Harley - Made in USA

[schoeney]

I was in one of those nice big HD dealers yesterday. I was killing an extra hour I had. I noticed a couple things. One is they had several bikes discounted, the place was dead as a door nail, they had huge inventories of parts/accessories.

I looked at about 10 different HD aftermarket accessories that were labeled HD but half of them indicated they were made outside the U.S.

I also looked a several pieces of HD clothing. It was hilarious....right below the tag that says "An American Legend" was the tag that said "made in china". Every piece of clothing I looked at was made somewhere else.

The reason I enjoy this so much is I was looking at a stranger's HD a few weeks ago...he was the stereotype HD rider...he was very into the image and came off very arrogant. I gave him the obligarotory "nice bike" comment....I noticed the 96ci on the side of the engine and asked "so how many cc's is that?"....then I got the holier than thou caustic comment "we are in America,we don't talk in cc's".

I walked away without a word. I have since learned a few things that I wished I had known at the time.

- HD has several parts on their bikes that are not made in the U.S.
- Most of their clothing and accessories are not made here
- The HD catalog lists both ci and cc's
-I now know how to convert ci's into cc's very simply so I don't have to listen to that sh*t again!

I must admit, HD does a great job selling an image..

[oldbikers]

I wouldn't let it bother you to much the HD is not 96 CI just like the nomad is not 1600 CC they are both 1550 or so CC I don't remember the exact number but they both are closer to 95 CI. I was helping a friend put a new chrome side cover on his 88 CI HD when I noticed a tag in side that said made in Taiwan

[cactusjack]

It's human nature to not admit to making mistakes. You were talking to someone who probably spent enough on his ride to buy two new Nomads. Is he going to admit to a stranger that he could have gotten a better deal and possibly a better bike if he'd bought something else? Of course not. So he spews his jingoistic crap about "we're in America..yada yada yada". He was in self-defense mode at that point.

I have a buddy who recently bought a Heritage Softail. He knows he could have bought a better bike for less money, he just wanted to own and ride a Harley. He isn't a pr1ck about it. He laughs about walking into the Hundred Dollar store and buying his bling. He doesn't try to justify his decision by belittling my Nomad or our other friend's Volusia. He had the dough to buy whatever he wanted and that's what he did.

My point is, some guys just want to say they ride a Harley. Some want to make you feel inferior because you don't.

[Top Cat]

My point is, some guys just want to say they ride a Harley. Some want to make you feel inferior because you don't.

Got no problem with the first guys.
The second guys can bite me.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by Top Cat (TC)

My point is, some guys just want to say they ride a Harley. Some want to make you feel inferior because you don't.

Got no problem with the first guys.
The second guys can bite me.

...and the second group seems to be a lot bigger than the first.

[b2]

Funny you raise this today.. I was in a HD shop yesterday to buy the zero-loss shock pump that folks on this forum has recommended.

Guy behind the counter was cool, chating with he as he got the pump, then asked me what bike I have.... well, I told the truth. He actually pulled the pump back a little and said, "well, this won't work on your bike, you should go shop elsewhere".

I told him it was recommended by other Nomad riders so and he let me buy the pump, but didn't say another word to me. I really felt that he didn't want to sell me the pump and just wanted me out of the shop.

I think I prefer the guys at the BMW shop. They know I ride a Kawa but are still friendly when I go in to spend money..

Brian

I hope H-D doesn't expect us to believe 883 is the CID:

[ells]

CadQ, Ya nailed it! Got to remember that.

[macmac]

Originally Posted by b2

Funny you raise this today.. I was in a HD shop yesterday to buy the zero-loss shock pump that folks on this forum has recommended.

Guy behind the counter was cool, chating with he as he got the pump, then asked me what bike I have.... well, I told the truth. He actually pulled the pump back a little and said, "well, this won't work on your bike, you should go shop elsewhere".

I told him it was recommended by other Nomad riders so and he let me buy the pump, but didn't say another word to me. I really felt that he didn't want to sell me the pump and just wanted me out of the shop.

I think I prefer the guys at the BMW shop. They know I ride a Kawa but are still friendly when I go in to spend money..

Brian

Say this out loud and sorta slow... uh ...... yeah

So I guess HD has some other than standard 'Shrader valve threads on their shocks and wheels huh? Hey it must be true. but so far as i know the whole friggin world has Shrader valves on everything else, and if there is one world std it is these valves on damned near everything, so far to the point I have never seen anything else, and I have seen all sorts of funny cars and trucks over 40 years.

Man I woulda been asking him for accessories for the 3 point hitch and where to locate the power take off..

Just think of it, the cutting edge, and still with push rods

After getting the HD scowel I would have begged for the HD Barbie and Ken set.

schoeney, Had you looked a bit harder you would have found German wiring, all of it, and fenders made in mexico stamped into the steel plain as day.. The forks and shocks are likey from Japan.

Just what is 'image worth? Any fool can buy image and still be a DORK!

Nope HD and me are done, and in my day HD was made of IRON. If you ask me all these boys on alloy HD are wanna be's.

There is one good thing about the HD stealers, and that is they got some good lookin gals in there to cater to men... I was looking at STICKERS.. One that says "A Gun Society is a Polite society." The Hd gal was trying to help, and kinda got in my way, and then became out right pushy.

I chose two small stickers for a buck, and asked her to show me how the pasties work.. Poof all gone..............

[Netnorske]

Brian,
I went into the HD dealer here a ways back to buy that same shock pump. I too told the guy what I wanted it for without any hesitation. While he didn't rave about my bike, he was helpful and thought it should work just fine (which it does). He was pretty cool for a HD parts guy.

On another note, I recently went on a 15 bike ride up to Mt. Baker and about 2/3 of the bikes were HD, the rest metrics. Nobody in the group had that "better than thou" attitude and a few were even curious about my Nomad.

One gal that was riding with us (we went to High School together) was on a brand spanking new 2009 HD Heritage Softail (very pretty color combo I might add, a turquoise/cream that was almost the same as my old '97 Vulcan 800 Classic).

I could not help but ask her the out-the-door price for her new ride. After explaining she had $4k worth of mods done to it, the final price she paid was just over $27,000... .

I'm feeling better all the time about what I paid for my '08 Nad... ;)...!!

Kris

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

I'm feeling better all the time about what I paid for my '08 Nad... ;)...!!

Kris

I have always loved to see HD riders as they die of heat at long stop-lights or in slow traffic -- while I am much more comfortable with my water-cooled Nomad. Give me my fuel-injected; shaft-driven; counter-balanced water-cooled engine any day.

I do have to say that I have not had too many "bad" expereinces with HD riders. Most have been more curious than anything.

[schoeney]

macmac...good info that I will keep stored if the next blowhard wants to toot his horn.

Most bikers I meet are usually great people and just another over the hiller that are trying to enjoy the biking experience like me..but every once in awhile you get a turd. One bad apple doesn't spoil the rest.

The season is fast coming to a close. I hope to get a couple good rides in before the weather turns.

I am going to the Anacortes Oyster Bike Rally on Sun the 28th (weather permitting)...Oly are you going to be there? Be nice to meet face to face.

[Netnorske]

schoeney,
You know my brother asked me to go on that run too...but I'm actually planning a ride to Tri-Cities this weekend if the weather allows. There will be so many bikes in Anacortes I think it would be hard to find you!

I for sure would like to hook up with you sometime down the road though...would be fun!

Cheers...Kris

[skeeter]

Took my wife to several shops to try on helmets. The last stop of the day was at a HD dealership. They were wheeling bikes in about 10 til 5 and as we were walking in a woman (won't say lady) was sticking a key in the roll down cage and told me "This a store is a closed".
"Oh really " I say, as I look at customers in the store and my watch " My watch says I got 8 minutes". "No" she says" This a store is a closed". "Fine" I say " I didn't want to shop here anyway" and turn to walk out.
A gentleman bringing in a bike stopped us on the way out and asked us what the deal was. I had said hi to him on the way in. I stuck my thumb over my shoulder and told him "She says your closed". His response "Bullsh*t, ignore her, go on in". I would have left anyway if my wife hadn't gone in. Other woman would not look our way. We didn't spend any money.

[VulcanE]

I know that every GENUINE Harley Davidson part that I have bought to go on my trunk or fairing, has either been made in Mexico or Japan. I do know that their transmissions are made in Korea, and all the electronics are made in Japan.