Arrived in York yesterday a little too late to see the 2016 Motorcycle Cannonball riders depart from the parking lot where I am staying.  This year’s Cannonball is restricted to motorcycles at least 100 years old – 1916 and earlier bikes traveling from Atlantic City NJ to Carlsbad CA.  For my Colorado Harley followers it appears they will be traveling on US50 through Pueblo sometime this next weekend.  More information on this run at http://motorcyclecannonball.com

Stopped by the local Harley shop this morning to see if they could get my bike in for its 25K maintenance.  They not only got my bike right in they also gave me a lift to the Harley Factory located here in York which was the reason for my stopping here.

All Touring, Trikes, CVOs and most Softail models of the Harley line for the North American market are built here at the York plant.  The best word to describe the tour is AWESOME!

Giant metal presses forming fenders and gas tanks, laser cutters precision trimming the pressed assembles, frames completed with automated welding machines and the powder coating process to put the final finishes on the frames was great to observe.

It only got better with the assembly process.  The specific type of frame for a build is selected, the VIN number etched into the frame and then it is fastened to an automated build cart along with the build specifications.  The cart is then programmed to move through the necessary areas for the bike build to be completed.  As the cart arrives at different stations the assembly worker can move the height of the bike to the level and angle best suited for the worker and the work to be completed.

The bikes coming down an individual assembly line can be any of the models assembled at this plant, Softail followed by a Road King, next a CVO Street or any combination as it all depends on the build sheet.

When the assembly is complete the final stop is a run on the dyno for the overall check before it is released to shipping.

Would recommend this tour for anyone having the opportunity.  Most of the 10 -12 other people on the tour were not motorcycle enthusiasts but also thought the tour was great.

My bike back to where it where it was created last year.

Sorry no tour photos, they were very sensitive about photography in the plant.

Having the bike maintenance and plant tours completed during the same time gave me the opportunity to ride the back roads southeast of York and into Maryland during the afternoon.