At the turn of the 20th century, the Davidson brothers, Arthur and Walter, were designing a motorized2 bicycle with their friend, William Harley. While the first experimental3 machine could not make it up hills without someone pedaling, it was a life-changing experience. The first race that a Harley-Davidson motorcycle competed in was in 1904. The next year, Harley-Davidson sold three motorcycles they put together in their backyard shed4. In 1906, Harley-Davidson built their first factory in a building that still stands today. As one of the only two US motorcycle companies to survivethe Great Depression5 in the 1930s, Harley-Davidson built motorcycles for the US army during World War II. After it was over, many of the soldiers wanted their own motorcycles. However, by the 1960s, Harley-Davidson was nearly bankrupt6 because their motorcycles were not as well-made as the Japanese ones. In the 1980s, Harley-Davidson was sold to a group of investors7 for US$80 million and things turned around. Over the years, Harley-Davidson has become a symbol of the open road for outlaws8 and people who like to think they are outlaws. For these people, the roar of a Harley-Davidson between their legs is the best part of owning a Harley-Davidson.
