Harley-Davidson had its humble beginnings when William Harley and Arthur Davidson produced the first production motorcycle in 1903. The motorcycle was to be a racing bike and was built in a small wooden shed with the words Harley-Davidson Motor Company written on it. The front. door. A year later, Harley-Davidson had released 3 production motorcycles to the public.
In 1905, Harley-Davidson wins its first race and hires its first employee. Three years later, in 1908, Harley-Davidson sold the first motorcycle used in police service to the Detroit Police Department. In 1912, HD began building its 6-story factory and exported its first bicycles to Japan, the first time sales had spread outside of the United States.
1914 marks the year HD formally enters the national racing circuit and quickly becomes known as “The Wrecking Crew” for their dominance of the racing industry. By 1917, a third of all motorcycles produced would be sold to the military, and it was also the beginning of the Harley-Davidson Mechanics Service School, for both military and civilian motorcycles.
By 1918, half of all motorcycles produced were sent to the Army for service in World War I, and Corporal Roy Holtz would be the first soldier to ride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Germany. 1920 marks the year that the motorcycle company is the world’s largest in the motorcycle industry and has more than 2,000 dealers in 67 countries around the world.
1931 is the year almost all of Harley’s competitors disappear, with the exception of the Indian Motorcycle Company. Harley-Davidson and Indian are the only two motorcycle companies in America, until 1953. As the world enters World War II, Harley returns to military motorcycle production and service school becomes service school again. of motorcycle military service. also known as Military Mechanics Quartermaster School. During this time, the public could hardly get their hands on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
In 1945, wartime production stops and civilian production begins again, and in 1947 HD begins selling what is now the classic black leather motorcycle jacket. Throughout all this time, Harley consistently wins street and dirt races over and over again and still dominates the racing circuit.
1952 was the year the Harley Sportster debuted, but as the “K” series. It would not be until 1957 that it would stop being called as such. In 1953, Harley-Davidson would become the only motorcycle manufacturer in the United States when Hendee Manufacturing, the Indian motorcycle company, went out of business.
Elvis Presley poses for a cover photo of Enthusiast, the magazine for motorcycle enthusiasts, in 1956. The 1960s saw Harley winning race after race, and it merged with the American Machine and Foundry Company, or AMF.
The 1970s ushered in a customization craze among fans, and Harley-Davidson underwent a company- and factory-wide revamp and restructuring. All production machinery undergoes a major modernization and a new, larger production facility in Milwaukee.
Harleys are known to always leak oil and vibrate enormously, something of an attraction to Harley fans. The ’80s came with a big change in the motorcycle company, dampening vibration, quelling oil leaks, and making them oil-tight. This, along with a new belt drive instead of chain drive and the new “Softail” frame with hidden rear shocks, made the Harley a very smooth and comfortable ride. 1981 was also the year that Harley-Davidson bought out the AMC merger and regained control of the company.
The Motorcycle Company is listed on the United States Stock Exchange for the first time since 1969, the year AMF merged with HD. 1987 is the year HD is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and is publicly traded, and the company’s confidence in itself as a leader in the motorcycle industry is evident in this move, as well as the start of the “Buyback Program” where owners of older Harleys can trade in their old models and get full trade-in price on a new “HOG.”
Harley celebrates its 90th birthday and has a family reunion in Milwaukee, it also has a financial interest in Buell Motorcycles started by Erik Buell to make American sport motorcycles with Harley-Davidson engines and in 1994 enters the superbike racing industry with its first liquid cooled motorcycle called VR1000. Harley celebrates 95 years in 1998 and 140,000 motorcyclists come to Milwaukee to help with the party and celebration. Harley buys another 49% of Buell motorcycles, making them the majority owner of the company and making founder Erik Buell president of operations.
In 2003, more than 250,000 motorcyclists converged on Milwaukee for the final stop on the “Open Road Tour” and to celebrate Harley-Davidson’s centennial and party. Harley-Davidson and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) celebrate 25 years together as partners in the fight against muscular dystrophy. In 2006, Harley announces plans to open a museum for the motorcycle company and plans to open in 2008.
Throughout this time, HD has been winning races and helping charities and individuals improve their lives. This brief history of the company’s founding is just one part of the Harley-Davidson legacy. Most people associate HD with outlaw bikers and black leather jackets, but many people don’t know the other side of things with Harley-Davidson. Working with charities and racing throughout the company’s growth are things many people don’t realize about this small, family-owned company, now the largest motorcycle manufacturer in America.