10 Harley Facts You Probably Didnt Know

We thought we’d share some interesting facts that most people haven’t heard…

1) In 1901, William S. Harley designed a blueprint for an engine designed to fit a bicycle. He was 21 at the time, and just 3 years later he and Arthur Davidson were building the first Harley Davidsons in a 10×15 foot shed.

2) The first Harley used a tomato can for a carburetor.

3) Henry Meyer was the first customer to buy a Harley bike.

4) In 1904, C. H. Lang, the first Harley Davidson dealer, opened in Chicago.

5) In 1905, a Harley motorcycle won a race for the first time.

6) In 1906, a bigger factory was built on Juneau Avene – the first Harley Davidson catalogue was released the same year.

7) The first woman to ride a Harley was Janet Davidson, the Davidson boys’ aunt (who helped with pin striping and painting).

8) The first v-twin power engine was introduced in 1909 with a whopping 7 horsepower.

9) Malcolm Forbes, the founder of Forbes Magazine and one of the world’s wealthiest men, began riding Harleys at age 40 – and owns 50 Harleys!

10) The most expensive Harley Davidson ever made was the CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide. Only 4,200 were produced and it had an incredible $40,000 price tag.