Harley-Davidson® Motorcycles For Sale Near New Haven, CT

The History of Harley-Davidson® Motorcycles

The Harley-Davidson brand has served as an American icon since 1903. The company has improved and adapted in their products and culture, becoming legendary along the way. While many people may recognize the name, few know the true history of this industry titan. Let us here at Harley-Davidson of Danbury tell you the story of how the Harley-Davidson name came to be.

If you’d like to learn more or you’d like to see some Harley-Davidson motorcycles for sale, stop by our dealership in Danbury, Connecticut, and talk to our sales team!

Starting the Company

William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson were childhood friends whose dreams were simply to improve the pedal bike. They began by creating single-cylinder engines to achieve this dream, but their invention wasn’t powerful enough to help them conquer the steep hills of Milwaukee. Eventually, they made improvements to their engines and got to a point where the bikes were self-propelled and no longer needed pedals. In 1904, they released their first invention to the world.

The two friends improved upon their motorcycle design over time, and eventually unveiled their first dedicated factory. This acquisition allowed them to produce more motorcycles at a faster pace than ever. In seven years, the engines these factories produced had twice the horsepower of the original design. Harley-Davidson motorcycles were quickly noticed on the racetrack.

Into the Golden Age of Riding

After the first World War, people demanded more motorcycles. In 1914, the company received an order for 20,000 units of motorcycles, and by the end of the decade, Harley-Davidson was known as the “largest motorcycle manufacturer on the planet.” 

Even during the Great Depression and through the second World War, the company received another large order for 90,000 bikes and continued to operate at full speed, despite the country’s economic slowdown. 

Today’s Developments

Today, there are six families of motorcycles: Touring, Softail®, CVO™, Trike, Sportster®, and Street®. Each seeks to accommodate a different type of rider. Every year, the company continually improves upon past models to ensure that their bikes can conquer the competition. The latest models are dream bikes for those who seek high-performing engines and smooth handling from their motorcycles.

Once you are ready to own your own American dream bike, Harley-Davidson of Danbury will assist with your decision making process. We are the preferred H-D dealer for Hartford, CT, so stop by today!