honda vs harley lawsuit ????

[mmurffy03]

i was at a local bike show here in nj last night proud to say my 03 standard won best in show and a fellow bike owner was telling me a story that ive never heard before he said that honda was sued by harley davidson over the fact that the orange and black paint color combination that was offered on the valkyrie infringed on there copyrite he also said something about them having to remove the made in USA stamp on the block and the rear of the passenger seat is there any truth to this issue ????

[Chrisj CMA]

This is hardly a tech board topic,

But, yes Honda (and I believe Harley at the same time) had to remove the made in USA thing, but it had nothing to do with Harley suing them.....they each failed to keep enough Japaneese parts off their bikes after a law changed as far as percentages.

The paint thing, I heard Harley got pissed over it, but unless Honda stole a patented paint code, I cant see Harley winning over a color combo.

[sugerbear]

to the best of my knowledge, the made in usa was taken off both honda and harley at the same time, due to the % of american made parts dropping below the % allowed.

don't know about the paint. ???

beat me to it by 35 sec 

[X Ring]

False.  There was a lawsuit over the sound of Honda's V Twins which a judge dismissed because you can't copyright sound.

Afa color, each year Honda had different color combos.  Some were repeated.  A lot weren't.  The "Made In USA" marking requires a percentage of US made parts.  The I/Ses don't have it because of the extra Japanese made parts required.  The Standards and Tourers lost it in about 2000.  Harley whined and cried because Valkyries had it and their bikes couldn't, so Congress raised the percentage.  Have fun telling him that Harley isn't allowed to have the stamp either.

Marty

[sugerbear]

the I/S had the "made in USA" until about 2000. some 99's have it some don't.

[art]

The 1998 honda shadow aero looked and sounded like a harley.I think that was the reason for the lawsuit.

[fudgie]

Didnt HD get all mad like in the 60's or 70's about some export tax? Honda was gaining in the mc market and HD was slumping so it went to court and the tarriffs were raised on import bikes. Read it 12 yrs ago

[solo1]

Yeah, that's right.  That's why Honda 750s were downsized to 700s to beat the tariff that was passed because of Harley's pissing and moaning.

[dreamaker]

They must have raised the tariff on the Harley's because it cost twice as much as mine. I got nothing against Harley but it seems they are anal from time to time. There is a Bar in Mt Clemens, Mich. Called Fritts's, they use to be called Harley's and HD sued them because of the name and they changed it. That makes as much sense as suing over the name Bob. They could have fought it but it was cheaper to just change the name.  My bike is orange and black and I got ribbed a few times for it, but I don't see the HD orange even close to the Valk. orange.  The HD orange seems to have more yellow in it.

[Jess from VA]

And besides what fruitcake mistakes an orange and black Valk for a Hog? 


Well, Grandma might, but then again, she is a fruitcake.  LOL

[X Ring]

Didnt HD get all mad like in the 60's or 70's about some export tax? Honda was gaining in the mc market and HD was slumping so it went to court and the tarriffs were raised on import bikes. Read it 12 yrs ago

You're close but not quite right.  Harley whined and cried until the tariffs were raised on motorcycles with 1000 cc engines and larger.  One of the reasons Honda built a motorcycle factory in OH that was about 30 years ago or so.  Then Made In USA Complaining dates to the mid to late 90s.

Marty

[X Ring]

The 1998 honda shadow aero looked and sounded like a harley.I think that was the reason for the lawsuit.

It predated that.  When the Shadows came out, Harley sued.  Predates, Spirits, ACEs and Aeros.  Although the Shadow did become the Shadow Spirit in 98.

Marty

[rainman]

harley also tryed to sue yamaha in making there 1600cc roadstar from the design of the bike to includ the motor and even the sound.  it was all kick out of court.
He!! I am surprised that harley has tried to sue the F-6 store on some of there t-shirts after all they think they own everthing and anything that has to do with a motorcycle

[SANDMAN5]

My riding buddy's new Heritage Classic has the sticker, but you really have
to be looking for it to find it. Almost like they're ashamed of it.

[Jeff K]

My 99 I/S has "made in America" on it.

[jer0177]

The I/Ses don't have it because of the extra Japanese made parts required.  

My '99 IS has "Made in USA" on the engine block.

Yeah, that's right.  That's why Honda 750s were downsized to 700s to beat the tariff that was passed because of Harley's pissing and moaning.

That happened in 1984.  That's why the 1983 Interceptor is a VF750F and the 1984 Interceptor is a VF700F.

The 1998 honda shadow aero looked and sounded like a harley.I think that was the reason for the lawsuit.

It predated that.  When the Shadows came out, Harley sued.  Predates, Spirits, ACEs and Aeros.  Although the Shadow did become the Shadow Spirit in 98.

Marty

That happened in 1997.  I have a 1996 Shadow 1100.  It was the last year for the 4 speed transmission and the bowed fuel tank bottom, along with a few other changes that they made in 1997 when they changed it to the "Shadow Spirit".

[Bugslayer]

 My bike is orange and black and I got ribbed a few times for it, but I don't see the HD orange even close to the Valk. orange.  The HD orange seems to have more yellow in it.

I was stopped at a gas station by a guy questioning the color of my Red/White '97 Tourer. He was asking why I painted it that color. I was tempted to tell him to mind his own fu$&!*&# business, but I felt charitable that day. I told him that was a stock color for '97. He "claimed" he was a member of the HA M/C (which is kinda odd for West Tx.) and those were their colors. He was a wiry little guy so I wasn't too concerned. We parted ways with no troubles.

[cookiedough]

The I/Ses don't have it because of the extra Japanese made parts required.  

My '99 IS has "Made in USA" on the engine block.

Yeah, that's right.  That's why Honda 750s were downsized to 700s to beat the tariff that was passed because of Harley's pissing and moaning.

That happened in 1984.  That's why the 1983 Interceptor is a VF750F and the 1984 Interceptor is a VF700F.

Same can be said for my previous 1984 honda 698cc magna since the tariffs were on the 1098cc and 750cc magnas.  I remember when I had it the previous owner gave me the clymer's repair manual and the info on why they build the downsized 698cc honda magna over it's bigger brothers. 

Harley has nothing to do but bitch and moan and think they own the market. Someone should counter-sue them for being idiots.

[solo1]

Looking back into the past, it's too bad that the original Indian MOTOCYCLE (yes, that's the right spelling) company didn't stay in business.   The  production of their poor English inspired Scouts and Warriors killed them.   Harley started their attitude then as they were the only big American made motorcycle company left.  Harley survived their AMC days and must've hired some great PR when the workers took over the company.

[fudgie]

Didnt Honda also help 'bail' out HD?

[czuch]

I have a 1100 ACE from 1998. I heard the issue was a Harley design single pin crank.
I like the bike but I have to sell it.
The H/A fellows do get kinda hinkey about their colors.

[BigAl]

Didnt Honda also help 'bail' out HD?

In a Word NO!

[fudgie]

Didnt Honda also help 'bail' out HD?

In a Word NO!

maybe bail was not the correct term but I thought they gave HD a large amount of money to help get out of AMF.

[BigAl]

Didnt Honda also help 'bail' out HD?

In a Word NO!

maybe bail was not the correct term but I thought they gave HD a large amount of money to help get out of AMF.

Nope

[jer0177]

Someone should counter-sue them for being idiots.

You mean I can sue someone for being an idiot??