Harley-Davidson, an american pride
Harley Davidson is an American manufacturer of motorcycles based in Wisconsin. The brand broke through during the Second World War when large numbers of motorcycles were delivered to the U.S. Army, under the name of Liberator. Harley-Davidson has a bevy of avid fans – including Hells Angels – who is not a criticism of their brand to know. According to non-fans are Harley-Davidsons moderately developed, they shoot capital shortfall, let the poor performance and maneuverability is poor. Still looks the business for twenty consecutive years the turnover and profits. Harley-Davidson is the only remaining major American motorcycle manufacturer. The biggest competitor is the Japanese Kawasaki that is twice as large. Attempts to the specific sound of the Harley-Davidson as a trademark to be registered, have failed.
Two young engineers, William Harley and Arthur Davidson, friends since childhood, worked in their spare time to their first motorcycle. Two brothers Arthur, Walter and William, joined soon by the duo, but an unknown German immigrant, the French “De Dion” engine knew, was the decisive factor in forming their company. A single cylinder motorcycle appeared in 1903 with a capacity of 3 horsepower. On August 30 of that year, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Bill (William) Harley, the designer of the group, went to study at piston engines, and in 1909 the first “V-twin, a piston engine with two cylinders at an angle of 45 degrees. This “V-twin” quickly became a success. In the twenties were the HD are known to be particularly robust and reliable when the rather crude racetracks. At the end of World War there was a stone Harley-Davidson factory in Milwaukee. In the Second World War, the Harley-Davidson motorcycle internationally known as the liberators. They were sent by boat from Murmansk in large numbers shipped to Russia as war aid, and reason thus also at the eastern front. Many a collector has later “Liberator” from somewhere in a barn in the Eastern bloc met and renovated.
Famous types are called “Liberator”, the “Knucklehead” (1936), the “Duo Glide” (the first model with front and rear suspension) and the majestic “Electra Glide” (1965) (the first model with electric start) . After a period of merger with other companies within the AMF group (American Machine & Foundry), in which other engines were equipped with the HD brand (Aermacchi-HD and HD Cagiva), bought a group of wealthy enthusiasts in 1981 the Harley Davidson name back for $ 75,000,000 (“The Buyback”). They came in 1983 with a new line of HD motorcycles in the so-called Evolution-block, called Blockhead, in the market including the 833 cc Sportster, a cheaper but good quality entry-level model that was intended as a competitor of the many Japanese motorcycles. Then many people bought the larger 1340 cc V-twins. There are many modifications devised and is seen in both HD’s the most bare – as in very gaudy versions around. In the cult film Easy Rider played HD engines of type “custom” chopper also called a key. Customs with their many and extremely high chromium send in the sixties (and long after) was a hype. Many brands have a similar harley davidson accessories and model released.



