Only two years ago I wrote about the history of motorcycle windscreens and now, with the coming of a brand new Harley fairing, it’s a good time to take a look back to the beginning of Harley’s endeavours with going further and faster on both the road and racetrack. It was the fixed fairings that made it possible.

When was the “HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO.” Sign added to the Shed? And … who added it? In the previous issue I wrote about the history of the Low Rider. I enjoyed that so much that I thought why not learn and write about some of the lesser-known stories bout the rise of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. 

My first Harley-Davidson was a black 1993 Dyna Low Rider. Today I am the proud owner of the latest and perhaps the greatest old-school Harley-Davidson, the 2021 Low Rider S. My years of riding Harleys include 13 on Low Riders and 15 on Tourers. To say I am happy to be back to my roots on a Low Rider is an understatement. So let me walk you through a brief history of all the Low Riders from its first incarnation to now, its finest hour and my Low Rider S.

In my previous Cybercycles, I wrote about the new Harley-Davidson Icons Collection with the release of the first one, the 2021 Electra Glide Revival. There I proposed some possible future Icons models. In this issue I am recalling some very noteworthy models that didn’t make the top ten Icon list but have had an enormous effect on Harley as we know it today. I find it most interesting how so many of The Motor Company’s misadventures did in fact succeed after they were set free to sink or swim. So, let’s look at some of the interesting adventures along the way.

Jochen Zeitz just announced the Harley-Davidson “Icons Collection” and its first model, the Electra Glide Revival. All up only 1,500 will be made. If you didn’t anticipate this Icon, as we revealed two issues ago in Cybercycles, I am sorry but they are all sold!

I feel sorta let down. I predicted that Harley-Davidson would have something to show us at Daytona Bike Week like it did way back in 1977 with the release of the first Low Rider FXS. But no; except for eight local dealers providing demo bike rides including the LiveWire.

You know me with my KISS philosophy: Keep It Simple Stupid. Well, with that in mind, here is my take on the 2021 Model Harleys. To me the most visual new bike Harley has to offer is the Street Bob 114. Out with the 107 and in with the 114 M8 engine. Simply put, the Number One paint job coupled with the 114 engine with a Ventilator air cleaner, wire wheels and tiny pillion seat are all old school classic! Enough said, this will be the number one best seller if Harley Australia can get enough to meet demand! And there are plenty of paint options.

If you have been paying attention lately, Harley-Davidson’s most notable racing achievements have been with the LiveWire and its FXDR Pro Stock drag racers.

Harley just announced the “LiveWire motorcycle set all-new records for elapsed time and top speed by an electric-powered production motorcycle on a drag racing course.”

Motorcycle riders by their nature are optimists and nothing bad will ever happen to them as long as we look out for our own safety. With those thoughts in mind I am encouraged to look forward to the good ole days.

In the past, I have had many memorial rides and one of those was my first overnighter. Well, more like two weeks turning into a year of riding around America. That was when I picked up my brand new 1993 Dyna Low Rider at the factory in York, PA and then rode to Sturgis. Before that ride I had only ridden my Yamaha 250 Virago a few thousand kilometres.

I am a history buff, the history of all things. So in this issue of Cybercycles please bear with me while I recount what I think made Harley-Davidson great coming out of the AMF years. It’s a history of learning from the past, listening to one’s customers and competitors whether it be other manufacturers or probably more importantly, real motorcycle lovers.