Evidently, when President Matt Chambers created his company in 1991 in Louisiana (headquartered inAlabama), he picked up on purpose the name of Confederate for whatever reason and meaning it has for him… But today, after the events of Charlottesville, Virginia where protests turned violent as white supremacists clashed with counter-demonstrators, and a car hit a crowd of anti-racist and anti-fascist protesters, killing one woman, Chambers has decided to retire the name Confederate. In the actual US political climate it seems to many that all association to the Southern Confederacy of the American Civil war has become akin to supporting white supremacy.
“The Confederate brand was no longer viable. I think we lost a lot a business with that name” said Matt Chambers, adding “We’ve missed out on branding opportunities. So, it’s time to retire it.” The company is now called Curtiss Motorcycles, after the famous aviator Glenn Curtiss. Curtiss not only gained fame for going up against the Wright Brothers in bid to dominate the skies, but he also built and raced motorcycles.
The Hercules, the first bike from Curtiss Motorcycles, will be electric and powered by two electric motors from Zero, producing an estimated 170hp and a staggering 393Nm of torque. It will probably look like a low-slung sportbike. . The Confederate name will stay on for a short while longer as the company sells off the last of its recently released cruiser, the FA-13 Combat Bomber.
Snowflakes won’t buy motorcycles anyway. FFS get a grip. The civil war was not about race, it was about self determination and trade. Read your own history – NOT the Liberal reinterpretation.
a sad day when snowflake liberals can achieve this
Unbelievable,
Maybe with the name Curtiss the can claim since 1902, again unbelievable
Umm, have they checked with Glenn Curtiss’ family?
How about Curtiss had his HQ in Hammondsport, NY.
Cool museum there with his name on it.
Though unlike several here devoid of historical knowledge and context I completely understand the logic behind the decision though I do feel this may be a step too far
BTW Baz .. try reading the real history not the alt right verging on neofascim garbage you obviously have been . The Civil War from the souths point of view was all about slavery and their economic dependency on them . The south having started the aggressions a full decade before the actual war began ( re; The KS – MO border wars ) FYI It aint jes the snowflakes and liberals there little Bubba … its the overwhelming majority of this fine country you seem to despise so deeply
Wow! Really! Speechless!!!!!
Good for him. Crybabies will always whine no matter what. I wouldn’t buy a bike from Nazi Motorcycles or Al-Queda Motorcycles either.
Insideline said it better than I could
Wonder if it would have been different if the KKK was whipped into picking cotton?
Any reference to the Confederacy has no place in present day life. It is archaic and representative of an ignorance we’ve moved beyond.
Teach your children a trade, give them education and skills not hatred of others.
Total waste of time.
I’m surprised by current political controversy. Anyone who reads the Declarations of Cause issued by the Confederate states can see exactly what the war was about.
https://www.civilwar.org/learn/primary-sources/declaration-causes-seceding-states
I never thought Confederate was a racist company. I know a lady who works for ISIS, a pharmaceutical
company. She doesn’t scare me.
Yet people buy Japanese and German bikes and cars knowing what they did I don’t think confederate motorcycles had anything to do with the civil war get over your righteous selves
the “end of days,” on the way.
the whole world has gone mad. unreal.
no tv for 5+ years, limited exposure to mainstream media for me.
a mere handful of news sources & a couple of blogs is all I opt for…and seeing this, reading this makes me sick to my stomach. this nonsense now seeping into EVERYTHING!
what is next…S & S changing their name because it is too easily confused with the “SS” brownshirts from WWII? or Native Americans that are offended by the “Indian Larry” brand…
whatever happened to…nevermind
Pat h. Do you know how many Jewish Americans don’t buy Mercedes and BMW’s because of WW2. A very large number Instead they buy a Lexus.
To I can tell some of you are not business owners or entrepreneurs. Branding is everything. Be it for justified or unjustified reasons, any negative light to a brand name can destroy a company, or at the very very least, limit growth potential. Boutique company like Confederate (now Curtiss) needs to maximize every single opportunity to sell every single motorcycle they make. You may not agree with it, but it is a smart business move and they are NOT being “snowflakes”….it’s called good business management.
Chad I don’t see the difference Mercedes bmw Lexus Mitsubishi, same war ask any P.O.W in the south pacific or the Chinese or islanders all I’m saying is get over it confederate is a name and most of the people crying about it have nothing to do with it what about all the Irish that couldn’t get work, the list goes on maybe they should rename all the states south of the mason Dixon
JT Nesbitt was smart to get away from this mess.
Oh, and in all the years I have been aware of Confederate Motors ( or the General Lee on the Dukes of Hazard for what it’s worth) did I equate it with white supremecy. Wow.
Pat h. Do you make a difference between war and jewish racial genocide?
@chad foster,
bfd, the german automobile makers are thriving, regardless.
Chadwick I mentioned P.O.Ws because of the treatment allied soldiers got from the japs as far as the Chinese and Pacific islanders civilian that was genocide also, you truly sound like a douchebag that will only argue on the Internet,
Let’s see, are ANY of those German or Japanese companies NAMED after the freaking war criminals that committed the atrocities??? For the love of God I have no idea why some snowflakes will stretch so hard to try and justify a freaking war against the United States based on slavery as something to be admired.
Mitsubishi motors made aircraft for the Japanese air force. those aircraft are responsible for the death of thousands of people. Must the car company now change their name?
When is this garbage going to end?
Boots it ends when people stop being stupid racist pigs. Did Mitsubishi start the war? Did Mitsubishi orchestrate the enslavement, torture, or genocide of a race? Where we draw the line is easy. We don’t hold companies responsible for evil scumbag politicians. Personal responsibility, we hold evil scumbag politicians responsible for being evil scumbag politicians. We do not build them monuments and name our schools and companies after those losers. And the Confederacy did lose, they are losers.
bob s, read the history of the rape of Nan King China yes Mitsubishi was involved in genocide. Stop the holier than thou what next Jackson off the $20 tell us what that will do.
Disappointing but apparently a sober business decision. Unnecessary in my opinion though. With this one change; this motorcycle manufacturer has lost its bad boy image and mystique and joined the ranks of Motus and Royal Enfield. Not bad but also not badass.
I’m offended by political correctness…
Back to the real story confederate has a spine equal to a blade of grass will fold as fast as PII first sign of trouble change direction hence electric vehicles,they can’t sell unconventional motorcycles forever (although I will say they were really well built )they would have a easier time selling confederate bikes as apposed to I’m a spineless fag giving into the first resistance motorcycle, decided in a big meeting/martini fueled lunch like many people even know who they are, Ford IBM or Walt Disney now there’s conversation, confederate motors please
maybe they will sell 6 bikes nxt year instead of 5 …just to remind the new Curtiss MC co… i can walk into a Yamaha dealership, spend $9000 on a new bike that will leave ur machine in the dust and last twice as long…just sayin
saw this bike and wow what can i saw………its the ultimate look look look at me bike
how it rides or handles who cares as its the ultimate ego stroker for some rich dude
makes a boss hoss look like a 10 cent garage tonka toy
@ 125K a pop , no matter what you call it , it has a very limited target group . Remember AMC motors ? I owned the Rebel . @ BobS , does that make me a racist pig ?
Absolutely staggering!
How many people (the left-of-centre kind included – perhaps especially) drive a Mercedez, or an Audi (Auto Union), or a BMW? These were not only symbols of Nazi engineering prowess – it was rhe very essence of it.
This is about money – specifically the kind that flows from behind the high security wall of Hypocrite Holywood.
I just scanhed through the comments,
Chad – Jews buy Lexus instead of German brands? But the Japs were part of the Axis – so was Italy (so no Ferrari etc).
Btw – drive past a synagogue – they LUV Mercs; most of them could not care less – mostly because they actually have paying jobs…
As Confederate MC says they have already found out they were hit economically because of negative associations – they did right, no matter how much discussing of history and other examples.
BMW or Audi are using their own brand-names, so they are not a sample you can compare.
People could understand “Confederate” as a reminiscence to CSA quickly.
If you know better – good, some others maybe don`t.
BMW, no reminiscence to anything by keeping that name, it was there before the war, like the name Mitsubishi was as well.
Confederate as brand name was not there before the happenings.
Smart move.Do what you have to in keeping your company viable!
Good man. But then again, I wouldn’t touch a bike named “Combat Bomber”.
It’s just sad. This correctness is out of control.
So much hate coming from our beloved US of A. Most of us used to look up to you for wisdom and guidance. California Dreamin’ and Silicon Valley spring to mind… But now?
This change perplexed me until I read that Confederate Motors was going electric. Then I thought about the clientele that might be willing to put down a big chunk of change for a custom electric motorcycle. Probably more environmentally conscious and possibly more progressive leaning when it comes to politics and social issues. Now it makes complete sense to me to ditch the Confederate name and re brand themselves. Especially since it appears the company is taking it’s bikes in a drastic new direction.
Ya All remember when Bikers would stand up for things, sometimes we got at azz’s whipped, sometime we whipped them. Yup I remember those days,…..we said what we believed and dealt with the consequences, not lived in fear and hid from those who are paid by a former NAZI George Soros
Political Correctness suck up . . . grow a set !
PC gone crazy. Make it stop please.
Very sad time in America indeed
When people blame “snowflakes” are you describing those who are white and pure like a snowflake? Children and their name calling is why we’re in this mess of sensativity.
This is the stupiest marketing move ever. And costly too.
Branding is extremely important and should not be didcated by a series of incidents that the media has already forgotten.
@little rider: I’m not so sure that this will be forgotten so quick, if at all. The USA as we knew it, a place where freedom and equality ruled are dead. Replaced by a swamp of Nazis, who could not care less for American values. This name change means however, that here’s a man with balls who will not ride on this train of evil. Hats off to Mr Chambers.
It seems the new American pastime is how quickly one can be offended. You guys are so offended by slavery,go to Egypt and have them tear down the pyramids……..
What a shame to have to be afraid of a history that won’t matter if you rip it apart or not the south will rise again as has everyone else…..
Hey, don’t buy a Dodge because the Dukes of Hazzard named their’s the General Lee.
With luck, Curtiss Motorcycles will bring back the V-8 internal combustion motorcycle that would fit into their wheelhouse of experience and expertise. The electric motorcycle is a regurgitation of a previously failed attempt of propulsion.
That some real ignorant chicken shit bull crap. U would think he would know his buyer.
Smart business move. Wishing them the best.
I always loved the name. Ballsy name for sure as he built rebellious bikes.
He should have had the flag painted on it somewhere on every bike.
But the price, the no passenger seat or pegs, generic engine, the owners rocky business past etc. etc etc held back sales and no dealer network.
I think a cool all black model could have been called
“The Tar Baby” Oh yeah
can’t blame them, why get caught up in a shitstorm of libtardprogressive bullshit
if they kept the name how many here would have bought one of them based
on the name, none I bet since it’s a $125K bike. Why waste capital and management
time on fighting this, they are a business, it’s a shame they have to do it to remain
off the ANTIFA radar.
Bullshit on those whiners and the Confederate issue. Leave it alone as it was a part of our history. I ride an Indian now I suppose the fact the settlers slaughtered the natives for their own greed that Polaris will have to change the name?
Words used to describe folks with differing opinions on this post:
Snowflake, libtard, douchebag, spineless fag, whiners.
Full-grown adult internet bullies. That’s cute.
CAN not believe this crap unbelievable statues, motorcycles ,streets this is BS
‘better tobe dead and cool than alive and uncool ‘ –Harley Davidson
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it
Let the book burning begin under the fasaud of self righteousness
A few years ago I had the opportunity to ride a Hellcat … What an awesome fun bike… Way too expensive, but if I had a bunch of $$$ I would own one…
Hey Matt, call your company whatever you want … You know what you are doing !!!
…………………… Domino Dave …………………………….
p.s. I own an Audi, a Nissan, a Harley, a Kawasaki, a GMC, a Honda (lawn mower) … So what?!?!
Good call! Curtiss is a name our whole country can be proud of, and those of us interested in motorcycles are almost always interested in airplanes. Curtiss Motorcycles is a cool name. Period, no doubt about it. As an aircraft manufacturer, Curtiss defended our country. The confederacy attempted to tear it apart what more needs to be said?
Paul z you sound like a cheerleader mom “your all winners “
It’s not their name. Did they get approval from the Curtiss family? The use of the Curtiss name is equally f’in weird when you consider the company behind it….first he wants to exploit being a “rebel” and attempt to project an individualistic originality. Now, he goes and tries to exploit a man he has NOTHING to do with or his accomplishments. I call MAJOR bullshit.
Even if they did get permission from the decendants (which I doubt), Glenn Curtiss deserves better than this …and so will electric motorcycles.
On a separate but similar soapbox…
For all you people that have a problem with the long overdue actions to put confederate history in its proper place, read the history of the southern state declarations. You cannot find a bigger display of blatant bullshit that goes against the greatest living document ever written, The Declaration of Independence, specifically The Bill of Rights. Those southern states’ declaration was 100% about slavery and contradicted the self awareness of what it means to be a human – that All Men are created Equal. They were traders and f ucking lost !!
Consider the timeline of humans governing humans for millennia. Those historical governments have been oppressive for thousands of years and finally thousands of years in the making, a group of men had the courage to write the Bill of Rights. After all that time it took Less than a hundred years for those lazy white southerners to want to break up this country and go against that amazing Declaration, effectively golng against the goodness of humanity & their own sense of “being”. Then, after the worse loss of US lives over slavery, another hundred years later, we had segregation and the need to go through the Civil Rights movement throughout the 1950’s. Staggering.
Another 57 years later and here we are in 2017. Yes, this history is finally getting put in the proper place, including Geo Washington & Thomas Jefferson being slave owners. Can you get more hypocritical?
Wow. Unbelievable how this has transgressed. I’m sick of political correctness and social justice warriors.
Youre gonna be sick for a long time
Despite politically-motivated rumors to the contrary, billionaire leftist George Soros was neither an SS officer nor a Nazi collaborator during World War II. Why is it so hard to be honest in adult discussions?
Well said, Doug.
This whole naming controversy has come to a head because of our racist-in-chief manchild president. I agree that it sometimes goes too far. Actions are more important than names and statues, some of which are historical and magnificent. See, for every action there is a reaction. Elect a racist clown to be president of the United States, and the opposite side starts agitating about statues and names. Cause and effect. For every action, there is a reaction. Sorry state this country is in. A lot of it is because of the internet and Twitter. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but hopefully we will get rid of the clown-in-chief soon.
I agree with Charles from PA. Trump is incapable, doesn’t understand how the government works. Our blonde liar in chief is on his way out of the white house. Watch…
To be a Trumpist is to admit being a racist with a low IQ.
Reading the news yesterday it seems that the parents who send their kids to these snowflake colleges
are finally getting fed up and telling these schools to quit teaching all of this B.S. and supporting the riots. All of the statues that the protesters are ripping down are past liberal heroes. Could it be these revisionists are trying to eliminate their whole past? When getting into this whole slavery situation people seem to think that it was started by the white man. Centuries ago slavery was created by the Moslem Moors and other black alliances from Africa. In the early American South, 3% of the plantation owners, (WHO WERE ALL DEMOCRATS) owned 97% of the slaves. I don’t believe any Republicans ever owned any slaves. All of these protesters who are running around calling people Nazi racist’s etc., can’t see they are doing exactly what they claim other people to be.
Tom Ryan – “WHO WERE ALL DEMOCRATS”
Awesome. You have pointed out that Democrats have evolved and progressed. Meanwhile, Nixon gave us “The Southern Strategy” many years afterthe Civi Right Movement. You are spelling it out that Republicans continued to divide the country based on skin color even though the country had the painful lessons of both the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement to be reminded of the principles this country was founded on.
Tom Ryan – “…people seem to think that it was started by the white man” –
Yes, started by the white man in this country, which was less than a hundred years after the Bill of Rights. proof: the Southern States Declarations. Here are some excerpts….
From the State of MS:
“Mississippi
A Declaration of the Immediate Causes which Induce and Justify the Secession of the State of Mississippi from the Federal Union.
Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery– the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun.”
source: https://www.civilwar.org/learn/primary-sources/declaration-causes-seceding-states
Dragonkay makes a statement about George Soros that partially right. Soros was not an SS Officer, he was only 9 years old at the start of WW2. He freely admits to be a Nazi collaborator though.His justification? If I didn’t do it, someone else would.
Doug,
I posted a link to the Declaration of Causes earlier on his thread.
Pearls before swine.
“Can’t we all just get along?” Is ultimately what has to happen or we will be doomed to repeat everything, yet again.
A few snow flakes trample on a whole section of our country. None of the people today own slaves. Including the Irish slaves . Nobody alive today was a slave. This is all a power grab by a bunch of mostly white leftists. First it was the battle flag of northern Virginia. Then it’s CSA statues. Then Columbus , what’s next? Washington? A bunch of azz holes.
So the car hit the anti-fascists, whom upon reading one sentence more, we note are actually fascists – only using the name to totally flummox journalists – whom are so easily flummoxed. After all, a group that beats up old people, sets fires, breaks really large windows and such would never lie – would they?
On a separate newsworthy item, backbones in men are disappearing at an alarming rate.
With the antifa crowd running wild with no push-back whatsoever, they have at least put to bed the age old argument about whether to keep one in the chamber. I for one am glad that argument is over.
For all you righteously indignant fellas who are not happy about Matt Chambers decision let me remind you of what my grandpa, a bona fide gentleman of the south, used to tell me about matters like this… It’s his soap and his pecker and he can wash it however he wants to.
This is the longest sting of “comments” that I have read on this site- seems like a bright move to change the company name and throw out the reason as “backlash”- got a lot of free publicity.
I’ve been riding since 1967 and this is the first time that I’ve paid any attention to this particular motorcycle manufacturer. It would be interesting to hear specific details from Chamber’s regarding his vision of “backlash” and the subsequent impact to his company.
Regardless, Pop’s Grandpa is right. As always, we have the ability to let our money (purchases) do our talking.
I feel so offended!
I’m definitely going to keep one in the chamber now!
@Xenu – Big Fckn Deal. I posted that link months or a year ago when the confed flag topic came up then
When did snowflake become a pretend insult? Snowflakes are beautiful, unique and enough of them together can be completely overwhelming. But yeah, nice insult.lol Anyway good for Curtis for not being dinosaurs anymore.