Where Is Harley-Davidson Touring Exhaust Made?
Where does one of the world’s most recognized motorcycle brands manufacture its iconic Grand American Touring bikes’ exhaust system? Well, the short answer is that the stock exhaust that comes on Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring models like the Street Glide, Road Glide, and Ultra is installed at Harley-Davidson’s York Vehicle Operations in York, Pennsylvania. This is where their bikes are assembled before they are shipped out to dealerships. However, the individual exhaust components are all sourced from a global supplier, which means the country of origin for the pipes, catalysts, and mufflers can vary by model year and market.
In case you’re wondering, here is more at length on where each component originates before coming together to create the exhaust system that Harley-Davidson is known for.
Find more new and used touring motorcycles for sale online.
Final Assembly in York, Pennsylvania
Most Harley-Davidson motorcycles are assembled at the York, Pennsylvania facility. This is where the Grand American Touring family of bikes is built, and where the exhaust system is fitted to the bike before it ships to dealers. Below is a list of every facility that takes part in bringing together one of the world’s most recognized motorcycle brands.
Global Suppliers
Like most vehicle and motorcycle manufacturers, Harley-Davidson uses a global supply chain for parts. US Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings describe the company’s global operations and supplier network as coming from multiple countries. Many parts on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, including emissions and exhaust components, can come from multiple countries depending on regulatory specifications within those countries, as well as parts availability and vendor contracts. That’s why the exact country stamped on an individual muffler or catalyst may differ across years or destinations, even within the same model family.
Performance Exhausts are Often US-Made
Many Grand American Touring bike owners swap out their stock exhaust system for Harley-Davidson’s Screamin’ Eagle slip-ons or other performance systems. The brand’s long-time collaborator Vance & Hines designs and manufactures exhaust systems in the US, most notably in Santa Fe Springs, California, where specific Touring slip-ons like the Torquer 450 have been assembled. Their racing and manufacturing operations are in Brownsburg, Indiana. If your Touring bike has Vance & Hines or many Screamin’ Eagle-by-V&H parts, those are made in one of these US facilities.
No Single “Country of Origin” for Parts
Because exhaust systems aren’t a single part, sometimes different components need to be manufactured in different countries. An exhaust system consists of headers, heat shields, catalytic elements, clamps, mufflers, and sensors, and each may be crafted at a different location depending on the model’s specifications. Automakers and motorcycle OEMs frequently qualify multiple suppliers for resilience and compliance. Harley also builds motorcycles for different regions (US, EMEA, APAC) which have different emissions regulations. This may require different internal muffler and catalyst configurations. As a result, it’s normal for final assembly to be in York while individual exhaust components may carry different origin markings, but all parts meet Harley-Davidson’s quality assurance specifications.
Like most Harley motorcycles, final assembly and installation of the exhaust on the Grand American Touring models is completed at the York, Pennsylvania facility, however, component origin can vary. If you need the exact country of origin for a specific pipe or muffler (for customs or compliance), it’s recommended that you check the part label or the bike’s parts catalog for your VIN and market. Keep in mind that because Harley-Davidson sources their parts globally, the country that your component is coming from may change over time.
Aftermarket upgrades like the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle or Vance & Hines slip-ons commonly used on Touring models are manufactured at one of two facilities in either Santa Fe Springs, California or Brownsburg, Indiana.
Marketplace Inventory
Although your Grand American Touring bikes’ birthplace is York, Pennsylvania, the stock components that create the exhaust system come from one of the many global distributors the company has partnered with since their bikes first hit the roads in 1903. Many of the most popular performance replacements are made in the US by Vance & Hines and sold through Harley-Davidson dealers. Each individual exhaust system component comes together to create a touring bike that still holds the reputation as one of the world’s finest.
Anna Cecilia Tozzi
You might also like
