Motorcycle.com

acecycleins · 07-05-2010, 07:53 AM

As reported on MCN the Motus guys have a bench test of the new V-4 1600cc pushrod engine. Sounds like a Chevy small block- pretty cool. The guys look well on their way into the Sport-Tour market.

Addionally, the Swedes move the entire Highland Ops to OK. If you know anything about Highland it's filled with ex-KTM engineers. I found that info on Motorcyle Daily. Seems that American dirt is the new future and they will build bikes tailored to the rider- STRAIGHT FROM THE FACTORY!!! and delivered in about 7 days from order date. Pretty cool.

That's it. Feel free to look at the respective sites and tell everyone your thoughts. I thought we might be in for good times for 2011/2012.

pplassm · 07-05-2010, 02:50 PM

Highland has been trying to market that engine for a decade now. Word is the kinks haven't all been worked out of the FI they want to use. Also, it's heavier than the current offerings from other manufacturers. The V-Twin enduro, however, looks more interesting.

kp1600 · 07-11-2010, 05:55 PM

I toured the highland factory during there open house last month. I live about 45 min from there. Its a small operation, bikes are made one at a time at seperate work stations, no assembly line. The bikes we saw look like real screamers. Here is one its called the viking.

kp1600 · 07-11-2010, 06:00 PM

Thats not me in the picture, but its the highland plant.

mscuddy · 07-11-2010, 07:07 PM

I dunno laddie, that flat tracker looks like some of the parts were pirated from the Home Despot plumbing section. That Highland motor is pretty (pretty cobby).

pushrod · 07-12-2010, 06:47 AM

+1, Cuddy!

They look a bit agricultural, with a hint of incompleteness.

While they may run great (assuming they work at all) they just don't look 'finished' to me.

pushrod · 07-12-2010, 07:57 AM

Cycle News | U.S. Highland Execs Killed.

God rest their souls!

Sympathies to their families.

The_AirHawk · 07-12-2010, 08:24 AM

Holy Crap!

Here's more details:

Tulsa Plane Crash Kills 3 Businessmen - Local News Story - KHBS NW Arkansas

Victims Identified In Fatal Tulsa Plane Crash - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports |

And a follow-up mention, in the story of ANOTHER plane crash:

Plane Crashes Near Owasso Airport - KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - Coverage You Can Count On

Kenneth_Moore · 07-12-2010, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mscuddy

I dunno laddie, that flat tracker looks like some of the parts were pirated from the Home Despot plumbing section. That Highland motor is pretty (pretty cobby).

That's a Spondon frame. Spondon has a good reputation in the industry. Apparently they make their own frame for the other bikes.

The Highland motor is said to have an incredible power to weight ratio. The "mild" tune is running 120hp, the hot tune over 150. The engine weighs less than 100 lbs.

I'm rooting for them. We need a US m/c builder success story. Especially since the a-holes at HD did Buell in.

MOKE1K · 07-12-2010, 11:13 AM

Was just going to mention the Spondon Frame, ya beat me to it!!

Wonder if they were renting a Harley airplane?

07-05-2010, 07:53 AM	#1
acecycleins Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Georgia Posts: 4,125	Two New American Bike Companies As reported on MCN the Motus guys have a bench test of the new V-4 1600cc pushrod engine. Sounds like a Chevy small block- pretty cool. The guys look well on their way into the Sport-Tour market. Addionally, the Swedes move the entire Highland Ops to OK. If you know anything about Highland it's filled with ex-KTM engineers. I found that info on Motorcyle Daily. Seems that American dirt is the new future and they will build bikes tailored to the rider- STRAIGHT FROM THE FACTORY!!! and delivered in about 7 days from order date. Pretty cool. That's it. Feel free to look at the respective sites and tell everyone your thoughts. I thought we might be in for good times for 2011/2012. __________________ "Slack" - a state of being in which everything flows smoothly.....a frame of mind so at ease that the universe naturally cooperates.

07-05-2010, 02:50 PM	#2
pplassm Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3,875	Highland has been trying to market that engine for a decade now. Word is the kinks haven't all been worked out of the FI they want to use. Also, it's heavier than the current offerings from other manufacturers. The V-Twin enduro, however, looks more interesting. __________________ Mongo just pawn in game of life.

07-11-2010, 05:55 PM	#3
kp1600 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 15	I toured the highland factory during there open house last month. I live about 45 min from there. Its a small operation, bikes are made one at a time at seperate work stations, no assembly line. The bikes we saw look like real screamers. Here is one its called the viking. __________________ 2011 Victory Cross Country

07-11-2010, 06:00 PM	#4
kp1600 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 15	Thats not me in the picture, but its the highland plant. __________________ 2011 Victory Cross Country

07-11-2010, 07:07 PM	#5
mscuddy MODERATOR X Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Next to my still checkin the temp. Posts: 5,444	I dunno laddie, that flat tracker looks like some of the parts were pirated from the Home Despot plumbing section. That Highland motor is pretty (pretty cobby). __________________ A gun is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that.

Sponsored Links	Remove Advertisements
Motorcycle Forum Advertisement

07-12-2010, 06:47 AM	#6
pushrod Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Baja 'Bama Posts: 3,478	+1, Cuddy! They look a bit agricultural, with a hint of incompleteness. While they may run great (assuming they work at all) they just don't look 'finished' to me. __________________ You would not understand, this is not how I am... I have become - Comfortably Numb.

07-12-2010, 07:57 AM	#7
pushrod Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Baja 'Bama Posts: 3,478	Terrible News! Highland Execs die in Plane Crash! Cycle News \| U.S. Highland Execs Killed. God rest their souls! Sympathies to their families. __________________ You would not understand, this is not how I am... I have become - Comfortably Numb.

07-12-2010, 08:24 AM	#8
The_AirHawk Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Livin' in a Van: down by the Mariana Trench Posts: 10,891	Holy Crap! Here's more details: Tulsa Plane Crash Kills 3 Businessmen - Local News Story - KHBS NW Arkansas Victims Identified In Fatal Tulsa Plane Crash - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports \| And a follow-up mention, in the story of ANOTHER plane crash: Plane Crashes Near Owasso Airport - KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - Coverage You Can Count On __________________ *Parfois, on fait pas semblant* Sometimes, it's not pretend Oderint Dum Metuant Let them hate so long as they fear политики предпочитают безоружных крестьян Politicians Prefer Unarmed Peasants Nothing to see here, Citizen. Move along now...

07-12-2010, 11:13 AM	#10
MOKE1K Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kalapana, Big Island Posts: 3,956	Was just going to mention the Spondon Frame, ya beat me to it!! Wonder if they were renting a Harley airplane? __________________ "YOU CAN'T BOLT ON SKILL" "The only thing limiting your bike, is you" We survived Bush you'll survive Obama! "the most fundamental fact about the ideas of the political left is that they do not work. therefore we should not be surprised to find the left concentrated in institutions where ideas do not have to work in order to survive." --thomas sowell