The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

American IronHorse Facing Bankruptcy

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American IronHorseCreditors are trying to force American IronHorse into bankruptcy after it failed to make any payments since January. Investors are currently negotiating to buy the company.

Some American IronHorse dealers have stated they will not sell bikes in stock due to questions about warranty coverage.

Founded in 1995, American IronHorse, based in Fort Worth, Texas, makes custom motorcycles in the $25,000 to $40,000 price range.

Thanks for the tip, Brian.

Link: Star Telegram

Comments

  1. One of my neighbours has an Iron Horse in his garage – sometimes he even rolls it outside and revs it up – then pushes it back into the garage… Shouldn’t be any warranty problems with that one.

  2. Let’s see:

    Sell motorcycles that are uncomfortable, impractical, temperamental, silly looking and useless, charge $25,000 to $40,000 for each one.

    Sounds like a good business plan to me.

  5. I have loved motorcycles all my life and I own 3 now. I can never see myself laying out $30,000 to $40,000 to be a pretend biker.

  7. Wow, I’m glad to see that I’m not the only person who doesn’t appreciate this kind of bike. Maybe the chopper craze is over, who knows?

  9. Hmmm, so if I sign a paper at the dealer saying I don’t care about warranty support, can I buy one for $10K? Because then we’d have a deal :-p

  10. Wow, such haters. None of my “choppers” have ever been uncomfortable or temperamental, and as long as I get from point A to point B they are neither impractical or useless. Now silly looking is one that I won’t dispute, I have seen some real ugly bikes out there and people with more money than taste, But I have never had much more than 10 grand into a bike. For the record I love all bikes, but I don’t like to ride crotch rockets.

  12. Everyone I know that where into these small volume kit bike chopper manufacturers is going back to buying real Harley’s and just customizing them because they got sick of $30K bikes that break down on a weekly basis.

    Far too many of these “manufacturers” are just piecing together a bunch of chinese parts out of the Custom Chrome catalog and calling it a custom and charging a ridiculous amount of money.

    Not sure if that is the case with American Ironhouse but I am sure the buying public is lumping them in with them even if it is not the way they do business.

  13. Chappy – I agree that most manufactures just piece together bikes, however Most builders use S&S motors which hardly break down on a weekly basis. Although AI or BigDog are not my style, I would rather have one of those than a Genuine HD.

  14. “Although AI or BigDog are not my style, I would rather have one of those than a Genuine HD.”

    That is what all of them said before they bought the customs. It is not just the motors, S&S does make fine motors and the guys I know that have S&S’s don’t complain about them (RevTech really isn’t too bad either actually) but the electrics, frame issues, and all the peripherals giving out because the large majority are chinese sourced garbage (not to mention that are miserable to ride because of geometry and lack of comfort). Not all the companies do that, Big Dog for example actually (I hear from owners on the net and those I have talked to) seems to make a reliable product. I think they look still look awful, I prefer a board track or bobber styled custom, and are not fun to actually ride because of the inherent handling problems with that kind of bike but too each there own.

  15. I own a 07 American Ironhorse Texas Chopper. It is not uncomfortable nor tempermental. It sounds to me that there is alot of hate due to you not having one. Dont bash what you cannot afford. My chopper is put together very well and rides nicer than my last Dyna, and oh yeah the 111 S&S really chews up the REAL production bikes in town.

  16. I have a 2005 Ironhorse Legend model that is comfortable, nimble and powerful, hasn’t broken down, and looks good in the process. I had a 1981 Harley that needed lots of tlc even when it was brand new, and as far as the Chinese parts go, Ironhorse is made in FT. Worth Tx and uses less foreign parts than Harley. The company has had bad management for sure, but the procucts are fine.

  17. I have a 2000 AIH Bandit it’s one of 30 baggers they made. 107″ S&S, Jims 5-speed, Daytech rubber mount frame, performance machine wheels and brakes unlike my harley all of the parts on this bike are top of the line MADE IN AMERICA. Since it is rubber mount with progressive rear shocks it is VERY comfortable to ride. I live in Florida and ride as a daily rider to and from work I have put 19,000 mi in 14 months, runs strong, very reliable. Sad that Harley sold out! 40% parts from elsewhere, assembled here.

  18. I have an 05 Tejas which I bought new. I have 12,000 miles on it now! I like the looks and the power and have had NO PROBLEMS with the bike what so ever! All of the negitive comments that had been made about “Choppers” have made me laugh! I get nothing but ” wow that’s a nice bike ” everywhere I go. Considering what I paid for the bike versus how much money you have to put into a regular Harley to make it run and sound right and or faster…. I think I got the better deal!
    But then again can’t we all get along!!!

  19. I have an 05 Legend here in Canada – AIH is one of the companies that took the time to go through all the paperwork crap it takes to get across the border. Paid over $40G for my bike. More money than brains? Maybe, but I love the bike and have no regrets. I would agree on the electronics issue though – still waiting for a new digital speedo and given this financial restructuring issue, might be waiting a while yet!

  21. I have a 2007 texas chopper, my 2nd one.
    My first was a 2003, wouldn’t ride anything
    else. After reading some of these comments,
    it seems to me the only ones bad mouthing
    them are people who never rode one, or owned
    one. I live in Virginia, and riding my AIH
    to Nasville Tenn. in May, and I’ll have a blast! Everyone ride safe.

  22. Every comment on here has meat. Bottom line is AIH built some very nice bikes. I have an 05 Legend with a 124 in it. Six car or 20 bike passes at 120+ are very refreshing to me. Nothing lasts forever. Remember there’s two types of riders- those that been down and those that are goin down. Which one are you. I’ve been down. Still ridin. I knew when Tim Edmonds sold out it was over. No one on this site mentioned him. The co-founder of AIH with Bill Rucker.

  23. Before people start making judgements on an Ironhorse chopper they should ride one for more than a few miles. My wife and I have had jap bikes, harleys and currently an 04 Texas chopper and have nothing but praise for the bike. It’s comfortable with one or two people on it, it’s reliable, gets 50 miles to the gallon and a thrill to ride everytime. American made, which is more than most can say.

  24. I own an 06 TX Chooper AND an 05 Road King.
    The only comment I get from HD owners is “I WISH I could have me a chopper like yours”..
    To all the haters, its ok boys, one day you might even get to ride on one, maybe..

  25. I want everyone to take notice of all the people who lost there JOBS. I know one of the board of directors a number of the engineers, the test rider, and truck driver for this company! There are planty of reasons why this company went under and none of them is from building “crap” bikes. They have been building choppers long before the jesse james and OCC craze. This bike was built in the states and designed by my friends.

    Upsets me to see people bash on a company when it goes under.

    think about losing your job and then someone giving your company crap about it.

  26. Are we not all bikers…
    Who cares what your riding…as long you are riding and ENJOYING yourself.
    I have a 05 Texas Chopper, and love it. Yea, have a problem here and there but, no more than my HD softail or my Kawasaki Drifter.
    THEY are machines, replaceable machines.
    REpeat after me; REPLACEABLE MACHINES….
    There is NO perfect bike out there…..like theres no perfect wife !

  27. Say what you want, but I have never had as many compliments about either of my past Harley’s as I have with my current AIH Outlaw. The trick here people, is to purchase preowned Bad Boy Bikes that someone else paid way too much for. I have purchased two used AIH with no regrets, only “oohs and aws”!

  28. Sorry Tom, I was a MC tech for over 20 years(thankless job). Personally owned over 240 motorcycles in 46 years. Chopper and nimble are two words that should NOT be used in the same sentance.