Pro Taper bars?

Teej317
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Colstrip, MT, USA
12/13/2023 7:00pm

I’m a vet guy and I need my Evo’s doggone it! Might have to switch to Renthal after all. How’s the flex characteristic? Always loved the Evo for that quality. 

1
Spooner
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Kansas City, MO, USA
12/18/2023 11:10am

I wonder how STAR is still running the brand?

12/18/2023 6:05pm
Loftin79 wrote:
I used to work for Tucker Powersports which owned Pro Taper.  Before I quit in January I stocked up on a few things and I believe...

I used to work for Tucker Powersports which owned Pro Taper.  Before I quit in January I stocked up on a few things and I believe I have a brand new set of SX Race Fushion bars still in the box.  I’ll confirm that tomorrow if you are interested.  

If you still have some of the sx race bends I’ll buy them from you. 

wrc777
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12/19/2023 4:14am
Spooner wrote:

I wonder how STAR is still running the brand?

Maybe they were buying direct from the sub-supplier and kept paying their bills? I assume that is why Husqvarna has plenty of bars. I am sure when the sub-supplier gets paid what they are owed they will start shipping product again.

The Shop

Spooner
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12/19/2023 6:59am
wrc777 wrote:
Maybe they were buying direct from the sub-supplier and kept paying their bills? I assume that is why Husqvarna has plenty of bars. I am sure...

Maybe they were buying direct from the sub-supplier and kept paying their bills? I assume that is why Husqvarna has plenty of bars. I am sure when the sub-supplier gets paid what they are owed they will start shipping product again.

Not sure why they would buy bars when other brands would be tripping over each other for the chance to give them all the bars they need plus cash on top.  I don't think they come with PT bars from the factory any more do they?  That would be the only reason I could see them doing that.  

wrc777
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12/19/2023 7:46am
wrc777 wrote:
Maybe they were buying direct from the sub-supplier and kept paying their bills? I assume that is why Husqvarna has plenty of bars. I am sure...

Maybe they were buying direct from the sub-supplier and kept paying their bills? I assume that is why Husqvarna has plenty of bars. I am sure when the sub-supplier gets paid what they are owed they will start shipping product again.

Spooner wrote:
Not sure why they would buy bars when other brands would be tripping over each other for the chance to give them all the bars they...

Not sure why they would buy bars when other brands would be tripping over each other for the chance to give them all the bars they need plus cash on top.  I don't think they come with PT bars from the factory any more do they?  That would be the only reason I could see them doing that.  

I agree on the Star thing. Maybe they still have enough old stock to keep going and cashing the checks.

 

Huskys still come with a Protaper branded bar. The only difference I could tell between it and a bar I bought from a shop 3 years ago is the Husky doesn't have the knurling on the clutch side that the bar bought from a shop has. RMATV shows 10+ of the Husky OEM bars in stock so if anyone wants the Husqvarna bend, they are available and not much more expensive than when they were available from Protaper.

1
12/19/2023 8:27am
wrc777 wrote:
Maybe they were buying direct from the sub-supplier and kept paying their bills? I assume that is why Husqvarna has plenty of bars. I am sure...

Maybe they were buying direct from the sub-supplier and kept paying their bills? I assume that is why Husqvarna has plenty of bars. I am sure when the sub-supplier gets paid what they are owed they will start shipping product again.

Spooner wrote:
Not sure why they would buy bars when other brands would be tripping over each other for the chance to give them all the bars they...

Not sure why they would buy bars when other brands would be tripping over each other for the chance to give them all the bars they need plus cash on top.  I don't think they come with PT bars from the factory any more do they?  That would be the only reason I could see them doing that.  

wrc777 wrote:
I agree on the Star thing. Maybe they still have enough old stock to keep going and cashing the checks.   Huskys still come with a...

I agree on the Star thing. Maybe they still have enough old stock to keep going and cashing the checks.

 

Huskys still come with a Protaper branded bar. The only difference I could tell between it and a bar I bought from a shop 3 years ago is the Husky doesn't have the knurling on the clutch side that the bar bought from a shop has. RMATV shows 10+ of the Husky OEM bars in stock so if anyone wants the Husqvarna bend, they are available and not much more expensive than when they were available from Protaper.

It’s already down to 7 in stock lol

wrc777
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12/19/2023 8:36am

It’s already down to 7 in stock lol

Haha I guess the word is out. Keefer said something on his show about it recently. When I checked last week it showed 10+. 

1
12/19/2023 8:43am

It’s already down to 7 in stock lol

wrc777 wrote:

Haha I guess the word is out. Keefer said something on his show about it recently. When I checked last week it showed 10+. 

I’ll admit, I’m responsible for there now being 6 left. Dont really care for PT brand now, but I do like the bend and could use an extra set

wrc777
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12/19/2023 9:29am
I’ll admit, I’m responsible for there now being 6 left. Dont really care for PT brand now, but I do like the bend and could use...

I’ll admit, I’m responsible for there now being 6 left. Dont really care for PT brand now, but I do like the bend and could use an extra set

Yeah it is too bad. I have not found a bar that has as much comfort as a Protaper evo. The renthal 821 and a couple of Odi bends are close to the Husky bend as far as shape. 

1
12/19/2023 10:08am

A handful of years ago when I worked at the local dealer it seemed there was a new rumor every week about Tucker Rocky going belly up and being no more. It started to turn into a joke every time our poor Tucker rep came in, luckily his wife got a great job and it allowed him to stay at home and spend time with his newborn until he found his next venture. I think this was right before they started laying a ton of people off. 

Bruce372
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USA
12/19/2023 4:37pm

I am giving fatbar ktm low a try,  similar height to oem protaper husky and slightly straighter... less sweep.

If I like them,  I'll be selling off my stock protapers for $200each lol

1
12/19/2023 5:21pm
Bruce372 wrote:
I am giving fatbar ktm low a try,  similar height to oem protaper husky and slightly straighter... less sweep. If I like them,  I'll be selling...

I am giving fatbar ktm low a try,  similar height to oem protaper husky and slightly straighter... less sweep.

If I like them,  I'll be selling off my stock protapers for $200each lol

Any idea how close this would be to a Pro Taper RM Low/Pastrana?  That was my favorite and I can’t find it anymore.

12/19/2023 5:36pm

Man what a wild ride for Tucker and all of its affiliate brands. From letting Renthal go because they “weren’t innovative enough”, the rebrand from “Tucker Rocky” to “Tucker”, filing chapter 11, attempting to bring all the brands and key people to Texas, layoffs, buyout from Turn14, racking up $32M in debt. What a mess.
 

Hope some company can come in and at least save ProTaper. 

dnf736
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Alpine, CA, USA
12/19/2023 6:04pm
Man what a wild ride for Tucker and all of its affiliate brands. From letting Renthal go because they “weren’t innovative enough”, the rebrand from “Tucker...

Man what a wild ride for Tucker and all of its affiliate brands. From letting Renthal go because they “weren’t innovative enough”, the rebrand from “Tucker Rocky” to “Tucker”, filing chapter 11, attempting to bring all the brands and key people to Texas, layoffs, buyout from Turn14, racking up $32M in debt. What a mess.
 

Hope some company can come in and at least save ProTaper. 

Maybe DeMarini can...

and if you know what that means, you're old!

2
12/19/2023 6:44pm
Man what a wild ride for Tucker and all of its affiliate brands. From letting Renthal go because they “weren’t innovative enough”, the rebrand from “Tucker...

Man what a wild ride for Tucker and all of its affiliate brands. From letting Renthal go because they “weren’t innovative enough”, the rebrand from “Tucker Rocky” to “Tucker”, filing chapter 11, attempting to bring all the brands and key people to Texas, layoffs, buyout from Turn14, racking up $32M in debt. What a mess.
 

Hope some company can come in and at least save ProTaper. 

dnf736 wrote:

Maybe DeMarini can...

and if you know what that means, you're old!

Wow, haven’t heard that brand mentioned in a very long time. I’d imagine another well known distributor like WPS or Parts Unlimited would want to bring PT into the fold. Seems like PT still has diehard customers but it’s not going to be an easy transition to say the least. 

avidchimp
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EGL, MN, USA
12/19/2023 6:48pm
Man what a wild ride for Tucker and all of its affiliate brands. From letting Renthal go because they “weren’t innovative enough”, the rebrand from “Tucker...

Man what a wild ride for Tucker and all of its affiliate brands. From letting Renthal go because they “weren’t innovative enough”, the rebrand from “Tucker Rocky” to “Tucker”, filing chapter 11, attempting to bring all the brands and key people to Texas, layoffs, buyout from Turn14, racking up $32M in debt. What a mess.
 

Hope some company can come in and at least save ProTaper. 

dnf736 wrote:

Maybe DeMarini can...

and if you know what that means, you're old!

Back when they made their bars in the SFV.

1/6/2024 5:22am
At 6’3”, I’ve always been a big fan of RM Low/Pastrana MX.  Anyone know where I could find a set or if there is a Renthal...

At 6’3”, I’ve always been a big fan of RM Low/Pastrana MX.  Anyone know where I could find a set or if there is a Renthal equivalent?

Those are my bars of choice also - kicking myself for letting a set go when I sold my bike. They are perfect!    That being...

Those are my bars of choice also - kicking myself for letting a set go when I sold my bike. They are perfect! 
 

That being said I’m running the stock Suzuki bend on my RM-Z but they do not feel the same. They are wider by the measurements I could find so I cut them down about a half inch and that helped get closer but they still feel off.  I have them rolled back quite a bit too. 
 

Renthal’s feel stiff - maybe I’m crazy but I am pretty picky about my bars and grips set up. It’s a curse. 
 

Please come back PT. 

I literally got the last set of RM Low/Pastrana MX in the country last week.  I emailed Pro Taper asking them if they changed the name on the bend or something because I couldn’t find them anywhere.  They wrote back and told me they literally had one set in stock and if I wanted them, I should contact a retailer that has product drop shipped from PT.  I found out Dennis Kirk would do it, so I ordered the bars through them.  Who knows.  The way things are going at PT with the Tucker/Turn 14 transition, this might be the last set I ever get!

1
bierbower105
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Uhrichsville, OH, USA
1/6/2024 5:51am
I literally got the last set of RM Low/Pastrana MX in the country last week.  I emailed Pro Taper asking them if they changed the name...

I literally got the last set of RM Low/Pastrana MX in the country last week.  I emailed Pro Taper asking them if they changed the name on the bend or something because I couldn’t find them anywhere.  They wrote back and told me they literally had one set in stock and if I wanted them, I should contact a retailer that has product drop shipped from PT.  I found out Dennis Kirk would do it, so I ordered the bars through them.  Who knows.  The way things are going at PT with the Tucker/Turn 14 transition, this might be the last set I ever get!

My old man heard me griping about the bar situation and found a set for Christmas - I think he way overpaid on them but I’m glad to have a set. 
 

Almost scared to put them on! LolIMG 0388

2
lumpy790
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York, SC, USA
1/6/2024 7:35am

Sucks seeing that Tucker Rocky has come to an end. I actually worked for them at their Maryland warehouse and inside rep after they bought distributor Ed Tucker. 

The 2024 motorcycle trade show is in Las Vegas in 1 month and from the looks of the show Turn 14 is set up to make a huge launch!

IMG 9977

1
lumpy790
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York, SC, USA
1/6/2024 7:36am

IMG 9978 0

1
1/6/2024 8:01am
lumpy790 wrote:

IMG 9978 0

I assume some sort of press release/official announcement and more detailed explanation of what happened will follow. I have worked at trade shows a lot and that amount of space isn’t cheap. 

Spooner
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Kansas City, MO, USA
1/6/2024 8:31am

I have my bars off my new husky that were never used if anyone wants to buy them.

2/12/2024 3:26pm
atrdrvr7 wrote:
Anyone know whats going on with the supply of EVO's or Fuzion's.  Everyone is out of stock.  Some sites even showing discontinued.  I pulled the trigger...

Anyone know whats going on with the supply of EVO's or Fuzion's.  Everyone is out of stock.  Some sites even showing discontinued.  I pulled the trigger on a set of ACF's and I'm getting crazy vibration through the bars.  Was hoping to go back to a set of Evo's.

I bought a set of those bars too, which led me quickly searching for windham Evo’s (my go to). They told me January in October..  crickets 

NicNak
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Palm Desert, CA, USA
2/12/2024 4:17pm

I switched from Renthal to pro taper during Covid & recently just switched to ODI & they are rock solid. Very happy with them & the support ODI has. Call em, get an answer. Email em’, get an answer. Stock levels are pretty solid. Grips seems a little down rn but all the bars I looked at seem to be in stock! 

1
FGR01
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USA
Fantasy
2/22/2024 7:52am Edited Date/Time 2/23/2024 2:06pm

EDIT:   removing and reinstalling the app, reconnecting to the lights, etc solved the issue.  Appears this is unrelated to the buyout.

 

Well, another bit of fallout from this situation.   Kuryakyn (popular Harley parts) was another Tucker-owned brand.  Customer has their very expensive light system on his Harley.  Lights are bluetooth controlled via phone app.   Well, app just stopped working.  Apparently that support did not transfer or continue through the buyout.  Customer now pissed with useless expensive light system.

2/22/2024 8:26am
FGR01 wrote:
EDIT:   removing and reinstalling the app, reconnecting to the lights, etc solved the issue.  Appears this is unrelated to the buyout.   Well, another bit of...

EDIT:   removing and reinstalling the app, reconnecting to the lights, etc solved the issue.  Appears this is unrelated to the buyout.

 

Well, another bit of fallout from this situation.   Kuryakyn (popular Harley parts) was another Tucker-owned brand.  Customer has their very expensive light system on his Harley.  Lights are bluetooth controlled via phone app.   Well, app just stopped working.  Apparently that support did not transfer or continue through the buyout.  Customer now pissed with useless expensive light system.

Yikes. I was expecting a real announcement after the trade show in Vegas but Turn14 didn’t post much except a highlight reel of their employees eating 😂. I also didn’t see any interviews with them from other outlets showing off the products they’re distributing. This has been a very odd change of hands to say the least. 

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