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Where did Harley Davidson go wrong?

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Old Jul 10, 2020 | 03:39 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by TwiZted Biker
My post covers some of that, we as a nation have moved away from a repair or rebuild mentality to a replace it mindset. An example, refrigerators or other major appliances that were made in the 40 & 50's are still working, try buying one today that'll last 10 years.

Same with bikes, they have a designed life span, once past that it's more cost efficient for a number of reasons to replace than rebuild it. Designed obsolescence.....
Economists would argue planned obsolescence is a necessary evil to keep the wheels from falling off. One of the first recorded examples of it was over 100 years ago when owners of several prominent electrical companies gathered and concluded that if they didn’t make their light bulbs of lesser quality there would eventually be no market and it would be shooting themselves in the foot. Look up the “centennial light bulb.” Anyways, I agree and have seen first hand in my own industry how companies are manufacturing product that is not made to last and not serviceable. One potential saving grace is that this mass production, made in China generation has also opened up the opportunity for small businesses with a desire to create quality product to do so and make a living.
 
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Old Jul 10, 2020 | 04:46 PM
  #22  
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wheels falling off - i really liked riding my 1926 - and my 1948 Indian chief that happens be be 6 weeks younger then i by its chassis number will be around when every twinkie is a sardine can for its second life

picture before we are now involved in a total restoration


 
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Old Jul 10, 2020 | 05:01 PM
  #23  
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(
Originally Posted by Turbomunkey
If hindsight is 20/20 then I’ll just keep buying older vehicles. I didn’t blindly purchase my twinky thinking about how cool I would look putzing down the road, I have several reasons. One can’t argue with buying a bike that left the dealer new for over 20,000 OTD for less than half that price with a meager 14k miles on the ticker. Also being a 2011 it’s got the “new and improved” hydraulic tensioners that don’t come apart at 20k miles and clog your oil pickup. I’ll putz around for a few years then when it gets cold throw it up on the table and replace the plastic shoes, maybe cams if the stock ones look like crap, as I’ve heard they aren’t hardened properly. I also have a 2000 F250 diesel I picked up cheap. Starts and goes every time, needed some tlc being a 20 year old rust belt truck. All of the companies or guys with deep pockets got to iron out the problems that came with the post emissions 6.0s and 6.4s and I got to read about it all a decade after the fact.
Now you're in my wheelhouse......I've got a 2002 powerstroke, You've gotta appreciate a million mile motor that someone will give you 13-20 grand for all day long...( Well at least in decent shape that is...…)
 

Last edited by coax9952; Jul 10, 2020 at 05:04 PM.
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Old Jul 10, 2020 | 05:13 PM
  #24  
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looks good to me bar the bars
 
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Old Jul 10, 2020 | 06:08 PM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by coax9952
(
Now you're in my wheelhouse......I've got a 2002 powerstroke, You've gotta appreciate a million mile motor that someone will give you 13-20 grand for all day long...( Well at least in decent shape that is...…)
If my stock picks pan out well and I make some money, I will likely pick up another 7.3 from out of state. My brother has a connect in Spokane who, for a fee, will go check out a truck and arrange it to be a shipped back here. Or maybe I take a vacation and pick one up then. From that point drive it and when it starts to get cold make an appointment at that place that coats the undercarriage with an oil film and keep the thing as clean as possible.
 
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