Harley-Davidson, King Of Bikes
Beginning in the mind of William Harley and the backyard of his friend, Arthur Davidson, the pair created a 'motorized bicycle' that has evolved into the standard for fine two-wheeled transportation. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, their first bike didn't even have enough power to make it up the small hills of the town without pedal assistance. The pair were undaunted. Within a few years they were producing vehicles for the military fighting WWI and it's been the standard for military and police bikes ever since. From 50 motorcycles produced at the original factory in 1906, the company has grown to produce millions that are sold around the world. 'Harley', 'Choppers', 'Hogs' and other nicknames became attached over the years. Choppers are bikes that have a front fork angle extended, moving the handlebars back. 'Hogs' came into being when live pigs were ridden around on the back seat after winning a race. But whatever you call them, Harley-Davidson motorcycles - with the exception of a short-lived hiccup in the 1970s - have always been the gold standard of bikes. Their large, powerful engines and distinctive pipe sounds make them recognizable before they even round the corner. Seeing one cements the impression that the viewer is watching greatness drive by. They figure prominently in the major rallies, the Daytona in Florida in March, the Laconia in New Hampshire in June and the Sturgis in South Dakota in August. Thousands of Harley owners attend and there are inevitably a few dropped jaws at the sight of some of the customized versions. The Harley Owners Group, H.O.G., founded in 1983, now has over 1,000 chapters with over a million members worldwide. Many don't even own a bike. But the passion for this exemplar of motorcycle engineering is the same, even so. You don't have to own a Rolls-Royce to appreciate one as an example of excellence in motoring design. Beyond the bikes themselves, there are co-branded jackets, helmets and hundreds more items carrying the Harley-Davidson winged emblem recognized the world over. Though they contribute a modest percentage to the over $5 billion in annual revenue, the advertising is priceless. As if anyone needed to be told that Harley-Davidson makes motorcycles! There are thousands of Harley-Davidson forums online - three times as many as there are for Yamaha, one of the company's few serious competitors for the crown of motorcycle design. BMW, Victory, Honda... many strive - some come close - but Harley-Davidson remains the champion. A title they are unlikely to relinquish anytime soon. After all, there's only room for one at the summit of the tallest peak. |
Sponsored Ads:Related Articles:
Mountain Biking / Different Types Of Mountain Bikes Motorcycling / Motorcycle Events Bowling / Bowling History News / Chargers Live For Now As They Face Pats Martial Arts / The Basics Of Tae Kwon Do Mountain Biking / How To Use A Chain Tool Darts / Darts Shirt Excercise Equipment / Exercise Equipment Treadmill Dirt Biking / Dirt Bike History Martial Arts / Chinese Martial Arts BodyBuilding / What Is A Creatine Body Building Supplement? Lacrosse / The Spirit Of International Lacrosse Mountain Biking / Learning A Lot From Mountain Biking Forums Tennis / Tennis Court Construction - The Basics Soccer / Funny Soccer Also In This Category:
Motorcycling - Engine Types Part Ii - Honda, Bikes For All Styles - Motorcycle Events - Motorcycling -- Engine Types Part I - Picking The Right Bike Part Iv - American Victory Motorcycles - Picking The Right Bike Part Iii - The Basics Essential Gear - Picking The Right Bike Part I - Great Us Routes For Great Rides - The Adventure Begins - How To Choose Tires Part I - Picking The Right Bike Part Ii - Motorcycling -- The Basics The Bike - The Best Routes Around The World Currently Online :3 member(s), 21 guest(s): Clockwork, PrehistoricSwimmer, SurfsUp, Ask Jeeves, Crawler.de, Google, MSN.com, Cobion.com, Slurp Search : |
No comments yet
beef moab allergy include shops bonus cotton flag l fights guards african management amateur drills workouts language city repeat daring ensure market helps choose study races handers phone department white weights food horse bikini nuns revival diadry marker trash programs skirt daily goal pain park heritage harm charity interceptor united reduce
Categories: Become A Fitness Trainer Bicycling Muscle Pilates Sports Supplements Walking For Life Coaching/Consulting Body Table Tennis Get A Six-Pack Workout Boxing or Martial Arts Getting Rid of Love Handles Healthy Back Sports Therapy Diving Exercise Fitness Self Defense Sky Diving Sports Memorabilia Swimwear Weight Loss - Without Dieting Body Building Kayaking Sports Coaching Paintball Fitness Martial Arts Eliptical Trainers Snowmobiling Mountain Biking Exercise Snowboarding Sparring Gear Exercise Whey Protein Swimming Sky Diving Snorkeling Skiing Scuba Diving Running Rock Climbing Mountain Biking Lacrosse Excercise Equipment Dirt Biking Darts Bowling Abdominal Training Sports Memorabilia Formula 1 Athlete Yoga Home Gyms BodyBuilding Motorcycling Extreme Sports Paint Ball Hunting Boxing Tennis Hockey Baseball Football Golf Soccer Basketball