You fell in love with your bike the moment you saw it. But have you ever wondered which Harley models command that reaction most often? Check out some of the best-selling and most popular Harley motorcycles.

What Are the Top-Selling Harley Davidson Models?

Harley Davidson doesn’t have just one single motorcycle that’s the frontrunner when it comes to sales. Every rider has their own style and riding habits, making different bikes the right fit for different people.

In 2017, the Street 750 was one of the highest-selling motorcycles overall, not just compared to other Harley models. People loved this bike because of its sleek design and power.

Another consistently high seller is the Sportster. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, because the Sportster is a great first bike. When you’re just getting into motorcycling and are becoming a more confident rider, the Sportster is the perfect bike. It’s smaller than other models and easy to handle.

What Is the Most Popular Harley Motorcycle?

Every one of our Harley riders is different. We don’t just have one motorcycle that is the most popular. The best thing about Harley is that there’s a bike for everyone, whatever your needs and lifestyle are. Here are some bikes we think are the most popular among Harley motorcyclists:

• Softail: The Softail lineup is your quintessential Harley motorcycle. With that classic Harley Davidson style, comfort and easy handling, it’s no wonder the Softail model is a favorite. In particular, the Street Glide and Street Bob are some of the most popular bikes for this model.

• Sportster: The Sportster model is a popular bike for first-time riders. Their easy handling and lightweight build are popular features. The Forty-Eight and Iron 883 are top picks among Sportsters.

• Touring: These bikes are popular among the more serious riders. When you love long road trips on your bike, other models aren’t as good of a fit. The FLHR Road King is a very popular Touring bike.

What Is the Best All-Around Motorcycle for Your Money?

The “best” motorcycle depends on the person. What you think is the best bike is probably different than other riders’ picks. The perfect bike comes down to these three types of riders:

• First-time: If you’re just starting out, the Sportster is the best bike for you.

• Casual: When you’ve been riding for a few years and are ready to move up, a Softail or Street is a great choice.

• Long-haul: For long road trips or frequent riding, owning a Touring or Trike is the best pick.

How Many Bike Models Does Harley Sell?

With new and used bikes in stock at every Harley retailer, every location will have different bikes in stock. Susquehanna Valley H-D® carries these new models:

• Street
• Sportster
• Softail
• Touring
• CVO
• Trike

Along with those models, you’ll find a wide selection of other bikes, too. Susquehanna Valley H-D® wants to help you find the perfect bike. For complete lists of the bikes we have in stock, visit our showroom or check out our new model inventory and used bike inventory online today.

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Different Harley models come standard in different colors. When you’re buying a new bike, you may have a few color options once you know which model you’re getting. When you’re buying a used bike, you’ll probably have a much wider selection of colors.

When deciding on which color to get, you should pick whichever one speaks to you the most. You can always customize your bike with a unique paint job.

Have you ever wondered if your bike’s color is common or uncommon? Check out the most popular colors for road bikes and how your bike’s color could affect some of the costs.

Top 5 Paint Colors for Harley Davidsons

There are nearly unlimited options for colors for your bike. There are several colors that are the most common and popular among motorcyclists. Check out those colors below:

• Black: By far, black is the most popular and common color for Harleys. It’s a classic and safe pick. When you want a black bike, you have a few choices, too, including Vivid Black, Black Denim and Black Tempest.

• Electric blue: Electric blue is a pick for riders who want to make more of a statement. Whether it’s just by itself or combined with other colors, you’ll definitely be seen with this paint job.

• Red: Red is a popular color because you can find a variety of shades of it. You can get a bright cherry red or a dark burgundy. It’s a versatile color that fits a lot of different styles.

• Silver: You’ll find this color a lot because it goes so well with other colors. But it looks great on its own, too. Silver also doesn’t show as much dirt as other darker colors.

• Olive gold: This color is used as an accent color on some bikes, especially with shades of black. You can also find bikes where it is the only color.

Did your bike’s color make the list? Were there any colors you were expecting but didn’t see? You may be thinking that the classic Harley Davidson orange should be one of the common paint colors. The orange and black paint job, mimicking the logo, is a really memorable paint job. It’s memorable, but it’s actually not as common.

How Paint Affects the Cost of Your Bike

If a color comes standard for the bike that you’re looking at, it probably won’t end up costing any more. With bike prices being negotiable, it’s tricky to figure out exactly how a certain color affects the cost of a bike.

If you want a custom paint job, it will cost more. Related to that, if Harley Davidson makes a bike with a limited-edition paint scheme, it will cost more. Bikes with those types of colors will also likely resell for more (or possibly less depending on the buyer) because they’re uncommon.

And, unlike cars, your motorcycle’s color should not affect your insurance costs.

To learn more about paint color options for your bike, contact us at Susquehanna Valley H-D® — your local Harley Davidson dealership!

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Harley Davidson’s Beginnings

The story of Harley Davidson begins before the company was founded. In 1901, William S. Harley finished a blueprint of an engine that was to be attached to a bicycle. Harley Davidson Motor Company was officially founded in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson. The “factory” in which the men worked was a small wooden shed with “Harley-Davidson Motor Company” written on the door. Arthur’s brother Walter also joined the company at this time.

Key Events In Harley Davidson History

With its long history, we can’t list every single event in our company’s history. However, we’ve picked some critical points in Harley Davidson history to give you a starting point to discover more:

• 1904: Just one year after its founding, the first Harley Davidson dealer, C.H. Lang, opens in Chicago. It sells one of the first Harley Davidson motorcycles ever made.
• 1906: A new factory is built, the street later being renamed Juneau Avenue. Harley Davidson also publishes its first catalog.
• 1907: Harley Davidson Motor Company is incorporated. Its stock is split evenly among the founders.
• 1909: The first motorcycle with a V-twin engine is created.
• 1910: The famous “bar and shield” logo is used for the first time, but it isn’t patented for another year.
• 1914: Harley Davidson formally enters motorcycle racing.
• 1916: The Harley-Davidson Enthusiast publishes its first issue. It is the longest-running motorcycle magazine in the world.
• 1918: The first American to enter Germany after World War I does so riding a Harley.
• 1922: Harley Davidson riders win every National Championship race.
• 1925: The teardrop shape of the gas tank is adopted this year. All bikes’ gas tanks produced afterward have this shape.
• 1933: The company begins applying graphic designs to its standard motorcycles. This was meant to stimulate sales during the Great Depression.
• 1941: The United States enters World War II. Harley Davidson produces motorcycles almost exclusively for the military.
• 1946: The company builds the WR racing motorcycle, one of the best racing bikes ever made.
• 1947: The company begins selling what would become the iconic leather motorcycle jacket.
• 1950: 18 out of 24 National Championships awards go to Harley Davidson, and six racing records are set.
• 1953: Harley Davidson celebrates its 50th anniversary by creating a special logo, which is placed on all 1954 models.
• 1956: Elvis Presley poses on a model KH on the cover of the Enthusiast.
• 1957: The Sportster is introduced.
• 1969: Harley Davidson merges with the American Machine and Foundry Company (AMF).
• 1973: Production improves with the opening of a large plant in York, PA.
• 1981: Senior executives purchase Harley Davidson back from AMF.
• 1983: Harley Owners Group, also referred to as H.O.G., is created. It becomes the largest factory-sponsored motorcycle club in the world.
• 1990: The Fat Boy is introduced, becoming an instant classic.
• 1996: All inventory is moved from Juneau Avenue to a new facility in Franklin, WI.
• 1998: The first facility outside the United States opens in Brazil.
• 2003: More than 250,000 people celebrate Harley Davidson’s 100th anniversary in Milwaukee.
• 2008: The Harley-Davidson Museum opens in Milwaukee.
• 2010: Seth Enslow breaks the world record on a Harley for longest motorcycle jump at 183.7 feet. The record was once held by Evel Knievel in 1975, who also broke the record on a Harley.
• 2018: Harley Davidson reaches its 115th anniversary.

The History of Harley Davidson Engines

Like the company, Harley Davidson engines also evolved over the years:

• 1901: William Harley designs his first motorcycle engine.
• 1909: The company produces the first V-twin powered bike.
• 1911: The “F-head” engine becomes a staple until 1929.
• 1929: The “flathead” engine, a 45 cubic-inch V-twin, is introduced.
• 1936: Harley Davidson begins producing the “knucklehead” engine.
• 1948: A new engine, a one-piece plated rocker with covers that look like cake pans is created. It’s nicknamed “panhead.”
• 1966: The “shovelhead” replaces the “panhead.”
• 1984: After being in development for seven years, the 1340cc V2 Evolution engine appears on five models.
• 1986: Sportsters adopt the Evolution V-twin.
• 1999: Touring and Dyna bikes receive a new engine, the Twin Cam 88.
• 2000: This year’s Softail model has the Twin Cam 888 engine, one that is counter-balanced to the Twin Cam 88.

Each type of engine marked a new era in Harley Davidson history. The changes in these engines show technological innovation and the company’s dedication to developing the best products for the public. Today, Harley Davidson motorcycles use a variety of engines specially designed for our different models, including:

• Street Models: Revolution X Engines
• Sportster Models: Evolution Engines
• Softail Models: Milwaukee Eight Engines
• Touring Models: Milwaukee Eight Engines
• CVO Models: Milwaukee Eight Engines
• Trike Models: Milwaukee Eight Engines

Harley Davidson has humble beginnings — it started as three men building bikes in a small shed. Today, it is an internationally recognized and loved brand. We’re proud of where we began, and we can’t wait to see where Harley Davidson goes in the future.

Contact or Visit Susquehanna Valley Harley Davidson for More Information

Now that you know the Harley Davidson story, we hope you appreciate your bike and the culture of Harley Davidson even more. Or maybe (hopefully) we’ve inspired you to consider buying a Harley Davidson motorcycle yourself. We love Harley Davidson, and we know you will too. See what our customers have to say about us.

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