Street Motorcycle

Who does not know Harley Davidson. History of Harley Davidson was originally from a simple idea. Namely the intention William Harley and Arthur Davidson made motors that can devour climbs in the Milwaukee area, Wisconsin, USA.

The most important breakthrough is configured V engine, which is also known as the Knucklehead, Panhead, Shovelhead, Evolution, Twin Cam up. This machine later became a benchmark for other companies, especially from Japan, in making the big motor.

Starting with a 60 cc engine

HARLEY and Davidson started this long journey in 1903, when they were still at the early age of 20. The results of initial work a two young children this is a single cylinder engine with a capacity of 60 cc. Can the road and managed to devour the hill with ease. Later, because of this success, two brothers Arthur, Walter and William Davidson, joined.

Two years later, they agreed to institutionalize their business into the Harley-Davidson Motor Collections

When standing, the company produces three new motor unit. The three motorcycles were produced from the factory at the Davidson familys backyard. The so-called factory was a small shack behind the Davidson family home.

In 1906, the company moved to Juneau Avenue, occupying the room more spacious. Because more freely, the year that Harley-Davidson motorcycles can produce 150 units. Most of the motorcycles they bought the local police. The reason, Harley-Davidson can be driven at high speed, and agility.

Six years after being founded, Harley-Davidson introduced a two-cylinder V configuration with an angle of 45 degrees. Engine capacity is 49.5 cubic inches (about 790 cc) and capable of producing approximately seven horsepower. With the machine, the speed of 60 miles per hour can be achieved. At that time, Harley-Davidson did not think it was going to be a model engine one of the characteristics of their products.

That same year, Harley-Davidson managed to crack the production of 1,000 units, exactly 1149 units. Competition from other factories began to be felt, two years later. Apparently, the success of Harley-Davidson became the inspiration for other manufacturers to start a business. In 1911, at least appeared about 150 brands of motorcycles. They would be a competitor of Harley-Davidson, though not really heavy.

Evidence, Harley-Davidson is not difficult to increase production. In 1913, when the factory was expanded, production Harley-Davidson almost reached 13,000 units. The number was increased again during the period 1916 to 1918, to around 20,000 units. This is mainly because the U.S. government ordered the two-wheeled vehicle for purposes of World War I.

Conquer The Great Depression

ENTERING the 1920s, Harley-Davidson became the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, with a total production of 28,189 units. To market its products, the Harley-Davidsnn has agents in 67 countries. In this decade, Harley-Davidson introduced a number of innovations. Developed V engine capacity to 74 cubic inches (about 1184 cc). Gas tank teardrop design introduced in 1925. In 1928, Harley-Davidson began equipped front brake.

All the achievements were enough to stock Harley-Davidson in the face of the Great Depression, the economic recession in 1933. Although the number of production decreased to 3,700 units, Harley-Davidson was able to survive. Another motorcycle manufacturers to survive is Indian. The company later became the only competitor of Harley-Davidson until the 1950s.

When depression is finished, Harley-Davidson immediately step on the gas. They introduced the EL model with engine capacity of 976 cc. This popular engine models such as the Knucklehead. By Knucklehead, Harley-Davidson rose slowly. In 1936, total production reached 9812 Harley-Davidson units.

World War II brought its own blessings, as well as a new milestone for Harley-Davidson. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, the entire production capacity of Harley-Davidson motorcycles are allocated to produce for the benefit of the Allied forces. Consumer needs civil abandoned altogether.

During 1941-1945, approximately 90,000 units of Harley-Davidson created the WML series. For that achievement, Harley-Davidson gets a medal E of the United States Navy.

After the war, Harley-Davidson re-opened the tap civilian production. Eh, there are many veterans who attracted the performance of the bike, and want to restore the romance of riding a Harley-Davidson. Thousands of Harley-Davidson units, both production after the war as well as the older models, moving to house veterans, the precursor of Harldy-Davidson fans.

Competing with Indian

IN 1948, Harley-Davidson production to 31,163 units. That year, Harley-Davidson again introduce new innovations, the 74 cubic inch engine hydraulic valve lifters equipped and aluminum cylinder head. The machine is called The Panhead for cylinder head cover resembling upside-down frying pan.

Entering the 1950s, the second generation of the founding family started the engine of the company. When celebrating the 50th anniversary, Harley-Davidson motorcycle left alone in the U.S. market. Traditional competitors, Indians, have gone out of business.

In 1957, Harley-Davidson introduced the Sportster, which is touted as The Father of Superbikes, biangnya big motor. A year later, Harley-Davidson introduced the Duo Glide, which uses hydraulic rear suspension to complement the front suspension fork model.

Next, in 1963, Harley-Davidson adopted the use of fiberglass in the motor-bike. For this purpose, they bought a 60% stake in Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Co., a manufacturer of fiberglass in Wisconsin.

Year 1950-1960 was also marked by the presence of biker community, who introduced the biker culture. They are easily recognizable because it uses a leather jacket, covered in tattoos, and long hair. Wild Ones is the image of Marlon Brando introduced through the film of the same.

Harley-Davidsons official community itself was only established in 1983, with the name of the Harley Owner Group (HOG). It became the owner of Harley-Davidson community site backed directly by the manufacturer. Currently, the number of members of HOG approaching one million people around the world.

Dark Period Due to Merger

IN 1965, Harley-Davidson went public. Four years later, the American Machine and Foundry (AMF) merged with Harley-Davidson. However, the merger is considered the darkest period in the history of Harley-Davidson. Because, in 1970 and 1980, motorcycles made in Japan that the price is very cheap to enter the market.

When Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki entered the U.S. market, the market share of Harley-Davidson dropped drastically. Of the original 80% in 1969 to 20% ten years later. The decline in market share is to grip a Harley-Davidson executives. They were looking for a way to save the company.

To return to the Harley-Davidson khitahnya, they submitted a proposal to Citicorp. With the financial support of U.S. $ 80 million in Citicorp, they buy back shares held by AMF (Citicorp to sell those shares to Heller Financial Corporation in 1986). The concept and philosophy of production and selling Harley-Davidson also improved.

Initially, Harley-Davidson is a product that is affordable and easy to use and modify. That changed with the Harley-Davidson products are expensive and difficult to find spare parts. To replace the rear lights, for example, the owner of a Harley-Davidson can not just buy the shell. But having to buy a whole sepatbornya.

In addition to Marlon Brando, a number of celebrities made Harley-Davidson parts of their appearance. Both on the big screen, glass screen, as well as in everyday life. In 1956, Elvis Presley, the King of Rock n Roll, and a Harley-Davidson Enthusiast magazine the cover.

The mid-1990s, Arnold Schwarzeneger appear with Harley-Davidson in the movie Terminator. Action Lorenzo Lamas and Harley-Davidson Softail gasoline bertangki yellow with red flames in the film series Renegade also a favorite spectacle at the end of 1990.

Actor Keanu Reeves was also distributed 12 units of Harley-Davidson, which is worth about U.S. $ 200,000, to all stunt movie Matrix Reloaded. According to Reeves, this is a sign of gratitude to the stuntman.