1969: Harley merges with American Machine and Foundry
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 56
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From: Lenoir NC
O, that was the time,My uncle owned the Local Harley-Davidson dealership and I worked in the Shop after school and Saturdays and had a Blast, I got to ride anything,anytime and had it made at 16 years old and Learned to tear down and rebuild AMF/Harley bikes and this many years later Still love them...
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 683
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From: Tallahassee, FL
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 329
Likes: 2
From: Poultney, VT
I am amazed at how many think AMF saved HD.
HD was having trouble KEEPING UP with the metrics. They were not on the brink of total collapse. HD went public in 1965 to raise money to try to boost production. They were taken over by AMF who wanted to "get in on" the motorcycle craze, in '69. AMF did not rescue them, it was a Take Over!
To prove they were out to bastardize the company, they pushed production for 15k units to 70k units in a short time frame. They did not do this by streamlining, just making people work harder...thus the reason for so much failure.
You may very well have a bike from the AMF days that did not have an issue, but HD reported that more than 50% of the bikes that came off the line did have issues! And many of these issues were sever problems. I wasn't even a teen then and I knew about all the problems you got when buying a Harley.
We don't know what would have become of Harley if AMF had not bought it, but we all know what happened after they did buy it. Harley was on the brink of disaster and in true AMF style, they were ready to sell it off piece by piece.
So I can not look at AMF as the company that saved HD, but the company that drove it into the ground. We all know what happens when Demand exceeds Supply and its not bankruptcy!
We have Vaughn to thank for all the Harley's in our garages today and we have Honda to thank for allowing Vaughn in to see how to properly increase production while keeping costs low. I have always felt that this is the main reason Honda began making Harley Wanna Be's first. It was Harley's way of repaying the debt.
HD was having trouble KEEPING UP with the metrics. They were not on the brink of total collapse. HD went public in 1965 to raise money to try to boost production. They were taken over by AMF who wanted to "get in on" the motorcycle craze, in '69. AMF did not rescue them, it was a Take Over!
To prove they were out to bastardize the company, they pushed production for 15k units to 70k units in a short time frame. They did not do this by streamlining, just making people work harder...thus the reason for so much failure.
You may very well have a bike from the AMF days that did not have an issue, but HD reported that more than 50% of the bikes that came off the line did have issues! And many of these issues were sever problems. I wasn't even a teen then and I knew about all the problems you got when buying a Harley.
We don't know what would have become of Harley if AMF had not bought it, but we all know what happened after they did buy it. Harley was on the brink of disaster and in true AMF style, they were ready to sell it off piece by piece.
So I can not look at AMF as the company that saved HD, but the company that drove it into the ground. We all know what happens when Demand exceeds Supply and its not bankruptcy!
We have Vaughn to thank for all the Harley's in our garages today and we have Honda to thank for allowing Vaughn in to see how to properly increase production while keeping costs low. I have always felt that this is the main reason Honda began making Harley Wanna Be's first. It was Harley's way of repaying the debt.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo, Minnesota
I am amazed at how many think AMF saved HD.
HD was having trouble KEEPING UP with the metrics. They were not on the brink of total collapse. HD went public in 1965 to raise money to try to boost production. They were taken over by AMF who wanted to "get in on" the motorcycle craze, in '69. AMF did not rescue them, it was a Take Over!
To prove they were out to bastardize the company, they pushed production for 15k units to 70k units in a short time frame. They did not do this by streamlining, just making people work harder...thus the reason for so much failure.
You may very well have a bike from the AMF days that did not have an issue, but HD reported that more than 50% of the bikes that came off the line did have issues! And many of these issues were sever problems. I wasn't even a teen then and I knew about all the problems you got when buying a Harley.
We don't know what would have become of Harley if AMF had not bought it, but we all know what happened after they did buy it. Harley was on the brink of disaster and in true AMF style, they were ready to sell it off piece by piece.
So I can not look at AMF as the company that saved HD, but the company that drove it into the ground. We all know what happens when Demand exceeds Supply and its not bankruptcy!
We have Vaughn to thank for all the Harley's in our garages today and we have Honda to thank for allowing Vaughn in to see how to properly increase production while keeping costs low. I have always felt that this is the main reason Honda began making Harley Wanna Be's first. It was Harley's way of repaying the debt.
HD was having trouble KEEPING UP with the metrics. They were not on the brink of total collapse. HD went public in 1965 to raise money to try to boost production. They were taken over by AMF who wanted to "get in on" the motorcycle craze, in '69. AMF did not rescue them, it was a Take Over!
To prove they were out to bastardize the company, they pushed production for 15k units to 70k units in a short time frame. They did not do this by streamlining, just making people work harder...thus the reason for so much failure.
You may very well have a bike from the AMF days that did not have an issue, but HD reported that more than 50% of the bikes that came off the line did have issues! And many of these issues were sever problems. I wasn't even a teen then and I knew about all the problems you got when buying a Harley.
We don't know what would have become of Harley if AMF had not bought it, but we all know what happened after they did buy it. Harley was on the brink of disaster and in true AMF style, they were ready to sell it off piece by piece.
So I can not look at AMF as the company that saved HD, but the company that drove it into the ground. We all know what happens when Demand exceeds Supply and its not bankruptcy!
We have Vaughn to thank for all the Harley's in our garages today and we have Honda to thank for allowing Vaughn in to see how to properly increase production while keeping costs low. I have always felt that this is the main reason Honda began making Harley Wanna Be's first. It was Harley's way of repaying the debt.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 234
Likes: 1
The man I work for today was one of the thirteen in the Beals group. He tells me that SLP24 has the best version of the facts. Oh the stories I have heard about some of the behind the scene closed door meetings during the buyout.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,754
Likes: 4
From: GA
I am amazed at how many think AMF saved HD.
HD was having trouble KEEPING UP with the metrics. They were not on the brink of total collapse. HD went public in 1965 to raise money to try to boost production. They were taken over by AMF who wanted to "get in on" the motorcycle craze, in '69. AMF did not rescue them, it was a Take Over!
To prove they were out to bastardize the company, they pushed production for 15k units to 70k units in a short time frame. They did not do this by streamlining, just making people work harder...thus the reason for so much failure.
You may very well have a bike from the AMF days that did not have an issue, but HD reported that more than 50% of the bikes that came off the line did have issues! And many of these issues were sever problems. I wasn't even a teen then and I knew about all the problems you got when buying a Harley.
We don't know what would have become of Harley if AMF had not bought it, but we all know what happened after they did buy it. Harley was on the brink of disaster and in true AMF style, they were ready to sell it off piece by piece.
So I can not look at AMF as the company that saved HD, but the company that drove it into the ground. We all know what happens when Demand exceeds Supply and its not bankruptcy!
We have Vaughn to thank for all the Harley's in our garages today and we have Honda to thank for allowing Vaughn in to see how to properly increase production while keeping costs low. I have always felt that this is the main reason Honda began making Harley Wanna Be's first. It was Harley's way of repaying the debt.
HD was having trouble KEEPING UP with the metrics. They were not on the brink of total collapse. HD went public in 1965 to raise money to try to boost production. They were taken over by AMF who wanted to "get in on" the motorcycle craze, in '69. AMF did not rescue them, it was a Take Over!
To prove they were out to bastardize the company, they pushed production for 15k units to 70k units in a short time frame. They did not do this by streamlining, just making people work harder...thus the reason for so much failure.
You may very well have a bike from the AMF days that did not have an issue, but HD reported that more than 50% of the bikes that came off the line did have issues! And many of these issues were sever problems. I wasn't even a teen then and I knew about all the problems you got when buying a Harley.
We don't know what would have become of Harley if AMF had not bought it, but we all know what happened after they did buy it. Harley was on the brink of disaster and in true AMF style, they were ready to sell it off piece by piece.
So I can not look at AMF as the company that saved HD, but the company that drove it into the ground. We all know what happens when Demand exceeds Supply and its not bankruptcy!
We have Vaughn to thank for all the Harley's in our garages today and we have Honda to thank for allowing Vaughn in to see how to properly increase production while keeping costs low. I have always felt that this is the main reason Honda began making Harley Wanna Be's first. It was Harley's way of repaying the debt.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: So Cal - High Desert
According to the book "Harley Davidson Century" by Darwin Holstrom, Vaughn talked AMF into funding the engineering for the Evo motor, as even AMF realized that they had to have a new powerplant to replace the Shovelhead, a design that goes all the way back to the Knucklehead. They funded this to the tune of millions of dollars, years before the takeover became a reality.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 752
Likes: 5
No AMF = No Harley
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: State College, PA
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 235
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From: Virginia
I've owned a 1975 Sportster, 1974 FXE Superglide and a 1981 FXS Lowrider. All bikes produced under AMF. In fact, my sig shows my 1981 FXS that I had until a few years ago.
I rode all over the West on my bikes. For many years of my life, I didn't own a car. Rarely did I ever see an AMF Harley with major problems from the factory. If there were problems, it showed up almost immediately and covered by warranty. The imperfections or improvements most riders back then fixed them, themselves. I would ride a properly maintained AMF Shovelhead across country without hesitation.
I have usually found that the people who are the most vocal about how bad the AMF Harleys were, etc, never owned one or were not riding one back then (or today). Were they the best Harleys ever built? No. The best motorcycle ever built? No. But if you wanted the best bike built, you wouldn't have bought a Harley to begin with. You bought a Harley then for the same reason you buy one now. The brotherhood of HD riders and the soul of the bike.
However, if you bought a Harley because it is the thing to own, then you will never understand that. Us old-time Harley riders, stuck with and stick with Harley (not matter how bad the company or bike is/was) as it is part of our life, not a fashion statement. I am very happy I could own a Harley and ride it back then AMF or not. The bikes always got me home. Sometimes not as reliably, but in the end, I always rode it home.
My FXS is still on the road (just now relocated to Japan). Not bad for a 28-year old AMF bike...
I rode all over the West on my bikes. For many years of my life, I didn't own a car. Rarely did I ever see an AMF Harley with major problems from the factory. If there were problems, it showed up almost immediately and covered by warranty. The imperfections or improvements most riders back then fixed them, themselves. I would ride a properly maintained AMF Shovelhead across country without hesitation.
I have usually found that the people who are the most vocal about how bad the AMF Harleys were, etc, never owned one or were not riding one back then (or today). Were they the best Harleys ever built? No. The best motorcycle ever built? No. But if you wanted the best bike built, you wouldn't have bought a Harley to begin with. You bought a Harley then for the same reason you buy one now. The brotherhood of HD riders and the soul of the bike.
However, if you bought a Harley because it is the thing to own, then you will never understand that. Us old-time Harley riders, stuck with and stick with Harley (not matter how bad the company or bike is/was) as it is part of our life, not a fashion statement. I am very happy I could own a Harley and ride it back then AMF or not. The bikes always got me home. Sometimes not as reliably, but in the end, I always rode it home.
My FXS is still on the road (just now relocated to Japan). Not bad for a 28-year old AMF bike...