Top 10 lesser-known facts about Harley-Davidson
1. Their First Bike Was Built in a Shed
A lot of the biggest, most successful companies in the world have come from very humble beginnings. However, there may not be a single firm that has had as humble of a start as the Harley-Davidson Motor Company.
The very first motorcycle that William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson created was in a ten by fifteen-foot wooden shed, with the words “Harley-Davidson” scrawled into the door.
This first bike had a very small motor and was little more than a normal bicycle that had been converted to something that was gasoline-powered.
2. They Have Factories All Over the Globe
Harley-Davidson is generally known as a quintessentially-American brand of motorcycle. However, besides their four locations in the United States of America, the Motor Company also has factories in other places.
Three countries with Harley-Davidson manufacturing plants are Brazil, Thailand, and India.
Besides manufacturing plants, they have a metallurgy plant in Australia that produces some of their parts.
3. A Harley-Davidson Was the First to Average over 100 Miles Per Hour
The Harley-Davidson Motor Company had originally signed and sponsored a racer named Otto Walker in 1914. Though he ended up getting injured soon after his initial contract, he returned to the scene and participated in the first major race that Harley-Davidson had a stake in.
This was a 300-mile race that took place in Venice, California. However, it was not until a few years later that Otto Walker broke records on a Harley.
When he won a race in 1921, it was determined that his average speed had been over 100 miles per hour for the entire run. This was the first time that anyone had brought a bike to these kinds of speeds consistently throughout an entire long race.
4. There is a Mechanical Reason Behind the Harley “Sound”
The first Harley-Davidson motorcycle engines were designed to use only one set of ignition points, and they lacked a distributor. Thus, both sparks would fire at the same time, regardless of which cylinder was actually active. This helped create the initial Harley ‘sound’.
The main force behind the throaty growl of a Harley motor is the 45-degree motor. Because of this particular motor arrangement, there are distinct, uneven intervals between the firing of the cylinders. This causes the sound that Harley-Davidson motorcycles are known for.
The firm even tried to trademark the sound at one point but were denied due to the high likelihood of other bikes having a similar sound. It was simply unenforceable.
5. They Have an Environmental Warranty
You may not think of Harley-Davidson as huge proponents of the environment. After all, they focus a lot on the outlaw biker portion of their customers in a lot of their advertisements.
However, during the environmental scare of the early 2000s, Harley-Davidson elected to provide an ‘environmental warranty’ on all of their motorcycles.
This warranty simply meant that all of the parts or bikes made by the company would be guaranteed to be EPA compliant.
Thus, any poor workmanship or defective materials would be replaced for free. This was a definite plus for Harley-Davidson, showing their commitment to lowering emissions.
6. Chopper Culture Started Out on Harley-Davidson Motorcycles
During the time period immediately following the Second World War, many young men began to turn to motorcycle culture. They had, after all, ridden them in the war and took the motorcycling bug home with them. A lot of these guys were after speed and power, only one of which was provided by stock bikes.
In fact, the Harley-Davidson FL with the Big Twin-style motor was quite ornate. They included a lot of unnecessary metal that looked good but dragged the bike down when it came to speed.
So, a lot of the original adapters of these bikes began to chop the fenders down. Though the common term for this was a “bobber”, there are a few instances in which “chopper” was used instead.
7. They Created a Shaft-Driven Bike
During World War II, the United States Army asked Harley-Davidson to create a motorcycle that could serve as the equivalent of a BMW R71.
The company quickly delivered, essentially copying the design of the BMW and creating a shaft-driven bike called the XA (Experimental Army).
They made about 1000 of these bikes, but they never were fully adopted by the military. This was due to the widespread usage of the Jeep, which killed this bike’s chances at making it to the field.
8. The first Harley-Davidson carburetor was made from a tomato can (maybe).
According to many sources, the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle had a single-cylinder engine, a top speed of 25 mph — and used a tomato can for a carburetor.
Unfortunately, this one may be more fiction than fact. While online reference Encyclopedia.com cites it as part of the company’s history, and the book Everything You Need to Know: Harley-Davidson Motorcycles mentions it as part of Harley lore, others are more skeptical.
In another book, At the Creation: Myth, Reality, and the Origin of the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, 1901–1909, author Herbert Wagner discounts the story. The grandson of the company’s founder, Willie G. Davidson, is also doubtful, noting, “I can’t see them settling for something so primitive.”
9. Harley-Davidson Bell
For those Harley-Davidson riders who are superstitious, you may know the story of the Harley bell. Look closely at one of these motorcycles, and you’ll see a small bell dangling under the bike. These guardian bells or gremlin bells are novelty items sold at many motorcycle stores.
These little metal bells, often with the Harley logo on them, are to ward against evil road spirits. These spirits are to blame for bike problems, obviously not because of poor design by Harley.
The myth goes that if you buy the bell yourself, you’ll have luck on the road. If someone gives you a bell, your luck will double, protecting you from riding mishaps.
10. Evel Knievel Breaking Records With Harley-Davidson
In 1975, the most famous stuntman in the world hopped on the back of a Harley-Davidson and broke the world record for the longest jump over 14 Greyhound buses. The man was Evel Knievel, and the bike was an XR-750.
Knievel had used Harleys almost exclusively for many of his physics-defying stunts. With this jump, he held the record distance for many years at 133 feet.
What are your views regarding Harley Davidson motorcycles?
