| we think of the business empires that were started | | | | Marlon Brando and later, in the now cult movie, Easy |
| in garages, images of computer whiz-kids immediately | | | | Rider with Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson, the Harley |
| come to mind. But the trend of giant Oaks from little | | | | Davidson name became synonymous with rebellion |
| acorns goes back much further than this. As far as | | | | and illegality. What we view today as an integral part |
| motorcycles are concerned, they don't come much | | | | of what makes a Harley special, was, at the time, |
| bigger than Harley Davidson and Honda, who as the | | | | damaging sales of the bikes and threatening the very |
| pioneers of the motorcycle culture held a | | | | future of the company. |
| commonality in that their dreams were born on | | | | Things got worse in 1969, when the company was |
| different sides of the globe from a dislike of bikes. | | | | bought by American Machinery and Foundry. AMF |
| By bikes, I mean of course, the pedal variety. In | | | | attempted to streamline production resulting in a labor |
| 1903 William Harley and Arthur Davidson with the help | | | | strike that let to the manufacture of sub-standard |
| of Arthurs brother, Walter, took their first steps on | | | | machines. There unreliability became a standing joke |
| the road to glory in an attempt to conquer the hills | | | | and the bikes gained nicknames such as 'hardly |
| of Milwaukee with a motor powered bicycle. Their | | | | driveable' and 'hogly ferguson' It was from this last |
| first attempts failed, but by 1904 they had improved | | | | nickname that the riders of Harleys would later be |
| their design enough to be able to enter a race at the | | | | called 'Wild Hogs'. |
| state fair. They came fourth, and within two years | | | | It would take a group of thirteen investors to lead |
| had moved from their garage to their first company | | | | the recovery in the fortune of Harley Davidson |
| factory address. The address in Chesnut Street, now | | | | motorcycles. Bought in 1981 from AMF, they |
| Juneau Avenue, is still their corporate headquarters | | | | implemented new manufacturing protocols and |
| today. | | | | regained the reliabilty standards of the companies |
| Although separated by a generation, Soichiro Honda | | | | early models. Funnily enough though, it was the |
| also began his career surrounded by bicycles. His | | | | depiction of the bikes between the 50's and 70's that |
| father, a blacksmith by trade also owned a bicycle | | | | would finally give Harleys the cult status they hold |
| repair shop where Soichiro grew up with a fascination | | | | today. |
| for all things mechanical. After a six year | | | | They say that 'What doesn't kill you, will make you |
| apprenticeship on an auto repair shop in Tokyo | | | | stronger'. Well, whilst Marlon, Peter and Jack's |
| Soichiro returned home to set up his own auto repair | | | | portrayals came close to ending this American icon, it |
| shop but it was his adaption skills in adding a piston | | | | was the cult status of the era and these films, that |
| engine to a bicycle that would start him on the road | | | | would endure to provide the maturing 'baby boomers' |
| to success. | | | | with their piece of nostalgia. |
| By the time that The Honda motor Company was | | | | Harley Davidson became the custom bike to own |
| formed, the Harley Davidson Motor Company was a | | | | through the nineties and its stock price soared. No |
| world leader in motorcycle production. They had | | | | longer the evil machine of rebellion, the bikes had |
| supplied custom bikes to the army through two | | | | become the symbol of a generation of achievers |
| World Wars until the Jeep took over as the utility | | | | looking to recreate the image of their teenage |
| vehicle of choice. In 1952 under increasing competition | | | | heroes. |
| , Harley Davidson applied for a 40% import tariff on | | | | In todays 24/7 society, with Blackberrys and pagers, |
| foreign motorcycles. The application led to charge of | | | | mobiles and handhelds, hitting the road on a Harley, |
| restrictive practices against the company. This would | | | | with nothing but the sound of the exhaust in your |
| be the first of a string of events that would lead the | | | | ear, is the new dream, for a new generation looking |
| company into decline during the following decades. | | | | to escape their 100mph lifestyle, by doing 120mph |
| Through Hollywoods portrayal of the bikes in outlaw | | | | alone on the open road instead! Go Hogs! |
| biker movies such as The Wild One in 1953 starring | | | | |