How AMF Harleys Handed America to Honda

A bowling company once owned Harley-Davidson. And it nearly ran the whole legend into the ground. From 1969 to 1981, the most iconic motorcycle brand in America wasn't controlled by the Harleys or the Davidsons. It belonged to American Machine and Foundry, the conglomerate behind the automatic bowling pinsetter. In this documentary we break down how AMF's obsession with cranking out volume triggered a total quality collapse (yes, the oil-on-the-showroom-floor era was real), how Honda and the Japanese manufacturers devoured Harley's home market, and how thirteen executives put everything on the line to buy the company back before it went under. This is the full story of the AMF disaster, the "Harley Hangover," the 1981 buyback, "The Eagle Soars Alone," and one of the most improbable comebacks in American business history. 🔔 Subscribe for more corporate disasters and comebacks every week. 💬 Would you ride an AMF-era Harley, oil leaks and all? Let me know below. #HarleyDavidson #MotorcycleHistory #AMF