Whether a biker or casual observer everyone knows about Harley Davidson motorcycles, Harleys, and the hogs. Today it is the best known and the most popular heavyweight (over 750 cc) bikes designed for highway cruising.
During the late 1990s and early years of the 21st century, in their products' period of peak demand, Harley Davidson expanded the number of dealerships because dealers typically had waiting lists for some most popular models that extended up to a year. Although demand has softened in the current economic climate, on September 14, 2010 Harley Davidson announced it would maintain production in Wisconsin where it all began over a century ago. Moreover, motorcycle owners continue to maintain a community that keeps loyal to the brand name through club activities and nationwide events.
Founded by William S.Harley and brothers Arthur's and Walter Davidson during the early years of the 20th century in Milwaukee, WI the company's first products introduced in 1905 were mounted with 26.84 cubic inches (440 cc) engines single-cylinder engines. In February 1907, at the Chicago Automobile Show the company introduced a prototype motorcycle with a 45-degree V-Twin engine giving about double the power of the single-cylinder model.
The V-Twins had a displacement of 53.7 cubic inches (880 cc) providing about 7 hp (5.2 kW) and a maximum speed of.60 mph (100 km/h). Production in 1908 reached 450 motorcycles and in 1909 rose to 1,149 machines. Harleys' saw use by the army in the Border Campaign against Pancho Villa from 1916-17. Consequently, upon entrance of the United States into World War I and the Army's demand motorcycles. Harley Davidson was chosen to provide about 15,000 machines during the war.
By 1920, Harley Davidson had become the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. The most popular model was powered by a 1,000 cc V-Twin intake/inlet over exhaust (IOE), also known as F-head, configuration used in early four-stroke engines. This engine was produced from 1914-1929. A larger 1,200 cc (IOE) version was introduced in 1922 and produced until 1929. In 1929, Harley Davidson introduced its 45 cubic inches (737 cc) flathead V-Twin just in time for The Great Depression a few months later and despite this improved engine Their sales also crashed, dropping from a 1929 high of 21,000 to a low of 3,703 in 1933.
Harley Davidson was in of two motorcycle producers that managed to survive the Great Depression. Before World War II, Harley was providing a military version of the 45 cubic inches (740 cc) W line, called the WLA. During WWII, along with most other manufacturing enterprises, the company shifted to war work eventually producing over 90,000 WLA and Canadian WLC motorcycles for the US Army and allies. After the war, consumer production was resumed and they produced a range of classic large V Twin motorcycles for private buyers.
The classic engines are two-cylinder, V-twin engines with the pistons mounted in a 45 degree "V". This 45 degree angle is patented and represents an engineering tradeoff that allows a large, high-torque engine in a relatively small space. A continuous ignition system for both cylinders causes them to fire at uneven intervals and produces the Harley's distinctive "potato-potato" sound. Examples:
· Flathead: 1930-1948, 74 cubic inch (1,200 cc) and 1935-1941 (1,300 cc).
· Knucklehead: 1936-1947, 61 cubic inches (1,000 cc), and 1941-1947, 74 cubic inches (1,200 cc)
· Panhead: 1948-1965, 61 cubic inch (1,000 cc), and 1948-1965, 74 cubic inches (1,200 c
· Shovelhead: 1966-1984, 74 cubic inch (1,200 cc) and 80 cubic inch (1,345 cc) since late 1978
American Machinery and Foundry (AMF) bought the company and name in 1969 and near disaster ensued. AMF streamlined production resulting in still expensive bikes that were deemed by the consumer as inferior to Japanese imports. Moreover AMC slashed the workforce resulting in strikes and lower quality. Declining sales nearly forced the company to go bankrupt. Fortunately, AMF sold the company to Vaughn Beals and Willie G. Davidson and a group of investors in 1981. By 1990, with the introduction of the F (Fat Boy) Series, Harley Davidson was once again the leader in the over 750 cc (heavyweight) market.
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