History of the Harley Davidson Motorcycle (Motorbike)

Many of the late 1800’s inventors who worked on early motorbikes (motorcycles) often focussed their attention onto other inventions.  Daimler for example went on to develop automobiles.  Inventors Harley and the Davidsons however developed motorcycles and their business competitors were other new start-up companies such as Indian, Excelsior, Merkel, Pierce, Thor and Schickel.

William S. Harley and his close friend Arthur Davison launched the Harley-Davidson Motor Company in 1903.  The bike had a good quality engine, so it could prove itself in races with a 3 1/8 inch bore and 3 1/2 inch stroke.  The factory in which they worked was a 10 x 15 foot wooden shed with the words "Harley Davidson Motor Company" scrawled on the door.

By 1920, Harley-Davidson was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. Their motorcycles were sold by dealers in 67 countries. Production was 28,189 morocycles. In 1921, a Harley-Davidson, ridden by Otto Walker, was the first motorcycle ever to win a race at an average speed of over 100 mph (160 km/h).

Harley Davidson Motor Company is the only American motorcycle (motorbike) manufacturer still in existence from the early days, which celebrated its centennial in 2003.  The first officially distributed Harley-Davidson motorbike (motorcycle) was sold in Chicago by C. H. Lange.