Following my announcement of March 25th regarding the financial difficulties of custom shop Darwin Motorcycles, I had a couple of friendly telephonic discussions with owner Dar Holdsworth.
He explained to me the reasons of his troubled business and shared with me his business strategy to restructure it.
To confirm his intentions Dar Holdsworth just sent me the following press release.
“Brass Balls Cycles (d/b/a Darwin Motorcycles) confirms a restructuring agreement with an Austin, TX based investment team in order to better service customers and generate long-term sustainable growth for the company. The deal, which includes a working capital loan with undisclosed terms will provide financial stability as well as the implementation of operational changes.
Jason Havey, current COO of Onnit Labs, an internationally recognized health and wellness brand, has been appointed as CEO of Brass Balls Cycles. Founder Dar Holdsworth remains active in his role as president & chief designer. The two-time American Motorcycle Dealer (AMD) World Champion of Custom Bike Building (Production Manufacturer) winner plans to use the resources to maintain the company’s industry leading build quality, while improving the manufacturing process for speed, efficiency, and flexibility in delivery.
Commenting on the restructuring, newly-appointed CEO Jason Havey said, “Brass Balls Cycles has every intangible quality of a successful company: an incredible product, a great following, and a passion for building world championship caliber motorcycles. “What we lacked was working capital. This, along with the addition of an experienced management team was addressed in this restructuring.”
In addition to continued excellence in custom building, Brass Balls Cycles will also be expanding its existing line of parts and accessories to provide additional options and value for motorcycle enthusiasts.
Brass Balls Cycles Founder Dar Holdsworth added: “Motorcycles are more than just a machine to their owners. From the beginning, we have wanted to instill the care in both design and manufacturing befitting of a family member. Whether it has been a charity bike for the armed services, a bespoke customer bike build, or parts and modifications for the hobbyist, we pour everything into our motorcycles. With the support of the new management team, I am looking forward to focusing on what we do best… building uncompromising American Motorcycles.”
Moyorcycle manufacturing…one tough business…Working capital requirements are extreme and long term. All the best Dar & Crew with the restructuring. MJB
looks like this what they’ve been lacking .. a business-oriented management
good luck Dar
It doesn’t say anything about whether the people that have paid money will get their motorcycles? I hope so…
Brass Balls Cycles and Big Bear Choppers share the same BBC initials. Hope that it is not a bad sign.
Borrowing more money may be not the right decision…
Knowing somewhat about this business, I don’t believe too much in this financial montage.
Hope Dar can maintain and pull this off. Really have liked both BBC designs and the couple of bikes that I have seen in person have shown great attention to fit and finish. The very basic first bikes he did are the only hardtail I’ve ever desired to own.
Good luck.
Like Kenart said….No mention of customers who have paid in full & are waiting on their bikes….Time will tell but I am not holding my breath. Good luck to those who deserve what they paid for. I truly hope you get your bike or a refund.
Our clients are our first & top priority. We are making contact with them and will be completing each of their bikes. Our goal is to deliver what each client contracted us for, an amazing, timeless Brass Balls Cycle that they will love to ride. We are extremely grateful for our customers, all of our customers, and the opportunity to serve them. Thank you for your support.
DON’T BUY IN TO IT FOLKS.
Dar’s spiel above is total bullshit, TO THE CONTRARY his actions and gross amounts of inaction speak volumes.
Facts show they cannot run a business with creditably further proven by how Dar fails to operate above board and his failure to fulfill customers funded orders and make them happy as Dar mutually agreed.
I hope those burned by Brass Balls Choppers and Dar Holdsworth prosecute to the fullest extent for failure to deliver and fraud. He more than likely won’t be around to take care of anything.
The economy is tough at best and this dude is burnt toast other than possibly working for Uncle Sam in the near future.
Boss Hawg
Jason Havey probably believes, like many other outsiders before him, that there is money to be made in custom motorcycles. He is going to be disappointed, losing money, Holdsworth lasting a little bit longer at his expense, with BBC failing at the end. Let’s talk about it in 1 year…Cyril will get the scoop again.
I agree with Boss Hawg. I think that the press release sent to Cyril is complete BS to save time.
pulling for you dar
Time will tell. To make a business mistake right you need both the moral will and financial means to do so. One’s no good without the other. Perhaps now there will be both, at least to make previous customers whole again. New customers may be tougher to convince, but how many people may even find out about the past situation?
can’t get past the smell of snake oil!
instead of saying what your gonna do to be better. say your taking no pay till all those you cheated get reimbursed with interest.
then remove yourself out of the company because you don’t have the ability nor knowledge how to do it right the first time.
then admit your a loser!
I have known Dar for a very long time. He has always done what he said he’ll do in fact I have seen him go out on a limb to deliver several bikes being donated for charity or some other giveaway for various organizations. If he works that hard to deliver those bikes, I know any customers that have put money down will get their bikes.
I am still amazed at all the computer commandos that talk trash about people on here. Get a life guys or better yet, have some interaction with people face to face
“Our clients are our first & top priority. We are making contact with them and will be completing each of their bikes. Our goal is to deliver what each client contracted us for, an amazing, timeless Brass Balls Cycle that they will love to ride. We are extremely grateful for our customers, all of our customers, and the opportunity to serve them. Thank you for your support.”
I sure hope so for the customers who put up their hard earned $$$ to get a “working man’s custom” !!
Nothing should be done until EVERY customer owed a cycle is either refunded the full amount of his
deposit/purchase price or a fully working custom cycle built to the exact specs.
I’m with Mr. B. Garner, let’s revisit in a year & see what is what ???
Cyril will keep us up to date, bet on it !!!!
Thank you bean’re, I haven’t met the man often but was starting to think I had the wrong impression of him, something that doesn’t happen often. I’m glad someone else who has known him longer validates what I believe is the case. I’ve known a lot of business owners who have gotten over extended believing that the next big payday is on the horizon. Why shouldn’t Dar believe that; he builds beautiful machines that win objective international acclaim.
Whoever posted the lawsuit link has no concept of doing business in today’s society. You can’t sneeze without some lawyer trying to jump in your wallet. Once again, I truly hope everyone is made whole and this sounds like a step in the right direction.
Good luck and please prove us all wrong!!
Is it me or does this all sound so much like Ridley and Big Bear
Bean’re you have to get a TV show or get on you tube with all your travels
I dont know guy, but I like his bikes ! They build MotorCycles I could own and enjoy
Hope he gets through this, I seem to remember when he first got into business allot of people slated him , YES Really !!! but that is the way it is .
Good Luck
OK, the announcement has been made on their plan. New financial person on board, lets see what they do from here forward. Words now, action to follow.
Here is what happens with his investors, read section 6.
http://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetDocument.aspx?ct=oklahoma&bc=1012926689&cn=FD-2002-3906&fmt=pdf
So this business and these customers are all caught up in a bad divorce and a father that can’t seem to get his head around his first responsibility to raise and provide for the children he brought into this world.
It seems that Dar should be working for a living and doing his Passion of bike building in the evenings or night and turning out the projects and builds as needed while not overloading one’s ASS!
But then again I’ve never met the man but it seems like he was trying to LIVE the LIFESTYLE to the very end! Hope all things work out and he can be a Earner and Father that has gained some common since on life with these experiences and move forward!
SSDD;David
Digging up six year old court documents for a child support issue written by an opposing attorney and casting Dar in the most unappealing light as possible is an extremely low blow.
From all appearances, Dar has taken steps to right his ship and seems committed to providing his customers with the products they purchased.
I say give the man an opportunity to carry his plan to fruition before playing judge, jury, and executioner.
Hope all his customers were smart enough to put it on a card–time for a charge-back.
I agree with Bean’re, it’s easy to sit there and be critical, it’s tougher to give credit to the fact that instead of cutting and running. like many others have done, he has chosen to stay with his ship and fight his way threw all of this. What I know of Dars, he has always given back in the form of charity bikes and awareness of Veterans. He wanted to work with my after-school program years back, very badly but because of International borders and distances, we could not make it work. I have been out of the loop of late as I am not running my program anymore after doing so for 11 years, the only question I have that may be easily answered is, what happened to Toby Keith?? Wasn’t he a full partner in Brass Balls??
I wish Dars all the best and hope this risk pays off for him and all of his workers.
Mazz.