Motorcycle was producing over 500 bikes. Other British firms were Royal Enfield, Norton and Birmingham Small Arms Company who began motorbike production in 1899, 1902 and 1910, respectively. Indian began production in 1901 and Harley-Davidson was established two years later. By the outbreak of World War I, the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world was Indian, producing over 20,000 bikes per year. During the First World War, motorbike production was greatly ramped up for the war effort to supply effective communications with front line troops. Messengers on horses were replaced with despatch riders on motorcycles carrying messages, performing reconnaissance and acting
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.