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Polaris Industries Buys Former Trike Plant In South Dakota

SPEARFISH, S.D. (AP) — A Minnesota-based manufacturer has bought a facility in western South Dakota that once made motorcycle trikes and plans to create up to 80 jobs in Spearfish.

Polaris Industries Inc. has bought the 51,000-square-foot facility and paint equipment formerly used by Lehman Trikes. Polaris employees in Spearfish will paint Indian and Victory motorcycles made in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

Lehman Trikes set up operations in Spearfish in 2004, converting motorcycles into trikes for several manufacturers. Harley-Davidson in 2010 ended its agreement with Lehman to make the Harley Tri-Glide Trike. Champion Investments bought Lehman two years later and moved operations to California, putting about a dozen Spearfish employees out of jobs.

Spearfish Economic Development President Jeremy Hoven tells the Black Hills Pioneer that the move by Polaris will boost the city’s economy.