“A quest to improve the motorcycle experience and a willingness to break the rules”

The Ridleys have always had a drive for innovation. Clay Ridley designed and built his own car at the age of 14, built and learned to fly helicopters, built machines that made shoes, and machines that improve business. But the work Clay loves best has always been constructing motorcycles. With a gift of a welder at age 12, Clay set off to get spare parts, assembling them into fully functional motorcycles. As a teen, he entered the motorcycle show tour circuit, almost always taking home trophies for his scratch building.

As his mechanical know-how improved, so did his desire to build a better motorcycle and a better motorcycle company. Clay’s pursuit of innovation led to the first automatic motorcycle and the formation of Ridley Motorcycle Company with his son Jay in 1995. It was that first step that began the Ridleys’ quest to reinvent motorcycles and motorcycle riding.

The lifetime of innovative efforts and design has come to be known as the Ridley Auto-Glide family, and in their fifth year, they’re better in every way. Ridley has perfected the systems and components ensuring Ridley owners a comfortable and freeing motorcycle that will stand up to the test of time and miles.

Function and protection is high on the list of improvements in 2007. The domestic Classic and TT will be fitted with tough American steel fenders for greater durability and strength. The Ridley designed paint saver fuel caps come standard on all models, protecting the paint from harmful gas fumes. The belt final drive replaces the chain on all 2007 models, reducing road noise, maintenance and dirt and oil on the bike; the life of the belt is also five times longer. Ridley is proud to announce their patented automatic kickstand will be available on select 2007 models. No more scuffed boots, the automatic kickstand will raise and lower at the push of a button. And you thought automatic ended with the transmission.

As with every year, Ridley continues to innovate not only the mechanics of our bikes but the look as well. This year, Ridley is including a round swing arm on many models. New paint options and graphics are available to continue to offer your unique and custom look on every bike.

Ridley Motorcycles are being noticed on the streets and in the media. The bikes have been featured on the Discovery Channel, the Travel Channel, ABC News, even on MTV. Apparently automatic is catching on to all lifestyles and skill levels.

As Ridley Motorcycle continues to push the limits in design and innovation, their commitment to customer service has never wavered. In fact, some of Ridley’s best ideas have come from listening to customers’ thoughts and concerns. Clay is the master fabricator, designer, founder and president of Ridley Motorcycle Company; but he still likes to surprise customers by taking their calls personally. As Clay puts it, “We don’t have a phone system, we have people. And when a customer needs us, they’re our number one priority.”

Going into the company's twelfth year, Clay and Jay Ridley and their staff have created a motorcycle company that dares to push conventional boundaries and blaze a new trail in the motorcycle industry. With their continued dedication to improving the bike and the ride, the world should expect the Ridleys to continue driving American motorcycle innovation.