The history of the Harley-Davidson brand is a story of professionalism, hard work, self-confidence. This is the story of a dream come true ... And it began at the turn of the past and the century before last, just as a huge number of other stories began, which, however, did not have the same victorious continuation.
Today, the Harley-Davidson motorcycle is the dream of millions. And the very name HD makes the heart beat of everyone who has at least something to do with bike culture.
About the wooden garage, its inhabitants and their brainchild
One day, two friends, Arthur and William, decided to attach their own assembled engine to a bicycle. For this purpose, an inconspicuous garage was chosen in the city of Milwaukee. Soon, the new unit was tested and successfully passed. Thus began the era of the world's most famous motorcycle brand.
Without further ado, the creators simply wrote their last names through a hyphen on the doors of a wooden garage and got to work. For a long time, already when the fame of "Harley-Davidson" was booming throughout the world, that same garage was still the property of the owners. Moreover, the first assembly shop, and then the whole factory was built around an inconspicuous boardwalk building. Unfortunately, he did not survive to this day - he was accidentally destroyed by hired cleaners, mistaking him for old trash.
Keeping up with progress
The company has always sought to win customers not by lush advertising, not by dubious promotions and not by cheap PR. Her chip has always been quality and unique style. The beginning of the twentieth century was marked by a number of innovations that gave the model range HD several unique models. Each new Harley-Davidson motorcycle was equipped with the latest technology. The company's technologists were the first in the world to introduce such an innovation as engine water cooling. And for the development of new models, the most powerful engines of those times were used, the belt drive was replaced by a chain drive , and in 1909 the legendary V-shaped engine was first created and put into serial production.
In the service of the motherland
One day, Walter Davidson took part in a motorcycle race of his own production. And took first place. And then he set a world record for profitability - he traveled more than 300 km on one gallon of gasoline. The authorities of the city of Detroit were so impressed by these brilliant victories that they immediately ran to order a whole batch of the same transport. Since then, the Harley-Davidson motorcycle has served in the police.
Fell on his fate and war. And more precisely, not even one. In the First and Second World War, the lion's share of HD products went to the front. Moreover, the historical fact is widely known: after the surrender of Germany, the first American who crossed its border - Corporal Holtz - was seated not on anything, but on the Harley.
Threat of invasion
Another war did not wane - the war for the hearts of fans. And if out of all the US motorcycle manufacturers that existed in the 20s, only one company survived to the 40s, then the enemy across the ocean never slept. Among the company's managers, the term “Japanese invasion” even existed, implying, of course, not a military threat, but the capture of the American market. Japanese-made bikes often copied the HD style, and cost much less than Harley-Davidson motorcycles. This price was due to the use of more budget consumables and materials, which the American motorcycle monster never allowed itself.
A number of marketing developments allowed the company to stay afloat and even bring its products to the domestic market of the Land of the Rising Sun.
The most famous Harley-Davidson motorcycle models
- Sportster (1957) - a powerful motorcycle with a 0.9-liter engine, inexpensive small in size.
- Electra-Glide (1965) - the legendary representative of the Glide family with an electric starter.
- Dyna is a whole family of motorcycles whose models were not equipped with chains, but ... again with belts! Only this time, Kevlar - reliable, powerful, virtually maintenance-free.
- V-Rod (2001) - a joint development with Porsche, equipped with the latest technology.
- XR1200 (2008) - a model dedicated to the centenary of the company, which has gained distribution around the world.
New century - new perspectives
A company museum has been opened in Milwaukee at the entrance to which a huge monument has been erected - a Harley-Davidson motorcycle soaring up, piloted by the legendary Walter himself. More than a hundred years of the company's history were not only so rosy. After the ups, of course, there were falls. Today, the manufacturer, which survived the Great Depression, and several wars, and the crisis, and fierce competition, continues its work.