| Harley Davidson | | | | features fuel injection and was developed |
| | | | with the help of Porsche. |
| This classic series of motorcycles has a long | | | | |
| and storied history with a legion of fans | | | | Even the Harley Davidson logo has created |
| that includes owners, motorcycle enthusiasts, | | | | incredible marketing potential with after |
| old and young alike. Distinguished by its | | | | market merchandise and accessory sales |
| style, unique engine sound and fan loyalty, | | | | accounting for up to 5 percent of the |
| Harley Davidson motorcycles are unlike any | | | | Company's revenue. The distinctive HD eagle |
| bikes ever produced. | | | | reflects the respect Harley Davidson enjoys |
| | | | from competitors and motorcycle fans. |
| From modest beginnings in 1901, Harley | | | | |
| Davidson Incorporated was the brainchild of | | | | Royal Enfield |
| William Harley who had developed a small, | | | | |
| powerful engine. Like many engine | | | | The pride of British manufacturing companies, |
| manufacturers of the era, these engines were | | | | Royal Enfield has established a reputation |
| intended for use with existing bicycle | | | | that dates back to the mid 1800s. Like many |
| designs, combining motorized power with pedal | | | | early manufacturers of personal |
| power. From a small shop in Milwaukee, | | | | transportation, founder George Townsend focus |
| Wisconsin, Harley and his partner, Arthur | | | | on producing parts for existing bicycle |
| Davidson embarked on a journey that would | | | | designs, and by 1893 was producing and |
| revolutionize the world of motorized | | | | selling complete bicycles under the Enfield |
| transportation. | | | | name. It was not long before Townsend turned |
| | | | the name Enfield and its slogan built like a |
| 1903 saw the introduction of its first | | | | gun into household words across Great |
| production motorcycle. The early | | | | Britain. |
| Harley-Davidson bikes were popular as race | | | | |
| machines. By the end of the decade, Harley | | | | The most endearing product introduction by |
| Davidson was selling a version if its bikes | | | | Royal Enfield has to be the Bullet. With a |
| for use as police vehicles. Shortly | | | | single cylinder, four stroke engine, the 1933 |
| thereafter, The Company introduced a 45 | | | | Bullet sported a dramatic front to rear rake |
| degree V-twin engine design that would | | | | making for truly classic line. World War II |
| represent a style synonymous with | | | | brought a one of a kind bike from Enfield, |
| Harley-Davidson for years to come. | | | | the Flying Flea. Complete with its own |
| | | | parachute and packing cage, the Flying Flea |
| The post-war years saw a rapid expansion in | | | | could be dropped from an aircraft along with |
| production, along with some ownership bumps | | | | the troops provided a means of motorized |
| in the road. The mid 1980s saw ownership | | | | battlefield transport not previously |
| shift from AMF to a group comprised of Harley | | | | available. |
| Davidson management. The Company went public | | | | |
| on the New York Stock Exchange in 1987. The | | | | The Royal Enfield line even included a |
| rest, as they say, is history. | | | | version of the famous red-painted Indian |
| | | | motorcycles, after the company acquired the |
| The big V twin engine configurations were | | | | brand name rights. The RE Indians were |
| reflected in many subsequent designs | | | | discontinued in the 1960s. Intense |
| including the F Head, Flathead, Knucklehead, | | | | competition from Japanese motorcycle |
| Panhead and Shovelhead, all exceeding 1000 | | | | producers during the 1960s and 1970s meant |
| cubic centimeters in displacement. The | | | | the Royal Enfield needed bikes that could |
| smaller V-twin designs reflected a smaller | | | | match the speed and performance of the Asian |
| displacement under 1000 cubic centimeters | | | | bikes. |
| until the introduction of the Evolution and | | | | |
| Ironhead series of engines and are found on | | | | The answer was the Interceptor line of |
| the Sportster X series bikes. | | | | extremely fast motorcycles, with a top speed |
| | | | of over 105 miles per hour and able to cover |
| The V Rod, introduced in 2002, incorporates a | | | | the quarter mile in les than 14 seconds. |
| liquid cooled 1130 cubic centimeter super | | | | Sadly, production could not keep up with |
| bike engine. The VRSC models are unique in | | | | demand, and the Interceptor became the last |
| both style and performance from all of its | | | | of the Enfield line to be produced in |
| predecessors. The 60 degree V twin engine | | | | England. |