There is a HUGE profit margin in the Harley aftermarket (there is nothing "custom" about them) wheel industry.
With that said, there are very few manufacturers of aluminum wheels in the US for cars. They're almost all made in China.
I'd bet the farm that H-D wheels are made in China. Also, don't forget that the HD wheels don't come with bearings and spacers so add another $100 or so plus the labor to install them with the correct tool.
Let's not even mention spoke wheels. The cost of materials are stupid inexpensive yet these "custom" spoke manufacturers are getting ridiculous money for them.
I say, Good For Them. If you can find a market and people will pay for the product and there is a tremendous profit margin, DO IT. That is was the free market economy is all about.
In comparison:
Raceline Wheels are custom forged billet wheels. Tell me, how can they sell this wheel for $550 and another company sells an HD wheel for $2k.
A 17" raceline wheel in polished aluminum is $550. They probably have several hundred of each size and design made at a time.
a 17" USA made motorcycle wheel from a major manufacturer is $995. If you remove the front hub kit with bearings and spacers you will be at around $725.
If the goal is to compare apples to apples then the difference is about $225 give or take a few bucks.
Keep in mind that the MC wheels are made to order, one at a time.
Another thing to consider is that a MC wheel requires twice the amount of machining, polishing and plating attention. On a car wheel you only have to make one side look nice.
90% of one piece aftermarket auto wheels are made in China, there are a few companies here in the states that make multi-piece auto wheels, but they don't sell them for $550 each, they are more in the $1500-$2000 per wheel price.
I would guess that close to 90% of all aftermarket forged aluminum MC wheels are made here in the USA.
Keep in mind that SOME of the MC wheels are made to order, one at a time.
Fix it for you.
I would say very few are custom made as one-offs. If a distributor sells the wheel, they either have them in stock or they are shipped from a warehouse.
I hear you but in the same time I have bought 4 packages for my bikes over 2 years...And I'm looking at the Delmar wheels from RSD. I just can't have a cookie cutter bike it's a sickness! I hate when i have the same paint job for more than 1 year..Hi my name is Justin and I have a spending problem...LOL
My last bike was an American iron horse. I had to replace the wheels. {Don't ask} Any way my bike had the same wheels as the rocker, 21 inch upfront and 18 inch 240 rear. I got the wheels from RC components.. Made in Kentucky!!!! The front wheel was 1200 rear was 1800 . Matching pully was 500, matching rotor {you need 2} 500 each. Then add tax and my indy to install and I was over 5000.. The wheels were FAR better than anything that comes on a Ironhorse OR Big dog or any other custom bike, they were just Beautiful !!!!!! And even my indy said they are expensive but he could see the difference as soon as he took them out of the box.. and it took over a month after I ordered them until my indy got them!!! When I traded in that bike. I left the new wheels on them. I was just happy to move on from that bike.....swifty
09-02-2014, 11:10 AM
