This is in no way intended to be a comprehensive history, but rather to
provide an accurate, useful and entertaining summary of the significant
events in the colorful past of Harley-Davidson.
1901 - Bill Harley and Arthur Davidson begin developing a 25 ci
3-horsepower single cylinder engine in a Milwaukee backyard
workshop.
1903 - The first prototype motorcycle is road-tested. Bill, Arthur
and his brother Walter Davidson share a commitment to make a
success of motorcycle manufacture. Another Davidson brother,
William A., soon joins the effort.
1904 - First production machines. Three this year, and five in 1905.
1906 - Production escalated to 50 machines this year.
1907 - The Harley-Davidson Motor Company is incorporated on Sept 22.
154 machines produced. Orders are filled for police use for
the first time. The springer front end is introduced.
1908 - 456 motorcycles made. Company had grown to a work force of
35.
1909 - Displacement of the original model is upped to 35 ci. First
V-twin models sold.
1911 - 6000 motorcycles built, and the number of production workers
reaches 480. Their first 61 cubic-inch V-twin is made.
1912 - Introduction of the "ful-floteing" saddle, which gave four
inches of vertical seat travel. Chain-drive (rather than a
belt) becomes an option. A clutch is made available.
1913 - The company exports for the first time, setting up a sales
network in England.
1914 - Support of a factory racing team begins, soon resulting in
a much feared group of riders known as "The Wrecking Crew".
1915 - A three-speed transmission is introduced.
1916 - Harley-Davidson Service School was founded, providing a high
degree of specialised skills to prospective H-D mechanics.
1918 - The company begins use of an olive drab color scheme that it
will use exclusively until 1932.
1919 - Introduction of the new "Sport Model", a horizontally opposed
twin (cylinders facing fore and aft) for the middleweight class.
It had a displacement of 37 ci. (584cc)
1921 - This was the last year for Harley-Davidsons factory racing
efforts. Although their racing victories proved to be very
favorable to the Companys' reputation, it was determined that
the money was better spent on supporting production machines.
First 74ci model is sold.
1922 - Sport Model discontinued. Though it was quite successful, the
decision was made to concentrate on the line of big twins.
1926 - The company releases a line of 350cc lightweights, available
in both side-valve and OHV form. This 350 is often refered to
as the "Peashooter".
1928 - H-D's first production front brake is introduced.
1929 - Model "R" released, a 45 ci side-valve V-twin.
1930 - OHV 350cc single model replaced by a 500cc sidevalve single.
Introduction of the model "V", a side-valve 74 ci V-twin.
1932 - First appearance of the Servi-Car, a 3-wheeler based on the
45 ci side-valve V-twin.
1933 - Last year for all single cylinder H-D models.
1936 - First year for the 61 ci (1000cc) ohv "knucklehead" engine.
Intro of the ULH, an 80ci side-valve twin.
1937 - William A. Davidson dies.
1941 - 74 ci (1200cc) knucklehead introduced.
1942 - Walter Davidson dies. William H. Davidson, son of William A.,
becomes President.
1943 - Bill Harley dies.
1948 - "Panhead" engine introduced, in 61 and 74 ci. Last year for
the springer fork.
1949 - Telescopic front fork is added to the big twins. These models
were called Hydra-Glides.
1950 - Arthur Davidson dies in an automobile accident.
1952 - The "K" model introduced. This was a lightweight V-twin sport
bike, whose 45 ci side-valve engine proved to be underpowered
next to the British competition of the day. Further develop-
ment of this machine led to the fantastically successful
Sportster in '57.
Last year for the 61 ci engine, leaving the 74 ci as the sole
powerplant for the big twin.
1953 - A factory scrambler, the KRM, was introduced. This was a sporting
version of the 45ci "K".
1954 - The K model got a performance boost with the addition of a 55ci
motor.
1955 - 74ci FLH model premiers. This bike came to represent the epitome
of long-haul tourers.
1957 - Harley-Davidson introduces its new high-performance model,
the ohv 55ci (883cc) Sportster. Last year the factory produced
rigid framed models.
1958 - A Hydra-Glide with swing-arm rear suspension, the Duo-Glide, is
released.
1959 - The Sportster XLCH is released. This model was a dual-purpose
machine, and the performance leader of the Sportster line.
The possibility of selling the lightweight motorcycles of the
Italian company Aermacchi under the H-D name is considered.
This was due to the Japanese encroachment on the industry with
their popular lightweights.
1961 - Having purchased 50% of the Aermacchi cycle division, Harley
begins marketing these motorcycles under the Harley-Davidson
name.
1963 - The high mounted exhaust on the XLCH Sportster is replaced with
the now-classic shorty duals.
1965 - Sportster 6-volt electrics are replaced with a 12-volt system.
FLH model is now called the Electra Glide. Beginning of the
push button start era.
1966 - The first Electra Glide with the new "shovelhead" motor is
released.
1967 - Sportster XLH gets an electric starter.
1969 - AMF (American Machine and Foundry) takes control of Harley-
Davidson.
Michael Parks stars as a Sportster riding drifter in the tele-
vision series "Then Came Bronson".
1971 - Release of a new big twin model with Sportster-type styling,
the Super Glide.
1972 - Sportster displacement is increased from 55 ci (883cc) to 61 ci
(1000cc).
1974 - Last year for the Servi-Car.
1975 - Vaughn Beals is made President of AMF Harley-Davidson.
1977 - XLCR model is introduced. This was a "cafe racer" built on
the Sportster platform.
1978 - The first true factory custom, the FXS Low Rider, is released.
FLH recieves the new bigger-displacement 80 ci (1340cc) motor.
Last year for the Italian Aermacchi bikes.
1980 - New models, the FXWG Wide Glide and the twin-belted Sturgis.
1981 - The company is purchased back from AMF by 13 Harley-Davidson
managers. Although $83 million in debt, a new era of optimism
begins.
1983 - Last year for the FXE Super Glide. Protective tariffs are
adopted against Japanese motorcycles over 700cc. This was
put in place by the Reagan Administration to combat the
effects of Japanese over-production and "dumping" on the
American market.
A limited production Sportster, the XR1000, is released. It
had the aluminum heads and pistons from the XR750 racer, and
put out over 70 horsepower.
1984 - Introduction of the all-new 80 ci Evolution engine. This
motor has also become known as the "blockhead". Last year
for the shovelhead. First year for the "softail" frame.
1985 - Sportster displacement is increased to 1100cc.
1986 - The 883cc Evolution Sportster appears. The Company goes
public, offering two million shares of common stock.
1987 - Tariff against the Japanese manufacturers is lifted, as
requested by H-D President Vaughn Beals.
1988 - Springer Softail model introduced.
1990 - New model introduced, the "Fatboy".
1991 - Sportster gets 5-speed transmission and belt final drive on
deluxe and 1200 models.
1993 - All Harley-Davidson models come with a belt final drive.
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