Mike's company was growing at an astounding rate for two major reasons: Incredible growth in the motorcycle industry and unique innovations Corbin was developing for the motorcycle accessory market.
In 1973 alone, Mike filed for four U.S. patents, three design and one mechanical. Three were in the area of motorcycle saddles and one concerned with motorcycle chassis design. All four were granted and later issued to Mike by the United States Patent Office with gold seal copies.
While serving an enlistment in the Navy, as an electrician in the early 60's, Mike rode Honda scooters in Japan, rented on weekends. This was his first exposure to Japanese motorcycles. He was also beginning to hear about the legend of Mr. Honda himself, starting from nothing at the end of World War II and developing a motorcycle company, part by part.
 In 1973 Corbin bought the old Somersville, Connecticut Woolen Mill, a 200,000 square foot multi-story brick complex which had actually started construction in 1836. Straddling a pretty little river from which it got its mechanical power through a water turbine, years before the abundance of inexpensive electricity.
Corbin loved the new home in the beautiful countryside of Connecticut and now the company had a building large enough to grow into after moving four times in five years. The old woolen mill was dirty and rundown, but Mike established an in-house fixer upper team and renovating one area at a time they proceeded to do a wonderful job. The biggest local contractor said, "Corbin pours more concrete than any contractor in these parts." The new Corbin complex even encompassed its own waterfall.
 The major product lifeline of the company was the world's premier motorcycle saddle and the developing line of motorcycle chassis and chassis subcomponents. Mike developed new ideas that made it possible to dismantle a stock motorcycle and assemble it into a Corbin chassis, yielding the thorough custom look of the current day choppers. Mike designed with a high steering head location and lower engine position which made a dramatic looking motorcycle with a favorable center of gravity, providing a good handling bike with safety, style and function.
Honda was one of the driving forces that made the motorcycle industry grow so fast in the early seventies with its commitment to excellence and new invention. Mike was amazed at how dominant it had become in the previous ten-year period. And amazed at coming from a motorcyclist riding Honda scooters in Japan to now making saddles for the dominating street bike in America. "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" and hopefully they will come to Corbin for an upgraded saddle.
British motorcycle companies were dwindling quickly in the face of aggressive product development from Japan. Mike watched and learned that the most important part of being an entrepreneurial company is envisioning invention and product development.
 Ideas started swimming around in Mike's head. Honda started out making parts with his own brain and hands. Mike was a model maker, electrician, seat maker and sewer with a desire to build a personally unique business. Could Mike become a motorcycle manufacturer? Other guys had, and after all, he was building chassis.
From the 60's hippy antiestablishment mentality came real public concern. The world was starting to worry about energy, clean air and the price of gas in the early 70's.
 Mike realized that he could build an electric motorcycle. After all, he developed and built a basic mini bike. Now it was time to tackle a register-able street vehicle that would bring value to commuters in congested smoggy areas.
The lights were coming together. Many years later Mike realized that was the most important time, developing as an entrepreneur.
Mikes first project was to build two electric racing motorcycles that ran on electricity and visit the Salt Flats in Utah at the annual Bonneville Nations. Mike went on to set the Electric Motorcycle Land Speed Record of 101 mph. The second bike set a record at 99 mph. Mike proved that electric vehicles can go fast and he became the fastest man in the world on a two wheeled electric vehicle at 101 mph.
 This was really the formation period, when Mike started dreaming about unique kind of vehicles that could bring value to Mother Earth and its temporary population. Mike saw himself as half environmentalist and half capitalist.
Mike started wondering how he could turn this idea into his going concern, to actually bring zero emissions vehicles to market at a profit.
This was not being in America, which further excited Mike's sense of challenge. He felt he needed to do something and it must be a sustainable company.
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