Harley Davidson is one of the most well known motorcycle manufacturers in the world. They were born in America, deriving from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with the first motorcycle being produced in 1905. Believe it or not Harley Davidson was one of two major manufacturers that managed to survive The Great Depression, which actually destroyed the majority of companies in that time period.

Of course, surviving this Great Depression was an achievement in its own, and what the owners of HD didn’t realize at the time was that they had just been through the roughest patch of business they would ever experience. This certainly allowed them to be prepared for something in the future and also, to fend of any competitors that thought they could invade on their space in the market.

The company was developed by young entrepreneur William S. Harley. At the age of 21 he decided that he himself had the knowledge and the actual capacity to build a premium machine. He started to draw up plans for a prototype machine, starting with the motor and from there, Harley Davison was eventually born!

The Turning Point

The 50’s was an extremely big turning point for the company. The problem was that in 1952, the US Tariff Commission decided that they were not making enough on the sale of imported motorcycles. They put a 40% tax on the prospective machines, meaning that their image would eventually be cut back to what it was nearly a decade back. Of course, it was not long before the company were back on track and within a few years, the brand image produced by Harley’s being used in a range of gangster based films eventually restored their original image.

The company has always prided itself in producing fabulous machines, so much so that there are hundreds of groups and clubs dedicated to the ownership and riding of these ultimate cruisers. This is mainly due to the fact that they have provided customers with a unique selling point, with all their machines being heavy weight cruisers over 750cc.

Of course, things were not always so cut and dry for the motorcycle manufacturing giant. At one time it was like there would be an invasion from the Japanese motorcycle market. Japanese companies were offering a huge range of machines at a fraction of the price. Luckily for Harley Davidson, the quality of the machines being imported was far inferior to what was rolling off their production lines.

As mentioned previously, people that ride these motorcycles are not people that enjoy the freedom of using a motorcycle. In fact, it is so much more than that, they are people that are loyal to the Harley Davidson brand and enjoy the fact that they own such a premium machine. Their brand is so huge that licensing their logo brings in around 5% of the companies annual revenue, which is extremely impressive!

So, What Bikes do They Produce?

Over time, Harley Davidson have chopped and changed their range to ensure that only the best motorcycles are available from their dealerships worldwide. Some of the most popular models include the Street Glide, Electra Glide Classic, Electra Glide Standard, Ultra Classic Electra Glide, Electra Glide Ultra Limited, and Tri Glide Ultra Classic. Of course, it does depend on what the rider is after, as the different machines are all designed for different purposes.

Enthusiasts of the HD brand all know that this is certainly not a brand to be confused with speed and adrenaline. Instead, this brand focuses on producing customer’s machines to their exact specification, allowing them to enjoy the freedom of a motorcycle but at the same time, be incredibly proud of the machine that they own.

Harley Davidson – The Conclusion

So it has been proven that HD has stood the test of time by producing machines that are specifically catering for their customers’ needs and wants. They have been around for a long time and it looks like they will be producing premium motorcycles for many years to come!

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That is especially relevant for commuters in major cities, frustrated at sitting in traffic for many hours per week and needing to dig ever deeper to cover the escalating costs of parking. In London, rocketing congestion charges are also an issue and despite the recent drops in fuel costs, higher road fund licence and increasing maintenance costs are pushing the cost of motoring ever higher.

Despite requests for people to share their four-wheeled transport, the impracticalities of organising lifts on a daily basis can often prove unworkable. Indeed, very few people can leave and return home at exactly the same time as someone else and therefore the majority of commuters in the rush hour are still travelling alone. Of course, because so few are able to take advantage of car-sharing lanes they are frequently empty, effectively taking out of service another length of carriageway and adding to the existing congestion.

So, with all the frustrations and costs involved in modern motoring it is no wonder that people are looking for alternatives. Public transport can be useful, but still offers a great deal less flexibility than having control of one’s own vehicle; in addition to the independence of being able to plan journeys when and to where you like.

But, it is young people in particular that are driving the reignited interest in motorbikes and scooters. Running scared of the prohibitive cost of motor insurance pitched at young and inexperienced drivers, they are finding that bike insurance is often a cheaper option. And of course, running two wheels as opposed to four is also far more economical.

What’s more, recent research has revealed that it is no longer only men dominating the motorbike market but now in fact, many young women are buying motorbikes. They point out that the number of women comprising the 1.2 million licensed motorcyclists is now at 20 percent, meaning that there are now almost quarter of a million women bikers in the UK. The same research also showed that almost one in seven female motorists would also consider buying a motorbike in order to cut the cost of travel.

But regardless of gender, the number of motorcyclists is rising and looks only set to increase further, especially with the current economic situation in mind.

Daniel Collins writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.

Aside from getting to don the leathers and speed off into the sunset, there are many advantages of owning a motorcycle. Not only can you gain great satisfaction in weaving through those pesky inner city traffic jams, but a lot of the bikes available are also more cost- and fuel-efficient than automobiles.

However, it is an unfortunate fact that the number of motorcycle thefts is increasing. In fact, according to UK research, there are more motorbikes being stolen than being bought new. Government statistics also concluded that out of every 1,000 motorbikes registered on the road, around 37 are stolen. This compares to just 10 car thefts out of every 1,000 registered.

Most thefts are said to occur in the larger, urban areas, whilst around 80 per cent are taken from the owner’s home. The research also found that it can take as little as 20 seconds for a thief to procure your motorcycle! So, what can you do to ensure yours is safe?

The first, essential item to buy is a proper lock. Although determined thieves will persist, the harder you make it for them to steal, the less successful they will be. Therefore, the experts advise investing in a strong motorcycle U-lock and chain. So, attach your bike to a solid object and thread the chain around the bike’s frame. This is better than fastening the chain through the wheel, since the wheel can be removed.

Another top tip is to consider fitting an alarm to your motorcycle. There are various types that can be found, including ones which will page you if they are set off and ones that can be fastened to a bike cover. And by getting an alarm, you are more likely to scare off potential thieves, especially if the bike is in a public place.

It’s also wise to choose your parking places very carefully. Don’t make a thief’s job easy by nestling your bike in-between two lorries, or by parking on an abandoned street. Furthermore, you could always disable your bike before going off. This could be as simple as taking out the main fuse or installing a hidden-cut out switch. Just remember how to get it working again!

The final recommendation is to get covered. Of course, you can do everything to prevent thieves, but it is an unfortunate reality that can strike. But by ensuring you have suitable motorcycle insurance in place, you can save yourself a lot of cash, as well as a lot of heartache.

Indeed, there are numerous packages available, from fully comprehensive to third party insurance and it’s also possible to tailor them to meet your exact requirements. So, make sure you’re properly covered before you hit the road!
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Andrew Regan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

But, perhaps the greatest advantage of opting for two-wheeled motorised transport is the cost. On average, motorcycles consume around half the amount of fuel per mile than a car does, and given the current cost of petrol across the globe, this works out to be quite a considerable amount over the course of a year.

Additionally, on-street motorcycle parking is often provided for free and whenever costs do apply, the charges are usually considerably cheaper than what they are with automobiles. Furthermore, motorbikes are cheaper and easier to maintain too, given that they have less mechanical parts and hence there are less things that can go wrong; well at least that’s what you hope!

And, as beneficial as it is to save money whilst getting from A to B, motorcycle transport has an ever greater advantage over its four-wheeled counterpart; one that is of particular importance in a society that is becoming more and more environmentally-conscious. Although motorbikes do still require petrol, they are far more eco-friendly than the average automobile due primarily to the fact they require less fuel to function.

But, there’s more to it than that. Whilst many people drive a large, heavy car around with just themselves inside, a motorbike is built to fit only one or two people and is therefore designed accordingly. And, whilst a car may sit in a traffic jam for quite a while with engines running, a motorcycle can often bypass the traffic queues completely, thus minimising any fuel wastage.

It is interesting to know that a team of boffins from London’s Loughborough University recently showcased the world’s first ever hydrogen-powered motorbike. Instead of having a standard fuel tank, it contains an onboard fuel cell that can be filled with hydrogen within 3 minutes, with the only emissions being warm air and water. As a prototype, however, you may not be seeing such a machine on the roads for at least a few years yet; but in the meantime, the amount of motorcycles users on UK roads look set to continue to rise, as people strive to beat the congestion whilst looking to save money at the same time.

However, as with any motor vehicle on the road, there is still a need to purchase bike insurance, whether it’s comprehensive, third-party fire and theft or a simple third-party only policy. And, in keeping with the other ‘economical’ aspects of motorcycles, the insurance premiums, again, are typically cheaper than that of car insurance, which is just one more reason why it can make sense to switch to two-wheeled transport.

Daniel Collins writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.

The CBT is authorised by the Driving Standards Agency and can only be conducted by official instructors at an approved training body. It is a five-element sequential training process where progression onto the next step is dependent upon the instructor being happy that the rider has achieved the minimum acceptable safe driving standard in the lower level.

After a brief introduction during which the rider is introduced to CBT, the instructor launches into the first training session, which will be followed by a practical. Both the theory and practice in that session will be done off-road at the training centre. Only when the instructor is satisfied with the standard of driving displayed by the bike rider will they move onto the next level, out of the testing site and onto public roads.

Once the rider demonstrates that they can drive safely on public roads they are issued with a Certificate of Completion known as a DL 196 which enables them to drive legally on the road with L-plates. The certificate is valid for only two years, during which riders are expected to take their theory and practical driving tests for a motorcycle.

Passing a practical motorcycle test allows the rider to drive a motorbike without L-plates, but with a restriction placed on the power of the bike for two years; the engine must not exceed 33bhp. However, as most of these tests are passed on 125cc motorcycles, anyone wishing to step up to a 650cc or above bike is advised to take further training in order to appreciate the safety aspects of riding such a powerful machine.

Indeed, it is important that safety is ingrained into a rider’s mentality and that they become aware of the road, and other road users. After all, staying on the bike not only keeps a rider healthy but it also minimises any potential adverse impact on their pocket. The longer a rider can stay on their bike and avoid making a claim on their motorcycle insurance the better, as careful riders can earn no-claims discount over a number of years resulting in a reduction in the amount of their annual insurance premium.

Daniel Collins writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.