Harley Davidson
The story of Harley-Davidson began in 1901, when William S. Harley, then 21, completed a blueprint of his vision of fitting an engine into a bicycle. For the next two years, Harley worked with his childhood friend, Arthur Davidson on materializing his dream project. In 1903, the words“Harley-Davidson Motor Company” were gracing the door of the wooden shed the friends had set up shop in, and the first Harley Davidson was made public, with little premonition that the name would one day be the Holy Grail of all motorcycles in the world.
The company is famous for its production lines of motorcycles, broadly falling into six categories: Touring, Street, Softail, Sportster, Vrod and Dyna. Each of these models consists of several other sub-models, all distinguished by the difference in design and function. Modified versions of the classic Harley-Davidson V-twin engines, however, are incorporated in every model.
Each of these engines has a forty-five-degree angle between the cylinders: the system has been registered as a special patent for Harley Davidson under numerous laws in United States. The whole setting allows for a high torque engine to fit inside a small space, with the cylinders firing off at uneven, intermittent intervals, thus producing the universally recognizable “potato-potato” sound, characteristic of Harley Davidson. The classic engine is available in big and small sizes. Other engine styles produced by the company include several single cylinder engines and revolution engines.
Since its inception, the company has established itself as not only a trustworthy motorcycle brand, but also inspired generation after generation of motorcycle enthusiasts. At a time, the average Harley rider was about thirty-five years old, but today, the bracket has risen to the age of 46. The bike owners are also famously known as “hog” boys, with the term being generally coined for large motorcycles.
The quality of a brand is manifest not only in its products, but also in its name and how deep an effect it has on its audience. Thus, it is an impressive feat to note that ever since its inception, Harley Davidson, known among enthusiasts as H-D or Harley, has managed to keep its name alive even in the worst of times. It was one of the only two brands to come out of the Great Depression relatively unscathed, and also held up against a period of competition with some poor Japanese imitations. Thus, as far as longevity is concerned, Harley Davidson rests right at the top as some of the most famous motorcycle brands in the world.