Harley Davidson motorcycles were first conceived in 1901 by William Harley and Arthur Davidson. After being joined by Arthur's brothers, William and Walter, and many changes to their original concepts, they finally settled on a looped frame design. The first actual motorcycles were produed in 1903, with a grand total of three cycles being manufactured. By 1907 this had jumped to 152 Harleys being made in that year, with an impressive top speed for the time of 60 mph.

Harley-Davidson erected its first building at the current Juneau Avenue site in 1906 and they incorporated in 1907. 1907 production: 152 motorcycles. It's also notable that in 1907 Police forces began buying the Harley Davidson motorcycle and enjoyed the speed and freedom they needed to apprehend criminal types. Years later police took a different attitude to anyone else who rode a Harley, tsk tsk tsk...some people just don't like sharing their toys.