Ride Free: A Memoir - Hardcover

Willie G. Davidson

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1637630867 ISBN 13: 9781637630860

Publisher: Forefront Books, 2023

Synopsis

Willie G. Davidson likes to say that he was born with gasoline in his veins and a crayon in each hand. A designer at heart, Davidson combined his passions for art and motorcycles to extend a multi-generational unbroken thread from Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company’s birth in a wooden shed in the early twentieth century to today. The grandson of one of the company’s founders and the son of one of its longtime presidents, Davidson created a series of iconic designs that defined Harley-Davidson “factory custom” bikes and cemented its standing as the premier motorcycle company in the world. Davidson was instrumental in saving the company from bankruptcy and then helping it explode into a global phenomenon. For more than five decades, Davidson was more than a namesake of the founders; he was the heart and soul of Harley-Davidson and a personal connection to millions of riders around the world who knew him simply as “Willie G.” Throughout his life, Davidson has embodied a close-to-the-customer relationship by attending motorcycle rallies, rides, and races with his late wife, Nancy, the “First Lady of Motorcycling,” and son and daughter Bill and Karen Davidson who recently joined their famous parents by being inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame and play key roles in the Motor Company today.

In Ride Free, Davidson recounts design, his memories of family, relationships, and events that defined his extraordinary life and legacy of power, passion, and purpose. Davidson gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the planning, design, and conception of legendary bikes that inspired millions of riders over the past half-century; stories of his unforgettable rides around the world; the people he encountered while navigating thousands of miles on the roads; and the legacy that he and his family have created which will carry on the most famous name in motorcycles.

About this title

About the Author

William G. Davidson serves as Chief Styling Officer Emeritus and Brand Ambassador at Harley-Davidson, Inc. Affectionately called "Willie G." by millions of motorcycle enthusiasts, his creations include the design of several of Harley-Davidson's most admired motorcycles. His artistic vision and passion for riding have made him a legend among throngs of enthusiasts worldwide that consider him the patriarch of motorcycling.

Born with gasoline in his veins, Davidson is the son of former Harley-Davidson president, William H. Davidson, and the grandson of one of the original founders, William A. Davidson. For forty-nine years, he helped shape the look, sound, and feel that define Harley-Davidson motorcycles. During the 1980s and 1990s, he developed unique designs which kept Harley-Davidson motorcycles selling while the company completed technological and manufacturing improvements. Based in heritage and tradition, Davidson is responsible for the visual design of such classics as the FX Super Glide, FX Low Rider, Cafe Racer, Heritage Softail Classic, Softail Springer, Fat Boy, Road King, Softail Deuce, V-Rod, Cross Bones, and the Street Glide.

A native of Wisconsin, Davidson attended the University of Wisconsin for three years before transferring to the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. He joined Harley-Davidson in 1963, when he was invited to set-up its motorcycle design department. In 1981, Davidson was one of thirteen executives who raised more than $75 million to purchase Harley-Davidson from AMF Incorporated.

As an avid rider, Davidson clocked thousands of miles on the open road each year. His family, including his wife Nancy, made Harley-Davidson the center of their lifestyles. Through his life-long devotion to the Motor Company, Davidson has watched firsthand as Harley-Davidson has evolved into a true American icon.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forefront Books
• Publication date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1637630867
• ISBN 13: 9781637630860
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288