how can i find out where all the parts of a harley davidson are made?
i just wonder if these bikes are ALL AMERICAN. im curious because thats the impression i have of them (for, i dont know what reason, i dont think anyones ever told me this). any way im thinkin on buying my self a nightster what do you guys think of them?
Tom B is getting a little far fetched. Harley’s forks, shocks and carbs have been made in Japan for decades by Showa (Honda also used them exclusively for decades) and Mikuni carbs. I’m not sure about the fuel injection systems. Yes, pistons for the Evo engines are Jahn from Germany. Tires? They use Dunlops and while a British company, most Dunlops are made in the US. However, I did just buy a Dunlop tire this winter that was made in Japan. For years Jap bikes have had OEM Japanese Dunlops on them.
As far as ALL American, that isn’t going to happen whether you’re talking bikes, cars or whatever. Stroll through a new car lot and check out the "domestic-foreign" parts percentages shown on the stickers. A bunch of them are assembled in Mexico, others have engines and transmissions assembled in Mexico, there’s a Saturn model that’s nothing more than a rebadged car built in Hungary, Poland or some God forsaken place over there. Check out the Geos, some are Suzukis entirely, some have Toyota engines and so on.
Unfortunately, the US made Honda bikes are or will be a thing of the past shortly. All 200 plus motorcycle employees are being transfered to the auto division and bike production shifted back to Japan. That was on the national news a while back
As far as Chinese made stuff goes, the big four Jap companies have stuff made in China as well. Some of Yamaha’s transmissions are Chinese made (I forget which models, but are mid-sized ones) as well as all other sorts of goodies. As far as Chinese steel goes, some of that stuff could be made from scrap we’re sending them. Scrap iron is selling at an all time high and people around here are even digging junk out of ditches to sell.
Harley’s are assembled in one of three plants in the US. They have 2 in Wisconsin and one in Pennsylvania.
FYI, Honda’s big bikes (VTX1300, VTX1800 and Goldwing) models are also assembled in the US (Maryville, OH).
That said, it is fairly safe to say both will use parts manufactured in other countries—yes I said it, some Harley parts are made OUTSIDE the US. lol
Hope this helps.
all harley parts are made by an air compressor company in china.
Harley does use some imported parts on virtually every model. But they are assembled in the U.S.
The trick HD does is have an engine made in China and skip from installing one part from the engine and when they ship it over its considered a part.
That engine from China is received at a U.S. factory and the workers install one part and they say its made in the U.S.
They build the frames in the U.S. with steel from Brazil
Tires are made in India
Brake Calipers are made in Japan
Nightster’s are junk! they have serious overheating problems, heavy and underpowered and very expensive to repair and maintain
Talked with one of H-D’s parts buyers in the course of my job. The steel tubing for the frames come from China. I have a parts bag with the "genuine Harley Davidson parts" logo on it and at the bottom of the plastic bag it says in BIG blue letters…"Made in Finland"…..LMAO….H-D an American motorycle my a**…..
I like the Nightster but I think it’s a stupid name. A lot of Harley’s parts are made in other countries. Turn signals are made in Taiwan the front forks on Sportsters and Dyna Glides are Showa or at least used to be and made in Japan. The pistons were made in Germany. It’s all to cut costs. Showa forks are not the best but no one else makes forks of that quality for the price Harley can buy them for.
But the engines and frames are built here the USA. Even if the steel comes from China. Have you noticed we have almost no steel mills here in the USA anymore?
Nightster’s a cool looking bike.
You’re not going to find a 100% American made car, motorcycle, or pretty much anything anymore.
Victory has more American made parts than HD. plus it’s a better bike.
Harley is the American icon of bikes.Parts are from all over the world.There is no such thing as "all American".As for what you want to buy,that is your choice,drive them and buy what you like.I have a soft tail rocker c and I like it for short trips.I bring out the triumph rocket 3 for the long haul.
Back in the ’70s I stopped at a motorcycle dealership I used to work at. They were attempting to remove a 16" Goodyear tire from a Harley Davidson Electra-glide cast aluminum mag rim. After some considerable amount of effort the tire was removed from the rim. Upon cleaning the inside of the rim, there in bold letters "Made In Japan". Rather a surprise to see Harley even in the ’70s using parts from Japan.
I do know they are different classification, There is Manufactured in USA, and Made in USA, I do know Harley did loose a lawsuit before for making false claims according to the law, I think companies came up with (Assembled in USA) when they didnt make the quotas for American made parts.I am not sure I can not find a legal classification for that term. Harley and many other companies, do things like buy from an american company who that company bought it overseas, for example, Ford Motor Company, they buy from Lear, but Lear buys from overseas, Harley does the same thing, sad but true. I also did hear Victory was the most USA owned and made bike
Buy what you want, ride what you want.
It’s a world-wide market now.
I live and work in the States.
I happen to work for a company that is a combined German and Japanese concern.
That Genuine Harley Davidson gasket with the foreign name is an American part.
Not that they all are. Harley’s have had Japanese parts for decades. Some not made in Japan, obviously.
As of year 2000 the average large H-D had about 38% off-shore parts content, whereas the Honda Gold Wing had 13%. When the 1800 Goldwing came out in 2001 the percentage of off-shore parts in it was even less.