| When we think of the business empires that were | | | | Marlon Brando and later, in the now cult movie, Easy |
| started in garages, images of computer whiz-kids | | | | Rider with Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson, the Harley |
| immediately come to mind. But the trend of giant Oaks | | | | Davidson name became synonymous with rebellion |
| from little acorns goes back much further than this. As | | | | and illegality. What we view today as an integral part |
| far as motorcycles are concerned, they don't come | | | | of what makes a Harley special, was, at the time, |
| much bigger than Harley Davidson and Honda, who as | | | | damaging sales of the bikes and threatening the very |
| the pioneers of the motorcycle culture held a | | | | future of the company. Things got worse in 1969, |
| commonality in that their dreams were born on | | | | when the company was bought by American |
| different sides of the globe from a dislike of bikes. By | | | | Machinery and Foundry. AMF attempted to streamline |
| bikes, I mean of course, the pedal variety. In 1903 | | | | production resulting in a labor strike that let to the |
| William Harley and Arthur Davidson with the help of | | | | manufacture of sub-standard machines. There |
| Arthurs brother, Walter, took their first steps on the | | | | unreliability became a standing joke and the bikes |
| road to glory in an attempt to conquer the hills of | | | | gained nicknames such as 'hardly driveable' and 'hogly |
| Milwaukee with a motor powered bicycle. Their first | | | | ferguson' It was from this last nickname that the riders |
| attempts failed, but by 1904 they had improved their | | | | of Harleys would later be called 'Wild Hogs'. It would |
| design enough to be able to enter a race at the state | | | | take a group of thirteen investors to lead the recovery |
| fair. They came fourth, and within two years had | | | | in the fortune of Harley Davidson motorcycles. Bought |
| moved from their garage to their first company | | | | in 1981 from AMF, they implemented new |
| factory address. The address in Chesnut Street, now | | | | manufacturing protocols and regained the reliabilty |
| Juneau Avenue, is still their corporate headquarters | | | | standards of the companies early models. Funnily |
| today. Although separated by a generation, Soichiro | | | | enough though, it was the depiction of the bikes |
| Honda also began his career surrounded by bicycles. | | | | between the 50's and 70's that would finally give |
| His father, a blacksmith by trade also owned a bicycle | | | | Harleys the cult status they hold today. They say that |
| repair shop where Soichiro grew up with a fascination | | | | 'What doesn't kill you, will make you stronger'. Well, |
| for all things mechanical. After a six year | | | | whilst Marlon, Peter and Jack's portrayals came close |
| apprenticeship on an auto repair shop in Tokyo | | | | to ending this American icon, it was the cult status of |
| Soichiro returned home to set up his own auto repair | | | | the era and these films, that would endure to provide |
| shop but it was his adaption skills in adding a piston | | | | the maturing 'baby boomers' with their piece of |
| engine to a bicycle that would start him on the road to | | | | nostalgia. Harley Davidson became the custom bike to |
| success. By the time that The Honda motor Company | | | | own through the nineties and its stock price soared. No |
| was formed, the Harley Davidson Motor Company | | | | longer the evil machine of rebellion, the bikes had |
| was a world leader in motorcycle production. They | | | | become the symbol of a generation of achievers |
| had supplied custom bikes to the army through two | | | | looking to recreate the image of their teenage heroes. |
| World Wars until the Jeep took over as the utility | | | | In todays 24/7 society, with Blackberrys and pagers, |
| vehicle of choice. In 1952 under increasing competition , | | | | mobiles and handhelds, hitting the road on a Harley, |
| Harley Davidson applied for a 40% import tariff on | | | | with nothing but the sound of the exhaust in your ear, |
| foreign motorcycles. The application led to charge of | | | | is the new dream, for a new generation looking to |
| restrictive practices against the company. This would | | | | escape their 100mph lifestyle, by doing 120mph alone |
| be the first of a string of events that would lead the | | | | on the open road instead! Go Hogs! |
| company into decline during the following decades. | | | | When it comes to Harley Davidson parts , |
| Through Hollywoods portrayal of the bikes in outlaw | | | | merchandise, Harley Davidson Motorcycles, |
| biker movies such as The Wild One in 1953 starring | | | | lookcyclesusa is the place to shop. |