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The new concept: More space for bikers, bikes and the "American Way of Life"
Tracing back the history of Thunderbike, it begins anywhere in the early eighties on Europe’s racetracks. Here the young Andreas Bergerforth feels at home and not infrequently ends an exciting race day for the racer on the winner’s podium. It quickly becomes clear that the main profession also has something to do with two wheels and one engine.
In 1984 he is on record for the first time, when he registers his newly founded company with the competent trade office. “Motorradschuppen” he calls the company, with whom he covers all matters relating to motorcycles, mainly from the land of smiles. The small shed in Hamminkeln measures no 150 square meters and bursts, thanks to steadily rising order situation, soon at the seams. Not two years later, in 1986, the store with the imaginative name becomes an official Suzuki agency and, of course, that shed is far too small for it, and so you move into new premises in the local industrial area. This time, it should not only be bigger, but also something more representative. The continuing increase in orders results in the first employees being hired.
In December 2009, another milestone in the history of the company was laid in Hamminkeln. Despite the difficult global economic situation or just because of that, you continue to expand and put one more on top of the already unusual corporate concept. After extensive alterations and expansions at the usual place, at the goods road in Hamminkeln, more than a usual dealership with sales area and demarcated workshop developed. Likewise, this project is more than an additional extension or even a patched construction measure to counteract the increased space requirements.
Rather, it is about the realization of a concept in which the sale of parts and bikes should only make up a part. In Hamminkeln, the friend of the “American Way of Life” will find a contact point in the future, which he can also access outside of store opening hours and even on Sundays and public holidays. And regardless of whether with two- or four-wheeled pedestal, in any season and in any weather. Because at Thunderbike you treat yourself with a stylish “American Roadhouse” not only a Christmas gift of a special kind, but also a meaningful extension of the existing divisions.
Since then, the American Roadhouse has been offering far more than just classic American specialties, as you could get in any diner. On 550 square meters, a stylish ambience has emerged in the rustic log cabin style, as it is otherwise found only in Aspen or the Rockies. Those who prefer to stay in the fresh air will find the perfect location to relax on the extraordinary sundeck. The typical American delicacies you get served here as well, of course. Eight permanent employees and 25 part-time employees will dare to read every wish of every visitor from the lips.
But that’s not all. With the conversion, the salesrooms have also grown considerably. On now 750 square meters you will find the current model range of the company as well as a wide range of parts, accessories and lots of good stuff. And of course, here in the future the elaborate conversions and custom bikes from our own workshops can be presented much better. And something else is new. Before the conversion, only the service workshop was located on the goods road. The entire parts production took place so far outside, a few kilometers away.
Since December 09, the coveted parts are also produced in a specially built hall on the Güterstrasse. In this way, the paths can be kept short and realize a little more proximity to the customer. The company, which once started in a 150-square-foot shed, has grown to an impressive total size of an impressive 2,600 square meters. If we sum up the entire workforce from the sales, the workshops and the food service area, then one finds that here now over 50 coworkers in bread and over there and further 25 part-time-forces are used as needed.