Harley Davidson is one of the most recognised and most sought after motorcycles in the world. Synonymous with everything cool, loud, and stylish, it is a motorcycle that has pervaded for over a hundred years.
The company began with William Harley and brothers Arthur, Walter, and William Davidson back in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Before that, William Harley began drawing up blueprints in 1901 of a bicycle that would work with an engine attached. There were many other designs before and around that time, all using a similar mock up. In 1903, he joined together with two of the Davidson brothers and founded their company in Milwaukee. They produced their first motorcycle with a V-twin engine, seeing moderate success worldwide, along with companies like Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company.
In 1904, they won their first dealer, C.H. Lang, who went o
n to sell the first model they ever made. A year later, when motorcycle races became popular, Harley Davidson won its first race in Chicago and began to establish itself as a core competitor. A couple of years after that, the last Davidson brother joins ranks and their company has doubled in staff size.
The company continued to win races and in 1907, produced its V twin-powered motorcycle with a seven horsepower engine. In 1910, they created they now synonymous logo and in 1912 started exporting their products to Japan, then to the US military. Before long, they would produce more than half of the military’s motorcycles, and in 1919 began producing their Sports models.
The popularity of the company continued to grow in the latter part of the 20th century, and celebrated its 100th birthday in 2003. Nationally and internationally they are still one of the biggest selling motorcycles ever.
