Where do our bikes come from?
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 508
Likes: 14
From: Tallahassee
Where do our bikes come from?
Made in Milwaukee. My vin says mine was made in Penselvania? I assume that means it was "assembled" in Pen.
So, whats made where, and whats made in Milwaukee?
The way I understand it the electronics and front ends (except Springers) are made in Japan.
Motor/tranny Milwaukee?
Frame??
Wheels?
Gas tanks, fenders, etc??
Paint?
handlebars?
seats?
Fairings, windscreens?
Suspension bits?
Just curious, whats made where?
Thanks for your time,
Doug
So, whats made where, and whats made in Milwaukee?
The way I understand it the electronics and front ends (except Springers) are made in Japan.
Motor/tranny Milwaukee?
Frame??
Wheels?
Gas tanks, fenders, etc??
Paint?
handlebars?
seats?
Fairings, windscreens?
Suspension bits?
Just curious, whats made where?
Thanks for your time,
Doug
Road Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 3
From: Mass.
RE: Where do our bikes come from?
IT DEPENDS!
Motor/tranny, Milwaulkee
FL and Softail assembled in York Pa.
" " Frames/fenders/gas tanks, paint, York Pa.
Dynas, Sportsters, and Vrods are assembled in Kansas City
Fiberglass parts are manufactured in Tomahawk Wi.
DC
Motor/tranny, Milwaulkee
FL and Softail assembled in York Pa.
" " Frames/fenders/gas tanks, paint, York Pa.
Dynas, Sportsters, and Vrods are assembled in Kansas City
Fiberglass parts are manufactured in Tomahawk Wi.
DC
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,475
Likes: 3
From: Southeast Wisconsin
RE: Where do our bikes come from?
ORIGINAL: Varooom
Made in Milwaukee. My vin says mine was made in Penselvania? I assume that means it was "assembled" in Pen.
So, whats made where, and whats made in Milwaukee?
The way I understand it the electronics and front ends (except Springers) are made in Japan.
Motor/tranny Milwaukee? Yes, at two different plants.
Frame?? The factory where they are assembled; either York or Kansas City.
Wheels? They come from all over including Japan and Australia.
Gas tanks, fenders, etc?? Shaped and molded by robots, touched up by humans; in York or Kansas City.
Paint? York, or Kansas City. This is a very secret process and no one outside of employees is ever allowed to see it.
handlebars? Don't know.
seats? Used to be in Milwaukee but I can't guarantee that now.
Fairings, windscreens? Tomahawk--small Northern Wisconsin town.
Suspension bits? Japan mostly.
Just curious, whats made where?
Thanks for your time,
Doug
Made in Milwaukee. My vin says mine was made in Penselvania? I assume that means it was "assembled" in Pen.
So, whats made where, and whats made in Milwaukee?
The way I understand it the electronics and front ends (except Springers) are made in Japan.
Motor/tranny Milwaukee? Yes, at two different plants.
Frame?? The factory where they are assembled; either York or Kansas City.
Wheels? They come from all over including Japan and Australia.
Gas tanks, fenders, etc?? Shaped and molded by robots, touched up by humans; in York or Kansas City.
Paint? York, or Kansas City. This is a very secret process and no one outside of employees is ever allowed to see it.
handlebars? Don't know.
seats? Used to be in Milwaukee but I can't guarantee that now.
Fairings, windscreens? Tomahawk--small Northern Wisconsin town.
Suspension bits? Japan mostly.
Just curious, whats made where?
Thanks for your time,
Doug
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 263
Likes: 1
From: Amarillo, TX
RE: Where do our bikes come from?
ORIGINAL: solorider
ORIGINAL: Varooom
Made in Milwaukee. My vin says mine was made in Penselvania? I assume that means it was "assembled" in Pen.
So, whats made where, and whats made in Milwaukee?
The way I understand it the electronics and front ends (except Springers) are made in Japan.
Motor/tranny Milwaukee? Yes, at two different plants.
Frame?? The factory where they are assembled; either York or Kansas City.
Wheels? They come from all over including Japan and Australia.
Gas tanks, fenders, etc?? Shaped and molded my robots, touched up by humans; in York or Kansas City.
Paint? York, or Kansas City. This is a very secret process and no one outside of employees is ever allowed to see it.
handlebars? Don't know.
seats? Used to be in Milwaukee but I can't guarantee that now.
Fairings, windscreens? Tomahawk--small Northern Wisconsin town.
Suspension bits? Japan mostly.
Just curious, whats made where?
Thanks for your time,
Doug
Made in Milwaukee. My vin says mine was made in Penselvania? I assume that means it was "assembled" in Pen.
So, whats made where, and whats made in Milwaukee?
The way I understand it the electronics and front ends (except Springers) are made in Japan.
Motor/tranny Milwaukee? Yes, at two different plants.
Frame?? The factory where they are assembled; either York or Kansas City.
Wheels? They come from all over including Japan and Australia.
Gas tanks, fenders, etc?? Shaped and molded my robots, touched up by humans; in York or Kansas City.
Paint? York, or Kansas City. This is a very secret process and no one outside of employees is ever allowed to see it.
handlebars? Don't know.
seats? Used to be in Milwaukee but I can't guarantee that now.
Fairings, windscreens? Tomahawk--small Northern Wisconsin town.
Suspension bits? Japan mostly.
Just curious, whats made where?
Thanks for your time,
Doug
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
RE: Where do our bikes come from?
Dang, now I want to know!
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,475
Likes: 3
From: Southeast Wisconsin
RE: Where do our bikes come from?
trmn8r and RedLine
I toured the Kansas City plant when they had an open house and I asked to see the paint process. I was told that this area was off limits to all but certain employees with clearance. The reason I was given is that Harley considers their paint technology to be number one in the world of bikes and they want to keep it that way. The factory rep who I spoke with did share some interesting tidbits though: Only special employees can work in the paint facility and the clothes they wear as well as the deodorants, soaps, laundry detergent, and shampoo they use are dictated by Harley's rules. Also, and this is the most amazing part, they are even given a specific list of foods they cannot eat so as to prevent harmful breath vapors from mixing with the paint or landing on the surfaces being painted.
Pretty impressive when you think about it.
I toured the Kansas City plant when they had an open house and I asked to see the paint process. I was told that this area was off limits to all but certain employees with clearance. The reason I was given is that Harley considers their paint technology to be number one in the world of bikes and they want to keep it that way. The factory rep who I spoke with did share some interesting tidbits though: Only special employees can work in the paint facility and the clothes they wear as well as the deodorants, soaps, laundry detergent, and shampoo they use are dictated by Harley's rules. Also, and this is the most amazing part, they are even given a specific list of foods they cannot eat so as to prevent harmful breath vapors from mixing with the paint or landing on the surfaces being painted.
Pretty impressive when you think about it.
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 263
Likes: 1
From: Amarillo, TX
RE: Where do our bikes come from?
now this part just seems crazy to me. spent a lot of time in body shops when I was younger, my best friends dad owned one so we were pretty much always painting one of our cars or a friends etc. as far as the soaps and stuff I knew lanolin (sp?) an ingrediant in some soaps and skin conditioners is a nono but harmfull breath vapors jeesh.... well makes me kinda feel all warm and fuzzy that someone cares so much about that custom paint job they are gonna be putting on my bike in the next couple of months that they would eat a special diet! [sm=groupwave.gif]
ORIGINAL: solorider
Also, and this is the most amazing part, they are even given a specific list of foods they cannot eat so as to prevent harmful breath vapors from mixing with the paint or landing on the surfaces being painted.
Pretty impressive when you think about it.
Also, and this is the most amazing part, they are even given a specific list of foods they cannot eat so as to prevent harmful breath vapors from mixing with the paint or landing on the surfaces being painted.
Pretty impressive when you think about it.