been to the factory in York, PA Jill..... lets just say that much of the metal work is from states, but almost all of the after market and electronics is manufactured offshore. a lot comes from China and Indonesia with electronics/electrical from Taiwan.

I would be happy if most of the parts are made in Japan, thier stuff generally is not bad.

It's the Chinesse shit made with toxic paints and in sweat shops that bother me Even Taiwan stuff is not that bad..

Bt

Showa suspension is used on at least some models and they are head officed in japan.

cheers
Surly

I believe a lot of the engine parts and gears are made in Mexico, but then I may be wrong the person who told me this was a Yank.

Ive noticed when you go to undo something on the bike its a metric fastner,on the cosmetic side. internal fastners i wouldnt know,that says to me they are ying ying.and the more ying ying the money they save,dont know about chinese machine shops being sweat shops though.i do know they have a very military style work ethic.

other thing i noticed on my 2007 nightrod (which is unrelated here) is at some stage they moved the horn button closer to the left grip and highbeam switch in.....my 85 fxr has it the other way round.which seems better to me anyway.

If you have a close look at those ugly reflectors that everyone rips off as soon as they get their bikes, they are made in Finland - my old stomping grounds

There is 'showa' and there is 'showa' the HD stuff is SHIT imo compared to what goes on the jappa's

Not yet but the Japs are working on it.

The only metric nut or bolt I've ever found on my Softail has been the crappy nuts and bolts my stealer used to hook the SEII mufflers on to the OEM brackets.

I got some HD guages for my FLHT the other day and they were stamped "VDO made in China".

Also a lot of engine components are made in Mexico.