William Harley and Arthur Davidson met at school but it wasn't until they worked together for a Milwaukee engineering firm they first thought about building a motorcycle.

Together the pair built a 400cc single cylinder engine in 1902. Davidson's brothers Walter and William joined their venture a year later and it was then that the engine was fitted to a bicycle frame. Whilst the engine was reliable it lacked power so the capacity was increased and the bicycle frame strengthened.

In 1903 a further two bikes were produced and by 1907 Harley Davidson had produced 150 machines in a year. The company had raised money through an employee share issue and moved to larger premises in Juneau Avenue that it occupies to this day.

The company quickly developed it's models adding a light and leading link forks. The model of 5 of 1909 was capable of 45mph and featured pedal start and a leather belt drive.

A V Twin engine was first used in the Model 5D of 1909. It's future was in doubt though for a while as the bike was not a great success. Though powerful compared to the singles the drivetrain could not cope and the engine was difficult to start. A change to a chain drive and a stronger frame helped solve many of the problems and by 1913 the 1000cc Model 9E had become a sales success.

Harley Davidson sales increased to as much as 22,000 bikes in 1919 before the rise of the Model T Ford brought car ownership within the reach for many more ordinary Americans. Out of all the motorcycle makers of that era Harley Davidson was one of the few to survive.

The second world war saw demand for a reliable motorcycle for military use. The Harley Davidson WL45, with it's 750cc engine and rugged reliability fit the bill. The sales of this model that had seen the company through the 1930s and the military orders really secured their future.

Another key model of the mid war years was the 61E. Known as the Knucklehead due to the shape of it's rocker covers this bike's style defined the look of all future Harleys.

In the 1960s Harley Davidson launched many of the models with which they have been associated ever since. The Sportster became one of the fastest bikes available at the time with higher revving tuned engine and stripped down looks. This model has changed little since aside from increases in capacity. The bike may no longer be considered sporty but it is a riding experience that everyone should try at least once.

The Electra Glide was released in 1965 and is for many the quintessential Harley Davidson. It's huge proportions and equally large engine make it unmissable on the roads and it embodies the very essence of freedom to many American riders as well as around the world. The bike started life with a 1200cc engine but this has over time increased to 1340cc. A large engine is certainly needed to haul along this bike's huge weight of 350kg.

In the 1970s Harley Davidson became independant from it's then owners AMF and the management were able to embark on a program of improvements. The Electra Glide benefitted from a new alloy engine and a new model, the Softail was introduced in 1984. The Softail had traditional looks but the benefits of more modern components and became another popular model.

In recent years the Harley Davidson brand has become a sales success in itself and a massive range of merchandise is available. Many detractors point to shortcoming in the bikes' handling, reliability of build quality but that is to miss the point of these timeless machines and the ethos behind them.

Harley Davidson are not living in the past and continue to develop new ideas such as the liquid cooled V Rod of recent years. It is bikes such as this, complemented by their existing models, that will see Harley Davidson through the next century.