| Harley Davidson. The name means motorcycles. In | | | | watching greatness drive by.They figure prominently in |
| business for over a hundred years, the company is | | | | the major rallies, the Daytona in Florida in March, the |
| universally acknowledged as the manufacturer of | | | | Laconia in New Hampshire in June and the Sturgis in |
| some of the world's finest motorcycles, and justly | | | | South Dakota in August. Thousands of Harley owners |
| so.Beginning in the mind of William Harley and the | | | | attend and there are inevitably a few dropped jaws at |
| backyard of his friend, Arthur Davidson, the pair | | | | the sight of some of the customized versions.The |
| created a 'motorized bicycle' that has evolved into the | | | | Harley Owners Group, H.O.G., founded in 1983, now |
| standard for fine two-wheeled transportation.Founded | | | | has over 1,000 chapters with over a million members |
| in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, their first bike didn't even have | | | | worldwide. Many don't even own a bike. But the |
| enough power to make it up the small hills of the town | | | | passion for this exemplar of motorcycle engineering is |
| without pedal assistance. The pair were undaunted. | | | | the same, even so. You don't have to own a Rolls |
| Within a few years they were producing vehicles for | | | | Royce to appreciate one as an example of |
| the military fighting WWI and it's been the standard for | | | | excellence in motoring design.Beyond the bikes |
| military and police bikes ever since.From 50 | | | | themselves, there are co-branded jackets, helmets |
| motorcycles produced at the original factory in 1906, | | | | and hundreds more items carrying the Harley Davidson |
| the company has grown to produce millions that are | | | | winged emblem recognized the world over. Though |
| sold around the world.'Harley', 'Choppers', 'Hogs' and | | | | they contribute a modest percentage to the over $5 |
| other nicknames became attached over the years. | | | | billion in annual revenue, the advertising is priceless. As |
| Choppers are bikes that have a front fork angle | | | | if anyone needed to be told that Harley Davidson |
| extended, moving the handlebars back. 'Hogs' came | | | | makes motorcycles!There are thousands of Harley |
| into being when live pigs were ridden around on the | | | | Davidson forums online - three times as many as |
| back seat after winning a race. But whatever you call | | | | there are for Yamaha. One of the few serious |
| them, Harley Davidson motorcycles - with the | | | | competitors for the crown of motorcycle design. |
| exception of a short-lived hiccup in the 1970s - have | | | | BMW, Victory, Honda... many strive - some come |
| always been the gold standard of bikes.Their large, | | | | close - but Harley Davidson remains the champion. A |
| powerful engines and distinctive pipe sounds make | | | | title they are unlikely to relinquish anytime soon.After all, |
| them recognizable before they even round the corner. | | | | there's only room for one at the summit of the tallest |
| Seeing one cements the impression that the viewer is | | | | peak. |