American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 179 June 2014 | Page 11

NEWS Former V&H engineers launch
BRIEFS new exhaust company
PowerSports Business has
reported that a new analysis of
preliminary state data released
by the Governors Highway
Safety Association (GHSA)
suggests that US motorcyclist
fatalities are projected to have
decreased in 2013, for only the
second year since 1997 - by a
probable 7 percent.
Sabertooth Motorcycles is fighting
an Arctic Cat lawsuit over their
'WildCat' registered trademark by
filing a countersuit of its own,
Sabertooth reported. It is reported
that Sabertooth owns the WildCat
trademark, having federally
regis tered it with the United States
Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) for its motorcycles and
trikes, and been making use of it for
eight years. Sabertooth say that
Arctic Cat has tried three times to
register the Wildcat name for its
side-by-sides, but its efforts were
denied by the USPTO each time
because of the likelihood of
confusion with its own WildCat
trademark.

JOHN Peck and Leigh Crawford have
announced the launch of Firebrand
Design LLC, which will manufacture
and design aftermarket products for
motorcycles. The two industry veterans
said they are "focusing initial efforts
on manufacturing exhausts for HarleyDavidsons," but that they "also plan
on expanding the line with other
products and for additional vehicle
brands."
The company's first products are
Loose Cannon Slip-Ons for Harley
touring models. "Products for
Sportster, Softail and Dyna are
currently in production and will be
available this summer," the company
announced.
Firebrand products are being
distributed by HardDrive Parts, a
division of Boise, Idaho based
distributor Western Power Sports
(WPS).

Peck, President of Firebrand, is the
former Vice President of
manufacturing at Vance & Hines. “We
saw an opportunity for a company that
could combine the experience and
production capabilities of the large
corporations, with the passion and
creativity of the custom shops,” he
said. Peck will manage day-to-day
operations.
Crawford, taking on the role of Vice
President of Development at
Firebrand, is the former R&D manager
at Vance & Hines.
“We don’t want to be just another
exhaust company,” Crawford said. “As
an enthusiast, I am creating products
that not only push the limits of style
and design, but provide riders a
tremendous value.”
www.firebrandmotorcycle.com
www.hdtwin.com

www.firebrandmotorcycle.com
www.hdtwin.com

Firebrand’s new ‘Loose Cannon’
exhausts are available in chrome or
black ceramic. The company uses
what it is describing as a ‘flashsuppressor’ end treatment and a
“race inspired” high performance
baffle which features dual density
muffler packing and is designed to
“maximize stock and high
performance motors