Country of Origin:
United States
Founder:
William S. Harley, Arthur Davidson, Walter Davidson, William A. Davidson
Best Known For:
V-twin cruisers, touring icons, H-D culture; also LiveWire electric spinoff
Company History
Founded in Milwaukee in 1903, Harley-Davidson grew from backyard shed to global symbol. Early board-trackers and military machines proved durability; postwar big twins defined American road culture with a cadence and silhouette that became shorthand for freedom. The company professionalized long-distance comfort—Electra Glide fairings, air shocks, and later sophisticated infotainment—while keeping a mechanical identity built on a 45° V-twin heartbeat. Harley also navigated reinvention: the Evolution engine restored reliability in the 1980s; rubber mounting tamed vibes; and fuel injection, ABS, and ride-by-wire brought modernity. The brand’s culture—H.O.G. rides, dealer events, customization—turns ownership into community. Recent decades saw expansion into liquid-cooled performance (Revolution X) and true adventure/sport segments (Pan America, Sportster S), while LiveWire broke ground in electric motorcycling. Historically, Harley’s significance extends beyond machines: it’s a maker of rituals and myth, exporting an American idea of the open road. The tension between heritage and innovation defines each new model year, but the throughline is tactile connection—torque-rich roll-on, slow idle, and a sense that the bike has a pulse.
