I had concerns for H-D for more than 20 years. My first bike I owned that actual ran was a 250 Sprint. It was indestructible, but who actually built it? I rode a '95 Sportster with a factory jug kit in it and it was a great bike, that didn't ask anything of me other than routine maintenance. I rode a '92 Ultraglide for 14 years, and again no problem. I began hearing horror stories of the newer bikes and failing quality. It appeared to me that they were focusing on fashion, and various other dooberrys instead of zoning in on the development of the bikes.
I believe the assembly floors had issues in house also. I worked for a supplier of manufacturing equipment supplied to the plant in Yorktown. As the service manager I had the answers to get their machine running, but their electrician would not speak to me because I was not in the union. As a rider and owner I had a reasonable allegiance to H-D, as they built a bike I could count on, but I did wonder where the team effort on their part was that day, and what the production numbers might have been? Was he just one bad apple, or the result of something spoiling?
I do not advertise freely by wearing trade marks of anyone and every one. I hope my by showing support of a given manufacturer by wearing their brands states it has been earned. I've been looking for a new hat for some time now.