made in USA?
RE: made in USA?
Isn't Harley going to produce bikes in China? Seems I read a while back that the MOCO inked a deal with the Chinese governmentto thatend.We could be possibly looking at Chinese-builtHD's before we realize....
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
RE: made in USA?
[
[/quote]
Interesting post, i read recently that the only car brand made in the usa that raced in this years daytonna 500 was the toyota camry ! Very eye opening to think about......I guess such is the way of the world these days......[/quote]
Cars raced in the Daytona 500 are ALL 100% made in the USA! (mostly in North Carolina)
As for their nameplate counterparts, I'm pretty sure the Impala, Charger, and the Ford are all assembled in this country. The badging IS IMPORTANT though, because it indicates to what country the company and highly paid managers owe their taxes and allegience.
I think it is dishonest for a domestic brand to imply that it's product is domestic if it, in fact, is not!
I had a chance today to instantlybuy a Chinese-made carbon fiber helmet for $45 dollars less than the US made ACC helmet.
I'll buy from ACC and wait 6 weeks becausesafety standards and truth in advertizing are enforceable on American companies and from what i've heard on this website, they take pride in their product and service.
It's worth it to me to buy products that areskillfully made by properly trained and paid employees that will spend their earnings in our consumer economy. I also prefer products whosequality and safety are required to live up to standards imposed by American tort law.
If Chinese HD's were half price, I wouldn't be buying one because, to me, nationalistic pride is the whole point for buying HD!
[/quote]
Interesting post, i read recently that the only car brand made in the usa that raced in this years daytonna 500 was the toyota camry ! Very eye opening to think about......I guess such is the way of the world these days......[/quote]
Cars raced in the Daytona 500 are ALL 100% made in the USA! (mostly in North Carolina)
As for their nameplate counterparts, I'm pretty sure the Impala, Charger, and the Ford are all assembled in this country. The badging IS IMPORTANT though, because it indicates to what country the company and highly paid managers owe their taxes and allegience.
I think it is dishonest for a domestic brand to imply that it's product is domestic if it, in fact, is not!
I had a chance today to instantlybuy a Chinese-made carbon fiber helmet for $45 dollars less than the US made ACC helmet.
I'll buy from ACC and wait 6 weeks becausesafety standards and truth in advertizing are enforceable on American companies and from what i've heard on this website, they take pride in their product and service.
It's worth it to me to buy products that areskillfully made by properly trained and paid employees that will spend their earnings in our consumer economy. I also prefer products whosequality and safety are required to live up to standards imposed by American tort law.
If Chinese HD's were half price, I wouldn't be buying one because, to me, nationalistic pride is the whole point for buying HD!
Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
RE: made in USA?
When I was a kid and wanted a bike, I never even considered its origin.As an adult,(supposedly), I realize the importance of spending my money in the good ol' USA.Unfortunately, todays market is a global one, and it's hard to stay true to that mentality.The inside of my Dodge truck says it was mostly assembled in Mexico.My wifes Dodge Magnum has Mercedes emblems on some of the engine parts.Do people put as much stock in the"Be American, Buy American" slogan when their nice new home is being thrown together by unskilled illegal immigrants as when they talk about their car or bike?What about that nifty new cell phone, who's call center is in the Middle East?Have you ever had someone comment on your new big screen tv and you say" yep, American made".Doubt it.Eventually HD will go that route, just like the big three did.Hell, about every part hangin' at the dealership is foreign made, it's just a matter of time, unfortunately.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 976
Likes: 1
From:
RE: made in USA?
Jeeez, If it wasn't for the computer keyboard, cpu, and monitor that was made in Asia you wouldn't be able to comment on who makes what where when and why..
For the most part I prefer US made products but as time passes, the term made in the US is becomming in truth "assembled in the US.
What really gets your goat is a product, any product made in Japan or whereever then then the tech support for that product is passed to "outsource countries" such as India who didn't even have any input in the product at all!
The days of good old made in the USA are now just words that reflect "well, almost made in the USA" but our tech support etc may be passed on to India
For the most part I prefer US made products but as time passes, the term made in the US is becomming in truth "assembled in the US.
What really gets your goat is a product, any product made in Japan or whereever then then the tech support for that product is passed to "outsource countries" such as India who didn't even have any input in the product at all!
The days of good old made in the USA are now just words that reflect "well, almost made in the USA" but our tech support etc may be passed on to India
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 891
Likes: 1
From:
RE: made in USA?
Let me answer your question with a question. Do you eat Smuckers Blueberry Jam or Bonne Maman from France?
If you eat Smuckers, you have my sympathy. Bikes and blueberries don't understand political boundaries. I'm pround of the quality of my American Harley, but I also liked those Italian Harleys. Quality is quality.
If you eat Smuckers, you have my sympathy. Bikes and blueberries don't understand political boundaries. I'm pround of the quality of my American Harley, but I also liked those Italian Harleys. Quality is quality.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,053
Likes: 5
From: Southern IL
RE: made in USA?
nope
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 2
From: USA
RE: made in USA?
All, of every vehicle that I own at the present. And mostly all of mypast vehicles were American made. (over 25 years ago, I've owneda Honda new and myDadgave me one 30 years ago)
I won't, as a rule purchase any vehicle or any high dollar item,out right knowing that its forign made.
Due to NAFTA and all the out sourcingof corporate manufacturing,our US Dollar is taking a serious BEATING.
Those who wish to contribute to OUR devalued US Dollar by making major purchases from overseas importsare helping it be worth less and less.
When our prices here in the US continually rise and everything is more an more importedit will be to late, and to painful to live here anymore.
Then it will be like therest of the world, in an economic perspective, has raised itself to ours.
But inreality we are lowing our US standards to the rest of the worlds at this rate.
I'm not intentionally picking on anyone. I'm just stating some facts. We, All of us are in for more of a hard time with our US Dollar in the future...
Just my US Dollar "0.02" cents worth, witch may only really be worth 1/3 a cent in world money today.
I won't, as a rule purchase any vehicle or any high dollar item,out right knowing that its forign made.
Due to NAFTA and all the out sourcingof corporate manufacturing,our US Dollar is taking a serious BEATING.
Those who wish to contribute to OUR devalued US Dollar by making major purchases from overseas importsare helping it be worth less and less.
When our prices here in the US continually rise and everything is more an more importedit will be to late, and to painful to live here anymore.
Then it will be like therest of the world, in an economic perspective, has raised itself to ours.
But inreality we are lowing our US standards to the rest of the worlds at this rate.
I'm not intentionally picking on anyone. I'm just stating some facts. We, All of us are in for more of a hard time with our US Dollar in the future...
Just my US Dollar "0.02" cents worth, witch may only really be worth 1/3 a cent in world money today.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,426
Likes: 0
From: Okinawa, Japan
RE: made in USA?
The only way I would not buy another scoot is if the name Harley Davidson was no longer an American icon. The day Harley Davidson is associated with any other country, I am out..