The Rev-olution of Harley Davidson

Harley-Davidson Revolution
Revolutionizing motorcycles since they began back in 1867 with two-cylinders and a steam engine, it was Bill Harley with a blue print for an engine that would change it all. In 1903, he and Arthur Davidson revealed their work from the depths of a woodshed; a racing bike they constructed using scrap metal and borrowed tools. Walter Davidson joined the company a year later and they opened the first Harley-Davidson store that year, selling three bikes, each containing a three-horsepower engine and the uniquely designed loop frame, which set them apart from other motorized cycles of the time.

Harley-Davidson Gains Momentum
The bikes gained popularity in 1905 winning the 15-mile race in Chicago, and by 1906, the business had six employees. When William Davidson joined the team in 1907, they incorporated The Harley-Davidson Motor Company and upped production to 150 bikes. Five years later, the bar and shield logo was created and the bikes were exported to Japan.

Harley-Davidson Racing
The racing department came in 1914, as well as a contract made with the US military. One-third of Harley-Davidson production was going to the US Army by 1917 and Harley Davidsons were available in 67 countries by 1920, making them the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world.

Harley-Davidson racers, called the “wrecking crew”, have been making waves since 1921 when it was the first bike to average 100 mph during a race. In 1926, the record jumped by Curly Fredericks on a board track measuring one and a quarter miles in Rockingham, NH on the eight-valve racer, registering 120.3 mph – his record never outdone, the superior performance causing the racing federation to outlaw that particular bike. Racer Joe Petrali, set the record for land speed at 136.183 mph in the EL model, holding a 61 cc engine, nicknamed “Knucklehead”, in 1937; Petrali laid the racing foundations for Harley-Davidson with unmatched championship performances. By 1946 the 45 ci flathead WR racer would win the AMA Grand National Championships from 1946 to 1948 and a victory at the Grand National competition in 1958 marked Harley-Davidsons fifth year at number one. The Screamin’ Eagle Drag and Flat Track team was assembled in 2002 and competes at the top professional level, with racer Kenny Coolbeth setting a new Pro Stock (ET) record of 6.728 seconds and Jared Mees claiming the AMA Grand National championship in 2012.

The Immortal Spirit Of The Motorcycle Rider
The spirit of Harley-Davidson continues with bikers gathering for annual rallies and tours – inspired by the Gypsy Tours – illuminating the community of enthusiasts and the fun to be had.

See more amazing Harley stories, click the link below.

Harley Davidson – Birth of the V Rod