Curtiss Motorcycle Co.: Difference between revisions

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'''Confederate Motorcycles''' is a boutique motorcycle design and manufacturing company that relocated from New Orleans to 2222 [[5th Avenue South]] in [[Birmingham]] following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
[[File:2020 Curtiss logo.jpg|right|175px]]
[[File:2018 Curtiss logo.png|right|175px]]
[[File:Curtiss 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]].


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 include [[Brian Case]], [[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]]
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]].


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.  
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.


==Products==
==Motorcycles==
* '''F131 Hellcat''' (140 horsepower v-twin)
[[File:Curtiss Hera concept.jpg|right|thumb|325px|Curtiss Hera concept]]
:* G1 model: 500 produced through 2001
[[File:2020 Curtiss Zeus.jpg|right|thumb|325px|Curtiss Zeus]]
:* G2 model: 150 produced between 2003 and 2007 at the rate of one per week.
* '''P-40 Warhawk Final Edition'''
::* G2 "Combat" model: limited edition of 150
* '''Helena''' (originally '''Hera'''), prototype announced 2018
* '''B120 Wraith''' (125  horsepower radial twin), 250 produced at the rate of two per week beginning in 2007.
* '''Curtiss 1''', prototype announced 2018, anticipated production in 2020
* '''C120 Renaissance Fighter''' (129 c.i. radial twin), limited edition of 45 sold through Neiman-Marcus 2008 Christmas Book
** '''Avant-Garde''' edition
* "Renovatio" (135 horspower v-twin), in development for production in 2010
** '''Pure''' edition
* '''Hades-1''' (originally '''Hades'''), prototype announced 2019
* '''Psyche''', prototype announced 2019
* '''Zeus''', prototype announced 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." ''Birmingham News''.
* 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." ''Birmingham News''.
* 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''


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


[[Category:Motorcycling]]
[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers]]
[[Category:Manufacturers]]
[[Category:2017 establishments]]
[[Category:5th Avenue South|2222]]
[[Category:Parkway Drive (Leeds)]]

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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