[Jeff Chandler]

Cue the butt hurt SJWs demanding a name change.

[Vermont Lt]

I like Indians. They are some sweet looking bikes.

[faithhopecharity]

Smart marketing. Many people buy Harley’s because they are/ were? Made In USA. Now some will buy Indians instead.

[Gen.Blather]

I read an article saying that Harley’s customer base was no longer in the US as much as foreign countries and that this was part of the reason for moving off shore. An aging American public and a general shift in feelings on safety and desire to ride motorcycles had reduced American demand. When I see people riding Harleys they do all appear to be much older people. According to the article, tariffs, currency exchange rates and local foreign protectionism drove Harley to move off shore. They started this move five years ago.

[lefty-lie-spy]

Great video. Thank you for sharing.

[Boomer]

Makes sense Harley would be trying something different to entice the younger crowd as its older customers quit riding from old age.

Polaris Indian better be doing the same thing in their own way too.

I do find it interesting Harley sales are up in Europe. I knew they were down in the USA.

[piytar]

Three of the most American build brands of motorcycles:

(1) Indian.

(2) Victory.

The next one will surprise a lot of people.

(3) Honda. Seriously. Mostly made with US manufactured parts and mostly assembled in Marysville, Ohio and Lincoln, Alabama by American workers — who incidentally rejected the UAW’s attempt to unionize them.

Not sure about Harley — have seen conflicting reports.

This is based on the last time I looked into this. If I’m wrong, welcome a Freeper correction, but please be nice. I’m a sensitive guy. LOL

[Newbomb Turk]

Harley Davidson might be assembled in the USA but most of the parts are made overseas. Many in India. When you buy Harley you are paying for a name.

Lots of better bikes out there for half the money now days plus when I ride, everyone is looking at their damn phone and not the road.

Still not ready to sell my Springer Softtail yet though.

[political1]

I thought Harley Davidson had been bought out by the employees. Why would an employee owned company shut down, and move out of the country?

[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

[FlingWingFlyer]

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

[Bonemaker]

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

[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.

[Fido969]

Holy cow, they still make Indian motorcycles?

[Kickass Conservative]

I still remember watching one of the first Episodes of Then Came Bronson.

He had a Harley Sportster and decided to enter a Hill Climb contest.

Funny thing happened during the Hill Climb, his Harley turned into a Two Stroke Dirt Bike. Forget which brand, could have been a Husky.

I did see Evel Kineval jump a bunch of Cars at Ascot Raceway using a Harley though.

[Chuckster]

Indian went out of business in 1953.

A number of companies and individuals have claimed the trademark over the years and marketed a variety of machines ranging from imported small bore dirt bikes to road bikes cobbled together from aftermarket reproductions of obsolete Harley-Davidson engines and frames and off the shelf custom parts. The current owner of the Indian trademark is Polaris, a manufacturer of snow machines (Snow mobiles).

Polaris acquired the iconic brand in 2011 and started printing stickers and logos (And stamping out the distinctive fully valanced fenders) which they affixed to the motorcycles they made. Polaris had been in the motorcycle business since 1998 when they acquired Victory motorcycles which they subsequently abandoned in favor of the Indian brand; the brand having been made so strong by the original Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Co of Springfield Mass in the fifty two years of its existence that the brand alone is enough to sell motorcycles made by a snow mobile company, even now more than sixty years after the demise of the company that actually built the reputation.

[cpdiii]

Part of the legend of Harley Davidson is IT IS AMERICAN MADE! If you move production overseas that legend dies. It will then become just another rice burner with great sounding pipes.

The Japanese make great bikes, but it aint a Harley and if built outside of the United States a Harley “aint a Harley.”