Yesterday I wrote about a advert from March 1981. Harley Davidson wanted to promote their 1980 models and placed advertisements in several different magazines, such as Iron Horse and Easyriders. Easyriders no. 82, 82 and 83 each started with ‘the Eagle’, stating that American made was better. However, many parts were made in Japan and hard-core ‘American made is best’ fans complained about the fact that these Japanese parts shouldn’t be on a genuine American made Harley. I’m inclined to say they had a point. But many products have parts from all over the world nowadays and forty years back it wasn’t much different then today.
But at the Harley factory’s they saw what chopper builders did to their bikes and that made them realize that there was a ‘market’ for them to take a piece of that cake to. Their Wide Glides, Low Riders and Fat Bobs were the ‘New Kids’ on the block. And yes, factory wise, they were good looking and considered a good improvement.
You can judge for yourself by looking at these models from nearly forty years back.

Seen in Easyriders magazine no. 81 and 82.

Seen in Easyriders magazine no. 81, from March 1981.

Seen in Easyriders magazine no. 81, from March 1981.

Seen in Easyriders magazine no. 82, from April 1981.

Seen in Easyriders magazine no. 83, from May 1981.

Both seen in Easyriders magazine no. 83, from May 1981.
