Harley-Davidson: Fun Facts
Harley-Davidson is an iconic American brand that has thrived for many decades. Its rich history is a story of what grit and determination can do. Although you may be aware of the brand, there are some key facts about the motorcycles that you may be unaware of. Here at Antelope Valley Harley-Davidson in Lancaster, California, we have some beautiful bikes in our showroom, and we serve Ridgecrest and Bakersfield, California.
World's Biggest Motorcycle Brand
Harley-Davidson was established in 1903, and initially faced stiff competition. Other brands were already on the market and had seen some successes, but Harley-Davidson won out and became the biggest manufacturer of motorcycles by 1920.
Their racing team, which dominated the sport by the mid-1910s, helped increase the popularity of the Harley-Davidson brand. In the United States, Harley-Davidson has a 50% share in the motorcycle market.
Reason Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Are Called "Hogs"
It’s common knowledge that another name for a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle is a “hog,” but what’s not quite so well-known is exactly why and when this began. Ray Weishaar became a member of the Harley-Davidson racing team in 1916 and owned a piglet named Johnny that became the mascot of the team. Every time they won a competition, members of the team would take a victory lap with the piglet.
After enough victory laps, it felt only natural to refer to their motorcycles the same way they referred to their mascot, and so Harley-Davidson bikes became “hogs.”
Contributions to the War Effort
When World War I began, Harley-Davidson stepped up to the challenge and made a commitment to assist in the war effort. The United States Military ordered over 20,000 Harley-Davidson® motorcycles over the course of the Great War, which helped the company become the “largest motorcycle manufacturer on the planet.”
The Great Depression hit many American companies hard, but Harley-Davidson managed to tough it out and is one of only two motorcycle manufacturers to make it through the Depression intact. Before this, there were hundreds of competitors!
When the second World War came around, the company again committed itself to helping the US war effort. This time, the order was for 90,000 motorcycles, used to ferry officers and couriers across difficult terrain and in relative speed and safety.
The Harley-Davidson motorcycle is a legend in the motorcycle sphere. Although Indian Motorcycle was the first American motorcycle manufacturing company, Harley-Davidson eclipsed its popularity. Its nickname "hog" could be linked back to a cute little piglet. When Harley-Davidson fell on hard times due to the Great Depression, its company leaders had the tenacity to create a different market in Japan and succeed. If you are interested in buying a Harley, come see us at Antelope Valley Harley-Davidson in Lancaster, California. We also serve Ridgecrest and Bakersfield, California as well.