Viper Motorcycle To Be Built In Auburn, Alabama

[AlabamaNomadRider]

The Viper Motorcycle Company will call Auburn, Alabama home before the end of the year. And production of its stylish super cruiser will begin in January. Auburn Mayor Bill Ham and Gov. Bob Riley joined company officials Tuesday morning at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center to announce plans for the manufacturer to relocate from Hopkins, Minn., to Auburn. “This is something we can take pride in,” Riley said. “This is something we can say was built in Auburn, Alabama.”

Viper plans to hire 100 local people in the next two years to work in the 63,000-square-foot building in Auburn Technology Park West. The company only produces approximately 100 bikes a year, but John Silseth, CEO of the parent company, Viper Powersports, said they plan to produce 2,000 bikes a year in the next four to five years.

“The move to Auburn really accelerates our growth,” he said.
Riley praised Auburn city officials for securing the economic development project and at least 100 jobs for Alabamians. Viper’s announcement comes only a day after Macon County’s largest employer, VictoryLand, closed to avoid a potential raid from Riley’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling, and thus jeopardizing the employment of approximately 600 currently employed at the Shorter casino. VictoryLand employed an estimated 2,000 earlier this year.

Riley said he would much rather support Viper Motorcycle employing Alabamians because its foundation is bound to succeed and its work force will expand as production grows.
“You can’t build a foundation on gambling,” he said.
Riley, a motorcycle enthusiast of 30 years, called the Viper Mamba on display in the hotel auditorium during the press conference an “absolutely spectacular bike.” He added that it looked like “a work of art.” “It has no parallel in the industry,” Silseth said.
Current production is at a minimum until after the move, but he said they are already back up on orders. A Viper bike costs approximately $36,000.

Silseth joked that the climate was the main reason for the move to Alabama since winter weather in Minnesota prohibits motorcycle riding.

However, all joking aside, he gave the real credit to Auburn University and the city of Auburn. Silseth said the company plans to partner with professors and students in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, marking yet another collaborative effort between an industry and AU. “Our relationship with Auburn University becomes stronger every day,” Ham said.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I would bet high wages is one reason they decided to make the move from Minnesota to Alabama. I look for HD to be in the south before much longer.

[recumbentbob]

I never heard of them so I looked them up.

http://www.vipermotorcycle.com/index.html

[Cajunrider]

There ya go Gene.....get a job at the Viper plant. Do they give each employee a new Diamondback?

[ringadingh]

He could get one, 1 piece at a time!

[petenomad]

152cu inch engine and carbon fiber body, oil supply in the frame, wow, no wonder its so pricey.

[recumbentbob]

All that power and only 1 disc brake in the front............

[wiz]

The brakes don't matter so much on butt jewelry. If I had to spend $36K on a motorcycle, it would not be one of these. Good luck to them and I do wish them well!

[drno]

I could have 3 differently colored Nomads

[AlabamaNomadRider]

It is a pricey bike. I wouldn't care for one myself but I am sure there must be people that want one.

Just showing what takes place here in the good ole USA. A company starts out up north then the high wages forces it to move its operations to the south where labor is cheaper. The same with good ole Harley Davidson. The only difference is that Harley stated they would keep their headquarters in Milwaukee. Viper will move its entire operations south.

[skeeter]

who's gonna read the instructions.....

[kudzufarmer]

Wow////that's good to hear......I finished at Auburn and i just don't see an industrial plant setting at Auburn itself......maybe Opelika or somewhere like that. If they do build at Auburn it would be a good opportunity for the Engineering department to get students involved or Co-Op......did they say where the Manufacturing facility would be built at Auburn?

[dank]

Originally Posted by drno

I could have 3 differently colored Nomads

So what would you get?

Green and silver for when you want to go fast.

Black for days you just feel like cruisin.

And a red and black one to keep in the garage and remind you how nice the other two look?

[xncrman]

So how many do they plan on selling a year? I bet my Nomad rides down the road on gas just like the $36K bike.

[scott2007nomad]

Wonder why they still use a carburetor?