H-D to Move!
15. Oct, 2008 
2 Comments
Now don’t get all upset Harley-Davidson is not moving out of Milwaukee. Nor is it moving out of its York, Pennsylvania Plant. In a recent announcement Harley said that it is moving it’s vehicle testing from Mesa, Arizona to Yucca, Arizona. They had been testing at the General Motors Mesa facility but that is being sold by GM.
Harley has reached an agreement with Chrysler to lease part of it’s Arizona Proving Grounds in Yucca. The test facility sits on an area that use to be the Yucca Army Airfield, then Ford bought it and built their proving grounds which they used for over fifty years. Ford sold the facility in 2007 to Chrysler. The large facility consists of several test tracks, climate controlled buildings and a five mile high speed banked oval. H-D plans to complete the move by July 1. There was no word how the possible GM-Chrysler merger would affect the deal.
Now if they want to save some money I know a heavyweight rider in Pennsylvania who is willing to test the touring and Softail models. He rides in all kinds of weather over on some horrible roads. He’s a legend in the area’s shops for breaking parts on his Harley that nobody else ever breaks. Plus he’s brand loyal and at the moment unemployed, so he can be had cheaply. The downside is that with his size fuel mileage figures would be skewed. Harley if you’re interested my number is …
So Harley leases their test sites. How lame.
You’d think Harley-Davidson would have their own facility. Looks like even after the move they may be out of a local to test.