A while back I had a discussion with a fellow who claimed his Kawasaki was one of the bikes that Harley sued over their "sound" infringement. I thought this was just about the Honda Shadow with the single pin crank. I think Mr. Kawasaki was just trying to make his bike some sort of a collectible because of this. Anyone have better info on this?

 

No info but I remember the Japanese coming out with a lot of wannabe bikes during that time. The Japanese were making bikes with Harley's (American made) looks and were trying to mimic the Harley sound.
Harley tried to patent their distinct sound to head off the copy cats.

The patent was denied

I don't think it mattered anyways because that distinct Haley sound came from an engine design that Japanese riders didn't like

 

Not to get too technical here, but I think they were trying to copyright, not patent the sound. Kind of like the way a song gets a copyright. They were trying to protect the sound of their bikes, not the mechanicals. I think Kawi did bring out a single crankpin v-twin back then, I guy I worked with had one.

 

that's right, either-or but IIRC you are correct

 

I don't remember much about the sound lawsuit,, but it was dropped after several years.
HD Lawyer said the sound was "potato,potato,potato"
The defense Lawyer countered saying the sounds was indeed "poTAHto, paTAHto, poTAHto"

But I do remember the Regan era tariff protection actions of 1983(?)
It had to do with Japanese makers flooding the market with large bikes,, (I can't find evidence of it but I remember us talking about an issue of copying the 45° V engine).
Thus the Japanese coming up with 699cc engines and 60° V engines.
https://www.fool.com/investing/gener...-davidson.aspx
http://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/02/bu...torcycles.html

 

The MoCo applied for a copyright on the sound of their motorcycles in 1994.

The copyright was never granted, and the application was withdrawn in 2000.

Because the copyright was never granted, the MoCo never sued any other manufacturers for violations.

Manufacturers in and out of the motorcycle industry submitted filings to the Copyright Office opposing the application.

 

That's it. Thanks.

 

The Japanese were "dumping" motorcycles on the US market in the 1980s. Exporters would fill shipping containers with used bikes bought here, ship them to Europe and the UK, and sell them at a profit.

 

You know I heard this as well that Harley did get a sound patent just like the MGM lion roar but I'm guessing to duplicate the " Harley " sound you would have to just about copy the whole engine design from the crank to the sparkplug position.
I don't think anyone can get away with that nowadays but I did hear a story from an old biker that Kawasaki did buy quite a few triumphs back in the 50-60's and copped them right down to the nuts and bolts, and if you google Kawasaki / triumphs they look so bloody close you would think the same company made them.

Wiz

 

I think what your trying to say here is, that was a business opportunity you missed out on.

Wiz