Also in 1949, Huffy started selling push and riding mowers. During the 1930s, Huffman participated in the revival of the American cycling industry, during which Horace Huffman commented on a “change of attitude”. Although Huffman dabbled in the high-end of the market, they never overcame their entry-level reputation. Drive belt for newer year model versions of the Buzz® electric scooters. Drive belt for older year model versions of the Buzz® electric scooters. In 1964 Huffman expanded its Outdoor Power Equipment division with the acquisition of Diele & McGuire Manufacturing.
At the time of Huffy’s entry into the market segment, BMX models represented the only segment in the bike industry recording sales growth. By the end of 1997, the company’s financial results revealed the influence of the changes implemented during the previous two years. After posting a $10.5 million loss in 1995, Huffy recorded $10.4 million in net income in 1997.
In 1980 Huffy posted its fifth straight year of record earnings and announced plans to open a third plant in Ponca City, Oklahoma. However, despite its strong financial position, Huffy was not immune to the problems that most U.S. businesses experienced in the 1980s. In 1982 Harry A. Shaw III was named CEO and immediately embarked on the unpopular road to plant closings and layoffs. Shaw spearheaded the consolidation of all bike manufacturing operations into the Celina plant and sold the Automotive Products Division for cash. Huffy then invested more than $15 million in advanced robotics and new production equipment.
Until then, half of Huffman’s bicycles were sold under private labels. By the end of the 1970s, however, the company decided to devote more energy to promoting its own brand name. Part of this effort included the decision, in 1977, to change the company name to schwinn bicycles Corporation. During this period, Huffy’s management also opted not to enter the moped manufacturing field because of doubts about the motorized bike’s potential in the United States. Instead, $5 million was spent to expand existing production facilities. Although Huffman was still the leading producer of gasoline cans, oil can spouts, oil filters, and jack stands, the Automotive Equipment Division was only accounting for ten percent of the company’s sales.
After contacting them to get a replacement wheel I found the front fork does not attach to the bike correctly and the handle bars don’t attach firmly to the fork the handle bars will move left or right from the wheel. I have tried contacting them about the other issues but have received no response. If you are looking for an affordable cruiser bike that you will feel confident riding, the huffy mountain bike Cranbrook cruiser bikes are an ideal option for you.
The company introduced a cross-trainer bike in 1992 that represented a hybrid of a road bike and mountain bike, but following an expensive promotion campaign, sales of the crosstrainer were lackluster. The problems with True Temper and the ill-conceived introduction of a crosstrainer paled in comparison to Huffy’s overriding problem during the 1990s, however, and that was contending with Asian competitors. Benefiting from lower production costs than their U.S. counterparts, Asian manufacturers enjoyed significant success in the U.S. market during the 1990s, causing considerable havoc for domestic bike producers. Huffy, holding a 30 percent share of the $1.5 billion U.S. market, bore the brunt of the damage stemming from the incursion of Asian producers and saw its profitability sag. The worst period for Huffy arrived in 1995, when the company recorded a crippling $10.5 million loss. For the remainder of the decade, Huffy management devoted itself to curing the ills that led to the devastating loss and implementing measures to ensure that it never happened again.
Cranbrook model features the “Perfect Fit Frame”, which makes it a perfect bike for everyone, no matter how tall you are. Schwinn did not make most of their bikes in the last 30 years, as Giant and other manufacturers made them. Most, if not all, department store bikes are mass-produced in Asian factories that aren’t owned by the company labeling and/or marketing the bicycles. Several different brands are actually the same or similar bikes coming off the same Taiwan or China production lines with different paint and stickers on them.
This gives the bike a low center of gravity, while also helping to absorb shock and create a better level of stability, making it a comfortable bike. Cheaper cruisers often lack any extra features, taking a more bare bones approach instead to keep the price down. The handling of this bike is graceful, with great geometry for casual rides.
We have internally reviewed the situation with Service staff. Learned that the consumer had returned the product to Target, but still had one of the defective wheels. Asked that he work with us to get the defective wheel sent to our office for examination, and we sent a gift card to consumer. (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) The company response is correct. However, not addressing the inappropriate 4 month wait for the part is not excusable.