Harley Selection Davidson motorcycles never cease to amaze and delight us. The business expanded on its early successes. Since then, several Harleys such as the Harley-Davidson Fatboy and V-Road, have left a lasting impression on the company’s history.
Harley-Davidson isn’t just focused on its motorcycles. They have entered the boats, as we have seen. They’ve also surprised us with a few unexpected partnerships, like with Porsche. However, Harley-Davidson has routinely produced motorcycles that exceed our expectations. Let’s look at some interesting facts about Harley’s past. Davidson’s
Top Ten Facts Only Real Riders Know about Harley-Davidson’s History – Top Rated
Harley-Davidson and the Silent Gray Fellow
In 1903, the Davidson brothers and William S. Harley founded their businesses. According to Jane Davidson, granddaughter of Walter Davidson, one of the founders, Harley was known as the “Silent Gray Fellow” because of his retiring personality and white hair.
Bikes quickly started using the same moniker. They also advertised their rides as “Silent Gray Fellows” in their advertisements.
The Racing Legacy of Otto Walker
In the 1910s and Roaring 20s, Otto Walker won numerous racing competitions. He was a member of the factory racing squad for Harley-Davidson.
He won many exciting races during this time and set some impressive records. In one of the races he won, he averaged 100 mph, a first. He developed several American speed records in 1922.
The Rise of the Harley-Davidson Three-Wheeler
The Harley-Davidson Servi-Car, a three-wheeled vehicle designed with delivery in mind, can be traced back to the 1930s. The Solo R model’s 45 cu in flathead engine was used to power this three-wheeler at the time.
Even the police used a survey car in their fleet of vehicles. A 1949 Harley-Davidson police survey car auctioned in 2020 brought nearly $54,000. The survey car was produced until the early 1970s. The Servi-Car, however, was not the last three-wheeler produced by Harley-Davidson. A tricycle built for performance is the CVO Tri-Glide.
Harley-Davidson and the Tomahawk Boat
Harley-Davidson purchased the Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Company in 1961. It was an opportunity to incorporate fiberglass into their design. Topper, their golf carts, and, let’s not forget their Tomahawk boat were all made of fiberglass at the time.
They advertise themselves as “Tomahawk Boat – A Division of Harley-Davidson” in their brochures. America’s finest fiberglass boats, according to an ad for their new offering. Harley-Davidson stopped making boats in 1965.
Harley-Davidson and Aermacchi
Ermachi built motorcycles, three-wheeled trucks, and even airplanes. Harley-Davidson purchased the motorcycle division of the business in 1960.
Their motorcycles left the Ermachi plant in some cases. One such bike was a two-stroke Harley-Davidson called the Rapido.
The Harley-Davidson Confederate Edition
Limited Edition Harley-Davidson Confederate Edition motorcycles were made for one year only. They were the United States Bicentennial Commemorative Model.
The Sportster models, FLH Electra Glide, and Super Glide were all part of the Confederate Edition line. These 1977 versions are recognizable by their paint job and Confederate flag graphics. The Harley-Davidson Confederate Edition is on collectors’ radars because only 631 were made.
The Legend of the Fat Boy ‘Gray Ghost’
One of the greatest Harleys of the 20th century is the Fat Boy “Grey Ghost.” 1990’s Fat Boy “Grey Ghost” expertly and perfectly blends chrome and yellow accents.
As the only color offered earlier, it was named “Grey Ghost.” A 1,340cc Evolution V-Twin powered the “Grey Ghost.” It’s hard not to notice this Harley.
Harley-Davidson and the Porsche Connection
Porsche and Harley-Davidson teamed up to create the V-Rod. The V2 engine was developed with the help of Porsche engineers.
The partnership produced a 1,131cc water-cooled engine modeled after racing engines. The 2002 Harley-Davidson V-Rod is one of the many things we love about it.
Harley-Davidson, Buell, and MV Agusta
In the late 1980s, Beul Motorcycles began equipping its vehicles with Harley-Davidson engines. For example, the storied RR 1000 Battletwin used the Harley-Davidson XR1000 engine. In the 1990s, Harley-Davidson also acquired a large portion of the business.
Harley-Davidson also bought the MV Agusta Group in 2008, but a year later, they announced their plans to sell it. This agreement was concluded in 2010.
Celebrating 120 Years
The company will be in existence for 120 years in 2023. We are eager to try out their ride lineup. Motorcycle enthusiasts should think of the 2023 LiveWire S2 Del Mar, however, as a teaser.
No matter the model, Harley-Davidson has consistently produced great rides, whether it’s the Fatboy or the V-Rod. During its long existence, it has created unforgettable moments and amazed us with incredible motorcycles.
Top Ten Facts Only Real Riders Know about Harley-Davidson’s History – Top List
| Sr. # | Top Ten Facts Only Real Riders Know about Harley-Davidson’s History |
|---|---|
| 1 | Harley-Davidson and the Silent Gray Fellow |
| 2 | The Racing Legacy of Otto Walker |
| 3 | The Rise of the Harley-Davidson Three-Wheeler |
| 4 | Harley-Davidson and the Tomahawk Boat |
| 5 | Harley-Davidson and Aermacchi |
| 6 | The Harley-Davidson Confederate Edition |
| 7 | The Legend of the Fat Boy ‘Gray Ghost’ |
| 8 | Harley-Davidson and the Porsche Connection |
| 9 | Harley-Davidson, Buell, and MV Agusta |
| 10 | Celebrating 120 Years |
