The quantity and significance of changes that World War I introduced to the human experience is immeasurable. For Harley-Davidson, makers of this strapping 1917 Model J, the Great War was a pivotal moment in the historic American motorcycle manufacturer’s history as it ascended to the top of the industry. Since its founding in 1903, the Motor Company built its iconic brand by offering sturdy, reliable and attractive motorcycles for the American public. Beginning in 1912, Harley mounted a successful campaign to surpass its numerous competitors in the crowded early motorcycle market, focusing on superior build quality, a prolific marketing department and a network of dealerships dedicated to servicing its customers beyond the initial sale. A state-of-the-art factory dramatically increased production by 1913, and in 1914, the Motor Company officially entered the sport of professional motorcycle racing. In 1915, Harley rolled out its new flagship Model J, a 61 CI (1000cc) V-twin featuring a 3-speed, hand-shifted gearbox and an electric lighting system for the first time. The following season, Harley’s lineup received a stylish facelift with strengthened frames, wider forks and fenders, and elegant, streamlined tanks with rounded corners. By then, the war had been chewing through Europe for two years, and on April 6, 1917, the United States officially declared war on Germany. It was a nationwide effort of Total War, and domestic manufacturers quickly retooled for wartime production needs. When it came to American motorcycles, Indian, not Harley-Davidson, received the majority of the military contracts. Still, the opportunity later proved a curse as Indian’s overcommitment to military production left its dealers with little inventory, a fact that competing Harley- Davidson dealerships were happy to capitalize on. In Milwaukee, production at the Juneau Avenue factory reached a record high, edging in on Indian’s production by less than 1,000 units for the first time, all without the boost of military contracts. Given the shift towards government issue machines, the first Harley-Davidson motorcycles to roll off the line in 1917 would be the last of the famed “Silent Grey Fellows” as the Motor Company made the historic switch to Olive Drab Green, a color which would remain the brand’s signature until 1932. Also new for the 1917 lineup was a four-lobe cam, developed in Harley’s factory racing program in Bill Ottaway’s 8-Valve racer. Though this older-restoration 1917 Harley-Davidson Model J forgoes the gray or green of its historic year, it remains a benchmark motorcycle from a pivotal moment in the company’s long and celebrated history. F213.1 1917 HARLEY-DAVIDSON MODEL J TWIN
