Thank you to the folks at CarTech, especially my editor, Wes Eisenschenk, for this unique Harley-Davidson book concept. There are a lot of the same old Harley-Davidson books out there (I know because I’ve read most of them) and I’m honored to be a part of a fresh new take on the genre. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to not only learn more than I ever thought I could about my favorite motorcycles, but to be able to write about it and share it with others. This is a dream come true, but it will be nice to have my nights and weekends back so I can actually ride the bikes that I’m writing about.
Riding a Harley-Davidson isn’t just about basic two-wheel transportation. Although there are many motorcycles out there that attempt to copy the look of a Harley-Davidson, many times for half the price, none can give a rider that same feel. It’s an experience that pleasures all the senses: the smell of leather and gasoline, the feel of the hot, torquey engine trying to shake free of its cradle, the sound of the unmistakable exhaust rumble, the classic look that’s crossed over multiple generations, and most importantly, the mouth-watering taste of freedom that allows for even brief escapes from the norm.
I remember when I got hooked on Harley-Davidsons. I was probably somewhere around the age of five, living in a Manhattan apartment with my parents. To this day, I can remember the sound of roaring engines echoing through the canyons of high-rises. I have no doubt we heard a lot of motorcycles, but, more than 20 years later I remember that sound like it was yesterday. And that’s where my Harley-Davidson experience began.
But what exactly is “the Harley-Davidson experience?” You’re likely already familiar with the emotional experience that comes with riding a Harley, and you may have even attended a rally or two, but the full “Harley-Davidson experience” comes when you fully immerse yourself into the company’s history and the people and machines that paved the way. Harley-Davidson is a company that takes incredible pride in its Milwaukee, USA, roots and has time and time again supported its country in times of war and in peace. It’s a company that has been beaten down so badly that recovery seemed impossible, yet it overcame and prospered twice. It’s a company whose harshest critics are its biggest supporters. But most importantly, it’s a company about family. I’ve attended several events with Willie G. Davidson (grandson of founder William A. Davidson), his wife, Nancy, and their son, Bill, and daughter, Karen, who are both executives with The Motor Company. No matter how many people this real Harley-Davidson family meets, each one is greeted with open arms and a smile.
Consider this book a history lesson on your Harley-Davidson family from the first time young Bill Harley and Arthur Davidson are known to have seen a motorcycle to 2016 when their 113-year-old company produces 41 different models of world-class machines. My goal with this book was to include facts that appeal to the broad spectrum of Harley-Davidson owners and enthusiasts. It’s not a technical, nuts-and-bolts encyclopedia, although you’ll find many technical details and year-by-year changes. You’ll find many great facts and stories about The Motor Company itself inside, but I’ve made no effort to sugarcoat any of it, and I know you’ll learn much more than is readily distributed.
Though it’s not as big today as it was in the early days, The Motor Company’s history with racing and the military is enormous, and I hope that besides the raw facts, you’ll get a better understanding of our country’s history as well. Something that is often seen today (although preferably not in your rearview mirror) is a motor officer on a Harley-Davidson. The Thin Blue Line has long been supportive of the American brand, and has received unparalleled support by The Motor Company in return, but there’s a lot more that goes into a duty bike than what meets the eye.
Harley-Davidson has always been a cultural icon enjoyed by unique individuals from around the world, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading about not just the pop culture references to the Bar & Shield, but about the amazing people who’ve done incredible things with their Harley-Davidsons over the years, most of whom you’ve likely never heard of. In an effort to cover the entire spectrum of Harley-Davidson, you’ll find that some facts are more along the lines of legends and rumors that are based on hard fact, but that have never been officially confirmed or denied. These were some of my favorites to write about, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading them as they’re intended and making up your own mind about their likelihood.
As with any work that dates back more than 50 years, truth can only be based on what previous historians have written. I strived to use only the most reputable of sources in my research, although I uncovered quite a few occasions where information differed between them, which required further digging for the truth. I hope I found it, and I sincerely hope you enjoy reading and learning from American Iron Magazine Presents 1,001 Harley-Davidson Facts.
1 While the timing of Fact No. 1 occurs toward the very end of this chapter, there’s something revealing and inspiring about the Harley-Davidson Motor Company in the way that it preserves its legendary past for the enjoyment and discovery of current and future generations. In 1915, the founders began the tradition of saving one or two motorcycles directly from the factory every year. To backfill the archive with previous models, they placed newspaper ads seeking to purchase earlier motorcycles. The effort even kept up during the Great Depression, World War II, AMF ownership, and near bankruptcy. Because of the incredible foresight of the founders, and the continuing of the tradition, the Harley-Davidson Museum is able to share the company’s legacy with visitors and storytellers from around the globe. Without this pivotal action taken so early on by the founding partners, much of the company’s history might be lost today.
2 Arthur Davidson and Bill Harley grew up as neighbors in Milwaukee and spent most of their spare time in Arthur’s father’s basement workshop building things and thinking of new ideas. The boys were avid fishermen and often took their poles to the lake via bicycle, sometimes instead of going to school. Ever the thinkers and inventors, one of their first big ideas was to install motors on their bicycles so that they could get to the fishing hole faster and have a little more fun on the way. Although their first motorcycle was still years away, they never lost sight of the dream of making a faster bicycle.
The men whose dedication, ingenuity, and perseverance made possible The Motor Company that we know and love are, from left to right: Arthur Davidson, Walter Davidson, William Harley, and William Davidson Although there were three Davidson brothers. Harley’s name comes first because he was the engineer and designer of the first motorcycle. (Photo Courtesy Harley-Davidson)
3 Arthur and Bill received help from all over Milwaukee to make their motorized bicycle dream come true. Anyone who’s ever attempted to start his own company can attest to the fact that there’s usually not a whole lot to start with. The boys needed two things: knowledge and tools. They sought knowledge from a fellow employee at Barth Manufacturing, where they both worked, named Emil Kroeger, who was familiar with the French de Dion single-cylinder, four-stroke engine that had taken the internal combustion world by storm. Bill even took a summer job at the Meiselbach bicycle factory in Milwaukee to learn about frames. Then, they received assistance from another neighborhood friend, Henry Melk, who had a lathe in his basement and allowed them to machine parts on it. Harley-Davidson