The Harley-Davidson Marvel

Ask anyone who makes the best motorcycles and they'll respond with Harley-Davidson. The name conjures up sleek bikes with amazing speed, agility and pride in ownership. Once, you'd see these very expensive bikes ($11,000 plus) and grungy bikers riding them with names like The Outlaws and Hell's Angels. Times have changed.

Where did all this begin? In 1901, Arthur Davidson, 20, and William Harley, 21, had a small wooden shed in their backyard. They began tinkering with the idea of taking the "work out of bicycling." Harley came up with a blueprint of an engine that could fit on a bike. They were so enthused about their project, they went to the shed and began experimenting with old bicycles until they had an engine they believed would work. This would afford tireless transportation and it went faster. They kept working until in 1903, they had a prototype of their first motorcycle which was purchased by Harley's friend. By 1904, they produced three motorcycles and the first dealership was started in Chicago by C.H. Lang. In 1906 to 1907, they were manufacturing 150 bikes a year. This same year, the police force started purchasing Harley-Davidsons giving them speed to apprehend the criminals.

The Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Co. never looked back and even during the depression, they were selling. In World War I and II, they did their patriotic duty by sending their bikes overseas for the troops. This turned out to be a brilliant idea as they began picking up Asian dealerships. The shops hired hundreds of people and they built plants to manufacture parts for their cycles. This idea between two friends blossomed into a thriving business that still works over a 100 years later.