Today, Harley-Davidson isn’t one of the largest manufacturers of motorcycles in the U.S. just because their bikes worked well or they looked particularly fashionable with their Bar & Shield logos. Harley-Davidson motorcycles were unlike any others at the time; they had parts and engines that had never been seen before, and they were able to go up to speeds that were unheard of for a motorbike. Indeed, it was by engaging in a constant process of innovation that the Harley-Davidson Motor Co. was able to stay at the front of the pack.
It was in large part thanks to the unique relationship of William Davidson with his co-workers that Harley-Davidson became an industry leader, with a reputation for original designs and ground-breaking technology. In charge of the company’s human resource division, Davidson took the time to foster closer relationships with his workers. He would spend much of his time going down to the factory line, soliciting information and ideas from the employees, and actually listening to and using those ideas to construct new products and more efficient manufacturing techniques. Many of the innovative ideas for which Harley-Davidson has become known today are a result of this interaction between Davidson and his people.
In 1908, Walter Davidson brought a Harley-Davidson motorcycle to compete in the 7th Annual Federation of American Motorcyclists Endurance and Reliability Contest; the bike scored a perfect 1,000 points. Three days later, the motorbike also set a new FAM economy record at 188.234 miles per gallon. These achievements were made possible because of the heavy emphasis the company had placed on innovation, making improvements were few others even saw the potential.
The Harley-Davidson Motor Co. was one of the first in the industry to introduce a V-twin powered motorcycle, which with a displacement of 49.5 cubic inches was able to produce seven horsepower. In 1914, the company introduced a revolutionary sidecar, making it possible for two people to ride one of their bikes. That same year, clutches and brake pedals were also made available.
The long list of Harley-Davidson innovations goes on: the two-speed rear hub transmission for which William Harley received a patent, the three-speed sliding gear transmission, the uncommonly quiet 37 cubic inch opposed twin cylinder model, the three-wheeled Servi-car, and a unique motorcycle with horizontally opposed cylinders and shaft drive that was designed for desert use during WWII.
In addition to the innovative designs of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the company engaged in many other novel ideas that would help it grow. From a Harley-Davidson service school that trained qualified mechanics, to helping promote the American Motorcyclists Association that would bring together industry members and riders and help promote the sport, the company blazed its own new path. The four boyhood friends proved that they were fearless innovators who were willing to take whatever risks were necessary to outshine – and outlast – their competition. They not only reinvented the wheel, but they turned two wheels into a machine that people the world over would continue to enjoy for decades to come.
Lesson #1: The Innovative Process Can Help You Reinvent the Wheel
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