http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/gas-gas-rescued-spanish-firm-torrot/

Honda.  

My Honda GL1800 Gold Wing was assembled in the USA.  It's alloy frame was cast in Canada.  The engine was made in the USA, although I don't know where all the different components came from, although some were certainly made in the States, Japan, Canada, Italy and the Far East.  Since 2012 the exact same model (apart from minor style changes)  is now assembled in Japan.

Where are all the individual components made now?  I have no idea!  

In 2006 Honda made at least 100 GL 1800s and put them straight into storage.  They were all eventually sold in 2011.

 

http://www.gl1800.org.uk/technical/did-honda-end-goldwing-manufacturing-in-america-to-punish-poor-american-workmanship/

 

It would appear that making specialised, slow selling, niche market machines in large batches, then selling them slowly, or releasing at a later (distant) date is a Honda business option - especially for those models whose specifications remain the same over longer periods of time, such as the 1800 Gold Wing or the Honda/Montesa trials bikes.

Edited February 17, 201610 yr by stpauls

Raises the question will the new owners of GasGas maintain build and materials quality by using the same suppliers, unless everything is as before the newly built bikes will be just as unknown a quantity as are the other new brands.

Oh ... Do you want to talk parts now ? Lol. (Make it up as you go along).

Is a little more complicated than your simple one or the the other country.

What can you tell us about 4rt parts production Andrew ?

 

Im not making anything up as i go along, the point was that the impression was the original statement/comment was the manufacturers actually make cast and machine or machine from billet the parts that make up the bike.

I dont think thats the case, I thought they all bought in parts from outside, whether it be japan or italy or local?

 

Why do i get the impression im being interviewed by the police? Anything i say can be taken down in evidence?

 

I said i wasnt sure, are you saying 4rt motors are made, manufactured as in cast and machined and so on?

249 said assemble, not make from raw materials.

 

Methods and definition of batch production are so variable unless you have actually seen what what is done, discussion is bound to be mostly generalisation and speculation.

What Honda did (Japan late 1970s & 1980s) was to set up their production lines so they could make a range of products in small batches. Sometimes the line would run for just one shift and make say 90 CX 500 engines, it then may spend the next week making 600 CB 900 engines and so on.

The workers on the line were specialists in only a few assembly operations, but they were retrained and moved periodically so they did not get bored.

I get the feeling this is going quite offtopic now, so shall we let this rest and talk GG aGGain? (although manufacturing is an interesting topic)

Sorry Crazybond, just to conclude the off topic subject, and I'm quoting here, so don't shoot the messenger:

 

"Worth mentioning is the fact in an effort to ensure the preservation of the brands (Montesa/Honda) high quality standards all the processes of welding, assembly of the engine, plastic mouldings, manufacturing of the fuel tank and-swing arm, as well as the aluminium frames, is also carried out at this facility."

As a manufacturer in a different industry, I can tell you that nobody outside of the company will be given the story on all these things such as sourcing, production details, etc. Companies give information to outsiders based on what they want said, always a very incomplete story.  And guys on forums can make things up, while all the readers assume it's true.  

 

This is why I don't spend any time trying to figure out what is happening.  I also take direct quotes from the company with a grain of salt.  It might be mostly true, partly true, or pure wishful thinking.