History of the Motorcycle

American, Sylvester Howard Roper (1823-1896) invented a two-cylinder, steam-engine motorcycle (powered by coal) in 1867. This can be considered the first motorcycle, if you allow your description of a motorcycle to include a steam engine. Howard Roper also invented a steam engine car.

Gottlieb Daimler - First Gas Engined Motorcycle

German, Gottlieb Daimler invented the first gas-engined motorcycle in 1885, which was an engine attached to a wooden bike. That marked the moment in history when the dual development of a viable gas-powered engine and the modern bicycle collided.

Gottlieb Daimler used a new engine invented by engineer, Nicolaus Otto. Otto invented the first "Four-Stroke Internal-Combustion Engine" in 1876. He called it the "Otto Cycle Engine" As soon as he completed his engine, Daimler (a former Otto employee) built it into a motorcycle.

The Harley Davidson Motorcycle
Many of the nineteenth century inventors who worked on early motorcycles often moved on to other inventions. Daimler and Roper, for example, both went on to develop automobiles.

However, inventors such as William Harley and the Davidsons brothers continued to develop motorcycles and their business competitors were other new start-up companies such as Excelsior, Indian, Pierce, Merkel, Schickel and Thor. In 1903, William Harley and his friends Arthur and Walter Davidson launched the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. The bike had a quality engine, so it could prove itself in races, however, the company planned to manufacture it as a transport vehicle. Merchant, C. H. Lange, sold the first officially distributed Harley-Davidson in Chicago.

source:about.com

Harley-Davidson,Inc Company Information

Harley-Davidson,Inc. operates in two segments: the Motorcycles & Related Products (Motorcycles) segment and the Financial Services segment. The Motorcycles segment includes the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company (HDMC), Buell Motorcycle Company (Buell) and MV Agusta (MV). The Motorcycles segment designs, manufactures and sells at wholesale primarily heavyweight (engine displacement of 651+cubic centimeters) touring, custom and performance motorcycles, as well as a line of motorcycle parts, accessories, general merchandise and related services. The Financial Services segment includes the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS). HDFS provides wholesale and retail financing and, as an agent, provides insurance and insurance-related programs primarily to Harley-Davidson and Buell dealers and their retail customers. HDFS conducts business in the United States and Canada. In August 2008,it acquired MV Agusta Group.
Harley-Davidson Inc.
3700 West Juneau Avenue Milwaukee WI 53208
Phone: +1 (414) 342-4680
Fax: +1 (414) 343-4621

Chrome for Your Motorcycle

The most basic, and most popular, Harley-Davidson accessory is chrome. Chrome dresses up a plain factory bike, making it catch both the light and the eye of everyone it passes. Basic chrome accessories include headlight and/or spotlight visors, license plate frames and mounts, and gas caps. For those who really want to add on the chrome, there are chrome end caps for the handle grips, neck cover kits, fork covers, knob and bolt covers, and even custom covers for the tire valves. For a totally customized look that’s consistent from front to back, all of those covers and caps can be purchased in matching designs.

Motorcycle Insurance Coverage Tips

Motorcycle insurance is extremely important. Its not only a good coverage should anything happen it s a good investment.
For the best insurance for your motorcycle always enquire about insurance before you buy the motorcycle. There have been cases wherein the buyer has found himself unable to insure after buying the motorcycle. Living in a very high crime rate area, too young and very expensive machines are the few reasons.
A motor insurance company provides excellent insurance options. But look for a specialist motorcycle insurance agent or company and you will do just fine.
Remember getting full coverage on a motorcycle is expensive and often only reserved for bikes of high value.

Make sure your motorcycle insurance covers
Liability coverage
Collision coverage
No-fault coverage
Service coverage
Uninsured coverage and
Passenger coverage

Another valuable coverage is Bodily Injury Liability. Bodily Injury covers other people's injury or death that you are responsible for up to the limits you purchase.
Medical and Uninsured Motorist are also available. Medical covers medical costs to you and your passengers injured in an accident. Uninsured Motorist covers injuries to you and your passengers when the other person in the accident is at fault but does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance.
For progressive motorcycle insurance and ATV insurance provides free online motorcycle insurance quotes and ATV insurance quotes via Progressive Direct.
motorcycle.progressive.com/ motorcycle.progressive.com/
Now in case you have met with an accident should you meet a lawyer and the answer seems to be yes. But there is a classification in law, which differentiates between simple injuries and grievous hurt. If you are looking for motorcycle insurance for a small period please read all the short-term policies.

Here are some insurance companies we recommend

Accidents claims solicitors

Cover girl insurance

So already insures then its time for a quick ride.Abdul Martin

Harley-Davidson WLA 1943

1943 Harley-Davidson WLA

Indian followed the military specs perfectly, producing the 500cc Model 741 that was based on its civilian Junior Scout. William Harley at the Motor Company, however, balked at producing a 500cc machine, to the point of confrontation. He was adamant that the military needed a 750cc (45 cubic inch) motorcycle for war, and he based his design on the W-series side-valve motor.

The WLA featured alloy cylinder heads for better cooling, more ground clearance, a cargo rack and saddlebags. Simplicity and reliability were key, so compression was lowered (hence the "L" in the name) and an oil-bath air filter was added.

In the end, with war imminent, the Army approved purchase orders for both the Harley and the Indian. In practice, though, the Harley was the preferred machine, and more than 90,000 were produced before war's end.

Source : motorcyclemuseum