William Sylvester Harley

William Sylvester Harley (December 29, 1880 - September 18, 1943) was a founder of Harley-Davidson Motor Company. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1880, and received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1907.


He established the Harley-Davidson with Arthur Davidson (motorcycle) in 1903 and served as chief engineer until his death in 1943.
Harley is the son of a man Littleport, Cambridgeshire who emigrated to the United States.
He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum in Milwaukee and inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.


Labor Hall of Fame

Because Harley, Arthur Davidson, William A. Davidson, and Walter Davidson, "to use and believe in the product and to rely on the dedication of our employees to produce quality motorcycles", the four men were inducted into the Labor Hall of Fame.

History of Harley Davidson


In 1903, brothers Arthur and Walter Davidson along with his neighbor William Harley Harley-Davidson made ​​the first. A year later they began producing motorcycles for sale. In 1909 Harley-Davidson V-Twin engine introduces the first, which has two cylinders with a configuration like the letter "V". The machine has a great sound, rumble and impress the males, the machine soon became a classic American machines.


During 1914, form the basis of modern motorcycles began to take shape. The form includes the laying of the engine between the front and rear wheels and a chain to mentransger power from the engine to the rear wheels.

During World War I (1914-1918), a motorcycle is proven as a powerful means of transportation for U.S. and European military, able to reduce the burden on the highway and capable of carrying communications equipment is much more to the front line of battle. After the war, the use of motorcycles spread to Europe and America.

Until the 1950's, most motorcycles in North America in production by Harley-Davidson or by UK companies such as the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA), Norton and Triumph.

Period 1960 and 1970, Japanese companies like Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha motorcycles started to introduce the development of the engine and suspension and they are able to compete with motor manufacturers sudak there first. Later, a motorcycle with engine 4 stroke 750 cc to 1200 that powered their production will dominate the market for highway motorcycles, while the second machine that measures air-cc 250 to 500 will dominate the off-road motorcycle market.


The difference is obviously very much, but even though it, Harley Davidson motorcycles are still the hallmark of the show.