The Times They Are A Changing?
In the July / August 2016 Issue of American V Magazine, editor Andy Hornsby waxes lyrical on the great recent design improvements in the current Harley range. Such innovation from the Motor Co. have largely been prompted by their recent sets of accounts, brought about in no small part from their domestic competition, the “New Kid” on the block. Indian Motorcycles, est. 1901.
It's all good news, for us the consumer, with better specs, bigger warranty’s & innovation brought on by the battle of the American V Twins.
Here’s a couple of pictures that illustrate how the change is hitting home in the good ol’ US of A. Some of you may recognise the photo of the dealership, based on Beach Street in Daytona. For years it was Florida’s best known Harley dealership owned (along with 6 or 7 other dealerships throughout Florida) by the late, & larger than life figure of Bruce Rossmeyer.
The shop opened in 1994, the site of the original official Rossmeyer’s Of Daytona Harley-Davidson dealership until 2011 when it became only a Bruce Rossmeyer/Harley-Davidson museum/merchandise store. It closed its doors on October 31st 2013 when the buildings lease expired.
Put on the market for a figure of $2.2 million dollars, the 32,000 square feet of buildings including the 2.7 acre back lot (which is now home to the “World famous” Rats Hole Custom shows during Bike Week & Biketoberfest).
So, having decided to leave Beach Street, one can only imagine the reaction in the Rossmeyer’s Board Room when it was announced that the building would become Florida’s “flagship” store for the young upstarts from The Indian Motor co! It opened on October 2014 & has become a must visit store ever since.
Could things get any worse?
Well Yes.
You see Bruce Rossmeyer served on the Police Athletic League Board of Directors for the City of Daytona Beach while his dealership, Bruce Rossmeyer's Daytona Harley-Davidson® had leased the City of Daytona Beach their motorcycle police fleet for $1.00 per year per bike. At one time Bruce Rossmeyer's Daytona Harley-Davidson was the largest dealer of police motorcycles in the world.
And now?
Well just check out members of the Local Daytona Beach PD as they “help” a sports bike rider fit a legal number plate before they ride off into the sunset, or Dunkin’ Donuts by the look of the Officer’s lithe uniformed figure. Gone are the Harleys, replaced by, shock horror, new Victory Cross Country Tour in Police livery. You know Victory……the owners of Indian Motorcycles.
As for The Rossmeyers, well they’re doing very nicely thank you, their largest shop being the 109,000 square feet & 155 acre estate in Ormond Beach , just outside of Daytona. A place which in fact is my favourite shop in the whole wide world!!
Bruce died at the age of 66 in a motorcycle accident in Wyoming on his way to the Sturgis rally in 2009. His charitable legacy continues, The Rossmeyer Family continues as a major fundraiser and benefactor for several charities, including Camp Boggy Creek, Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler Counties and of Broward County, and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Broward.
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