A Message From Matt Levatich
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 14,262
Likes: 15,534
From: Tulsa
IMO this whole issue is riddled with hypocrisy. Harley is not doing anything other corporations are not doing but this is being made into a political issue when it is beneficial.
Trump branded apparel is made offshore? Why? Because its cheaper. Chris ***, the founder of Bikers for Trump said he sells pro-Trump T-shirts made in Haiti because American-made products are too expensive. -- If I get a T-shirt made in the USA, its going to cost about $8 more, I looked far and wide to try to get a shirt made in America, its just they get you, they gouge you.
Not making this into a political debate. But the fact is, the people that are crying the loudest about it have their hands in the cookie jar as well..People demanding American-made need to start with themselves, not proclaim do as I say not as I do. Lead by example.
Trump branded apparel is made offshore? Why? Because its cheaper. Chris ***, the founder of Bikers for Trump said he sells pro-Trump T-shirts made in Haiti because American-made products are too expensive. -- If I get a T-shirt made in the USA, its going to cost about $8 more, I looked far and wide to try to get a shirt made in America, its just they get you, they gouge you.
Not making this into a political debate. But the fact is, the people that are crying the loudest about it have their hands in the cookie jar as well..People demanding American-made need to start with themselves, not proclaim do as I say not as I do. Lead by example.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 6,863
Likes: 3,727
From: St. Charles, MO
The real irony is that while HD will continue to manufacture US Harley's in the US, from a majority of US-made parts, many haters will continue to spew the horse manure that Harley's "aren't really American anymore". And the next day, will order eBay Chinese made knock-off parts because they're less expensive than the US-made counterparts. Ask Advan Black....
SMDH.
SMDH.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 6,905
Likes: 4,877
From: Midwest
Hypocrisy is hypocrisy. Lead by example.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 35,239
Likes: 19,070
From: 40.2444° N, 75.6419° W
Did H-D completely shut down the Kansas City p[ant or just layoffs? The layoffs make sense because they ceased the Dyna line. I would think they are still banging out Sportsters there for the time being.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 122
Likes: 26
From: SEARK
Question: Is a Harley made in the UK for UK riders an American bike or a British bike? I think the Brits would say it's an American bike. They already complain in other countries how expensive Harleys are to obtain because of tarrifs and exchange rates. A Toyota car made here out of more than 75% American made parts and assembled by American workers is still a Japanese car.
I also see the other side. Three bikes ago I owned a Triumph and it was made over there, imported to here. Two bikes ago a Kawasaki made in Japan. One issue is market size; bikes are a small market compared to autos, so it's been easy to do 100% export for foreign sales. Harley trying to go bigger and more global may require tactics the automakers use. It's a much bigger, more complicated financial and political issue.
One other issue: If you are not buying new bikes, new parts, and lots of merchandise, then you are not the "riders" the CEO is talking about. Those of us with the older bikes, especially those the dealers can't/won't service anymore, are not the primary market focus. The market Harley is going for doesn't care about American isolationist ideas and Harley shouldn't either.
I also see the other side. Three bikes ago I owned a Triumph and it was made over there, imported to here. Two bikes ago a Kawasaki made in Japan. One issue is market size; bikes are a small market compared to autos, so it's been easy to do 100% export for foreign sales. Harley trying to go bigger and more global may require tactics the automakers use. It's a much bigger, more complicated financial and political issue.
One other issue: If you are not buying new bikes, new parts, and lots of merchandise, then you are not the "riders" the CEO is talking about. Those of us with the older bikes, especially those the dealers can't/won't service anymore, are not the primary market focus. The market Harley is going for doesn't care about American isolationist ideas and Harley shouldn't either.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 6,905
Likes: 4,877
From: Midwest
Question: Is a Harley made in the UK for UK riders an American bike or a British bike? I think the Brits would say it's an American bike. They already complain in other countries how expensive Harleys are to obtain because of tarrifs and exchange rates. A Toyota car made here out of more than 75% American made parts and assembled by American workers is still a Japanese car.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 13,981
From: Northern New Jersey
Currently how much does a new Road King cost with the current taxes/tariffs over there ?
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,503
Likes: 2,854
From: Delaware
Doesn't matter to me, I will never buy a Harley made after 1999 (last year EVO) nor will ever buy anything from a HD dealer. The after market serves me just fine. To me, Harley stopped being Harley a long time ago.
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 212
From: Alabama
Levatich is a lying liberal douchebag.
Even before the tariff war started, HD had announced a Thailand plant. HD claimed it was because we pulled out of the TPP trade treaty. A treaty designed to move more American manufacturing to Asian countries so they could cut their American labor costs and ship the product back to the states without penalty exactly like NAFTA had done with South and Central America.
This douchebag is the sole reason why I bought an Indian after I wrecked my Fat Boy a few months ago.
Levatich called Trump supporters a "crazy parade" during the last election.
Fk Levatich and Fk Harley.
Even before the tariff war started, HD had announced a Thailand plant. HD claimed it was because we pulled out of the TPP trade treaty. A treaty designed to move more American manufacturing to Asian countries so they could cut their American labor costs and ship the product back to the states without penalty exactly like NAFTA had done with South and Central America.
This douchebag is the sole reason why I bought an Indian after I wrecked my Fat Boy a few months ago.
Levatich called Trump supporters a "crazy parade" during the last election.
Fk Levatich and Fk Harley.
Last edited by TeaRunner; Aug 15, 2018 at 02:52 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
One the same color as yours goes for 19,945 pounds. At current exchange rates that's $25,350 USD. Plus whatever sales taxes exist in the UK, of course.