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Local USA Baggers Corp. rolls out custom Indian motorcycle in time for Colorado show
McCOOK, Neb. — A new McCook business unveiled its ground-breaking and ground-shaking "Stars and Stripes" Indian Bagger motorcycle at home on Jan. 19 and will present it to the world when they take it to Colorado Motorcycle Expo, one of the largest motorcycle events in the country, Saturday and Sunday.
"Bagger" motorcycles, designed with larger saddlebags for traveling long distances, came into popularity several years ago. The bikes in the last few years have become stretched with big wheels added to the front, giving them a longer and wider stance.
Although the concept itself is not new, "USA Baggers Corp.," a new shop in McCook, Nebraska, is taking that concept over the bar, designing and building extended, custom-painted, stylish — and audaciously loud and powerful — Indian Chieftain "Baggers" like no other.
Through fog machine mist and under theatrical lights, "USA Baggers" owners Brett Schmitz and Ronnie Wallace of McCook rolled out the first Bagger motorcycle of their "Legends Series" at an exclusive unveiling at their shop at 1704 West Q on Saturday, Jan. 19.
Schmitz and Wallace say the pearl white and hand-painted gleaming red-white-and-blue "Stars and Stripes" bike is a tribute to legendary motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel and to Travis Pastrana, the motorsports competitor who recently celebrated the life of Evel Knievel by successfully completing the three biggest jumps that frustrated his hero.
'Stars and Stripes'
USA Baggers promo states: " … this bike demands rubber-necking. Perched atop the retro 70's stars and stripes seat and listening to the more than 800 watts of ear-numbing decibels screaming from the 4 JL audio speakers that are running seamlessly through the factory Indian ride command system, you still can't help but hear Evel Knievel's words, 'Live hard, ride fast and regret nothing'." From the custom-designed front fender and triple tree to the sleek voluptuous curves of the "Bare Back" Bagger kit custom developed by USA Baggers, this bike is nothing short of a rolling work of art. However awe-inspiring it is to gaze upon, it's just as awe-inspiring to ride."
‘Raising the bar’
Ronnie and Brett started designing motorcycles together several years ago, starting small and selling mostly to friends. USA Baggers has taken that hobby and raised the bar on design, customization and fabrication of Indian Baggers. After working for years with fiberglass companies producing ill-fitting after-market kits and struggling to modify so-called "ready to bolt-on kits," the two men decided to produce their own line.
The USA Bagger team has crafted its "Bare Back" body kit exclusively for Indian motorcycles. These kit parts include extended rear bags, side panels, gas tank covers, seat pans, chin spoilers, rear fenders and speaker lids.
The team further customized its own front fenders, and an exhaust pipe called "The Pow Wow" exhaust.
USA Baggers plans to produce eight to ten custom Indian motorcycles each year using their own kits and design aspects.
They will also take orders for a series they are developing called “Evil Indians.” The bikes will be customized with USA Baggers kits and receive exotic paint schemes with a signature Evil Indian and big wheel. Modifications to the engines can include superchargers, venom plenums and cam work. They can be ordered in the Chief or Chieftain style.
They will further make USA Bagger kits available for purchase by consumers so they can build their own baggers.
‘Not your dad's touring bike’
Ronnie says, "Chieftain Indian motorcycles are already known for their handling and ergonomics. They are great motorcycles, but the exciting and interesting challenge is to maintain those qualities while adding more power output and producing a more aggressive, stretched motorcycle, i.e. a 'Bagger'."
He continued, "We didn't want to produce just another Indian Bagger. We wanted to make the best Indian Bagger on the market. And I believe we have achieved that without sacrificing quality and functionality. USA Baggers is the right company, at the right time to meet the challenge."
The goal of USA Baggers, according to the two men, is to make Indian Baggers aesthetically beautiful, as well as safe and comfortable to ride even long distances.
Their "Stars and Stripes" motorcycle has just been selected by two of the top Motorcycle Bagger Magazines in the nation, "American Bagger" and "Urban Bagger Magazine," to appear in upcoming issues.
USA Baggers will also be taking their stars and stripes motorcycle to a bike show out in Denver, Feb. 2 and 3. Their custom designed kits will be on display there as well.
For more information about USA Baggers, call (402) 882-6425 or visit their website at www.usabaggers.net or find them on facebook@usabaggers
Brett and Ronnie say that Angie Reiners, also of McCook, has been instrumental in starting this company by designing the web site and Facebook page. Angie also did the hand-painting of the red, white and blue stripe on the bike. She will be the design behind most of the upcoming bike builds, according to the two men.
Ronnie concluded, "We here at USA Baggers like to think that even Evel Knievel himself would appreciate and want to ride a motorcycle like this one."