Hot Rodders and Bikers.

Uh snorsters are assembled in KC and have been since the plant opened and I am not aware that Harley has ever had a plant in Mexico.


I am not real up on modern HD products, any more then I keep up on new car models. So I won't argue where the parts are made, I can almost guarantee that any of the electronic parts are made off shore.

As for Jap bikes, I rode one once, a Honda 750 Sport, my feet didn't reach the ground. After being in the saddle for about 15-20 years the state of missouri decided it was important for me to take a test to prove to them that I could actually ride a motor cycle. They wouldn't allow me to take the test on my hawg because of the dovetailed frame. Being able to plant my feet on the ground has always been important to me.

The ride on the Honda was more than enough for me, I couldn't imagine putting the miles down on one, I have always been a travelor and while your modern "bikers" are impressed with having a low mile bike, no one that I was ever around was, getting into the 2K club was always a goal of about anyone I ever road with. People that have driven lexus or whatever import car you like all their life have a different mind set.

Clubbers don't bother with you because they don't see you by the way.

 

I don't think Harley has an assembly plant in Mexico, but all you have to do to double check is google it.
They are planning/ or have opened (I don't really keep a close eye on "The Company" either) an assembly plant in India, but it's for bikes sold in India not the USA.

As far as import stuff on new Harleys, I know frontends/some electronics/carbs (RIP) are/were made in Japan.

Eagle Iron isn't Harley stuff, just aftermarket stuff repackaged and sold in a dealership.

Don't have a clue where Gremlin bells are made. I guess I've hurt some of my friends feelings when they tried to give me a bell and I would'n take it. Not much stuff on my bikes that's just there to look at, they're pretty close to do-dad free.

 

Benno, I thought you knew me better than that. While I was learning all I could from the Jap Engineers, back home at the HONDUH shop where I worked was a different story.

I was building my rigid and stretched 4" rear/ front 6" 38 in the neck, 72 XLCH Sporty. Bored and stroked, Andrews R5 cams, Andrews gears, Morris Mag, S&S carb, ported heads w/Manley valves and Ampco 45 guides, etc., etc. Oh yea, one of the first ever off the line, NOS Nitrous systems for the Harley too. This old iron head hit hard brother until the countershaft decided to call it quits from the torque and took out the right corner of the cases. Carnage everywhere!!!

 

Don't think there is an assembly plant but the last time I checked that is where the seats were coming from.

 

ok now for the truth ...lol this thread sure has turned directions aint it? ive been a scooter tramp most of my life.i know the life,hell im still livin it even as a crippled up old biker/hotrodder.ive owned and ridin almost every harley ever made.mt first chopper was a 45 flathead.wasnt fast or even safe. handled like shit. but i looked cool as hell! lol.the days of made in usa are over for harley. have been for yrs.BUT for the most part it still is a american made bike. alot of parts are made overseas. as is most of the bolt on custom parts that we use.there are still alot of manufactures in the usa but more come from overseas than are truly made here.its not something that i wanted or like,its just the fact of the day.ive had to deal with it for yrs and it still breaks my heart. but from a manufacturing veiw point they have to do it this way or the damn bikes would sit in the showroom because normal folk couldnt afford them.alot of it has to do with cost. from the epa, labor etc.just look at the price of chroming things today, blame epa.still over half the price in mexico. i have a very good friend who ships his bumpers to mexico via a truck drivin g friend who takes them there for him and picks them back up on his return trips.labor has sky rocketed. so who has to pay for all this and more. we do.but its still a harley ( mostly made in the usa) and its the spirit that we ride.the spirit we carry with us. it is AMERICAN.i ride my harleys for the same reason i wave the american flag. because i am a american.i dont like jap bikes or british bikes.i have chopped a few trumpets in my day though, even built a 750 honda rigid frame chopper for a boy back in th late 70s.but i wont call them junk.they are fast and reliable bikes. but they arent my cup of tea.ive asked guyas why in the hell are you ridin that jap bike, repies vary but most say because its fast or because its cheaper than a harley and its the only way i can afford to own a bike. thje japs were pretty smart back in the 70s when they started to import the bikes. they flooded the market here with bikes at a cheap price. even cheaper than they sold them in japan. alot cheaper. thats how they got thier foot in the door.until uncle sam busted them for it.now that is fact. look it up.ive ridin as a loner and ive ridin as a patch holder.all on a harley.these boys who ride some of these rice burners do things on them that my crippled ass wouldnt even think about doing, like sit on the handlebars while doing a wheelie and at 80 mph! not me. id rather go slow and look good than go fast and die. lol now for the wave. i still wave to the brothers on harleys i wave back to the guys on ricers, notice i said wave back. i dont do it first. dont know why but i just necver have maybe its held over from my club days i dont know. but i do wave at cars that im impressed with.always have and always will. and its all just to say im out here too.dont have no special meaning to me.its no rael meaning that can be put in to words. in fact ive nevr even though about it until this thread...lol. now im going out to the shop to work on my hotrod.

 

Sportsters, some Dyna's and all V-Rods are assembled in Kansas City. Their tanks and fenders are also made there.
All others are assembled in York PA.
All fiberglass parts are made in northern WI, near Tomahawk.
All engines are made in Milwaukee.
Last I knew Seats were bought from a company in Milwaukee WI also, but that may have changed.
Wheels are outsourced, including spokes, although the spokes are assembled on the rims at both Kansas City and York.
I call that pretty much USA built.
And no Harley has ever been built in Mexico.
Cheers......

 

I'm pretty sure most Harley seats are made by MILSCO. They are based out of Milwaukee and have several plants in the USA. But they are also in Mexico and Europe, so who knows.

 

http://nwhog.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/harley-davidson-wheel-manufacturing-moving-to-china/

Says wheels are most likeley going to China from Australia in 2013.

 

My bikes were made and built in Germany. I hope thats ok.

 

. It has been entertaining, wannabes and neverweres telling all about how it is and what it means.


I might make that my signature!!

Things changed in 1984 and more with the EVO.
Comments based on post evo involvement only are lacking in the flavor, spice and substance that history adds. I'll just leave it at that.

 

Thank you for those kind words!

Yes I do wave and it has no bearing on what bike they are on. If they are wearin, flip-flps, shorts, tank top (or no shirt) and a lid, they get a hearty laugh in leu of a wave. Thats only because they are cartoon-ish idiots. I don't care what other people ride as long as they love it. I took a friend with me to Sturgis for his 1st time, as we got into town he was so excited that he said "wouldn't it be great if EVERYBODY rode a Harley!?" I said no because I'd have to sell mine! There is something about seeing a half-a-million people ina town of 6k and 80% are there for the love of it all. The 20% are tourists and should not be let into town.

Things have changed a lot since the 90s when so many bought a Harley only to say they have one or to make money. You can tell who's heart is in it by listening to how they talk about their bike. Do they say " I own a Harley" or do they say "I ride a Harley"? I've had my FLHRK since new in '95 and she spends her days outside only in a garage during winter and while getting some love on the lift. Only on a trailer if it or I are broken. I had back surgery once and the Dr said I could only ride if I wore the brace. It was solid plastic, covered my entire torso waist to chest. Yes, I rode to Sturgis lost 20lbs on the way and did wear it as he demanded. He told me later he told me that because he didn't think I would go at all! HA!

Ride (drive) what YOU like not what I like. I have ridden in groups where I was the only HD in the group. But I am used to and strive for my individuality. You will never hear me disrespect somebody else's preferances because they don't mirror mine, I embrace them! "You need to be an individual, be yourself as long as your hot rod is EXACTLY like mine" There is sooooo much of that BS here. Somebody asks a question because they don't know and want to learn and there are the few who NEVER contribute but call them stupid for not knowing the answer.

I have not one, but 2 bells on my bike. They only work if they are a gift. Whenever I see them they remind me of the people who gave them to me. Do they work? I dunno if they do, but I don't know that they don't. I believe and that what really matters.

As you can see, OBVIOUSLY I am passionate about my wheels, whether it's on 3 or 4. And YES to answer a ? from earlier I do have a HAMB friendly ride built 2 years before I was that I am as passionate about. I have had too many to list and hope to always have enuf love for all.

This thread is awesome and but for a couple of clueless people who would be much smarter to just STFU and not illustrate their ignorance to the world.

You said it best, that's exactly what I do as well. If were were closer, I'd be all for goin for a putt with you!

 

Very few Harley parts are made in the USA. Look right on the box when you gt a replacement part from the dealer. I worked at a HD dealer.

That said, most of the aftermarket parts we buy for our rods are made outside the USA too. We can thank NAFTA and unions for that. Well, and Americans' unwillingness to seek out and pay a little more for "Made in the USA."

 

My Harley and I do;


And I've passed a Hell of a lot of "Sport Bikes" on Ortega Hwy and Palomar Mountain!

 

bitchin!!!!!

 

I ride a KTM Duke...street legal motard, Kaw zx10r, Goldwing and soon to own a Ducati 999.... next week.
I wave at others on bikes because I love motorcycles.

 

You got me there Don! I'm more just having fun putting the wind up guys, If I won the lottery, an XR-750 based bike would be on my list. Not my dad, he REALLY DOES HATE them! The story about not letting my uncle park in the driveway is true.

 

I'll wave at ANY brand of rider when out on the open road. And that elitist comment is pure Bull Shit - and yes I ride Harley's, mostly

So why do you have a Hot Rod then

THANK YOU - Well said and pretty much correct. It has nothing to do with Gremlins, two wheels down or any other BS - it was camaraderie, plain and simple, but people have to make up some big nonsense story instead

If you like them (personally I never cared for either of my soul less BMW's) then it's great for you!

Thanks KIRK!

 

I built this machine last year ,a bit crude and not for long distance.But fun and vintage fast.

 

Well put I don't think anyone could day it better.

 

A little V-twin history, just in case anyone is under the impression that the V-twin is an american invention. French Griffon v-twin, 1902. French made Peugout v-twin powered Norton wins the first TT, 1907. German maker NSU had a V-twin out around 1904. First HD V-twin? 1909. Indian a year later, but it was a good one, kicked some Euro ass. The mighty Cyclone, I think probably the first OHC V-twin? Around 1913. I gotta leave for work, hopefully this thread doesnt get closed too quick< I will touch on Bennos question, re: Ducati flat trackers.

 

Hah, you must have ridden K-bikes, or oil-heads. Mine are all airheads.....like me! LOL.

 

I have a hotrod because I grew up around them and now just can't imagine not having them. I have often thought that if I only was into bikes I would have tons of room for more.

 

Cool bar hopper. I rode a BSA 441 Victor from South Central Missouri to Mexicali once, it was a far better bar hopper than a road bike.

Kirk you are correct about jobs going off shore. Everyone wants to get more for thier product, from manufacturer to laborer. We sometimes blame greed for that but the truth is that people want more for whatever it is that they have to sell because they want to purchase whatever it is that is for sale, the more they make for the product the more the product costs so the more thay have to make. Vicious circle I am afraid.

Of course none of this has any bearing on "the wave". I have been doing a little experiment here, actually not it was totally by accident. Now I probably need a bigger test group to prove my theory but here it is anyway. I just leaned back in my chair a little bit ago and let my arms flop, my fingers automatically curled as they do and guess what, my ring finger and pinkly finger curled more then my index and fickle finger. Damn a teo finger wave in the making, try it and see what happens. It is just a natural sort of a thing. Maybe I just solved the mistery of the two finger wave.

 

Even World Moto GP Champ, and former Harley XR750 Harley Racer Nicky Hayden has a Ducati Flat Tracker

 

Yep, Two Oil Heads - an R1550R and an R1200RT. Rode an R69 back in High School and the Earles Fork and Jackshaft effect scared to piss out of me when I rolled off in a corner and the thing drug the cylinder head

 

Beano,I actually built the Triumph for a younger friend of mine .He paid for the parts,I did the work just to do it.He rides it a lot,TT, tavern to tavern.
A few weeks ago he went to a bike cruise in at a local joint.There were 1000 bikes there and as he rode in the a traffic guy signaled him to park right at the front door between two radical fat tire Harley type mega buck customs.All night a crowd formed around the Triumph like they were giving out free 100 bills.
It's just a 3 grand hot rod bike, less is more I guess.

 

Have been away from the track since the early '80s and had never seen one. They were doing well in world class road racing and TT back then and I always figured that they would make good flat trackers.

That second one looks more like an old XR than the old XR.

Minimalist bikes have always had my attention, for sure.

I used to keep a 750 Bonneville for a spare bike. Mine was an old hippy bike that I got cheap, stock frame, 10 over triumph front end, apes and reaally true authentic Peter Max paintings on the side covers. I think the paintings were probably worth more than I paid for the bike. I used to ride it around just to screw with people.

That little trumpet is sweet you done good.

 

Yeah, the Earles for is an oddity that takes some getting used to. Here's my R50...I over-restored the thing.

 

^ that's it right there.

and it's not just and h-d thing. we early triumph , BSA and Indian riders do the same.

 

moto guzzies are great too...btw