J&P Cycles |
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Official Site: jpcycles.com
Wikipedia: J&P Cycles Page Sections History Reference Desk |
History
The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Automotive Industries page on 2 October 2017, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
J&P Cycles, Inc. was founded by John and Jill Parham in 1979. It sells motorcycle components, apparel, and gear for the American V-twin motorcycle rider. Owned by Motorcycle Aftermarket Group (MAG), the company has retail outlets in Ormond Beach, Florida, Anamosa, Iowa, and Sturgis, South Dakota.
In 1975, John Parham began selling motorcycle parts and accessories via a small partnership in a motorcycle shop. In 1979, John and his wife Jill Parham founded "J. Parham Enterprises, Inc." The small motorcycle shop burned to the ground in 1984. This prompted the couple to develop a warehouse that is now the J&P Cycles headquarters. Parham also helped to create the National Motorcycle Museum (Anamosa, IA) in Anamosa, Iowa. He holds the museum presidency and J&P Cycles is a major donor. In 2007, J&P Cycles added a 35,000 square foot facility at Anamosa that included a 15,000 square foot retail space and separate call center.
The company sells motorcycle parts and accessories such as tires, exhaust, engine components, and seats, as well as riding gear such as helmets and clothing via their website and in a retail environment.
In October 2015, John Parham was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. "As this recognition of career achievement is a once in a lifetime event, John and Jill Parham were joined by about 30 close friends and family from all over the country including Bree and Zach Parham and their two children. Zach is J&P Cycles’ Vice President and General Manager and traveled from Texas to see his dad get inducted. John Parham currently serves as Chairman of the National Motorcycle Museum. Not happy to rest on his laurels, John and wife Jill volunteer at the Museum as John’s current pursuit is preserving motorcycle history and presenting it to the public. "Motorcycling has brought Jill and me great opportunities and forged many wonderful relationships. I feel good about giving back through our work at the Museum."
In February 2012, John Parham received the "Don J. Brown Lifetime Achievement Award" at the "Dealernews Top 100 Dealer Awards" in Indianapolis, Indiana. Parham was recognized for his dedication to the motorcycle industry through J&P Cycles and through helping to set up the National Motorcycle Museum (Anamosa, IA). The award is presented to an individual recognized in the retailing community for furthering the sport, the business, and the industry in general, over the course of his or her career. It is named in honor of Brown, a founding editor of Dealernews who became a leading industry research expert during a career that spanned over 50 years.
The National Motorcycle Museum, a non-profit entity, is located at 102 Chamber Drive, Anamosa, Iowa. The museum was founded in 1989 by motorcycle builders, racers, and riders. It aims to preserve the experience of biking in the past and demonstrate the present biking sport and lifestyle. The museum archives documents and displays vintage bikes (the earliest from 1903). It was named "Iowa Tourism Attraction" of the Year in 2001.
J&P Express is the speed sports arm of J&P Cycles based at the National Motorcycle Museum in Iowa. In 2006 J&P Cycles established S/PG-1350 records of Kilo 180.4965, and Mle 178.9485 with their modified 79 cubic inch Harley Sportster engine. Occasionally the museum will loan the streamliner motorcycle, which made land speed records at Bonneville, to other motorcycle historical sites and museums.
Reference Desk
The Crittenden Automotive Library's "Reference Desk" is a collection of materials that cannot be shared due to copyright restrictions. Information from these resources, however, can be shared. Go to the Reference Desk page for more information.
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2008  Book | Keeping the World on 2 Wheels: How J&P Cycles Changed the American Motorcycle Industry. by Ed Youngblood, foreword by Arlen Ness; Motohistory |