Читать книгу American Iron Magazine Presents 1001 Harley-Davidson Facts - Tyler Greenblatt - Страница 10

INTRODUCTION

Riding a Harley-Davidson isn’t just about basic two-wheel transportation. Although there are many motorcycles out there that attempt to copy the look of a Harley-Davidson, many times for half the price, none can give a rider that same feel. It’s an experience that pleasures all the senses: the smell of leather and gasoline, the feel of the hot, torquey engine trying to shake free of its cradle, the sound of the unmistakable exhaust rumble, the classic look that’s crossed over multiple generations, and most importantly, the mouth-watering taste of freedom that allows for even brief escapes from the norm.

I remember when I got hooked on Harley-Davidsons. I was probably somewhere around the age of five, living in a Manhattan apartment with my parents. To this day, I can remember the sound of roaring engines echoing through the canyons of high-rises. I have no doubt we heard a lot of motorcycles, but, more than 20 years later I remember that sound like it was yesterday. And that’s where my Harley-Davidson experience began.

But what exactly is “the Harley-Davidson experience?” You’re likely already familiar with the emotional experience that comes with riding a Harley, and you may have even attended a rally or two, but the full “Harley-Davidson experience” comes when you fully immerse yourself into the company’s history and the people and machines that paved the way. Harley-Davidson is a company that takes incredible pride in its Milwaukee, USA, roots and has time and time again supported its country in times of war and in peace. It’s a company that has been beaten down so badly that recovery seemed impossible, yet it overcame and prospered twice. It’s a company whose harshest critics are its biggest supporters. But most importantly, it’s a company about family. I’ve attended several events with Willie G. Davidson (grandson of founder William A. Davidson), his wife, Nancy, and their son, Bill, and daughter, Karen, who are both executives with The Motor Company. No matter how many people this real Harley-Davidson family meets, each one is greeted with open arms and a smile.

Consider this book a history lesson on your Harley-Davidson family from the first time young Bill Harley and Arthur Davidson are known to have seen a motorcycle to 2016 when their 113-year-old company produces 41 different models of world-class machines. My goal with this book was to include facts that appeal to the broad spectrum of Harley-Davidson owners and enthusiasts. It’s not a technical, nuts-and-bolts encyclopedia, although you’ll find many technical details and year-by-year changes. You’ll find many great facts and stories about The Motor Company itself inside, but I’ve made no effort to sugarcoat any of it, and I know you’ll learn much more than is readily distributed.

Though it’s not as big today as it was in the early days, The Motor Company’s history with racing and the military is enormous, and I hope that besides the raw facts, you’ll get a better understanding of our country’s history as well. Something that is often seen today (although preferably not in your rearview mirror) is a motor officer on a Harley-Davidson. The Thin Blue Line has long been supportive of the American brand, and has received unparalleled support by The Motor Company in return, but there’s a lot more that goes into a duty bike than what meets the eye.

Harley-Davidson has always been a cultural icon enjoyed by unique individuals from around the world, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading about not just the pop culture references to the Bar & Shield, but about the amazing people who’ve done incredible things with their Harley-Davidsons over the years, most of whom you’ve likely never heard of. In an effort to cover the entire spectrum of Harley-Davidson, you’ll find that some facts are more along the lines of legends and rumors that are based on hard fact, but that have never been officially confirmed or denied. These were some of my favorites to write about, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading them as they’re intended and making up your own mind about their likelihood.

As with any work that dates back more than 50 years, truth can only be based on what previous historians have written. I strived to use only the most reputable of sources in my research, although I uncovered quite a few occasions where information differed between them, which required further digging for the truth. I hope I found it, and I sincerely hope you enjoy reading and learning from American Iron Magazine Presents 1,001 Harley-Davidson Facts.