Harley Factory Tour, York, PA

Well we just got home from our Pa trip. I am still tired from the 500 mile ride. I will try to post a ride report with pics soon. We got to tour the CVO plant too because a guy who rode with us is friends with the plant manager. They wouldn't allow cameras inside, but I got some good pics outside and in the area where they are allowed. We rode 1,200 miles total on the trip.

When I visited Pa last week my brother and I were thinking about taking a tour of the plant. Never did get the time to do it though.

We meet up at the Harley Dealer in Hickory at 7:00AM Thursday for our HOG chapter ride to the York, Pa Harley factor for a factory tour. One of the guys in our chapter used to work as a quality control manager there and he is friends with the plant manager of the CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations) plant. Normally this area is off limits to tours, but he arranged a special tour for our group. We had 18 bikes going on the trip with 23 riders. Here is the group getting ready to roll…



I got off to a bad start. I went roaring off on the highway with my helmet hanging on my rear turn signal. North Carolina is a helmet state, so that wasn’t going to work. I was able to put it on at a stoplight, but I ended up at the back of the pack with only the sweeper rider behind me. Oh well, I never had a problem keeping up!!

We took I-40 West to I-77 north, and then we got on I-81 North. We stopped to eat at Applebee’s in Staunton VA then we visited the Shenandoah Harley-Davidson…




Then we headed back out on our way. We got into some rain, so we stopped to put on our rain gear. We took hyw 30 east and we stopped again at Battlefield Harley Davidson in Gettysburg. Wow, what an awesome dealer! I found a couple awesome shirts that I had to have here…




It started storming, so we decided to head on to York. We got checked into the Best Western Westgate Inn. It was great. Gary was able to get our room here for two nights for $65.00 per night with his military discount. Not bad considering it was a $118.00 per night room! They were very nice. When they found out that we were on bikes, they moved us to a front room in a well-lit area where we could watch our bikes. They gave us a bag full of snacks and there were always homemade cookies, coffee, and tea at the desk for guests to enjoy at no charge. They also gave us a coupon for a free appetizer at adjoining TGI Friday’s. We got a shower and walked over for a nice meal and a few drinks. We turned in around midnight; we had a long day ahead. The factory tour started at 8:45 AM the following morning…




After stuffing ourselves at our free breakfast we meet the others at the Harley Factory in York…








First we went through the public area and got plenty of pics…













Even got my Husband acting silly...




Then we had to turn in our cameras for the tour. We watched a history video and were issued a headset and safety glasses for the tour. We walked through the factory and watched motorcycles being built. It was really interesting, especially the robots. I found my dream job, working in QA testing bikes all day. Next we got our special tour of the CVO area, even the guides were excited. They said they didn’t get to go in that plant often. After the tour we went shopping in the gift shop. Items here were very reasonably priced. I was surprised. I picked up a nice shirt and some pins.

After the tour we rode up to a scenic overlook…





Then we stopped for gas and headed to the Amish Country. We ate at Bird-In-Hand. It was excellent. Two of the riders that got gas at the last stop started having trouble with their bikes. After lunch Frank’s 2007 Softail would not start. We called an area dealer and they sent a truck out to pick it up. We had a Kodiak moment they with Frank riding on the back with Cory. LOL…









While waiting on the truck we rode out to Intercourse for some funny pics at the sign…










Then we rode out to Lancaster Harley to check on Frank‘s Bike. He had trash in his fuel line and they got him on the road in no time. I found a bike I really want here …






Next we meet up with the CVO plant manager, Jim for dinner at a local pub…





We turned in late again. We got up around 7:00AM for our free breakfast the next morning. My friend Mike from Long Island rode down to meet us in Hershey for a factory tour and shopping…









Then he rode with us to lunch. We got a pic of all our bikes…





Then we rode to take some pics at the battlefield at Gettysburg…


















We said bye to Mike and headed back to I-81 to start the ride home. I started falling asleep on the bike, so Gary decided we should stop and stay at Harrisburg at the Ramada Inn. After a little rest we headed out the next morning after breakfast. We decided to take the Blue Ridge Parkway from Roanoke, so we could stop for lunch a Tuggles Gap and stop at Nancy’s candy factory in Meadows of Dan…










All together we logged over 1,200 miles for the trip. Now we are planning a trip to tour the factory in Kansas City!

Oh that looks like a lot of fun

Let me know when you plan on the Kansas City trip, I live in the 'Burbs just outside of KC, that plant is about 35 miles from my house (40-45 min depending on traffic, according to Google Maps)

That was quite a trip. I liked the pictures!

I bet it's good to be home again.

That's the bike I really want too (From Lancaster Harley). Hope I win the lottery soon!

LOL. I hope you win it too. BTW, if you do and buy that bike, can I ride it one time?

The Factory tour is good even if you're not a HD rider, their manufacturing processes are impressive.

looks like a great ride.