The 2011 Harleys roll off the line (photos)

YORK, Pa.--If you're going to take a road trip showcasing some of America's most interesting destinations, and you have a chance to see Harley-Davidson motorcycles getting made, it's not something you can pass up.

That's why, as part of Road Trip 2010, CNET reporter Daniel Terdiman visited this town in south-central Pennsylvania: for a private tour of the production facilities of Harley's factory here.

The problem was that Terdiman's proposed visit fell a few weeks before the new 2011 models were to be shown to the company's national network of dealers--so the only way to arrange the tour (and be able to get pictures of the production of the new 2011 model motorcycles) was to agree to let Harley-Davidson take the photographs.

As a result, at Terdiman's direction, the following photos were taken by a Harley photographer and held until the dealers were shown the new bikes for the first time, earlier this week.

Now, Terdiman is able to show how the 2011 model touring bike and three-wheeler is made.

But in this photo, we see a police model of a touring bike coming down the production line.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

A group of gas tanks that have been polished and washed come down a conveyor belt.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

A fender is pressed out of steel sheets.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

One by one, fenders for new 2011 Harley-Davidson touring motorcycles flow down the production line.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

A bin full of foot plates for Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the company's York, Pa., factory.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

This is a 400-ton progressive die press. It can be configured to make as many as 22 different parts.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

A die for a side-car fixture.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

These are going to be front forks, but right now they are in their early stages. Essentially, they are little more than steel rods.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

A large rack of exhaust pipes in the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

Factories like the Harley-Davidson plant in York, Pa., are a treasure trove for fans of industrial production. Almost everywhere you look are beautiful pre-production systems like this one.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

This is a police motorcycle that is being swung along by an elevated section of the production line. The blue fender is what lets you know that it is a police bike.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

This is part of the chain drive assembly for a 2011 model year Harley-Davidson touring motorcycle.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

These are frames for touring motorcycles that have already been painted.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

A large rack of already-painted gas tanks that are ready for being used for 2011 model touring motorcycles.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

Harley-Davidson factory workers tend to the production line in York, Pa.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

These are power trains for 2011 model year Harley-Davidson touring motorcycles that have yet to be added to frames. One by one they will be integrated into actual bikes.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

A group of front forks for touring motorcycles.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

A large number of tires that are ready to be grabbed and used for 2011 model year Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

Rear wheels are added to the 2011 model year Harley-Davidson touring motorcycles.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

One by one, touring bikes come down the production line at the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

Need a handlebar for a Harley? Here, they are ready to grab, one at a time.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

Increasingly, Harley fans are buying three-wheelers known affectionately as "trikes." Here, a worker assembles a trike.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

A worker assembles the rear axle of a 2011 model year touring bike, working on the belt drive and the shocks.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

A set of trike rear axles at the ready.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

Workers can grab a kickstand off this rack.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

Stacks of chrome wheels for Harleys, as seen at the company's York, Pa., plant.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

A worker assembling a police motorcycle.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

Another set of chrome wheels for 2011 model year Harleys.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

This showcases the steps in the process for painting a fender.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

These fenders have gone through each of the steps shown in the previous picture.

Click here to read the related story on the Harley-Davidson factory in York, Pa., and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.