During our visit, Gerald's good friend "Legend" or as Gerald referred to him "Ledge" came by to hang out and show us around the Ashville area. Ledge is a rock star in his own right amongst the NASCAR community.
During our visit, Gerald's good friend "Legend" or as Gerald referred to him "Ledge" came
Working in the close circle of NASCAR, Gerald got to know an extensive group of racing enthusiasts, one of whom was Don Tilley of Tilley's Harley-Davidson. Around 1996, Don approached Gerald to fabricate an exhaust system for his race Buell. Don explained to Gerald what he wanted and Gerald complied. The next year, Don came to Gerald again, however this time, Don told Gerald to build it his way. With that, Gerald created an exhaust using some of the tricks he learned from his NASCAR experience, like incorporating a true merge Y, steps, and anti-reversion techniques, along with building his own set of mufflers. Don then put the pipes to the test on the dyno and was astonished at the results. They had picked up 12 additional horsepower out of the fully tuned bike. Don immediately called up Gerald and asked him how many of these pipes he wanted to sell. Gerald was still neck deep in the NASCAR business and barely had any breathing room for anything else. Gerald commented.
In 2001/2002 as things started to change in NASCAR, Gerald began looking for an opportunity to expand his business to the consumer segment, and he decided to go for it. He called up Don and asked him to dyno a '99 bagger that he had made a set of prototype true duals for. The bagger put out an additional 14 hp and 14 lb-ft, or torque, over its stock run. Needless to say, everyone was astonished. Working with connections in the motorcycle industry, Gerald had his exhaust picked up by Drag Specialties (DS), and in 2005, Gerald's prototype design of those bagger true duals broke the DS sales record for the most units of one part number sold in one year, 16,000 exhaust systems.
It's pretty evident why these are called the Cross Backs. These pipes feature a double-stepped header design, dual O2 ports, and are available in chrome or black in a flush or staggered look for Softail, Dyna, and Sportster models.
It's pretty evident why these are called the Cross Backs. These pipes feature a double-ste
Kyle credits the company's rapid success in the V-twin industry to its experience in NASCAR and a proven product line. "We brought credibility. With our experience and success in NASCAR and racing, we knew how to make horsepower and torque and apply it to motorcycle exhausts. We don't have five million exhaust designs for all the Harley models, but the designs we do have run. We focus on making a few pipes that work for each bike."
Early on, Rinehart Racing knew it wanted its exhaust systems to be unique and identifiable. It wanted to be able to spot a set of Rineharts from across the parking lot or catch a glimpse as they blipped by on the highway. So in 2003, the company came up with the idea to incorporate an engraved Rinehart signature into the end caps. However, knowing that the signature would still be impossible to identify from a distance or speeding by, they needed something else. "When we first talked about doing black end caps people said we'd never be able to sell them. Now everyone offers them," Gerald said.
While the black end caps have become the defining aesthetic element of Rinehart exhausts, they have also inspired many others to partake in the greatest form of flattery, imitation. Gerald's first experience with getting his designs copied occurred in NASCAR and he really took it to heart. However, now he keeps the words of his mentor, Banjo, in mind, "If you weren't doing something right, they wouldn't pay you no mind."
The new 2-into-1 one exhaust for '09-10 baggers features a powerful stepped header design, anti-reversion louvers, dual O2 ports, and a new muffler design.
The new 2-into-1 one exhaust for '09-10 baggers features a powerful stepped header design,
Gerald has hit the Harley trifecta with his pipes: performance, looks, and sound. If you have ever heard a set of Rineharts fire up, you know it's hard to dismiss the mellow rumble at idle and the low growl at speed. "The sound has sold as many pipes as the performance," Gerald said. "The sound is just something I had once I came up with the design."
The company has always been about progress, and as Rinehart CEO Judd Hollifield put it: "Every story has multiple chapters. And we are now writing the next chapter of Rinehart Racing."
"We appreciate everything Bub and Drag (Specialties) and its parent company, LeMans, has done for us," Kyle commented. "They helped get us here and we stand by them for that. We are thrilled about the next chapter of Rinehart Racing and developing new products."