In 1901, William S. Harley, age 21, devised a plan to create a small engine with displacement of 7.07 cubic inches (116 cc) and four inches (102 mm) style wheels. This machine is designed for use in the regular bike pedal frame. Over the next two years, Harley and his childhood friend Arthur Davidson worked on a railshops north of Milwaukee at their friend's house, Henry Melk. until in 1903 with the help of the brother of Arthur, Walter Davidson. Once completed, they were able to conquer the Milwaukee hills easily without the help of pedals. Harley and Davidson quickly wrote their bikes as a valuable learning experiment.
soon start on a new and improved second generation engine. Harley-Davidson has an engine larger than 24.74 cubic inches (405 cc) with 9.75 inches (25 cm) weighing wheels 28 pounds (13 kg). Sophisticated loop-frame pattern machine is similar to Milwaukee's 1903 Merkel motorcycle (designed by Joseph Merkel). The large engine and loop-frame designs take it out of the motor-bike category and will help determine what modern motorcycles are in the years to come. they also received help with their larger engine from outboard motor pioneer Ole Evinrude, who then built the gas engine from its own design for automotive use in Milwaukee Lake Street.
The prototype of the new Harley-Davidson loop-frame is assembled at 10 × 15 ft (3.0 × 4.6 m) in the backyard of the Davidson family warehouse. Most of the main parts, however, are made elsewhere, including some probably made in the West Milwaukee railshops where older brother William A. Davidson then foremen the toolroom. The functional prototype machine on September 8, 1904 when competed in a Milwaukee motorcycle race was held at the State Fair Garden. Ridden by Hildebrand Edward and, emdapatkan fourth position. This is the first documented appearance of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in a historical record.
