Harley-Davidson is the American motorcycle company that survived when most of its rivals did not. Among collectors the bikes are known by engine nicknames, because the engine decides the era, the parts and the value.
The milestones
- 1903. William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson founded the company in Milwaukee, together with Walter Davidson and William A. Davidson.
- 1936, the Knucklehead. The 61E and 61EL models introduced the overhead-valve "Knucklehead" engine.
- 1948, the Panhead. It succeeded the Knucklehead and was built in 61 and 74 cubic inch versions through 1965.
- 1957, the Sportster. Introduced in 1957, the Sportster family was conceived as racing motorcycles.
- 1966, the Shovelhead. Built from 1966 to 1984, in 74 cubic inch (1,200 cc) form and, since 1978, also 80 cubic inch (1,338 cc).
- 1969 to 1981. American Machine and Foundry (AMF) bought the company in 1969 and sold it to a group of 13 investors in 1981.
- 1984. The Evolution engine arrived as part of the post-AMF revival.
- The Aermacchi link. Harley-Davidson bought 50% of Aermacchi's motorcycle division in 1960 and took full control in 1974, then sold it to Cagiva in 1978. See Aermacchi.
What to know when buying
- Know the engine. The Knucklehead, Panhead and Shovelhead are different engines with different values and parts. Check the engine number and year.
- Customs and choppers. Harleys have been customised for generations. A modified bike is not wrong, but it is priced differently, and papers are important for the registration. See papers and proof of ownership.
- Import. Many Harleys come from the United States. Read importing from outside the EU.
- Numbers. Check the frame and engine numbers carefully. See frame and engine numbers.
Parts and community
There is a large aftermarket for Harley-Davidson, which makes it easy to get parts and hard to know what is original. See finding parts and originality and patina.
