Jap bits on Harleys

[fergie]

when it all boils down who really cares? as long as it does the job/has the effect your after then it's ok where it's put together.

[Crasherfromwayback]

They push the USA 'thing' for marketing - nothing else. Just business.

Assembled in the USA just dosnt have the same ring to it.

I wonder how many of the parts must come from the 'made in' country for it to be legally called that? 10%, 5%, 80%

Else I could build a bike made 100% of Chinese made parts, assemble them in my garage and call it a NZ made bike.

"Buy Kiwi quality" Heck - I could even get the g'ment to put them on the buy NZ made TV advert.

Not so. Sure they use Japanese suspension bits, electrical bits etc. But who doesn't? So what? The heart of it (engine, not all pieces I know, frame, body work) are made there, and it's fully designed and assembled there. They have every right to say made in the USA.

[koba]

I know they use jap carbs coz one carb they have used is a Kehin CVK40, the same as on a KLR600.
Good for me as there are lots around esp when harley owners upgrade to more advanced (than the CVK) Mikuni carbs (also jap)

My old Suzuki was made in china too...

As for the "what is made" over what is "assembled" I've seen american chopper! they "make" lots of bikes (bolt them together and make a tank)

[Tank]

Not so. Sure they use Japanese suspension bits, electrical bits etc. But who doesn't? So what? The heart of it (engine, not all pieces I know, frame, body work) are made there, and it's fully designed and assembled there. They have every right to say made in the USA.

umm - not quite - "The Revolution engine is based on the VR-1000 Superbike race program, developed by Harley-Davidson's Powertrain Engineering team and Porsche Engineering in Stuttgart, Germany." Wikipedia is ya mate.

[1200custom]

umm - not quite - "The Revolution engine is based on the VR-1000 Superbike race program, developed by Harley-Davidson's Powertrain Engineering team and Porsche Engineering in Stuttgart, Germany." Wikipedia is ya mate.

ha wikipedia....the most unreliable sorce out, anyone in the world can add what they want

[ManDownUnder]

My old Suzuki was made in china too...

Want a shocking giggle... ? Check your peanut butter (I'm not kidding). Small font on the label somewhere will read... "Made in China". There are very very few exceptions...

As for Harleys - it's the brand you pay for, and considering the maintenace (read OVERHAUL) intervals, yes - I fully expect them to be made in the US of A.

[Crasherfromwayback]

umm - not quite - "The Revolution engine is based on the VR-1000 Superbike race program, developed by Harley-Davidson's Powertrain Engineering team and Porsche Engineering in Stuttgart, Germany." Wikipedia is ya mate.

Yeah and the VR family equates to about 5% of all HD sales mate. The 45 deg motor is basically what HD is all about. No need for Wikipedia.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Made in USA (Usa) Which is in Japan or Made in U.S.A

[Mr Merde]

US law goes something like

if more than 4 screws are assembled in an object then it is lergally allowed to display the

"Made in USA" logo\title.

Parts from everywhere. put together (partially in the USA), An American Icon.

[Subike]

Manufactured under design rules for Harley Davidson.
Parts as previously said, for all bikes, are made in many different places around the world.
For exampe.
Electrics are manufactured for the Harley in Japan to H D design rules.
This means that the parts required must be made to the design spec that HD requires. Not just made cheaply or quickly.
This is an area I find amusing.
Lots of knowlageable people talk about jap/chinese/korean parts as being crap, just because they are built in those contries.
Bollics!
Parts are made to the design rules of the company wanting the part. So if HD wants a set of clocks that are xyz specs, thats what they get, if they get something that is of lower quality than those specs, then the supply company runs the risk of loosing the contract as well as breach of design rule.
Made in Japan...under design rules from ....whoever wants it.
This does not mean its cheap and nasty, just made there.

[avgas]

Yeah and the VR family equates to about 5% of all HD sales mate. The 45 deg motor is basically what HD is all about. No need for Wikipedia.

V-Rod I know,I know.... assembled in US.......but designed by whom

[MaxB]

Apart from the far east I reckon it would be near impossible to make a bike with one country of origin these days.

I guess brands like Ohlins, Brembo, Bosch, Nippon Denso, Goodridge spring to mind if you want to build a better bike.

[awayatc]

Not true. While they have plenty of Japanese components on them, they're ALL made in the US of A.

usa is a pretty litle coastal town about 5 ks west of kochi wich is one of the main city on shikoku. (japan)
Not kidding.....
Don't say that's where the bits come from, but......

[popelli]

The heart of it (engine, not all pieces I know, frame, body work) are made there, and it's fully designed and assembled there. They have every right to say made in the USA.

the evo motor (top end) was designed by porsche a german company

around 1980 the heads were made in Japan

the bottom end of the knuckle / pan / shovel / evo was originally copied of JAP

and the old two stroke hummer along with the bsa bantam were copies of DKW taken as part of the proceeds of winning WW2


but yes it is assembled in the USA from components sourced globally, no different to any other moden manufacturer

[peasea]

What a crackup.
Back in the day........when I still had my arse firmly planted on a '68 Triumph (which was utterly reliable, daily transport) a buddy of mine bought an Iron Head Sporty, about a '77 I think. Whaddaya know? It shat itself. So, my intrepid buddy buys all 'genuine' HD parts and I got involved in the rebuild, albeit on the periphery. BUT, upon proudly opening the parts boxes/bags I noticed the new (and very well machined) crankpin was made in Japan. That was 1984-ish and I would wager that many, many HD parts were being produced in Japan and other countries well before that.

Moving forward to 2003 and another buddy borrows a Night Train for a few weeks. Heading to my place said buddy finds the starter engages on the Akd Harbour Bridge at about 120kph. F-word, really loud, starter fritzed. Ring you-know-where for starter parts, get silly (as usual) quote just for solenoid, about 4-hundy. More F-word usage. Strip starter and head for Jap car wreckers to find Honda Civic parts are identical! Nippondenso, 25 bucks. Ta. Worked a treat, has done ever since.

Like sex, it pays to use your noodle.