History of the motorcycle manufacturer, with their motorcycles being sold by dealers in 67 countries. By the late 1920s or early 1930s, DKW in Germany took over as the largest manufacturer. BMW motorcycles came on the scene in 1923 with a shaft drive and an opposed-twin or "boxer" engine enclosed with the transmission in a single aluminum housing. By 1931, Indian and Harley-Davidson were the only two American manufacturers producing commercial motorcycles. This two-company rivalry in the United States remained until 1953, when the Indian Motorcycle factory in Springfield, Massachusetts closed and Royal Enfield took over the Indian name. There were over 80 different
American IronHorse Hendricson, who ran the company during its second bankruptcy continued to address major problems after the final purchase by Textron Inc in bankruptcy court. Textron liquidated the company in 2008 according to inside sources due to a lack of operating capital, low demand for its motorcycles, and lack of a solid business plan to correct falling custom motorcycle demand in 2008. Several of the company directors continued operating failing dealerships in the custom motorcycle market in Tarrant County Texas. Roadster American IronHorse American IronHorse was an American motorcycle manufacturer that was founded in 1995 by Tim Edmundson and Bill Rucker.