Harley Davidson Dirt Bike History

Ray Weishaar was undoubtedly one of the best known motorcycle racing stars of the 1910s and 1920s.

Harley davidson dirt bike history. Photo courtesy Hodaka. But H-Ds dirt diggers didnt hail from Milwaukee or anywhere else in the US. This 1972 Factory XRTT was driven by Harley Champion rider Mark Brelsford and is the bike that was famously crashed by Brelsford at the 1973 Daytona 200.

The Harley-Davidson Sportster introduced in 1957 boasts one of the longest unbroken production runs in motorcycling history more than six decades. Class C racing kicked off with dirt-track racing in 1939. The FXS Low Rider in 1977 Harley-Davidsons FXB Sturgis model was released in 1980.

Powered by a 739cc Flathead motor the W-series also had a newfangled recirculating oil system H-D. After 1980 with the history of the Harley-Davidson Evolution Engine only the engine from this dirt track racing bike model became available. By 1941 Harley-Davidson produced its first showroom racing model the WR.

How this came about has been lost to history but perhaps Harley-Davidson saw a way to poke their former racing rival Indian. Harley introduces the the 45-cubic-inch Flathead WR racing motorcycle. It proves to be one of the best racing motorcycles ever built.

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. What many may not know is that this isnt Harleys first dirt rodeo. Is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.

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. Walker got his hands on a blanked off two cam Harley-Davidson and began racing it. Ray Weishaar was coined the Kansas Cyclone.