Editing Harley-Davidson (section)

===Tarnished reputation===
[[File:ZweiRadMuseumNSU EasyRider.JPG|thumb|upright|Replica of the "[[Captain America (motorcycle)|Captain America bike]]" from the film ''[[Easy Rider]]'' ]]
In 1952, following their application to the [[United States International Trade Commission|U.S. Tariff Commission]] for a 40 percent tax on imported motorcycles, Harley-Davidson was charged with restrictive practices.<ref>{{cite web |author=Ian Chadwick, ichadwick@sympatico.ca |url=http://www.ianchadwick.com/motorcycles/triumph/time03.html |title=Triumph Motorcycles Timeline: Recovery and Growth 1946–1962 |work=Ianchadwick.com |access-date=January 5, 2009 |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929075144/http://www.ianchadwick.com/motorcycles/triumph/time03.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Harley-Davidson 6.jpg|thumb|left|AMF H-D Electra Glide]]
In 1969, [[American Machine and Foundry]] (AMF) bought the company,<ref name="amfacq">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=17IVAAAAIBAJ&pg=2845%2C5498 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |last=Nelson |first=Mervin C. |title=AMF acquiring Harley-Davidson |date=November 1, 1968 |page=1, part 1 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="fft buy">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AQQqAAAAIBAJ&pg=7209%2C141747 |work=The Milwaukee Journal |title=Firm fights to buy Harley-Davidson |date=November 1, 1968 |page=1, part 2 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> streamlined production, and slashed the workforce. This tactic resulted in a [[strike action|labor strike]] and cost-cutting produced lower-quality bikes.<ref name="hotbikeweb" /> Simultaneously, the Japanese "big four" manufacturers ([[Honda]], [[Kawasaki motorcycles|Kawasaki]], [[Suzuki]], and [[Yamaha Motor Corporation|Yamaha]])<ref name="Hetrick">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=95f1-fanCVIC&dq=universal+japanese+motorcycle%22&pg=PP8|title=Sport Bikes (Full Throttle)|last=Hetrick|first=Hans|date=2010|publisher=Edge Books, Capstone Press|isbn=978-1429647519|page=12}}</ref> revolutionized the North American market by introducing what the motoring press would call the [[Universal Japanese Motorcycle]].<ref name="ujm motorcycle">{{cite web |url=http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/suzuki/2009-suzuki-tu250x-review-88791.html |author=Pete Brissette |title=2009 Suzuki TU250X Review |work=[[Motor Cycle News]] |date=2009-10-06 |access-date=2016-07-14 |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807175446/https://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/suzuki/2009-suzuki-tu250x-review-88791.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In comparison, Harley-Davidson's bikes were expensive and inferior in performance, handling, and quality. Sales and quality declined, and the company almost went bankrupt.<ref name="hotbikeweb" /> The "Harley-Davidson" name was mocked as "Hardly Ableson", "Hardly Driveable", and "Hogly Ferguson",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/dictionary/H.htm |title=The Motorcycle Bikers Dictionary – H |website=totalmotorcycle.com |access-date=April 27, 2008 |archive-date=August 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803151848/http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/dictionary/H.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
and the nickname "Hog" became [[pejorative]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rkj8y8QYppMC&q=harley+davidson+hog+nickname+negative&pg=PA19|title=Harley-Davidson Motorcycles|last=Stermer|first=Bill|date=2002|publisher=MotorBooks International|isbn=978-1-61060-951-7|pages=19|language=en|access-date=November 11, 2020|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403202301/https://books.google.com/books?id=Rkj8y8QYppMC&q=harley+davidson+hog+nickname+negative&pg=PA19|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1977, following the successful manufacture of the Liberty Edition to commemorate America's [[United States Bicentennial|bicentennial]] in 1976,<ref>{{cite web |author=incEngine |url=http://www.classic-harley.com/incEngine/?product=1030190204 |title=Harley-Davidson Liberty Edition |work=Classic-harley.com |access-date=July 25, 2013 |archive-date=September 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910201753/http://www.classic-harley.com/incEngine/?product=1030190204 |url-status=live }}</ref> Harley-Davidson produced what has become one of its most controversial models, the [[Harley-Davidson Confederate Edition]]. The bike was essentially a stock Harley-Davidson with [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]]-specific paint and details.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/motorcycle-reviews/harley-davidson.aspx|title=1977 Harley-Davidson Confederate Edition|publisher=Motorcycle Classics|access-date=August 5, 2009|date=January–February 2009|author=Chris MacMahan|archive-date=August 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810072516/http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/motorcycle-reviews/harley-davidson.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>