chinese made harleys
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,051
Likes: 161
From: Between Chicago & Milwaukee
RE: chinese made harleys
ORIGINAL: Windup08
Actually the Japanese bike makers did help keep Harley in business after AMF nearly put them out of business. When Honda started getting big in the 60s and 70s and Harley was going down hill they didn't want to be known as the reason HD died. They bailed HD out and Harley got back on track to compete as the American made option in a sea of foriegn made bikes.
Actually the Japanese bike makers did help keep Harley in business after AMF nearly put them out of business. When Honda started getting big in the 60s and 70s and Harley was going down hill they didn't want to be known as the reason HD died. They bailed HD out and Harley got back on track to compete as the American made option in a sea of foriegn made bikes.
I hate this time of the year......
Please provide a link or some source for this story.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 3
From: Central Illinois
RE: chinese made harleys
Hey Bandit. Why don't you give us a list of all parts made in Japan, Chille, Germany, China, Melasia, etcetc. I would like to know what parts you are refering to.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,892
Likes: 2
From: Florida
RE: chinese made harleys
ORIGINAL: Windup08
Actually the Japanese bike makers did help keep Harley in business after AMF nearly put them out of business. When Honda started getting big in the 60s and 70s and Harley was going down hill they didn't want to be known as the reason HD died. They bailed HD out and Harley got back on track to compete as the American made option in a sea of foriegn made bikes.
Actually the Japanese bike makers did help keep Harley in business after AMF nearly put them out of business. When Honda started getting big in the 60s and 70s and Harley was going down hill they didn't want to be known as the reason HD died. They bailed HD out and Harley got back on track to compete as the American made option in a sea of foriegn made bikes.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 5
RE: chinese made harleys
Slash...I suspect the info could be found online somewhere, my source was a "History of Harley Davidson" book.I should have it in a box somewhere, but I've moved twice since I last read it, so kind of lost track of it. I used to have a couple different books on this subject, HD has been an interesting topic to me for some time. The AMF years were the really dark days of Harley's history, they came real close to going under due to all the new Japanese bikes, along with the euorpean brands competing for business in a rapidly growing US market, and HD build quality was at an all time low.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 195
Likes: 1
From:
RE: chinese made harleys
If I've learned anything in the world of manufacturing it is this: it doesn't matter what part of the world parts come from. What matters is the quality of the parts, the specification of the parts, the egnineering of the parts, and the assembly of the parts. Who cares if a piston-pin comes from China if it can be made to the same level of quality as if it were made in Austria or the US?
The simple fact is that you cannot judge "quality" of a part from the country of origin. There are plenty of crap US companies and plenty of crap China & Japanese companies. Same with the Germans and Italians.
The simple fact is that you cannot judge "quality" of a part from the country of origin. There are plenty of crap US companies and plenty of crap China & Japanese companies. Same with the Germans and Italians.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,122
Likes: 43
From: Boise Idaho
RE: chinese made harleys
A Harley is a Harley and I don't care where the parts come from as long as some American is making a living off of building it, transporting it and maintaining it.
When they start build the whole bike in another country and importing it is when I will be done with them.
When they start build the whole bike in another country and importing it is when I will be done with them.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 3
From: Central Illinois
RE: chinese made harleys
ORIGINAL: Windup08
Slash...I suspect the info could be found online somewhere, my source was a "History of Harley Davidson" book.I should have it in a box somewhere, but I've moved twice since I last read it, so kind of lost track of it. I used to have a couple different books on this subject, HD has been an interesting topic to me for some time. The AMF years were the really dark days of Harley's history, they came real close to going under due to all the new Japanese bikes, along with the euorpean brands competing for business in a rapidly growing US market, and HD build quality was at an all time low.
Slash...I suspect the info could be found online somewhere, my source was a "History of Harley Davidson" book.I should have it in a box somewhere, but I've moved twice since I last read it, so kind of lost track of it. I used to have a couple different books on this subject, HD has been an interesting topic to me for some time. The AMF years were the really dark days of Harley's history, they came real close to going under due to all the new Japanese bikes, along with the euorpean brands competing for business in a rapidly growing US market, and HD build quality was at an all time low.
Sorry, but AMF kept Harley in buisness through the so called dark years. Quality was down due to production cuts and lack of product testing. I remember several bikes we got in crates with problems and the MOCO said fix it. They simply did not have the bottom line to increase moral, quality or product development because of budget allocations given by AMF. AMF gave them enough money to produce motorcycles and keep a positive book. Competition entered at this time and took it's tole on HD sales. The Jap's didn't save Harley. Ron Reagan and the government stepped in and imposed an import tarrif on any manufactures entering vehicles into the US market. Not only to save Harley but the Big 3 at the time. This added extra $$ to the imports and gave the US market a competitive edge. That tarrif is gone now and you can see how many car and other manufactures returned. AMF and RON saved Harley. The thirteen that bought HD back from AMF recognized this and what needed to be done to turn things around. Soon after they went public and Willie G. convinced them that they had to introduce something new, exciting and have the quality they were once known for. Enter the FXR. That is why we had a brand new five speed, SHOVEL, rubber mounted chassis. The Evo wasn't ready yet. They pushed the FXR and FLT ahead with the shovelhead to get some intrest in HD again. I would say it worked. They then spent the proper time to develope and introduce the EVO. That was an outstanding engine and put some quality back into our lineup and things went up from there.
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Novice
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania
RE: chinese made harleys
ORIGINAL: Windup08
Actually the Japanese bike makers did help keep Harley in business after AMF nearly put them out of business. When Honda started getting big in the 60s and 70s and Harley was going down hill they didn't want to be known as the reason HD died. They bailed HD out and Harley got back on track to compete as the American made option in a sea of foriegn made bikes.
Actually the Japanese bike makers did help keep Harley in business after AMF nearly put them out of business. When Honda started getting big in the 60s and 70s and Harley was going down hill they didn't want to be known as the reason HD died. They bailed HD out and Harley got back on track to compete as the American made option in a sea of foriegn made bikes.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: S.E. Michigan
RE: chinese made harleys
ORIGINAL: Slash
Really ??????????[sm=happybounce.gif]
I hate this time of the year......
Please provide a link or some source for this story.
ORIGINAL: Windup08
Actually the Japanese bike makers did help keep Harley in business after AMF nearly put them out of business. When Honda started getting big in the 60s and 70s and Harley was going down hill they didn't want to be known as the reason HD died. They bailed HD out and Harley got back on track to compete as the American made option in a sea of foriegn made bikes.
Actually the Japanese bike makers did help keep Harley in business after AMF nearly put them out of business. When Honda started getting big in the 60s and 70s and Harley was going down hill they didn't want to be known as the reason HD died. They bailed HD out and Harley got back on track to compete as the American made option in a sea of foriegn made bikes.
I hate this time of the year......
Please provide a link or some source for this story.
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