1994 - 1998

The Hanlons began designing their new motorcycle based on Excelsior-Henderson's 1931 Super X. By 1995, the company was producing the first prototypes.

In March 1996, the Hanlons changed the name of the company from the Hanlon Manufacturing Company to the Excelsior-Henderson Motorcycle Manufacturing Company. At the 1996 Sturgis rally, the company reached one of its most critical milestones. Before a crowd of 5,000 bikers, Excelsior-Henderson unveiled the first Super X prototypes. 

On March 27, 1997, Excelsior-Henderson unveiled running prototypes of the Super X at Bike Week in Daytona Beach, Florida. Less than a month later, on April 16, 1997, the Hanlons broke ground on the new company headquarters in Belle Plaine, Minnesota. In July 1997, under the symbol BIGX, listed on the NASDAQ exchange, Excelsior-Henderson became a publicly traded company. 

Bike Week 1998 saw Excelsior-Henderson continue to state its presence in style and enthusiasts were treated to a display of the latest Super X prototypes. At Sturgis in August 1998, Excelsior-Henderson unveiled the production-intent Super X to the press and the public. 

Page 3 of recent history          Click here for old Excelsior-Henderson history

This history was collected from the 1999 Super X Rider's Handbook, as published by the Excelsior-Henderson Motorcycle Manufacturing Company.