The Harley Davidson AMF years were a controversial time in the company's history. American Machine and Foundry, or AMF, was a manufacturing company that acquired Harley Davidson in 1969. At that time, Harley Davidson was facing financial difficulties and was in need of a bailout.

Under AMF's ownership, the quality of Harley Davidson motorcycles decreased significantly. Many long-time fans of the brand were unhappy with the changes made by AMF, including the use of cheaper materials and the outsourcing of production to foreign countries. The decline in quality led to a decline in sales, and Harley Davidson's reputation suffered as a result.

In 1981, a group of Harley Davidson enthusiasts and investors led by Willie G. Davidson (grandson of the company's co-founder) and Vaughn Beals bought back the company from AMF. This marked the end of the AMF years and the beginning of a new era for Harley Davidson.

Source: Adam Ryan Morris, milwaukeemag.com

After the buyout, the company began to focus on improving the quality of its motorcycles and restoring its reputation. This included the introduction of new models and the reestablishment of production in the United States. The efforts of the new leadership team were successful, and Harley Davidson's sales began to recover.

Today, Harley Davidson is once again a respected and beloved brand, known for its iconic motorcycles and American-made heritage. While the AMF years are not remembered fondly by many, they did serve as a lesson in the importance of maintaining the integrity and quality of the brand.

During the AMF years, Harley Davidson produced a number of interesting vehicles, in this blog we're going to show you some of the more interesting machines to come from the motor company under the AMF banner.

Motorcycles & Other Interesting Machines From The AMF Years of HD:

The Harley Davidson SX-250: This was a small dirt bike that was produced from 1970 to 1975. It was popular with younger riders and off-road enthusiasts.

Source: mecum.com

The Harley Davidson MX-250: Similar to the SX-250, the MX-250 was a dirt bike that was produced from 1970 to 1975. It had a larger engine and was more suited for motocross racing.

Source: mecum.com

The Harley Davidson MT-350: This was a military-style motorcycle that was produced from 1979 to 1984. It was designed to be lightweight and easy to maintain, making it well-suited for use in the military.

Source: britishclassicmotorcycles.co.uk

The Harley Davidson XR-750: This was a racing motorcycle that was produced from 1970 to 2003. It was highly successful in flat track racing and won numerous championships.

Source: yesterdays.nl

The Harley Davidson 1200cc Super Glide FX: Otherwise known as the Harley-Davidson Boat Tail, the 1200cc Super Glide FX was designed to maintain the look of a custom bike. It was made with the frame and rear suspension (not the electric starter) of the FLH Electra Glide, which were then combined with the smaller telescopic forms from the XLH Sportster. As a finishing touch, a "boattail" tail/fender unit was added to match the ones that were being used on the XLH Sportster models.

The Harley Davidson X-90 "Shortster" Minibike: This minibike was developed in Italy by Aermacchi engineers who utilized a 90cc single-cylinder two-stroke with a bore x stroke of 48mm x 50mm and 8 hp. This was a kickstart only model that got its power from a standard four-speed transmission with a wet multi-plate clutch, which was delivered to the rear wheel.

Source: silodrome.com

In addition to motorcycles, Harley Davidson also produced a number of other products during the AMF years, including:

Snowmobiles: In the 1970s, Harley Davidson entered the snowmobile market and produced a number of different models. These snowmobiles were powered by small engines and were popular with winter sports enthusiasts.

Golf carts: In the 1970s, Harley Davidson produced a line of electric golf carts that were used at golf courses and other recreational facilities.