old british motorcycle

[Hey-O]

AMF did inherit HDs problems but did nothing to correct them. Instead they bought more companies that were totally unrelated to their core business.
They bled money and sales during the time they held HD because the bikes were no better and probably worse because they didn't invest in the company.
They sold HD in 81 and in 85 were taken over and reorganized, selling off unrelated businesses.

You're right they did inherit problem and made it much worse. They shipped bikes 2/3 assembled, I mean 2/3 of the parts. They were junk. the castings weren't milled smooth which is one reasons they leaked so bad. Had it not been for the fact is was a Harley, which was the bike to have, they would have gone under right there. The name Hardly Driveable for HD came about at that time. AMF should have stuck to making bowling balls. I owned a AMF Harley, 1976, biggest piece of junk I ever owned.

 

[Hey-O]

You're absolutely right Bee, should have done my homework. Thanks for setting me straight and I'll offer a thousand pardons!

I was going "off the cuff" on my recollections from that time period. I was riding with a pretty large group of guys, mostly Harleys and myself on British bikes. I did eventually end up on a '49 panhead.

The guys were really complaining about the takeover. Something about the change in the Sportsters that really got to them. I always understood that 1972 was the last good one. But if '69 was the takeover than that doesn't make sence. I do remember the amount of Japanese bikes flooding the market. Probably a major contributor to HDs lack of sales. The 900 Kawasaki was really hated by the Sportster owners. They didn't stand a chance trying to take one on back then.

Anyway at my age, am I allowed to use this as an excuse for my lack of expertise? View attachment 713957

You weren't wrong, AMF did not save HD, they dragged them along while they bleed them like they did every company they ever ran. Yes HD was in trouble, but AMF ran them down even more. Quality got much worse after they were bought by AMF. Like all the companies AMF bought back in the day, they cut everything in order to make a buck. AMF sold them because after they owned them they were diffidently going to have file bankruptcy. No one who wants to ride a HD buys in the years that they were owned by AMF. If you're a real rider, that is........... I know hundreds of people who will tell you the same thing and yes they ride and ride hard, including me.