In the backyard of a house on 38th Street, Highland Avenue, Milwaukee, William 'Bill' Harley and Arthur Davidson waving "Harley Davidson Motor Co.." Back then, in 1903, many other important events in the world of mechanical machines. Henry Ford was experimenting to create an object, hereinafter called the automobile. Wright Brothers also is working his dream of creating an aircraft. Ford's successful four-wheeled vehicle historical record with his Model T car, and Wright have developed a simple aircraft. Meanwhile, Harley and Davidson produces an important icon in the history of two-wheeled vehicles.
In the first year of production, they only make three machines are sold with a system of 'debt bondage' because they receive full pay even though the machine has not been installed on each bike. The first buyer, Meyer, drive it as far as 9655 kilometers. The second owner, Lyon, drive it further. The first HD is changing hands up to three times longer.
1906, Harley Davidson moved his shop to a bigger place at Juneau Avenue. By then they already can produce 150 units of motorcycles, mostly purchased by the local police. Six years after being founded, Harley Davidson configured two-cylinder engine producing 45-degree V angle. About 790 cc engine capacity, capable of producing seven horsepower, and can dibesut up to 60 miles per hour. V engine is a breakthrough model Harley Davidson, which subsequently much copied by other motorcycle manufacturers.
In that year, the HD production has exceeded 1,000, exactly 1149 units. Two years later, the HD must face other competitors who are not inspired because of their success stories. In 1911, there are at least about 150 brands of motorcycles in the U.S. market. However, HD still pitch. In 1913, Harley-Davidson's production almost reached 13,000 units. It was the first machine-made HD claiming they had traveled 160,100 miles. In the far distance, the engine is still functioning optimally, and still use the original axle bearings. From here started selling HD imejnya as a reliable motor.
1913 is the most phenomenal in the history of HD. At that time, for the first time they do export, one of them to England. During World War I, the HD production rate of about 20,000 units, swollen with the U.S. government order for the war. At that HD has become the largest motorcycle factory in Indonesia, which is marketed in 67 countries.
In the decade of the 1920s, HD develop the capacity of V engines to 74 cubic inches or the equivalent of 1184 cc. Due to continuing to develop its products, the HD is not paralyzed when entering the economic malaise in 1933. Volume production is decreased to 3700 units. Age of economic malaise, HD directly step on the gas. They introduced the EL model with a capacity of 976 cc engine which was then popularly known as the Knucklehead.
World War II became a blessing in disguise for HD. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, the HD factory geared to the needs of Allied troops. Consumer needs civilians abandoned altogether. During 1941-1945, approximately 90,000 units of the WML series made. For that achievement, Harley-Davidson got a medal''E''from the U.S. Army.
World war ended, demand for motorcycles has increased in the U.S.. Because, in peacetime the adventurous former soldier recalled wartime romance. This tendency is of course increased demand for motorcycles. The veteran is the embryo of HD fans.
