Harley-Davidson Motorcycles

About Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson Inc (NYSE: HOG, formerly HDI), often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression.

The company sells today only heavyweight motorcycles with over 700 cc, designed for cruising on highways. Harley-Davidson motorcycles, or "Harleys", are noted for the tradition of heavy customization. Harley-Davidson's attempts to establish itself in the light motorcycle market have met little success and have largely been abandoned since the 1978 sale of its Italian Aermacchi subsidiary.

In 1901, William S. Harley, age 20, drew up plans for a small engine with a displacement of 7.07 cubic inches (116 cc) and four-inch (102 mm) flywheels. The engine was designed for use in a regular pedal-bicycle frame. On a practice, though, it was only experiment, somewhat unsuccessful but a start for more. So first "real" Harley-Davidson motorcycle had a bigger engine of 24.74 cubic inches (405 cc) with 9.75 inches (25 cm) flywheels weighing 28 lb (13 kg).

In September 8, 1904, Harley competed in a Milwaukee motorcycle race held at State Fair Park. This is the first documented appearance of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the historical record.

Production in 1905 and 1906 were all single-cylinder models with 26.84 cubic inches (440 cc) engines. Starting from 1907, V-Twin engines appeared, having 53.68 cubic inches (880 cc) and producing about 7 horsepower (5.2 kW).

In 1911, an improved V-Twin model was introduced. The new engine had mechanically operated intake valves, as opposed to the "automatic" intake valves used on earlier V-Twins that opened by engine vacuum. With a displacement of 49.48 cubic inches (811 cc), the 1911 V-Twin was smaller than earlier twins, but gave better performance. After 1913 the majority of bikes produced by Harley-Davidson would be V-Twin models.

By 1920, Harley-Davidson was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, with 28,189 machines produced, and dealers in 67 countries.

During the 1920s, several improvements were put in place, such as a new 74 cubic inch (1,212.6 cc) V-Twin, introduced in 1922, and the "Teardrop" gas tank in 1925. A front brake was added in 1928 although notably only on the J/JD models. In the late summer of 1929, Harley-Davidson introduced its 45 cubic inches (737 cc) flathead V-Twin, "D" model. An 80 cubic inches (1,300 cc) flathead engine was added to the line in 1935, by which time the single-cylinder motorcycles had been discontinued.

After World War II, as part of war reparations, Harley-Davidson acquired the design of a small German motorcycle, the DKW RT 125, which they adapted, manufactured, and sold from 1948 to 1966. Harley experienced changes in ownership in the ‘60s, going public in 1965 and eventually merging with American Machine and Foundry (AMF) in 1969. The ‘80s and ‘90s saw the introduction of model families that continue to this day, like the Softail, FLT and Road King lines, joining classic models like the Electra Glide. The story continues today.

Moto blog

Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide Led Inauguration Parade

While at the time, most of the attention was on President Barack Obama, motorcycle enthusiasts would have surely noticed the one-of-a-kind 2009 Harley-Davidson Police concept Tri-Glide Ultra Classic which led the inauguration parade to the White House on January 20th. Lieutenant Scott Fear, Commander of the U.S. Park Police Motor Unit, led a dozen side car-equipped Electra Glides in a formation riding the heavily modified Trike, which was sourced by Harley-Davidson of Frederick.

Harley-Davidson Helps Beat Winter Blues

Feeling trapped within the crippling grasp of winter? The Harley-Davidson Museum is helping to warm things up with Winter Chillabration, running now until the end of February. One of the many highlights is the giant XR1200 Harley-Davidson Sportster that has been hand-carved from ice and snow by the USA Snow Sculpting Team, on the corner of 5th and Canal Streets.

Motorcycle Ride for Diabetes

Photograph by: Roy Antal, Leader-Post By and large, motorcyclists are some of the most generous citizens in the world. Riding events all over the world bring in untold millions of dollars for numerous worthy charities. Keeping with this theme, one hardy Canadian rider is braving the Great White North’s frigid winter temperatures by riding his Harley coast to coast to raise awareness for diabetes, a disease that has seen a rapid explosion of new afflictions.

Harley-Davidson Archive Collection

Harley-Davidson has been building motorcycles for a long time. Over 105 years in fact, according to the summer celebration I attended in Milwaukee last summer. Who could have guessed over a century ago that the company would be alive and thriving today?

Top Motorcycle News Stories of 2008

2008 was an interesting year in the world of motorcycles. But the biggest stories of 2008 have left some big questions for 2009. What’s in store for the New Year?

Holmgren’s Harley-Davidson

Mike Holmgren coached his last game for the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, leaving behind a 4-12 record. Holmgren did lead the Seahawks to four straight division titles before this year however. In ten seasons as a head coach in the NFL, he also had three Super Bowl appearances, including a Green Bay win in 1997.

Harley-Davidson Christmas Commercial

Every year it seems that newspaper advertisements, radio and TV commercials for Christmas start earlier and earlier. As soon as the sun begins to set on Halloween, department stores begin packing shelves and websites start stocking inventory in preparation for the impending feeding frenzy that will occur for the most commercial of holidays next to valentine’s day. While spending the holiday with family normally keeps me blitzed off eggnog and most of these aforementioned advertisements are enough to make me want to book a cruise for an entire fortnight at the end of December, this one commercial for Harley-Davidson made me laugh.

Harley-Davidson Film Contest

Get the Flash Player to see this player. And the Grand Prize winner is… Victoria Sampson of Shadow Hills, CA. Harley-Davidson challenged U.S.

Off-Road Motorcycle and Free-Ride Bicycle Compared

What if anything do bicycles and motorcycles have in common? Besides the whole two-wheel thing, it isn’t outright apparent that these two “handle-barred beasts” share more than ancient ancestry. Modern Off-road motorcycle and Free-ride bicycle designs side-by-side illustrate how much technology the two have in common.

Nationwide Insurance ‘Tis the Season Contest

When the holiday spirit strikes do you include your motorcycle or scooter in the merriment? Whether you decorate your tree while drinking Eggnog from your Harley-Davidson beer stein or get gussied up like old Saint Nick to ride your crotch rocket, Nationwide Insurance wants to know about it. Or maybe you have participated in a holiday themed ride or parade.