The Many Years Of Harley Davidson Bikes
Harley Davidson has now been making motorcycles for over a hundred years. The company was started in 1903 by two childhood friends and soon came to be the dominant motorcycle- making firm in the country” and soon, in the world. The military was quick to make use of their products during World War I. During the post- war years, a number of improvements were made, including a Teardrop gas tank in 1925 and a front brake in 1928. Not even the Great Depression was enough to demolish Harley Davidson, which progressed even further, adding a new flathead engine in 1935 and “dry sump” systems in 1938. Only one other motorcycle manufacturing business survived the Depression.
World War II provided another opportunity for Harley Davidson to produce more vehicles for the army. Even before the United States entered the war, H D cycles were being sold to the Soviet Union as part of the Lend- Lease Program. They also made specifically military- type cycles called WLAs, which were also produced for the Korean War; these had dull camouflage colors and blackout lights so as to vanish into the night.
Recently, the company’s four founders have joined the Labor Hall of Fame.