We've made it our mission to equip riders with high-quality performance exhausts and durable, protective equipment to increase performance, protection, and capabilities during all of our journeys. Our unshakable devotion for more power and performance has fabricated this uncommon bond between the vehicles we drive and the equipment we develop. 20-years of grit, grind, and dedication fuels us to push the limits and equip vehicles to perform at their very best.
According to the paperwork, HMF originated in 1997 in Cleveland, Ohio. However, it technically started in 1947 when my father Hans Luenger and mother Annelie Luenger fled Germany during WWII. My father learned to fly in Adolf Hitler's Youth Corps. He soloed a glider at age 14-1/2 and, at the time, had 1500 hours in motorless aircraft. During WWII, he was a lieutenant in the German air force and flew transport planes for the German army. During an operation, deception forced my father to land with 70 other German pilots on a German base held by Americans. All of them were taken prisoner and held for 18 months.
A mear 24 at the time, my father escaped, gathered their belongings and hitched onto a boat, west-bound for Canada, where they spent two years learning English and studied for their naturalization tests. Through resiliency and adversity, my parents made it to the United States in Cleveland, Ohio, where they set up shop. That's where I come in.
Being born in the United States, with roots in Germany, always gave me an appreciation for diversity and dreams. I started my engineering career early, working with my father, building, and repairing airplanes at the curious age of five. Sometime in 1967, my father and partners decided to build the first fiberglass sailplane in the U.S., known as Project Beta.
Project Beta was a 55-foot self-designed sailplane with a sleek new fuselage he designed and built. During the five years it took to make it, I worked side by side with my father, watching him change the aileron drive on a Ka-7-type to an internal drive system while holding the pan as he tirelessly built the fiberglass body. I remember these days clearly, as it was the foundation for everything I would create moving forward.
Raised with an appreciation for mechanics and engineering, I was able to use that knowledge and follow one of my biggest passions; racing. Whether I was on my bike, motorcycle, four (or three) wheeler, I was racing it. As I grew up, the bikes I was riding were getting faster, fueling the passion even more. It wasn't long after I caught the speed-bug in my twenties that I realized the performance on these machines had more to give, and that's where my engineering background kicked in.
In the 1980s and '90s, I worked as a millwright designing and building mills and maintaining mil machinery for PPG (Pittsburgh Plate Glass). Recently after purchasing my home, a company-wide layoff at PPG occurred. Needing to make money quickly, I started customizing motorcycles, building custom parts and got myself into road racing. Some of the performance pieces I was making began to get noticed by racers, increasing the demand for parts.
The word quickly spread, making its way to New Jersey where Fast by Ferracci owner Evaldo Ferraci had his shop. Through several contacts, I started building the race systems for the 916's that Fasst by Ferraci raced in the AMA SuperBike Circuit. For the first two years, I did private labeling for Ferraci, which proved to be the leg that got us off the ground.
I created HMF (Hans Motorrad Factory) Engineering in 1997 and developed our first exhaust line for the Honda RC-51 and Suzuki GSX-R motorcycles. The demand for these performance exhausts catapulted us to create more high-performance aftermarket exhausts for motorcycles. During the "four-wheel revolution," we started developing exhausts for the Honda 400EX. We noticed the aggressive, deep sound of our exhausts was absolutely what the off-road demanded.
In 2002, a young man named Johnny Gallagher Sr. came into the shop and filled us in on the off-road racing world. By 2003, Johnny introduced us to some of the top racers in the off-road world, quickly teaching us the ins-and-outs of the race game. That same year, I met the infamous Mike Penland and joined his team to race the Baja 1000. In 2005, we won our class in the Baja 1000, only after two years running together. From that time, competitive off-road racing became our identity, so off-roading we went.
In 2014, we saw another off-road revolution through the side by side world. Racing would forever change, and the aftermarket parts demanded changed right along with it. With years of experience under our belt, we dove headfirst into research and development. Racing out west in the Mint400 and Vegas to Reno gave us the knowledge to win the Baja 1000 again in 2018 in the Prop unlimited Turbo Class. Since 1997, we've proven our resiliency by pushing through adversity, continuing to do what we do best. Perform.
Hans Luenger, Owner
Since the early garage days, HMF has been developing high-performance exhausts that increase horsepower and torque on ATVs, UTVs, and motorcycles. Our exhausts have a deep, aggressive sound that fattens up the overall tone of the machine, keeping higher frequency pulses down to a minimum. We manufacture various exhaust series that have a specific volume output to make us one of the most versatile off-road exhaust systems on the market.
The Performance Series exhaust has been the staple of the brand since the origin. Whether on dirt or pavement, this exhaust system has the capability of generating an even increase in horsepower and torque while distributing that signature HMF tone.
The Titan is a stainless steel system built to withstand extreme temperatures, increase torque and horsepower, adding durability, and improving the overall exhaust tone. The Titan Series exhaust is the utility workhorse system you've been searching for.
The Competition Series was designed and tested for sport ATVs. It features three inserts that affect the sound and power differently, giving you complete control over the type of power and sound you need, when you need it.
Today, HMF is a leading worldwide supplier of performance exhausts for the Powersports Industry. Pushing the limits in our research and development is how we come up with new ways to solve the needs of off-road riders. HMF is on the front line of Powersports engineering to keep riders, like you, moving ahead towards the next adventure.
In 2008, the UTV boom changed a lot of what we did at HMF. The introduction of the side by side vehicle created new demands for off-road riders. As 800, 900, 1000cc engines became more common, we noticed a shift in who was out there riding. Weekend-warriors of yesteryear were now riding with family and friends towards a remote camp in the woods.
The demand shifted from horsepower and performance to functionality and convenience. Drivers were now looking for bolt-on enhancements like bumpers, tire racks, light guards, and other equipment for better protection, functionality, and security. This specific demand allowed us to go back to our grassroots: metal fabrication.
Using our decades of engineering experience, we began to develop parts for more protection and functionality during the ride. From bumpers and racks to exo-bars and sliders, every machine that came into the shop created the need for a new piece of equipment. Our line of fabricated products rapidly grew and, now, features various equipment for over 20 different off-road vehicles.
Looking ahead towards the future, we may see our off-road vehicles evolve into something even more significant. However, one thing will remain the same; We as a species will always look to getaway. Families and friends are loading up their ATV and side by side vehicles, heading towards big adventures and further destinations. Wherever it is you're going, we're here to get you there.
HMF
Equipped to Perform
Performance Exhausts and Off-road Equipment. Built in America, HMF manufacturers high end after market exhaust systems for ATVs, SxS, UTV, and Motorcycles.
