Dan Patterson, president of Lehman Trikes, said Friday was a very special day for the company, a world leader in manufacturing three-wheeled motorcycles, conversion kits and accessories.

Earlier this week, Harley-Davidson unveiled the Tri Glide three-wheel motorcycle to its dealer network during a summer meeting in Las Vegas and announced Lehman Trikes would be the official supplier of the Tri Glide.

"Now, we've captured the attention of one of the largest motorcycle companies in the world, and 'the' largest in the United States," Patterson said during a kick-off event at the assembly plant in Spearfish. "We've got their brand here in Spearfish, South Dakota. Not a bad thing."

Ron Hutchinson, senior vice president of Harley-Davidson, said this week has been momentous because it saw the fruition of a partnership that started eight or nine years ago.

"We started talking about some sort of mutual program between Lehman Trikes and Harley-Davidson Motor Co. And it took forever to get here, but we're here," Hutchinson said. "We are on the brink of creating the largest sub-segment in the motorcycle industry."

Hutchinson said he came to Spearfish during launch week to personally thank Lehman and its employees and said both companies will benefit from what he believes "will be one of the grandest supplier partnerships … in the history of the motor company."

The Tri Glide, powered by a twin cam 103 V-Twin engine with electronic sequential port fuel injection rated at 101 foot pounds of torque, will retail for $29,999.

Patterson said the economic benefits for Spearfish and the surrounding area can't be overestimated. The company started with three employees and now has about 110.

He said the supplier agreement with Harley-Davidson puts Spearfish on the map for something besides the beautiful Black Hills, and the association with Harley-Davidson will make Lehman Trikes a destination point for thousands of people during the Sturgis motorcycle rally.

"They want to see where these Tri Glides are built," he said. "They'll want to see it up close and personal."

Patterson said plant tours will be provided during the rally, but not on a regular basis at other times. However, he said the plant will continue to provide tours to special groups, such as schools - but those tours are arranged well in advance.

Patterson said Lehman will be the exclusive supplier of the Harley Tri Glide, and the existing relationship will continue with Harley-Davidson for conversion services. Lehman also has relationships with Victory Motorcycle Company and produces the Suzuki C-50 and C-90 models.

"We've captured three of the largest motorcycle companies in the world, and we're providing the only trikes in the world as turn-key units," Patterson said.

The Tri Glide will be distributed through Harley-Davidson's network of dealers. The rest of Lehman's trikes are distributed through the company's own network throughout the United States and are branded as Lehman Trikes.

Harley-Davidson is not unfamiliar with three-wheel motorcycles. From 1932 to 1973, it manufactured a three-wheel vehicle called the Servi-Car, essentially a utility vehicle with a box on the back used by mechanics to carry tools, car parts and even was used by some entrepreneurs to deliver pizza and ice cream.

"I have dreamed about a three-wheel Harley-Davidson since we stopped making Servi-Cars in the early '70s," Hutchinson said.

Based on demographics - particularly the aging of the baby boomer generation - Hutchinson said Harley-Davidson believes a large market exists for three-wheel motorcycles.

"There's a bunch of old boomers like me, and boomers will need this kind of a product to continue the experience of motorcycling," he said.

But Hutchinson said he is convinced the larger opportunity is tapping into those folks on the fringe; people who would very much like to participate in motorcycling but for whatever reason are somewhat uncomfortable with a two-wheel bike.

"This may be just what they need," he said. "There are a lot of people in the world who would love to experience life out on the open road but who are a little bit afraid of tipping over, a little afraid of having to keep a two-wheel vehicle upright."

Hutchinson said a number of factors attracted Harley-Davidson to Lehman Trikes.

First, Lehman's product design was the basis of the Tri Glide design. HD made some changes to improve suspension and make it better for high volume production and make riding the bike a more pleasing experience for the consumer.

Second, both companies have a common philosophy of customer focus, which is "critical to Harley-Davidson," Hutchinson said. And third, Lehman historically has been the leader in the three-wheel market and provides a great experience for customers.

"We believe they are one of the best supplier relationship opportunities we had," Hutchinson said.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com