I've been working on rebuilding this '96 Road King, and piece-by-piece, I've replacing original factory parts with stronger, more modern-engineered pieces. In not so long from now, I'll be down to a couple of tins, the frame, the motor, and the transmission as being the only factory parts left on it. Eventually, I plan on replacing the motor and trans, leaving only a few polished scraps of metal and the frame as being OEM parts.

So, when, at what point, does this bike cease being a Harley and become an original creation?

 

Almost anyone can make a fender or frame. With the right tools you can weld brackets and assorted do dads.Forks and rims are available from aftermarket companies. Wires are non brand components. If your handy, you can make your own seat. There are replacement motors and transmissions available from american and foreign sources. But,a real Harley motor is only made by The Harley Davidson motor company. That is what makes a Harley, a Harley. If you had the ability to make a motor from scratch, you would probably give it your name, because Harley Davidson is a registered trademark for their motor.,,,

 

It's the engine Dude,
Try to wrap your brain around the idea that even if it's an S&S or Rev-tech (or other) it's still a Harley Davidson Engine.
Get it?

 

As long as the title says it's a Harley, then it's a Harley.

 

In legal terms, if it says "Harley Davidson" on the title, it's a Harley Davidson.

Everything else is pointless philosophising.

 

Just curious about something. Before I picked up my new Springer, I had the exhaust upgraded and also did a stage 1 , so in a way, I took a stock bike and before it left the dealership it became an original creation because it didn't leave the factory that way. To each their own but as I see it, as soon as a person makes just one small change, it becomes an original creation so things like that don't matter to me, it's just about riding a Harley not what components it's made from.

 

The Moco quit making harleys when they started putting China made parts on & in them at the factory, buying public just hasn't clued up to that fact yet.........

 

In today's world if you bolt on a bunch of crap it's known as a "build." With that definition, once you change anything it's no longer a harley. Not everyone subscribes to that theory, though.

Like someone else said, it is what it says on the title.

 

So what % of a the bike is actually US made ? I'm thinking about 50%

 

Dealership I use describes this as a Nightrain based Chopper, the only parts of a Nightrain left are probably the innards of the engine and gearbox.

http://www.lindhd.co.uk/pages/used/u...d3faef318a.htm