The most important breakthrough is the engine berkonfigurasi V, who later also known as the Knucklehead, Panhead, Shovelhead, Evolution, to win Cam. This engine later became the benchmark for other companies, especially from Japan, in making a big motor.
Start with 60 cc Engine
HARLEY and Davidson started this long journey in 1903, when they were still at the early age of 20s. Results prime tooling fiddle with two young children this is a single cylinder engine with a capacity of 60 cc. Walk and managed to devour the hill with ease. Later, because of this success, two brothers Arthur, Walter and William Davidson, joined.
Two years later, they agreed to institutionalize their business into the Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Co..
When standing, the company produces three new motor unit. All three motors were produced from the''factory''at the Davidson family's backyard. The so-called factory was a small shack behind the Davidson family home.
In 1906, the company moved to Juneau Avenue, occupying the room more spacious. Because more freely, the year that Harley-Davidson motorcycle can produce 150 units. Most of the motorcycles they bought the local police. The reason, Harley-Davidson can be driven at speeds high enough, and agile.
Six years after being founded, Harley-Davidson introduced the V configuration of two-cylinder engine with 45-degree angle. Capacity is 49.5 cubic inch engine (about 790 cc) and capable of producing approximately seven horsepower. With the machine, the speed of 60 miles per hour can be achieved. At that time, Harley-Davidson engines did not think that model would be one of the characteristics of their products.
That same year, Harley-Davidson's 1000 production figures broke through the unit, exactly 1149 units. Competition from other factories began to be felt, two years later. Apparently, the success of Harley-Davidson became the inspiration for another factory to start a business. In 1911, at least appeared about 150 motor brand. They would be a competitor of Harley-Davidson, though not really heavy.
The proof, Harley-Davidson is not difficult to increase production. In 1913, when the factory was expanded, Harley-Davidson's production almost reached 13 000 units. The number was increased again during the period 1916 to 1918, to around 20,000 units. This is mainly because the United States government ordered two-wheeled vehicles for the purposes of World War I.
The conquest of the Great Depression
ENTERING the 1920s, Harley-Davidson became the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, with total production of 28 189 units. To market a product, the Harley-Davidson has agents in 67 countries. In this decade, Harley-Davidson introduced a number of innovations. V engine developed capacity to 74 cubic inches (about 1184 cc). Gas tank teardrop design introduced in 1925. In 1928, Harley-Davidson began equipped with front brakes.
All the achievements were quite a Harley-Davidson's capital in the face of the Great Depression, the economic recession in 1933. Although the number decreased to 3700 units of production, Harley-Davidson is able to survive. Other motor makers who also survived the Indians. This company later became the only competitor of Harley-Davidson until the 1950s.
When depression is finished, Harley-Davidson is a direct step on the gas. They introduced the EL model with a capacity of 976 cc engine. This engine model popularly known as Knucklehead. With Knucklehead, Harley-Davidson rose slowly. In 1936, total production reached 9812 Harley-Davidson motorcycle units.
World War II brought its own blessings, as well as a new milestone for Harley-Davidson. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the entire production capacity allocated to the Harley-Davidson motorcycles produced for the benefit of the Allied forces. Consumer needs civil abandoned altogether.
During 1941-1945, approximately 90,000 units of Harley-Davidson created the WML series. For this achievement, Harley-Davidson gets a medal''E''from the United States Navy.
After the war, Harley-Davidson's re-opened the tap of its civilian production. Uh, apparently a lot of veterans who attracted the bike's performance, and want to restore the romance of riding a Harley-Davidson. Thousands of Harley-Davidson motorcycle units, production, post-war as well as older models, move to house the veterans, the forerunner to the Harley-Davidson fans.
Compete with the Indians
IN 1948, the production of Harley-Davidson to be 31 163 units. That year, Harley-Davidson is back to introduce new innovations, namely machine equipped with an 74 cubic inch hydraulic valve lifters and aluminum cylinder head. This is called The Panhead engine because the cylinder head cover resembling upside-down frying pan.
Entering the 1950s, second generation of the founding family began to become the motor of the company. When celebrating its 50th anniversary, Harley-Davidson motorcycle was left alone in the U.S. market. Its traditional competitors, the Indian, already folded.
In 1957, Harley-Davidson introduced the Sportster, which has been hailed as The Father of Superbikes, biangnya big motor. A year later, Harley-Davidson introduced the Duo Glide, which uses hydraulic rear suspension to complement the front suspension fork that uses the model.
Later, in 1963, Harley-Davidson to adopt the use of fiberglass in the motor-bike. For this purpose, they buy 60% stake in Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Co., manufacturers of fiberglass in Wisconsin.
Year 1950-1960 was also marked by the presence of biker community, which introduces the biker culture. They are easily recognizable because it uses a leather jacket, covered in tattoos, and long hair. Wild Ones is the image of Marlon Brando introduced through a film titled the same.
Harley-Davidson's official community itself was only established in 1983, with the name Harley Experience Owner Group (HOG). It became the community's largest Harley-Davidson owners who supported directly by the manufacturer. Currently, the number of members of HOG approaching one million people around the world.
Dark Period Due to Merger
IN 1965, Harley-Davidson went public. Four years later, the American Machine and Foundry (AMF) to do a merger with Harley-Davidson. However, the merger is considered the darkest period in the history of Harley-Davidson. Because, in 1970 and 1980, motorcycles made in Japan that the price is very cheap to enter the market.
When Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki entered the U.S. market, Harley-Davidson's market share dropped dramatically. Of the original 80% in 1969, a 20% ten years later. Decline in market share is to grip a Harley-Davidson executives. They also find ways to save the company.
To restore the Harley-Davidson to khitahnya, they submitted a proposal to Citicorp. Endowment fund with U.S. $ 80 million from Citicorp, they buy back shares held by the AMF (Citicorp to sell those shares, Heller Financial Corporation in 1986). The concept and philosophy of production and sales of Harley-Davidson was repaired.
Initially, Harley-Davidson is a product that is affordable and easy to use and modify. That changed with the Harley-Davidson makes the product expensive and hard to find spare parts. To replace the rear lights, for example, Harley-Davidson motorcycle owners can not just buy batoknya. But I have to buy a whole sepatbornya.
In addition to Marlon Brando, a number of celebrities made Harley-Davidson parts of their appearance. Whether on a large screen, screen glass, as well as in everyday life. In 1956, Elvis Presley, the King of Rock 'n' Roll, and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle on the cover of enthusiast magazines.
The mid-1990s, Arnold Schwarzeneger appear with Harley-Davidson in the movie Terminator. Action Lorenzo Lamas and Harley-Davidson Softail gasoline bertangki yellow with red flames in the Renegade series also became a favorite spectacle at the end of 1990.
Actor Keanu Reeves was once distributed 12 units of Harley-Davidson, which is worth about U.S. $ 200,000, to all the stunt movie Matrix Reloaded. According to Reeves, ..
