| Harley-Davidson got it's humble start when William | | | | The 1970s ushered in a customizing craze amongst |
| Harley and Arthur Davidson produced the first | | | | enthusiasts, and Harley-Davidson going through a |
| production motorcycle in 1903. The motorbike was to | | | | company and factory wide renovation and |
| be a racing bike, and was built in a small shed | | | | restructuring. All production machinery goes through a |
| wooden with the words Harley-Davidson Motor | | | | major modernization and a new larger production |
| Company written on the front door. One year later | | | | plant in Milwaukee. |
| Harley-Davidson had put out 3 production | | | | Harley's have been known to always have oil leaks |
| motorcycles for the public. | | | | and vibrate massively, sort of an attraction with |
| In 1905 Harley-Davidson wins it's first race and hires | | | | Harley aficionado's. The 80's came in with a huge turn |
| it's first employee. Three years later, in 1908, | | | | around with the motorcycle company, in dampening |
| Harley-Davidson sold the first motorcycle to be used | | | | the vibration, quelling the oil leaks and making them oil |
| in police service to the Detroit Police Department. In | | | | tight. This coupled with a new belt drive instead of |
| 1912 H-D started building it's 6 story factory and | | | | chain drive and the new "Softail" frame with hidden |
| exports it's first bikes to Japan, the first time sales | | | | rear end shocks, Harley's became a very smooth and |
| were extended outside of the United States. | | | | comfortable ride. 1981 was also the year |
| 1914 marks the year H-D formally enters itself into | | | | Harley-Davidson bought out the merger AMC and |
| the national racing circuit, and is quickly known as | | | | took control back of the company. |
| "The Wrecking Crew" for it's dominance in the racing | | | | The Motorcycle Company is traded on the American |
| industry. By 1917 one-third of all motorcycles | | | | Stock Exchange, the first time since 1969, the year |
| produced would be sold to the military, and was also | | | | AMF merged with H-D. 1987 is the year H-D is traded |
| the start of the Service School for Harley-Davidson | | | | on the New York Stock Exchange, and is publicly |
| Mechanics, for both military and civilian bikes. | | | | traded and the companies confidence in itself as a |
| By 1918 half of all bikes produced were shipped off | | | | leader in teh motorcycle industry is evident in this |
| to military for service in World War 1, and Corporal | | | | move, as well as starting the "Buy Back Program" in |
| Roy Holtz would be the first soldier to ride a | | | | which owners of older Harley's can trade in their old |
| Harley-Davidson Motorcycle in Germany. 1920 marks | | | | models and get full trade-in price on a new "HOG". |
| the year that the motorcycle company is the largest | | | | Harley celebrates it's 90 birthday and has a family |
| in the world in the motorcycle industry, and has over | | | | reunion in Milwaukee, also taking a financial interest in |
| 2,000 dealers in 67 countries worldwide. | | | | Buell Motorcycles started by Erik Buell to manufacture |
| 1931 is the year that almost all of Harley's | | | | American sport motorcycles using Harley-Davidson |
| competitors are gone, with the exception of the | | | | Engines and in 1994 enters into the superbike racing |
| Indian Motorcycle Company. Harley-Davidson and | | | | industry with it's first liquid cooled bike called the |
| Indian are the only two motorcycle companies in | | | | VR1000. Harley celebrates 95 years in 1998 and |
| America, until 1953. As the world enters into World | | | | 140,000 riders come to Milwaukee to help with the |
| War 2, so does Harley go back into Military | | | | party and celebration. Harley buys another 49% of |
| motorcycle production, and the service school is | | | | Buell motorcyles making them the majority owner in |
| turned back into the military motorcycle service | | | | the company and making the founder Erik Buell |
| school, also known as the Quartermaster School for | | | | chairman of operations. |
| military mechanics. During this time the public could | | | | In 2003, more than 250,000 riders converge on |
| hardly get their hands on a Harley-Davidson | | | | Milwaukee for the final stop of the "Open Road |
| Motorcycle. | | | | Tour" and to celebrate Harley-Davidson's 100th |
| In 1945 The wartime production slows to a halt and | | | | Anniversary and Party. Harley-Davidson and the |
| a civilian production starts up again, and in 1947 H-D | | | | Muscular Dystrophy Association(MDA) mark 25 years |
| starts to sell what is now the classic black leather | | | | together as partners in the fight against Muscular |
| motorcycle jacket. Throughout this whole time Harley | | | | Dystrophy. In 2006 Harley announces plans to open a |
| is consistently winning races on street and dirt over | | | | museum for the motorcycle company and plans for |
| and over and still dominates the racing circuit. | | | | the opening to be in 2008. |
| 1952 was the year the Harley Sportster made it's | | | | Through this time H-D has been winning races and |
| debut, but as the "K" series. It would not be until | | | | helping charities and people to make life better. This |
| 1957 that it wouldn't be named as such. In 1953 | | | | brief history on the building of the company is just a |
| Harley-Davidson would become the sole motorcycle | | | | part of the Harley-Davidson legacy. Most people |
| manufacturer in the United States when Hendee | | | | associate H-D with outlaw bikers and black leather |
| Manufacturing, the the Indian motorcycle company, | | | | jackets but many people don't know the otherside |
| goes out of business. | | | | of things with Harley-Davidson. The work with |
| Elvis Presley poses for a cover shot of Enthusiast, | | | | charities and racing through out the whole growth of |
| the motorcycle enthusiast magazine, in 1956. The | | | | the company are things many people don't realize |
| 1960's showed Harley winning race ofter race after | | | | about this little family owned company, that is now |
| race, and he merge with the American Machine and | | | | Americas biggest motorcycle manufacturer. |
| Foundry Company, or AMF. | | | | |