Bikes, Tattoos, Music and all things Metal
Posts tagged Harley Davidsons
A Brief History Of Motorcycles
Jan 14th
The history of the motorcycle will forever be linked with the development of early bicycles. The bicycle formed the basis for early motorbikes and helped to shape the history of these motorized machines.
In 1867 Sylvester Howard Roper invented the first machine that some would recognise as a motorbike. Roper, an American, created a machine that had two cylinder steam engine. This early bike was powered by coal.
Some experts insist that having the machine powered in such a way suggests that it can’t really be compared to modern motorcycles.
Many suggest that the first real motorcycle was invented by Gottlieb Daimler. Daimler was, of course, to eventually find rather more fame through his work on cars.
Daimler had been working for some time with Nicolaus August Otto, who was himself an early expert in designing and building engines. Daimler took one of Otto’s engines and attached it to a wooden bicycle frame.
Otto’s four stroke internal combustion engine was a remarkable breakthrough and Daimler’s use of it ensured that in 1885 he produced what many see as having been the first ever motorcycle.
There is often some confusion, with many believing that these machines were invented by the Harley Davidson company.
That company was founded by William Harley, Arthur Davidson and Walter Davidson. Although they did play a key role in the early development of motorcycles, they didn’t start producing the machines until almost twenty years after Daimler had created the first one.
Although Harley Davidsons quickly became known for their speed and performance, the inventors always intended that the bikes should be used for transport purposes.
Today, they remain as one of the great icons of the last century.
It’s amazing to think that the developments of more than 100 years ago led to the production of modern day motorbikes.
By: Keith Barrett
About the Author:
If you’re interested in purchasing bluetooth motorcycle helmets then you can find out more information, including more articles by Keith Barrett. This article may be published on any website but this resource box must be included in full. The author retains all copyright.
Harley Davidson History
Nov 28th
In 1903 in Milwaukee is the beginning of history of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Arthur Walter Davidson and Bill Harley developed a one-cylinder motorcycle in Milwaukee. They build the motorbike which is powered by a one-cylinder gasoline combustion engine for racing. The small company extended quickly and another member of the Davidson.
The project of first 1000 cc V-Twin was made by Bill Harley in 1909. The more recognizable images of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle are the 45-degree V-Twin. Actually, Harley-Davidson did not invent the V-Twin, it is hard to believe. Harley-Davidson is more recognize when they winnings in races, endurance contest, and hill climbs. For a long, long time this V-Twin stayed with Harley Davidson motorcycle.
The Harley-Davidson Company saw further growth in the year of 1912. They also became a motorcycle exporter this year and their first overseas sale was made in Japan. About 20,000 motorcycles were used in the war, and most of them Harley-Davidsons. Harley Davidson was the biggest motorcycle factory in the world and they have nearly 2,000 dealerships worldwide in 1918. A long with appearance changes such as the “eagle” design, which was painted on all Harley-Davidson gas tanks, changes were also made to the engine.
Now on, the 1340 cc is the biggest Harley Davidson motorbike that ever appeared. Civilian production on the motorcycle was mostly suspended in 1941 because the company turned out motorcycles for the world war. Harley-Davidson received the army-Navy “E” award because of their commitment and excellent, this would not be the last time. For machine shop, they purchased the old A.O Smith Propeller Plant in 1947. Hydraulic front brakes were introduces on the Hydra-Glide models in the year of 1949.
In the 1950’s the British owned 40 % of the motorcycle market with their Triumph motorbike. This is another bad period to the Harley-Davidson company, but they still survived at the period. Fortunately the Harley Davidson Sportster was born in 1957. It is the fastest Harley Davidson ever. In 1970’s is the beginning of revolution of Harley Davidson. They introduced FXS Low Rider and the FLHS Electra Glide Sport to the public in 1977.
In 1987 The Harley-Davidson Company obtained a place on the New York Stock Exchange for those interested in taking a financial stake in the company. The FXTS Springer Softail model was introduced into the lineup at the end of the revolutionary decade for Harley-Davidson.
With FXDB Dyna Glide Sturgis, the Dyna line of Harley-Davidson’s was introduced in 1991. In 1994, with the VR1000 is the jump of Harley-Davidson into the superbike racing. Harley-Davidson was not fully averse to manufacturing a race inspired sport bike, and they made the VR 1000 featured a dual overhead cam and liquid cooled engine and showed.
By: marikxon manurung
About the Author:
This article provided by Marikxon Manurung on http://motorcycle-guideline.com/harley-history/ You also can get more motorcycle information here http://motorcycle-guideline.com/ If you’re looking for honest evaluations of the newest, you’ll find the reviews from this site helpful! Hope you find what you need, and just enjoy it.
How to Get More Power From Your Harley Davidson Motorcycle
Sep 10th
How to get More Power?
Visions of Tim the Toolman Taylor come to mind any time I hear the phrase “More Power” and I am sure he would approve of adding power to your Harley Davidson. Harley Davidsons are not one of the most powerful motorcycles on the planet but they do respond pretty well to a few minor modifications.
The most commonly accepted method to gain more power is to perform a Stage 1 upgrade to your Harley Davidson motorcycle. A Stage 1 upgrade consists of some bolt on parts that will improve the breathing of your engine and flow more air through the engine. More air translates to more power so anything you can do to get your engine to flow more air, should translate into more horsepower and more torque.
A Stage 1 upgrade consists of the following bolt on performance upgrades:
Free flowing exhaust pipes. (Full set or Slip On mufflers) Air Cleaner Upgrade Carb Rejet or ECM Remap depending on whether it is Fuel Injected or not. Ignition upgrade if applicable.
Stock Harley Davidson exhaust pipes do not flow that well compared to the performance pipes that are available from companies like Vance and Hines, D&D, Santee and many more. Pipes offer a few other advantages as well. Aftermarket pipes typically “look” better than stock pipes and they sure do SOUND a lot better than factory pipes. So really you get more flow, more sound and better looks out of a set of pipes.
The piece that is the most restrictive to air flow is the stock Harley Davidson Air Cleaner. It’s simply terrible and this is where you will see the biggest gain. Don’t agonize over which one is better or which one has more power because on most stock or nearly stock bikes they will all perform just about the same. I would strongly suggest that you get one that has a K&N Air filter element in it because they flow the best and last the longest from my experience. I would recommend the Arlen Ness Big Sucker or something similar.
The Rejet or remap depends on whether the bike is carb’d or fuel injected. Older bikes will require a simple rejet and newer bikes will have to have a new fuel map flashed into the PCM. The jet kit will come with simply instructions and is very easy to perform. The reflash can be done by the dealer easily enough or you can add a fuel control unit from Vance and Hines or something like the Power Commander unit that will take care of your fuel curve for you.
This might sound like a difficult upgrade but in reality it could be accomplished by an average mechanic in an afternoon with nothing more than basic handtools in most cases. Your bike will look better, sound better and perform better and that is money well spent if you ask me.
By: Jack Travers
About the Author:
If a Stage 1 upgrade is in your future we can help you save money on your Harley Exhaust and if you want to read up on Power Commander Review then check us out. Your Harley Davidson will thank you for it.
Harley-Davidson History
Sep 4th
Harley-Davidson history is long and proud and began at the start of the 20th century. The beginnings of this American icon were very humble. In 1903, Davidson brothers Arthur and Walter along with William S. Harley built a single cylinder motorcycle in a wooden shed built by cabinet making William C. Davidson. The Davidson brother’s aunt Janet painted the pin-stripes on the first few Harleys.
In 1905 the first Harley to be produced in significant numbers was the Silent Gray Fellow named for its quite operation and gray color. These were 450cc single cylinder bikes using a bicycle-style frame.To slow down and stop the rider had to peddle backwards.
Following the official formation of the company in 1907, Arthur signed up over 800 dealers in ten years. These dealers were in all of America’s then 48 states. Just five years after the first Harleys were made and sold the Detroit Police bought a fleet of motorcycles. By 1925, over 2,500 police units in the US were riding Harley-Davidsons.
The first V-Twin Harley was produced in 1909. It was an inlet-over-exhaust belt-driven engine. This first V-Twin was the Model 5-D. This was the engine that would go on to make Harley famous.
A big part of Harley-Davidson history is Harleys contribution to U.S. Military efforts. In 1918 Harley supplied thousands of motorcycles to the military to be used in World War I. Almost half of all Harley-Davidsons produced that year were sold to the military. The first American GI to enter Germany was Roy Holtz, riding a Harley-Davidson.
Harley became involved in racing to prove the dependability of their bikes. Harley’s first and notable success was in 1908. Walter Davidson won the Jack Pine Endurance run. Not only did the bike prove its dependability, the bike won the economy contest with 188 miles per gallon. In 1921 Harley becomes the first motorcycle to win a race with an average speed of 100PMH on a board track in Fresno, CA. Another early sucess story was the record of Joe Petrali, who set a record of 136.183MPH at Daytona Beach in 1937. Early Harley racing teams adopted a pig as their mascot and carried it on victory laps. This might have been the start of the term HOG. Racing was not always a priority for Harley but their riders have had great success over the years.
In 1941 America joins World War II. Harley produces the Model WLA which features blackout lights, high clearence fenders and metal leg shields. Almost all of Harley-Davidsons output was devoted to the military from 1941 to 1945. By the end of the war, Harley produced 88,000 WLA models for the U.S. Military and around 20,000 for the Canadians.
When looking at Harley-Davidson history, we can’t forget the many World War II ex-servicemen who came back to small town America. While Harley-Davidson’s civilian production had all but ceased during the war, there were plenty of army surplus motorcycles to be bought. Many of these ex-servicemen started a trend by buying and customizing these bikes. They removed or shortened the fenders to reduce weight. These bikes became known as Bobbers. These changes ultimately lead to the evolution of the Chopper.
After a post-war boom, the company’s sales were damaged by the influx of cheaper Japanese and British imports. This competition ironically caused a resurgence of interest in motorcycles, which the company profited from. Harley was bought by American Machine and Foundry (AMF) in 1969. Harley-Davidson history is full of ups and downs. Some of us are old enough to remember that Harley went through some hard times during the AMF years. In 1981 senior management bought the company back from AMF.
Harley slowly came back in the 80s and now Harley-Davidson is one of the most recognized names in the world. In 1983 Harley Owners Group (HOG) was formed with 30,000 members in the first year. Now there are about a million HOG members world wide. After 105 years, Harley-Davidson Motorcycles are more popular than ever.
By: B Corcoran
About the Author:
Written by Brian from Harley Riders Guide.com Copyright http://www.harley-riders-guide.com
This article can only be used in its entirety with a link back to http://www.harley-riders-guide.com
Does Your 2007 Harley Davidson Run Hot? – Here’s the Cure
Aug 31st
How to Cure a hot running 2007 Harley Davidson?
That question must have been asked 10k times or more since the 2007 model line of Harley Davidsons were introduced. The mystery of the hot running 2007 models grew to almost a cult like issue on the Harley boards and Harley forums around the internet. Owners who didn’t realize they had a hot running Harley Davidson suddenly agonized over the “problem” and demanded answers.
Being the owner of a 2007 FXSTB Nightrain I was obviously interested in the answer to the question. My bike didn’t seem to run all that hot….I wondered aloud if some of these guys realized their motorcycles were air cooled and that they WILL run hot. I also questioned how many were first time riders and simply didn’t realize that a hot engine 6 inches from your legs is going to produce heat. I am sure a number of new owners or riders succumbed to the phenomenon of the hot running 2007. They jumped on the bandwagon as so many people often do, but then I am positive of others that actually did experience a hot running Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Friends of mine that I am positive know what they are talking about were experiencing the hot running 2007 issue so it wasn’t that the issue was non existent, I just think it might have been blown out of proportion. I decided to get to the bottom of the issue and see what I could find out about the problem. After a few days of digging around and talking to people in the know, I think it was clear what was the culprit.
Lean and Mean
After a lot of discussion and research it turns out that the new 96 cu inch Harley Davidson engine had to be tuned extremely lean in order to get it to meet government emissions requirements. The stock factory tune was set very lean by design, and as you know, a lean engine will run much hotter than a well tuned or even rich engine. Different riders reacted differently to the hot running condition as some didn’t even notice and others it was enough of a problem that they wanted to trade their motorcycles in for a different year.
I also noticed a trend that it seemed to be the bagger crowd complaining the most vocally and the most frequently. I don’t know if it is because the bagger crowd tends to be older and more demanding or if the models were more susceptible to the hot running condition. I think probably a little bit of both actually. If you take a look at the front end of some of the bagger models, the fairings restrict air flow across the engine dramatically compared to the more open models. So regardless of this issue, the lean condition seemed to be the culprit.
The Fix
The fix is rather simple.
Most riders that I was in contact with reported that a Stage 1 upgrade resolved the issue. A decent set of pipes combined with either a Stage 1 download or a fuel control system like a Power Commander or something similar cured the lean condition. They not only reported a much better running motorcycle but a much cooler running motorcycle. The addition of the pipes likely made for a much better looking and sounding motorcycle as well.
The Stage 1 kit will bring your motorcycle back down to a more normal heat range, at least normal for an air cooled Harley Davidson. The reflash will make for a richer mixture which will lower the operating temperature and make your Harley Davidson a much more enjoyable machine to ride.
By: Jack Travers
About the Author:
If you want to check out a pretty cool selection of Harley Pipes or read more about Harley Exhaust then feel free to check us out. We not only write about Harley Davidson’s, but we ride them too.
Custom Motorcycle Headlights
Mar 20th
There are dozens of different custom motorcycle headlights that you can choose from. To find a style, shape and lens type that will fit your motorcycle and that will also compliment its shape and color you need to look for headlight housings that are designed for your type of bike.
Your first option is a Half Moon Billet Headlight. This design works great for larger bikes like Harley Davidsons. This design includes a half moon shaped housing and a bottom lens that is completely clear. In addition to buying the Half Moon Billet Headlight kit you may also want to pick up a Billet Half Moon headlamp and a variety of brackets to install the headlight with.
If you are looking for a high intensity headlight to customize your motorcycle then you may want to take a look at the Halogen Silver Bullet Driving Lights. The Halogen Silver Bulllets offer a 20 watt quartz halogen bulb with a single filament. The advantages of this halogen headlight are that it doesn’t need a load equalizer and you can change the color of your lens by simply switching them out with one of the other colored lenses that come in the kit. The lenses that come with most kits include clear, amber and red.
If you drive a Harley Davidson or a Yamaha Road Stars then High Intensity Discharge Headlights may be what you are looking for. These custom motorcycle headlights are more powerful than regular halogens and they offer you three times more light when compared to other lamps do. This headlight has several advantages including: it only uses 35 watts, it doesn’t have a filament that can break, it lasts nearly 10 times longer than a regular lamp and it is DOT approved.
By: Sarah Freeland
About the Author:
Learn about custom motorcycle headlights that you can install on your motorcycle to customize it. Harley Davidson is a name that is synonymous with motorcycle. When you hear this company name you can’t help but think about the rumbling growl of a Harley engine and the burley silhouettes of Harley Davidson motorcycles streaking down an open highway. If you are trying to restore an antique Harley Davidson motorcycle then you may be interested in looking for used and salvaged motorcycle parts.
Why Buy Harley Davidson Motorcycle Parts Online
Jan 25th
Harley-Davidsons are great motorcycles with great motorcycle parts, but even the best “Hogg” out there will sometimes break down. After all, the best made parts in the world can still wear out with time and heavy riding. Harley riders tend to be different than other motorcyclist, and sometimes a trip to the local Harley dealership can be like heaven to a dedicated biker. But even though you may enjoy hanging out at the Harley shop and talking bikes with other local riders, sometimes you simply need a part, and you don’t have the time to ride all over town looking for it.
In these situations, buying Harley motorcycle parts online makes a lot of sense. Often you can find the exact part you are looking for quickly with just a simple search command. And there is no denying that online motorcycle parts are often cheaper than those purchased at your local dealership.
The reason for this is simple; by purchasing motorcycle parts online you are effectively cutting out the middleman, and buying direct from the distributor. This can result in big savings on many parts, and can even mean that you get the parts you need quicker. The fact is, even the largest Harley-Davidson dealerships do not carry all possible parts for every Harley motorcycle. Their inventory would simply have to be much too large, and they would probably require several oversized warehouses to store that many motorcycle parts, not to mention a mammoth computer inventory system to keep up with it.
This means that often, your local Harley dealership will have to order your parts and have them delivered after you purchase. And where do you think they’re going to order your parts from? That’s right; more than likely, the dealership will order all from one of the many great Harley motorcycle parts dealers online?
Besides saving money and time, ordering your Harley parts on the Internet is just way more convenient than “schlepping” all over town in search of what you need. Most online motorcycle parts distributors have a handy search function that will allow you to search for the exact parts you need in just a second. After you’ve located your parts, you can simply click “check out” to quickly and easily pay by credit card, and then you’re done! What could be simpler than that?
And if you’re concerned about Internet fraud, or using your credit card to purchase online, you can relax. All modern online stores use 128 bit SSL encryption to ensure that your personal information — and your credit card information especially — is kept completely private at all times. In fact it is now much safer to purchase from these secure online checkouts than to order by phone.
So the next time you need to buy motorcycle parts for your Harley, save yourself lots of time, frustration, and most importantly, money, by shopping with online motorcycle parts dealers. Most online dealers also have toll-free 800 numbers for any questions you may have about the part and there are often articles and other resources about installation of parts and recommended procedures on their web site. With so many great resources available these days, buying motorcycle parts online for your Harley is a no-brainer.
By: Craig Thornburrow
About the Author:
Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on Yamaha motorcycle parts and Yamaha AT parts at http://www.dtrworld.com