HarleyTechTalk

Unfortunately, HD will close the Talladega Alabama test facility.
Sad, as I watched some of the best riding / tortue testing I've ever seen.

Harley to close Alabama test facility
The Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 11:04 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 11:04 a.m.

Harley-Davidson Inc. says it is shutting down its test facility at the Talladega Airport, eliminating about 100 jobs there.

The motorcycle company says it's consolidating its test operations from Talladega, Naples, Fla., and Mesa, Ariz. to the Arizona Proving Grounds in Yucca, Ariz.

Pat Sweeney, a spokesman for Harley-Davidson, could not provide a date when the facility would close, but did say it would be sometime next year.

Sweeney says the Talladega facility has just under 70 Harley-Davidson employees, Sweeney said, as well as just under 40 contract workers.

The facility performs several kinds of vehicle testing, including emissions, brake, sound, durability and automated vehicle tests. High-speed tests are often performed at the Talladega SuperSpeedway.

 

I hate to hear that. Alabama already has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.

Hate to see it, but FWIW it makes sense to put it all in one place why have multiple testing facilities

Most manufacturers use multiple test locations to get access to different terrain and weather conditions.  In the case of motorcycles, there probably isn't as much need for testing in subzero environments.  Yucca is in the NW part of Arizona with easy access to everything from low desert to the higher elevations in Arizona.  They probably chose this as their single location in order to get as much variety in testing conditions as possible.

-Craig

Not much difference in latitude with Alabammer and Arrizoner

Just more humidity in bammer...

Within 150 miles of Yucca you can go from 12,000' to near sea level.  Along with that, you can test in temps ranging from 120F in the summer to "way too cold to ride" in the winter.  But it would be very hard to find humidity here.  LOL

Lets hope this does not mean less factory testing and more testing by owners/riders, meaning us.

Re; Low humidity:
It's the dry air where I had more problems with pinging. In the damp humid air, my bike always ran great. When the air is dry, it seems like timing becomes more critical. That Arizona site is probably ideal.
JMO,
Mike

Quote from: Scooterfish on October 28, 2009, 10:34:57 AM
Lets hope this does not mean less factory testing and more testing by owners/riders, meaning us.

+1
Thats my fear.  Use the customer as the guinnea pig....  Usually doesn't work very well. 
jt

It probably is the dry heat of Arizona that's for sure.  Management is getting up there and looking towards retirement and the comfort of Arizona is looking pretty good to them.  Gives them an opportunity to scan potential real estate deals on their trips out there.  Cut cost, improve profits, sell off and drop anchor!
Maybe even finally get some riding in.

ricochet

Maybe they don't speak bamma. being from Wessskansen. eh?

Quote from: Scooterfish on October 28, 2009, 10:34:57 AM
Lets hope this does not mean less factory testing and more testing by owners/riders, meaning us.

Whats to test? Same bike for the last 40 years. Add a disk brake,one more gear,a few more Cubic Inches. 1970-2010 just like that. They should have custom painting testing grounds and chrome testing grounds.

Quote from: MaxxV4 on October 28, 2009, 10:46:43 AM
Re; Low humidity:
It's the dry air where I had more problems with pinging. In the damp humid air, my bike always ran great. When the air is dry, it seems like timing becomes more critical. That Arizona site is probably ideal.
JMO,
Mike

When the air is very humid, an engine will run richer. The more water there is in a cubic foot of air, the less oxygen there is. When you hear racers talking of "good air," they're talking about air that is very dense (high oxygen content).

Quote from: harborjohn on October 28, 2009, 01:03:23 PM

Quote from: Scooterfish on October 28, 2009, 10:34:57 AM
Lets hope this does not mean less factory testing and more testing by owners/riders, meaning us.

Whats to test? Same bike for the last 40 years. Add a disk brake,one more gear,a few more Cubic Inches. 1970-2010 just like that. They should have custom painting testing grounds and chrome testing grounds.

i dunno, i have a 66 e-glide and an 08 flhx,,, seems like there are some pretty big differences... altho i still love riddin the 66,
the 08 seems a bit more reliable, maybe a tad more power, somewhat smoother, and i seem to be able to throw it around in corners alittlle better.

just my .02

t-c

It is sad to see this going on anywhere. I am sure it will be very difficult times for all of the employees and their families. It does not state how many jobs will be eliminated by combining the sites, but I am sure it is many. I am sure most will find it very difficult to make a move with the real estate market being so down, It would be tuff to sell your home to keep your job, let alone moving almost entirely across the good old US of A. I am sure it will affect all walks of life, as they employ a grand array of people. We must remember it takes the janitor to keep it clean, the secretary to keep it organized, the mechanic to keep it running,the rider to see what it does and the engineer to make it better. Wow imagine the change of life from Naples Fl to Yucca Az ??
I give my best to all involved