For me it was a friend of one of my uncles. I only saw the bike once when I was 5 or 6. I don't know if it was a Flathead, Knuckle, Pan, or maybe even an Indian. It had no front fender and a chopped rear fender and was the coolest thing I ever saw. It looked a lot like this Knuckle but it was red:

 

Grew up seeing Harley servicars around, thought they were neat, but the one that nailed me was a white Harley sitting next to a plane at a small airport we were driving by. That was my dream machine for many years after. That would have been sometime in the 1950's, long before I got to ride one.

 

My Grandfather starting riding Harley's 1934, and passed it down to my father, who then passed it down to his children. I'm please to say I passed it on to mine. I remember anxiously waiting for him to give my brother and I rides, and the feeling of absolute happiness has stayed with me till this day. I fell sorry for those that don't understand.

 

my father rebuilt a sportster back in the early 80's. i remember him riding it up and down the street swearing profusely at it cause he was having issues with the carb. in 84 mom bought him a brand new fxrs. he use to take me to school on it. man did i feel cool then...

 

You may have unknowingly assisted in forging that young mans future...uh oh.

 

I always wave at kids in cages when I catch them looking at me. Makes my day when they grin and wave back. Never thought about putting the "bug" into them. Hhhmmm.

 

The only Harleys I saw as a kid were dressers and few of them...except for cop bikes. My cousins had an Indian, which is when I got my first ride.

 

Several things in my life I now have because of my childhood. Grew up with motorcycles. Triumphs, Nortons, and Harley's. Even seen a few BMW's. Started riding Honda's and Mini bikes with Briggs engines. Always knew that when I got big enough there would be a Harley in the garage. I would spend lots of time smelling and hearing those motorcycles growing up. I was just waiting for the day them legs got long enough to touch the ground sitting on that seat. Duck hunting as a kid. We used small flat bottoms to get to the hunting area. Always a pain in the butt in shallow water. Seen a big airboat go by with a radial engine on it. I was admiring that boat when it blew by. Told Daddy when I got a job one of them would be in our driveway. Haven't been without as least one since early twenty's. I can remember wrenching on those motorcycles admiring the pretty women that came and went from the shop as a young kid. I knew that one day I would be riding on of those too. Life is good.