| It was a decisive day in the history of | | | | caused the V-twin's popularity to grow. By |
| American automobile culture in 1902, when two | | | | the year 1913 the model 9E's 1000cc power |
| young friends left their stable jobs at a | | | | plant was producing 10bhp which gave the bike |
| Milwaukee engineering firm to embark upon a | | | | a top speed of 60mph. |
| venture that would irrevocably shape the | | | | |
| course of motorcycle history forever. | | | | Initially Harley-Davidson was reluctant to |
| | | | get themselves involved in racing, such as |
| This was the day when William S Harley and | | | | reliability runs however, by 1914 they |
| Arthur Davidson designed and built the first | | | | changed their minds and entered a factory |
| single-cylinder engine (400CC) right out of a | | | | team. The firm's Milwaukee crew, the |
| toolshed in Davidson's backyard. | | | | "Wrecking Crew" rode powerful 8-valve V-twins |
| | | | which were very competitive against the rival |
| Although though the first motor was reliable, | | | | Merkel and Excelsior, and Indian. This became |
| it was enlarged because it was underpowered. | | | | a great period for Harley-Davidson as |
| The initial frame was too weak to hold the | | | | production rose to more than 22,000 bikes and |
| new engine so it was replaced with a | | | | 16,000 sidecars in 1919. These numbers were |
| stronger, more substantial structure that was | | | | cut in half in the upcoming 2 years mainly |
| built similar to the prototype. In 1903 they | | | | because of the Model T Ford, which put the |
| produced two more bikes and three the | | | | majority of American motorcycle companies out |
| following year. By 1907, Harley Davidson's | | | | of business. |
| growing reputation for their reliable product | | | | |
| helped to push their annual production rate | | | | Harley-Davidson is known for its large |
| to over 150. The year was also 1907 when | | | | capacity V-twins but the smaller 45ci Forty |
| Harley Davidson decided it was time to raise | | | | Five played a vital part in the history of |
| money for expansion. They became a | | | | the company. The Forty Five, produced in |
| corporation and divided the shares among | | | | 1928, was the first machine with a total loss |
| seventeen employees. They moved themselves | | | | oil system. It was restyled and updated 9 |
| out of the Davidson's shed and into a much | | | | years later to create the W series. It was |
| bigger premise which is still their location | | | | the simple and strong Forty Five that kept |
| - Juneau Avenue in Milwaukee. | | | | Harley-Davidson in business through the |
| | | | Depression of the 1930's. The WLA model |
| The early models of Harley-Davidson | | | | proved to be a useful military machine in |
| motorbikes had no lights and no suspension. | | | | which close to 80,000 were being used in the |
| Within a few years after production began, | | | | Second World War. These "war bikes" were |
| Harley's soon had fitted leading link forks a | | | | converted for civilian use after the war was |
| magneto ignition and a carbide gas headlamp. | | | | over which helped to popularize |
| The model 5 produced in 1909 had about 4bhp | | | | Harley-Davidson worldwide. |
| from its 494cc inlet over exhaust engine, | | | | |
| with a speed of 45mph. Bicycle petals were | | | | In 1936, while still suffering the effects of |
| used to start the engine. Once the bike was | | | | the Depression, Harley-Davidson introduced |
| in motion the leather drive belt was | | | | the Model 61E. This model's 61cc V-twin |
| tightened using a hand lever. (To have a more | | | | engine was a huge advancement over other |
| contemporary view of what harley davidson | | | | models due to its overhead valve design and |
| parts now look like, please visit our | | | | recirculating oil system. The neat style of |
| website). | | | | the 61E helped it become a huge success. It |
| | | | became known as the knucklehead because of |
| The first V-twin Harley was built in 1909. It | | | | the shape of the engines rocker covers. It |
| was the model 5D but was not an immediate | | | | gave it a technical advantage over its rival |
| success. The V-twin produced close to 7bhp, | | | | Indian and became the ancestor to modern |
| which was almost twice as much as the single | | | | Harley's. |
| engine but it was difficult to start and | | | | |
| suffered from a slipping drive belt. Two | | | | Harley-Davidson will forever be synonymous |
| years later, in 1911, they introduced the | | | | with producing great bikes. What started as a |
| 45-degree V-twin with a revised valve gear, | | | | dream, survived the Depression, and is still |
| new frame and had been fitted with a full | | | | going strong today. There is nothing quite |
| floating seat and chain drive. These new | | | | like hearing the rumble of a Harley as you're |
| improvements made a huge difference which | | | | heading for the highway. |