The Bikers Emporium | Harley Parts and Accessories » harley davidson museum http://thebikersemporium.com Thu, 08 Sep 2011 04:12:10 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Harley Motorcycle: The Beginning http://thebikersemporium.com/harley-motorcycle-beginnin/ http://thebikersemporium.com/harley-motorcycle-beginnin/#comments Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:35:19 +0000 admin http://thebikersemporium.com/?p=214  

 

 

Vintage Harley Motorcycle
Vintage Harley Motorcycle Toy Model

The history of the Harley-Davidson company is essentially a very vivid and eventful one. It all began when William S. Harley, one of the founders of the company, conceptualized a motorbike which had a small engine of only 116cc. the frame was that of a usual pedal-bicycle frame. Harley was only 21 when he first visualized the dream that was to become reality and rock the world for ages to come.

He was joined on his venture by his childhood friend, Arthur Davidson. Together these two created history. Other than this, they boys were also helped by the latter's brother, Walter Davidson. For the following couple of years, these two youngsters built on what they had visualized, in very humble settings. They had a friend called Henry Melk who lent them his north side machine shop in his house. So there is another name, which had, in his own small way, contributed to the making of the Harley dream. This bike was finally completed in 1903. However, there was a small technical glitch because the bike was unable to move up the mountains of Milwaukee without the help of a pedal. And these hills were not even of that great a height. However, with the true spirit of things that characterizes all successful entrepreneurs, the Harley and the Davidson's did not let the failure dampen their spirits and wrote it off as an experiment, which gave them a valuable amount of knowledge.
Immediately after this, they started working on another machine which can be called the first successful prototype of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle. This had a 405 cc engine and 25 cm flywheels which weighed over 13 kilograms. This machine had a frame pattern which was remarkably like the 1903 Milwaukee Merkel bike designed by Joseph Merkel. Finally the making of this bigger engine was a turning point because now the Harley-Davidson was no longer a mechanized bicycle but an actual motorbike. Another man called Ole Evinrude lent the boys a helping hand with the bigger engine. Ole Evinrude was a designer of gas engines for use in automobiles.
This Harley-Davidson was put together in a tiny shed belonging to the Davidson family. The major motorcycle parts were all made in the West Milwaukee rail shops. But this is however not a certain piece of history. Finally, on the 8th of September, 1904, this machine came into use after it participated in a race held in the State Fair Park of Milwaukee. Edward Hildebrand rode it and it came fourth in that event. This is the first official record of a public appearance of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle. 
 
By January 1905, there were advertisements in the "Automobile and Cycle Trade Journal", which offered the engines to the DIY or the do it yourself, bikers. By April, complete Harley-Davidson motorbikes went into production which was however, understandably limited. Check out all of the Harley Davidson history on this site http://thebikersemporium.com and add us to your favorites we have great news articles to come.

 

 

 

 

 

]]> http://thebikersemporium.com/harley-motorcycle-beginnin/feed/ 10 History of Harley Davidson Motorcycles http://thebikersemporium.com/history-of-harley-davidson/ http://thebikersemporium.com/history-of-harley-davidson/#comments Fri, 08 May 2009 03:34:07 +0000 admin http://thebikersemporium.com/?p=165
The Bikers Emporium Feel The Thunder
The Bikers Emporium Feel The Thunder

 

We all know the feel of the wind whipping our face, or the rumble of the engine and the stares from the pavements, if you are one of those blessed with a Harley Davidson. There is however, something more for a Die hard Harley faithful. Forget the museums you visited with your parents as kids, instead of carcasses and skeletons and boring rocks, picture a museum full of motorcycles.

This is in fact real. It is called simply, the Harley Davidson Museum. Located in Wisconsin, United States of America, the museum is replete with its personal collection of Harley Davidsons, other motorcycle memorabilia and its own retail shop. It is indeed a biker’s dream come true. The company joined hands with the Wisconsin state government, and even though it took more than a couple of years to build, the museum is now over 130,000 square feet. It boasts of three buildings and stretches over 20 acres.

The museum was opened to the general public, on July 12th 2008, and ever since then, it has attracted a host of people not only from America, but from all over the world. People are drawn repeatedly to experience the history, products and culture of Harley Davidsons. The museum is a tribute and a celebration of the company’s legacy and the stories associated with its riders and the bike’s sheer passion.

A walk through the museum would reveal a fabulous collection of motorcycles, revealing the history of the people who rode it. These stories are told to an observer through rare photographs, bikers’ apparel, videos and other such artifacts. The display of these vintage bikes along with the rare collection and the stories they tell, immediately prove to an onlooker why freedom and camaraderie is associated with a Harley.

The shop within the museum grounds is another star attraction for the faithful all over the world. The place has a rare collection of Harley Davidson inspired memorabilia, that is virtually unavailable anywhere else in the world. From Harley inspired leather jackets, to posters which reflect the history of these bikes since the past century, to first hand customizations of cell phones and laptops, there is something for every fan.

Something else which is interesting about the museum is, that it offers fans a chance to host the perfect wedding or birthday, the Harley style. They provide those interested, with indoor and outdoor space to celebrate the special day, in a completely Harley Davidson inspired look.

Thus within the walls of this museum, a bikers fantasy comes to life. Every artifact and bike on display is testimony to these legends. The museum proves that a Harley Davidson is more than just a bike. It is a cultural icon.

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