The philosophy, as I read it
Harley-Davidson sells belonging first and motorcycles second, and I say that with respect: no other manufacturer has built a culture that outlasts its products. The 45-degree V-twin, the potato-potato idle, and the bar-and-shield are the point. The Milwaukee-Eight and the Low Rider S show that the engineering underneath has quietly become very good, and the company's struggle is to attract riders who did not grow up wanting one.
History in a paragraph
Founded in a Milwaukee shed in 1903, Harley-Davidson survived the Depression, two world wars, the AMF years, and a 1981 management buyout that saved the company. The Evolution engine of 1984 restored reliability, the Softail of 1984 restored style, and the brand became a global cultural symbol. LiveWire, its electric spin-off, went public in 2022.
On the track
The King of the Baggers series and a long flat-track heritage with the XR750.
Reviewed
