Curtiss Motorcycle Co.: Difference between revisions

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[[File:2020 Curtiss logo.jpg|right|175px]]
[[File:2018 Curtiss logo.png|right|175px]]
[[File:Curtiss logo.png|right|175px]]
[[File:Curtiss logo.png|right|175px]]
[[Image:Confederate Motors logo.png|right|175px]]
The '''Curtiss Motorcycle Co.''' is a boutique electric motorcycle design and manufacturing company located at  8118 [[Parkway Drive (Leeds)|Parkway Drive]] in [[Leeds]].
[[Image:Confederate Motors emblem.png|right|175px]]
The '''Curtiss Motorcycle Co.''' (formerly '''Confederate Motors, Inc.''') is a boutique motorcycle design and manufacturing company that relocated from New Orleans to [[Birmingham]] following Hurricane Katrina in [[2005]].


The company was founded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on [[April 2]], [[1991]] by former trial lawyer [[Matt Chambers]]. The company's design department is headed by [[Ed Jacobs]]. Other designers have included [[Brian Case]], [[Jordan Cornille]], [[Henry Rhodes]], [[J. T. Nesbitt]] and [[Myles Peters]].
The company was created in [[2017]] by [[Matt Chambers]], previous founder of [[Confederate Motors]]. The new venture was named in honor of pioneering motorcyclist and aviator Glenn Curtiss. The company's P-40 "Warhawk" motorcycle, already in production, was given a Curtiss nameplate and "Final Edition" moniker.


The company struggled early on, filing for bankruptcy in [[2002]]. On the weekend that Katrina hit New Orleans, Chambers was in Bahrain accepting a $1 million cash investment from that nation's crown prince. The storm destroyed Confederate's office and factory. Subsequently the company was recruited to Birmingham on the strength of the state's emerging automotive industry and the availability of the [[Barber Motorsports Park]]'s race course and motorcycle collection. [[George Barber]] was active in discussions with Chambers. At the time the relocation was announced, Confederate expected to invest $10 million into a new plant which would employ as many as 100. They opened their first office and workshop at 2222 [[5th Avenue South]].
Chambers sold off the Confederate brand and legacy internal-combustion designs to attorney [[Ernest Lee]], who later changed the name of his company to [[Combat Motors]].


In early [[2009]] the company acquired the publicly-traded French Peak Resources Inc. in a reverse-merger. That company, which was formed to exploit copper resources in British Columbia, turned to focus solely on the development of Confederate's motorcycle business. Among the possibilities discussed was the introduction of an "entry level" model.
Curtiss now uses electric motors built by Zero Motorcycles exclusively. Its line-up of design-forward prototypes are named for Greek deities, inspired by the "Hercules" 8-cylinder motorcycle on which Curtiss set a motorcycle land speed record in 1903.


In May of that year Confederate filed a lawsuit against Jalopnik.com and Gawker Media claiming that an article published on Jalopnik in April was defamatory. During [[2010]] the company was offered cash incentives to return to New Orleans, but decided to remain in Birmingham.
==Motorcycles==
 
[[File:Curtiss Hera concept.jpg|right|thumb|325px|Curtiss Hera concept]]
In [[2013]] Confederate moved to a larger facility at 3029 [[2nd Avenue South]] in [[Lakeview]]. In late [[2017]] the company announced that it was rebranding as the Curtiss Motorcylce Co. in honor of pioneering motorcyclist and aviator Glenn Curtiss. It also announced that its future models, beginning with the "Hercules" would be based on electric motors built by Zero Motorcycles.
[[File:2020 Curtiss Zeus.jpg|right|thumb|325px|Curtiss Zeus]]
 
* '''P-40 Warhawk Final Edition'''
==Products==
* '''Helena''' (originally '''Hera'''), prototype announced 2018
[[Image:Confederate Hellcat.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Confederate's C3 X132 Hellcat]]
* '''Curtiss 1''', prototype announced 2018, anticipated production in 2020
[[File:Curtiss Hera concept.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Curtiss's Hera concept]]
** '''Avant-Garde''' edition
* '''X132 Hellcat''' (145 horsepower square-twin) produced in 2011 and 2012
** '''Pure''' edition
:* X132 Hellcat Combat Twin (160 horsepower combat twin), produced in 2012
* '''Hades-1''' (originally '''Hades'''), prototype announced 2019
:* X132 Hellcat Speedster (edition of 65), produced in 2015
* '''Psyche''', prototype announced 2019
* '''F131 Hellcat''' (140-150 horsepower v-twin)
* '''Zeus''', prototype announced 2020
:* G1 model: 500 produced through 2001
:* G2 model: 150 produced between 2003 and 2007 at the rate of one per week.
::* G2 "Combat" model: limited edition of 150
* '''B120 Wraith''' (125  horsepower radial twin), 250 produced at the rate of two per week beginning in 2007.
* '''C120 Renaissance Fighter''' (129 c.i. radial twin), limited edition of 45 sold through Neiman-Marcus 2008 Christmas Book
* '''P120 Fighter Combat''' (120 c.i. radial twin), limited edition of 120
* "Renovatio" (135 horspower v-twin), produced in 2010
* '''R131 Fighter''' (special order)
* '''R135 Wraith Combat''' (limited edition of 7)
* '''P51 Combat Fighter''' (132 c.i., 145 horsepower v-twin, edition of 31) produced in 2016
* '''FA-13 Combat Bomber''' produced in 2017
* '''Zeus''' (E-twin), scheduled for 2019
* '''Helena''' (originally '''Hera''') (E-twin), scheduled for 2020


==References==
==References==
* "Mean Machines" (July 13, 2006) ''Black & White'' "Urban Living 2006" special advertising section
* Tomberlin, Michael (September 11, 2018) "Birmingham’s Curtiss Motorcycles aims to be market leader in electric motorcycles." ''Alabama NewsCenter''
* Goodman, Sherri C. (April 1, 2007) "Katrina winds blow in a Hellcat." {{BN}}
* Hughes, Justin (January 12, 2020) "[https://www.rideapart.com/articles/392380/curtiss-redesigns-hades-1/ Curtiss Redesigns The Hades As The Hades 1]" ''Ride Apart''
* Goodman, Sherri C. (August 12, 2007) "Uneasy rider keeps rolling." {{BN}}
* Giacomini, Sabrina (January 15, 2020) "[https://www.rideapart.com/articles/393073/matt-chambers-curtiss-motorcycles-interview/ Matt Chambers Of Curtiss Motorcycles On Bikes And Sustainability]" ''Ride Apart''
* Hubbard, Russell (February 20, 2009) "Birmingham, Alabama-based Confederate Motorcycles may offer cheaper model." {{BN}}
* "Motorcycle manufacturer sues website and writer." (May 18, 2009) ''Clutch & Chrome''
* Tomberlin, Michael (June 19, 2011) "Confederate Motorcycles to stay in Birmingham." {{BN}}
* "Confederate Motors rebranding in 2018." (November 20, 2017) Associated Press
* Cromwell, Sydney (n.d.) "Confederate Motorcycles rebrands, changes focus to electric motorcycles." ''Iron City Ink''
* Tomberlin, Michael (September 11, 2018) "Birmingham’s Curtiss Motorcycles aims to be market leader in electric motorcycles." Alabama NewsCenter


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.curtissmotors.com/ Curtiss Motorcycle Co.] website
* [https://www.curtissmotorcycles.com/ Curtiss Motorcycle Co.] website
* [http://www.confederate.com Confederate Motorcycles] website


[[Category:Motorcycling]]
[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers]]
[[Category:Manufacturers]]
[[Category:2017 establishments]]
[[Category:5th Avenue South]]
[[Category:Parkway Drive (Leeds)]]
[[Category:1991 establishments]]
[[Category:2nd Avenue South]]

Latest revision as of 17:13, 5 January 2021

2020 Curtiss logo.jpg
2018 Curtiss logo.png
Curtiss logo.png

The Curtiss Motorcycle Co. is a boutique electric motorcycle design and manufacturing company located at 8118 Parkway Drive in Leeds.

The company was created in 2017 by Matt Chambers, previous founder of Confederate Motors. The new venture was named in honor of pioneering motorcyclist and aviator Glenn Curtiss. The company's P-40 "Warhawk" motorcycle, already in production, was given a Curtiss nameplate and "Final Edition" moniker.

Chambers sold off the Confederate brand and legacy internal-combustion designs to attorney Ernest Lee, who later changed the name of his company to Combat Motors.

Curtiss now uses electric motors built by Zero Motorcycles exclusively. Its line-up of design-forward prototypes are named for Greek deities, inspired by the "Hercules" 8-cylinder motorcycle on which Curtiss set a motorcycle land speed record in 1903.

Motorcycles

Curtiss Hera concept
Curtiss Zeus
  • P-40 Warhawk Final Edition
  • Helena (originally Hera), prototype announced 2018
  • Curtiss 1, prototype announced 2018, anticipated production in 2020
    • Avant-Garde edition
    • Pure edition
  • Hades-1 (originally Hades), prototype announced 2019
  • Psyche, prototype announced 2019
  • Zeus, prototype announced 2020

References

External links

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