In 1901 inventor William Harley began designing an engine to attach to a standard bycicle frame. His creative juices were flowing and though the first attempt was unsuccesful he plowed forward with his dream. Soon Harley began making plans and enlisted his friend Arthur Davidson to create a motor-bicycle. This was the beginning of what is now a motorcycle empire. The pair completed their first motorized bicycle in 1903 and The Harley-Davidson Company holds 1903 to be the official start of their business. Their first project wasn’t very strong and even struggled going up reasonable hills. After their first bike William and Arthur began to design a new and improved machine. They enlisted help from Arthur’s older brother and the motor developer Ole Evenrude. The new invention was completed in 1904 and they entered it in a race; the first ever Harley-Davidson motorcycle to enter a race.
In 1905 they started advertising their engind to people who would like to turn their standard pedal bikes into motorized bicycles. They created these engines in their shed and not many of them were produced that year. The first Harley-Davidson factory was built in 1906 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is still the home of the motorcycle company today. In the first year of operation the plant produced 50 motorcycles, and the following year they tripled their production. In 1913 the original building was destroyed in order to build a bigger newer facility. The new building took an additional two blocks of space and was heavily reinforced, but would prove to be a solid building. At this new site production began and motorcycles were produced at an ever increasing number. When the US entered WWI Harley began producing motorcycles for the war effort. All through WWI and WWII motorcycles were used in the military. It wasn’t until the 1950’s when the company ran into trouble and was eventually sold. The motocycles during the years of new ownership underwent changes and the changes were not for the better. Things were eventually straightend out when the company underwne tnew ownership in 1981. The company under its new ownership was back on top of the market in a matter of year sna d continues it’s domination of the motorcycle market today.
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