The "Riding My Father-In-Law's Harley" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Riding on my father-in-law Charlie's Harley-Davidson Touring Motorcycle.  Neat bike while you are moving, but quite heavy when you come to a stop if you have to hold up the bike for any length of time.  Carol and I often took rides on the weekend when Charlie wan't using the bike for his own pleasure rides.  A few years earlier I had a Honda 90 which seemed to be like a children's version of a Harley.  Fun to take just a short drive, but nothing like the Harley that Charlie had.  Harley-Davidson Inc. was founded in 1903 as a joint venture between Harley (Williams) an three Davidsons (Walter, Arthur, and William). William Harley was always listed first since he led the effort to design an engine for what was, at first, a motor bicycle.  His friend, Arthur Davidson, helped him build his prototype motorcycle and eventually brought his brothers into the enterprise.  The 1913 model claimed to be the first motorcycle with a kick-starter.  Up until then, motorcycles had to be put on a stand and pedaled like a bicycle to build up compression in the engine before it could start.  Now, the machine can be started with rider in the saddle and both wheels on the ground.  By 1921, Harley-Davidson was the world's leading motorcycle maker.  Today, it has put a third of America's 8.5 million motorcycles on the road.  They're being joined by Harley's new electric motorcycles, which can go from zero to 60 in three seconds.  Quite a feat for an electric device.  But, does it have that good ole Harley-Davidson sound to it!  Can't be called a Harley if it doesn't have that Harley sound to it.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

1914 Harley advertisement