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Everything I have bought from Harley has been good quality and finishes have been great. I see a lot of poorly made Chinese products in the auto industry come through my shop, but lets remember this, Chinese manufacturers will make products for customers at any quality level they specify. That said most companies are looking to China to get a cheap price so they can turn a bigger profit. I have friends who have companies that manufacture products and they have components made in China that are very high quality. China is not the problem, the problem is companies who commonly outsource to other countries want everything done as cheap as possible with out regard for quality. My wife is Chinese, born and raised and I think she is pretty high quality, except for falling asleep on the back of my street glide and scaring the crap out of me. HAHA!
You are a 100 % right with this statement..... Friends and I are very big into remote control planes , boats ect. I have boats that pull about 750 amps of current on a burst. I have yet to find a USA product such as lithium batteries and speed controllers that can take that punishment. German , Chez, and CHINESE are the only ones so far that can take this punishment time after time. Companies that turn to China have one goal bottom line price that's it. On a final note your wife is not the only one that falls asleep on a street glide. She pretty much slept the entire way home from Laconia last year.
I normally don't bitch about anything and honestly love everything about my UC, but somewhat on the subject...
I needed new riding boots and spotted a pair at the local Dealership I liked. I waited a couple of days to see if I found anything better, then went back to get them. They felt good in the store, but after purchasing and a few hours wear, I can say they are the worst boots I've ever owned. The top, zipper and logos are all sewn with nylon thread that is really sharp where it was cut. My legs were chewed up by the time I got home that evening. It even hurt to wear my old boots the next day. I tried cutting threads and burning them down, but it still feels like there's staples poking into my legs anytime I wear them.
I'm not too concerned, this was the first "Harley" purchase I've made that didn't live up to my expectations. But, I will be more cautious going forward. You don't always get what you pay for!
Everything I have bought from Harley has been good quality and finishes have been great. I see a lot of poorly made Chinese products in the auto industry come through my shop, but lets remember this, Chinese manufacturers will make products for customers at any quality level they specify. That said most companies are looking to China to get a cheap price so they can turn a bigger profit. I have friends who have companies that manufacture products and they have components made in China that are very high quality. China is not the problem, the problem is companies who commonly outsource to other countries want everything done as cheap as possible with out regard for quality. My wife is Chinese, born and raised and I think she is pretty high quality, except for falling asleep on the back of my street glide and scaring the crap out of me. HAHA!
Chris ... I think you hit the nail right smack dab on the head ... Now, hows 'bout a picture of that "High Quality" Chinese Gal ? :>)
Everything I have bought from Harley has been good quality and finishes have been great. I see a lot of poorly made Chinese products in the auto industry come through my shop, but lets remember this, Chinese manufacturers will make products for customers at any quality level they specify. That said most companies are looking to China to get a cheap price so they can turn a bigger profit. I have friends who have companies that manufacture products and they have components made in China that are very high quality. China is not the problem, the problem is companies who commonly outsource to other countries want everything done as cheap as possible with out regard for quality. My wife is Chinese, born and raised and I think she is pretty high quality, except for falling asleep on the back of my street glide and scaring the crap out of me. HAHA!
I by no means meant any disrespect towards the Chinese people themselves. As has been mentioned, you get what you pay for and corporate greed is the route cause of poor quality products, not where they are manufactured. However, Just as the good people of China, Germany Poland or any other country for that matter, takes pride in certain cultural products, I feel that way about my American Harley.
Disappointment? Check out the paint on my '09 Black Pearl FLHX:
Back fender.
Front fender. Can't blame that on China. That's metal that wasn't prepped right and sent through the line regardless. It started showing up when the bike was 3 years old, MOCO won't do anything because it was out of warranty.
Yep, Harley getting a better bottom line by farming out to the lowest price supplier.
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YUP, " CHINA , JAPAN etc " !
This has been happening on HD's a lot longer then some people are aware of .
I say that because i remember seeing 1st hand Mikuni carbs (mfg'd in Japan!) along with a few other part (Front master cyl?) mfg'd in Japan at the time too on brand spanking new HD's when i took a factory tour of HD's mfg plant in PA. in the early 80's.
So fast forward to today & i'd bet there more parts then anyone would like to admit or know about that are being outsourced to mfg our HD's & or for OEM HD replacement parts.
I was told in China you get what you pay for.Apparently they have grades for the same product.I've actually ordered some Arlen Ness products from China and they're as good as the real thing right down to the finer details.Having said that you gotta be real careful of what you're buying.This goes to all their stuffs..I'm not sure about the gals though
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