Flagged. That way AI moderators can take care of it.

 

Showa is owned by Honda...

OAN~ How far back must we go to have steel triple clamps? They've been aluminum for a long time.

 

When I was a child, items from Japan were cheaply made and poor quality. That was short lived as they recovered they focused on quality. By the time, Honda’s either motorcycle or Civic / Accord hit the market, they were know for quality and efficiency. All aspects of the market, they were a safe economical purchase, binoculars, watches, motorcycles, cars, radios, and later all electronics.

I guess in a different way, I had hoped China, India, Vietnam would follow suit and focus on quality at a fair price instead of always being the cheapest, quality suspect. Outside of clothing, it never happened. It has a lot to do with culture and changes in global manufacturing and huge retailers like Walmart and everybody copying their model.

Japan and the USA had a culture of quality. China, India never did and it appears, never will. Global manufacturing forced them to lower standards. The big powers led the race to the bottom. Sell it for less, but keep your profit market. Force your suppliers to cut costs or just move to another cheaper one. Retailers, led by Walmarts success copied their model, rushed to third world to find the cheapest with no loyalty, no long term growth strategy. Sell it today, what you did yesterday does not matter, only what you can sell today or maybe tomorrow. No vision of the future. Make it now then abandon, leaving the trash and waste behind for others.

I’m not innocent as a retail customer. That is the weakness. I’ve seen it over and over again in communities. I have only X dollars and we have bills, need food, gas, repairs, kids clothes, entertainment, etc. cheap prices allowed us to get more, do more, and not worry when we disposed of it, threw it away.

After my divorce, I purchased a Leatherup jacket, affordable helmet, gloves in the 50% off bin. My reloading bench from IKEA, my different need tools from Harbor Frieght, my sport coats from Sears, until I was able to save up for what I wanted. Many never get to that point.

Okay, maybe off topic, maybe a rant, but I’m part of that first quarter alcohol free group of friends. March is going to be a long one.

I expect a big surge in sales on April first in my bowling, poker, golf and riding group. (On an aside, we are at the point where we are pissed at the instigator of this fast, plus some have already fallen.) We as a group might even force Jim Beam to start their main distillery again!

Back on topic, the culture of countries like China, driven by global manufactures for even cheaper costs lead me to believe they will never make quality a goal.

 

It sounds like you're blaming the Bush's here. I recall Bill Clinton being in Office when the U.S. agreed to allow China into the WTO. After that mistake, U.S. corporations simply followed the new trade laws to China in order to lower their manufacturing cost. This required U.S. companies to agree to certain terms favorable to the Chinese government, which included Chinese requirements to be met in order for U.S. companies to sell their products in China.
In 26 years the balance of power shifted dramatically after China was allowed to join the WTO.

.

 

Since I am only interested in Harleys up to the year 1984, the topic is actually irrelevant to me.

In 1980, a motorcycle buddy and I visited the IFMA in Cologne/Germany. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/IFMA
I wanted to buy the basic stock for my first shop, Harley & Chopper Parts.
After 2 days at the trade fair, I decided on the American company "Drag Specialties".
I don't remember if Tom Rudd was in Cologne at the time, but the DS representatives were good people; they wanted to do good business in Germany...

What initially impressed us was the outstanding chrome quality of DS accessories. If I remember correctly, the term "silver chrome plating" was a buzzword back then?
DS was a rather expensive supplier, but I valued having a main supplier from the USA who delivers quickly and reliably, in the best possible quality.
AND, the internet was not yet foreseeable, not even conceivable. Even very basic computers were unaffordable.

Even back then, hundreds of Asian manufacturers were present at the IFMA; the parts were incredibly cheap, BUT the required quantities were impossible for us, and the production and delivery times were far too long, completely uninteresting for a German newcomer in the industry; I simply didn't have that much capital available.
Knowing what I know now, I certainly wouldn't start such a business again. The cost of keeping just a small stock of Sportster and Shovelhead spare parts and accessories completely ate up the meager profit; I effectively earned nothing, and for years I only generated a loss.

If I could turn back the clock of life to 1980, I should have filled an entire farm with old and rotten 45" Flatheads, and stockpiled all the parts, such as the luggage racks and other components.
And yet, I don't complain anymore. They were good and important years; we got to know many good and also bad people from the scene. It was an important lesson about friendship, exploitation, meanness, and reliability,
You learn your own lesson, and my very personal realization is this:

"A life without friends is no life at all, however cozy and secure it may be. When I say friends, I mean friends. Not just anyone, not everyone can be your friend. It must be someone who is as close to you as your skin, someone who gives color, drama, meaning to your life. Something beyond love, yet which includes love."
(Henry Miller)

Mike

 

Harley started sourcing their suspension from Showa (Japan) in 1977 IIRC.

 

In 1977, we in Germany were unaware that the front forks and other parts came from the Japanese manufacturer Showa.
This was obviously not advertised, and presumably only the true experts know the reasons for it?

"Early Showa components: As early as the 1970s (around 1975), Showa forks (e.g., 35 mm Narrow Glide) were fitted to Sportster and some FXR (?) models."
(It should probably be FX/FXE, but even the AI ​​still doesn't know everything, how beautifu)
(That was the answer from the all-knowing AI on the subject)

Even back then, the brand's old friends didn't really take these "Japanese Harleys" seriously anymore; I remember that very well.
1975: "Der Harley Davidson Riders Club Berlin" ("Die Nummer 1, das ist die Freiheit") (E: "The number 1 is freedom").

Mike
PS I myself was keen on the 1976 FX with the twin exhaust system, but unfortunately it was no longer available for purchase here in Germany in 1977.

 

Actually, modern day manufacturing owes much of its improvements to what is called TPS (Toyota Production System) that was initiated after WW2, perfected during the 50's and 60's and fully inforce by around 1970 by Toyota. It was admired across the globe, even studied by MIT and adopted by corporations worldwide starting in the 70's including Boeing, GM, Ford etc. JIT (just in time manufacturing), Automation in factories, Six Sigma were all derived from TPS. Incidentally, many Chinese manufacturers use TPS currently.

 

Toyota gives much credit to W. Edwards Deming for his contributions to their success.

 

Yes, thats absolutely true. He was invited by Toyota to come to Japan to teach their executives how to improve their manufacturing processes in the 50's.