Cruiser]

Kinda shocked!!

By many things!!

Highland is in the US,,

They Call people back,,

And there is still a RMD?? I thought that went away years ago??

 

[Skidad]

I think the guy is full of hot air about buying Gas Gas. These people have so much on their plate trying to bring these bikes to production and actually getting people to buy them the GG thing makes no sense IMO. I just don't believe it and think he's full of crap.

The 350 Trail model listed at 268lbs dry. Won't be running out to get one of those that's for sure....just like I wont be running out to buy a 390 Berg which weighs a similar amount but don't get me started on the Berg issue

 

[JRDoz]

just like I wont be running out to buy a 390 Berg which weighs a similar amount but don't get me started on the Berg issue

Sounds like an interesting new thread to me, how about it?

 

[Rick]

I would not even think of buying something like that.....sure the Highland has had a Super Motard bike across the pond for a few years, but here in the states, it hard enough to sell the best enduro bike made From what I read a few month back over on the MXA website, they will build a taylor made bike....just will out the order form...and bingo, you now have a bike, with VERY LIMITED SUPPORT!

http://www.motocrossactionmag.com/m...0&tier=3&nid=BBDCAA7DC567408C8A2C3977BA0665AC

 

[Fred1956]

I think I saw that bike at a Cycle Gear store open house in Tulsa a while back. Interesting to look at for sure.

 

[TooFastTim]

I think the guy is full of hot air about buying Gas Gas. These people have so much on their plate trying to bring these bikes to production and actually getting people to buy them the GG thing makes no sense IMO. I just don't believe it and think he's full of crap.

I'm with Skidad on this one. The development and establishment of brand phases of any company are fraught with difficulties and consume cash like there's no tomorrow. Anybody who gives them cash to buy Gasser AND keep their present operations on the boil is out of their minds (having said that the sub-prime crisis leaps to mind ).

Nah, he's blowing hot air and/or dreaming.

*edit* Just had a thunk about this. Highland aren't new boys on the block. I think they came out of Husqvarna and Husaberg when they moved to Italy and Austria respectively and are formed from ex husky and Husaberg engineers. The prototype Canondale used a Highland motor (of this I'm sure). So their overdraft must, by now, be substantial. Ergo the idea of them buying up Gasser (who seem to be doing quite well in this downturn, see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKLxA7XnrR0) is ludicrous.

However a tie up (i.e. Highland selling 4T motors to or developing 4T motors for Gasser) would be quite sensible

 

[kendunn]

I would hate to see them take over GG, they sure make some ugly bikes, and no 2T. Bikes that exotic and little known about scare me big time. I do like the 950 class DS if it isn't too expensive (yeah right) and more reliable than the great pumpkin, but I don't see me pulling the trigger anytime soon. I have always drooled of the KTM, but just couldn't justify the price or time it takes to change oil.

 

[Cruiser]

If they took GG over I'd buy one of the current GG's as my last GG,, just in case they screwed the pooch..

 

[Ud_luz]

So, if they bought the GasGas trials bike side would the enduros be gone? I assume if this happened then parts would be history?

Is GasGas in that much trouble? Is it time to start laying in a stock of common failure parts?

 

[jostby]

If they took GG over I'd buy one of the current GG's as my last GG,, just in case they screwed the pooch..

My thoughts exactly

So, if they bought the GasGas trials bike side would the enduros be gone? I assume if this happened then parts would be history?

Is GasGas in that much trouble? Is it time to start laying in a stock of common failure parts?

The good part is most of the GG stuff is so generic and oddball hard parts are rarely needed by most recreational riders.

 

[Rick]

The early C-Dale's used the Folan motor....during the early days.

 

[stainlesscycle]

they sure make some ugly bikes

you ain't kidding. that motor is not attractive...

 

[kendunn]

you ain't kidding. that motor is not attractive...

If I hadn't known better and had seen the pictures I would have thought it some Chinese knock off thing. Even the name is lame, not that Gasgas is much better in that regard What about something cool like Neodymium (rare earth metal) for the twins, from the Greek meaning "new one" and "twin". I guess no one would ever be able to spell it for the search engine

 

[TooFastTim]

The early C-Dale's used the Folan motor....during the early days.

Blows raspberry at Rick: "Folan went on to develop a 2-cylinder version of the "lightweight engine". This was a 60-deg 2 cylinder 800cc 4-stroke engine. For this engine new double overhead cams was developed, and a dry clutch. Folan worked with a number of motorcycle builders around this engine. Mainly around concept bikes. 19xx this engine design was taken over by newly formed motorcycle company Highland motors, who still use this concept in a developed form.". From: http://www.folan.se/history.htm

 

[Jim Cook]

Hi Everyone!
I haven't been around here that much lately. Between getting the trails ready and helping the ADR club host our March 7 Bear Creek Hare Scramble, and then the Wudi Ride, and now working my section of trail for our TrainRobbers Enduro coming up on June 13 (and still working to make a living), this has been a busy year. I really did not mean to ignore you guys.

I've thought about that phone conversation (with the Highland folks) quite a bit since that day. In retrospect, I really think that the fellow's comment concerning the "GasGas enduro engine being outdated" was regarding the GasGas FSE 450 engine. After all, those guys are 4-stroke people.
While I was particularly asking about the GasGas 2-stroke enduro bikes, he might not have even considered them part of our conversation. We will see.
While I would definitely enjoy the potential price break from the lack of tariffs that a US manufacturing/assembly plant would make possible, I really like the idea of GasGas staying solvent and keeping these fine bikes on the market.
I've ridden a lot of bikes in my 48 years of motorcycling, the best (for me) bike that I've ever spent any time on is my 2006 DE300.
This last weekend, I spent two days riding tight mountain single track on it in western Arkansas, and I'm still in love. I might be able to go faster on it if it were a 250, but it wouldn't be any better for what I normally do with it. The plastics is starting to get a bit streaked and faded, and I have a complete new set (with graphics) for it; but the bike gets used pretty hard, and I still haven't broken any of the existing plastics, yet.
(My son Josh rode it back in November, for a ride we did to guide some Louisiana flatlanders in the Ouachita Mountains. At one point halfway up a long tree covered single track climb, we ran upon some riders who didn't make it, and were laid out all over the trail. Uh oh! No place to go!
The trail was so steep at that point, that to stop was not allowed. Even losing momentum was not allowed.
Josh, my friend Tom, and I all three cartwheeled back down the hill. Josh and my 300 both rolled at least 50 feet down the hill. All the damage it did to my bike was a slightly deformed rear fender brace and my Pro-Taper bars got bent. I swear that I'm going to get around to putting on the new bars very soon. )

Good Riding!

Jim