They know a lot. Read a book.......

They also are working in conjunction with Honda, Suzuki and BMW. They've made more strives in production and design in 20 years than most companies have in a life time. They're no Harley...... but saying just cause its made in China, its junk, is a false claim.

China makes a fair amount of GMs engines. Including most of Cadillacs engines from 2003-2007. They're a manufacturing contention. They've bought almost every manufacturing company in this country........

http://www.chinamotorrider.com/articles/top-chinese-motorcycle-manufacturers/

Your Harley isn't as american as you think with a high percentage of electrical components coming from china, gear sets in trans from Taiwan and forks, shocks and XL brakes from japan, or Brembo. Global marketing. Just cause its made in the USA, doesn't mean its all American. Not anymore.......

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They've bought almost every manufacturing company in this country........
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What's really sad is that while our government has been borrowing hundreds of billions every week from China and giving it away to other countries or spending it on government farm subsidies or food stamps, or other big government giveaway programs, China is taking the interest we pay on those loans to make a world class military (which we are having to cut in our own country because of escalating debt) and the aforementioned buyout of our manufacturing.....with OUR money.

 

ya know alot of people think that all h-d bikes have one hundred percent american made parts on them .not true ,for example my nightster has SHOWA forks on it which are made in japan,WTF.. I had showa forks on my honda cr-500 which were really great cartridge forks, to bad that the forks on my nightser arent even in the same catagory of quality that they were! the show forks on a stock h-d night are just plain crap... kinda like the crap that china sends us!

 

HD has been using Showa forks for many years.
Just saying.

 

Since 1971 or 72. Forks and shocks.

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Some opinions already here--so here's mine: The American public usually gets what it deserves or is willing to pay for be it quality, or crap, or politicians. Azz hat politicians? Well, they got voted in. Crappy quality? Well, most people aren't willing to pay the price for quality so they get crap.

Take a product, most any product--car, motorcycle, watch, etc. With that product obtain two samples, one mass produced and priced to sell, and one finely made, hand fitted, tight specs, etc. Line them up side by side with their respective price tags. Then see who will pay more for a product that touts all its fine features and quality components all nicely fitting together and purring like a kitten versus the product that looks the same or very similar but is considerably cheaper.

 

Go into any HD dealer in the USA and go to the wall where they hang up the Accessories and try to find something that is made in the USA. Oh and try to find a HD T-shirt that is made in the USA. Good Luck

 

The front rim on my 03 Softail is made in japan. Pure junk, bent from the factory and it rusts so bad on the inside. The rear rim is made in italy and not as bad. By the way, made in japan is stamped on the INSIDE of the rim.

 

Don't forget Mikuni carbs

 

An excellent carb. :nod

 

Some very valid and thoughtful replies. Caused me to think about what Dave63 said and what you each commented on. Yes we are a global economy, yes we may find parts on our bikes from different countries. All true. BUT! When I start my hog and ride like the wind I am reminded of the H-D legacy, the amazing story/history, the pride of Milwaukee, the rumble beneath me that only Harley produces. Say what you will but I am glad it was assembled here and not in China. Yes, if you detect it you got it right.

USA NOW
USA FOREVER...

I LOVE THIS GREAT COUNTRY.

Crash Kelly,

 

so true ,but it truely should be 100% made here in america and 100% assembled here in america as it originally was to begin with....

 

Amazing news. Found shirts made in USA at our dealer. They were $2 more, bought it anyway.

 

I drive by the Showa plant at least once a week in Sunbury. Large factory, many emplyees, in a nice neighborhood.

 

I do not know how much of my '13 FLSTF is, or is not made here in the U.S.A. But I do know that when I roll down the highway, I brandish the Bar & Shield with pride. But I still cringe every time I shift.

 

the best thing about harleys is that you can find just about everything you want to upgrade with made in america if you want- i try with mine- i did buy european (akropovic)made pipes over usa made ones because i liked the looks better and they are stainless and after install they have the best sound of any pipe ive ever heard imho -

 

Living in York this is a very sore subject. The plant went from something like 3000 union workers to about 800. The bikes are put together mostly by temporary employees who make $17 an hour. Many of the Mexican folks who used to come to the area to work in the fields have now gone to Harley. Better money and they get to work inside. You cannot swing a dead cat around here and not hit five people who used to work at the plant. I am glad that I have an older bike, a 92 Fatboy. If I ever get a new bike it would probably be a Victory or more likely another old HD.- George

 

I thought I had already posted this reply, but somehow it went away.
HD is like Walmart. Back in the early days Walmart boasted be American, buy American. Now look at them. HD is the same way. The money hungry bastards have no values these days other than doing everything they legally can to NOT back up their product, and charging out the ass for anything they sell.

 

Well said. I found this out early on when I called the dealership for a clutch lever for my bike. They did not have one, how the hell do you not have a clutch lever? To me that was like McDonald's being out of hamburgers. They are not interested in you unless you are buying a new bike. That's OK because it forced me to find an awesome local shop to spend my money at. They are more worried about selling t-shirts then making American machines. Sad, very sad.- George

 

the days of liking your employer are long gone -most dont give a rats azz about the guys who do the work - a company allows you to have pride in your work is a rarity these days -

 

I work with a few women who were made in China. By their looks they are all well manufactured. All of their parts appear to work well.

They are polite, and laugh at my jokes. I prefer them to imports from other countries.

 

Yeah......but how do they ride? How do they feel when you compare them to domestic models? I've ridden plenty of domestic and foreign models and I have o tell you, the Asian ones seem to break easier, leak more and make more noise.

I had one that broke after 30 minutes of riding and another one that was broken when I got it. It leaked every 21 days.....bad too. It left a puddle every time id take it out. Cheap Asian junk.....they're basically throwaways to me.....use them once and in the landfill they go.....

I had an Italian model once that screamed when you rode it hard. It was really expensive to ride though. It always needed something. High maintenance!!

Huge headlamps.......insane highbeams. They'd blind you.

I really liked that one and probably rode it the longest. It developed saddle bags and got all soft and didn't handle well, so I traded it in.

I currently have another european model. Good looking. Sturdy. Well built and handles well in the curves. I'll keep this one for a while.

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Well said Dave. I've never had to ride a Chinese product but I am riding some German engineering.

I'm currently riding product of German engineering. The headlamps work well especially when the bug bra is taken off, but they do look good in leather. The curves in the road are perfect for my riding skill and when I need to shift gears it's seamless. It's very quiet an smoooooooth. I have no thoughts of trading this one in any time soon.

 

Chinese manufacturing brings up 2 issues.
First, I think they CAN make some high quality parts, but often don't...1st hand example, my 08 rocker has the new style bearings (starting 08 half size...). I had my first bearing failure at 6k, brand new bike...next wheel bearing failure 7k miles later. This one at 65 mph, almost crashed and it did 1200 bucks other damage when it failed...scumbags at HD tried to make me eat the other damage caused by THEIR junk bearings...GET THIS...the hd mechanic at the dealer stood right in front of 3 hd service mgmt nimrods AND CONFIRMED THAT THE NEW BEARING THAT ARE BEING MADE IN CHINA ARE JUNK, RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, HE HAD A NEW SET IN HIS HAND AND SHOWED US THEY WERE ALREADY RUSTY AND THEN HE WENT TO INSTALL THEM IN A CUSTOMERS BIKE...Poor honest guy, I suspect he had his ass kicked for being honest after I left...NOTE - we are talking about parts that YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON...

Next issue is that in China, if sentenced to the death penalty...you have NO right of appeal...you are executed immediately, without judicial review...I prefer not to buy ANYTHING from a country that operates like that...and don't. Never mind that they stated publicly a couple years ago that they hate America...I don't buy any products or services from countries that hate my country...I don't ever need their crap that bad, ever...
I will and do buy from other countries based on my personal guidelines, they can't hate America (don't get 1 penny of my money...) and the money/jobs need to go both ways (in the ballpark of equal...).
If you have hd bearings in an 08 or newer bike, ditch them for timken or all balls, asap, 25 bucks for a new set, cheap life insurance...God Bless America.

 

Chinese manufacturing brings up 2 issues.
First, I think they CAN make some high quality parts, but often don't...1st hand example, my 08 rocker has the new style bearings (starting 08 half size...). I had my first bearing failure at 6k, brand new bike...next wheel bearing failure 7k miles later. This one at 65 mph, almost crashed and it did 1200 bucks other damage when it failed...scumbags at HD tried to make me eat the other damage caused by THEIR junk bearings...GET THIS...the hd mechanic at the dealer stood right in front of 3 hd service mgmt nimrods AND CONFIRMED THAT THE NEW BEARING THAT ARE BEING MADE IN CHINA ARE JUNK, RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, HE HAD A NEW SET IN HIS HAND AND SHOWED US THEY WERE ALREADY RUSTY AND THEN HE WENT TO INSTALL THEM IN A CUSTOMERS BIKE...Poor honest guy, I suspect he had his ass kicked for being honest after I left...NOTE - we are talking about parts that YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON...

.If you have hd bearings in an 08 or newer bike, ditch them for timken or all balls, asap, 25 bucks for a new set, cheap life insurance...God Bless America.

If you're referring to the rear bearings failing on a 200mm rear rocker/softail bike, that's not the bearing. That's improper preload from the factory with excessive side load. Inner spacer is too narrow. Common......and correctable issue. Hd knows it too.

As well..... Timken bearing. Owned by china for a few years now. Made in Chinese plant since 2008.

Sadly.....All Balls Racing bearings does not make their own product and most are repackaged outsources. Some are made by KML bearing.......in China.

This is what happens when you build a business, then give it to your lazy, greedy kids; They sell it.

.There are very few American made bearings any more.

Here's one. http://www.ambearco.com/index.html
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to blame unions and not management for the loss of steel is asinine at best -
the whole destruction of america has been from the top down-to say otherwise is to ignore history -

unions didnt destroy this country- management with no idea what they were doing did and the few who actually did know a thing or 2 found a way to make money by destroying the country they lived and were born in -

btw- i consider politicians as management jobs

 

Chinese MFG II

Hey brothers,

Wow when I first started thread/dialog on Chinese manufacturing I did not realize it would create a somewhat small firestorm. I felt at the time of posting and still feel now a love and a passion for the USA. Albeit we have many problems (to be sure) we are still in my humble opinion the greatest freaking country on earth! Why? Here is just a few reasons. Please read on brothers.
USA: Have as many kids as you wish even though some expect the rest of us to pay for those kiddies. Don't misread I love kids.
USA: Speak freely in your local town square about your local and or the federal government you may have strong disagreements with.
USA: Worship God as you wish when and where. Pass out bibles if that is your thing.
CHINA: MAX 2.5 Kids or face possible sterilization. Speak against your commie government and maybe get shot! God, I don't think so.
Again I say friends this country we all love is great. God bless the USA now and forever more... Do I hate China? No. Would never want to live there however.

 

Wow......just found out China owns Volvo.


BMW owns:*Mini and Rolls Royce.

Fiat owns:*Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Ferrari, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Ram and SRT.

Ford Motor Company owns:*Lincoln and a small stake in Mazda.

General Motors owns:*Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC. GM owns a controlling interest in Opel and Vauxhall in Europe and Holden in Australia. (The U.S. Treasury Department is in the process of selling off the remaining GM stock holidngs.)

Honda owns:*Acura.

Hyundai owns:*Kia.

Tata Motors (India) owns:*Jaguar and Land Rover.

Mazda*mostly independently owned (Ford has small stake)

Mitsubishi*is independently owned.

Daimler AG owns:*Mercedes-Benz and Smart.

Nissan owns:*Infiniti. (Nissan, in turn, is owned by Renault.)

Saab*is owned by National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS).

Subaru:*Owned by Fuji Heavy Industries with Toyota a minority partner.

Tesla:*Toyota is a minority partner. Partnership with Daimler AG.

Toyota Motor Company owns:*Lexus, Scion, Daihatsu and Hino Motors, with a stake in Fuji Industries (Subaru's parent company) and Isuzu.

Volkswagen owns:*Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, and overseas-brands SEAT and Skoda.

Volvo*is owned by Chinese-automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, aka Geely.


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Wow......just found out China owns Volvo.

Ford used to own Volvo, along with Jaguar, Rover, Land Rover....


GM used to own Saab....

 

and china owns the u.s. from all the borrowing that we`ve done from them .lord help us if they want our debt to them paid up right away... we`ll be learning to speak chinese real quick...

 

I offer we give them Rosie O'Donnell and Paulie Shore in trade and call it square.......

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Bieber is Canada's.

 

Do you really think they would miss him? :dunno

 

Justin Bieber is Canadian, so all we could do there is kick her back over there....

But, we could send Ellen Degeneres in her place.

 

But, we could send Ellen Degeneres in her place.

:nod :thumbsup

 

......dixie chicks.