Harley-Davidson Logo

The Harley-Davidson ‘bar and shield’ logo was first used in 1910 and trademarked in the US one year later. It consists of a shield bearing the inscription “Motor / Cycles” with “Harley-Davidson” overlaid across the centre in a rectangle. While not much is known about the origin or design of the logo, it is one of the most recognisable symbols in the world today.

Not a single Harley-Davidson motorcycle rolls out of the factory without the classic logo. But not only is it displayed on every one of their motorbikes, but also on a massive range of accessories, clothing, gifts and collectibles. From leather jackets, to shirts, belt buckles, helmets, face masks, and pants, or accessories including photo frames, beer and wine glasses, and piggy banks.

Apart from the classic ‘Bar and Shield’ logo, Harley-Davidson also uses classic symbols of the skull, flames and eagle. The idea is to convey an image of power, strength and ruggedness. The licensing of the Harley-Davidson logo accounts for almost 5% of the company’s net revenue.

Sound Trademark

In 1994 the Harley-Davidson company filed an application for a sound trademark. The design of the classic Harley-Davidson is a two-cylinder, V-twin engines with pistons mounted at a 45 angle to form a V shape, connected through a single pin through connecting rods. It was designed to create a large, high-torque engine, which caused the pistons to fire at uneven intervals. The resulting sound has been called the “Harley Sound”, and the design has been maintained because of the strong connection between the sound and the Harley-Davidson brand.

Harley-Davidson claimed the distinctive sound should be allowed to be trademarked, describing it as the exhaust sound of the motorcycle produced by V-twin, common crankpin engines. However, following litigation by competitors the company dropped the application.

History of Armour

The design of armour has evolved from the primitive use of leather, hide (such as from a rhinoceros) and wood, to the use of bronze and iron, and finally to synthetic fabrics and ceramics. Medieval armour was first made of chainmail, which had interlocking iron rings that were designed to protect but be flexible.  By the late Middle Ages plate armour had begun to be developed (which the Roman Empire had used, but the techniques had been lost after its downfall) to protect vulnerable areas such as the knees. Typical armour included the helm, gauntlets, gorget, breastplate and greaves.  

In early modernity the suits of armour continued to be useful as firearms had relatively low velocity and could not penetrate breast plates. However, while generals continued to wear full suits of armour during the 18th century, soldiers generally wore less armour as it was too heavy. With the introduction of muskets plate armour was not useful anyway. By World War I armour was designed to protect against sabres and lances, and was camouflaged with dark paint. Foot soldiers had to make use of the trenches in order to protect from rifles and machine guns.

Motorcycle Armour

Motorcycle armour is usually fitted inside leather jackets, and can come in lightweight and standard riding armour. Protective gear for motorbikes also include gloves, one-piece riding suits, a variety of reinforced pants, leather jackets, helmets and boots. Gloves can come in fingerless or gauntlet styles, in textile or leather. While two piece suits are more common, one-piece suits offer a much higher level of protection because it eliminates any chance of the top and bottom coming apart. They come with ski pads and protective armour, and keep you warm and dry. While many people wear jeans while riding, they are not very protective. However they can be reinforced with padding or used with chaps. Leather jackets are also important for limiting abrasion, and of course boots and helmets.

Early Harley-Davidson motorbikes

In 1901 William S. Harley develops a blueprint of an engine designed to fit into a bicycle at only age 21. This is the start of the legendary Harley-Davidson brand that is still going strong today. In 1903 William Harley and Arthur Davidson built the first bike available to the public in a shed. It was built as a racer with a 3-1/8 inch bore and 3-1/2 inch stroke. From then on Harley-Davidson bikes were involved in races that demonstrated the quality of design and practicality of function of their bikes. In 1908, Davidson scored a perfect 1000 points at the 7th Annual Federation of American Motorcyclists Endurance and Reliability Contest, while Walter sets the record for economy of fuel with 188.234 miles per gallon. In 1914 the company formally enters into competitions with Harley as the first Racing Engineer, and their performance earns them the nickname ‘Wrecking Crew’ because of their amazing dominance at the races.

Types of Harley-Davidson accessories

Since its earliest design Harley-Davidson has continually developed and improved the design of its bikes, including making many accessories available to not only enhance the performance of the vehicle but also allow for individual preference and style. The first spare parts for motorcycles were made available in 1909, while in 1914 the first sidecars were made available as an optional accessory which also served a very practical function. In this tradition there are now available are a very wide range of accessories for not only the bike but its rider as well! Accessories for the bikes include items such as:

• chrome covers
• seats and pads
• windshields
• air and oil filters
• luggage bags
• fuel management devices
• footpegs
• trimming
• different horns, and
• number plate frames.

Harley-Davidson rider accessories include a wide range of clothing and gear that is both fashionable and functional, such as:

• leather jackets
• helmets
• boots
• rainsuits
• shirts

Additionally there are collectible items for the Harley-Davidson enthusiast like buckles, fobs, belts, wallets, mugs, beanies and caps.