Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Type	Public (NYSE: HOG)
Founded	1903
Founder	William S. Harley Arthur Davidson Walter Davidson William A. A public company usually refers to a company that is permitted to offer its registered securities ( Stock, bonds, etc The New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE) is a Stock exchange based in New York City. An entrepreneur is a person who has possession over a company enterprise, or Venture, and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome William Sylvester Harley (December 29 1880 - September 18 1943 was a co-founder of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Davidson
Headquarters	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Key people	James L. Ziemer (CEO) Thomas E. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the James L Ziemer (born 1951 is the current Chief Executive Officer and President of Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Bergmann (CFO) James A. McCaslin (div. President & div. COO) Sy Naqvi (President, Harley-Davidson Financial Services)
Industry	Recreational vehicles
Products	Motorcycles
Revenue	▲ 8. For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" In North American English the term recreational vehicle, and its acronym RV, are generally used to refer to an enclosed piece of equipment dually used as both In Marketing, a product is anything that can be offered to a Market that might satisfy a want or need MotorCycle is the title of a 1993 album by Rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records. In business revenue or revenues is Income that a company receives from its normal business activities usually from the sale of goods and services 8 billion (USD) (2008)
Employees	9,700 (2006)[1]
Subsidiaries	Buell
Website	www.harley-davidson.com

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (NYSE: HOG, formerly HDI^[2]) is an American manufacturer of motorcycles based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been Employment is a Contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. A subsidiary, in business matters is an entity that is controlled by a bigger and more powerful entity The Buell Motorcycle Company is an American Motorcycle manufacturer based in East Troy Wisconsin and founded by ex- Harley-Davidson engineer A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages The New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE) is a Stock exchange based in New York City. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the MotorCycle is the title of a 1993 album by Rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records. The company sells heavyweight (over 750 cc) motorcycles designed for cruising on the highway. Engine displacement is defined as the total Volume of air/fuel mixture an Engine can draw in during one complete engine cycle it is normally stated in Cubic * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Before adding any more images to this * * page please do carefully consider * * whether they would be mere decoration * * or actually improve Harley-Davidson motorcycles (popularly known as "Harleys") have a distinctive design and exhaust note. They are especially noted for the tradition of heavy customization that gave rise to the chopper-style of motorcycle. A chopper is a radically customized Motorcycle, archetypal examples of which are the customized Harley-Davidsons seen in the 1969 ^{[3] [4]}

Harley-Davidson attracts a loyal brand community,^[5] with licensing of the Harley-Davidson logo accounting for almost 5% of the company's net revenue ($41 million in 2004). A brand community is a Community formed on the basis of attachment to a product or Marque. ^[6] In 2003, the Buell Motorcycle Company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson,^[7] the same year that the Motor Company celebrated its 100th birthday. The Buell Motorcycle Company is an American Motorcycle manufacturer based in East Troy Wisconsin and founded by ex- Harley-Davidson engineer The Motor Company supplies many American police forces with their motorcycle fleets. Police are agents or agencies usually of the executive, empowered to enforce the law and to effect public and social order through the legitimatized use of force ^[8]

Contents 1 History 1.1 The beginning 1.2 World War I 1.3 The 1920s 1.4 The Depression 1.5 World War II 1.6 Small Harleys - Hummers and Aermacchis 1.7 Tarnished reputation 1.8 Restructuring and revival 1.9 Claims of stock price manipulation 1.10 2007 workers' strike 1.11 Agreement in India 2 Harley-Davidson engines 2.1 The Big V-Twins 2.2 The Small V-Twins 2.3 The Revolution engine 3 Model designations 3.1 Current model designations 4 Model families 4.1 Touring 4.2 Softail 4.3 Dyna 4.4 Sportster 4.5 VRSC 4.5.1 VRXSE 5 Environmental record 6 Harley-Davidson culture 6.1 Origin of "Hog" nickname 6.2 Harley-Davidson Riders Club of Great Britain 6.3 Harley Owners Group 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 10 External links

History

The beginning

In 1901, William S. Harley, age 21, drew up plans for a small engine that displaced 7. William Sylvester Harley (December 29 1880 - September 18 1943 was a co-founder of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. 07 cubic inches (116 cc) and had four-inch (102 mm) flywheels. The engine was designed for use in a regular pedal-bicycle frame.

Over the next two years Harley and his boyhood friend Arthur Davidson labored on their motor-bicycle using the northside machine shop at the home of their friend, Henry Melk. It was finished in 1903 with the help of Arthur's brother, Walter Davidson. Upon completion the boys found their power-cycle unable to conquer Milwaukee's modest hills without pedal assistance. Will Harley and the Davidsons quickly wrote off their first motor-bicycle as a valuable learning experiment. ^[9]

Work was immediately begun on a new and improved second-generation machine. This first "real" Harley-Davidson motorcycle had a bigger engine of 24. 74 cubic inches (405 cc) with 9-3/4 inch flywheels weighing 28 pounds. The machine's advanced loop-frame pattern was similar to the 1903 Milwaukee Merkel motorcycle (designed by Joseph Merkel, later of Flying Merkel fame. ) The bigger engine and loop-frame design took it out of the motorized-bicycle category and would help define what a modern motorcycle should contain in the years to come. The boys also received help with their bigger engine from outboard motor pioneer Ole Evinrude, who was then building gas engines of his own design for automotive use on Milwaukee's Lake Street. Ole Evinrude, born Ole Evenrudstuen ( April 19, 1877 — July 12, 1934) was a Norwegian-American inventor famous for the

The prototype of the new loop-frame Harley-Davidson was assembled in a 10- by 15-foot (3 by 5 meter) shed in the Davidson family backyard. Most of the major parts, however, were made elsewhere, including some probably fabricated at the West Milwaukee railshops where oldest brother William A. Davidson was then toolroom foreman. The word toolroom (less often styled tool-room or tool room) has three related senses This prototype machine was functional by 8 September 1904 when it competed in a Milwaukee motorcycle race held at State Fair Park. Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on It was ridden by Edward Hildebrand and placed fourth. This is the first documented appearance of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the historical record. ^[10]

In January 1905, small advertisements were placed in the "Automobile and Cycle Trade Journal" that offered bare Harley-Davidson engines to the do-it-yourself trade. By April, complete motorcycles were in production on a very limited basis. That year the first Harley-Davidson dealer, Carl H. Lang of Chicago, sold three bikes from the dozen or so built in the Davidson backyard shed. (Some years later the original shed was taken to the Juneau Avenue factory where it would stand for many decades as a tribute to the Motor Company's humble origins. Unfortunately, the first shed was accidentally destroyed by contractors in the early 1970s during a clean-up of the factory yard. )

In 1906, Harley and the Davidsons built their first factory on Chestnut Street (later Juneau Avenue). This location remains the Motor Company's corporate headquarters today. Headquarters (HQ denotes the location where most if not all of the important functions of an organization are concentrated The first Juneau Avenue plant was a 40 by 60-foot (18 m) single-story wooden structure. That year around 50 motorcycles were produced.

In 1907, William S. Harley graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in mechanical engineering. Mechanical Engineering is an Engineering discipline that involves the application of principles of physics for analysis Design, Manufacturing That year additional factory expansion came with a second floor and later with facings and additions of Milwaukee pale yellow ("cream") brick. With the new facilities production increased to 150 motorcycles in 1907. The company was officially incorporated that September. They also began selling their motorcycles to police departments around this time, a market that has been important to them ever since. ^[11]

Production in 1905 and 1906 were all single-cylinder models with 26. 84 cubic inch (440 cc) engines. In February 1907 a prototype model with a 45-degree V-Twin engine was displayed at the Chicago Automobile Show. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Although shown and advertised, very few V-Twin models were built between 1907 and 1910. These first V-Twins displaced 53. 68 cubic inches (880 cc) and produced about 7 horsepower (5 kW). This gave about double the power of the first singles. Top speed was about 60 mph (97 km/h). Production jumped from 450 motorcycles in 1908 to 1,149 machines in 1909. ^[12]

By 1911 some 150 makes of motorcycles had already been built in the United States -- although just a handful would survive the 1910s. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

In 1911, an improved V-Twin model was introduced. The new engine had mechanically operated intake valves, as opposed to the "automatic" intake valves used on earlier V-Twins that opened by engine vacuum. Displacing 49. 48 cubic inches (810 cc), the 1911 V-Twin was smaller than earlier twins, but gave better performance. After 1913 the majority of bikes produced by Harley-Davidson would be V-Twin models.

By 1913, the yellow brick factory had been demolished and on the site a new 5-story structure of reinforced concrete and red brick had been built. Begun in 1910, the red brick factory with its many additions would take up two blocks along Juneau Avenue and around the corner on 38th Street. Despite the competition, Harley-Davidson was already pulling ahead of Indian and would dominate motorcycle racing after 1914. Production that year swelled to 16,284 machines.

World War I

In 1917, the United States entered World War I and the military demanded motorcycles for the war effort. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Harleys had already been used by the military in border skirmishes with Pancho Villa but World War I was the first time the motorcycle had been adopted for combat service. Doroteo Arango Arámbula ( June 5 1878 &ndash July 20 1923) better known as Francisco or " Pancho " Villa Harley-Davidson provided over 20,000 machines to the military forces during World War I.

The 1920s

By 1920, Harley-Davidson was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. Their motorcycles were sold by dealers in 67 countries. Production was 28,189 machines.

In 1921, a Harley-Davidson, ridden by Otto Walker, was the first motorcycle ever to win a race at an average speed of over 100 mph (160 km/h). ^{[13] [14]}

During the 1920s, several improvements were put in place, such as a new 74 cubic inch (1200cc) V-Twin, introduced in 1922, and the "Teardrop" gas tank in 1925. A front brake was added in 1928.

In the late summer of 1929, Harley-Davidson introduced its 45 cubic inch flathead V-Twin to compete with the Indian 101 Scout and the Excelsior Super X. The Indian 101 Scout was a motorcycle built by the Indian Motocycle Company from 1928 to 1931 The Excelsior Super X was a motorcycle manufactured by the Excelsior Motor Mfg ^[15]

The Depression

The Great Depression began a few months after the introduction of their 45 cubic inch model. Harley-Davidson's sales plummeted from 21,000 in 1929 to less than 4,000 in 1933. In order to survive, the company manufactured industrial powerplants based on their motorcycle engines. They also designed and built a three-wheeled delivery vehicle called the Servi-Car, which remained in production until 1973. ^[15]

In the mid-'30s, Alfred Rich Child opened a production line in Japan with the 74ci VL, which became Rikuo after the parent company severed its business relations with Harley-Davidson. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. ^[16]

An 80 cubic inch flathead engine was added to the line in 1935, by which time the single cylinder motorcycles had been discontinued. ^[17]

By 1937, all the flathead engines were equipped with the dry-sump oil recirculation system that had been introduced with the 61E and 61EL "Knucklehead" OHV models. This caused the 74 cubic inch V and VL models to be renamed U and UL, the 80 cubic inch VH and VLH to be renamed UL and ULH, and the 45 cubic inch RL to be renamed WL. ^[18]

In 1941, the 74 cubic inch "Knucklehead" was introduced as the F and the FL, replacing the 80 cubic inch flathead UH and ULH models. FL is a model designation used on Harley-Davidson Motorcycles from 1941 to the present ^[18]

World War II

One of only two American cycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression, Harley-Davidson again produced large numbers of motorcycles for the US Army in World War II and resumed civilian production afterwards, producing a range of large V-twin motorcycles that were successful both on racetracks and for private buyers. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

Harley-Davidson, on the eve World War II, was already supplying the Army with a military-specific version of its 45" WL line, called the WLA. The WLA is a model of Harley-Davidson Motorcycle that was produced to US Army specifications in the years during and around World War II. (The A in this case stood for "Army". ) Upon the outbreak of war, the company, along with other manufacturing enterprises, shifted to war work. Over 90,000 military motorcycles, mostly WLAs and WLCs (the Canadian version) would be produced, many to be provided to allies. ^[19]

Shipments to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program numbered at least 30,000. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Lend-Lease (Public Law 77-11 was the name of the program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, The WLAs produced during all years of war production would, unusually, have 1942 serial numbers. Production of the WLA stopped at the end of the war, though it would resume production from 1949 to 1952 due to the Korean War. The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the

The U. S. Army also asked Harley-Davidson to produce a new motorcycle with many of the features of BMW's side-valve and shaft-driven R71. BMW Motorrad, a division of BMW, is a German Motorcycle manufacturer Harley largely copied the BMW engine and drive train and produced the shaft-driven 750 cc 1942 Harley-Davidson XA. BMW Motorrad, a division of BMW, is a German Motorcycle manufacturer The Harley-Davidson XA (Experimental Army was a flat-twin shaft drive motorcycle made by Harley-Davidson for the US Army during World War II. Due to the superior cooling of an opposed twin, Harley's XA cylinder heads ran 100 °F (55 °C) cooler than its V-twins. ^[20] The XA never entered full production: the motorcycle by that time had been eclipsed by the Jeep as the Army's general purpose vehicle, and the WLA—already in production—was sufficient for its limited police, escort, and courier roles. Jeep is an Automobile Marque (and registered trademark of Chrysler. Only 1,000 were made and the XA never went into full production. It remains the only shaft-driven Harley-Davidson ever made.

Small Harleys - Hummers and Aermacchis

See also: Harley-Davidson Hummer

See also: Harley-Davidson Topper

As part of war reparations, Harley-Davidson acquired the design of a small German motorcycle, the DKW RT125 which they adapted, manufactured, and sold from 1947 to 1966. The Hummer was a motorcycle model manufactured by Harley-Davidson from 1955 to 1959 The Topper was the only motor scooter that the Harley-Davidson Motor Company ever produced War reparations refer to the monetary compensation intended to cover damage or injury during a war Dampf Kraft Wagen (steam-driven car or DKW is a historic car and Motorcycle Marque. RT 125 can refer to a model of two-stroke Motorcycle made by DKW in Zschopau in the 1930s, IFA and MZ in Various models were made, including the Hummer from 1955 to 1959, but they are all colloquially referred to as "Hummers" at present. The Hummer was a motorcycle model manufactured by Harley-Davidson from 1955 to 1959 BSA in the United Kingdom took the same design as the foundation of their BSA Bantam. The Birmingham Small Arms Company ( BSA) was a British manufacturer of Vehicles Firearms and Military equipment and still exists as The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The BSA Bantam is a Two-stroke Unit construction Motorcycle that was produced by BSA from 1948 to 1971.

In 1960, Harley-Davidson consolidated the Model 165 and Hummer lines into the Super-10, introduced the Topper scooter, and bought fifty percent of Aeronautica Macchi's motorcycle division. Alenia Aermacchi is a leading company in the design and production of trainers for military pilots ^[21] Importation of Aermacchi's 250 cc horizontal single began the following year. The bike bore Harley-Davidson badges and was marketed as the Harley-Davidson Sprint. ^[22][23]

After the Pacer and Scat models were discontinued at the end of 1965, the Bobcat became the last of Harley-Davidson's American-made two-stroke motorcycles. The two-stroke Internal combustion engine differs from the more common Four-stroke engine by completing the same four processes (intake compression combustion exhaust The Bobcat was manufactured only in the 1966 model year. ^[24]

Harley-Davidson's entry in the lightweight two-stroke market for 1967 was the M-65, built by Aermacchi and offered in base form with a semi-step thru frame and tank and as the M-65S (Sport) with a larger tank (later used on the 1968 Rapido).

The company re-entered the 125 cc two-stroke market in 1968 with the introduction of the Aermacchi-built Rapido, a 125 cc bike to replace the American-made 2-stroke bikes. ^[25]

The engine of the Sprint was increased to 350 cc in 1969 and would remain that size until 1974, when it was replaced by the 250 cc two-stroke SX. ^[26]

Harley-Davidson purchased full control of Aermacchi's motorcycle production in 1974 and continued making two-stroke motorcycles there until 1978, when they sold the facility to Cagiva. Cagiva is an Italian Motorcycle manufacturer It was founded in 1950 by Giovanni Castiglioni in Varese, originally producing small metal components ^[21]

Tarnished reputation

In 1952, following their application to the US Tariff Commission for a 40% tax on imported motorcycles, Harley-Davidson was charged with restrictive practices. The United States International Trade Commission ( ITC) is an independent non- partisan, quasi- Judicial, federal agency of the United ^[27] Hollywood also damaged Harley's image with many outlaw biker gang films produced from the 1950s through the 1970s, following the 1947 Hollister, CA biker riot on July 4th. Hollister is a city in and the County seat of San Benito County, California, United States. "Harley-Davidson" for a long time was synonymous with the Hells Angels and other outlaw motorcyclists. The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club ( HAMC) is a world-wide " one-percenter " motorcycle gang whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training

In 1969, American Machinery and Foundry (AMF) bought the company, streamlined production, and slashed the workforce. American Machine and Foundry or AMF was founded in 1900 and was once one of the largest recreational equipment companies in the United States. This tactic resulted in a labor strike and a lower quality of bikes. Strike action, often simply called a strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal by Employees to perform work. The bikes were expensive and inferior in performance, handling, and quality to Japanese motorcycles. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Sales declined, quality plummeted, and the company almost went bankrupt. Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay their Creditors Creditors may file a bankruptcy petition against ^[28] The "Harley-Davidson" name was mocked as "Hardly Ableson", "Hardly Driveable," and "Hogly Ferguson", ^{[29] [30]} and the nickname "Hog" became pejorative. Words and phrases are pejorative if they imply disapproval or contempt

Restructuring and revival

In 1981, AMF sold the company to a group of thirteen investors led by Vaughn Beals and Willie G. Davidson for $80 million. ^[31] Inventory was strictly controlled using the Just In Time system. Just-in-time ( JIT) is an inventory strategy implemented to improve the Return on investment of a Business by reducing in-process Inventory and

In the early eighties, Harley-Davidson claimed the Japanese manufacturers were dumping motorcycles on the US market. After Harley-Davidson rejected aid from Japanese manufacturers, the US International Trade Commission imposed in 1983 a 45% tariff on imported bikes and bikes over 700 cc engine capacities specifically to protect Harley-Davidson. ^[32][33]

Rather than trying to match the Japanese, the new management deliberately exploited the "retro" appeal of the machines, building motorcycles that deliberately adopted the look and feel of their earlier machines and the subsequent customizations of owners of that era. Many components such as brakes, forks, shocks, carburetors, electrics and wheels were outsourced from foreign manufacturers and quality increased, technical improvements were made, and buyers slowly returned. To remain profitable Harley continues to increase the amount of overseas made parts it uses, while being careful not to harm its valuable "American Made" image.

The "Sturgis" model, boasting a dual belt-drive, was introduced. By 1990, with the introduction of the "Fat Boy", Harley once again became the sales leader in the heavyweight (over 750 cc) market. At the time of the Fat Boy model introduction a story rapidly spread that its silver paint job and other features were inspired by the World War II American B-29 bomber; and that the Fat Boy name was a combination of the names of the atom bombs (Fat Man and Little Boy) that were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima respectively. "Fat Man" is the codename for the Atomic bomb that was detonated over Nagasaki, Japan, by the United States on August 9 Little Boy was the Codename of the Atomic bomb, developed via the "Manhattan Project" which was dropped on Hiroshima, on August 6 1945 by the ( is the Capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. The Japanese city of ( is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshū, the largest of Japan 's However, the Urban Legend Reference Pages lists this story as an urban legend. Snopes (ˈsnoʊps also known as the Urban Legends Reference Pages, is a Web site that is the most widely-known resource for validating or debunking Urban legends An urban legend or urban myth is a form of modern Folklore consisting of stories thought to be factual by those circulating them ^{[34] [35]}

1994 saw the replacement of the FXR frame with the Dyna, though it was revived briefly in 1999 and 2000 for special limited editions.

In 1999, Ford Motor Company added a Harley-Davidson edition to the Ford F-Series F-150 line, complete with the Harley-Davidson logo. Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following For the 1999-present F-250 and higher models see Ford Super Duty. This truck was an extended-cab for model year 1999. In 2000, Ford changed the truck to a crew cab and in 2002 added a super-charged engine (5. 4L) which continued until 2003. In 2004, the Ford/Harley was changed to a Super-Duty, which continues through 2006. Ford again produced a Harley-Davidson Edition F-150 for their 2006 model-year, as well.

Building started on $75 million 130,000 square-foot (12,000 m²) Harley-Davidson Museum in the Menomonee River Valley on June 1, 2006. The Harley-Davidson Museum opened to the public on July 12 2008 The Menomonee Valley or Menomonee River Valley is a U-shaped land formation along the southern bend of the Menomonee River in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. It is expected to open in 2008 and will house the company's vast collection of historic motorcycles and corporate archives, along with a restaurant, café and meeting space. ^[36]

Claims of stock price manipulation

During its period of peak demand, during the late 1990s and early 2000s, Harley-Davidson embarked on a program of expanding the number of dealerships throughout the country. At the same time, its current dealers typically had waiting lists that extended up to a year for some of the most popular models. Harley-Davidson, like the auto manufacturers, records a sale not when a consumer buys their product, but rather when it is delivered to a dealer. Therefore, it is possible for the manufacturer to inflate sales numbers by requiring dealers to accept more inventory than desired in a practice called channel stuffing. Channel stuffing is the Business practice where a company or a Sales force within a company inflates its sales figures by forcing more products through a Distribution When demand softened following the unique 2003 model year, this news lead to a dramatic decline in the stock price. In April 2004 alone, the price of HOG shares dropped from over $60 to under $40. Immediately prior to this decline, retiring CEO Jeffrey Bleustein profited $42 million on the exercise of employee stock options. An employee stock option is a Call option on the common stock of a company issued as a form of non-cash compensation. ^[37] Harley-Davidson was named as a defendant in numerous class action suits filed by investors who claimed they were intentionally defrauded by Harley-Davidson's management and directors. In Law, a class action or a representative action is a form of Lawsuit where a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court ^[38] By January 2007, the price of Harley-Davidson shares reached $70.

2007 workers' strike

On February 2, 2007, upon the expiration of their union contract, about 2,700 employees at Harley-Davidson Inc. 's largest manufacturing plant in York, PA went on strike after failing to agree on wages and health benefits. York, known as the White Rose City (after the Wars of the Roses) is a city located in South Central Pennsylvania. ^[39][40] During the pendency of the strike, the company refused to pay for any portion of the striking employees' health care. ^[41]

The day before the strike, after the union voted against the proposed contract and to authorize the strike, the company shut down all production at the plant. The York facility employs more than 3,200 workers, both union and non-union. ^[42]

Harley-Davidson announced on February 16, 2007, that it had reached a labor agreement with union workers at its largest manufacturing plant, a breakthrough in the two-week-old strike. ^[43] The strike disrupted Harley-Davidson’s national production and had ripple effects as far away as Wisconsin, where 440 employees were laid off, and many Harley suppliers also laid off workers because of the strike. ^[44]

Agreement in India

In a landmark agreement reached during discussions between the U.S. Trade Representative, Susan Schwab, and the Minister for Commerce and Industry of India, Kamal Nath, on April 12, 2007 at New Delhi, Harley-Davidson motorcycles will be allowed access to the Indian market in exchange for the export of Indian mangoes. The Office of the United States Trade Representative, or USTR, is the United States government agency responsible for developing and recommending United States Susan C Schwab (born March 23, 1955) is currently United States Trade Representative. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry administers two departments the Department of Commerce and the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion Shri Kamal Nath (born 18 November 1946) is an Indian politician and the current Union Cabinet Minister of Commerce and Industry New Delhi (नई दिल्ली ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ نئی دلی is the Capital city of India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Mangoes belong to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous species of tropical fruiting Trees in the Flowering plant family Anacardiaceae India had not specified emission standards for motorcycles over 500 cc displacement, effectively prohibiting the import of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, along with most models of other manufacturers, such as Yamaha Motor Co. Emission standards are requirements that set specific limits to the amount of Pollutants that can be released into the environment Ltd. and Suzuki Motor Corporation. ^[45] The company placed a hold on plans to export their motorcycles to India, due to import duties of 60% and taxes of 30%, which effectively doubled the cost of the motorcycles for the Indian consumer. ^[46]

Harley-Davidson engines

Main article: Harley-Davidson engine timeline

The classic Harley-Davidson engines are two-cylinder, V-twin engines with the pistons mounted in a 45° "V". A cylinder is the central working part of a Reciprocating engine, the space in which a Piston travels Configurations "True V-twin" vs V-2 There is some ambiguity regarding what defines a V-twin which arose from 180 degree "V" engines (see The crankshaft has a single pin, and both pistons are connected to this pin through their connecting rods. The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an Engine which translates reciprocating Linear A piston is a component of Reciprocating engines Pumps and Gas compressors It is located in a cylinder and is made gas-tight by Piston In a reciprocating Piston engine, the connecting rod or conrod connects the Piston to the crank or Crankshaft. ^[3]

This design causes the pistons to fire at uneven intervals, the consequence of an engineering tradeoff to create a large, powerful engine in a small space. This design choice is entirely vestigial from an engineering standpoint, but has been sustained because of the strong connection between the distinctive sound and the Harley-Davidson brand. This design, which is covered under several United States patents, gives the Harley-Davidson V-twin its unique choppy "potato-potato" sound. The United States Patent and Trademark Office ( PTO or USPTO) is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues Patents to To simplify the engine and reduce costs, the V-twin ignition was designed to operate with a single set of points and no distributor, which is known as a dual fire ignition system, causing both spark plugs to fire regardless of which cylinder was on its compression stroke, with the other spark plug firing on its cylinder's exhaust stroke, effectively "wasting a spark. A distributor is a device in the Ignition system of an Internal combustion engine that routes High voltage from the Ignition coil to the " The exhaust note is basically a throaty growling sound with some popping. Growling or growl is a low Guttural Vocalization produced by Predatory animals as a Warning to others as a sign of Aggression

The 45 degree design of the engine thus creates a plug firing sequencing as such: The first cylinder fires, the second (rear) cylinder fires 315° later, then there is a 405° gap until the first cylinder fires again, giving the engine its unique sound. ^[47]

Harley-Davidson has used various ignition systems throughout its history - be it the early points/condenser system, (Big Twin up to 1978 and Sportsters 1970 to 1978), magneto ignition system used on 1958 to 1969 Sportsters, early electronic with centrifugal mechanical advance weights, (all models 1978 and a half to 1979), or the late electronic with transistorized ignition control module, more familiarly known as the black box or the brain, (all models 1980 to present).

Starting in 1995, the company introduced Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) as an option for select models. ^[48] With the introduction of the 2007 product line, EFI is now standard on all models, including Sportsters. ^[49]

In 1991, Harley-Davidson began to participate in the Sound Quality Working Group, founded by Orfield Labs, Bruel and Kjaer, TEAC, Yamaha, Sennheiser, SMS and Cortex. TEAC Corporation (ティアック is an electronics company based in Japan. Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co KG is a private German company that makes Microphones Headphones Telephony accessories and Avionics This was the nation's first group to share research on psychological acoustics. Later that year, Harley-Davidson participated in a series of sound quality studies at Orfield Labs, based on recordings taken at the Talladega Superspeedway, with the objective to lower the sound level for EU standards while analytically capturing the "Harley Sound. Talladega Superspeedway is a Motorsports complex located in Talladega Alabama United States " This research resulted in the bikes that were introduced in compliance with EU standards for 1998.

On 1 February 1994, the company filed a sound trademark application for the distinctive sound of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine: "The mark consists of the exhaust sound of applicant's motorcycles, produced by V-twin, common crankpin motorcycle engines when the goods are in use". Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) A sound trademark is a non-conventional Trademark where Sound is used to perform the trademark function of uniquely identifying the commercial origin of Nine of Harley-Davidson's competitors filed comments opposing the application, arguing that cruiser-style motorcycles of various brands use a single-crankpin V-twin engine which produce a similar sound. ^[50] These objections were followed by litigation. In August 2001, the Company dropped efforts to federally register its trademark. However, legal counsel for the company claims that the Harley-Davidson still holds trademark rights in the sound even without a registration. ^[51]

The Big V-Twins

• F-head, also known as JD, pocket valve and IOE (intake over exhaust), 1914-29 (1,000 ccm), and 1922-29 (1,200 ccm)
• Flathead, 1930-1948 (1,200 ccm) and 1935-41 (1,300 ccm). The intake over exhaust (IOE engine also known as F-head and pocket valve, is a Four-stroke Internal combustion engine of primitive design A flathead engine or sidevalve engine (sometimes called a flatty) is an Internal combustion engine with valves placed in the engine block
• Knucklehead, 1936-47 61 cubic inches (1,000 ccm), and 1941-47 74 cubic inches (1,200 ccm)
• Panhead, 1948-52 61 cubic inches (1,000 ccm), and 1948-65, 74 cubic inches (1,200 ccm)
• Shovelhead, 1966-85, 74 cubic inches (1,200 ccm) and 82 cubic inches (1,345 ccm) since late 1978
• Evolution (aka "Evo" and "Blockhead"), 1984-99, 80 cubic inches (1,340 ccm)
• Twin Cam 88 (aka "Fathead") 1999-2006, 88 cubic inches (1,443 ccm)
• Twin Cam 88B (counter balanced version of the Twin Cam 88) 2000-2006, 88 cubic inches (1,443 ccm)
• Twin Cam 96, 2007-present, 96 cubic inches (1,584 ccm)

The Small V-Twins

• D Model, 1929-31, 750 cc
• R Model, 1932-36, 750 cc
• W Model, 1937-52, 750 cc, solo (2 wheel) frame only)
• G (Servi-Car) Model, 1932-73, 750 cc
• K Model, 1952-53, 750 cc
• KH Model, 1954-56, 900 cc
• Ironhead, 1957-1971 (900 cc), 1971-85 (1000 cc)
• Evolution, 1986-present, 883, 1,100 and 1,200 cc

The Revolution engine

The Revolution engine is based on the VR-1000 Superbike race program, developed by Harley-Davidson's Powertrain Engineering team and Porsche Engineering in Stuttgart, Germany. The knucklehead was a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Engine, so named because of the distinct shape of the Rocker covers (valve covers The panhead was a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Engine, so nick-named because of the distinct shape of the rocker covers The Shovelhead was an Air-cooled, 45 degree V-twin Motorcycle Engine manufactured from 1966 to 1984 by the Harley Davidson Motor Company The Evolution engine (popularly known as Evo or Blockhead) is an Air-cooled, 45 degree V-twin Motorcycle Engine manufactured The Harley-Davidson Twin Cam 88 engine was released for the 1999 model year in September 1998 The Harley-Davidson Twin Cam 88 engine was released for the 1999 model year in September 1998 The Harley-Davidson Twin Cam 88 engine was released for the 1999 model year in September 1998 The Evolution engine (popularly known as Evo or Blockhead) is an Air-cooled, 45 degree V-twin Motorcycle Engine manufactured The Motorcycle Safety Foundation groups motorcycles into the following three separate classes street, off-road, and dual-sport. Porsche SE or Porsche ( German, ˈpɔɹʃə is a German manufacturer of automobiles which is majority-owned by the Porsche and Piëch Stuttgart (ˈʃtʊtgaɐ̯t is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. It is a liquid cooled, dual overhead cam, internally counterbalanced 60 degree V-twin engine with a displacement of 69 cubic inches (1130 cc), producing 115 horsepower (86 kW) at 8250 rpm at the crank, with a redline of 9000 rpm. ^{[52] [53]} It was introduced for the new V-Rod line in 2001 for the 2002 model year, starting with the single VRSCA (V-twin V-Twin Racing Street Custom) model. ^{[54] [55]}

A 1250 cc Screamin' Eagle version of the Revolution engine was made available for 2005, and was present thereafter in a single production model from 2005-2007. In 2008, the 1250 cc Revolution Engine became standard for the entire VRSC line. Harley-Davidson claims 123 horsepower (92 kW) at the crank for the 2008 VRSCAW model. The VRXSE Destroyer is equipped with a stroker (75mm crank) Screamin’ Eagle 1,300 cubic centimetres (79 cu in) Revolution Engine, producing over 165 horsepower (123 kW).

Model designations

Harley model designations are a sequence of letters and numbers, combined in limited ways. The sequences can be long, as in the 2006 model designation FLHTCUSE.

The first letter may be one of the following:

E, J, K ('50s small twin), F, U, V (Big Twin), D, G, R, W (Small Twin), X (Sportster), or V (VRSC)

Letters are appended singly or in pairs, as follows:

B (Belt Drive), C (Classic or Custom), D (Dyna Glide), DG (Disk Glide), E (Electric start), F (Fat Boy (1990-present) or Foot-shift (1972 and prior)), H (High compression), L (Hydra Glide forks), LR (Low Rider), P (Police), R (Race or Rubber-mount), S (Sport, Springer, or Standard), SB (Single belt final drive), ST (Softail), T (Touring), WG (Wide Glide), I (Fuel injection), SE (Screamin’ Eagle), U (Ultra)

Custom Vehicle Operations models can also have a number (2,3,4) added. The term softail refers to Motorcycles and Bicycles that feature a moveable rear suspension system with springs or Shock absorbers to absorb bumps

Note that these conventions for model designations are broken regularly by the company.

Current model designations

• Sportster With the exception of the street-going XR1000 of the 1980s, all Sportsters made for street use have the prefix XL in their model designation. For the Sportster Evolution engines used since the mid 1980s, there have been two engine sizes. Motorcycles with the smaller engine are designated XL883, while those with the larger engine were initially designated XL1100. When the size of the larger engine was increased from 1,100 cc to 1,200 cc, the designation was changed from XL1100 to XL1200. Subsequent letters in the designation refer to model variations within the sportster range, eg. the XL883C refers to an 883 cc Sportster with cruiser or custom styling, while the XL1200S designates the now-discontinued 1200 Sportster Sport.
• Dyna models utilize the big-twin engine (F), small-diameter telescopic forks similar to those used on the Sportster (X), and the Dyna chassis (D). Therefore, all Dyna models have designations that begin with FXD, e. g. , FXDWG (Wide Glide) and FXDL (Low Rider).
• Softail models utilize the big-twin engine (F) and the Softail chassis (ST).
  • Softail models that use small-diameter telescopic forks similar to those used on the Sportster (X) have designations that begin with FXST, e. g. , FXSTB (Night Train), FXSTD (Deuce) and FXSTS (Standard).
  • Softail models that use large-diameter telescopic forks similar to those used on the touring bikes (L) have designations beginning with FLST, e. g. , FLSTF (Fat Boy), FLSTC (Heritage Softail Classic) and FLSTN (Softail Deluxe - "N" is for Nostalgic).
  • Softail models that use Springer forks with a 21-inch (530 mm) wheel have designations that begin with FXSTS, e. g. , FXSTS (Springer Softail) and FXSTSB (Bad Boy).
  • Softail models that use Springer forks with a 16-inch (410 mm) wheel have designations that begin with FLSTS, e. g. , FLSTSC (Springer Classic)
• Touring models use Big-Twin engines and large-diameter telescopic forks. All Touring designations begin with the letters FL, e. g. , FLHR (Road King) and FLTR (Road Glide)
• Revolution models utilize the Revolution engine (VR), and the street versions are designated Street Custom (SC). After the VRSC- prefix common to all street Revolution bikes, the next letter denotes the model, either A (base V-Rod), B (discontinued), D (Night Rod), R (Street Rod), SE (CVO Special Edition), or X. Further differentiation within models are made with an additional letter, e. g. , VRSCDX denotes the Night Rod Special.
  • The factory drag bike, the VRXSE Destroyer, uses X instead of SC to denote a non-street bike and SE to denote a CVO Special Edition

Model families

Modern Harley-branded motorcycles fall into one of five model families: Touring, Softail, Dyna, Sportster and VRSC. Model families are distinguished by the frame, engine, suspension, and other characteristics.

Touring

See also: Harley-Davidson FL

The touring family, also known as "dressers", includes three Road King models, and five Glide models offered in various trim. FL is a model designation used on Harley-Davidson Motorcycles from 1941 to the present The Road Kings have a "retro cruiser" appearance and most models are equipped with a large clear windshield. Road Kings are reminiscent of big-twin models from the 1940s and '50s. Glides can be identified by their full front fairings. Most Glides sport a unique fairing referred to as the "Batwing" due to its unmistakable shape. The Road Glide has a different front end, referred to as the "Sharknose". The Sharknose includes a unique, dual front headlight. Touring models are distinguishable by their large luggage, rear coil-over air suspension and are the only models to offer full fairings with Radios/CBs. All touring models use the same frame, first introduced with a Shovelhead motor in 1980, and carried forward with only modest upgrades to this day. The frame is distinguished by the location of the steering head in front of the forks and was the first H-D frame to rubber mount the drivetrain to isolate the rider from the vibration of the big V-twin. Although all touring models weigh in excess of 800 lb (360 kg). , they are remarkably easy to handle at low speeds and high, and give the most comfortable and relaxing ride of any Harley. The frame was modified for the 1994 model year when the oil tank went under the transmission and the battery was moved inboard from under the right saddlebag to under the seat. In 1997, the frame was again modified to allow for a larger battery under the seat and to lower seat height. In 2007, Harley introduced a the 96 cubic inch motor, as well the 6 speed transmission to give the rider better speeds on the highway.

In 2006, Harley introduced the FLHX, a bike designed by Willie G. Davidson to be his personal ride, to its touring line. ^[56]

In 2008, Harley added anti-lock braking systems and cruise control as a factory installed option on all touring models. ^[57]

Softail

Main article: Softail

These big-twin motorcycles capitalize on Harley's strong value on tradition. The term softail refers to Motorcycles and Bicycles that feature a moveable rear suspension system with springs or Shock absorbers to absorb bumps With the rear-wheel suspension invisible on the bottom of the frame, they are visibly similar to the "hardtail" choppers popular in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as from their own earlier history. A chopper is a radically customized Motorcycle, archetypal examples of which are the customized Harley-Davidsons seen in the 1969 In keeping with that tradition, Harley offers Softail models with "springer" front ends and "heritage" styling that incorporate design cues from throughout their history.

Dyna

Main article: Harley-Davidson Super Glide

Dyna motorcycles feature big-twin engines and traditional styling. They can be distinguished from the Softail by the traditional coil-over suspension that connects the swingarm to the frame, and from the Sportster by their larger engines. On these models, the transmission also houses the engine's oil reservoir.

In 2007, Harley-Davidson released a line-up of five Dyna models: Super Glide, Super Glide Custom, Street Bob, Low Rider, and Wide Glide.

In 2008, the "Fat Bob" was re-introduced to the Dyna line-up featuring aggressive styling, including a new 2-1-2 exhaust, twin headlamps, a 180 mm rear tire and a 130 mm front tire.

Sportster

Main article: Harley-Davidson Sportster

Introduced in 1957, the Sportster is the longest-running model family in the Harley-Davidson lineup. The Sportster is a line of Motorcycles produced continuously since 1957 by the Harley-Davidson Motor Company The Sportster is a line of Motorcycles produced continuously since 1957 by the Harley-Davidson Motor Company They were conceived as racing motorcycles, and were popular on dirt and flat-track race courses through the 1960s and '70s. Smaller and lighter than the other Harley models, contemporary Sportsters make use of 883 or 1,200 cc Evolution engines and, though often modified, remain similar in appearance to their racing ancestors.

Up until the 2003 model year, the engine on the Sportster was rigidly mounted to the frame. The 2004 Sportster had a new frame accommodating a rubber-mounted engine. Although this made the bike heavier and reduced the available lean angle, it reduced the amount of vibration transmitted to the frame and the rider. ^[58] The rubber mounted engine provides a significantly smoother ride for rider and passenger. For a bike which isn't really thought of for long rides or trips, the smoother ride allows for this opportunity.

In the 2007 model year, Harley-Davidson celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Sportster and produced a collectors' edition called the XL50 1200 Custom, of which only 2000 were made for sale worldwide. Each motorcycle was individually numbered and came in one of two colours, Mirage Pearl Orange or Vivid Black. Also in 2007, electronic fuel injection was introduced to the Sportster family, and the Nightster model was introduced.

VRSC

Main article: Harley-Davidson VRSC

Introduced in 2001, the VRSC family bears little resemblance to Harley's more traditional lineup. Competing against Japanese and American muscle bikes and seeking to expand its market appeal, the "V-Rod" makes use of an engine developed jointly with Porsche that, for the first time in Harley history, incorporates fuel injection, overhead cams, and liquid cooling. Porsche SE or Porsche ( German, ˈpɔɹʃə is a German manufacturer of automobiles which is majority-owned by the Porsche and Piëch Fuel injection is a system for mixing fuel with air in an Internal combustion engine. Overhead camshaft, commonly abbreviated to OHC, Valvetrain configurations place the engine Camshaft within the Cylinder heads above the The V-Rod is visually distinctive, easily identified by the 60-degree V-Twin engine, the radiator and the hydroformed frame members that support the round-topped air cleaner cover. Hydroforming (or hydramolding) is a cost-effective way of shaping malleable Metals such as Aluminum or Brass into lightweight structurally Based on the VR-1000 racing motorcycle, it continues to be a platform around which Harley-Davidson builds drag-racing competition machines. The V-Rod has gathered an enthusiastic following in the U. S. , Europe and Australia, and an annual Rally at the Kansas City production facility has been organized by Max Millender and the members of a 21,000+ member strong internet discussion forum www.1130cc.com. Bill Davidson has presented Mr Millender with a signed airbox cover to recognize the contribution the forum has made to the VRSC platform which continues to evolve with models like the Night Rod Special (VRSCDX).

In 2008, Harley added anti-lock braking systems as a factory installed option on all VRSC models. ^[57] Harley also increased the displacement of the stock engine from 1130cc (69ci) to 1250cc (73. 6ci), which had only been previously available from Screamin' Eagle, and added a slipper clutch as standard equipment.

VRSC Models Include:

VRSCA: V-Rod (2002-2006), VRSCAW: V-Rod (2007-2008), VRSCB: V-Rod (2004-2005, VRSCD:Night Rod (2006-2008), VRSCDX: Night Rod Special (2007-2008), VRSCSE: Screamin' Eagle CVO V-Rod (2005), VRSCSE2: Screamin' Eagle CVO V-Rod (2006), VRSCR: Street Rod (2006-2007), VRSCX: Screamin' Eagle Tribute V-Rod (2007).

VRXSE

The VRXSE V-Rod Destroyer is Harley-Davidson's production drag racing motorcycle, constructed to run the quarter mile in under ten seconds. It is based on the same revolution engine that powers the VRSC line, but the VRXSE uses the Sceamin' Eagle 1300cc "stroked" incarnation, featuring a 75mm crankshaft, 105mm Pistons, and 58mm throttle bodies.

The V-Rod Destroyer is not a street legal motorcycle.

Environmental record

The Environmental Protection Agency conducted emissions-certification and representative emissions test in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 2005. Subsequently, Harley-Davidson produced an "environmental warranty. " The warranty warrants the first and following owners after, that each vehicle is designed and built free of defects in materials and workmanship that cause the vehicle to not meet EPA standards. ^[59] In 2005, the EPA and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection confirmed Harley-Davidson to be the first corporation to voluntarily enroll in the One Clean-Up Program. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (often abbreviated PA DEP or just DEP is state agency in the U This program is designed for the clean-up of the affected soil and groundwater at the former York Naval Ordnance Plant. The program is backed by the state and local government along with participating organizations and corporations. ^[60]

Paul Gotthold, Director of Operations for the EPA, congratulated the Motor Company:

“

“Harley-Davidson has taken their environmental responsibilities very seriously and has already made substantial progress in the investigation and cleanup of past contamination. Proof of Harley's efforts can be found in the recent EPA determination that designates the Harley property as ‘under control’ for cleanup purposes. This determination means that there are no serious contamination problems at the facility. Under the new One Cleanup Program, Harley, EPA, and PADEP will expedite the completion of the property investigation and reach a final solution that will permanently protect human health and the environment. ”[60]

”

Harley-Davidson has also purchased most of Castalloy, which is a South Australian producer of cast motorcycle wheels and hubs. The South Australian government has set forth "protection to the purchaser (Harley-Davidson) against environmental risks. "^[61]

Harley-Davidson culture

According to a recent Harley-Davidson study, in 1987 half of all Harley riders were under age 35. Easy Rider, a 1969 American Road movie written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Terry Southern. ^[62] Now, only 15% of Harley buyers are under 35,^[62] and as of 2005, the median age had risen to 46. In Probability theory and Statistics, a median is described as the number separating the higher half of a sample a population or a Probability distribution 7. ^{[63][64][65][66]}

The income of the average Harley-Davidson rider has risen, as well. In 1987, the median household income of a Harley-Davidson rider was $38,000. In Probability theory and Statistics, a median is described as the number separating the higher half of a sample a population or a Probability distribution By 1997, the median household income for those riders had more than doubled, to $83,000. The median household income is commonly used to provide data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of Households earning less ^[62]

Harley-Davidson motorcycles has long been associated with the sub-cultures of the:

• Biker
• Motorcycle club
• Outlaw Bikers/One Percenters
• Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

Origin of "Hog" nickname

Beginning in 1920, a team of farm boys, including Ray Weishaar, who became known as the "hog boys," consistently won races. MotorCycle is the title of a 1993 album by Rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records. A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training Lawrence Ray Weishaar ( September 9, 1890 - April 13 1924) was a Class A Racing Champion in the 1910s and 1920s The group had a hog, or pig as their mascot. Pigs, also called hogs or' swine', are Ungulates which have been domesticated as sources of food leather and similar products since ancient times Pigs, also called hogs or' swine', are Ungulates which have been domesticated as sources of food leather and similar products since ancient times The term mascot – defined as a term for any person animal or object thought to bring Luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common Following a win, they would put the pig (a real one) on their Harley and take a victory lap. A victory lap (also lap of honor) is a term used in Motorsports to describe an extra Lap of the Race track after the conclusion of a ^[67] In 1983, the Motor Company formed a club for owners of its product taking advantage of the long-standing nickname by turning "hog" into the acronym H. A nickname is a Name of an entity or thing that is not its Proper name. Acronyms, initialisms, and alphabetisms are Abbreviations that are formed using the initial components in a phrase or name O. G. , for Harley Owners Group. Harley-Davidson attempted to trademark "hog", but lost a case against an independent Harley-Davidson specialist, The Hog Farm of West Seneca, NY, ^[68] in 1999 when the appellate panel ruled that "hog" had become a generic term for large motorcycles and was therefore unprotectable as a trademark. A trademark or trade mark, represented by the symbols ™ and ®, or mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual In Law, an appeal is a process for requesting a formal change to an official decision A genericized trademark (also known as a generic trademark or proprietary eponym) is a Trademark or Brand name that has become the colloquial ^[69]

On August 15, 2006, Harley-Davidson Inc. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. had its NYSE ticker symbol changed from HDI to HOG. ^[70]

Harley-Davidson Riders Club of Great Britain

The Harley-Davidson Riders Club of Great Britain (est 1949) was the first British riders club (as opposed to motorcycle club) and organized national rallies and ride-outs from the outset. The 1982 rally began a popular run of events, probably due to the good fortune of having William G. Davidson attending his first rally outside the USA, in Great Britain. He is thought to have been more than curious to discover how the secret "Evolution Motor" had found its world exclusive on the cover of the spring edition of the HDRCGB magazine, the "Harleyquin", but having a forgiving nature, Willie G. returned in 1984, along with Vaughn Beals and Len Thomson to officially show off the Evolution engine by bringing a test ride fleet to the second Brighton International Super Rally run by H.D.R.C.G.B.. The demonstration rides were the first at any European Rally. The club now has circa 1800 members throughput the U. K. U. S. A. and Europe not forgetting their founder member in Australia. The club is split into regions and most hold rallies during the summer culminating in the clubs International Rally.

Harley Owners Group

Harley-Davidson established the Harley Owners Group (abbreviated H. The Harley Owners Group (HOG is a club for Harley-Davidson Motorcycle owners O. G. ) in 1983 in response to a growing desire by a new breed of Harley riders for an organized way to share their passion and show their pride. In 1991, H. O. G. went international, with the first official European H. O. G. Rally in Cheltenham, England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland ^[71] Today, more than one million members and more than 1400 chapters worldwide make H. O. G. the largest factory-sponsored motorcycle organization in the world. ^[72]

H. O. G. benefits include organized group rides, exclusive products and product discounts, insurance premium discounts, and the Hog Tales newsletter. A one year full membership is included with the purchase of a new, unregistered Harley-Davidson. ^[73]

See also

• Harley-Davidson Museum
• Motorcycling
• Motorcycle safety

Notes

References

• Bach, Sharon, & Ostermann, Ken, eds. 1993. The Legend Begins: Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, 1903-1969 (Harley-Davidson, Inc. )
• Mitchel, D. (1997). Harley-Davidson Chronicle - An American Original. Publications International Limited. ISBN 0-7853-2514-X.  
• Wagner, Herbert, 2003. At the Creation: Myth, Reality, and the Origin of the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, 1901-1909 (Wisconsin Historical Society Press)

External links

• Official Harley-Davidson Inc. Corporate website
• Library of Congress celebrating 100 years Harley-Davidson
• Harley-Davidson VIN decoder
• Harley-Davidson Model 42WLA ' Liberator '
• Labor Hall of Fame Honorees (2004)

The Wisconsin Historical Society (formerly the State Historical Society of Wisconsin) is simultaneously a private membership and a state-funded organization whose purpose is

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