Harley historians... May I pick your brains?

**sunhuntin** · 27th June 2007, 19:58

my co worker [who is a complete plonker and thinks he knows everything when he knows jack schit] reckons it was a "peter davidson" who "invented" the harley thump. i can recall no peter davidson of the original founding fathers, and am almost certain that the harley thump has been around since the v-twin engine was first designed [1909?]

naturally, he refuses to listen or believe anything i say. i told him there was no peter in the founding four, so he changed his story so that peter was a recent addition to the factory, and was no relation to any of the founders.

anyone with decent facts to either back up or stomp down his theory will get bling, and the thread printed off and waved in his face.

btw, this "debate" started after i commented how nice a harley sounded as it left the forecourt. coworker reckons hes gonna get rich, buy a huge boat and a harley and ride it all over the little islands [ie, uninhabited!! no roads!]
hes a total bullshit artist, which is why i argued with him. he even trys to educate me on my favourite singer, who ive been listening to for a decade, and he has only just heard of him.

PLEASE AND THANKS, WITH A BLINGY ON TOP

**janno** · 27th June 2007, 20:00

Why are you arguing? The guy sounds ever so slightly developmentally challenged. He'd probably have a good argument in front of a mirror.

Completely confuse the guy and agree with everything. That'll piss him off . . .

**98tls** · 27th June 2007, 20:03

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

my co worker [who is a complete plonker and thinks he knows everything when he knows jack schit] reckons it was a "peter davidson" who "invented" the harley thump. i can recall no peter davidson of the original founding fathers, and am almost certain that the harley thump has been around since the v-twin engine was first designed [1909?]

naturally, he refuses to listen or believe anything i say. i told him there was no peter in the founding four, so he changed his story so that peter was a recent addition to the factory, and was no relation to any of the founders.

anyone with decent facts to either back up or stomp down his theory will get bling, and the thread printed off and waved in his face.

btw, this "debate" started after i commented how nice a harley sounded as it left the forecourt. coworker reckons hes gonna get rich, buy a huge boat and a harley and ride it all over the little islands [ie, uninhabited!! no roads!]
hes a total bullshit artist, which is why i argued with him. he even trys to educate me on my favourite singer, who ive been listening to for a decade, and he has only just heard of him.

PLEASE AND THANKS, WITH A BLINGY ON TOP

Tell him not to bother........most expensive boats will come with an anchor as standard equipment.............

**sunhuntin** · 27th June 2007, 20:04

Originally Posted by janno

Why are you arguing? The guy sounds ever so slightly developmentally challenged. He'd probably have a good argument in front of a mirror.

Completely confuse the guy and agree with everything. That'll piss him off . . .

thats a good point, lol. but if i just cave and let him think hes right once, he wont ever shut up.

he apparently has a brain injury, but like everything, im inclined to not listen. ive lived with a guy with a brain injury, and co worker is nothing like him. compared to glenn, co worker could be a genius.
you can never tell when what he says is shit or truth, so its all bull until proven otherwise

**pete376403** · 27th June 2007, 20:09

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/C...9&locale=en_US

William Harley and Arthur Davidson founded the company, Walter and William Davidson came on board a bit later. Didn't see any peter Davidson in there

BTW this is interesting..1935 The Japanese motorcycle industry is founded as a result of Harley-Davidson licensing blueprints, tools, dies and machinery to the Sankyo Company of Japan. The result is the Rikuo motorcycle

**doc** · 27th June 2007, 20:15

Originally Posted by pete376403

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/C...9&locale=en_US

William Harley and Arthur Davidson founded the company, Walter and William Davidson came on board a bit later. Didn't see any peter Davidson in there

BTW this is interesting..1935 The Japanese motorcycle industry is founded as a result of Harley-Davidson licensing blueprints, tools, dies and machinery to the Sankyo Company of Japan. The result is the Rikuo motorcycle

you are a real spoil sport aren't you Hog members will be visiting you very soon .

**sunhuntin** · 27th June 2007, 20:29

Originally Posted by pete376403

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/C...9&locale=en_US

William Harley and Arthur Davidson founded the company, Walter and William Davidson came on board a bit later. Didn't see any peter Davidson in there

BTW this is interesting..1935 The Japanese motorcycle industry is founded as a result of Harley-Davidson licensing blueprints, tools, dies and machinery to the Sankyo Company of Japan. The result is the Rikuo motorcycle

that is interesting!
yeh... didnt think there was a peter in there anywhere. would it also be fair to assume that the thump appeared at the same time as the twin engine?

**98tls** · 27th June 2007, 20:48

Have never heard one thump...........old singles thump........harleys potato.....

**crashe** · 27th June 2007, 21:14

Sunhuntin - I have the book 'Concise history of Harley-Davidson' by Shaun Barrington.

So if there is any other things you want to know..... I can check out the book for the info for you.

**Madness** · 27th June 2007, 21:26

It sounds like you are working with this guy. Everybody knows that guy.

**peasea** · 27th June 2007, 21:52

Originally Posted by pete376403

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/C...9&locale=en_US

William Harley and Arthur Davidson founded the company, Walter and William Davidson came on board a bit later. Didn't see any peter Davidson in there

BTW this is interesting..1935 The Japanese motorcycle industry is founded as a result of Harley-Davidson licensing blueprints, tools, dies and machinery to the Sankyo Company of Japan. The result is the Rikuo motorcycle

I know where there's one............it's in good nick too.

**peasea** · 27th June 2007, 21:58

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

that is interesting!
yeh... didnt think there was a peter in there anywhere. would it also be fair to assume that the thump appeared at the same time as the twin engine?

I'm no expert but I've read (and have in my posession) plenty of good books on HD. They cover everything from the founding of the company, progress, business acumen or lack thereof, styling, family issues, hard times and into the good times. They cover singles, scooters, Panheads, V-Rods, Twin Cams and even the gang sector who appear to revere the brand but NOWHERE is there mention of a Peter Davidson, and I've read every book I have, cover to cover.

I may have missed something in the Knucklehead section tho'.

**peasea** · 27th June 2007, 22:01

Originally Posted by 98tls

Have never heard one thump...........old singles thump........harleys potato.....

Actually there's three spuds; potato, potato, potato but only if you have the idle speed right. If it's too slow (and the oil circulation is minimised) it eventually goes 'potato, potato, pa-dump'.

Never let them idle too slow.

**sunhuntin** · 28th June 2007, 12:25

Originally Posted by Madness

It sounds like you are working with this guy. Everybody knows that guy.

hey, yeh! that is the guy i work with! wow, hes done more than i realised!!

peasea... thats what i expected. ive got heaps of books as well, and have read most of whats written in them. aint no mention of a peter there, either. all i can think of, is hes thinking of willie g, but he aint the "inventor" of the harley purr either! hes a bike designer, not an engine builder!

**Omega1** · 28th June 2007, 13:04

Originally Posted by peasea

Actually there's three spuds; potato, potato, potato but only if you have the idle speed right. If it's too slow (and the oil circulation is minimised) it eventually goes 'potato, potato, pa-dump'.

Never let them idle too slow.

Amen, to that