The XR-750 was produced in several model years between 19. The XR-750 racing bike debuted in 1970, then was reintroduced with an all-new alloy engine in 1972. Even though the sales competition from the foreign manufacturers was intense, Harley-Davidson remained as the top-selling brand of heavyweight motorcycles.Įvel Knievel going down hard and his Xr750 following right behind after a successful 90 mph jump over 13 buses at Wembley Stadium - 1975. It was commonly believed that the company sold out to corporate America, causing the overall quality and image of the machines and the brand to dip lower than ever before.ĪMF did keep the Harley name going through those lean years, though. There were rumblings of discontent concerning the workmanship and reliability of the AMF-era Harleys among some owners of the machines. Hard Times When Build Quality and Reliability Deteriorated The Honda 750 models in particular, were proving to be big sellers, and the bikes were starting to be customized as choppers.
The Honda 750, the Yamaha 650, Triumph 650, and Kawasaki Mach III cycles were providing some real competition for the Harleys that were being produced under the watch of AMF. In addition to producing the smaller bikes that they had made for years, these companies began producing larger street and touring bikes. Challenged by Less Expensive and More Refined Japanese Competitorsĭuring the years that AMF owned Harley-Davidson, various Japanese, British, German, and Italian motorcycle manufacturers were also producing bikes that the motorcycling public was very receptive to. While there were, and still are plenty of fans of the AMF-era Harleys, there were also lots of Harley purists who weren't too thrilled with the whole idea of a sporting goods manufacturer producing the ic American motorcycle.ĪMF was first highly known for their bowling equipment and the sporting goods. While AMF’s arrival did save Harley-Davidson from impending bankruptcy, the AMF years were arguably the most not-so-fond period in Harley-Davidson’s history. Driven by passion and a true belief in the brand, the executives were able to rescue the company from debt. In February 1981, a group of Harley-Davidson senior executives purchased Harley-Davidson from AMF. This created significant tension within the company, which led to the company coming back to its original owners in the 1980’s. What Happened in The Harley-Davidson's AMF Years?ĭuring the ’70s, with the American economy in a recession, Japanese bikes like Yamaha and Honda were proving to be very popular with consumers. AMF basically tossed the then-financially shaky Harley-Davidson a financial life preserver, and maintained ownership of the motorcycle company for a dozen years. Prior to the acquisition of Harley-Davidson, AMF was a manufacturing company of bowling equipment, tennis rackets, and other recreational items. In the year of 1969, the AMF corporation (American Machine and Foundry) originally took over production of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Video: Choppers Magazine's Virginia City Round Up 2021 - Motorcycle Show and Rodeo.Video: Meet Chris Oestreich and His 1985 Harley-Davidson Evo FX Wide Glide Chopper - Geared Science.From the Roller Magazine Archives: Meet Rick Najera.
#HARLEY DAVIDSON GOLF CART PARTS AND ACCESSORIES PDF#
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