Originally Posted by badger34

I was born in '62 so a little too young to experience new ownership of an AMF H-D. I do now own an orig paint '71 FLH that has been gone through but preserved as stock. Because of my family's history of working at H-D I've been working on historian level research for the past dozen years and have spoken with H-D retirees who experienced things first hand. H-D had slipped to the point of being vulnerable, they went the path of least resistance with AMF to avoid a hostile Bangor Punta Corp takeover bid. H-D's internal infrastructure was in bad shape and AMF's capital did indeed re-tool factories and fund development of future product that pulled them out of bad times.

The early 70's were turbulent times at H-D, a 1 month worker strike in June of '72 was followed up by a very contentious 3 month long strike in '74. One factor was the breaking up of Milwaukee's workforce with the termination of motorcycle assembly at Juneau Ave in favor of AMF's York facility beginning in '73. Another was the production number increases AMF had instituted in order to seek a return on their investment.

My grandfather had worked for H-D since 1934. He struggled greatly with what was happening in Milwaukee, to the workforce, his friends and the company he loved. In Feb of '74 my grandfather and a group of fellow Juneau Ave employees made a group purchase of Honda motorcycles from an out of state dealer and showed up with them in employee parking, they weren't well received and told to park them in back out of public view. He ended up retiring in May of 1975 completing 41 years at H-D.

I don't curse the AMF years or cycles and time marches on. AMF did help H-D survive through tough times and a takeover effort that one could only speculate as to how things might have changed for the future of H-D.

Originally Posted by Tonebender

I had a 1976 Sportster that could eat a generator every 100 miles. They say there is a fix but back then I could never get anyone who could make it stop.

Originally Posted by army_eod

I was a final QC roller rider in the York plant 78 and 79 timeframe. Tested the first belt drive Sturgis.

Originally Posted by Hey Man

I bought my '77 FXS in 1980 and owned it for 36 years. Best damn motorcycle I ever owned. That bike gave me less trouble in 36 years than this POS Evo Heritage Classic has caused in the four years I owned it.