Harley Davidson Logo History
Harley-Davidson is a legendary motorcycle brand with one of the most famous logo designs in the world. Whether you’re a motorcycle enthusiast or not, finding someone who hasn’t heard of it is challenging.
With their durable parts, revolutionary engine, and smooth exhaust noise, Harley-Davidson gave bikers that adrenaline and exceptional experience on the road.
Join us as we examine one of the most famous motorcycle logos: the iconic Harley-Davidson logo, and how it all started.
Brief History of Harley-Davidson
The Harley-Davidson logo is a pride and honor for millions worldwide who use their bikes and official merchandise. This brand is one of the most famous motorcycle manufacturers worldwide – thanks to its iconic logo design.
Petrol heads can immediately recognize the motorcycle brand logo, which features a shield, bar, and wing. Yes, we are talking about the Harley-Davidson Logo. Its geometric shape and orange and bold-black color combinations create a logo that’s as powerful and interesting as its renowned motorbikes.
But like any other famous logo, did you know that the Harley Davidson logo underwent four significant changes?
Harley-Davidson Logo Evolution
When it comes to motorcycles, many people are familiar with the classic Harley-Davidson logo. While this brand is well-known for its gigantic yet highly customizable bikes that boast powerful engines, it’s easy to recognize the brand through its powerful logo.
However, before the current Harley-Davidson logo became popular, it was not the same as when the company kicked off. Let’s trace the evolution of the Harley-Davidson logo since it was established!
1910-1953
Did you know that while Harley-Davidson released its first motorbike in 1903, the company’s first official logo appeared only in 1910?
The first Harley-Davidson motorcycle logo consists of a shield-shaped background with a horizontal bar with a wordmark design. The company name was written in all caps white traditional font, and the motorcycle nameplate is placed on a shield and is black in color.
However, the logo went through some minimal changes throughout the years. In 1930, the letter ‘o’ was changed to a red and yellow palette. It was then switched to black and orange in 1933. According to the color theory for beginners, red represents passion and celebration, yellow gives off joy and energy, and orange showcases creativity and youth.
In 1949, Harley-Davidson changed the logo to a complete metal design, which gives off a masculine and brutal vibe.
1953-1965
The first significant redesign of the Harley-Davidson logo happened in 1953 when the brand celebrated its 50th anniversary. The logo was changed to an enraged V-shaped symbol, which represents the company’s motorcycle engine.
The bar which contained the wordmark was retained and placed horizontally on the V design. The font design was in a custom cursive typeface and has strong lines and a flat base.
In celebration of its anniversary, the “50 years” inscription was incorporated on the upper part of the logo’s shield, while the “American Made” was on the bottom one.
Riders loved this logo because of its strong and stylish metal medallion, which adds to the robust look of its motorbikes. However, the brand changed its logo in the following years.
1965-2003
In 1965, the brand went back to its original logo version but modernized it and switched the color palette to monochrome. The shape of the Bar & Shield emblem was enhanced, looking even more powerful and masculine in its black and white combination.
Fans of the motorcycle brand considered this the most iconic logo, which started a new era of the brand’s history.
Present
Harley-Davidson’s legendary bar and shield emblem is in use today and features refined and more confident shapes and lines. The brand uses a monochrome color palette with a bright orange framing for the “Motorcycles” lettering.
The wordmark of the brand name is still in color white and uses one of the most popular and commonly used fonts in marketing, Helvetica. The shield represents two of the qualities you should look for in a motorcycle: stability and strength.
The colors of the Harley-Davidson logo are black, orange, and white, which represents brand reliability and the rider’s coolness as well. This also explains why various products and merchandise using these color schemes are popular.
Harley Davidson Eagle Logo
The Harley Davidson Eagle logo is plastered on all gas tanks in the 1930s. The screaming eagle design represents that the company takes the performance of their motorbikes to the next level with increased acceleration and improved passing power.
Aside from that, there’s actually another reason for introducing this eagle design. The sales of the company dropped during the Great Depression, so the CEO decided to introduce a new Harley-Davidson gas tank emblem to boost their sales.
Pretty clever, right? That plan actually worked! Riders were in awe of this design. The eagle animal design represents American patriotism, fearlessness, strength, and tenacity – which explains their motorbikes and the riders who use them.
Harley Davidson Skull Logo
A skull logo on a motorcycle is not a new sight for every motorcycle enthusiast. The skull signifies a biker’s commitment to riding until death! Motorcycles with skull patches in specific colors represent national pride, passion, or even a simple commitment to a riding club.
The Harley-Davison Skull logo is called the ‘Willie G Skull Chrome,” which was named after its creator, Willie G Davidson – the son of the former Harley president and grandson of the original co-founder of the company.
There’s a considerable debate about the meaning of the skull logo and Harley-Davison has not commented on where it came from. Due to this, branding experts refer to the skull symbol as “33,” a concept of a symbol that no one really knows the true meaning of.
Design Your Motorcycle Logo Today
The Harley-Davidson logo is one of the most recognizable symbols worldwide. Throughout the history of the brand, its logo went through numerous changes before it reached its iconic and famous logo that many love today.
Design your powerful motorcycle logo today with our logo maker, and who knows? Your brand might be the next favorite brand that provides high-performance motorbikes for millions of riders worldwide!
If you’re interested in creating logos for other fields, check out our website and browse through thousands of symbols curated just for you. Just fill out your business name and look for suitable logo designs, Facebook Covers, Twitter Posts, and more for your brand.
Keep calm and ride your dream by starting with your brand logo!