Go Big or Go Home
Big Dog Motorcycles expands with new bikes, apparel and a brand that’s stretching beyond the United States.
Sarah Jane Leming
ATMOSPHERE: From the chrome on the bikes to the sheen on the polished stone floors, Big Dog Motorcycles’ 175,000-square-foot world headquarters in central Wichita is a shrine of shine. Beyond the bikes and apparel is a world of intricate assembly, with row upon row of bikes-to-be at various stages.
KEY PEOPLE: Sheldon Coleman, grandson of the Coleman Company’s founder, started the company by building custom bikes in his garage. Fourteen years later, Big Dog Motorcycles boasts nearly 100 dealers around the nation, and the company—named after Coleman’s band, Dewey and the Big Dogs—is poised to go international in 2009. In fact, Big Dog is currently the leader in high-style cruisers and the world’s largest manufacturer of chopper-style motorcycles. It has built more than 25,000 bikes to date.
Among the employees revving up the company’s business is Shari Klapprott, who has worked at Big Dog for 12 years. As a test rider, she traveled all over Kansas to test the mettle of each new vehicle before making a switch to become the manager of apparel and to expand the brand’s clothing line. Altogether, the company employs around 250 people.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND: Each of Big Dog’s bikes has a canine namesake. The 2008 lineup includes the Ridgeback and the award-winning Pitbull. New styles with hidden shock suspension include the Mutt, Mastiff and K-9. Coming in 2009 is The Wolf.
It takes two or three days to assemble each motorcycle on the 11-building Wichita campus, sans automated assembly lines. Each bike, whether outfitted with hidden shock suspension or a sleek hard tail, is set specifically to the owner’s weight. Among Big Dog’s most notable features are fat rear tires and 117-cubic-inch twin-cylinder engines—also available in diamond-cut, which run cooler than other types of engines. The bikes are outfitted with six-speed transmissions, easy-pull clutches and electronic fuel injection that gets 40 miles per gallon. The bikes can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds. You can also choose from 18 base colors and 81 stylish graphics for a custom paint job. While most bike brands only add four to six layers of urethane clear coating, Big Dog applies 11 to 15 coats, adding a 3-D effect and extra polish.
Even if you don’t buy one of the bikes, which sell for $25,000 and up, you can still walk out with something from Big Dog. The selection of apparel extends far beyond black leather. “What’s been fun is to see how fashion has changed,” says Klapprott. “We’ve kept the basic biker design while still having an edge.” The company began printing T-shirts in 1995, and now they offer nearly 300 items for all tastes. Besides Big Dog sweatshirts ($32), hoodies ($42) and leather jackets ($299), you can find sunglasses, bandanas, blankets, pocketknives, baseball caps ($24) and helmets ($63). There are also motorcycle accessories, including tail bags ($150), service covers, tag brackets, axle caps, grips, pegs, windscreens and more.
WICHITA VERDICT: For a sleek blend of machinery and artistry, Big Dog Motorcycles is an impressive stop. Even if you’re not a die-hard biker, it’s easy to appreciate the company’s craftsmanship.
