Harley Davidson - more legend doesn't work

21.05.2019

Photo: Harley Davidson

Founded in 1903 plus a unique image – you wouldn't have to say more about Harley Davidson. In fact, the brand has been able to tie its fans tightly to itself for years. At the same time, the number of people who could never imagine riding one of the Milwaukee mopeds is just as stable.

Founded by a woman?

Then let's start with what is undisputed. The founding year 1903 means that Harley Davidson is one of the oldest brands in the world that still produces today. By the way, not the oldest at all and not in the USA – in both cases the Indian (1901). Harley bought the Buell brand in between, and produced sporty motorcycles with Harley-V2.

William S. Harley (technical draughtsman) and Arthur Davidson (model maker) got to know each other working together for an electric motor manufacturer. Maybe it's just a story, but at least a beautiful one: According to various sources, the actress Anna Held is said to have given the impetus to the production of her own motorcycles. This one blew through the streets of Milwaukee with a De Dion Bouton motor bike, which was a sensation in 1901.

Garage gold

From this period, construction drawings for an engine with 116 cc, which originated from William Harley, are known. In 1903, the two moved into their first workshop. It consisted of a small shed behind the Davidson family home in Milwaukee. But the business started, because Arthur's brothers William and Walter also joined the company.

The Harley-Davidson Motor Company of Milwaukee was founded as a company only on September 17, 1907. The first Harley and Davidson motorcycles, the 1903 prototype and the two pre-production models from 1904 were lost.

The actual motorcycle production began in 1905 with the "Model 1". The Model 1 has nothing to do with what is now understood as a Harley. The single-cylinder engine drove the rear wheel directly, a clutch did not exist. But even the first models convinced customers with their driving stability and quality. After Walter Davidson won a consumption race (!) – he needed about 1.2 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers – larger orders came from the police and the Bell Telephone Company. Harley Davidson was in the business and now employs 18 people.

The first V2: come to stay

In 1909, the first V2 in the "Model 5D" was launched. Even this V2 had the typical 45 degree angle as well as fork-plinth. Harley Davidson also produced and produced designs other than the V2, but engines with this shape are considered THE classics.

In 1911, the model was launched, which brought the final breakthrough: the model 7D. The engine with 811 cm3, received forced-controlled inlet valves via a cam, the brakes were significantly improved and the frame was reinforced. The machine was suitable for everyday use according to the standards of the time. It should also be mentioned that Harley benefited from the government orders. During World War I, the Americans supplied about 20,000 aircraft to the military.

Between 1929 and 1948, Harley Davidson produced the legendary Flathead engine. In addition, a new motorcycle, the Model D. In addition to this side-controlled engine, it had the jumper fork and drum brakes at the front and rear for the first time.

Around the 1980s, Harley no longer put any tech-firlefanz in the foreground, but referred more and more often to the character of motorcycles in advertisements. With the flood of Japanese motorcycles, they did not want to compete on a technical level, but relied on the desired cult status.

That works better, and sometimes worse. So the bikes are cult, but they are often rejected by other bikers. The standard motorcycle of rocker groups like the Hells Angels is not well received everywhere. At the same time, Harley managed to play in many movies with his machines. This goes from Terminator 2 to Pulp Fiction to arguably the most famous film appearance ever: Through the film Easy Rider (1969) with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, the brand first gained cult status.

Focusing on the heavy bikes has often brought Harley Davidson to the brink of financial collapse. However, the company always survived and, according to the prototypes shown, works on various motorcycles with electric drive.