York, PA Harley- Davidson Factory

Wasn't able to take photos in the factory, but was an area in front we could.

Assembly of the motorcycles was interesting.  Can see the orange tape.  In the factory this is where a battery operated machine ran.  The frame was put on the machine and it would follow the line which had wires under the tape.  The fenders and tanks are made by other machines.  Also everything is painted here too. 

We thought the frames were all painted before being put on like this.  Each frame gets a VIN number.

There is a piece missing on the machine in front.  That told the people building the motorcycle what needed to be on the motorcycle or if the motorcycle was going to California, because of omissions other things have to be added.  Also if going to Canada or other countries that is kph over mph, here in the USA .  The belt is put on and other things with bolts, washers, nuts on the frame.  The engine was picked up by a person using a machine and put in the frame.  Then people put bolts and rubber mounts were put in to connect the engine to the frame.   Everyone has a job they are suppose to do on the line. 

We got to see the painted fender, shocks wheel/tire put on the motorcycle.  Again was hooked up by a machine and a person moved it into place.  Then two people hooked it and the belt into place with bolts, washers and nuts. We didn't get to see the forks put on.  Or the battery and other wires put in.

Battery area.  Or use to be when JoAnn and I owned Harleys.  Now lots of other stuff over the battery.  Not even sure how one gets to the battery anymore. 

Things get added as the motorcycle goes down the line.  Was very interesting to watch.  Had a tour guide.  There were places in the tour I would have liked to have stayed longer to see things, but wasn't able to.  We were on the free one hour tour.  Do have a Steel Boots Tour for $35. per person that goes into more areas of the factory.   

Once the motorcycle is built, it goes to an area where it is hooked up to gas and a machine and ran through the gears up to 80 mph.  So yeah a person runs different motorcycles on a machine but never goes anywhere.  Person has to check to be sure all everything on the motorcycle works.   If it passes the tests then the windshield (if a motorcycle has one) is put on the seat for shipping.   Then the machine moves to a place and the motorcycle is lifted off by a hoist and put down on a metal frame and tied down.  Was put on a conveyor belt and went into a trailer to be moved into an area to be shipped to a Harley-Davidson Dealership near you.  The interesting thing we were told by the tour guide is none of the motorcycles unless shipped overseas gets a framed cover. 

There were pictures of motorcycles that they built at this factory.  I liked the looks of this one until I saw it only had one front brake.  JoAnn had a 2004 Road King with only one front brake and she said it needed two.  Saw the 2014 Road King has two front brakes now, so no doubt some other Road King owners felt the same way. 

 JoAnn and I owned Electra Glide Ultra motorcycles before full-time RVing.  We both had our own.  Won't be able to fit sideways on the truck so we had to down sized.  JoAnn says when we are done full-timing she wants to get another motorcycle.  Right now I have no interest in another motorcycle.

Here JoAnn is with a 2014 Electra Glide Ultra.

You wear these pins during the tour and it is a souvenir when you leave.  Also get two post cards.  Enjoyed the tour.  Very interesting to see all the new stuff on the new motorcycles over what we had on ours.  Some look like an improvement, other not.
Published by Nolan.