If it wasn't for Harley

[ratusratus]

There wouldnt be any japanese cruisers??:Oi:

[ratusratus]

but the japs do a good copy

[Sully60]

There wouldnt be any japanese cruisers??:Oi:

So what was Indian doing when they built bikes?

[ratusratus]

white eyes

[Big Dave]

If it wasn't for bowling pins.....

[twotyred]

what about the Harleys that were made in Japan for almost 30 years?...
The Rikuo... there was one for sale on tardme recently:eek:

[Swoop]

How many parts on a harley are made in Japan, or non-US countries?

[Sully60]

white eyes

Ah, wrong kinda indians, there Chief!

Nah! It was the American Indians, But you can't look at just Harley for the styling cues used on the jap cruisers.

It's a bit like saying if it wasn't for Royal Enfield there'd be no retro's like Bonnie's or W650's.....

Or Indians:msn-wink:

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[Waylander]

If it wasn't for harleys, we'd have nothing to judge the good bikes against.

Kinda like ugly people making pretty people prettier.

[Bren]

If it wasn't for Harleys then a Triumph would be at the top of my wishlist!

I am glad I can dream of a Softail Deluxe parked in my driveway!

[P38]

How many parts on a harley are made in Japan, or non-US countries?


Lots:whistle:

hehehehe:devil2:

[nallac]

If it wasn't for harley ,who would the other bike brand riders bitch an moan about............:bleh:

[outlawtorn]

If it wasn't for Harleys, another company would have done the same thing...maybe Indian would have been the big bike company in the US?

[idb]

According to another thread, if it wasn't for Harleys there would have been no Hitler...or something like that.

[idb]

If it wasn't for Harleys the ancient art of tassel making would have died out long ago, and there would be gangs of unemployed tassel-makers roaming the streets...may Mr Harley and Mr Davidson be rewarded in heaven with 27 virgins each!!

[NighthawkNZ]

There wouldnt be any japanese cruisers??:Oi:

Strange I thought if it wasn't for the Japanese there wouldnt be any japanese cruisers :scratch:


How many parts on a harley are made in Japan, or non-US countries?
http://www.google.co.nz/search?q=harley+davision+parts+made+in+Japan&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a

oh and this is funny
http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/noharley2.html

[Swoop]

According to another thread, if it wasn't for Harleys there would have been no Hitler...or something like that.
Godwin's Law, so soon in a thread?

...may Mr Harley and Mr Davidson be rewarded in heaven with 27 virgins each!!
If they need them...

[Ixion]

If it wasn't for Harley, lots of people would be riding round on Davidsons. How come poor old Arfur never gets a mention ?

Like , before the war, it was considered really naff to call a Rolls-Royce a 'Rolls'. The cognescenti always called it ' Royce'. (Fair enouch I reckon, he was the one who made it go)

[Toaster]

Hairee Dravidson sun.....

[scumdog]

If it wasn't for Harleys the ancient art of tassel making would have died out long ago, and there would be gangs of unemployed tassel-makers roaming the streets...may Mr Harley and Mr Davidson be rewarded in heaven with 27 virgins each!!

Ah, you speak so wisely for one so young!!

Tassles are where it's at baby........(Said in best Austin Powers voice)

[Angusdog]

I love the thought of the poor, poor japanese engineers, trying to make japanese cruisers. "What, a 45 degree engine?!?! But.. but.. that's the worst design for vibration! Air cooled? Pushrods? Can I fake some of it?"

At least in faking the big arse gearbox on a big block harley, my M50 has a plastic cover over the coolant bottle and various other gubbins. I mean, I love my M50; my only gripe is the chromed plastic rather than real chrome.

[FJRider]

Harley Davidson were quick to copy the electric start

[idb]

oh and this is funny
http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/noharley2.html

Crikey...he goes on a bit doanee?

[jim.cox]

what about the Harleys that were made in Japan for almost 30 years?...
The Rikuo... there was one for sale on tardme recently:eek:

And there were the Italians - Aermacchi 350's with HD badges

(and what's worse I think I want one)

[ukusa]

Harley Davidson were quick to copy the electric start
but wasn't it an american invention anyway??

[Pwalo]

If it wasn't for the US government imposing tariffs on motorcycles over 700cc back in the 70s there probably wouldn't be any HDs anyway.

Besides the Japanese will make a machine for any perceived market as will any confident manufacturer.

[Pixie]

Ah, wrong kinda indians, there Chief!

Nah! It was the American Indians, But you can't look at just Harley for the styling cues used on the jap cruisers.


No ,you can look at any motorcycle designed in the 1930's
That where the US motorcycle industry and the US motorcycle community stopped - trapped in a 1930's time warp

[Pixie]

If it wasn't for Harleys, another company would have done the same thing...maybe Indian would have been the big bike company in the US?
Indian was way bigger than Harley and more innovative.
Harley is just what's left,like Triumph

[The Lone Rider]

If it wasn't for Harley, this thread might not exist or at least would have died a quick death :D

[NighthawkNZ]

Crikey...he goes on a bit doanee?

You should read some of his other posts... they are all just as bad :crazy:

[1200custom]

of this forum speaks for itself......HOGS and other crusiers

[carver]

ya never know, the japs make some pretty weird stuff (usually honda)
look at the difference between the first 750 shadow and the ones now (http://www.bikepics.com/honda/vt750/)

[Skyryder]

It would be the Indian............and the Jap cruisers would still look the same.


Skyryder

[doc]

There wouldnt be any japanese cruisers??:Oi:

Dont worry they will be silenced when a factory custom like the squawking budgie fatboy wins IOMTT. Mark my words.

[scumdog]

Crikey...he goes on a bit doanee?

Does he ever!

Couldn't be naffed reading the whole thing but he seems to think we should buy a motorbike for HIS reasons, doesn't seem to think some may be quite happy with a bike that's overweight and underpowered for our OWN reasons.

A wierd dude, man, real wierd.

[Bonez]

If it wasn't for tarriffs ......................

Anyone mention tarriffs yet?

When are we going to see some of you local Harley lads on our Friday night sojourns or weekend rides? Been every other major marque show up.

[nallac]

if it wasn't for import tarrifs -harley would've gone under.........

pushed for by H-D,
then pushed for the removal of them.

[idb]

...and the chrome.
Harley Davidson are saving the world from being buried under a layer of chromium by capturing it all and making it into motorbikes.
Just like Italian bike makers doing their bit to reduce their carbon footprint by building it into their machines.

[madandy]

HD gave us easy rider (well the lifestyle/phylosophy anyway) and a few bikie gangs too didn't it?

[HenryDorsetCase]

HD gave us easy rider (well the lifestyle/phylosophy anyway) and a few bikie gangs too didn't it?

Uh, no. Read some history of the early "biker" "Gangs" just after WW2: they were usually ex servicemen who found it difficult to return to civilian life and used motorbikes as an outlet for that. The "lifestyle" came first, and they would ride anything. The HD's were cheap, available and easy to modify, but there were a bunch of Indians, a few british bikes (particularly in desert racing: lighter and quicker), basically anything these guys could get their hands on. In fact in "The Wild One" which again arguably gave this image to the wider world via cinema (pre TV) Brando rides a Triumph I believe.

The cliche bullshit came muuuuuch later..... arguably in the '90's when baby boomer prosperity and availability of reliable bikes from HD codified the "rebel lifestyle" for a bunch of weekend wannabes. So a LOT of people worked in their offices Monday to Friday, but come Friday night thru Sunday, its all about the denim vest, and the HD. And good for them. I mean come on, they could have started playing golf or something equally lame. Instead its about rock n roll, motorbikes and titty bars. Whats wrong with that, and why havent I joined them? Their choice, their money etc. It isnt for me but whatever floats your boat.

[madandy]

Uh, no. Read some history of the early "biker" "Gangs" just after WW2: they were usually ex servicemen who found it difficult to return to civilian life and used motorbikes as an outlet for that. The "lifestyle" came first, and they would ride anything. The HD's were cheap, available and easy to modify, but there were a bunch of Indians, a few british bikes (particularly in desert racing: lighter and quicker), basically anything these guys could get their hands on. In fact in "The Wild One" which again arguably gave this image to the wider world via cinema (pre TV) Brando rides a Triumph I believe.

The cliche bullshit came muuuuuch later..... arguably in the '90's when baby boomer prosperity and availability of reliable bikes from HD codified the "rebel lifestyle" for a bunch of weekend wannabes. So a LOT of people worked in their offices Monday to Friday, but come Friday night thru Sunday, its all about the denim vest, and the HD. And good for them. I mean come on, they could have started playing golf or something equally lame. Instead its about rock n roll, motorbikes and titty bars. Whats wrong with that, and why havent I joined them? Their choice, their money etc. It isnt for me but whatever floats your boat.

Fair point. I hadn't considered the post war scenario.
Having been directly asociated with gangs I can assure you HD's were a prerequisite for some gangs' members in the 1970's & 1980's, well before this "...cliche bullshit..."
But, yeah any thing yank or UK/Euro is acceptable..I always wondered why German bikes were accepted and not Japanese? :confused:

[avgas]

There wouldnt be any japanese cruisers??:Oi:
Very true - but if there wasn't Triumph there would be no 'cool' people either.
If there wasn't BSA there would be no reckless youth.
If there wasn't BMW there would be conventional suspension everywhere.
If there wasn't Yamaha there would be no quality or set expectations of a bike.
If there wasn't Honda there would be no cheap mass produced bikes.
If there wasn't Vincent there would be no 100% dedicated fans.
If there wasn't Suzuki then there would be no parts networks around the world.
If there wasn't Ducati then all things coming out of Italy would only be suitable for mods.
If there wasn't Ural then a sidecar would be a caravan or an a frame (both extremes) bolted to the side of the bike.

[Bonez]

if it wasn't for import tarrifs -harley would've gone under.........

pushed for by H-D,
then pushed for the removal of them.Honda and Kawasaki had assembly plants in the US by then IIRC.

[Bonez]

Fair point. I hadn't considered the post war scenario.
Having been directly asociated with gangs I can assure you HD's were a prerequisite for some gangs' members in the 1970's & 1980's, well before this "...cliche bullshit..."
But, yeah any thing yank or UK/Euro is acceptable..I always wondered why German bikes were accepted and not Japanese? :confused:Lets not forget Italian ones too. Harleys were late on the gang scene here. A gent at work had a Harley, actually two at once at one point, well before any local gang member if what he says is correct.

He also owned Laverda thou and CBX1000 at one point.

I think the clich'e bullshit came about with the advent of the Evo engine and HOG which was started by HD purely for marketing reasons. It took off from there with the assistance of tarrifs imposed on imports.

Hinkely Triumph are doing the same now with RAT.

[scumdog]

Honda and Kawasaki had assembly plants in the US by then IIRC.


Yeah but the tarrif only applied to 750cc+ sized bikes..

[Bonez]

Yeah but the tarrif only applied to 750cc+ sized bikes..
Over 700cc IIRC. The bikes the HD where competing with, in otherwords large capacity motorcycles which the US market loves.

It's all history now anyway. I for one am glad there is such a vast range of m/cs to choose from. No excuse for not finding the "right one".

[madandy]

If it were'nt for HD there'd be no VRSCDX for me to want so bad! [thanks to Porsche for the engine architecture too:)]

[HenryDorsetCase]

Over 700cc IIRC. The bikes the HD where competing with, in otherwords large capacity motorcycles which the US market loves.

It's all history now anyway. I for one am glad there is such a vast range of m/cs to choose from. No excuse for not finding the "right one".

the tariff applied to every road bike over 700cc sold in the states. there were a couple of good reasons for it, basically waving the red white and blue in the early 80's was good politics, and having HD go tits up (particularly just after the management buyout) wouldnt have been the good look. So the selective tariff was a band aid to allow HD to "compete" while they got their shit together. Which they did, and the first salvo of that was the Evolution engine in 1984 (?). The rest as they say is history.

Interesting factoid which I read somewhere was that at one time (I think after the tariff was lifted) one in every two road motorcycles over 750cc sold in the US was a HD.

I have my Cycle and Cycle World magazines from that era, I must have a look thru.

The latest sales figures I recollect (IIRC) were something like 600000 plus bikes sold in the US, and 250000 bikes sold in "rest of world". something like that. I will see if I can dig out the figures I saw, they were quite instructive.

[HenryDorsetCase]

what about the Harleys that were made in Japan for almost 30 years?...
The Rikuo... there was one for sale on tardme recently:eek:

wish I had seen that, what did it go for?

[avgas]

How many parts on a harley are made in Japan, or non-US countries?
Saw them in china :whistle: