Harley Davidson

Harley Davidson isn’t your traditional automobile manufacturer. Since its origin, the company has been manufacturing some of America’s favorite motorcycles since the early 1900s. Harley Davidson motorcycles are a staple of American motorist culture. Keep reading to learn about how the company got started, its sales, and the models they have currently available.

How the Company Got Started

In 1903, William Harley and Arthur Davidson – two childhood best friends – took their fascination with bicycles and turned it into a company. As they brainstormed ideas for their first motorcycle in a 10×15 foot shed, the friends completed their first prototype in the same year. However, there wasn’t just one Davidson. Arthur Davidson’s two brothers, William and Walter, ended up joining the company shortly after it began.

After their first model was released, they began developing another one with a bigger, better engine. The next model was released in 1904, participating in races and other recreational events. In 1905, they released the Harley-Davidson Model No. 1. The first bikes produced by Harley Davidson were sold by Carl H. Lang in Chicago after they were exported from Milwaukee. The company was incorporated in 1907, shortly after the first factory was built in 1906 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This factory was where Harley and the Davidson brothers produced some of their most famous early motorcycles.

When World War I broke out, the United States military was the company’s biggest customer. They purchased equipment to use in the war. Other sectors of the government like the Postal Service (1914) and nationwide police departments also used Harley Davidson motorcycles to facilitate their jobs.

After the War, each decade saw new models of Harley Davidson. In fact, most dealers were promised a new model every year from the company for a significant part of the company’s history.

One moment in history propelled the company into a full-on brand – when they decided to sponsor a famous racing team called “The Wrecking Crew”. As their fame grew from this incident, they began producing lifestyle items like clothing and more. Harley Davidson also has a riding academy and an insurance company.

The Logo

The original logo of the Harley Davidson company was classic, with a silver backing.

The black and white writing outlined the name of the company and the words “motor” and “cycles” on the top and bottom of it. In the 1950s, the logo was changed to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary. This was proudly stated, along with the phrase “American Made” on the front of a chrome emblem.

Since the 1980s, the logo has remained the same. Orange was added as an accent color, as well as bringing back the traditional black and white color scheme.

Sales

Harley Davidson is known for having consistent sales across the globe. According to Harley Davidson Investor Relations, the company sold 103,650 units in the United States in 2020. This was a slight decrease from the 132,868 units sold in 2018. A decrease in sales was seen in every geographic region that Harley Davidson models are sold in (United States, Canada, EMEA/Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America). The decline in 2020 is presumably from the economic impact of the global pandemic, but that is only speculation.

Many Different Models

Harley Davidson has a wide selection of motorcycles available for purchase.

There are several different categories that models can fall under:

• Sport – “A category created by the venerable Sportster. Iconic design, authentic sound. These bikes are built for carving mountain roads, and blasting through city streets.
• Cruise – “Authentic heritage meets modern technology for power, style, and the unadulterated riding experience – around town or along country roads.”
• Grand American Touring – “The category we’ve created from the ground up. Go the distance, in style. Discover the wide open world and freedom for the soul on bikes only Harley-Davidson could build.”
• Adventure Touring – “Where touring becomes detouring, and everything is a road.”
• Trike – “Roll with confidence, comfort, and head-turning custom style on three wheels.”

Here’s a list of the models currently available:

Model	Avg Asking Price	Picture	Description
Harley Davidson Sportster S	New: $15,499		Sport
Harley Davidson Iron 883	New: $11,249		Cruiser
Harley Davidson Forty-Eight	New: $12,299		Cruiser
Harley Davidson Softail Standard	New: $13,949		Cruiser
Harley Davidson Street Bob 114	New: $15,349		Cruiser
Harley Davidson Fat Bob 114	New: $18,330		Cruiser
Harley Davidson Low Rider S	New: $17,530		Cruiser
Harley Davidson Low Rider ST	New: $21,749		Cruiser
Harley Davidson Fat Boy 114	New: $19,530		Cruiser
Harley Davidson Heritage Classic	New: $20,799		Cruiser
Harley Davidson Electra Glide Standard	New: $19,429		Grand American Touring
Harley Davidson Road King	New: $19,929		Grand American Touring
Harley Davidson Road Glide	New: $22,249		Grand American Touring
Harley Davidson Street Glide	New: $22,249		Grand American Touring
Harley Davidson Road King Special	New: $23,429		Grand American Touring
Harley Davidson Road Glide Special	New: $27,449		Grand American Touring
Harley Davidson Street Glide Special	New: $27,449		Grand American Touring
Harley Davidson Road Glide Limited	New: $28,729		Grand American Touring
Harley Davidson Ultra Limited	New: $29,169		Grand American Touring
Harley Davidson Road Glide ST	New: $29,999		Grand American Touring
Harley Davidson Street Glide ST	New: $29,999		Grand American Touring
Harley Davidson CVO Street Glide	New: $41,899		Grand American Touring
Harley Davidson CVO Road Glide	New: $41,899		Grand American Touring
Harley Davidson CVO Road Glide Limited	New: $44,899		Grand American Touring
Harley Davidson Pan America 1250	New: $17,319		Adventure Touring
Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Special	New: $19,999		Adventure Touring
Harley Davidson Freewheeler	New: $28,499		Trike
Harley Davidson Tri Glide Ultra	New: $35,699		Trike
Harley Davidson CVO Tri Glide	New: $49,999		Trike

All photos from www.harley-davidson.com.

Most Popular Model

According to RideNow Powersports, in 2020, the most popular models of Harley Davidson were the Street Glide and the Street Glide Special. These models can get up to 111 lb-ft of torque, meaning they have plenty of power to get you across the road. Coming in a close second are the Road Glide and the Road Glide Special.

Geographic Popularity

Harley Davidson is perhaps the most well-recognized name for motorcycles across the globe. The company has seen immense success since its humble beginnings. Harley Davidson models are sold worldwide, meaning there are very few parts of the world where they cannot be purchased. They have factories in York, Pennsylvania; Bawal, India; Pulak Daeng, Thailand; Manaus, Brazil; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Sustainability

Sustainability is very important to the Harley Davidson company, especially because they come from such humble beginnings. They focus on recognizing “the interdependence between healthy societies, and prospering, inclusive economies.” They also focus on inclusion, bringing a positive impact to local communities, and “creating a path to net zero.”

Another large part of their sustainability efforts is focused on their local community of Milwaukee. They are part of the Hunger Task Force Farm, which is a farm that provides food to hundreds of local food pantries in the Milwaukee area.

Safety

Safety enhancements are a large part of the Harley Davidson Experience. New models can be equipped with:

• Electronically Linked Braking
• Cornering Electronically Linked Brakes
• Anti-Lock Braking System
• Cornering Anti-Lock Braking System
• Drag-Torque Slip Control System
• Cornering Drag-Torque Slip Control System
• Traction Control System
• Cornering Traction Control System
• Vehicle Hold Control
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Looking to sell a Harley Davidson for Cash?

After learning all about how valuable Harley Davidson models are, are you looking to sell your old one? If so, let us help you. We can help you get the best value for your money with our services, leaving you with enough funds to purchase a brand new Harley Davidson vehicle with ease. For more information on how to sell your Harley Davidson motorcycle with us, contact us here.