US Highland showed great promise a couple of years ago with plans to launch a build to order line of motorcycles made here in the USA. As most of you know, plans were dashed when a plane crash took the lives of Chase Bales, Damian Riddoch, and Mats Malmberg, the three principals in the business. Since that time, the company eventually closed their plant and was sold to new owners. Hopes for the future of the company were mixed.
Acting on a tip (Thanks, Mark!), I made a call and found the new owners to be preparing to relaunch the company. It’s taken some time to get things back in motion since so much knowledge of the actual development disappeared when the plane went down, but they are on track to begin again.
Their website is still being re-worked and some details are not yet set, but they are aiming for an early 2013 launch date. The company hopes to be providing engines, starting with a single cylinder and then with the V-Twin, for everyone from individual builders and small custom shops to OEMs of all sizes. They will also be offering build to order motorcycles.
It will be done in phases, making sure everything is done right at each step, the engines will come first, then the bikes will become available, offered in any level of completion, from a few basic pieces a builder might want all the way up to complete bikes.
I would love to see this effort succeed and I’ll be following up regularly to make sure you hear all of the details.
Link: US Highland
akaaccount says
Great news. The engine only sales on the website is really interesting. If they made one of those 950 V-twins with a nice transmission to fit in the Buell XB chassis they should be able to sell, well, about as many Buell XB’s as there are out there.
Iur Sepol says
I wish them the best of luck. I’ve been lusting for one of their singles ever since I first saw them!
Kevin says
Yeah, I saw they were back. I saw another article about them returning, talking to the new owner.
I think their V-Twins could be sweet. I would love to know the weight compared to engines like the KTM 990. If their 1100 comes in at similar or less weight that would be killer.
The singles are claimed to be powerful.
Good luck to them.
Hawk says
Well pretty it isn’t. But then, who cares if it performs?
I’d think that a few dyno test results and longevity specs would be a precursor to a sales initiative …
B50 Jim says
Compared to Aniket’s gorgeous deigns, their engines are unattractive lumps, but they are intended for performance first, not a visual center of the machine. I wish them all the best; to rise from such a tragedy is a solid achievement. The single does appeal to me; it could be the basis of a fine, light-weight all-around bike.
Tim says
Always good to see a new company trying to make it work.
Although from a maintenance stance that oil filter placement is problematic. It will likely be hard to get at once the motor is installed into a frame and once removed will spill dirty oil all over the top of the case. Seems like such a minor detail, but for many potential owners an oil change is an intimate as they get with the inside of their engines. It should be a pleasant experience.
Tom Lyons says
I’m not too critical of the engine’s appearance, because the time has long passed since any modern engine designers cared anything about the looks, especially of the water-cooled variety.
I would hope that the tan color could be silver or black, at least, though.
As for the rest of it, I’m interested to see what they can do. Maybe they can break thru where others couldn’t. I’m not too wild about their bike styles, but I’m sort of traditionalist oriented about that stuff.
rohorn says
I can see it now:
“Norton Manx engine dressup kit – comes with easy to snap on fake fins and sticky outy alloy lumpy bits. For extra posing points, order the fake kickstarter! And if that doesn’t get you on one of those “cafe racer of the day” websites, then here’s a bottle of spray on white crusty stuff that looks kinda like Bonneville salt – can be used for repairing textured ceilings as well! Order now, and get free header wrap and Firestones tire coupon! Stick THAT in your perky little leather saddlebags!”
There – marketing problem solved.
Mark L. says
The only thing that concerns me is that Roehr built a bike with the Highland V-twin and it vibrated like there was no tomorrow. It needed/needs a counterbalancer desperately. hopefully they address that issue with a balance shaft or crank balancing.
If I remember correctly the motor only weighs about 93 lbs.
Mark L.
Russell B! says
Still loving the looks of the StreetTracker
Mike says
The Engines page show what looks like a 45 degree twin, but the “About” splash pages shows something closer to a 90 degree twin. Any idea if they’ll make a 90 degree twin as well?
Paulinator says
I don’t know what I’m missing here, but I think this engine is gorgeous. Granted, it lacks any reference to motocycling’s roots, in the form of copper tubing, polished fins or much in the way of external hints to the valve-train mechanisms employed. It does have in its place a truth in its form…the economical and efficient pursuit of function. I think there’s room for two ends on engine design spectrum and this one looks like its shifted well over toward the hot side.
And YES…I do think that Aniket’s V twins are beautiful creatures, as well.
johnny ro says
it has two round things cast inside top of head. that is suggestive of cam chain sprockets.
Lets think of how short that motor would be with side valves.
The oil filter could be fitted with a tab to catch a can opener to let the air in before rotating off. Who here has a can opener?
johnny ro says
I, uh, think of 2 strokes as side valvers, alongside actual cammed side valvers.
Gunner says
Still the same old Folan based tech. I am afraid this is another stillborn project along the same lines as before.
Chaz says
They are evidently aware of the vibration problem. The ad copy on their site refers to the “spine-tingling powerband”.
Chaz
Russell B! says
I want all the new guys to succeed. That’s how variety gets into the market, even though it’s sometimes the old guard picking up new ideas after a start-up tries and fails.
Watching the roller-coaster ride of the current Norton company has made me a bit queasy. Hope Highland has a smoother path.
Kevin says
Looks a lot better in all grey/silver.
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g328/KC358/EngineV-Twin03_zpsd2bddb75.jpg
michael gray says
My two cents worth. I’d really like to see the V Twin in a 90 degree layout. Little to no vibration, naturally balanced with no need for counterweights, doesn’t sound like its in need of a tuneup like a U.S. Harley/Victory twin cylinder layout and the import clones, much higher redline, able to produce more horsepower/torque produces a great exhaust note with performance cans, like the 97 Suzuki TL1000S i owned.
Robert M says
I own a 950 Motard, and while it is not as smooth as my current and previous 90 degree V-twins, it is certainly not a shaker.
Mark says
It would be curious to see what the dyno figures will be for these. Also are these manufactured in the USA using all parts made here — or parts via China per the Swedish original design and assembled here? I wish them success but going to stand back and watch for a while first…
P G Jetnikoff says
Always pleased to see someone having a go at new singles and twins. Never considered anything with 4 or more cyl as something other than a car motor.
If the motor is a well developed device a 250 entered in the moto3 GP class would be the place to start gaining profile and development. Racing really improve the breed.
Klaus says
I probably will get flamed for this but an engine designed and built in the US doesn’t get me excited. If it would be from Austria, Italy, Germany, England, Japan or even one of the East-European countries who are getting back on their feet that would be a different story. Hate to say this but technology-wise the US are not the leaders.
Will this engine perform like a Rotax or a Japanese single? What about cost and reliabilty? Don’t want to rain on the parade, it’s good that this company will be launched and this engine be built, good luck to them, but they have their work cut out.
Hopefully the “Made in the USA” sticker will convince people to buy when the competition’s products make more power and costs less.
Paul Crowe says
The engine is based on the Swedish design and assembled in the USA, currently from components from a variety of sources, though the conversation I had with Highland leads me to believe the parts will eventually come from the USA as well.
Made in the USA is something many (but not all) of us here in the USA look for, it’s the idea of rooting for the home team and trying to help employ people in our own country. That company you support and the employees doing the work are likely to spend their own income here and possibly help employ others here, too. No matter what country you live in, I would think it would make sense to look for products from your own country as well. There may be nothing domestically produced that serves your needs or wants or it may not be up to your standards, in which case you should look for products from anywhere that meet your requirements.
Manufacturing today, however, requires far fewer people to produce even more than before so even if you look for a Made in the USA logo, it only goes so far.
todd says
There are more people employed by Japanese motorcycle manufacturers in the US than there are for American motorcycle manufacturers. Saying that you are saving American jobs by only buying American motorcycles is just not true. You save more American jobs by buying a Japanese motorcycle.
-todd
Klaus says
You buy American, you save American jobs, you buy Japanese, you save American jobs. Can’t follow your logic that you save more American jobs by buying Japanese just because more Japanese bikes are sold in the US.
todd says
The last time I researched this in 2010 Harley directly employed 9700 US citizens (not including dealerships). Honda North America, Inc. has 13 US companies, 8 of which are related to the design, development, and manufacture of motorcycles employing 18,000 US citizens (not including dealerships). Each of these companies does commerce with servicing industries within the US (as well as abroad).
I buy a bike based on whether or not it fits my style and needs, not based on the nationality of the company’s founder. Granted, I’ve never bought a new motorcycle. Every time I buy a bike 100% of the money goes to the guy (or gal) selling it.
-todd
rohorn says
18,000 US citizens are employed by Honda to design, develop, and manufacture motorcycles in the USA?
Not buying that at all…
todd says
you have to dig a little but it’s all here:
http://corporate.honda.com/about/
-todd
rohorn says
Thanks for the link. Unfortunately for a 2009 report, the data ends at 2007 – which means this isn’t factored:
http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/02/27/honda-ending-motorcycle-production-in-us/
todd says
Correct, and the Harley numbers include Buell employees and closure/reductions in their other plants. Everyone has taken a fair share of a hit in the last few years.
-todd
Paul Crowe says
todd, I didn’t say American companies, I said “Made in USA.” All of the supporting vendors, suppliers and dealers are an entire extra layer of employees surrounding a manufacturer and the Asian and European companies certainly have many of those people in the US, even if their bikes are imported from elsewhere.
It’s also certain, if you don’t support “Made in USA” manufacturers, they will never have an opportunity to build up that extra layer of support surrounding their operations. Who has more right now? It would be a pretty complex study to determine exact numbers, but Harley and Victory have a pretty good network beyond the manufacturing, add in the aftermarket and it’s substantial.
My personal preference to buy Made in USA applies to all types of manufacturing, not just motorcycles, and for that matter, to all types of businesses, not just manufacturing, but manufacturing is unique in how many more jobs it supports beyond the actual production, which itself takes fewer employees today than before due to the rapid advance of technology.
Honda builds all of their Accords here in the US, if I’m not mistaken, Apple builds all of their computers in China, it’s the world we live in, but I really try to give as much business to people here in the US as possible, and, as noted above, it’s a logic that people of all countries should be able to understand and support as it applies in their own country.
Klaus says
Googled a bit and found out that it’s actually Swedish design by a Swede who founded a company in the US. That gives me hope that their overly optimistic website may keep what it promises.
But until more facts are in my Highland Single will come from Scotland. (drumroll)
john says
I like it. As I see it, the future of two wheeled vehicles is efficient, low RPM, single cylinder engines with liquid cooling, direct injection, and a servo actuated dual clutch transmission.
decooney says
Wow. I was inspired when I read their initial kickoff story and saddened by the tragedy that occurred before they really had a chance to get it off the ground the first time. Always wondered if someone would pick up where they left off and forge ahead to help keep their dream alive. I will be keeping my fingers crossed they will make something happen with this on the 2nd try. Best of luck to the folks who are working on this. Would be incredible to see something real,competitive, made in the USA. Amazing. Can’t wait to watch and see how this develops.