Harley-Davidson Motorcycles

About harley-davidson

Harley-Davidson Inc (NYSE: HOG, formerly HDI), often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression.

The company sells today only heavyweight motorcycles with over 700 cc, designed for cruising on highways. Harley-Davidson motorcycles, or "Harleys", are noted for the tradition of heavy customization. Harley-Davidson's attempts to establish itself in the light motorcycle market have met little success and have largely been abandoned since the 1978 sale of its Italian Aermacchi subsidiary.

In 1901, William S. Harley, age 20, drew up plans for a small engine with a displacement of 7.07 cubic inches (116 cc) and four-inch (102 mm) flywheels. The engine was designed for use in a regular pedal-bicycle frame. On a practice, though, it was only experiment, somewhat unsuccessful but a start for more. So first "real" Harley-Davidson motorcycle had a bigger engine of 24.74 cubic inches (405 cc) with 9.75 inches (25 cm) flywheels weighing 28 lb (13 kg).

In September 8, 1904, Harley competed in a Milwaukee motorcycle race held at State Fair Park. This is the first documented appearance of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the historical record.

Production in 1905 and 1906 were all single-cylinder models with 26.84 cubic inches (440 cc) engines. Starting from 1907, V-Twin engines appeared, having 53.68 cubic inches (880 cc) and producing about 7 horsepower (5.2 kW).

In 1911, an improved V-Twin model was introduced. The new engine had mechanically operated intake valves, as opposed to the "automatic" intake valves used on earlier V-Twins that opened by engine vacuum. With a displacement of 49.48 cubic inches (811 cc), the 1911 V-Twin was smaller than earlier twins, but gave better performance. After 1913 the majority of bikes produced by Harley-Davidson would be V-Twin models.

By 1920, Harley-Davidson was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, with 28,189 machines produced, and dealers in 67 countries.

During the 1920s, several improvements were put in place, such as a new 74 cubic inch (1,212.6 cc) V-Twin, introduced in 1922, and the "Teardrop" gas tank in 1925. A front brake was added in 1928 although notably only on the J/JD models. In the late summer of 1929, Harley-Davidson introduced its 45 cubic inches (737 cc) flathead V-Twin, "D" model. An 80 cubic inches (1,300 cc) flathead engine was added to the line in 1935, by which time the single-cylinder motorcycles had been discontinued.

After World War II, as part of war reparations, Harley-Davidson acquired the design of a small German motorcycle, the DKW RT 125, which they adapted, manufactured, and sold from 1948 to 1966. Harley experienced changes in ownership in the ‘60s, going public in 1965 and eventually merging with American Machine and Foundry (AMF) in 1969. The ‘80s and ‘90s saw the introduction of model families that continue to this day, like the Softail, FLT and Road King lines, joining classic models like the Electra Glide. The story continues today.

Moto blog

2012-2013 Harley-Davidson VRSCDX Night Rod Special Recalled for Loose License Plate Bracket

Harley-Davidson is issuing a recall on all Night Rod Special models from 2012 and some from 2013 because of a potentially loose license plate bracket. According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the mounting screws connecting the VRSDCDX‘s license plate bracket to the tail may loosen, potentially causing the plate to rub against the rear tire. This may cause the plate bracket to rotate as well as damage rear brake lines.

Harley-Davdison Museum Opens Tsunami Motorcycle Exhibit

From Miyagi Prefecture in Japan to Graham Island in British Columbia, Canada, to Milwaukee, Wis., the motorcycle tossed across the Pacific Ocean by the 2011 Japanese tsunami has landed at the Harley-Davidson Museum. The 2004 Harley-Davidson Softail Night Train owned by earthquake and tsunami survivor Ikuo Yokoyama is now on display at the museum as a memorial to those affected by the March 2011 tsunami. The motorcycle will be preserved in the condition it was in when Canadian beachcomber Peter Mark found it inside a cargo box that washed up on Graham Island in May.

Harley-Davidson Reports Q3 2012 Results

Harley-Davidson reported a profit of $134.0 million dollars over the third quarter of 2012. That represents a 27% decrease from the net profit of $183.6 million reported over the same quarter of 2011, but the drop was an expected result from a planned decrease in third quarter shipments as Harley-Davidson adopts an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) manufacturing system at its York, Pa., factory. The Milwaukee company shipped 52,793 motorcycles in the three months ended Sept.

US Motorcycle Thefts Down 6% in 2011

Americans reported 46,667 motorcycle thefts in 2011, a 6% decrease from 49,791 stolen motorcycles in 2010, reports the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Despite the drop in reported thefts, the non-profit organization representing nearly 1100 property and casualty insurance companies says the theft rate still averages out to one motorcycle stolen every 11 minutes in the U.S. The numbers were published in the NICB’s 2011 ForeCAST Report which examined theft reports as well as recoveries.

Keanu Reeves Starts Arch Motorcycle Company – Production to Begin in 2013

Actor Keanu Reeves is getting into the motorcycle business, starting up the Arch Motorcycle Company with Gard Hollinger of L.A. County Choprods. The new company will build motorcycles based on the KR GT-1 prototype pictured above, with production set to begin in 2013.

Harley-Davidson and FX Kickoff Sons of Anarchy Season 5

The runaway hit television series about an outlaw biker gang with a heart, Sons of Anarchy, begins its fifth season tonight (Sept. 11) on FX at 10:00 p.m. EST/PST, and will air regularly on Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m.

2013 Harley-Davidson Dyna Street Bob Gets Styling Updates And H-D1 Factory Customization

For 2013 Harley’s Dyna Street Bob gets updated styling treatments that further promote the production-level bobber’s no-nonsense image. In addition to the restyling, the Street Bob joins the 1200 Custom as one of two bikes available for Harley’s web-based customization program known as H-D1. “Our focus for the Street Bob is always on street appeal,” Harley-Davidson’s Styling Manager Tony Pink said in a release.

Harley-Davidson Announces Limited Edition 110th Anniversary Models

In 2013 Harley-Davidson will celebrate an amazing 110-year run as a motorcycle manufacturer. In honor of this, Harley has announced that seven of its standard models will receive special 110th anniversary badging, and have a limited production run. In addition to these seven, three of the four 2013 CVO models we recently reviewed are available with optional 110th Anniversary badging and color schemes.

Elvis' Harley

Today (August 16) it's exactly 35 years since Elvis died (or didn't, depending on your beliefs on the matter) so we thought we'd mark the moment with this – Elvis Presley's own 1956 Harley-Davidson. Elvis is so inextricably linked to Harleys that he's even become subject of an endlessly-circulating internet myth. You know, the one where a guy finds an old Harley for a few bucks, starts to restore it and discovers an 'Elvis' inscription under the seat.

New Screamin’ Eagle Drag Racing Championship Series for 2013

The NHRA today announced the formation of the Screamin’ Eagle Championship Motorcycle Series for 2013. The new series will feature five classes: Top Fuel, Pro Gas, Draggin’ Bagger, Street Pro and Hot Street. The 10-race series will compete at divisional events as part of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, in addition to the Sportsman ET Motorcycle class that currently competes at various NHRA divisional events.