History Of Harley Davidson

History of Harley Davidson 1903: 21-year old William S. Harley and 20-year old Arthur Davidson make available to the public the first production Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The bike was built to be a racer, with a 3-1/8 inch bore and 3-1/2 inch stroke. The factory in which they worked was a 10 x 15-foot wooden shed with the words Harley-Davidson Motor Company crudely scrawled on the door. Arthurs brother Walter later joins their efforts 1906: A new factory, measuring 28 x 80 feet, is built on the Chestnut St. site, later renamed Juneau Avenue. Staff size is increased to six full-time employees. Also, the first motorcycle catalog is produced by the Company and the nickname Silent Gray Fellow is used for the first time. 1907: Factory size is doubled as well. Dealer recruitment begins, targeting the New England region. 1908: Walter Davidson scores a perfect 1, 000 points at the 7th Annual Federation of American Motorcyclists Endurance and Reliability Contest. Three days after the contest, Walter sets the FAM economy record at 188. 234 miles per gallon. Word of Harley-Davidsons extremely tough motorcycle spreads rapidly. 1911: The F-head engine becomes a workhorse of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle until 1929. 1914: Sidecars are made available to Harley-Davidson buyers. Clutch and brake pedals now available on F-head singles and twins. 1915: Harley-Davidson motorcycles are now available with three speed sliding-gear transmissions. 1917: During this year, roughly one-third of all Harley-Davidson motorcycles produced are sold to the U. S. military. The sale of Harley-Davidson bicycles begins. 1918: Almost half of all Harley-Davidson motorcycles produced are sold for use by the U. S. military in World War I. At Wars end, it is estimated that the Army used some 20, 000 motorcycles in their efforts, most of which were Harley-Davidsons. 1921: The first 74 cubic inch V-twin engine is introduced on the JD and FD models. Harley-Davidson dealerships are now found in sixty-seven countries. 1928: The first Harley-Davidson two cam engine is made available to the public on the JD series motorcycles. The bike is capable of top speeds between 85 - 100 mph. 1930: Bill Davidson, Jr. wins the Jack Pine endurance contest with 997 points of 1, 000. All individual class winners are riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles. 1936: The Motor Company introduces a 80 cubic inch side valve engine. 1938: The Jack Pine Gypsies Motorcycle Club holds the first Black Hills Rally in Sturgis, S. D. 1942: Among other motorcycles made for the Army, HD produces the unique XA 750, a motorcycle with horizontally opposed cylinders and shaft drive, designed for desert use. The contract is cancelled early due to war combat moving out of North Africa. Only 1, 011 XAs are built. 1946: Harley-Davidson introduces the 45 cubic inch flathead WR racing motorcycle. It proves to be one of the best racing motorcycles ever built. 1947: Harley-Davidson begins selling what will become the classic black ...