The Legend That Won’t Sit Still | Harley-Davidson

In 1903, childhood friends William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson started a business in a 10- by 15-foot wooden shed. Less than 20 years later, their venture, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. In the past century, their empire has grown from only six full-time employees to more than 1,300 dealerships in 60 countries.

To achieve its growth, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company has overcome many obstacles. They were the only major American motorcycle manufacturer to survive the Great Depression. Over the years, Harley-Davidson has gained the support of many Americans, and has been viewed as a symbol of patriotism and freedom—no doubt due to the company’s support of the U.S. military during both World War I and World War II.

The enduring success of this organization leaves many in awe. However, the founders of Harley-Davidson knew what they were doing when they made customer satisfaction their top priority. Much of the unwavering brand loyalty can be attributed to Harley-Davidson’s uncanny ability to stay in tune with the wants and needs of their customers. Another contributor to the success of the company is its commitment to building one specific product: motorcycles. Rather than trying to diversify into other types of vehicles, they have chosen to perfect the Harley and make it the highest quality possible. Harley has always endeavored to attain a simple goal: to do better at what they do best. Their history of and dedication to building superior motorcycles sets Harley-Davidson apart from its competition.

“Once you compare them to other brands of motorcycles, people are always very impressed at how much better Harleys handle and the way that they ride. It surprises a lot of people,” says Jack Fleming, president and owner of Ozark Harley-Davidson in Lebanon and Lake of the Ozarks Harley-Davidson in Osage Beach, describing the reaction he often sees in many first-time Harley riders.

Jack, along with his wife Debi, moved to the Lake area in 1998 when the opportunity to open a Harley-Davidson dealership arose. Since the original dealership opened in Lebanon, it has expanded and moved just a few miles south to its current location just off I-44. A second store was also opened along Highway 54 in Osage Beach.

Jack’s attraction to motorcycles was spurred at a very young age, and his interest has developed into a hobby that he will likely nurture for the rest of his life. His genuine enthusiasm for Harley-Davidson is obvious from the moment you enter his presence. He will honestly tell you that he can’t pick a favorite among the 15 Harleys he owns. He dotes on the special features and capabilities of each bike in much the same way proud parents brag about their children and each one’s individual talents.

Harley-Davidson has divided its products into six main families: Sportster, Dyna, Softail, VRSC, Touring and Trike. Each family has a frame design that is specific to all models in that particular family. Lately, the most sought-after bikes at the dealership come from the Touring family, which consists of several different models. The rising popularity of Touring bikes owes largely to their high level of comfort. They are built specifically for long trips with more comfortable seating, windshields, more protection and higher luggage capacity, as well as numerous conveniences including a radio and cruise control.

Harley is launching an exciting new program in February that may rival the popularity of the Touring models. The 1200 Custom, which was discontinued in 2010, has been redesigned into an entirely new piece of machinery. Along with this fresh model, Harley is introducing an innovative new way in which prospective owners can customize it. While sitting behind a computer in the comfort of home, a customer can choose from many categories including paint colors and designs, seats, wheels, and windshield options, to truly make the bike his or her own. A Harley-Davidson dealer can then order the bike, and it will come directly from the factory as the customer designed it.

This is different from the way Harley sells its other bikes in that it eliminates the manufacture of an excess of parts and saves customers money in the long run. As of now, the program only applies to the 1200 Custom, but pending its success, could set the standard for the way Harley-Davidson produces all its motorcycles in the future.

Although his bike was not built through this particular process, Scott Schafer has a custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle that he bought hot off the assembly line in Milwaukee. Scott and his wife are Lake residents and owners of the Town and Country Motel in Osage Beach and the Heritage Inn and Suites in Eldon. Like Jack Fleming, Scott moved to the Lake area to pursue a business opportunity, his love of motorcycles began at a young age, and he is an avid motorcyclist and Harley-
Davidson fanatic. Scott is the proud owner of a 2009 Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide with a matching custom trailer. Although he originally thought this bike was the ugliest motorcycle Harley had ever produced, he admits that after only one ride he fell in love with the bike and it is his favorite of all the motorcycles he has ever owned.

Scott and Jack share a unique bond that exemplifies all that it means to be a member of the Harley-Davidson family. On their way home from having a motorcycle customized at Jack’s dealership in Lebanon, Scott and his wife were involved in a motorcycle accident. Before the dust had settled, Jack, his wife, and several of their employees arrived at the scene to help gather the Schafers’ personal belongings. With a gleam of the past in his eyes, Scott remembers how the Flemings went above and beyond expectations and visited the couple in the hospital. Although the accident was seven years ago, Scott asserts that he would do anything to help the dealership succeed.

If you get an opportunity to visit with a Harley owner, you will soon notice it is more than simply a brand or a motorcycle, it is a lifestyle. There is something to be said about the loyalty of Harley-Davidson customers and the bond that links them all together. Although it cannot be explained unless you have truly experienced it yourself, you do not have to be an avid motorcyclist to appreciate it. There always has been, and likely always will be, an intangible mystique that draws people from all walks of life to the iconic brand that is Harley-Davidson.

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