Thunder Roads Magazine of Oklahoma/Arkansas August TRMOK _FINAL

FEATURES BIG DOG IS BACK 22 Thunder Roads Magazine of OK/AR Big Dog Motorcycles is back in production. Founded in 1994, this custom cruiser style motorcycle brand produced over 30,000 motorcycles distributing worldwide until the industry recession of 2008 caused a halt in production from 2012 to 2014. Current owner, Matt Moore, recently shared in depth, what has been happening with Big Dog Motorcycles. As the economy slowed in 2008, motorcycle sales quickly diminished across the nation. With that slowing, the finance companies tightened lending structures. This tightening effected the way that the dealers financed motorcycles for clients as well as for the dealerships themselves. When a dealership has a floorplan on bikes, they pay the bikes off as they sell them. Interest payments are made until the bike is sold. If a bike is not sold, the interest payments add up putting a crunch on the dealers. Furthermore, the finance companies often put

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