Confederate Motors to close, reopen with new name and electric motorcycles

By Bruce Brown August 30, 2017

Confederate Motors closing — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The company name no longer works so the company will close. Birmingham, Alabama-based Confederate Motors is going out of business, reports Asphalt and Rubber. After an undisclosed dark period, a new company called Curtiss Motorcycles will introduce high-performance electric motorcycles.

Founded in 1991 by attorney H. Matthew Chambers, Confederate Motors is today, and soon will have been, a boutique motorcycle company known for extremely high-powered, big V-twin motorcycles. The official Confederate Motors closing will occur when the single last remaining P51 Combat Fighter is sold.

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According to Asphalt and Rubber, Chambers told the Los Angeles Times the Confederate name had become a political liability. “I think we lost a lot a business with that name,” Chambers said. “We’ve missed out on branding opportunities. So, it’s time to retire it.”

The remaining P51 Combat Fighter is the Black edition. All Blonde editions have already sold.

The P51 is made entirely made from carved solid billet blocks of military-grade aluminum for robustness and fatigue-resistance. The bike’s 7-inch frame backbone also serves as the fuel tank with a 3.75-gallon capacity.

Powered by a 132-cubic inch (2,163cc) 56-degree air cooled V-twin engine, the P51 produces 145 hp at 5,100 RPM and 160 pound-feet of torque at mind-boggling low 2,000 RPM.

The rated 160 mph top speed was proved earlier in August when, according to Confederate’s website, the P51 ran 164.93 mph on “very slippery salt.”

The P51 uses adjustable monoshocks front and rear, double wishbone in front and cantilevered in the rear.

Weighing in at 560 pounds with fuel and fluids, the P51 has a 62.5-inch wheelbase and 29.5-inch seat height. There’s a 19-inch carbon front wheel with a 120/70XR19 tire and a 17-inch carbon disc rear wheel wearing a 240/45XR17 tire.

Curtiss Motorcycles is named for Glenn Curtis, an early aviator who also built and raced motorcycles. Curtis competed with the Wright Brothers. Curtis was dubbed the “Fastest Man on Earth” in 1907 after he rode a V8-powered Hercules motorcycle built by his company 136.3 mph in a measured mile at Ormond Beach in Florida.

The first electric model from the new Curtiss Motorcycle, suitably called the Hercules, is reported to be based on a low, sporty cruiser design and will have two Zero Motorcycles electric motors. Early estimates are the electric ride will pump out 175 hp and pull 290 pound-feet of torque. Chambers has not announced an expected release date or where it will be built.

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Bruce Brown Contributing Editor As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…

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