History of Harley-Davidson: 1960-1969: The Coming of Age
1962
Business Moves
Harley-Davidson purchases 60 percent of the stock in the Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Company. Not because the motorcycle maker was interesting in producing boats, mind you. Instead, the goal was to gain access to a facility capable of producing fiberglass motorcycle parts and golf cart bodies. Within a couple of years, Harley had purchased the entire company, which they still own today. But instead of fiberglass, the the Tomahawk facility now produces injection molded plastics.
1963
Racing
Ralph White once again scores a first place finish at the Daytona 200 for Harley-Davidson. And once again, he does it on a 750 KR.
1964
Racing
Roger Reiman wins the AMA Grand National Championship on a Harley-Davidson. Reiman also scores the first of two back-to-back Daytona 200 victories on a 750 KR.
Technological Advancements
The three-wheeled Servi-Car becomes the very first civilian Harley-Davidson motorcycle to use an electric starter. One year later, the innovation would appear on the first Electra-Glide.
Popular Culture
Leader of the Pack might have been performed by the seemingly clean cut members of the band Shangri-Las, but it was a rather dark tale of love and angst. The story ends with a deadly motorcycle crash, which got it banned from several stations. But the song also prompted an image change for the group, which included things like leather boots with spikes. Which, of course, was quite rebellious at the time.
1965
New Models
The Electra-Glide replaces the Duo-Glide in Harley’s lineup and becomes the first FL available with an electric starter. It wasn’t long before other models, including the Sportster, would make the switch as well.
Both the Pacer and Scat models were discontinued at the end of 1965. Which made the Bobcat the last of Harley-Davidson’s American-made two-stroke motorcycles.
Business Moves
After 62 years in business, Harley-Davidson decided to go public. The move was made, as it often is, to raise cash so the company could grow. But that move would go on to nearly ruin them just a few years later.
Racing
George Roeder shatters the speed records for Class A and Class C in a Streamliner powered by a 250cc Sprint CR racing engine. He averages an astounding 177 miles per hour.
Harley-Davidson dirt track racer Bart Markel wins the AMA Grand National Championship in 1965. Then he does it again in 1966.
1966
New Models
The first of the Shovelhead engines is introduced on the Electra-Glide models, replacing the Panhead. The new engine got its name from rocker heads that look like an old coal shovel flipped upside down. It produced ten more horsepower than the Panhead, thanks to a shallower combustion chamber, larger valve drop on the intake and exhaust, better porting, and stronger valves and pistons.
The Bobcat becomes the culmination of Harley’s two-stroke, three-speed motorcycles. It was produced only in 1966, and a mere 1,200 of them were sold in the U.S.
1967
Popular Culture
The Motorcycle Song by Arlo Guthrie hits the airwaves, demonstrating both a disregard for authority and a love for individual freedom. But Guthrie explains his motivation behind writing the tune better than anyone else possibly could. “It’s about the time I was riding my motorcycle, going down a mountain road at 150 miles an hour, playing my guitar.”
1968
Racing
Cal Rayborn scores the first of his back-to-back victories at the Daytona 200 on a 750 KR Model B.
Popular Culture
Steppenwolf drops the mega hit Born to Be Wild, which still stands today as the quintessential motorcycle song. The song appeared in the opening sequence of the film Easy Rider one year later, cementing its status as both the anthem of a generation and motorcycle culture in general.
1969
Business Moves
American Machine and Foundry Company (AMF), a longtime producer of leisure products, purchases Harley-Davidson. In an effort to boost profits, the company streamlined production and cut jobs. But instead of helping matters, the efforts led to a labor strike and bikes that were inferior in quality to Japanese alternatives. Sales plummeted, and H-D nearly went bankrupt. Thankfully, AMF sold its share of the company back to current ownership in the early ’80s, and Harley-Davidson is still alive and kicking today.
Racing
Mert Lawill wins the AMA Grand National Championship for team Harley-Davidson in dirt track racing.
New Models
The Sprint’s engine size increased to 350cc. It would remain that size until 1974, when the four-stroke Sprint was discontinued.
Popular Culture
The quintessential motorcycle movie, Easy Rider, was released. The film tells the story of two Harley-riding hippies who take an unforgettable trip across America, telling the story of a generation along the way.
Ballad of Easy Rider by the Byrds serves as the theme song on Easy Rider‘s groundbreaking soundtrack.
Then Came Bronson, an adventure/drama TV series, debuts on NBC. It centers around a disillusioned newspaperman who sets off to find the meaning of life on his Harley-Davidson Sportster.
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