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First 500 in

Discussion in 'Pull up a chair and sit for a spell' started by FLHTbiker, Jun 20, 2014.

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  1. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    FLHTbiker, Jun 23, 2014
    #21
  3. Roadster guy

    Roadster guy Well-Known Member

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    I thought the N.A. bikes were produced here. Only the European and Asian market destined bikes are produced at the India plant. I'd rather see a N.A. product evolve if it must instead of fall to offshore competition. Do I like it coming to this? No. But it is better than the alternative, less money for RnD, less money for quality control, and eventually no profit margin for a legend. Victory will likely also follow the trend in a few years if H-D is succesful with this new bike line.
    Roadster guy, Jun 23, 2014
    #22
  4. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    All 500 and 750 bikes sold in USA and Canada are built at the Harley factory in Kansas. The European bikes will be built India. Has to do with import taxes and cost of each bike sold there. Don't blame Harley for building em in India for the Europe market. The factory in India was revamped for this and is pretty big.
    FLHTbiker, Jun 23, 2014
    #23
  5. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    HD isn't an employee owned company, it's a public company, employees have stock I'm sure, probably a company stock purchase plan but the employees have no "ownership" stake.

    The bikes being made in India are due to the laws in that country that force companies that want to sell there to build there, India is one of the fastest growing emerging economies, and it's a big motorcycle country, big twins are not good products for that area, way to expensive for now, HD needs to expand it's worldwide market, so it has everything to do with market expansion and corporate growth which equates to profits which means higher company value, which means more jobs here, more money in investors and employees pockets.

    There is no loss of work here because of the laws (import tariff) india imposes.
    hotroadking, Jun 23, 2014
    #24
  6. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    Isn't that pretty much what the article from Cycle- World I posted said.
    FLHTbiker, Jun 23, 2014
    #25
  7. baggerpaul

    baggerpaul Well-Known Member

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    ok got some of that threw my thick skull . was not harley an employee owned company since 1982. since then it has gone public. with most of the shares being held by the employee
    baggerpaul, Jun 23, 2014
    #26
  8. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    LOL no big deal, I'd prefer they all be made here, but don't have a problem with US companies having locations outside the us for sale of products worldwide,

    Its just not the same as 1950 in the world market and that genie is out of the bag, with regulations, high labor costs, litigation and the highest corporate tax rate in the world it's no wonder jobs and companies are fleeing the USA.
    hotroadking, Jun 23, 2014
    #27
  9. joshbob

    joshbob Well-Known Member

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    I remember when a Harley 1200 was considered a big bike LOL. I've not ridden any of the REALLY big Harley's, but I've sat on them over at Tattoo's shop, grabbed the bars and balanced them. All the big names have been through his shop for repairs including the new Indians, and all of them felt like I was sitting on a refrigerator with an overstuffed sofa on ballon tires. Ye Gads!
    joshbob, Jun 24, 2014
    #28
  10. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    I sat on that new 500 and it felt like a real small bike, kind of like the ones I used to ride back in the 70's. I also remember back in the mid 60's when I had a 125cc Yamaha seeing my first Harley. I thought it was massive and thought to myself I could never ride a big bike like that. Now thinking the next Harley will be smaller in weight.
    FLHTbiker, Jun 24, 2014
    #29
  11. joshbob

    joshbob Well-Known Member

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    I had that same impression when I had my first motorcycle, a Honda CB350 and saw a Sportster in a parking lot. I wanted one real bad and in about 2 years I finally bought a brand new '72 ironhead. $1800 if I remember right.
    I'd never ridden a Harley before and what a thrill it was getting on, starting it up and heading out on the highway. I've never forgotten the sound and feel of that bike. My shovel is very similar.
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2014
    joshbob, Jun 24, 2014
    #30
  12. badinfluence63

    badinfluence63 Well-Known Member

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    They look like the perfect commuter bike or blasting about locally.
    badinfluence63, Jun 24, 2014
    #31
  13. Roadster guy

    Roadster guy Well-Known Member

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    Will it get me burned at the stake to mention I looked at the Honda CBR500R as a possibility before I bought mine? Good commuter bike.
    Roadster guy, Jun 25, 2014
    #32
  14. Fatboy128

    Fatboy128 Well-Known Member

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    Anyone got a match??


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2
    Fatboy128, Jun 25, 2014
    #33
  15. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    Nope, bought a new Honda 550 four in 1976, was a great bike and wished I still had it.
    FLHTbiker, Jun 25, 2014
    #34
  16. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    had a 78 susie gs400 for a while..
    hotroadking, Jun 25, 2014
    #35
  17. Fatboy128

    Fatboy128 Well-Known Member

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    I bought a new 76 CB750. Cool bike hated the seat.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2
    Fatboy128, Jun 25, 2014
    #36
  18. Fatboy128

    Fatboy128 Well-Known Member

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    First Bike
    1st Bike 1976 001.jpg
    Fatboy128, Jun 25, 2014
    #37
  19. badinfluence63

    badinfluence63 Well-Known Member

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    My first bike was an 1967 Italian 125cc motbecane. 2nd was a 1972 Yamaha 650 XS 3rd bike was a 1979 Suzuki GS750L,next a 1981 HD XLS Roadster, 1983 HD FLHS,1963 HD Pan, 1997 Buell, 1992 Kawasaki ninja(somebody gave it to me), next a 1998 Ultra w/ matching sidecar(anniversary edition), 2001 Ultra (shriners addition) and lastly 2012 HD Ultra and I may have one more bike left in me and it won't be anything but HD.
    badinfluence63, Jun 25, 2014
    #38
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