Little-known Facts About Harley-Davidson Motorbikes

 Here are some little-known facts about Harley-Davidson motorbikes:

1.     The first Harley Davidson motorcycle was built in a shed: In 1903, William Harley and Arthur Davidson built their first motorcycle in a small shed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

2.     The Harley Davidson logo was designed in 1909: The iconic Harley Davidson logo, featuring a bar and shield, was created in 1909 and has remained largely unchanged ever since.

3.     Harley Davidson produced military motorcycles during World War I: In 1917, Harley Davidson was commissioned by the U.S. Army to produce motorcycles for use in World War I. Over 20,000 bikes were produced and used by the military during the war.

4.     Harley Davidson was one of only two motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression: During the Great Depression, many motorcycle manufacturers went bankrupt. Harley Davidson and Indian were the only two companies to survive.

5.     Harley Davidson motorcycles were used by police departments in the early 20th century: The first police department to use motorcycles was the Detroit Police Department in 1908, and they used Harley Davidson motorcycles. Other police departments followed suit in the years that followed.

6.     Harley Davidson motorcycles have been featured in numerous movies and TV shows: Harley Davidson motorcycles have appeared in films like "Easy Rider," "Terminator 2," and "The Avengers," as well as TV shows like "Sons of Anarchy" and "The Walking Dead."

7.     Harley Davidson has a museum dedicated to its history: The Harley Davidson Museum is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and features exhibits on the company's history, including motorcycles, artefacts, and memorabilia.

8.     Harley Davidson is the only major motorcycle manufacturer to focus exclusively on heavyweight motorcycles: While other manufacturers produce motorcycles in a range of sizes and styles, Harley Davidson has always focused exclusively on heavyweight motorcycles.

9.     Harley Davidson has been owned by the same family for over 100 years: The Harley Davidson company has been owned by the same family since its inception in 1903. Today, the company is run by descendants of the original founders.

10. The Harley Davidson engine sound is trademarked: The distinct sound of a Harley Davidson engine is trademarked by the company and is often referred to as the "Harley growl."

Photo credit to Shayan Jayasuriya.