The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

For Motorcycles, Parts and Accessories, Whatever Happened to American Made?

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Go ahead, look at your helmet, or your riding jacket, or that latest electronic addition to your bike and check for an indication of where it was made. It’s getting a lot harder to find anything with a tag that says Made in the USA. It’s been that way for some time as everyone is well aware, but the scale of the transition has gotten out of hand and recent events point to our reliance on China for even most of our pharmaceuticals and medical gear and our country is not alone in that regard. We’ve reached a point where it’s time to turn that around.

Do you make it in the USA?

If your company manufactures motorcycle parts, accessories, tools, supplies or anything related to the motorcycle business, and you make those items in the USA, let me know. I’m looking for you. I’ve been running more advertisements specifically focused on companies and products made in this country and I’d like to put a spotlight on more of them. If you know of a company that makes their products in the USA, let me know. If you’re starting a company to make products in the USA, let me know. The demand is there, the products are missing.

Wherever you are in the world, every country should be proud of what it makes and proud of the workforce that makes it. Here in the USA, and other countries, as well, we’ve let our jobs and businesses slip away as though they’re unimportant, well, they’re not, those jobs and businesses form the backbone of our economy and our country. Let’s bring them back. We can buy each other’s products, but let’s keep our jobs at home.

Comments

  1. Good for ya’ Paul ! And by the way, glad to have The Kneeslider back !

  2. Thank you and it will be about time to start manufacturing parts in America, I will buy them even if it costs more.

    • Yep, I will, too. Paying a little extra is like giving someone a tip for a job well done.

  3. Paul, very proud to say that we are a family owned and run business and all of our products are made in America, since 1948! Celebrating our 72nd anniversary.
    Mike Taylor, Barnett Clutches and Cables

  4. Glad your back. Always happy when l see the knee slider in my inbox.
    I own and build both British and American motorcycles. I try to buy parts that are made in the USA even if shipping can be expensive to Australia.
    The companies are around, just have to do your research.

    • Australia has some truly excellent builders, the work I’ve seen and featured here is always interesting. Do you have many companies making parts and accessories? You certainly should, the skills are obviously there.

  5. I’m a computer geek and very excited for the new watercooling stuff being made in Chicago by a company called Optimus. Most of what I do for fun (computers and motorcycles) it is difficult to find what I’m looking for made here at anywhere near my style. $500 hipster hiding jeans, sure!

    • Are you running a a workstation or gaming machine that needs a cooling system? I think liquid cooling in a PC has a great look, though I’ve never pushed a processor hard enough to require it. Of course, it’s like engine modifications, you don’t always do it because you have to, it’s because you want to.

      That company looks like they design and build some pretty impressive gear. Thanks for the pointer.

  6. Paul, appreciate your sentiments and happy to report that the motorcycle industry is alive and well in the U.S.A.
    Looking for some service for my 2006 Ural Patrol I just got a call back from a dealer politly declining to work on my rig saying he had a backlog of service work. This is the fourth time that have been turned away by four different dealers. Last week I was even turned away by a local BMW dealer saying that he could help me out if only I just needed an oil change! I probably have a $1000 worth of work, but these American dealers don’t seem to need my Yankee dollars.

    A couple of years ago while vacationing with me family in Maine, I ran into this biker who rode up on this unique chopper. His bike had a beautiful paint job, pleanty of chrome and that classic “Easy Rider” style. But it wasn’t a v-twin and it was quite diminutive. So I approach him to ask him what eaxtly was he riding. He told me it was a Chineese “mail order” special. He went on to explain that it was cheap & complete. He also told me that this bike met all his needs with size, style and afforability. I ask him about parts and service? That’s when he look up at me with all seriouness and said, “if and when this bike gives me trouble I’ll ride it to the end of the pier and let it fall into the ocean!”

    Now that sounds like the American way to me!~General T

  7. Hello all,

    I am the COO at Engine Ice Hi-Performance Coolant.

    2020 is our 20th year in business and we are proud to be made in the USA. Our coolant is manufactured for us in Cincinnati, Ohio and our Plastic Shine and Helmet Renew aerosols are produced just outside Arlington, TX.

    If you have any questions about our products check out the FAQ tab on our website engineice.com or give us a call. The company president and founder answers each call personally.

  8. IIRC, Aerostich, Syed Leathers, and Vanson Leathers all make riding gear in the U.S.