COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3751

Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

22companies1895–1989founding years22still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedSchwinn Cycle and Fitness L.P.FoundedSchwinn Cycle and Fitness L.P.
1895
FoundedHarley-Davidson, Inc.FoundedHarley-Davidson, Inc.
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedBrunswick Corporation
1907
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedRoadmaster Industries, Inc.FoundedRoadmaster Industries, Inc.
1925
FoundedPlayskool, Inc.FoundedPlayskool, Inc.
1928
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
FoundedCannondale Corporation
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedTrek Bicycle CorporationFoundedTrek Bicycle Corporation
1976
FoundedAprilia SpAFoundedAprilia SpAFoundedGT Bicycles
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedPackard Bell Electronics, Inc.FoundedPackard Bell Electronics, Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedRockShox, Inc.
1989
1990
EnvironmentThe Clean Air Act amendments tighten emissions limits.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2009
EconomyGM and Chrysler bankruptcies reshape the auto industry.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Schwinn Cycle and Fitness L.P. →
Active · founded 1895
For most of its century-long history Schwinn Cycle and Fitness L.P.
Schwinn Cycle and Fitness L.P. →
Active · founded 1895
For most of its century-long history Schwinn Cycle and Fitness L.P.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
The only motorcycle manufacturer in the United States, Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
The only motorcycle manufacturer in the United States, Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Brunswick Corporation →
Active · founded 1907
Brunswick Corporation, the oldest and largest manufacturer of recreation and leisure-time products in the United…
Brunswick Corporation →
Active · founded 1907
Brunswick Corporation, the oldest and largest manufacturer of recreation and leisure-time products in the United…
Roadmaster Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Roadmaster Industries Inc.
Roadmaster Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Roadmaster Industries Inc.
Playskool, Inc. →
Active · founded 1928
Playskool, Inc.
Playskool, Inc. →
Active · founded 1928
Playskool, Inc.
Cannondale Corporation →
Active · founded 1971
Cannondale Corporation is a world-class leader in the design and manufacture of high-end, high-performance aluminum…
Cannondale Corporation →
Active · founded 1971
Cannondale Corporation is a world-class leader in the design and manufacture of high-end, high-performance aluminum…
Trek Bicycle Corporation →
Active · founded 1976
Trek Bicycle Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of bicycles sold by specialty retailers.
Trek Bicycle Corporation →
Active · founded 1976
Trek Bicycle Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of bicycles sold by specialty retailers.
Aprilia SpA →
Active · founded 1979 · Italy
With revenues quadrupling from 1992 to 1995, Italy's Aprilia SpA is Europe's fastest growing motorcycle maker.
Aprilia SpA →
Active · founded 1979 · Italy
With revenues quadrupling from 1992 to 1995, Italy's Aprilia SpA is Europe's fastest growing motorcycle maker.
GT Bicycles →
Active · founded 1979
GT Bicycles is the nation's leading supplier of dirt-track racing, or bicycle motocross "BMX," bicycles and one of the…
GT Bicycles →
Active · founded 1979
GT Bicycles is the nation's leading supplier of dirt-track racing, or bicycle motocross "BMX," bicycles and one of the…
Packard Bell Electronics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Packard Bell Electronics, Inc.
Packard Bell Electronics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Packard Bell Electronics, Inc.
RockShox, Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
RockShox, Inc.
RockShox, Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
RockShox, Inc.
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