Wayne Moulton

His industry positions included Vice President of Professional Racing for American Motorcyclist Association 1983-86; President, Triumph Motorcycles America Company, vice president of Kawasaki Motorcycle Company and president of Vetter Fairing Company.

Just before Triumph Motorcycle America's British parent company closed on 23 August 1983, Moulton moved to the Vetter Fairing Company, later serving as commissioner in charge of motorcycle racing for the American Motorcycle Association.

To stimulate Triumph business, Moulton also introduced the British Bike Roadride event in 1981 and coined their 1981-2 advertising slogan: It's A Feeling You Never Forget. Moulton's British Bike Roadride was well-attended even when TMA was in its final days.

Whilst at Kawasaki, as director of technical operations, Moulton introduced the LTD motorcycle series. These brought custom-styling touches to the in-line four-cylinder Kawasaki Z1 standard street-bike/roadster model. The LTD style was typified by shortened mudguards (fenders), stepped seat, high handlebars, a 'tear-drop' petrol tank, large rear tyre and short megaphone exhausts. Moulton was quick to emphasise that his design was not influenced by the American manufacturer, Harley-Davidson but rather privately customised British motorcycles like the Triumph and Birmingham Small Arms. The first Moulton-designed model, the KZ900LTD was introduced in 1975 and was immediately successful with demand outstripping supply. Moulton's LTD styling spawned similar designs from Kawasaki's competitors, with Yamaha's 'Special' series being extremely successful.

In the 1960s, Moulton was part owner with Tom Melehes of Triumph West Motorcycle Shop for 13 years before joining the US motorcycle operation of Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki, blaming his move upon the then-intransigent nature of the British operation as to motorcycle design.

Wayne LaVar Moulton (June 19, 1932 – August 21, 1995) was a motorcycle designer called "the father of the Japanese cruiser" after introducing specific designs for importers to the lucrative US motorcycle market. The custom/cruiser market continually occupies one of the biggest slices of the important large displacement US motorcycle market.

Moulton was born on June 19, 1932 in Heber City, Utah to Nephi and Ione Andrus Moulton. He was also very active in professional trap-shooting clubs in Texas and California, and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Moulton died August 21, 1995 in Chino, California at age 63, survived by his wife, Rebecca Cox Moulton and children Roger, Dale, Kevin, Leland, Wendy and Jessica.