Harley-Davidson Model 1

The Harley-Davidson Model 1 was the first motorcycle that the American company Harley-Davidson put on sale. William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson built the first prototype in 1903, using an engine designed along the lines of the De Dion-Bouton system. That first engine displaced 167 cc and made about 2 horsepower, and because the two founders were dissatisfied with its performance the capacity was raised to 405 cc in 1904 by enlarging the bore to 76 mm and the stroke to 89 mm. Two examples came from that pre-production model. The purchase price was 200 US dollars and 38 copies were made. No original photographs or dated documents exist of the machine said to have been built in 1903.