TATTOO DESIGNS & SYMBOLS - HARLEY DAVIDSON TATTOOS Tattoo Symbol Index - ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Tattoo designs - H >> Harley Davidson
Harley Davidson - Motorcycle Tattoo Meanings - When we think of tattoos, often times one of our first associations is with bikers and motorcycles, and the motorcycle that we think of first is usually the legendary Harley-Davidson. 'Harley Davidson' -- America's symbol of the road. And for many a potent symbol of freedom. No less so than some peoples consideration of a tattoo as an expression of personal freedom. It's no accident that tattoos and bikers are intertwined in the public's imagination.
If you're sporting a 'Harley Davidson' tattoo, you likely own a Harley. While the name can be incorporated into any graphic arrangement of eagle, wings and wheels, the standard 'bar-and-shield' logo that appeared in 1910 is still the defining symbol of Harley Davidson to this day. While the logo depicts nothing in itself, it invokes a myth that's summed up in the philosophy 'Live to Ride, Ride to Live'. The Harley is also unique in the way it has been altered and customized over the years by its owners. Like tattoos, a Harley can be made into a very specific expression of its owners vision of what a bike should be, a one-of-a-kind individual expression of motorcycle art.
| Harley owners aren't buying the best motorcycle in the world, they're buying the rugged and masculine Harley mystique, the 'easy rider' legend with its worship of American individualism, complete with its bad boy connotations, its rebel macho image. The Hell's Angels love their Harleys. The 'underground' associations with Harley Davidson contributes to the myth, sometimes with negative consequences to the brand name. |
Nobody buys a Harley specifically for its performance, such as its 0-60 acceleration. Technical stats aren't as important to the Harley owner as participating in the mystique, which is comprised in no small way by the bike's unique sound - 'potato-potato-potato'. Speed is good, but the way it growls upon take-off, the way the low-end torque 'gurgles down in your groin', as one observer put it -- that's what gives the Harley its all-important 'feeling' of power. Other bikes may claim superior performance, but heads don't turn to Japanese bikes as they do to a Harley when it rumbles away, exhaust pipes snapping, cracking and popping the Harley symphony. The sound of a Harley is so synonymous with the brand that at one time the company tried to copyright it!
William Harley and Arthur Davidson came up with their first prototype bike in the early 1900s. You had to peddle it uphill. In WWI, the company provided over 20,000 machines to the military forces, and by 1920 was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. The tear- drop gas tank appeared in the 1920s. To crank up sales during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the company added the Art Deco eagle to that gas tank. The bike earned a patriot reputation when Harley gave over its entire production to the cause of WWII. But it wasn't until Hollywood deployed the Harley in a raft of outlaw biker gang movies in the years 1950-70 that the bad boy image became firmly established.
For Harley insiders, the name and winged logo inspires an astonishing devotion to the Harley cult, which includes a certain dress code and occasional rituals such as cruising in packs. The brand name implies a counter-culture lifestyle that's designed to exclude more people than it includes. While Harley owners may like their 'Harley' T- shirts, when the company came out with Harley aftershave, they turned up their noses en masse. The company quickly realized they were messing with a powerful icon.
Harley-Davidson tattoo designs usually make heavy use of the HD logo, but you will also frequently find patriotic design elements and symbols such as the American Bald Eagle and the Stars and Stripes of the American Flag. Other popular design elements are engine parts like spark-plugs, pistons and connecting rods. And in an homage to the biker philosophy of 'Live Fast, Die You, Leave a Good-looking Corpse', many tattoo designs feature skulls, a stark reminder that life is transitory and short. Ride while you can!
Get inspired by some great images and photos in ourHarley Davidson Inspiration Gallery
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Tattoo designs - H >> Harley Davidson
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FAQs
Harley-Davidson Motor Company is the most celebrated motorcycle manufacturer. HD, more than any other motorcycle brand, symbolizes the American way of life, spirit of rebellion, and longing for an open road.
What does the Harley symbol mean? ›
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.
What does the Willie G skull mean? ›
It was painted on every Harley in 1933 to try and stimulate sales after the depression. It was after 1930 when motorcycle riders were being thought of as outlaws, and using the skull and crossbones as their emblem. The company needed to change this image. Willie G. Davidson came up with the “skull and wings” logo.
What tattoos do bikers get? ›
A biker tattoo featuring an Indian Vintage motorcycle with a skull emblem on the tank or a motorcycle with a skull shaped headlight are some of the common tattoos that the Rebels love to flaunt.
What does a 13 tattoo mean biker? ›
Unlike the 1% symbol the '13' has several interpretations as the metonym for the letter 'M', the 13th letter of the alphabet. Used in this way, '13' can mean 'motorcycle', 'marijuana' or 'methylamphetamine' - the latter two indicating the wearer or bearer sells illicit drugs.
What does Harley Quinn's puddin tattoo mean? ›
PUDDIN' Yet another of Harley Quinn's tattoos dedicated to the Joker is her small tattoo that says “PUDDIN” on her left leg. “Puddin” is Harley Quinn's endearing nickname for the Joker since the character's inception.
What is God on a Harley about? ›
This book is about a woman who is living a stressful life, with a hard job and many bad romances. Then one day she meets a guy named Joe on a Harley by her home, as she gets to know him he teaches her six rules to live by. Joe ends up being god and leads her to the love of her life.
What is the Harley motto? ›
“Live To Ride, Ride To Live.”
What does the number 1 mean for Harley? ›
Moving away from the Bar & Shield®, the #1 logo was created to celebrate the 1969 AMA Grand National Championship season title. It was later modified to include stars and stripes. In 1971 Willie G had it incorporated into the dashboard of the 1971 FX Super Glide® motorcycle.
What is the meaning of the 7 skulls? ›
The Skulls of Seven is an honor society that prides itself on commitment to seven virtues: tradition, history, scholarship, loyalty and friendship, citizenship, service, and honor.
The skull has always been a symbol of death. When wings are added, it becomes a mark of the reality of our own mortality. This emblem tells all that though seemingly long, this life is fleeting.
What does the skeleton head symbol mean? ›
The Skull emoji 💀 is not usually used in a serious or dark way, though it's sometimes used in social media relating to death or the paranormal. More often, it is used in relation to Halloween, to uncertainty, to scary things in life, and to those things which are sure to kill us, like kettlebells or deep embarrassment.
What does 2 fingers mean to a biker? ›
This is a way of expressing respect towards the other motorcyclist. It's our way of saying, “Hello! Keep the rubber side down, keep both wheels on the ground”. It signifies that the rider is wishing the fellow rider to stay safe and ride safe.
What does 22 mean for bikers? ›
22 = A member who has done prison time.
What is a 3% tattoo? ›
Named after the rather dubious idea that only 3% of colonists rose up against the British during the American Revolution, the "III%ers" are a paramilitary group that aims to resist intervention by the Federal government in local affairs.
What is the story of the Harley-Davidson logo? ›
1910: The first logo was branded: the bar and shield with the Harley-Davidson® name on it. 1953: To celebrate their 50th anniversary, the logo featured a "V" in commemoration of their popular V-Twin engines. You'll find the full logo in a circle with "50 Years" and "American Made" also inscribed.
What does the eagle represent in Harley-Davidson? ›
Here too, the Harley® bald eagle represents American patriotism, strength, tenacity, and fearlessness. It is no surprise that it is present in many Harley® logos. It's difficult to pin down when the Genuine Harley-Davidson Motor Oil logo was first used, but probably dates back to before WWII.
What does a biker cross tattoo mean? ›
In the United States, however, the Iron Cross also became one of several Nazi-era symbols adopted by outlaw bikers, more to signify rebellion or to shock than for any white supremacist ideology.
What does the skull tattoo mean for bikers? ›
This significance was taken as the basis by a variety of militant groups such as outlaw motorcycle gangs and gun clubs to develop their own 'branded' symbolism. For members of such clubs, skull items are not only a sign of disobedience but also a powerful symbol of courage and resilience of body and spirit.
Harley Davidson - Motorcycle Tattoo Meanings - When we think of tattoos, often times one of our first associations is with bikers and motorcycles, and the motorcycle that we think of first is usually the legendary Harley-Davidson. 'Harley Davidson' -- America's symbol of the road. And for many a potent symbol of freedom. No less so than some peoples consideration of a tattoo as an expression of personal freedom. It's no accident that tattoos and bikers are intertwined in the public's imagination.
For Harley insiders, the name and winged logo inspires an astonishing devotion to the Harley cult, which includes a certain dress code and occasional rituals such as cruising in packs. The brand name implies a counter-culture lifestyle that's designed to exclude more people than it includes. While Harley owners may like their 'Harley' T- shirts, when the company came out with Harley aftershave, they turned up their noses en masse. The company quickly realized they were messing with a powerful icon.
