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Welcome to the unofficial Harley Davidson Museum
Harley-Davidson survived the depression, the competition, and attribution.
They rose above as the only American motorcycle survivor to continue their
quest to greatness. Today the journey continues. Say, “Harley-Davidson” and everyone
world wide knows…you are talking legend
Motorcycles were for those who wanted to ride alone, to explore
the countryside. Then they became a social club event, riding
around in groups or with friends. Cycles became a powerful competitor
as they joined the racing age. They even went through a phase of the
“biker” myth, bringing out the tough guy risk taker in all of us. Typical
customers became the business man, craving to be bad boys. Right up
there with the actual bad boys, who strongly supported the company.
Put on your bandanna, your leather and your boots, and become part
of an era.
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Harleys first
Motorcycle Trike called the Servi-Car first
appeared in late 1931 as a '32 model. Built in response to Indian's popular Dispatch Tow three-
wheeler. Previously, Sidecar rigs had been modified for various
commercial applications, but the Forty-five powered motorcycle trike was a better multi-purpose machine.
Both manufacturers offered optional tow bars with the three-wheelers,
which automotive service shops found useful for picking up and returning cars
due for service. A single employee could ride to the client's site, tow the
Servi-Car back to the shop, return the car, unhook the trike and ride back.
The three-wheelers also found wide use as light-duty delivery vehicles and
made perfect meter maid vehicles for city police departments..
RIGHT 1932 sees the release of
the
Harley Trike |
click on image to
view enlarged version
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Harley Davidson Gas Tank History in Photos
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New standard colors introduced in 1933 ushered in a new era in
Harley gas tanks
Harley gas tanks
. Combining intricate
tank logos and hand-painted pin striping the
Harley gas tank
became works of art.
The art deco-inspired designs demonstrated the creativity and skill
of the company's employees. The tradition of developing new gas tank
designs to accompany changing paint schemes became a trademark of
Harley-Davidson style. |
1903-1932
Though colors changed occasionally, the same basic lettering was
used on Harley tanks for over three decades. |
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1933
The first change to the logo appeared in 1933 when a bird-like scroll
surrounded the usual lettering. |
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1934-1935
Replacing the 1933 Harley Bird
motif that one lasted a short one
year was the Flying Diamond
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1936-1939
A new tank logo was released the same year
same the Knucklehead motor It lasted only through
1939, |
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Growing up in Harley Davidson's Backyard |
Growing up in the back yard of Harley-Davidson, it’s easy to take the History,
the Magic and the Bikes for granted. But as I get older the more I find myself feeling nostalgic and curious about history of the oldest
motorcycle company in my back yard.
Years ago my quest
began. I started collecting books, literature, magazines, brochures, and any
other motorcycle material I could get my hands on. My plan was to create a
website based on motorcycles and their history, beginning with the greatest
and longest running motorcycle company out there.
RIGHT Picture from a 1964
Harley Sportster
brochure
is taken less then a mile from the farm I grew up on and still live on. Although
I was only 3 when this picture was taken, it's riding those exact hills and back
roads that turned
me into a full-blown motorcycle junkie. |
click on image to
view enlarged version
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Harley Davidson Parts and Accessories |
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Harley Davidson parts and accessories
have become a important ingredient in the success of
both the company and dealers. The fact Harley formed
A separate parts and accessories department as early as 1912 proves
just how early Harley and the Davidson's realized the importance of these
items.
Arthur Davidson warned dealers that the company would not tolerate
affixing non Harley aftermarket parts on H-D bikes.
The Motor Company's reputation for durability and
performance helped Harley-Davidson stand out in
an increasingly crowded field of motorcycle manufactures.
He knew insisting on genuine parts and accessories would maintain that hard earned reputation.
RIGHT 1912 Harley Davidson parts and accessories
catalog |
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FREE OFFER Extremely Rare 1917 Harley Davidson Brochure |
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This is a very rare Harley Davidson Motorcycles brochure
covering the full motorcycle lineup for 1917. Of the three dozen or more books
I own covering the Harley Davidson
Motorcycle Company not a single one has any images from inside
or outside of this brochure
Recently I became aware of just how rare this Harley brochure is. One of the items you receive
when becoming a member of the official Harley Davidson Museum is the book: 100 Years of Harley-Davidson Advertising. Surprisingly the book
doesn’t have a single image of what is easily the most beautiful engraved color
lithograph art work to ever grace a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Brochure.
Since no other publication ever displayed this, I wasn’t surprised when not a single image from this brochure could be found
in the official Harley Davidson Museum, which BTW is beautifully decorated from top to bottom with Harley Davidson advertisement material.
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Download one of the rarest Harley Davidson
Brochure FOR FREE
The download includes large desktop sized wallpapers of the color
lithograph cover and center spread along with the other full page images that
grace this rare brochure. Yours absolutely free for just signing up to HarleyDavidsonMuseum.com
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By 1906 the motorcycle industry was already beginning to
experience furious competition.
The Harley Davidson Motor Company's reputation for durability and
performance helped Harley-Davidson stand out in
an increasingly crowded field of motorcycle manufactures.
Model: Model 2, 26.8ci (440cc) F-head single
Price: $210
Production: 50
Colors: Black with Gold pinstriping, Renault Grey with Red pinstriping
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1907 Harley Davidson 1907 Model 3 Atmospheric-Valve Single
The year 1907 was a milestone for Harley-Davidson.
The company incorporated in September, selling its
first stock to employees and board members. That
November the founders rented a booth at the Chicago
Auto Show to recruit dealers, offering price breaks as
a lure: $30 for every fifth bike ordered.
The 1907 bike cost $210. It could travel over 500
miles on one tank of oil, a feature tested personally by
co-founder Arthur Davidson when he rode a 1907 model to New England
to recruit even more dealers.
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Model: Model 3, 26.8ci (440cc) F-head single
Price $210
Production: 150
Colors: Renault Grey with Red pinstriping, Black
Specification: Sager front fork used, otherwise as 1906 |
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1909 was the first year Harley-Davidson released
more than one model, adding its first twin-cylinder
engine. However, the first twins were recalled,
so single-cylinder bikes like the Model 5 remained
the mainstays.
Model 5 - 30ci (500cc) single, 28in wheels, battery ignition Price $210
Model 5A - 30ci F-head single, 28in wheels, magneto Price $250
Model 5B - 30ci F-head single, 26in wheels, battery ignition Price $210
Model 5C - 30ci F-head single, 26in wheels, magneto Price $250
Model 5D - 50ci (819cc) F-head V-twin, magnet Prices Price $325
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1916 Harley Davidson Model J with Package Truck |
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Introduced in 1915 as an addition to the successful sidecar line.
The Harley Davidson Side Van was basically a wooden box on a sidecar chassis,
with a hinged top for loading, and proved very popular with commercial users.
Among the Harley factory options was your own company's sign written name
on the box, at 10 cents per letter, and a folding top and side
curtains to protect the rider from the elements.
Model:
Harley Davidson
Delivery Van
17-M
Price:
$70
Model:
Harley Davidson
Delivery Van
17-N
Price:
$72
1915 Production:
98
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From the beginning Harley-Davidson motorcycles had been used by police departments. The U.S. Postal Service also found them to be
a much better solution for rural routes then horses. An early Harley brochure promotes a
relatively new use in the below text:
Fire Department Service Comparatively new in this service, the motorcycle has One large city in the middle
west in which motorcycle equipment is being used has
been able to extinguish 70 per cent of its fires by
means of the motorcycle equipment before the heavy
apparatus arrived. |
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Harley Sidecars
Harley Trikes
Harley Gas Tank Picture History
Harley Davidson Sportster
Harley Davidson Accessories
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Harley Model List
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Harley 1957 Models
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Harley 1958 Models
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Harley 1959 Models
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Harley 1960 Models
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Harley Trike |
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Harley Davidson's
Package Truck
was offered in a
number of configurations.
Using a modified version of the sidecar chassis,
the frame and body were just a few dollars more than
the
sidecar.
Model MXP Package Truck shown above, with Harley-Davidson designed snubbers,
Alemite fittings, Timken roller bearing hub, 48 inch road tread, $150 at factory.
Chassis complete without body, $65 at factory. Prices do not include motorcycle.
Harley Davidson also offered other
parts and accessoriess
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Harley History
1953 |
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Long-time rival Indian Motorcycle Company and the only other remaining American Motorcycle
Company ceases production. Leaving Harley-Davidson as the only
major U.S. motorcycle manufacturer to fend off the British and soon to come
Japanese invasions.
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Harley Motor Oil |
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January 1937
Harley Davidson
Enthusiast Promotes the new Harley Davidson Motor Oil.
The ad goes on to say:
Harley-Davidson engineers have perfected a new Medium
Heavy grade of Harley-Davidson oil.
The new Medium Heavy Oil is ideally suited to and
recommended for the exclusive, year 'round lubrication needs
of the 61 " OHV motors. Your Harley-Davidson dealer stocks
genuine Harley-Davidson Oil in the refinery sealed handy
quart size containers. Accept no substitute to genuine
Harley Davidson parts and accessories
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Harley Shovelhead |
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Harley Davidson
Shovelhead 1966 - 1984
Shovelhead In 1966 Harley Davidson's valve covers were
updated. The modification helped in cooling
the V twin Harley Davidson motor. The new rocker
cover closely wrapped around the rocker arms but still allowed oil to
circulate. The cast aluminum covers resembled the back of a shovel which
coined the nickname Harley Davidson "Shovelhead".
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Harley Gas Tank Graphics |
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After little change for nearly 30 years a new design
logo appeared on
Harley Davidson gas tanks
in 1933.In 1934 the design
was replaced again when Harley Davidson gas tanks sported
the Flying Diamond design.
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Sportster 883 |
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Harley Sportster XLCH
A racier version of the
Sportster was introduced in 1959 under the XLCH
tag. Intended as a performance-oriented on/off road machine
it differed from its street XLH sportster by
sporting magneto ignition, high-mounted exhaust pipe, "peanut"
fuel tank (barrowed from the hummer) , "bobbed" rear fender, and semi-knobby tires. Tank badges were also different, being of a design shared by some of Harley's contemporary racing bikes. The XLCH also
debuted the "eyebrow" headlight cover that remains a Sportster trademark
to this day.
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Harley
Davidson Panhead |
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In 1948, the FL, with redesigned rocker covers for the cylinder head, got the name of Panhead. Hydraulic valve lifters caused less engine noise,
ran cooler with aluminum heads, and needed less maintenance.
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Harley Dealer |
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In 1907, at age 14, Dudley Perkins rode his first Reading Standard Cycle. Perkins along with Al Maggini
opened their own Harley-Davidson dealership in California . They promoted the bikes by racing them.
As world war II was coming to an end, Dudley Perkins saw the need to purchase the 80,000 plus bikes produced by H-D for the military.
He had them repainted and ready for sale as the war ended. Dealer sales escalated as the veterans demand for bikes came into full swing.
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Harley Sportster |
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The
Harley Sportster
era begans in 1957 when Harley Davidson introduced an overhead-valve,
54-cubic-inch engine (883cc). Before that, Harley motorcycles were side-valves
(Flatheads). In 1957, Harley Davidson released the
overhead-valve cylinder heads, which gave the motorcycle increased
horsepower and performance. Today there are many iterations of the Sportster.
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Harley 50th |
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In
1953 marked the fiftieth year of business for Harley-Davidson.
To commemorate the event, a logo was designed, depicting a "V"
symbolic of the engine configuration, crossed by the company name
and embossed lettering stating "50 years American made." This brass
medallion logo would grace the front fenders of all 1954 models.
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