Which Type of Harley Davidson Motorcycle is Best for You?

Which Type of Harley Davidson Motorcycle is Best for You?
You've been wanting one for so long. When you hear the roar of the engine, your heart skips a beat. You stop and stare, fantasizing about what it would be like if YOU were sitting in the seat.
Before you go out and buy yourself a Harley, it's wise to do your homework and determine which type of motorcycle is best suited for you. To begin you want to match the type of bike to your riding style, expectations, experience, and ability. You also want to consider how you will be riding the bike.
Last, but not least, you'll want to take into consideration your physical size and abilities. A common mistake many people make is to buy a motorcycle that is too big for them. Obviously, this can result in serious injury or death. It's important to select a motorcycle that you can skillfully maneuver and manage.
Harley Davidson offers a wide range of motorcycles and can accommodate nearly everyone's needs. Let's take a look at the various types of Harley Davidson motorcycles:
Touring: If you plan on taking road trips, this is the Harley for you. However, if you are a beginner, this type of bike is probably more than you can handle. When these bikes are fully loaded, they can weigh up to 800 pounds. Harley touring bikes include Road Kings and Glides.
Cruisers: Harley Cruisers are a lighter weight motorcycle than Touring bikes; however, they are still heavy and not recommended for beginners. Cruisers are categorized as Softails and include the Harley Fat Boy, Heritage and Nostalgia models.
Softails: The term softail refers to a type of rear suspension system installed to absorb shock. Softails were designed to be reminiscent of the rigid mount design of earlier models; but provide a more comfortable ride. Harley Softails are a popular choice for daily riding. Many riders choose the Softail when they want to create their own custom design.
Softails are lighter in weight than Touring or Cruiser Harley's. Models include the Softail Custom, Springer Softail, Heritage Softail, Heritage Springer, Night Train, Deuce, and Fat Boy.
Dynas: The Dynas model has a dual shock rear suspension like the Touring bikes and a front end like the Softail and Sportster models. The engine has a rubber mounted support system to reduce engine vibration. Dynas are available with a wide-glide or narrow-glide front end. This type of bike is a good choice for street riding and appropriate for beginners.
Sportster: These are the perfect choice of Harley motorcycles for beginners. These bikes have a smaller engine and smaller frame and are the lightest bikes offered by Harley-Davidson. Sportsters are the only Harley with two engine sizes, the 883 and 1200. They are about half the cost of the big twin Harley's; making them the most affordable choice the company offers.
V-Rod: The V-Rod is newest Harley model and introduces a water cooled engine. The V-Rod motorcycle has the style of an imported sport bike, yet retains the stretched out forward controls that are uniquely Harley. This is a good daily riding motorcycle and makes a good choice for those who are experienced in riding.
Buell: Although this isn't exactly a Harley; Buell sport bikes are made and sold through Harley Davidson. Buell motorcycles are a traditional sports bike powered by an American V-Twin engine. Buell motorcycles are a great all-around bike, suitable for daily riding or shorter road trips. Several engine sizes are available, making Buell motorcycles a good choice for beginners to seasoned riders.
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Which Type of Harley Davidson Motorcycle is Best for You?

Which Type of Harley Davidson Motorcycle is Best for You?
You've been wanting one for so long. When you hear the roar of the engine, your heart skips a beat. You stop and stare, fantasizing about what it would be like if YOU were sitting in the seat.
Before you go out and buy yourself a Harley, it's wise to do your homework and determine which type of motorcycle is best suited for you. To begin you want to match the type of bike to your riding style, expectations, experience, and ability. You also want to consider how you will be riding the bike.
Last, but not least, you'll want to take into consideration your physical size and abilities. A common mistake many people make is to buy a motorcycle that is too big for them. Obviously, this can result in serious injury or death. It's important to select a motorcycle that you can skillfully maneuver and manage.
Harley Davidson offers a wide range of motorcycles and can accommodate nearly everyone's needs. Let's take a look at the various types of Harley Davidson motorcycles:
Touring: If you plan on taking road trips, this is the Harley for you. However, if you are a beginner, this type of bike is probably more than you can handle. When these bikes are fully loaded, they can weigh up to 800 pounds. Harley touring bikes include Road Kings and Glides.
Cruisers: Harley Cruisers are a lighter weight motorcycle than Touring bikes; however, they are still heavy and not recommended for beginners. Cruisers are categorized as Softails and include the Harley Fat Boy, Heritage and Nostalgia models.
Softails: The term softail refers to a type of rear suspension system installed to absorb shock. Softails were designed to be reminiscent of the rigid mount design of earlier models; but provide a more comfortable ride. Harley Softails are a popular choice for daily riding. Many riders choose the Softail when they want to create their own custom design.
Softails are lighter in weight than Touring or Cruiser Harley's. Models include the Softail Custom, Springer Softail, Heritage Softail, Heritage Springer, Night Train, Deuce, and Fat Boy.
Dynas: The Dynas model has a dual shock rear suspension like the Touring bikes and a front end like the Softail and Sportster models. The engine has a rubber mounted support system to reduce engine vibration. Dynas are available with a wide-glide or narrow-glide front end. This type of bike is a good choice for street riding and appropriate for beginners.
Sportster: These are the perfect choice of Harley motorcycles for beginners. These bikes have a smaller engine and smaller frame and are the lightest bikes offered by Harley-Davidson. Sportsters are the only Harley with two engine sizes, the 883 and 1200. They are about half the cost of the big twin Harley's; making them the most affordable choice the company offers.
V-Rod: The V-Rod is newest Harley model and introduces a water cooled engine. The V-Rod motorcycle has the style of an imported sport bike, yet retains the stretched out forward controls that are uniquely Harley. This is a good daily riding motorcycle and makes a good choice for those who are experienced in riding.
Buell: Although this isn't exactly a Harley; Buell sport bikes are made and sold through Harley Davidson. Buell motorcycles are a traditional sports bike powered by an American V-Twin engine. Buell motorcycles are a great all-around bike, suitable for daily riding or shorter road trips. Several engine sizes are available, making Buell motorcycles a good choice for beginners to seasoned riders.
Flipsidelife
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What Type of Person Owns a Harley Davidson Motorcycle?

What Type of Person Owns a Harley Davidson Motorcycle?
Many people carry the belief that people who own Harley Davidson motorcycles are hardcore, tattoo-laden, testosterone-filled men who drink hard liquor and end up in bar room brawls. While this profile makes for a good Hollywood movie, the vast majority of Harley owners are laid-back, friendly individuals who give back to the community.
Harley Davidson has gone to great lengths to build a community of camaraderie amongst those who own a harley. The wildly successful Harley Owners Group (HOG) has over 1 million members worldwide. With local chapters around the globe, members unite to share their passion for the Harley-Davidson lifestyle.
Harley Davidson owners include men and women who range in age from 18 to 88. Some harley owners have been riding Harley Davidson motorcycles for more than 50 years. Many of the soldiers who served in WWII became avid fans of the motorcycle, as they were frequently used for transportation during wartime. A few of these soldiers still ride today.
The female population of harley riders has significantly increased during the past two decades. Perhaps the most famous female Harley motorcyclists are Avis and Effie Hotchkiss. In 1915, this mother and daughter duo traveled from New York to California on a three-speed V-Twin with a sidecar.
Another female trendsetter was Linda Dugeau, co-founder of the Motor Maids, Inc. Linda began riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle in 1932. She traveled around the United States and stories about her travels were published in Motorcyclist magazine. In 1938, Dugeau began establishing a network of female motorcyclists, which officially became The Motor Maids. The organization was chartered with the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in 1941, making it the oldest motorcycle organization for women in North America.
Women of all ages and backgrounds are showing an interest in motorcycles and the lifestyle they offer. Not only are more females riding street bikes, they are also participating in motorcycle racing. Female celebrities, such as pop singer, Pink and supermodel, Niki Taylor, are jumping into the driver's seat of harley's and encouraging other women to ride.
Harley-Davidson dedicates an entire section to women harley owners, where women can learn to ride, connect with others, read inspirational stories, and get involved with the many activities Harley Davidson has to offer.
Motorcycle riding is quickly becoming a favorite family activity. Safety equipment is available to protect children while riding and include tether straps, helmets, jackets, chaps, and gloves. Touring bikes and cruisers make it relatively easy to take the kids on a weekend camping or road trip.
Many members of the military are avid harley riders. They love the feeling they experience when they hit the road and connect with their fellow brothers and sisters through sponsored events or charity rides. Harley-Davidson promotes multiple rides for U.S. troops and Veterans.
A common trait of people who own Harley Davidson motorcycles is that of a giving nature. Harley owners frequently embark on charity rides to help national organizations or to provide for the needs of someone in their local community.
Harley owners have raised millions of dollars in their fundraising efforts and have donated to cancer research, Alzheimer's research, Autism and many other worthy causes.
There is a tremendous amount of camaraderie and friendship amongst harley owners. They are a group of passionate people who love the thrill of adventure. One thing is for certain... there is no other sport that brings together such a diverse group of people from all backgrounds and ages.
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The History of Harley Davidson Motorcycles

The History of Harley Davidson Motorcycles

Today, Harley Davidson motorcycles are a household name, but it hasn't always been that way. It began way back in 1901, when a young man named William S. Harley had a vision for attaching an engine to a bicycle.

William had a friend named Arthur Davidson who embraced his concept. Together, they began working endless hours in a small wooden shed, with the words "Harley Davidson" scrawled on the door. By 1903, they rolled out the first production Harley Davidson motorcycle.
The legendary "Bar and Shield" logo became the defining symbol of Harley Davidson motorcycles in 1910. The logo is representative of strength and ruggedness. The design was patented in 1911 and continues to be used today.
In 1920, motorcycle racing legend, Leslie "Red" Parkhurst, broke numerous speed records on a Harley Davidson racing motorcycle. Each time Parkhurst won a race, he would carry a pig on a victory lap and it was during this time the term "hog" became associated with Harley Davidson motorcycles.
During World War I nearly half of the Harley Davidson motorcycles produced were sold to the United States Army. Throughout the 1920s, major changes took place to the design. The most notable was the change in the gas tank, which was switched to the now infamous teardrop shape. In 1928, Harley Davidson introduced the first twin-cam engine and front wheel brakes. These modifications allowed Harley Davidson motorcycles to reach speeds in excess of 85 mph.
Throughout the 1930s, Harley Davidson motorcycles continued to break speed records and won multiple awards. Harley Davidson further expanded into commercial and police vehicles through the introduction of the three-wheel Servi-Car.
Appearance changes were made to Harley Davidson motorcycles and included the famous "eagle" design, which was painted on all Harley Davidson gas tanks. During this time, the trademark 1340 cc engine was introduced and the "Knucklehead" motorcycle was launched.
Between the years of 1941 through 1945, Harley Davidson ceased civilian production of motorcycles and focused solely on providing reliable motorcycles to the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II.
When civilian production resumed, Harley Davidson motorcycles were in high demand. The organization expanded and purchased the A.O. Smith Propeller Plant to be used as a machine shop. Here they manufactured motorcycle parts and shipped them to the factory for final assembly.
1947 saw the introduction of the "Panhead" Harley Davidson motorcycle, which was deemed "THE American Motorcycle". Two years later, hydraulic front brakes were introduced on the Hydra-Glide models.
The 1950s were filled with challenges and triumphs. During this time, the British captured nearly 40 percent of the motorcycle market with their ever-popular Triumph motorcycle. Harley Davidson owners knew they would have to get creative if they were to remain at the top.
To compete with the smaller, sportier motorcycles coming from Great British, Harley Davidson developed the side-valve K model with an integrated engine and transmission. Today, the K model is known as the Sportster.
1953 marked the 50th anniversary of Harley Davidson motorcycles. The organization marked this event by creating a special logo which included a "V", with a bar overlaid reading "Harley Davidson" and the words "50 Years American Made". Every motorcycle manufactured in 1954 had a medallion version of the logo placed on the front fender.
During the 60s, Harley Davidson scaled down production and offered the only scooter bike ever produced. It was also during this time that the Sprint model was introduced. Other innovations included the electric starter and the introduction of the "Shovelhead" engines.
The 70s brought about transformation of the Harley Davidson motorcycle. A new Sportster racing motorcycle was introduced in 1970. One year later, the FX 1200 Super Glide cruiser was introduced; along with the first Harley-Davidson snowmobile.
1977 brought the Harley-Davidson Low Rider to the forefront when it was debuted to the public in Daytona Beach. Later in the year, the Café Racer was released.
Last, but not least, Harley Davidson introduced the FXEF Fat Bob in 1979. This bike has dual gas tanks and bobbed fenders. It was featured in Hollywood films and quickly became a favorite of the American public.
During the 80s, Harley Davidson went through considerable internal changes and more attention was focused on motorcycle racing. One of the most notable changes occurred in 1986, when Harley Davidson became listed on the American Stock Exchange.
In the 1990s, Harley Davidson expanded its U.S. operations to include a multi-million dollar paint facility, a new distribution center, power train plant, and production facility. Harley Davidson also opened a new assembly facility Brazil, the first operations outside of the U.S.
Since the beginning of 2000, Harley Davidson has exploded the marketplace with a variety of new and exciting motorcycles. These include the Softail Deuce; the Buell Blast, Firebolt, and Lightning; the Road King Custom; and the Street Glide.
Today, Harley Davidson owns more than 60 percent of the motorcycle market share. Considering their history and reputation, chances are good that Harley Davidson motorcycles will be around for another 100 years.
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How Buell Became Part of Harley Davidson

How Buell Became Part of Harley Davidson
The Buell Motorcycle Company is an American motorcycle manufacturer that is based in East Troy, Wisconsin. It was founded by Erik Buell, who was once employed by the Harley Davidson Company as an engineer. The Buell Motorcycle Company is the only significant manufacturer of sporting motorcycles in the United States.
Eric F. Buell was born in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1950. He was raised on a farm, learning to work on machinery at a young age. As a teen-ager, Buell took up motorcycling. His first bike was an Italian-made Parilla 90cc moped, his second a 74ci basket-case Harley Davidson. He began racing motorcross and also became interested in road racing in his early 20's.
Buell was also employed as a motorcycle mechanic during the day, while taking classes in engineering at the University of Pittsburgh at night. He received his engineering degree in 1979 and soon began working for Harley Davidson in Milwaukee. This is where he began designing concept motorcycles and was involved with the Porsche-designed "Nova" V-four program. He was also responsible for a lot of the improvement in stability made to the chassis design of the FXR series of cruisers.
Buell's loyalty to the Harley Davidson Company prevented him from racing Japanese or Italian made motorcycles in the 1980'2. This led to his purchase of a bike produced by a company in Great Britain. The Barton Company produced a limited production racer that was powered by a water-cooled 750cc Square Four two-stoke engine. The bike however, was poorly made and Buell began using his engineering talents and own designs to remake it as the parts failed.
Buell raced this prototype bike, which was still using the mostly-stock Barton engine, in 1982 at AMA National on the Pocono Speedway. He called this bike the RW750 with the RW standing for Road Warrior. During testing the RW750 reached speeds of up to 178 miles per hour.
When the Barton Company shut down in 1982, Buell purchased the entire stock of spare engines and parts, all drawings and the rights to produce and sell the engine. The shipment was delayed causing him to miss out on the opportunity of using this equipment for the 1983-racing season. The lack of reliability of the Barton engine also caused Harley Davidson to decline giving engineering and financial support to Buell when he asked. He then left the company to devote more time to his racing effort. Luckily the split was amicable.
Buell offered his RW750s for sale in 1984 with much success. The American Machinist's Union Racing Team bought, tested and raced the first publicly sold RW750. Unfortunately by the spring of 1985 the AMA announced that the Formula One class was being discontinued for the 1986 season leaving no market for Buell's machine.
Buell continued to design and improve his bikes with great success, all the time studying Harley Davidson's concepts and maintaining a close relationship with the company. This success and partnership benefited both companies and in the 1990's Harley Davidson invested a 51 percent interest in the newly reformed Buell Motorcycle Company. By 2003 Harley Davidson bought complete control of Buell Motorcycle Company, and currently distributes their bikes through select Harley Davidson dealerships. Eric Buell is still responsible for the engineering and design of Buell motorcycles.
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100 Years Of Harley Davidson

100 Years Of HD
The Harley-Davidson Company or HD has been around for just over 100 years. It all began with two friends in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1903. William S. Harley stands for the H in HD. Arthur Davidson is one of three D's. The other two D's being his brothers, Walter and William Davidson. William Harley and Arthur Davidson began working on the prototype and eventually sought the help of Walter and William. Walter was a skilled mechanic. William was an experienced toolmaker. Together the group formed the HD Company, which was later incorporated.
During 1903 HD turned out a grand total of 3 motorcycles. All were bought and paid for before completion. Gray was the standard color of the first HD motorcycles, which were often referred to as the "Silent Gray Fellows".
By the end of 1905 the HD Company was not only selling motorcycles, but also motorcycle motors, marine motors, reversible propellers and float feed carburetors. The price of the motorcycle was $200.
The popularity of the HD motorcycle continued to grow through out the following decade. By 1914, nine departments of the federal government of the United States used HD's. The U.S. Postal service alone used more than 4,800 Harley Davidson motorcycles for rural mail delivery.
In 1916 the military began using HD's in border skirmishes with Pancho Villa. The motorcycles were equipped with machine guns. HD motorcycles were also used in World War I with half of all models produced being shipped overseas. The war also was responsible for the establishment of the first Harley-Davidson Service School. The HD Company saw a need and met it.
The 1920's brought an end to the war and a beginning to the world of racing. HD made quite an impact. Harley-Davidson suffered, but managed to survive the Great Depression and continued to prosper through the 1930's.
Unfortunately World War II came in the 1940's and HD was pressed into service once again.
The 1950's brought about new, more aggressive marketing strategies and expansion for this great company. Once again war broke out, this time in Korea. Motorcycles were replaced in popularity with the military with the Jeep. HD was free to concentrate on its civilian consumers.
The 1960's brought about as much change for HD as everyone else in the United States. This was also when the company began to branch out into an unrelated field of leisure product with the production of 3-wheeled golf carts. By the end of the decade these carts cornered about one third of the United States market, and were even used oversees. HD also began marketing an extensive line of motorcycle accessories.
The 1970's saw continuing success in the racing venue. Great advancements were made in the racing bikes that were produced by HD. In late 1970 the company also unveiled its brand new snowmobile. Perhaps the biggest change was the merger between HD and the AMF.
The 1980's began with a buyback, and the HD Company returned to private ownership. The company seemed to show a renewed interest in building better machines So much so that they won the contract with the California Highway Patrol in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1989.
The 1990's were ushered in with the appearance of HD's most customized factory custom motorcycle to date, the FLSTF Fat Boy. This bike was reminiscent of the past while still being up to date with the times.

The Twenty first century has come and HD remains strong. Its current line of bikes includes the Sporster, the Dyna, the Softail, the VRSC, and a Touring line. Each line includes several models. Bikes now sell from between $6,000 and $25,000.

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