SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (KTIV) -
One of the Iowa Great Lakes' largest employers is openings its doors to give people an inside look.
Motorcyclists from all over the country lined up for a chance to see how their bikes get made.
It's all part of Polaris's 10th Annual Victory Motorcycle Rally.
The lines were long to see the inside of the Polaris Motorcycle Plant.
Hundreds of motorcyclists came to Spirit Lake, Iowa, for the Victory Motorcycle Rally and an opportunity to see how their favorite bikes are made.
"They don't really get a chance to take a tour of our facility and be able to see everything that we have to offer and how we build motorcycles here in Spirit Lake," said Jonathan Burns, a manufacturing engineer.
Guests watched from the first steps all the way to final assembly.
When each crane first picks up an engine, it will be the first step in the process of putting the motorcycle together.
"Heart of the bike, which is the engine, comes from Osceola, Wisconsin," said Burns.
Electrical components are added and guests begin to see how the bike begins to take form.
"Just becomes a motorcycle from there, we start adding the front wheel, the rear wheel and then it starts to take shape before your very eyes," said Burns.
Each step along the way checks out the bike and troubleshoots it for any issues.
"I think what makes the tour so special is that you're getting a tour from the people who actually do the jobs out there. You can tell when you're talking to them that they really have that source of pride," said Brian Hines, director of operations for Polaris.
"By the time, it's done, it's a fully painted, beautifully assembled motorcycle," said Burns.
"To me, that's the most exciting part. If I were an owner, actually I am an owner, but if I was taking the tour for the first time, that's what I'd like to see the most."
"What it says to me is that people are really buying into the Victory brand and what we offer as quality motorcycles," said Hines.
The company has won several JD Power awards for its customer services, and Brian Hines says it's important to keep that up by showing them the full process. Plus, it's set up and run by the folks inside the plant. The company employs about 725 employees in Spirit Lake.
"It's the welders and the assemblers and the planners and all of the folks that work in the factory that put this thing on," said Hines. "It's a great source of pride for us and a great chance for us to show off what we do."
"It's just a unique opportunity for us to show them how their bike is born," said Burns.
If you missed out on the tours, you can still go to Polaris' web site and sign up for a tour. Here's a link to the main site.
"They don't really get a chance to take a tour of our facility and be able to see everything that we have to offer and how we build motorcycles here in Spirit Lake," said Jonathan Burns, a manufacturing engineer.
