I always knew when I was in the Military that even thou we were at war with a country, it wasn't a personal thing of ME vs THEM. It would be our Government and their Government and the soldiers were just tools.

Most of their soldiers were just like us and would rather be at home with their family doing the family business. Most wars were where WE went over there, with some exceptions

This is true what Darn and others have said. and this really isn,t the place but yeah the little guys and gals where just doing what they felt was right. I have even got respect for them. And they do love their scooters. Though they run small cc and choose reliable bikes ie Yamaha. But I still have brothers being held by their govmt. No matter how much they deny it and I personally would sell my scoot before I supported it, Nothing against fellow soldiers. I outgrew a lot of the scars a long time ago and some will always be present on my flesh to remind me. But I have no animosity to the people of Southeast Asia. Sorry if i have ruffled feathers. Ride hard ...ride safe...ride forever..

the Road Star may be assembled in Japan..but how much of the bike is
actually manufactured elsewhere???

Yamaha Motor to Build Cast Wheel Plant in Vietnam


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Tokyo, July 16, 2008 (Jiji Press) - Yamaha Motor Co. <7272> said Wednesday that in September it will start making cast wheels for motorcycles in Vietnam to meet growing demand in Southeast Asia.

For the integral manufacturing from casting to painting, the Japanese motorbike maker will invest 1.5 billion yen to construct a plant with annual output capacity of 600,000 units at its local parts manufacturing subsidiary.

In developed countries, the cast wheel is currently the main type used for two-wheel vehicles due to its easy-to-design nature and cost performance.

But demand for cast wheels is also rising in the Southeast Asian market, where spoke wheels have predominated.

With the new production facility, Yamaha Motor will strengthen its supplies of cast wheels to its motorcycle manufacturing plants in not only Vietnam but Thailand, the Philippines and other member economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

In its medium-term management plan for 2008-2010, Yamaha Motor hammered out the strategy of enhancing its business in the ASEAN area.

By 2010, the company plans to boost motorcycle sales fivefold from 2007 to 4.3 million units in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia, in particular.

bikerbob2 wrote:
This is true what Darn and others have said. and this really isn,t the place but yeah the little guys and gals where just doing what they felt was right. I have even got respect for them. And they do love their scooters. Though they run small cc and choose reliable bikes ie Yamaha. But I still have brothers being held by their govmt. No matter how much they deny it and I personally would sell my scoot before I supported it, Nothing against fellow soldiers. I outgrew a lot of the scars a long time ago and some will always be present on my flesh to remind me. But I have no animosity to the people of Southeast Asia. Sorry if i have ruffled feathers. Ride hard ...ride safe...ride forever..

Amen brother! Live to ride, ride to Live!

yeah I read all of that poprivet that is why I called the headquarters. Now think about what the article said. Build cast wheels to meet the demand in southeast Asia. Well roadies are not the bikes that folks in southeast asia ride . They ride little scoots. 130 - 150 class and they use cast whells also. Gas and money being a issue in 3rd world countries they us reliable and cheaper moneywise scoots.If you read some of the other articles India and Indonesia also are building parts and bikes for their area.I can,t honestly say I know 100 % where all the parts from the roadie are built but I do know they are built good. But the ones built in southeast asia are probably built good to or those folks wouldn,t buy them. Here in America most folks use their bikes for recreation. I personally use mine as a primary mode of transportation. I can,t stand cars.But folks in that part of the world use them as primary transportation. As anyone that spent time in the Nam can tell ya. ride hard ...ride safe...ride forever;;I still think they had the best little mopeds ever made putter putter putter.

My grandfather (my father's father) fought in WWII, and then was stationed in Kobe during the reconstruction. I was stationed in Japan, and when I went home on leave, took a packet of touristy postcard photos of Kobe to show him what it looked like now. He was amazed and happy that the Japanese had rebuilt. He showed me photos, and he remembered his time in Japan, and the Japanese people with a mix of fondness and wry humor.

Iran is going to start building Ultra Classics is this a fact or just a joke I'm hoping it was just a joke cause that would be a travesty if it were true

Its a joke I did hear that HD is going to stop making the Electraglide Standard in 2010 but that is rumor. I really like them but I like my roadie more.