First Softail Story
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 3
From: Oklahoma City, OK
First Softail Story
Im not going to elaborate too much, but I just have to share this and see if any Harley historians can tell me if this might be legit. I see from a short search that in fact the Softail was not originally built by Harley Davidson and did originate from St. Louis?
I met a guy while touring Arkansas a few weeks ago who said he has the FIRST Softail. In so much as he owned this custom bike from this St. Louis I believe builder and Willie G spotted it and like maybe went for a ride on it or something Im not 100% on the details. This guy gave the info on the builder to Willie G and Harley bought the company which is how he arrives at owning the *First Softail*
Super nice guy by the way Im not depicting him in a negative light, but I am curious how his story might flesh out with the historians that Im sure frequent this site.
I met a guy while touring Arkansas a few weeks ago who said he has the FIRST Softail. In so much as he owned this custom bike from this St. Louis I believe builder and Willie G spotted it and like maybe went for a ride on it or something Im not 100% on the details. This guy gave the info on the builder to Willie G and Harley bought the company which is how he arrives at owning the *First Softail*
Super nice guy by the way Im not depicting him in a negative light, but I am curious how his story might flesh out with the historians that Im sure frequent this site.
Last edited by Fastfwd; Nov 16, 2011 at 03:51 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,716
Likes: 103
From:
History
Bill Davis, an avid Harley rider and engineer from St. Louis, Mo. designed the softail in the early 1970s.[citation needed] According to Greg Field on page 242 of the chapter "Father of the Softail" in the book The Harley Davidson Century, published by MBI Publishing (2002), Mr. Davis contacted Willie G. Davidson in 1976. Furthermore, in his book, "Harley Davidson Softail", Field says that Davis sold over his "sub shock wide glide prototype" to Harley Davidson in 1982. In 1984 Harley Davidson began to manufacture a revised version of the Davis softail design.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softail
Bill Davis, an avid Harley rider and engineer from St. Louis, Mo. designed the softail in the early 1970s.[citation needed] According to Greg Field on page 242 of the chapter "Father of the Softail" in the book The Harley Davidson Century, published by MBI Publishing (2002), Mr. Davis contacted Willie G. Davidson in 1976. Furthermore, in his book, "Harley Davidson Softail", Field says that Davis sold over his "sub shock wide glide prototype" to Harley Davidson in 1982. In 1984 Harley Davidson began to manufacture a revised version of the Davis softail design.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softail
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 3
From: Oklahoma City, OK
I see more detail here: http://www.ehow.com/about_5365474_history-harley-davidson-softail.html
This doesn’t rule out the possibility that the guy I talked to was the reason Willie G got back with the custom shop
This doesn’t rule out the possibility that the guy I talked to was the reason Willie G got back with the custom shop
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,913
Likes: 8
From: Darlington WI.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,158
Likes: 68
From: Martinsburg, WV
Trending Topics
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 30,914
Likes: 16
From: Springfield, Ohio
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
History
Bill Davis, an avid Harley rider and engineer from St. Louis, Mo. designed the softail in the early 1970s.[citation needed] According to Greg Field on page 242 of the chapter "Father of the Softail" in the book The Harley Davidson Century, published by MBI Publishing (2002), Mr. Davis contacted Willie G. Davidson in 1976. Furthermore, in his book, "Harley Davidson Softail", Field says that Davis sold over his "sub shock wide glide prototype" to Harley Davidson in 1982. In 1984 Harley Davidson began to manufacture a revised version of the Davis softail design.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softail
Bill Davis, an avid Harley rider and engineer from St. Louis, Mo. designed the softail in the early 1970s.[citation needed] According to Greg Field on page 242 of the chapter "Father of the Softail" in the book The Harley Davidson Century, published by MBI Publishing (2002), Mr. Davis contacted Willie G. Davidson in 1976. Furthermore, in his book, "Harley Davidson Softail", Field says that Davis sold over his "sub shock wide glide prototype" to Harley Davidson in 1982. In 1984 Harley Davidson began to manufacture a revised version of the Davis softail design.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softail
About a month after learning this story, I actually met a guy who was his friend and supposedly helped him created said "First Softail".
Seemed legit as he had pictures of him & Mr. Davis hanging out and stuff.
Was pretty cool.
Stage IV
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
First Softail response
1st off let me say, I had nothing to do with the original design of the Softail,
I just built a bike. I was cruising down St. Charles Rock RD, around St. Louis one day, in 1977, I saw the most unusual Harley Frame ( RoadWorX) . I stopped at the bike shop, it was called Osbornes. I asked the cat working the desk about the frame, and he said it wasn't for sale. I financially persuaded him to part with it, for like $650.00 and I came back with my Rambler station wagon, I actually lived in Northern Illinois.
I built the scooter from a 73 shovelhead motor , a ratchet top tranny, and jammer sudial wheels, my Dad and a Buddy of mine were machinests and we stoked out some good custom made parts, foot pegs ect.
I went to the State Police, and they said I needed a builders title for the frame, so I called down to Osbornes ( He was supposed to send me one, seemed like a real good guy) He had gotten himself killed somehow>
So I called Bill Davis and told him my plight, he said he would only send me one, If I promised not to show it that year! I am a man of my word so I didn't. You have to realize, there was no such thing anywhere, and I had to engineer all of my own parts. I will continue later.
I just built a bike. I was cruising down St. Charles Rock RD, around St. Louis one day, in 1977, I saw the most unusual Harley Frame ( RoadWorX) . I stopped at the bike shop, it was called Osbornes. I asked the cat working the desk about the frame, and he said it wasn't for sale. I financially persuaded him to part with it, for like $650.00 and I came back with my Rambler station wagon, I actually lived in Northern Illinois.
I built the scooter from a 73 shovelhead motor , a ratchet top tranny, and jammer sudial wheels, my Dad and a Buddy of mine were machinests and we stoked out some good custom made parts, foot pegs ect.
I went to the State Police, and they said I needed a builders title for the frame, so I called down to Osbornes ( He was supposed to send me one, seemed like a real good guy) He had gotten himself killed somehow>
So I called Bill Davis and told him my plight, he said he would only send me one, If I promised not to show it that year! I am a man of my word so I didn't. You have to realize, there was no such thing anywhere, and I had to engineer all of my own parts. I will continue later.
Last edited by saddletramp12; Apr 12, 2012 at 06:24 PM. Reason: Add picture