Harley-Davidson History




 


The first Harley-Davidson motorcycle was not made by accident. In 1902, a
21-year-old man by the name of William S. Harley created a design for a
one-cylinder motorcycle. A year later in 1903, he partnered up with 20-year-old
Arthur Davidson to assemble the first Harley-Davidson Motorcycle.

Harley-Davidson's first real transaction came courtesy of Henry Meyer, a
friend of Harley and Davidson from school. He bought one of the racing
motorcycles they two had built. This sparked the beginning of over a hundred
years of striving business. They had no idea that some years later, the business
they started would be worth millions of dollars, with thousands of employees,
and millions of riders.

The first Harley-Davidson motorcycles were built in a 10 by 15 foot wooden
shack. It had "Harley-Davidson Motor Company" carved into the wooden door.

Later in 1903, Arthur's brother Walter joined the two founders in the new
business. This turned out to be a good decision for all three young men. Towards
the end of 1903, the first Harley-Davidson dealer opened in Chicago, Illinois
and made its first sale.

The first Harley-Davidson was made with the intention of being a racing
machine. It was powered with a one-cylinder combustion engine. The first year of
selling motorcycles, Harley-Davidson produced eleven which sold rather quickly.

In 1905, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle wins a race, and the first real
full-time employee joins the company. 1908 was a landmark year for Harley, with
their first addition to a police department in Detroit. Toward the end of the
decade in 1909, Harley-Davidson introduced their first V-twin powered
motorcycle. It had 7 horsepower, and became wildly popular.

In 1910, the infamous "Bar and Shield" logo that makes Harley-Davidsons
famous was created.

Even today, every Harley bears the logo that has made them famous. The F-Head
engine was introduced in 1911 and would become the engine of choice for
Harley-Davidson until 1929. The year 1912 brought more expansion with the
building of a six-story factory. The famous sidecars for Harleys are made
available in 1914.

Three years later, Harley-Davidson Motor Company partnered with the U.S.
Military to aid in the war. Nearly one third of all motorcycles produced in 1917
were sent over to the war. Over 20,000 motorcycles were used by the military by
the end of World War I. A year later, the motorcycles sent to the military goes
up to almost half of all those produced that year. Almost all of them were
produced by Harley-Davidson Motor Company.

The growth of Harley-Davidson Motor Company was not mistake. By 1920,
Harley-Davidson was the most popular motorcycle producer in the world. They had
just about 2000 separate dealers in 67 different countries. Leslie Parkhurst
used a Harley-Davidson to break 23 different speed records in that year as well.
In 1925, the gas tanks that are seen on Harley-Davidson motorcycles today are
created. The teardrop shape gas tanks quickly take off, and all Harleys after
that follow suit. Also that year Joe Petrali started racing for Harley-Davidson.
He would become one of the best Harley dirt-track racers of all time. 1926
brings a year of backtracking. Harley-Davidson decides to bring back single
cylinder engines for the first time since 1918.

Side and Overhead valve configurations are offered by the company.

The first time dual cam engines are offered to the public was in 1928. They
were available in the JD series of motorcycles. This bike was capable of
reaching speeds from 85 all the way to 100 miles per hour. The definition of
reliability came in 1929 with the release of the 45 cubic inch V-twin engine.
Also known as the flat head, it was so reliable that it was even available all
the way up to the year 1973. This is a big accomplishment for the company
started in a 10 by 15 foot shack.