Harley's struggles in the 50's-60's

1952, Harley applied for a 40% tax on imported motorcycles,also Films coming out of hollywood tarnished harley's image with their movies about biker gangs in the 50's thro' 60'."Harley-Davidson" for a long time was synonymous with the Hells Angels and other outlaw motorcyclists.
In 1969, AMF (American Machinery and Foundry) bought the company, streamlined production, and slashed the workforce. This tactic resulted in a labor strike and a low quality of bikes. The bikes were expensive and inferior in performance, handling, and quality to imports from the far east. Sales & quality plummeted, and the company almost went bankrupt.The "Harley-Davidson" name was mocked as "Hardly Ableson", "Hardly Driveable," and "Hogly Ferguson",and the nickname "Hog" became pejorative.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

Harley and the "Model 125cc"

Harley Davidson in 1948 released the "Model 125" at the Milwaukee, Wisconsin factory. However, technically speaking , this was a small , sturdy , light weight , two-stroke motorcycle, of 125 cc displacement. The Model 125's design, was actually a similar to the German motorcycle manufacturer DKW , whose engineering designs were forfeited to the allies, as a result of World War 2 reparations , at the conclusion of World War II. Other manufactures also benefited from DKW's slightly altered designs, including Britains BSA, with their range of Bantam models
When Harley introduced the Model 125. Its engine was of two stroke design, which meant the operator had to mix oil, with the gas. This was a first for Harley! Failure to properly mix the oil with the gas, was sure to cause engine failure! It produced 3 horsepower, and featured a girder-type front end ,with a front suspension that consisted of large rubber bands. It was touted by Harley, to get 90 miles to the gallon! Due to its low, initial price, and its economical price to operate, the 125 cc was a very popular choice, with many groups, including paper boys, farmers, beginners, and even veterans returning home, after the war, who had limited income! It was a popular addition, to the 1948 Harley model line-up.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

WW2 and the Harley Davidson

Harley-Davidson again produced large numbers of motorcycles for the US Army in World War II and resumed civilian production afterwards, producing a range of large V-twin motorcycles that were successful both on racetracks and for private buyers.
Harley-Davidson, on the eve World War II, was already supplying the Army with a military-specific version of its 45" WL line, called the WLA. (The A in this case stood for "Army".) Upon the outbreak of war, the company, along with other manufacturing enterprises, shifted to war work. Over 90,000 military motorcycles, mostly WLAs and WLCs (the Canadian version) would be produced, many to be provided to allies.
Harley produced the WLC for the Canadian military.Shipments to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program numbered at least 30,000. The WLAs produced during all years of war production would, unusually, have 1942 serial numbers. Production of the WLA stopped at the end of the war, though it would resume production from 1949 to 1952 due to the Korean War.
The U.S. Army also asked Harley-Davidson to produce a new motorcycle with many of the features of BMW's side-valve and shaft-driven R71. Harley largely copied the BMW engine and drive train and produced the shaft-driven 750 cc 1942 Harley-Davidson XA. Due to the superior cooling of an opposed twin, Harley's XA cylinder heads ran 100 °F (55 °C) cooler than its V-twins.[22] The XA never entered full production: the motorcycle by that time had been eclipsed by the Jeep as the Army's general purpose vehicle, and the WLA—already in production—was sufficient for its limited police, escort, and courier roles. Only 1,000 were made and the XA never went into full production. It remains the only shaft-driven Harley-Davidson ever made.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com