The History of Harley-Davidson: Part 2

If you’re like most Americans, you probably know that Harley-Davidson motorcycles can be customized and that they can go really, really fast, but do you know the history of the brand? Harley-Davidson motorcycles have a fascinating history that every motorcycle enthusiast should know!

In the first part in our series on the history of Harley-Davidson, we introduced the men that started the company in a small shed in Milwaukee. In this second part of our series on the history of Harley-Davidson, we’ll be taking a look at the formative years of the brand and the events that cemented Harley-Davidson as the leader in motorcycle production. RC Components is your top resource for custom Harley-Davidson wheels, exhaust pipes, and aftermarket modifications. Don’t forget to browse our extensive online catalog when you’ve finished reading this post!

Explosive Growth

Harley-Davidson was beginning to receive positive publicity and the attention of the general public by 1905. They paid for small advertising opportunities in the Automobile and Cycle Trade Journal, but their most valuable advertising came from showcasing the quality and abilities of their motorcycles to the public. In July of 1905, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle took first place in a 15-mile Fourth of July race in Chicago, Illinois, with an astounding time of 19:02.

During this period, Arthur and William hired their first full-time employee to help them with production, and they began to think about expanding their location. A year later, Harley-Davidson built a new factory and hired three more employees to help them keep up with production. The new Harley-Davidson factory was substantially bigger than the shed that William and Arthur had originally worked in. While their original shed was only 10’x15’, the new factory measured 28’x80’. (You can imagine how nice the additional breathing room must have been for everyone!) The spacious new Harley-Davidson factory allowed Arthur and William to produce more than 50 motorcycles in 1906!

September 17th, 1907 was a big day in the history of Harley-Davidson. The company was formally incorporated, and the size of the factory and the number of full-time staff doubled once again. The demand for Harley-Davidson motorcycles was climbing at an unprecedented rate, and the company was receiving some great publicity. In June of 1908, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle scored a perfect 1,000 points in the 7th Annual Federation of American Motorcyclists Endurance and Reliability Contest in the Catskills Mountains of New York. The race was 365 miles in length and showcased the unparalleled durability and performance of Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Just three days later, Harley-Davidson set the Federation of American Motorcyclists’ fuel economy record at 188.234 miles per gallon. Newspapers and word-of-mouth advertising continued to push Harley-Davidson’s commitment to quality motorcycles into the spotlight, and by 1909, Harley-Davidson had 35 full-time employees and was producing well over 1,000 motorcycles annually. 

1909 is another iconic year in the history of Harley-Davidson. When you think of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, an image of two cylinders at a 45-degree angle probably comes to mind. 1909 was the year that Harley-Davidson introduced its first V-twin engine motorcycle, which packed a whopping seven horsepower and could hit a top speed of 60 miles per hour. The introduction of this lightning-fast model was revolutionary, and the company more than tripled its annual production shortly after its introduction. The design worked well and would become one of the most iconic images of the company.

Stay Tuned

We hope that you’ve enjoyed this in-depth look into the formative years of Harley-Davidson and the events that turned the company into a worldwide phenomenon. In case you missed it, be sure to check out the first part of the series, in which we introduced the two men who founded the company. In the next part of our series, we’ll look at the expansion of Harley-Davidson into the United States government as well as the company’s invaluable role in World Wars I and II.

RC Components is your number-one resource for custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts. We offer everything from custom Harley-Davidson wheels to custom Harley-Davidson exhaust pipes, browse our extensive inventory online today! Questions or comments? We’d love to hear them! Contact us by phone or email and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!