Harley-Davidson celebrates 100 years

Post by **sbp** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 11:39 pm

[align=center]<img src="http://www.lemonizer.com/upload/uploadsAug/Harley8.jpg" title="Born to be wild."></img>[/align]

IT'S been a part of American folklore since the first model hogged the road. It's been glorified on film and in song.

Now the Harley-Davidson motorbike is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and enthusiasts around the world are in "Hog heaven".

In scenes repeated across the US this week, hundreds of thousands of Harley riders headed for Milwaukee – the ride of the century to the party of the century.

No vehicle touches the consciousness as much as H-D, and this weekend the company's birthplace, a city of one million, has almost doubled in size.

Enthusiasts from around the world, including around 1000 from Australian, have ridden from the four corners of the US.

The company describes each road as a "vein leading to the heart", beating to the pulse of the Harley Owners' Group.

The legend began in 1903 when 21-year-old William S. Harley and 20-year-old Arthur Davidson made available to the public their first production motorcycle – a single-cylinder engine on a chassis not much bigger than a bicycle – from a "factory" that was little more than a wooden shed.

To put this achievement into perspective, in 1903 many US homes didn't have power or sewerage, roads were dirt, Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley were touring their Wild West show in Europe, the Wright brothers were about to make the world's first powered flight and Henry Ford was building his first car.

One hundred years later, H-D's traditionally styled V-twins are showing the world how to make serious money out of motorcycle production.

The company, which survived the Depression and narrowly escaped bankruptcy in 1985, has enjoyed record sales for 10 years.

In 1998, it sold motorcycles worth $US1.5 billion. Last year that figure increased to $US3.1 billion.

Add parts and accessories worth $US629 million and general merchandise of $US232 million, and the total is almost $US4 billion.

Confounding its critics, H-D powers on. This year it did not release a stand-alone 2003 commemorative model. It simply applied a special paint scheme and logo to all its model range.

Today and tomorrow the shores of Lake Michigan will host the world's biggest biker bash with concerts, parties and a temporary shopping mall of memorabilia and products.

another link: http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=1423253

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:49 am

You should have seen it, Harleys everywhere all over the city. Saturday, we took the 'stang down to the lakefront to see the masses and it was pretty amazing. My normally loud 'stang didn't seem so loud that day.
Probably the biggest let-down for those guys was when their special "secret" music guest appearance turned out to be Elton John sunday night. Many people then left. What were they thinking?
http://www.onmilwaukee.com/music/articles/elton.html

We'll see them return in another 5 yrs 'cause it brings in a ton of money.

Invisible Evil · Post by **Invisible Evil** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 10:34 am

I need a new source of wheels due to my truck is as old as God, so im tryin to convince the misses to let me get a hog, I will prolly kill my self, but what a way to go!!!

rogue · Post by **rogue** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 10:44 am

Loud, slow, and unexciting. I'd rather get a 200 Mph sport bike than a harley.

Red Dawn · Post by **Red Dawn** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 10:56 am

Originally posted by rogue
Loud, slow, and unexciting. I'd rather get a 200 Mph sport bike than a harley.

Sounds suicidal to me

To each their own but I'd prefer the slow loud Harley myself (if I were to want a Motorcycle) Now if you want something powerful you might want to get something like this.

BossHoss

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 11:17 am

Originally posted by Invisible Evil
I need a new source of wheels due to my truck is as old as God, so im tryin to convince the misses to let me get a hog, I will prolly kill my self, but what a way to go!!!

You'd be better off getting a Kawasaki or a Yamaha.. Much cheaper t fix, and easier to ride.

eGo

sethpa · Post by **sethpa** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 11:35 am

Originally posted by eGoCeNTRoNiX
You'd be better off getting a Kawasaki or a Yamaha.. Much cheaper t fix, and easier to ride. eGo

Unlike Hardley Ablesons', they seldom need fixed

Seriously, they (HD), are much better than they used to be. Just that it's hard to justify the price and upkeep on one. Take the V-Rod for instance, it costs $700 just for a valve adjustment! They have to pull the freakin' engine out of the frame to do it

And then there is the performance issue, I wouldn't mind a big cruiser for an occasional ride, but it would have to be a second or third bike. I'm gonna need a bigger garage.....................

Red Dawn · Post by **Red Dawn** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 11:44 am

Originally posted by eGoCeNTRoNiX
You'd be better off getting a Kawasaki or a Yamaha.. Much cheaper t fix, and easier to ride. eGo

Kawasaki Vulcan

Yamaha Roadstar

Both look like Harleys but I bet both cost a lot less than a Harley

Check out these Customized Roadstars

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 11:47 am

They cost about $9000-$11000 vs. $20-$30

I have a 93 Vulcan 500 w/55k on it, and the most expensive repair in it's history was the belt replacement at $600 It runs like a champ, and will get up and go like it's Ninja counterpart as they have the same engine. Just tops off at a lower speed 115mph..

And I get 55mpg.. eGo

MAC · Post by **MAC** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 1:49 am

I bought a 100th Anniversary Edition Softail Night Train towards the end of July. It's been 25 years since I've owned a motorcycle and I'm really enjoying getting back out on the roads again.

You can buy cheaper and faster motorcycles, but nothing says motorcycle like a Harley-Davidson.

MAC

chottoED · Post by **chottoED** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 2:14 am

god that vulcan is beautiful...
i wonder how much a used one would run for...

Absolut Talent · Post by **Absolut Talent** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 2:49 am

My personal opinions:

Age 18-28- Crotch Rockets
Age 29 and over- Harleys and other cruisers

Those are my age standards for motorcycles. I myself cant wait to get a crotch rocket. A nice speedy go fast bike. I might even stretch it and not get a harley until I turn 30

vwkess · Post by **vwkess** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 6:44 am

Originally posted by Absolut Talent
My personal opinions:

Age 18-28- Crotch Rockets
Age 29 and over- Harleys and other cruisers

Those are my age standards for motorcycles. I myself cant wait to get a crotch rocket. A nice speedy go fast bike. I might even stretch it and not get a harley until I turn 30

boy get off the crack!

There are plenty of us 30 y.o.'s still into crotch rockets!

Actually I do have a cruiser (Vulcan), but thats only because I couldn't beat the price (free!!) Come next spring it will be sold, replaced by a CBR or FZR. You'll see as you get a little older, 30 really isn't old

Ripsnort · Post by **Ripsnort** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 8:24 am

I like the old bikes, here my 1939 KnuckleHead
It's not orginal but i still love it.

sethpa · Post by **sethpa** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 9:22 am

Ripsnort, that is a very nice looking ride you have there

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Harley-Davidson celebrates 100 years

Harley-Davidson celebrates 100 years

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