Indian Motorcycle Tweets Video of American Manufacturing Amidst Harley-Davidson Drama

The Drive ^ | June 28, 2018 | Eric Brandt

[2ndDivisionVet]

Shortly following the dramatic announcement that Harley-Davidson is shifting some of its production overseas, its top domestic competitor is reminding us that its engines are built with American hands in the Heartland. Granted, Harley-Davidson builds engines in the U.S. too, but it seems like the timing of this video from Indian is hardly a coincidence.

The video below shows factory workers proudly doing their jobs at the Osceola, Wisconsin engine assembly plant. The plant recently built its 100,000th Indian Motorcycle engine and one worker expresses the “pride, craftsmanship, and honor” that goes into building every engine. Along with some testimonials, we get some cool footage of Indian bikes in action.

As we’ve clarified a few times now, Harley-Davidson motorcycles sold in the U.S. will still all be built in the U.S. The overseas manufacturing H-D is doing is only for bikes sold in foreign markets. That being said, Indian builds all of its bikes here at home with the bikes themselves being assembled in Spirit Lake, Iowa which gives many of its riders and employees a sense of pride.

However, Indian Motorcycle can get away with having all of its manufacturing here because it’s still a much smaller brand than Harley-Davidson and has less of an international presence.

H-D is still a very American brand, but with the recent news of outsourcing rubbing many of the bikemaker's loyalists the wrong way, Indian Motorcycle decided to give riders a friendly reminder of the brand’s commitment to American manufacturing. Die-hard Harley-Davidson fans might be looking at other options for American motorcycles and Indian will gladly sell them an alternative that riders might end up liking even more.

[Chode]

Harley-Davidson -builds- assembles engines in the U.S.

from what i can tell, they are made in Japan but assembled in the USA

https://www.throttlexbatteries.com/details.aspx?p=A4D3D61DCEB3C859&ppid=59924&beid=7BD67A6B7D0B565F

Where are Harley-Davidson motorcycles made?  A lot of people continue to ask us that question. Despite the common answer of "Milwaukee, WI", the real answer isn't that easy.

Harley-Davidson has four factories in the United States, none of which are in Milwaukee...

• York, PA: Manufactures Touring, Softail, and CVO models

• Tomahawk, WI: Manufactures sidecars, saddlebags, windshields, and other parts

• Kansas City, MO: Manufactures Sportster, V-Rod, and Dyna models

• Menomonee Falls, WI: Manufactures motors and transmissions

The original Milwaukee factory on Juneau Street is currently the company's corporate offices as well as the Harley-Davidson museum.

Technically speaking, Harley-Davidson motorcycles sold in the United States are not actually made here, but assembled here.  Harley contracts manufacturing of parts to plants located all over the world, including Germany, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, and Mexico.  Those parts are then shipped to Harley factories here.  And these are not just accessories, but components for engines, chassis, and wheels.  Exactly what percentage of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle is American made, is not exactly known, as each model and model year is different.

Back in 1929, Harley-Davidson contracted with a manufacturing plant in Hiroshina, Japan.  Rikuo Internal Combustion Company produced actual Harley-Davidson models that carried the Harley-Davidson label, for use by Japanese military and police.   Rikuo continued under contract until 1958.

Harley-Davidson motorcycles are also made in Manaus, Brazil.  The factory there opened in 1998 and continues to produce Harley models for the Brazilian market.

In 2011, the company announced plans to open a factory in India to produce the new Street 500 & 750 models.

Harley-Davidson has expressed interest in moving it's US-based factories overseas due to expensive employee costs.  The recession of 2008 caused the company's value to drop by 43% in 2009.  Harley's American rival, Polaris Industries, manufactures Indian and Victory motorcycles using an outside staffing service.

Harley-Davidson is also seeing a shift in the overall motorcycle demographic.  Riders are becoming younger.  The baby-boomer market that Harley had relied on is going away.  Younger riders tend to favor smaller motorcycles and place less importance on American-made products.

So, where are Harley-Davidson motorcycles made?  All over the world, actually.  But those sold in America, are assembled here in the United States, using a lot of foreign made parts.

At least for now, anyway.

Posted by jeff@throttlexbatteries.com at 11:47 AM

[Kid Shelleen]

The Worlds Fastest Indian HD Trailer

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Menomonee Falls, WI is pretty close to Milwaukee. I lived in downtown Milwaukee and taught in a music store in Menomonee Falls, WI. About a 20 minute drive.

[Bonemaker]

“Along with some testimonials, we get some cool footage of Indian bikes in action.”

Ahem....Native American bikes!

[Chode]

pretty country, went through there once when i was younger

[FlingWingFlyer]

All this is going to do is increase the demand in Europe for Harleys made in the U.S. ROTFL.

[Bonemaker]

“But can you make the Indian sound as obnoxious as a Harley?”

Obnoxious? One of the sweetest sounds out there...right up with a Rolls Royce Merlin or an Olds Rocket V8!

https://youtu.be/a3eBD6tLVOQ

[TexasGator]

“Obnoxious? One of the sweetest sounds out there...right up with a Rolls Royce Merlin or an Olds Rocket V8!”

Read again. We were referring to Harley’s.

[Dr. Sivana]

Is that a Gumby episode? I think I've seen that.

[Bonemaker]

Geez, the bike and a Thompson...I'm in!

[Bonemaker]

“Rikuo continued under contract until 1958.”

...except for a little interruption in August 1945.

[Chode]

yeah, while they were making them for the Japanese Army

[Bonemaker]

So was I as in Harley’s are one of the sweetest sounds out there! Badass.

[P8riot]

Thanks for posting that. My pastor’s father flew a P51 during WW2. We gave him a ride in one about 6 months before he died about 5 years ago. He had some great stories.

[TexasM1A]

Ill keep my Victory, dont care for those injuns, and Harleys are too small.

[\/\/ayne]

I saw an Indian 3 wheeler with bucket seats at a mall with a contest form. I filled out the form. It had bucket seats. I just now tried to find it and I can’t find anything that looks like what I saw.

[vetvetdoug]

I have a 94’ Cow Glide and going to ride it until it can run no more. I looked at the Indians and really wanted one but if anything goes wrong I have to drive 300 miles to get it serviced. I have 2 Harley dealerships within fifty miles.

[OA5599]

Honda does not build any motorcycles in the US.

[Fido969]

Holy cow, they still make Indian motorcycles?

[wally_bert]

Good movie.