William Sylvester Harley was born in 1880 in Wisconsin and from a very early age he showed a lot of interest in the early development of the bicycle. With his friend Arthur Davidson and Davidons’ brothers, he began outfitting bicycles with a motorized engine and in 1903 they formed the Harley-Davidson Motor Company that soon became the world's preeminent motorcycle manufacturer. The factory in which they worked was a 10 x 15-foot wooden shed with the words "Harley-Davidson Motor Company" crudely scrawled on the door. 
They published their first bike in 1903, and what this had
different from any other motorcycle built before was that the engine was
integrated into the frame instead of being attached to the frame. This made the
bike much safer, cleaner and more pleasing to look at. The frame of their first
bike was very simple looking- very curvy and thin. Their tyres where think and
huge, with the behind wheel bigger than the front one. The handles were very
long and head backwards towards the seat. This bike was the beginning of their
long carrier and they had designed some of the most classic motorcycles ever
built. In many ways they had become the Americans spirit itself. By the 1919’s
Harleys where so popular that you needed to be on the waiting list just to buy
one!
The 1908 motorcycle looks like it has more going on around
the frame. There was attention to details in creating individual parts and connecting
them together to form one whole shape. The part where you put your feet looks
more well-made and the gas tank can be barely seen. Again, the frame of this
design is very thin and minimalised with thin big tires.
Later in time bike
riders were interested more on speed than in style, and to create this
combination they had to work directly with the racers to see what they really
wanted. By 1922 the first 74 cubic inch V-twin engine is introduced on the JD
and FD models. By now Harley-Davidson dealerships are now found in sixty-seven
countries. This design of the bike was much bulkier than the previous ones. It looks
manly and more powerful. It has a lot more going on around the engine and the
seat is wider. The frame was starting to take more shape and developing slowly
to a motorcycle we know today. Before, designs looked more just like a normal
bike.
The FL Duo-Glide motorcycle was built in 1958. This time,
the design was a bit long with thicker but smaller tyres. It looks much more
well built. The seating is a bit lower than what usually was designed and wider
for more comfort. The body of the bike looked more like one piece and not small
pieces put together. The hands are a bit high and the light bulb in front is
huge. It was the first bike with hydraulic rear brake.
The Vespa is also an all time popular motorcycle brand. Above
is one their bike from 1945. The client profile of a Vespa buyer is complete
different than a Harley Davidson one. As we see in the design the Vespa bike
looks more of a daily used bike- a bike to use for everyday, go round town with
it or go to work. On the other side a Harley Davidson bike is a sporty and fun
one which you use for racing of for a long drive. The Vespa has all engines
hidden and only the body, which is part of the seating is seen. Aesthetically,
a Harley Davidson bike has much more going on.
New designs are still being produced each year and with all
their passion the Harley Davidson company will always be loved by bike riders!
Bibliography:
2010 Harley Davidsonhttp://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Content/Pages/HD_Museum/explore/hd-history/2010.html
2013 Harley Davidson http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Content/Pages/home.html
2008 http://vintagescooters.free.fr/english/vespa.htm
All searche on the 2nd of January 2014
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