Harley-Davidson Super Store

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.