| Harley Davidson has come a long way from that day | | | | estimated revenues of $6 billion annually. At least 5% |
| in 1901 when its founders 21-year old William Harley | | | | or $41 million of its net revenue in 2004 came from |
| created a bicycle engine and then with his friend | | | | the Harley Davidson logo licensing. The company has |
| Arthur Davidson assembled and sold a racing | | | | weathered wars, depressions and recessions but has |
| motorcycle. With their last names combined, they set | | | | survived them. It has captured 50% of the |
| up the "Harley Davidson Motor Company" in | | | | motorcycle market in the United States. |
| Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a production plant that is | | | | Harley Davidson has subsidiary companies among |
| nothing more than a crude shed made of wood, sans | | | | them the Buell Motorcycle Company which became a |
| the glamour that the company is associated with | | | | wholly-owned subsidiary in 2003. Harley has appointed |
| today. | | | | an authorized distributor in China last 2006 and is now |
| The motorcycle brand's name first caught the | | | | widely available in Asia. MV Agusta, the Italian |
| attention of motorcycle enthusiasts when one of the | | | | motorcycle company, is also owned by Harley after |
| Harley motorcycles won a Chicago race. This was | | | | its purchase in August 2008. |
| followed by several other racing victories until it has | | | | What make the Harley motorcycles popular are its |
| been placed in the map of the motorcycle industry | | | | distinctive roar, design and heavy customization that |
| and in the consciousness of motorcycle enthusiasts. | | | | paved the way for the chopper-style look. Harley is |
| Harley Davidson motorcycles were such a hit among | | | | known for their heavyweight motorcycles with over |
| motorcycle users resulting to the formation of the | | | | 750 cc engine displacement that is ideal for highway |
| world's largest factory-sponsored motorcycle club in | | | | cruising. Most of the motorcycle fleets of the US |
| 1983, the Harley Owners Group more popularly | | | | police forces are Harleys. |
| known as H.O.G. H.O.G., which attracted over 90,000 | | | | The first ever Harley motorcycle with a 7.07 |
| members six year after it was formed, is listed and | | | | cubic-inch displacement was sold in 1903. Today, |
| registered with the New York Stock Exchange. | | | | Harley motorcycles come in a variety of shapes, |
| Today, H.O.G has over one million members and is still | | | | colors and sizes. With a wide array of motorcycles, |
| growing. | | | | accessories and even clothing and racing line, Harley |
| At 105 years old, Harley Davidson is considered the | | | | has become a legend and a symbol of the American |
| largest motorcycle-making company in the United | | | | dream. |
| States. Harley is a Fortune 500 company with | | | | |