A brief history of the Harley Davidson

Harley Davidson is a name synonymous with high quality motorbikes and associated equipment, and the brand enjoys unique popularity among professional sportspeople and casual bikers alike. Harley Davidson has been a respected manufacturer of motorcycles right from the start, but there have been a number of significant events and developments that helped spur the model on to the international popularity it enjoys today.



The first single-cylinder Harley Davidson motorbike was manufactured more than a century ago in 1903, but after initial success sales drastically plummeted two years later, causing the company to experience its first major crisis. Following a number of improvements, sales increased from just eleven bikes sold in 1905 to 154 models sold in 1908, with 200 dealerships across the United States.



The power and speed of Harley Davidson motorcycles didn't go unnoticed by the US military either, which ordered more than 20,000 motorbikes from the company for use in the First World War - not only a massive boost for business, but also for the brand's global reputation. The Harley Davidson name was already well known in a number of countries, including as far away as Japan.

The next major shift in the company's fortunes came during the 1950s, when sales from competitors started to overtake Harley Davidson's own, due to the prohibitively high cost of the bikes for the average worker. Harley solved this problem by releasing its famous Sportster model in 1957, which represented a more affordable option that satisfied the desires of motorcycle-hungry consumers.



Since that time, Harley Davidson motorbikes have been a ubiquitous presence on roads around the world, with increased production bringing prices down further and allowing customers to find cheap bike insurance and biking equipment too. The Sportster defined Harley's image for several decades, before a number of major design changes saw models like the FLT with five speed transmission being released in the 1980s, and the introduction of the V twin motor in 1984.



It's not only in terms of the bikes themselves that Harley Davidson has earned such a solid reputation among motorcycling enthusiasts. The company has pioneered a number of important developments too, including introducing a buyback plan in 1987 which allowed riders to trade in their old bikes for a good price when buying a newer model. This has helped to develop a fiercely loyal customer base for Harley, with millions of bikers around the world swearing by the vehicles and never looking twice at the competition.



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