When I moved from PA in 2005 the old building was still being used for FL production, the new building was for Softail production. I was not aware the old (AMF) building had been sold. I guess HD sold off a large portion of their property if the county owns that building.

I've toured the assembly plant many times and witnessed the craftsmanship that goes into each springer front end and all the pieces that go into it. The way Harley has been cutting cost's I'm surprised the springer front end was around as long as it was. I'm not sure the mystique and heritage are as important to Harley as cutting jobs, reducing payroll expenses and speeding up production using fewer workers. To let the finest craftsman in the plant go clearly suggests that, especially when those craftsman feel this way about their jobs and the bikes they build. In light of our economy this just disgust's me to no end. Yes those are some springer raw materials on the table next to the sign that was made up by the springer machinists.

Tech23

 

I could not agree more. Harleys and I mean all of them are bolt together machines. All craftsmanship has been eliminated and placed on the backs of the vendors with MOCO keeping their foot on the necks of the vendors. Some what like Walmart. The vendor has the risk of producing good parts, Harley brings it all in the back door and bolts it up.

I know people who have 35 plus years in the plant and they are bolting up bikes. The welders and machinists that know the craft are either being let go or reduced to work the line just as they did when they came to the plant 30 years prior. Now temps are the majority of the work force as no chrftsmanship is needed. Margin rises on each bike and the stock holders make the cash. Its the new American way. I would envision York assembly being moved off shore one day as the model they are building can do just that in a heart beat. They are already proving it out in India.

Sorry for the thread high jack.

 

Right, the machinists and welders are the craftsmen behind Harley Davidson. I know those guys loved their jobs and it showed in the final product. That plant tour sign they made up shows how they felt about what they were doing there. Someone should send that pic to the person that gave the those workers their walking papers. I believe HD feels that their following is strong enough (and I do too) that it won't matter how many Japanese components or Chinese parts are on the bikes. So much for heritage


Tech23

 

i heard its goin to be a 4 cylinder water cooled dyna springer with a 7 speed and shaft drive

 

Tech23 and ClutchCargopa,
Thanks for all those posts. I must say, I did not know all that was happening at the York plant. It is quite sad what you say has happened and reminds me of the AMF years when building bikes almost took a backseat to the beancounters. I hope for cooler heads to prevail. You also make it sound like we have seen the last of the Springers and that would be a real loss.

 

Years ago post AMF, there was a different mind set. A company that was proud of the product they built. Compant shirts worn in honor of where they worked, events that included the workers and pride in Motorcycles.
Today the workers are allowing the shirts the be worn out and not replaced. If you speak to a model year to the insiders and ask which model year they would buy, the comment would be 1999-2007. To them the new rides are junk. The years of greatness are behind them for the insiders. The friends and craftsmanship are gone as is the pride. This is why there are warranty issues, and tractor trailer loads of bikes that are built knowing the transmissions are bad waiting to be fixed at the back of the building. The worst were 850 bikes stored away waiting to be fixed.

Yeah its bad because the company is about profit as they all should be, but Harley has taken it to the next level. To work there is like a coal mine and the company rules the union. The people are pissed off and it shows in the product. People on this forum are worried about the look and shoes, sunglasses and oil changes, but what they ride is ever changing and what comes out as new isnt always better. Someday as I mentioned before York will close if the wage structure changes when the new contract is written for the union. The company wrote the last contract and gave it to the union with threats to close plants. The rank and file voted it in because they were told to. Now they are all or mostly all unemployed. The Union is a farse as the union heads are getting paid off and the emplyees are getting the shaft. How can any product be built well and with honor, when the people are angry. That is the reality of Harley and an inside view from a riders perspective.
Harley will be around long into the future, but I would venture to guess one day vendors will build the motorcycles fully and Harley will be in control of the product and the dealer to make more profit. Assembly will be done fully outside.

For me I will never buy anything newer that my 07. If anything I will buy another evo bike as I had before. This frame change, fat rear tire, bigger motor is all marketing and people fall for it. Its not about longevity any longer. Its build something the masses will buy because they do not ride them anyway. Its about the look at me crowd and the garage queens that never are ridden. Only to be ridden when someone has to totally change there look from the everyday to the bad *** rider image that they want to show. The reality is that most riders that look the part are pussies and want to emulate something they never can be.

I am sorry I offended some as I know I have. Its okay Moco will continue on as stock holders laugh at you spending your money and wanting to be something else. Buy those bikes, store them away and when the new model year comes around with TVS install they will be bought as the latest and greatest. Moco has won, and the CEO has his millions.

 

It's been a few months since this conversation started. Is there any more news? I can't imagine the Springers being gone forever.

 

It sounds like they are and that is sad.
I disagree with the guy who posted above ya somewhat about the new bikes.

 

Everyone has an opinion and that's fine. If its true it's depressing, but mine isn't getting stored away in any case. She belongs on the road and that's where she'll be.

 

Mine too.