Harley Davidson motorbike

Image: © P Flannagan Taken: 24 Apr 2010

The Milwaukee Harley - Davidson Company officially began with the completion of its first bike in 1903. Unofficially it all began in 1901 when 21-year-old William S. Harley drew up plans for a small engine that displaced 7.07 cubic inches and had 4-inch flywheels. By 1903 William Harley had joined with his boyhood friend Arthur Davidson, as well as Arthur's brother Walter. The first "real" Harley Davidson Motorcycle was finally completed with additional help from another Davidson brother named William. The company produced three motorcycles in 1903, followed by 3 more in 1904. Production rose to 8 completed cycles in 1905. The first Harley Davidson Motor Company factory was built in 1906 when a total of 50 motorcycles were produced. Production increased to 150 motorcycles in 1907. Another monumental change that occurred in 1907 was the completion of a prototype of a 45-degree V-Twin engine. Production continued to increase to 450 motorcycles in 1908 followed by 1,149 in 1906 and by 1914 production had reached 16,284. World War I saw the demand for motorcycles in the military. Harley Davidson provided over 20,000 motorcycles to military forces during World War I. Improvements and increased production continued after the war. The Harley Davidson Motor Company was in fact one of only 2 American cycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression and is still going strong today, despite bumps and bruises along the way.

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