The Great American Freedom Machine

For a period between 1955 to 1978 Harley-Davidson made just about everything. Golf carts, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, mini bikes, small bikes, big bikes, and trikes.

Today’s throwback ad highlights one of the little bikes that were made during this period the TX125. Based off of a bike made by Italian brand Aermacchi the TX125 was a small two stroke. It had a 5 speed transmission, oil injection system, and some great styling. In fact in 1974 HD purchased the Aermacchi brand to exclusively build for HD. It was sold less than 4 years later to Cagiva. Eerily similar scenario to the MV Agusta purchase, showing once again that history will repeat if you fail to remember it.

The little bikes were never a huge sales success and faded from HD legend rather rapidly. They have seen a bit of a resurgence from collectors, custom builders, and parking lot racers. (Think auto cross on bikes.)