| The Beginning | | | | Japanese motorcycle market. Japanese companies |
| Harley Davidson is one of the most well known | | | | were offering a huge range of machines at a fraction |
| motorcycle manufacturers in the world. They were | | | | of the price. Luckily for Harley Davidson, the quality |
| born in America, deriving from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, | | | | of the machines being imported was far inferior to |
| with the first motorcycle being produced in 1905. | | | | what was rolling off their production lines. |
| Believe it or not Harley Davidson was one of two | | | | As mentioned previously, people that ride these |
| major manufacturers that managed to survive The | | | | motorcycles are not people that enjoy the freedom |
| Great Depression, which actually destroyed the | | | | of using a motorcycle. In fact, it is so much more |
| majority of companies in that time period. | | | | than that, they are people that are loyal to the |
| | | | Harley Davidson brand and enjoy the fact that they |
| The company was developed by young entrepreneur | | | | own such a premium machine. Their brand is so huge |
| William S. Harley. At the age of 21 he decided that he | | | | that licensing their logo brings in around 5% of the |
| himself had the knowledge and the actual capacity to | | | | companies annual revenue, which is extremely |
| build a premium machine. He started to draw up plans | | | | impressive! |
| for a prototype machine, starting with the motor and | | | | So, What Bikes do They Produce? |
| from there, Harley Davison was eventually born! | | | | Over time, Harley Davidson have chopped and |
| The Turning Point | | | | changed their range to ensure that only the best |
| The 50’s was an extremely big turning point for | | | | motorcycles are available from their dealerships |
| the company. The problem was that in 1952, the US | | | | worldwide. Some of the most popular models include |
| Tariff Commission decided that they were not | | | | the Street Glide, Electra Glide Classic, Electra Glide |
| making enough on the sale of imported motorcycles. | | | | Standard, Ultra Classic Electra Glide, Electra Glide Ultra |
| They put a 40% tax on the prospective machines, | | | | Limited, and Tri Glide Ultra Classic. Of course, it does |
| meaning that their image would eventually be cut | | | | depend on what the rider is after, as the different |
| back to what it was nearly a decade back. Of | | | | machines are all designed for different purposes. |
| course, it was not long before the company were | | | | Enthusiasts of the HD brand all know that this is |
| back on track and within a few years, the brand | | | | certainly not a brand to be confused with speed and |
| image produced by Harley’s being used in a | | | | adrenaline. Instead, this brand focuses on producing |
| range of gangster based films eventually restored | | | | customer’s machines to their exact specification, |
| their original image. | | | | allowing them to enjoy the freedom of a motorcycle |
| The company has always prided itself in producing | | | | but at the same time, be incredibly proud of the |
| fabulous machines, so much so that there are | | | | machine that they own. |
| hundreds of groups and clubs dedicated to the | | | | Harley Davidson - The Conclusion |
| ownership and riding of these ultimate cruisers. This is | | | | So it has been proven that HD has stood the test of |
| mainly due to the fact that they have provided | | | | time by producing machines that are specifically |
| customers with a unique selling point, with all their | | | | catering for their customers’ needs and wants. |
| machines being heavy weight cruisers over 750cc. | | | | They have been around for a long time and it looks |
| Of course, things were not always so cut and dry | | | | like they will be producing premium motorcycles for |
| for the motorcycle manufacturing giant. At one time | | | | many years to come! |
| it was like there would be an invasion from the | | | | |