Hey guys, I have a question that has been sort of crawling in the back of my head for some time now. When I first got the idea of buying a Harley, I started talking to people asking their opinions. Suprisingly enough many people have told me that a lot of the parts in a Harley are made in China. I always thought the bike was 100 % made in the USA using American parts, and I hope this is true, so I am just wanting to confirm.

So what do you guys know about this?

EDIT:

Sorry I should also add, how much of a Harley Davidson is also made in other countries other than China? Mexico maybe? Although I'm not an American citizen, I am pretty patriotic as to where the bike is actually made, and it would sadden me if I am paying a premium price for something which claims to be American made turns out is 40 % made overseas?

 

lots of parts are outsourced,,, if ya want a 100% Harley, you'd be paying 35,000 per bike

 

It's made in America with about 85% American parts if my memory serves me right. Most of the chrome HD accessory parts used to be made in America but now it seems like the majority of them are made in China.

 

I read somewhere that the engines are assembled in Mexico and shipped over, anyone confirm this?

 

LOL, that doesn't make it American! It may be a American company and assembled in America, but truly not American anymore.

 

Well, the forks are from Japan....made by the Showa company, I know this.

Most of the lights are from China

The chrome pieces are from Asia....no EPA reg's to deal with.

In all honesty, maybe a hair over half is made in America. They are assembled in America.

P.S. The engines are American Made.

Get used to it. We live in a Global economy/world. We are now one happy family.

~Joe

 

There was a book out a couple of years back called American Made or something similar. The author cited Harley as 85% U.S. made. Not too bad...i've heard people quote ridiculous stats stating they are less than 50% U.S. made..and according to this book, it's untrue.

 

The Sportster brakes are Nissin of Japan. Other models use Brembo or Kelsey Hayes.

 

85 % is good, Id be happy with that. Lights and stuff I don't care about. What I do care about is key components being made in the USA. I am looking at the situation from a safety/quality standpoint, China is not known for much of anything quality wise, much less mechinal things. If the forks or brakes are from Japan, I guess that is cool because the Japanese know their **** Same with European countries.

 

When it comes to mechanical things like engines, transmissions cars, trucks and such I would agree. However, when it comes to toys like die cast motorcycles, miniature trains and the likes, their quality and ability to mimic the original puts the Japanese to shame....