It was a golden era for American motorcycling, and Harley-Davidson was at the forefront. The company’s bikes saw themselves bathed in the lights of Hollywood, with movies like Easy Rider and celebrities like Elvis and James Dean riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles. And with the start of World War II, the company’s bikes were again called into service, with an order for 90,000 bikes to help the war effort. By the end of the Depression, Harley-Davidson stood as one of only two motorcycle manufacturers to survive the economic collapse. No matter how bad things got, it was clear that Americans had a hunger for the company’s motorcycles. When the Depression hit in 1929 and the economy cratered, Harley-Davidson survived, and even thrived. The scope of this order forced the company to expand its operation, and by the end of the war, Harley-Davidson was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. Harley-Davidson received its marching orders: 20,000 bikes. Army needed motorcycles for the war effort. With this goal in mind, the pair released the first Harley-Davidson® motorcycle in 1904. Then the two friends came up with their first revolutionary idea: modify the engine and remove the pedals from the motorcycle, and then turn the power up to eleven. Harley and Davidson’s first design was a success, but it didn’t have enough oomph to get motorcycles up Milwaukee’s steep slopes. And if you’re in Turlock, Ceres, or Merced, you should also come see us! The Spark At Mitchell’s Modesto Harley-Davidson, we’re proud to play our part in the Harley-Davidson legacy, and we encourage you to visit our dealership in Modesto, California to see how you can join that legacy by buying a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle. But it took a lot of hard work, grit, determination, and technical expertise to get here. ![]() Harley-Davidson created American motorcycling culture, and that culture remains as vibrant and exciting as it ever has. The end hasn’t been written yet, and you’re living in the middle. Starting out building single-cylinder engines for motorcycles, the two friends created a blueprint for the first 116cc engine. They were childhood friends who shared a vision: improve on the simple pedal bike design. Harley and Arthur Davidson, working together in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the beginning, there were two men: William S.
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