Collier Harley-Davidson in Roanoke Rapids, NC

Harley Davidson Logo is a symbol well known not only to motor cycle fans but also to millions of motor cycle racing enthusiasts in particular and generally among other people across the globe. The Logo of Harley Davidson extends macho image and represents strength and ruggedness.

“BAR AND SHIELD LOGO”

The Harley Davidson company started using the ever famous Bar and Shield Logo in the year 1910. Till today every Harley Davidson motorcycle that rolls out of the production plant bears the Bar and Shield Logo.

Harley Davidson logo is seen on T/shirts, belts buckles, pens, stickers etc. This shows the popularity of the Harley Davidson’s brand.

Little about Harley Davidson

The story of Harley Davidson starts from the year 1902 when William S. Harley created a design for a 2 cylinder motorcycle. In the year 1903 William partnered with Arthur Davidson to assemble the first Harley Davidson motor cycle.

Harley Davidson motorcycles were made with the intention of being racing machines. In 1905 Harley Davidson won its first race. This victory marked the beginning of the history of success for Harley Davidson. By the year 1920 Harley Davidson became the most popular motorcycle producer in the world and Harley Davidson logo became very well recognized.

In 2003 Harley Davidson celebrated 100th anniversary. These 100 years tell a story of solid growth, success and the growing popularity of Harley Davidson motor cycles and Harley Davidson Logo.

1903 Harley-Davidson | Serial Number 1

Harley-Davidson Archives
Tom Bolfert
03/09/2010

H-D Motorcycle History

Harley-Davidson Serial Number One, which currently resides in the H-D lobby at Juneau Avenue, dates to the 1903-04 era. Company founders built at least one prototype before it and, of course, production machines after it that differed both in the power of the engine and in general configuration.

Meticulous research by H-D Archives staff and external experts proved that Harley-Davidson Serial Number One was built without fenders and used in competition, probably to illustrate the power and reliability of the motor. After all, as the company name implied, Harley-Davidson Motor Company sold motors as well as motorcycles.

While it is clearly identified on many of its components as Serial Number One, it is definitely not the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle. That distinction would go to one of the prototypes. Instead, it is the developmental platform from which the first true Harley-Davidson street motorcycles sprang. It is the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle to be considered ready for production and, except for refinements that civilized it as a street machine, is essentially the same as those models that followed it.

Harley-Davidson Serial Number One, then, is not the very first Harley-Davidson but it is the first true Harley-Davidson motorcycle as they were later developed. And, beyond any doubt, it is the oldest Harley-Davidson motorcycle in existence today.

Photographs courtesy of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company Archives