Harley Davidson Dirt Bike History

It was a small engine which Rasmussen called Das Kliene Wunder the little marvel that gave DWK its start in the motorcycle industry.

Harley davidson dirt bike history. The Harley-Davidson MX-250 was a lethal weapon in its class and Harley-Davidson even had a motocross team consisting of Rex Staten Don Kudalski and Marty Tripes. In the late 1960s Harley-Davidson was perfectly positioned to compete. Photo courtesy Hodaka.

Back in the 1960s and 70s Harley offered a variety of rather un-Harley-like small dual-sports and even briefly got. Class C racing kicked off with dirt-track racing in 1939. Walker would become a dominant force on half mile dirt.

Harley introduces the the 45-cubic-inch Flathead WR racing motorcycle. H-D brought this little stinker out to capture the small-bore trail bike market that was dominated by Hodaka at the time-the early 70s. Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts.

Fast forward a century and todays garage shed and professional. Powered by a 739cc Flathead motor the W-series also had a newfangled recirculating oil system H-D. Ray Weishaar is seen here with the famous team Harley hog mascot on the tank of his bike.

The Harley-Davidson motorcycle company was 100 years old in 2003 and its been producing American motorcycles with a distinction that sets them apart from all others. They battled through the ups and downs of the economic depression and multiple recessions to keep afloat and deliver a consistent stream of machines that helped to built their legacy of continuity. By 1941 Harley-Davidson produced its first showroom racing model the WR.

In 2007 the 1125R was manufactured with a new V-Twin motor with liquid cooling DOHC and fuel injection. In 1998 after 20000 motorcycles had been manufactured since the start of Buell Erik Buell sold Harley-Davidson 49 of Buell motorcycles. But H-Ds dirt diggers didnt hail from Milwaukee or anywhere else in the US.