History of Harley Davidson 1903: 21-year old William S. Harley and 20-year old Arthur Davidson make available to the public the first production Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. The bike was built to be a racer, 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' crudely scrawled on the door. Arthur's brother Walter later joins their efforts 1906: A new factory, measuring 28 x 80 feet, is built on the Chestnut St. site, later renamed Juneau Avenue. Staff size is increased to six full-time employees. Also, the first motorcycle catalog is produced by the Company and the nickname 'Silent Gray Fellow' is used for the first time. 1907: Factory size is doubled as well. Dealer recruitment begins, targeting the New England region. 1908: Walter Davidson scores a perfect 1,000 points at the 7th Annual Federation of American Motorcyclists Endurance and Reliability Contest. Three days after the contest, Walter sets the FAM economy record at 188.234 miles per gallon. Word of Harley-Davidson's extremely tough motorcycle spreads rapidly. 1911: The 'F-head' engine becomes a workhorse of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle until 1929. 1914: Sidecars are made available to Harley-Davidson buyers. Clutch and brake pedals now available on F-head singles and twins. 1915: Harley-Davidson motorcycles are now available with three speed sliding-gear transmissions. 1917: During this year, roughly one-third of all Harley-Davidson motorcycles produced are sold to the U.S. military. The sale of Harley-Davidson bicycles begins. 1918: Almost half of all Harley-Davidson motorcycles produced are sold for use by the U.S. military in World War I. At War's end, it is estimated that the Army used some 20,000 motorcycles in their efforts, most of which were Harley-Davidsons. 1921: The first 74 cubic inch V-twin engine is introduced on the JD and FD models. Harley-Davidson dealerships are now found in sixty-seven countries. 1928: The first Harley-Davidson two cam engine is made available to the public on the JD series motorcycles. The bike is capable of top speeds between 85 - 100 mph. 1930: Bill Davidson, Jr. wins the Jack Pine endurance contest with 997 points of 1,000. All individual class winners are riding Harley-Davidson® motorcycles. 1936: The Motor Company introduces a 80 cubic inch side valve engine. 1938: The Jack Pine Gypsies Motorcycle Club holds the first Black Hills Rally in Sturgis, S.D. 1942: Among other motorcycles made for the Army, HD produces the unique XA 750, a motorcycle with horizontally opposed cylinders and shaft drive, designed for desert use. The contract is cancelled early due to war combat moving out of North Africa. Only 1,011 XA's are built. 1946: Harley-Davidson introduces the 45 cubic inch flathead WR racing motorcycle. It proves to be one of the best racing motorcycles ever built. 1947: Harley-Davidson begins selling what will become the classic black leather motorcycle jacket. 1954: Dirt track racer Joe Leonard wins the AMA Grand National Championship. Over the next eight years, the Grand National Championship will be won by Harley-Davidson racers. 1956: The new young star Elvis Presley poses for the cover of the May Enthusiast sitting on a 1956 model KH. 1960: The Harley-Davidson Topper motor scooter is introduced and is the only scooter platform the Motor Company ever produced. 1963: Ralph White resumes the winning of the Daytona 200 for Harley-Davidson, again on a 750 KR motorcycle. 1966: The first of the 'Shovelhead' engines is introduced on the Electra-Glide models, replacing the Panhead. 1970: On the Bonneville salt flats near Wendover, Utah, racer Cal Rayborn breaks the world record for land speed set by a motorcycle. The vehicle is a sixteen foot streamliner powered by a single Sportster engine, and averages just over 265 mph. 1971: First year of Harley-Davidson snowmobile production. 1977: Harley-Davidson introduces the FXS Low Rider® to the public in Daytona Beach. Low Rider lives up to its name by placing the rider in a lowered seating position. 1982: The Materials As Needed (MAN) application is introduced to production. This dramatically lowers production costs and improves quality. 1984: Harley-Davidson unveils the 1340cc V²® Evolution® engine on five models including the all-new Softail®. The result of seven years of development, the Evolution engine produces more power at every speed, runs cooler, cleaner and is oil-tight 1988: The Harley-Davidson Traveling Museum hits the road, displaying memorabilia, classic Harley-Davidson motorcycles and the rich history of the Harley-Davidson rider. 1993: Harley-Davidson celebrates its 90th Anniversary in Milwaukee with a Family Reunion. An estimated 100,000 people ride in a parade of motorcycles. 1995: The classically-styled FLHR Road King® is introduced. 1999: All 1999 model year big twins receive the new Twin Cam 88T engine. 2001: 17 year old Jennifer Snyder, the first woman to win a national event in the AMA Formula USA National Dirt Track Series.
