#OccupyHarley
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
#OccupyHarley
This is a hold over discussion form the Do you hate Harley, sort of? thread.
Its not so much a bi5ch about Harley more of a since of pride in this country from a company that sells USA, USA, but most everything they sell isnt from this country. I understand the reasons for having parts made overseas and everything else, just dont agree with the image being made there, and sold to US. I'm just hoping to come together and draft a letter we can print and send off to the MoCo. That expresses really in the end how much we love the brand and what it stands for.
Its not so much a bi5ch about Harley more of a since of pride in this country from a company that sells USA, USA, but most everything they sell isnt from this country. I understand the reasons for having parts made overseas and everything else, just dont agree with the image being made there, and sold to US. I'm just hoping to come together and draft a letter we can print and send off to the MoCo. That expresses really in the end how much we love the brand and what it stands for.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 628
Likes: 14
From: Sweden via Bisbee, Az.
Where to start? It is almost like we would have to do what the HD employees did over 30 years ago and buy the company. Unrealistic of course, but too bad an independent couldn't do a new start-up company based on a new business model. Of course the business model of being good to your community (employees, customers, country) was not such an unusual concept 50 years ago. Today it's considered stupid.
I dig S&S (don't know much about their internals, but their products rock). Wouldn't that be something many of us would ride and support if they came out with a complete product?
Never say never, but I don't see myself EVER buying a new Harley. When my old scoots are in need of replacing (because of reliability would be the ONLY reason 200k+ miles and counting) I would without hesitation by an S&S if there was one and be damned the price. And no I wouldn't want some custom made thing.
Until then I guess we are destined to hunt Craig's list for low milage weekend warrior Evo's. Thank you baby jesus for making fool lawyers and doctors.
I dig S&S (don't know much about their internals, but their products rock). Wouldn't that be something many of us would ride and support if they came out with a complete product?
Never say never, but I don't see myself EVER buying a new Harley. When my old scoots are in need of replacing (because of reliability would be the ONLY reason 200k+ miles and counting) I would without hesitation by an S&S if there was one and be damned the price. And no I wouldn't want some custom made thing.
Until then I guess we are destined to hunt Craig's list for low milage weekend warrior Evo's. Thank you baby jesus for making fool lawyers and doctors.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 310
Likes: 1
I feel the same way about todays harleys I wouldn't buy one either.I rode a twin cam road king awhile ago and it honestly felt like I was riding a cheap jap bike.Fit and finish is very poor.Then when I got back on my wide glide it felt like going from a toyota camry to a '70 chevelle.I wish S&S made whole bikes there attention to detail and quailty is 2nd to none.I feel bad for these guys that pay $20,000+ dollars for what they think is an all american product and have no Idea how much of it is made overseas.If only harley could stop being so greedy and start supporting the american people with jobs and making a good quality product like they used to.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 628
Likes: 14
From: Sweden via Bisbee, Az.
I've already been thinking about how I'd put together an S&S bike. I'd build it around a Anders Nygren Knuckle. BUt I priced it out and shiiiittttee it would be steep and since I'm no builder it would still not be a new bike and would have all the usual amateur issues cropping up. That's why it would be so damn cool if they had a production bike. We can dream right?
Damn.
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 154
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From: Phoenix AZ
Truth is EPA has very little to do with it, thats more of a getting you to buy. Or just saying thats the rules, In Arizona we have to emission test our bikes (EVEN MY 95) and Carb'ed EVO's make no more pollution than Twins, plus I get better gas mileage. "Tide" washing detergent has been the same for yrs, but every 6 months its "New and Improved" Harley is no different. Its called marketing. Remember back yrs ago when EVO's were new, the service department in those shops were small. Cause most people worked on them at home. Today their are 10 mechanics at least in every "Mega Hog". WHY? Because when you throw a bunch of unnecessary cams and EFI you need big expensive tools to work on them. More parts and more complicated a motor is the more likely it will fail. Which translates to more money for MoCo. Im just over it, and plan on buying every 5 grand EVO I can get my hands on. Maybe I'm way too passionate about this.
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 310
Likes: 1
Truth is EPA has very little to do with it, thats more of a getting you to buy. Or just saying thats the rules, In Arizona we have to emission test our bikes (EVEN MY 95) and Carb'ed EVO's make no more pollution than Twins, plus I get better gas mileage. "Tide" washing detergent has been the same for yrs, but every 6 months its "New and Improved" Harley is no different. Its called marketing. Remember back yrs ago when EVO's were new, the service department in those shops were small. Cause most people worked on them at home. Today their are 10 mechanics at least in every "Mega Hog". WHY? Because when you throw a bunch of unnecessary cams and EFI you need big expensive tools to work on them. More parts and more complicated a motor is the more likely it will fail. Which translates to more money for MoCo. Im just over it, and plan on buying every 5 grand EVO I can get my hands on. Maybe I'm way too passionate about this.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,376
Likes: 36
From: Round Rock, TX
Truth is EPA has very little to do with it, thats more of a getting you to buy. Or just saying thats the rules, In Arizona we have to emission test our bikes (EVEN MY 95) and Carb'ed EVO's make no more pollution than Twins, plus I get better gas mileage. "Tide" washing detergent has been the same for yrs, but every 6 months its "New and Improved" Harley is no different. Its called marketing. Remember back yrs ago when EVO's were new, the service department in those shops were small. Cause most people worked on them at home. Today their are 10 mechanics at least in every "Mega Hog". WHY? Because when you throw a bunch of unnecessary cams and EFI you need big expensive tools to work on them. More parts and more complicated a motor is the more likely it will fail. Which translates to more money for MoCo. Im just over it, and plan on buying every 5 grand EVO I can get my hands on. Maybe I'm way too passionate about this.
A company that builds a product (and offers a warranty) purposely conspires to manufacture an inferior product that will break more often and cost more to repair. That way the company can pay the dealers, which are NOT owned by the MOCO, for warranty repairs, and the customers can further enrich the dealers when the warranty runs out.
After 35 years in the automotive industry, I can assure you, this is not how it was planned.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
You got that very wrong! When Harley introduced the Evo they were on their knees, making around 30k bikes a year. There were not many Harleys to service. They can make more than ten times that many now, which makes a great deal of difference! Harley's success today is selling to a much wider market than just those of us who can do our own servicing.