1901
- In Milwaukee, William Harley,
21, and Arthur Davidson, 20, began
experiments on "taking the
work out of bicycling." They
were soon joined by Arthur's
brothers, Walter and William.
1902
- The 1902 prototype was a 10.2ci,
(167cc), single with 2.125" X
2.875" bore and stroke with a
5" flywheel. [It would blow
your hat off in a good breeze plus
the almost 25mph it could attain.]
1903
- The company Harley-Davidson was
founded. Many changes were made to
the engine design before its
builders were satisfied. After the
new looped frame was finalized,
they were ready to begin
production.
1903 - The first
Harley-Davidson motorcycle is
manufactured: a 25 cubic inch
(410cc) atmospheric-inlet-valve
single-cylinder. Only 3
Harley-Davidson motorcycles were
made in 1903.
1904/1905
- Production began in a shed
behind the Davidson family home.
The machine was a 30 cubic inch
(494cc) single which was later
nicknamed: The "Silent Grey
Fellow" nickname coincides
with the new standard grey color.
1906
- Harley-Davidson erected its
first building at the current
Juneau Avenue site in 1906.
Catalogs are produced to advertise
the new Silent Gray Fellow.
1907
- Harley-Davidson incorporated in
1907. A prototype V-twin
motorcycle was built. Although
only 150 motorcycles were made
this year, 1907 saw the first
Harley-Davidsonฎ sold for police
duty.
1909
- The trademark 45 degree V-Twin
engine, introduced in 1909,
displaced 49.5 cu in and produced
seven horsepower. Top speed: 60
mph. 1909 production was truly
massive compared to previous years
(almost 8 times the 1907
production rate) at 1,149
motorcycles.
1912
- First clutch mechanism.
1913
- The original 28' x 80' factory
had grown to 297,110 square feet.
Harley-Davidson began to dominate
racing events. 1913 production:
12,904 motorcycles.
1914
- Stepstarter and internal
expanding rear brake.
1915
- Three speed transmission.
1916
- The first issue of "The
Enthusiast" publication.
1916
- 1917 - 1918 - After
Harley-Davidson motorcycles had
proven their military value in
border skirmishes with Pancho
Villa, they were quickly called to
duty when the U.S. entered WWI.
Some 20,000 cycles would see duty
before the war's end.
1920
- Harley-Davidson became the
largest motorcycle manufacturer in
the world, boasting dealers in 67
countries. Harley-Davidson
motorcycle development was
evolutionary rather than
revolutionary with side-valve
machines replacing
inlet-over-exhaust designs in the
late 1920s.
1920 production: 28,189
motorcycles.
1921
- In February 1921, on a Fresno,
CA., board track, a
Harley-Davidson became the first
motorcycle ever to win a race with
an average speed over 100 mph.
1922
- 74" Twin engine debuts.
1925
- The debut of the teardrop gas
tank.
1928
- Front wheel brakes were
introduced dramatically improving
the
safety and handling of
Harley-Davidson's cycles.
1929
- After the stock market crash of
October 1929, Harley-Davidson
sales suffered with everyone
else's in the industry. This year
saw the introduction of the first
45 ci (750cc) side-valve V-twins,
the "D" series. These
used the same frame as the
singles, which was made possible
by mounting the generator
perpendicular to the engine. Early
Forty-fives
lacked the power of their
competition, the Indian Scout.
1932
- The 45ci Servicar model was
introduced. Cost $450
1933
- The depression hit
Harley-Davidson very hard. By
1933,
production in Milwaukee had
dropped to 3,700 vehicles.
1936
- Harley-Davidson wasted no time
building momentum out of the
depression, introducing its EL
model, featuring the 61 ci
(1000cc) overhead valve engine,
also known as the
"Knucklehead." This
engine, termed the "61 OHV"
in factory literature and called
the Sixty-one in every day circles
was a mid-season 1936 model. This,
in the opinion of many, is the
motorcycle that saved
Harley-Davidson. At that time, for
the first time, a major American
motorcycle company was building a
big motorcycle with overhead
valves (this coming shortly after
the major engineering difficulties
of the 1929 Forty-five and the
1930 Seventy-four. Also introduced
this year was the 80ci side valve
twin engine. Despite the specter
of the depression Harley-Davidson
produced almost 10000 motorcycles
in 1936.
1937
- William A. Davidson dies.
1941
- Almost immediately after the
Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor,
Harley-Davidson's entire
motorcycle output was produced for
Allied use.
By the end of World War II, 90,000
WLA army-version motorcycles had
been built and shipped.
1942
- Walter Davidson dies at age 65.
1943
- Bill Harley dies at age 66.
1947
- 74" OHV Big Twin engine.
1948
- Harley-Davidson introduced a new
74 cu in. engine with hydraulic
valve lifters and aluminum heads.
The "Panhead" was born.
1948 production: 31,163
motorcycles.
1949
- The Hydra-Glide debuts.
1950
- Arthur Davidson dies at age 69.
1953
- Harley-Davidson celebrates its
50th anniversary while its oldest
and closest competitor, Indian,
went out of business, leaving
Harley-Davidson as the sole
survivor in a once overcrowded
American motorcycle marketplace.
Harley-Davidson expanded its line
to include two-stroke engines and
even a scooter. 1953 production:
14,050 motorcycles.
1957
- XLH Sportster debuts.
1958
- The Duo Glide (based on the
earlier Hydra-Glide model) was
introduced, featuring a hydraulic
rear shock suspension to go with
the hydraulically dampened front
fork. Also in 1958, Carroll
Resweber won the first of four
consecutive AMA Grand National
Championships.
1959
- XLCH Sportster.
1960
- The "Topper," a
fiberglass motor scooter, was
introduced. Harley-Davidson teams
up with Italian manufacturer
Aeronautica Macchi S.P.A. to
produce a line of smaller bikes
including the Shortster and Sprint
models. Italian-built lightweights
were sold in America under the
Harley-Davidson name. The Topper
featured a pull-cord starting
mechanism much like that of a
lawn-mower.
1963
- Willie G. Davidson joins
Harley-Davidson as design
director.
1965
- George Roeder set a world land
speed record of 177.225 mph for
250CC motorcycles on a modified
Harley-Davidson Sprint. Bart
Markel, aboard a Harley, won the
second of his three AMA Grand
National Championships. With the
addition of an electric starter,
the Duo Glide became the Electra
Glide in 1965, which was also the
last year of the "Panhead"
engine. Harley-Davidson became a
publicly-held company when it
issued stock in 1965.
1966
- The introduction of the
"shovel head" engine.
Production: 36,310 motorcycles.
1967
- Electric start Sportster.
1969
- Merger with American Machine and
Foundry Company (AMF).
1971
- FX 1200 Super Glide, considered
the first true factory custom. Joe
Smith, riding a drag bike powered
by a single Harley-Davidson motor,
was the first to break the
nine-second barrier in motorcycle
drag racing.
1972
- 1000 cc XLH/XLCH Sportster.
First disc brakes on a Harley.
1974/75
- Chassis manufacturing and final
assembly operations moves to a
plant in York, Pa. Engine and
transmission operations remained
in Milwaukee, along with the
corporate headquarters. 1975
production: 75,403 motorcycles.
1976/78
- Continuing the Harley-Davidson
tradition of racing dominance, Jay
"Springer" Springsteen
won the AMA Grand National
Championship in 1976, 1977 and
1978.
1977
- FXS 1200 Low Rider and FLHS.
1978
- In 1978 Harley-Davidson sold the
Italian operation (the old
Aermacchi company) and the sales
of Italian motorcycles with the
Harley-Davidson name was halted.
1978
- 75th Anniversary models debuts.
1978
- FLH 80 Electra-Glide debuts.
1978
- First electronic ignition on a
Harley.
1979
- FXS 80 Low Rider debuts.
1980
- The 80 cu in FLT Tour Glide,
with five-speed transmission,
oil bath enclosed rear chain and a
rubber-mounted engine (the
predecessor to today's
Harley-Davidson touring
motorcycles) was introduced.
1981
- Senior executives at
Harley-Davidson purchase the
company from AMF. Harley-Davidson
once again becomes a privately
owned company. With improved
manufacturing and quality process,
many of the old flaws of the HD
design were resolved. A new image
was forming.
1983
- President Reagan imposes
additional tariffs on all Japanese
motorcycles 700 cc or larger.
1983
- The Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.)
is established.
1984
- The Introduction of the
"Evolution" engine
debuts. The first Softail models
and Air Assisted Anti-Drive.
1986
- By offering common stock and
subordinated notes,
Harley-Davidson once again becomes
a publicly owned corporation.
1987
- In an unprecedented move,
Harley-Davidson petitions the ITC
for early termination of the five
year tariff imposed in 1983.
1988
- Patented "Springer"
front-end returns.
1989
- Spartanburg, SC Chapter # 4813
is Chartered!
1990
- Dyna model is introduced.
1991
- All Harleys change to five speed
transmission.
[1984
present *The Evolution Engine]
(First years)
1984 ----------FXST
1984 ----------FXRDG only year
1986 ----------FXR
re-introduced, FLST Heritage
Softail
1987 ----------FXLR Low Rider
Custom
1988 ----------FXSTS Springer
Softail
1990 ----------FLSTF Fat Boy
1991 ----------FXDB Dyna Glide
Sturgis
1992 ----------FXDB Daytona Dyna
Glide only year
1992 ----------FXDC Super Glide
Dyna Custom
1993 ----------FXDWG Dyna Wide
Glide, FXDL Dyna Low Rider
1995 ----------FXSTSB Bad Boy,
FLHR Road King
Dyna
Glide:
FXD Dyna Super Glide
FXDL Dyna Low Rider
FXDS-CONV Dyna Convertible
FXDWG Dyna Wide Glide
FXDX Dyna Super Glide Sport
Softail:
FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic
FLSTF Fat Boy
FLSTS Heritage Springer
FXST Softail Standard
FXSTB Night Train
FXSTD Softail Deuce New
Model
FXSTS Springer Softail
Touring:
FLHR/FLHRI Road King Fuel
injection option
FLHRCI Road King Classic
FLHT Electra Glide Standard
FLHTC/FLHTCI Electra Glide Classic
FLHTCUI Ultra Classic Electra
Glide
FLTR/FLTRI Road Glide
.
A
great many people over the years
have become suitably confused by
Harley-Davidson's model
designations. And rightfully so.
The alpha-designations merely
exist, the letters seemingly drawn
out of thin air.
Today,
even though we have only two basic
engine designs to deal with, the
Sportster X and big twin F, the
number of letters for one model
would do credit to a bowl of soup.
For example, the 1995 model line
included the FLHTCI and the FXSTSB
- mouthfuls both.
Let
us analyze these. First, the
FLHTCI bagger. The F stands for
the medium compression 74-inch OHV
engine introduced in 1941; the L
stood for the slightly more
powerful "Special Sport
Solo" version. The H was
tacked on in 1955, indicating the
"Super Sport Solo." In
1978 the 80-inch engine was
introduced as an option, and by
1981 the F model designation meant
an 80-incher. The T was added in
1983 to indicate that this was a
touring machine with bags and
batwing fairing, and the C also
came in that year to show that
this model had "classic"
looks and a higher price tag. The
I is the first use of that letter,
and is alphabetical proof that
this model is fuel-injected rather
than carbureted.
Got
all that?
Now
the FXSTSB. The F has been
demonstrated. The X shows that
this big twin had the lighter,
Sportster-type front end
inaugurated in 1971. The ST (in
this case those letters have to
stand together) stands for the
Softail chassis design, introduced
in 1984. The second S is the
Springer front end, intro-Ed in
1988. The B is for the new 1995
model, the Bad Boy.
Confused?
And rightfully so. While all these
letters might not make much sense
to the average Harley enthusiast,
they help a lot in the parts
department - especially when
prefaced by a year, such as an
1984 FXRT.
Often
the first alpha-designation a
Harley enthusiast interested in
Harley history hears is about
someone's JD model, indicating the
74-inch V-twin introduced in 1921,
but the lettering goes back long
before that.
Up
to 1908, there was only one Harley
model per year, a battery-fired
single cylinder, so any further
designation than the year was
superfluous: i.e., an 1907 Harley.
But in 1909, the factory offered
four singles, with either 26- or
28-inch wheels (wheels were
measured from the outer edge of
the tire back then), and either
battery or magneto ignition. These
were referred to as the Model 5
(fifth year of production, which,
for Harley-Davidson purposes,
began in 1904) with battery and
28s, the Model 5-A with mag and
28s, 5-B with battery and 26s and
5-C, mag/26. The abortive twin was
called the 5-D.
In
1910, the single-cylinder racer
was called the 6-E. In 1912,
things got real complicated with
both chain and belt drive being
offered, and a clutching mechanism
designated by an X; all wheels
were the 28-inch variety. The
basic single was the Model 8, the
mag-fired twin with
"freewheel control" and
chain drive was called the Model
X-8-E.
In
1914, we see the first use of the
F letter, a 61-inch magneto twin
with two-speed gearbox. In 1915,
the J model appeared, the twin
with three-speed transmission and
battery ignition. That was also
the year of the first K model, a
racing twin.
In
1916, the year designation was
changed from year of production to
calendar year, so it was not 12-F,
but 16-F. Eight models were
available that year: the F, J, E,
R and T twins, and C, B and S
singles. Already Harley was
complicating things, as the E of
1910 was a racing single, while
the E of 1916 was a one-speed
twin.
The
heck with this; let us start with
the alphabet and go right through
to see how many letters have been
used, and how many times. When you
see a /, that means the letter(s)
was secondary (FL), tertiary (FLH),
etc. To try to keep this under
control, I will start with the
models that were in the 1920 line,
and ignore what went on before
that date.
A
(1926): SV/OHV 21-inch single
(magneto ignition)
A (1960): TS (two stroke) 165CC
Topper scooter
B (1926): SV/OHV 21-inch single
B (1955): TS 165CC single
/B: Belt-drive Sturgis model (ex.
1982 FXB)
C (1920): i.o.e. 35-inch single,
special order
C (1930): SV/OHV 30.5-inch single
/C: Custom, Classic or Caf
/CH: Magneto Sportster (ex. 1958
XLCH)
D (1929): SV 45-inch twin
/D: 74-inch engine (ex. 1921 JD)
/D: Extra power (ex. 1930 DLD)
/D: Dyna Glide frame (ex. 1991
FXDB)
/DG: Disc Glide (ex. 1983 FXDG)
E (1936): OHV 61-inch twin
/E: Electric starting (ex. 1964
GE, 1974 FXE)
/E: Police engine (ex. 1953 FLE)
F (1920): i.o.e. 61-inch magneto
ignition (dating from 1914)
F (1941): OHV 74-inch twin
/F: Battery ignition flat twin
(ex. 1921 WF)
/F: Footshift (ex. 1952 FLF)
G (1933): SV 45-inch Servi-Car
/H: Larger engine (ex. 1936
80-inch VHL, 1955 55-inch KH)
/H: More powerful engine (ex. 1955
FLH)
I: Fuel injection (ex. 1995 FLHTCI)
J (1920): i.o.e. 61-inch twin
(dating from 1915)
/J: Magneto ignition flat twin
(ex. 1921 WJ)
/K: More powerful K model (ex.
1955 K11K)
L (1920): Single-passenger sidecar
(dating from 1915)
/L: Higher compression engine (ex.
1936 EL)
M (1920): Commercial sidecar
(dating from 1915)
M (1965): TS 50CC single,
Aermacchi
/N: Newspaper delivery sidecar
(ex. 1929 MN)
/N: Nostalgia (ex. 1993 FLSTN)
/O: Open-body commercial sidecar
(ex. 1926 MO)
/P: Police model
Q (1920): Two-passenger sidecar
chassis (dating from 1918)
R (1932): SV 45-inch twin
/R: Rubber-mount FX model (ex.
1982 FXR Super Glide)
/R: Pseudo-racing model (ex. 1983
XR-1000)
/R: Racing model (ex. 1952 KR)
S (1926): OHV 21-inch, for racing
purposes
S (1948): TS 125 single
/S: Sport (ex. 1978 FXS and XLS)
/S: Sidecar use (ex. 1936 ES)
T (1921): Twin-cylinder racer
/T: TS 165 single (ex. 1953 ST)
/T: Touring (ex. 1977 XLT, 1980)
U (1937): SV 74-inch twin
V (1930): SV 74-inch twin
V (1994): DOHC 61-inch twin, for
Superbike racing
W (1920): SV 36-inch flat twin
(dating from 1919)
W (1937): SV 45-inch twin
/WG: Wide Glide (ex. 1980 FXWG)
X (1957): OHV 55-inch twin
(usually used with L; i.e. XL)
Y: Only letter never used
Z (1973): TS 90CC single,
Aermacchi
All
the learned readers can now berate
me for my inaccuracies and
omissions, such as racing models,
sidecars, package trucks, etc.
I
also left out most of the
Aermacchi model designations, or
this would have been far more
complicated than necessary. Nor
did I include all alphabets in all
models; there are just too many.
