Harley History Question Classic Harley Motorcycles Discuss Harley History Question in the Motorcycles forums; I have never been able to find out if Harley says they started business in 1903, why did they call the 1954 model their 50th anniversary model? I wonder if ...

[BaggerDad]

I have never been able to find out if Harley says they started business in 1903, why did they call the 1954 model their 50th anniversary model?

I wonder if someone at Harley couldn't use a calculator or if they really started business in 1904?

Can someone please explain?

[HarleyCruiser]

There was a year or two of development when they made a motor/motorcycle but never sold any, so it is a technical argument as to when they were in business.

[47knuck]

I've heard there is a lot of arguement about when Harley Davidson really statred and a lot of people say it was really 1904 not 1903.

Who knows?

[BHABIT]

From what I understand... the '03 wasn't a full on production model, hence the '04 was the first production model.

[rcd]

That issue is addressed in the Fall 2008 Enthusiast on page 14.