1903 Harley-Davidson is founded |
1903 The first Harley-Davidson motorcycle is manufactured |
1905 The "Silent Grey Fellow" nickname coincides with the new standard grey color. |
1907 The first Harley-Davidsons sold for police duty |
1909 First "V-Twin" engine |
1912 First clutch mechanism |
1914 Stepstarter and internal expanding rear brake |
1915 Three speed transmission |
1916 The first issue of "The Enthusiast" publication |
1922 74" Twin engine debuts |
1928 Front wheel brake appears |
1929 WL 45" Twin engine |
1932 45" Servicar |
1936 80" Side Valve Twin engine and the first "Knuckle Head" 61" engine |
1937 William A. Davidson dies |
1941 74" OHV Super Power engine |
1942 Walter Davidson dies at age 65 |
1943 Bill Harley dies at age 66 |
1947 74" OHV Big Twin engine |
1948 74" "Panhead" engine is introduced |
1949 The Hydra-Glide debuts |
1950 Arthur Davidson dies at age 69 |
1957 XLH Sportster |
1958 The Hydra-Glide turns into the Duo-Glide |
1959 XLCH Sportster |
1960 The "Topper," a fiberglass motorscooter, was introduced. |
1960 Harley-Davidson teams up with Italian manufacturer Aeronautica Macchi S.p.A. to produce a line of smaller bikes including the Shortster and Sprint models. |
1965 The Electra-Glide debuts |
1965 George Roeder sets a world land speed record (177.225 m.p.h.) for 250 cc motorcycles on a much modified Harley-Davidson Sprint. |
1965 After being privately held for over 60 years, Harley-Davidson goes public. |
1966 The introduction of the "shovel head" engine |
1967 Electric start Sportster |
1969 Merger with American Machine and Foundry Company (AMF) |
1971 FX 1200 Super Glide |
1972 1000 cc XLH/XLCH Sportster |
1972 First disc brakes on a Harley |
1977 FXS 1200 Low Rider and FLHS |
1978 75th Anniversary models |
1978 FLH 80 Electra-Glide |
1978 First electronic ignition on a Harley |
1979 FXS 80 Low Rider |
1980 FLT rubber mounted engine |
1981 Senior executives at Harley-Davidson purchase the company from AMF. Harley-Davidson once again becomes a privately owned company. |
1983 President Reagan imposes additional tariffs on all Japanese motorcycles 700 cc or larger. |
1983 The Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) is established. |
1984 The Introduction of the "Evolution" engine |
1984 First Softail models and Air Assisted Anti-Drive |
1986 By offering common stock and subordinated notes, Harley-Davidson once again becomes a publically owned corporation. |
1987 In an unprecedented move, Harley-Davidson petitions the ITC for early termination of the five year tariff imposed in 1983. |
1988 Patented "Springer" front-end returns |
1990 Dyna model is introduced |
1991 All Harleys change to five speed transmission |
1992 All Harleys adopt a belt drive |
1992 Harley-Davidson buys a minority interest in the Buell Motorcycle Company |
1993 "90th Anniversary" homecoming in Milwaukee 100,000 est. parade |
1995 First fuel injection models |
1998 Harley-Davidson buys a remaining 49% interest in Buell Motorcycle Company |
1998 Harley-Davidson celebrates its 95th Anniversary. 140,000 plus riders are warmly received by Milwaukee to help with the celebration |
2001 Harley introduces the V-Rod |
|
2003 Happy 100th birthday |