| Two friends had a dream and while they worked | | | | model |
| together at a Milwaukeeengineering firm they turned | | | | 9E's 1000cc power plant was producing 10bhp which |
| their dream into reality. We know theirdream as - | | | | gave thebike a top speed of 60mph. |
| Harley Davidson. William S Harley and Arthur | | | | Initially Harley-Davidson was reluctant to get |
| Davidson built the first 400cc single-cylinder engine in | | | | themselves involved inracing, such as reliability runs |
| 1902. Joiningthem a year later was Davidson's older | | | | however, by 1914 they changed theirminds and |
| brothers Walter and | | | | entered a factory team. The firm's Milwaukee |
| William A, and together they fitted the single-cylinder | | | | crew,the "Wrecking Crew" rode powerful 8-valve |
| engine into theframe of a bicycle, which became the | | | | V-twinswhich were very competitive against the rival |
| prototype for Harley Davidson | | | | Merkel and Excelsior, and |
| Motorcycles. All of this was accomplished from a | | | | Indian. This became a great period for |
| small shed in the | | | | Harley-Davidson as productionrose to more than |
| Davidson's yard. | | | | 22,000 bikes and 16,000 sidecars in 1919. |
| Even though the motor was reliable, it was enlarged | | | | Thesenumbers were cut in half in the upcoming 2 |
| because it wasunderpowered. The initial frame was | | | | years mainly because of the |
| too weak to hold the new engine soit was replaced | | | | Model T Ford, which put the majority of American |
| with a stronger, more substantial structure that | | | | motorcycle companiesout of business. |
| wasbuilt similar to the prototype. In 1903 they | | | | Harley-Davidson is known for its large capacity |
| produced two more bikesand three the following | | | | V-twins but the smaller |
| year. By 1907, Harley Davidson'sgrowing reputation | | | | 45ci Forty Five played a vital part in the history of |
| for their reliable product helped to push theirannual | | | | the company. The |
| production rate to over 150. The year was also 1907 | | | | Forty Five, produced in 1928, was the first machine |
| when Harley | | | | with a total lossoil system. It was restyled and |
| Davidson decided it was time to raise money for | | | | updated 9 years later to create the Wseries. It was |
| expansion. They becamea corporation and divided the | | | | the simple and strong Forty Five that kept |
| shares among seventeen employees. Theymoved | | | | Harley-Davidson in business through the Depression |
| themselves out of the Davidson's shed and into a | | | | of the |
| muchbigger premise which is still their location - | | | | 1930's. The WLA model proved to be a useful military |
| Juneau Avenuein Milwaukee. | | | | machinein which close to 80,000 were being used in |
| The early models of Harley-Davidson motorbikes had | | | | the Second World War. These |
| no lights and nosuspension. Within a few years after | | | | "war bikes" were converted for civilian use afterthe |
| production began, | | | | war was over which helped to popularize |
| Harley's soon had fitted leading link forks a | | | | Harley-Davidson worldwide. |
| magnetoignition and a carbide gas headlamp. The | | | | In 1936, while still suffering the effects of the |
| model 5 produced in 1909 hadabout 4bhp from its | | | | Depression, |
| 494cc inlet over exhaust engine, with a speed of | | | | Harley-Davidson introduced the Model 61E. This |
| 45mph. Bicycle petals were used to start the engine. | | | | model's 61cc |
| Once the bike wasin motion the leather drive belt | | | | V-twin engine was a huge advancement over other |
| was tightened using a hand lever. (Tohave a more | | | | models due to itsoverhead valve design and |
| contemporary view of what harleydavidson parts | | | | recirculating oil system. The neat style ofthe 61E |
| now look like, please visit our website). | | | | helped it become a huge success. It became known |
| The first V-twin Harley was built in 1909. It was the | | | | as theknucklehead because of the shape of the |
| model 5D but wasnot an immediate success. The | | | | engines rocker covers. It gaveit a technical |
| V-twin produced close to 7bhp, which wasalmost | | | | advantage over its rival Indian and became the |
| twice as much as the single engine but it was difficult | | | | ancestorto modern Harley's. |
| to startand suffered from a slipping drive belt. Two | | | | Harley-Davidson will forever be synonymous with |
| years later, in 1911, theyintroduced the 45-degree | | | | producing great bikes. |
| V-twin with a revised valve gear, new frameand had | | | | What started as a dream, survived the Depression, |
| been fitted with a full floating seat and chain drive. | | | | and is still goingstrong today. There is nothing quite |
| Thesenew improvements made a huge difference | | | | like hearing the rumble of a |
| which caused the | | | | Harley as you're heading for the highway. |
| V-twin's popularity to grow. By the year 1913 the | | | | |