![Highland Motors Open House in Tulsa](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sFAqEqBwgsM/TAL8vUMZiMI/AAAAAAAAD0w/XeBkpThOUjs/s320/Highland-Open-House.jpg)
Highland AB is a Swedish company that has been building boutique bikes for over a decade. They also engineer nifty components for everyone from Husqvarna to Harley. Of course, we never hear about that stuff. A couple of years ago an American businessman took the bold step of suggesting motorcycle production be moved to the States. US Highland was born.
![Chase Bales explains the finer points of a Highland engine to Brad.](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sFAqEqBwgsM/TAMFxF8oOXI/AAAAAAAAD08/VScUHLZapfQ/s320/Highland-prime.jpg)
Bales has raced all manner of motorbikes, and is a big guy. Fitting his large frame on mass-produced machines was partial inspiration for the custom-fitted motorcycles he now builds. He speaks with a booming voice and an assertive attitude that tells you he knows where he's going, and he plans to get there. It's no wonder the Swedes call him John Wayne.
He showed us around the facility, an existing building which they transformed into a motorcycle factory in only 3 weeks. We ask about the rumors that Highland will be another repackage of Chinese hardware. He laughs and explains there is a Chinese manufacturing component to the Highland family. But for now their output is 150cc scooter engines solely for third world consumption.
And that international reach is what sets Highland apart from the majority of specialty motorcycle makers that have come and gone. Highland designs and develops for some of the industry's biggest players. Motorcycle sales will not drive the company. In fact, they don't anticipate making a dime from motorcycle sales for at least five years.
![U.S. Highland factory in Oklahoma](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sFAqEqBwgsM/TAMYUnjVYMI/AAAAAAAAD1I/glwaqEzY8sY/s320/Highland-Oklahoma-Factory.jpg)
We continue our tour through the engine assembly room. Every motor is built by hand- fully blueprinted and tailored to the customer. Bales points out a 950cc crankshaft assembly that's currently off balance by less than 1/10 of a gram.
"It will be zero before it goes out the door," he explains. "We don't deal with tolerances, we deal with perfection."
From some people that would sound like marketing speak. Coming from Chase it sounds like something John Wayne might have said.
1 comment:
Excellent. Look forward to their success!
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