A.M.F were they good or bad
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 725
Likes: 33
From: East, TN
AMF put cool stickers on the tanks.I thought it meant "Adios Mother F-er". I had 2, a '71 XLCH and a '73 Super Glide. Both new and they seemed fine to me. I think we all had lower expectations about reliability back then though.
I did ride them both cross country, 2 up, successfully.
I did ride them both cross country, 2 up, successfully.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Aug 21, 2015 at 05:49 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13,456
Likes: 10,452
From: Sunshine State
AMF put cool stickers on the tanks.I thought it meant "Adios Mother F-er". I had 2, a '71 XLCH and a '73 Super Glide. Both new and they seemed fine to me. I think we all had lower expectations about reliability back then though.
I did ride them both cross country, 2 up, successfully.
I did ride them both cross country, 2 up, successfully.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Aug 21, 2015 at 05:50 PM.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,622
Likes: 3,077
From: .....
OH...that reminds me. My '75 FXE was $3200 and brand new. I think my payments were $120 a month.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,322
Likes: 2,500
From: Tennessee
AMF did save Harley by dumping a ton of cash into the company.
Harley was already in finacial trouble primarily because of poor quality products , which is why they needed AMF in the first place.
AMF didn't take much of an active role in the company and did nothing to either improve or hurt quality.
We can thank AMF for giving Harley enough latitude and cash to come up with the EVO motor and the FXR chassis, both of which were instrumental in helping turn a dying company into an industry leader.
Most of the guys that bad mouth AMF today didn't even ride Harleys during those years and they just repeat that **** because they heard someone else say it.
Monkey see, Monkey do.
Whether you like them or not, AMF is the only reason that Harley-Davidson exists today.
Harley was already in finacial trouble primarily because of poor quality products , which is why they needed AMF in the first place.
AMF didn't take much of an active role in the company and did nothing to either improve or hurt quality.
We can thank AMF for giving Harley enough latitude and cash to come up with the EVO motor and the FXR chassis, both of which were instrumental in helping turn a dying company into an industry leader.
Most of the guys that bad mouth AMF today didn't even ride Harleys during those years and they just repeat that **** because they heard someone else say it.
Monkey see, Monkey do.
Whether you like them or not, AMF is the only reason that Harley-Davidson exists today.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,389
Likes: 259
From: Southern California
This is a Trick Question . . . . Right?
Actually the AMF and Harley "relationship" is/was much like the ownership of a Boat. The two happiest days of your life are the day you bought it and the day you sell it. It was a damn good thing AMF bought Harley when they did . . . and it was an equally good thing AMF sold it when they did.
I had an AMF '79 Low Rider Shovelhead that for all the noise I've heard over the years about AMF and Harley quality, ran perfectly for me. Absolutely no problems what-so-ever. It did so for a bit over the proverbial AMF/Harley Terminal Mileage of 30K. I wish I still had it. But like Harley and AMF when my first wife and I split up . . . some things got sold off . . . and I've been running just fine now, for over 30 years ever since. A coincidence? I think not!
Actually the AMF and Harley "relationship" is/was much like the ownership of a Boat. The two happiest days of your life are the day you bought it and the day you sell it. It was a damn good thing AMF bought Harley when they did . . . and it was an equally good thing AMF sold it when they did.
I had an AMF '79 Low Rider Shovelhead that for all the noise I've heard over the years about AMF and Harley quality, ran perfectly for me. Absolutely no problems what-so-ever. It did so for a bit over the proverbial AMF/Harley Terminal Mileage of 30K. I wish I still had it. But like Harley and AMF when my first wife and I split up . . . some things got sold off . . . and I've been running just fine now, for over 30 years ever since. A coincidence? I think not!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13,456
Likes: 10,452
From: Sunshine State
AMF did save Harley by dumping a ton of cash into the company.
Harley was already in finacial trouble primarily because of poor quality products , which is why they needed AMF in the first place.
AMF didn't take much of an active role in the company and did nothing to either improve or hurt quality.
We can thank AMF for giving Harley enough latitude and cash to come up with the EVO motor and the FXR chassis, both of which were instrumental in helping turn a dying company into an industry leader.
Most of the guys that bad mouth AMF today didn't even ride Harleys during those years and they just repeat that **** because they heard someone else say it.
Monkey see, Monkey do.
Whether you like them or not, AMF is the only reason that Harley-Davidson exists today.
Harley was already in finacial trouble primarily because of poor quality products , which is why they needed AMF in the first place.
AMF didn't take much of an active role in the company and did nothing to either improve or hurt quality.
We can thank AMF for giving Harley enough latitude and cash to come up with the EVO motor and the FXR chassis, both of which were instrumental in helping turn a dying company into an industry leader.
Most of the guys that bad mouth AMF today didn't even ride Harleys during those years and they just repeat that **** because they heard someone else say it.
Monkey see, Monkey do.
Whether you like them or not, AMF is the only reason that Harley-Davidson exists today.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,322
Likes: 2,500
From: Tennessee
I've been ridin' and wrenchin' on them since 1969 and have had 2 pre-AMF bikes, 4 AMF bikes and 6 Post AMF bikes.
I was there during the AMF years and dealt with the good and the bad.
Do you see anything incorrect in what I said?
Would you even recognize an inaccuracy in the info if there were one?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,417
Likes: 56,983
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
AMF did save Harley by dumping a ton of cash into the company.
Harley was already in finacial trouble primarily because of poor quality products , which is why they needed AMF in the first place.
AMF didn't take much of an active role in the company and did nothing to either improve or hurt quality.
We can thank AMF for giving Harley enough latitude and cash to come up with the EVO motor and the FXR chassis, both of which were instrumental in helping turn a dying company into an industry leader.
Most of the guys that bad mouth AMF today didn't even ride Harleys during those years and they just repeat that **** because they heard someone else say it.
Monkey see, Monkey do.
Whether you like them or not, AMF is the only reason that Harley-Davidson exists today.
Harley was already in finacial trouble primarily because of poor quality products , which is why they needed AMF in the first place.
AMF didn't take much of an active role in the company and did nothing to either improve or hurt quality.
We can thank AMF for giving Harley enough latitude and cash to come up with the EVO motor and the FXR chassis, both of which were instrumental in helping turn a dying company into an industry leader.
Most of the guys that bad mouth AMF today didn't even ride Harleys during those years and they just repeat that **** because they heard someone else say it.
Monkey see, Monkey do.
Whether you like them or not, AMF is the only reason that Harley-Davidson exists today.
This is a Trick Question . . . . Right?
Actually the AMF and Harley "relationship" is/was much like the ownership of a Boat. The two happiest days of your life are the day you bought it and the day you sell it. It was a damn good thing AMF bought Harley when they did . . . and it was an equally good thing AMF sold it when they did.
I had an AMF '79 Low Rider Shovelhead that for all the noise I've heard over the years about AMF and Harley quality, ran perfectly for me. Absolutely no problems what-so-ever. It did so for a bit over the proverbial AMF/Harley Terminal Mileage of 30K. I wish I still had it. But like Harley and AMF when my first wife and I split up . . . some things got sold off . . . and I've been running just fine now, for over 30 years ever since. A coincidence? I think not!
Actually the AMF and Harley "relationship" is/was much like the ownership of a Boat. The two happiest days of your life are the day you bought it and the day you sell it. It was a damn good thing AMF bought Harley when they did . . . and it was an equally good thing AMF sold it when they did.
I had an AMF '79 Low Rider Shovelhead that for all the noise I've heard over the years about AMF and Harley quality, ran perfectly for me. Absolutely no problems what-so-ever. It did so for a bit over the proverbial AMF/Harley Terminal Mileage of 30K. I wish I still had it. But like Harley and AMF when my first wife and I split up . . . some things got sold off . . . and I've been running just fine now, for over 30 years ever since. A coincidence? I think not!
Great Minds Think Alike :>)