Rumble Rumble Rumble!
What’s that sound? Ah, it’s unmistakable—the throaty vibration of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Last night, August 31, that unmistakable rumble was magnified by several hundred with a Harley rally at the Harley-Davidson museum in Milwaukee. Biking enthusiasts in Harley-themed black leather jackets, vests, and T-shirts milled about the Harley complex, which includes a restaurant, can bar, store, and a campus that was, this night, dedicated to the bikers. There were tents with clothes and food vendors, demos, and live music. And a constant rumble was in the air.
Milwaukee and its surrounding area are home to many well-known manufacturers, but to me, none is as notorious and as downright sexy as Harley-Davidson. I’ve never owned one; I’ve never even driven a motorcycle, but I appreciate the designs and colors that characterize these two-wheeled rumbling road machines.
Our son-in-law, Joe McCabe, had free tickets to the museum, so he and I stopped by to tour it. Joe had visited before and was good at filling me in on various things to look for to learn about the company’s rich history. Joe directed me to the replica of the 10-foot by 15-foot shed where Harley and Davidson created their first model in 1903 (the serial number one bike was on display here in a glass sarcophagus; you could almost hear the angels sing, “Ahhhhhhh…”). I marveled at the plans for the first engine, the early advertising and racing memorabilia, and oh, my goodness, the bikes! Bike styles from the first part of the last century up to today were on display; more are in racks in the restoration area, too, waiting for sprucing up. The displays are creative and interesting, some showing bikes in action, taking off from a jump or careening around a sloped velodrome track.
I enjoyed learning about the company’s colorful background and seeing the developments and improvements over the years. My biggest take-away from the visit was to learn how savvy the early team was with their marketing. Maybe their success was partly because the world was just ready for motorized bicycles, but Mr. Harley and Mr. Davidson latched onto this new phenomenon with gusto. They made inroads to faraway lands around the globe—Asia, Latin America, and Europe. They supported US military efforts as needed and embraced motorcycle racing, even producing racing bikes for enthusiasts.
The museum does it right and although this trip was on the house, it’s worth the price of admission (find out more regarding the museum here: http://tinyurl.com/ybgucf6l).
Thanks, Joe!