From extreme weather to scientific advancements
Harley-Davidson was founded by four men in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Many famous people ride Harleys. Here is Arnold Schwarzenegger back in 1982 riding his.
Released in 2019, the LiveWire is Harley-Davidson’s first electric motorcycle.
Harley-Davidson celebrated it 120th anniversary in 2023. But how did the company come about?
Harley-Davidson has factories in the US, but parts are also built in Brazil, India, and Thailand.
Harley-Davidson have reinvented themselves to appeal to younger riders. New, smaller models have been developed.
Harley rider groups from all over the world come together to celebrate their bikes and love for riding.
Riding a Harley-Davidson became synonymous with rebellion. The 1969 movie ‘Easy Rider’ features Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper riding Harleys.
Famous daredevil "Evel" Knievel rode a Harley-Davidson XR-750 to perform his stunts.
The company built a military-specific version of the 740CC WL line, named the WLA (“A” stood for Army). Over 90,000 units were produced.
In 1921, Otto Walker became the first man to win a race at an average speed greater than 100 mph (160 km/h). The record was set on a Harley-Davidson.
Harley-Davidson was one of the few motorcycle companies that survived the Great Depression. When the war broke out, they managed to supply motorcycles for the US Army.
Here’s British racing motorist Sir Malcolm Campbell (who set world speed records) riding a Harley.
The moniker Hog has its origins in the Wrecking Crew racing team member Ray Weishaar. He used to carry the team's mascot, which happened to be a small pig (aka a hog), around on victory laps.
In 1920, Harley-Davidson sponsored a racing team called The Wrecking Crew. At the time, this was quite a bold move, and worked wonders to advertise the brand.
Harley-Davidson started to be used by numerous companies, as well as the police.
By 1920, Harley-Davidson was the world’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer, with dealers in 67 countries.
The first Harley-Davidson motorcycles were made in 1903. These featured a single-cylinder engine and pedals.
Harley-Davidson’s iconic two-cylinder engine, known as the V-Twin, was introduced in 1909. This new engine allowed motorcycles to reach speeds of up to 60 mph (approximately 100 km/h).
In 1917, the US entered the First World War and 20,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles were bought and used by the military.
The company’s headquarters remain in the same location, although in a different building.
The company’s first factory was essentially a wooden shed located in the Davidson's backyard on Chestnut Street (later Juneau Avenue) in Milwaukee.
William S. Harley was the man who idealized the motorcycle. He was the first chief engineer and treasurer of the company.
Arthur Davidson was Harley-Davidson’s first general sales manager and secretary.
The founders of Harley-Davidson were (L-R) brothers William Davidson, Walter Davidson, and Arthur Davidson, and William Harley.
Walter Davidson was the first president and general manager of Harley-Davidson. He also went on to become a Harley racer.
William "Bill" Davidson left his high-paying job with the Milwaukee Road railroad to become the works manager at Harley-Davidson.
Here's George Clooney riding his big Harley.
Sources: (Insider) (Harley-Davidson Insurance) (Rare Historical Photos)
See also: Get your motor runnin’ with these motorcycle facts
Harley-Davidson also produced a motorcycle for the Canadian military—the WLC.
Harley-Davidson has released a number of models with different characteristics. All motorcycles fall within one of the manufacturer's seven model families, namely: Touring, Softail, Dyna, Sportster (pictured), Vrod, Street, and LiveWire.
Harley-Davidson has been in business for some 120 years. More than a motorcycle company, Harley-Davidson is part of American history and, as such, its legacy should be celebrated. From its humble beginnings in a backyard shed, to the multibillion-dollar company it became, Harley-Davidson survived two World Wars, economic recessions, and everything in between.
In this gallery, we travel back in time to the beginning of the 20th century and delve into the history of Harley-Davidson. Get your motor runnin' and click on!
The history of Harley-Davidson motorcycles
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Harley-Davidson has been in business for some 120 years. More than a motorcycle company, Harley-Davidson is part of American history and, as such, its legacy should be celebrated. From its humble beginnings in a backyard shed, to the multibillion-dollar company it became, Harley-Davidson survived two World Wars, economic recessions, and everything in between.
In this gallery, we travel back in time to the beginning of the 20th century and delve into the history of Harley-Davidson. Get your motor runnin' and click on!