from bikernewsonline.com

QuoteOne comment I will add here, is that for Harley lovers (Which I am one of them) to state put down a so-called metric bike and their argument is that you should own an American Bike, is rather contradictory, when most parts for HD are being outsourced and manuctured in Japan, Chile, Germany, China, Mexico and etcetera...while being shipped into the USA and assembled! Where as several of the Japanese made bikes are actually being manufactured and assembled both in the USA! So for HD owners to put down a so-called metric crusier and make the claim it's "just a rice grinder" and not a truly American made bike, is an oximoronic statement to say the least!

Yeah, same thing goes with cars.

Which is more American, an American car designed in Canada and built in Mexico (a la Chevy Suburban and others), or a Japanese car designed in California and built in Ohio?

Think about where the money used to buy these things ultimately goes...

That same website has an article about a diesel suzuki..... a GS  cousin no less.

150+mpg    I have a new project.

Quote from: scratch on April 20, 2006, 07:58:42 AM
Think about where the money used to buy these things ultimately goes...

The thing is, when you buy an American car that was built by children in China being paid 3 cents an hour, the profit still goes to the American GDP.  Same goes for the Japanese car or motorcycle that is built in the US, the profit all goes to the Japanese GDP. 

Personally, I don't care where my crap is made as long as the quality it good, but I do prefer to support my own economy.

Quote from: scratch on April 20, 2006, 07:58:42 AM
Think about where the money used to buy these things ultimately goes...

Well, considering a lot of that money is going to American workers building and designing the cars, yeah, I'd say it's good for the economy. At least the Japanese aren't having massive lay-offs like the American companies (Ford, specifically).

Plus, Japanese cars (specifically Honda and Toyota) are popular for a reason. Reliability is one of the main ones, too.

Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on April 20, 2006, 08:24:52 AM
Plus, Japanese cars (specifically Honda and Toyota) are popular for a reason. Reliability is one of the main ones, too.

BINGO!!!!

I'm greatly dissappointed by American cars.  I like GM a lot, but they just don't have the technology or the fit and finish for the price you can get anywhere else.  For example, the Corvette still uses a 16v push rod V8 with some ungodly displacement, just like they did back in 1950's.  Go to a Chevy dealer and a VW dealer and sit in their cars.  You will see how much more you get from a VW for your buck then you do a Chevy.  It really depresses me.  On a lighter note, GM is doing some great things for alternate energy sources like E85!

Oh and Ford's quality is so low it's a disgrace to 'Made in the USA' IMHO

I'm impressed by Toyotas a lot. Talk about a bang for the buck! The fit and finish and engineering alone on those things, plus the low price compared to other cars in their class is a value like none other.

Interesting fact, according to the latest issues of Consumer Reports, European cars are typically LESS reliable than American cars now for the first time in, like, forever. Japanese is still the most reliable, though.

I don't buy into Consumer Reports, their ratings are all jugdemental and I get the feeling are influenced by $$.  It drives me nuts they constantly bash German cars, and I almost always disagree with their points after driving the car myself.  Having been around Audi/VWs and Fords and GM, there is no comparison in reliability, and for them to say that is total BS.  Sure, you'll never come close to the reliabitily of a Honda or Toyota, but you don't buy a VW/Audi/BMW/Porsche for reliability reasons

Quote from: LimaXray on April 20, 2006, 09:03:53 AM
I don't buy into Consumer Reports, their ratings are all jugdemental and I get the feeling are influenced by $$.  It drives me nuts they constantly bash German cars, and I almost always disagree with their points after driving the car myself.  Having been around Audi/VWs and Fords and GM, there is no comparison in reliability, and for them to say that is total BS.  Sure, you'll never come close to the reliabitily of a Honda or Toyota, but you don't buy a VW/Audi/BMW/Porsche for reliability reasons

Considering they are an independant company, I highly doubt they are influenced by money. They don't necessarily bash German cars, either. Hell, the Passat TDI (I think it was the TDI) was their top rated sedan for a while before Honda redesigned the Accord.

And their reliability comparing Euro to American is based off people like you and me. Consumers. Plus, it was only a slight difference between the two.

Quote from: 3imo on April 20, 2006, 07:13:00 AM
from bikernewsonline.com

QuoteOne comment I will add here, is that for Harley lovers (Which I am one of them) to state put down a so-called metric bike

What does "state put down" mean? Am I just not firing on all cylinders this morning, or is that an error? 

Dave 

i think its a saying that doesn't tranlate to text very well.

To state, is used when your "saying" something in parenthesis.

verbally I'd say "its used, to state, when your "saying" something in parenthesis.


----

**well it make sense to me.

Quote from: 3imo on April 20, 2006, 09:46:56 AM
i think its a saying that doesn't tranlate to text very well.

To state, is used when your "saying" something in parenthesis.

verbally I'd say "its used, to state, when your "saying" something in parenthesis.


----

**well it make sense to me.

I know, I majored in English in elementary school. Wink. That's why I got confused.

I think he was unsure if he wanted to say "...for harley lovers to state that metrics are..." or "...for harley lovers to put down metrics...". He started one, changed his mind, and didn't fix the sentence. It doesn't matter though, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't bordering on stupidity this morning.

Oh, I bought a 2001 Chevy Monte Carlo 2 years ago and it was the worst thing I've ever done. And I've done some stupid shaZam!, so that's saying a lot. I can't go a month without something coming up. As soon as I sell it, my mom's giving me her '98 Volvo as a gift for getting into grad school (assuming I get accepted). I cannot f%$king wait...

volvo and motorcycle.... who'd a thunk it.

your gonna be a black sheep on the volvo forum.

Quote from: 3imo on April 20, 2006, 11:15:23 AM
volvo and motorcycle.... who'd a thunk it.

your gonna be a black sheep on the volvo forum.

Thw who in the what now? Please, do go on...

Quote from: 3imo on April 20, 2006, 07:13:00 AM
from bikernewsonline.com

Quotewhen most parts for HD are being outsourced and manuctured in Japan, Chile, Germany, China, Mexico and etcetera...while being shipped into the USA and assembled!

In case anyone is wondering, the above is nonsense. Some parts: brakes, forks, shocks, and some miscellaneous electrical components are imported.

The author is just another Harley hater. My GMC was "assembled" in Canada so it's almost American.

Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDX on April 20, 2006, 11:25:58 AM

Quote from: 3imo on April 20, 2006, 11:15:23 AM
volvo and motorcycle.... who'd a thunk it.

your gonna be a black sheep on the volvo forum.

Thw who in the what now? Please, do go on...

Volvos are known to be safe cars and are stereotypically owned by overly safe people... and motorcycles are um not very safe at all

Quote from: LimaXray on April 20, 2006, 11:33:23 AM

Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDX on April 20, 2006, 11:25:58 AM

Quote from: 3imo on April 20, 2006, 11:15:23 AM
volvo and motorcycle.... who'd a thunk it.

your gonna be a black sheep on the volvo forum.

Thw who in the what now? Please, do go on...

Volvos are known to be safe cars and are stereotypically owned by overly safe people... and motorcycles are um not very safe at all

I'm the safest guy around, I even wear my leathers when I drive. Because you never know...
Wink.

Dave

LX.......one of the bright crayons.