If you think about it Nate, they’re no different than a Can Am or a Kramit or HRD, or even an early TM.
The big 5 might build their own engines, but they have always purchased rims, suspension, controls and carbs from someone else.
Hell, I even know with certainty that most of the suspension innards are sub-subbed out to other companies than Showa, KYB etc. I can tell you that even Ohlins has over 100 sub manufacturers.
Production is about assembly, not necessarily pure manufacturing.
What ATK was – one guy with the dream and the BALLS to try something new? The end result may have been different that Soichiro’s but the intent was the same.
Love your work,
ER