The Harley-Davidson Story

William Harley was 21 when he
drew up plans for an 116cc engine, which was built and fitted to a pedal cycle.
That was in 1901. He was joined by his friend Arthur Davidson, and together they
worked on what was really a motor-bicycle. With the help of Arthur’s brother,
Walter, they completed the project in 1903, however the boys were so
dissatisfied with their first attempt, they scrapped the bike, but not without
gaining valuable experience along the way.

The second machine, with a
405cc engine is classed by many as the first real Harley. The bigger engine and
frame design meant this machine was something other than a motor-bicycle, and
was a forerunner of the modern motorcycle. The prototype was built in a ten by
fifteen feet shed belonging to the Davidson family, although the engine parts
were said to be built at the West Milwaukee Railshops, where older brother
William Davidson worked as a foreman. By 1905 this motorcycle was been offered
to the public on a very limited basis. Three were sold that year.

The shed was eventually moved
to the Juneau Avenue factory to serve as a reminder of the company’s humble
beginnings, but sadly was accidentally demolished by contractors during the
1970’s.

By 1907 production had reached
150 motorcycles, and in that year they began selling their machines to police
departments. Also in that same year, a prototype 880cc, V-twin engine was
developed and displayed at the Chicago Automobile show, although very few V-twin
motorcycles were sold before 1910. By 1909 well over 1,000 motorcycles were
being produced, a tribute not only to the boys’ engineering skills, but also to
their entrepreneurial attributes.

In 1917, when the USA entered
the arena of World War 1, new demands were placed on the company, as the
military needed a robust, reliable machine. Harley-Davidson rose to the
challenge and produced 20,000 motorcycles for the war machine. This no doubt
helped the company take their place as the World’s largest motorcycle
manufacturer, and by 1920 they were producing over 28,000 units which were sold
in 67 countries.
The depression of the Thirties hit the company hard
and production fell to less than 4,000 in 1933. Through necessity, they produced
a three-wheeled delivery vehicle which was named the ‘Servi-car’, a design that
stood the test of time and only ceased production in 1973.

As war came again, Harley-Davidson copied the design
of the BMWR71, and produced the XA model, as once
again the company answered the demands of the United States Army and produced
large numbers of motorcycles. They also built the WLC for the Canadian military,
and sent more than 30,000 units to the Soviet Union.

After the war, the company flourished and the ‘Super
10’ and ‘Topper’ scooter were produced. In 1960 they bought fifty percent of
Aeronautica Macchi’s motorcycle division and the importation of the 250cc
horizontal single began. This bike wore the Harley-Davidson badge and was
marketed as the ‘Harley-Davidson Sprint’. The company became sole owners of
Aermacchi in 1974.

Hollywood too has played a part in the development of
Harley-Davidson, sadly tarnishing the company’s image and leading the brand to
be associated with groups such as ‘Hell’s Angels’. In 1969 AMF bought the
company, decimated the workforce and began to produce a machine which was much
inferior to its Japanese rivals. Sales slumped and the company was on the edge
of the abyss. The company’s reputation became almost irredeemable.

Under pressure from Harley-Davidson, the US government
introduced a 45% tariff on imported motorcycles over 700cc, but instead of going
head to head with the Japanese, they concentrated on the ‘Retro’ style of bike.
Many of the components for these machines were built overseas, and the quality
of the finished article took a turn for the better.


In 2008, a
Harley-Davidson Museum opened in Milwaukee. The three building complex contains
a large collection of motorcycles and other Harley-Davidson memorabilia. This
represents a huge leap from the shed in the Davidson’s backyard and the austere
years of the Great Depression. Proof enough that Harley-Davidson is more than a
motorcycle, more than a company; it has become a way of life for motorcyclists
all over the world. William and Arthur would be delighted.