Harley
In 1903 William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson make available to the public the first production Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. The bike was built to be a racer, with a 3-1/8 inch bore and 3-1/2 inch stroke. The factory in which they worked was a 10 x 15-foot wooden shed with the words "Harley-Davidson Motor Company" crudely scrawled on the door. Arthur's brother Walter later joins their efforts.
Company
Harley-Davidson, Inc. engages in the production and sale of heavyweight motorcycles. It operates in two segments, Motorcycles and Related Products, and Financial Services. The Motorcycles and Related Products segment designs, manufactures, and sells cruiser and touring motorcycles for the heavyweight market. This segment offers five categories of motorcycles, including Touring, Dyna, Softail, Sportster, and V-Rod under the Harley-Davidson brand name; various motorcycle parts and accessories comprising replacement parts, and mechanical and cosmetic accessories; general merchandise, such as apparel and riding gear; and related services. It also licenses the Harley-Davidson name and other trademarks. This segment sells its products through a network of independent dealers and distributors primarily in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. The Financial Services segment provides wholesale retail financing; and insurance and insurance-related programs primarily to its dealers and their retail customers in the United States and Canada. Its wholesale financial services include floorplan and open account financing of motorcycles, and motorcycle parts and accessories; and retail financial services comprise installment lending for the purchase of its new and used motorcycles. This segment also offers motorcycle insurance, as well as extended service contracts, credit protection, motorcycle maintenance products, gap coverage, and debt protection products to motorcycle owners. The company was founded in 1903 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.