Willie G. Davidson: Grandson of Harley-Davidson founder

Подписаться 447 тыс.

Просмотров 35 тыс.

50% 1

The legendary Willie G. Davidson has a new book out, titled "Ride Free, A Memoir", where he details his life as the grandson of one of the founders of Harley-Davidson Motor Company.
Willie G.’s father was a long-time president who brought him on board as its first 'Design Director’ in 1963. His artistry in motorcycle design led the way to a new era of beautiful, custom-looking bikes that came off the production line.
Willie G, as he is affectionately known, stayed with the company for nearly 50 years, retiring in 2012 as Senior Vice-president and Chief Styling Officer.
More details here: www.tmj4.com/n...
----
TMJ4 News in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is your source for local breaking news, in-depth investigations, the latest weather and traffic, and livestreams on news happening right now.
Subscribe to the TMJ4 RU-vid channel: / @tmj4
Watch 24/7 TMJ4 live coverage here: www.tmj4.com/live
Download the TMJ4 app: www.tmj4.com/apps
Sign up for the TMJ4 Newsletter: www.tmj4.com/n...
Watch more TMJ4 on RU-vid: / @tmj4
On The Go with James Groh: on.tmj4.com/3V...
Milwaukee Tonight: on.tmj4.com/3U...

Опубликовано:

15 окт 2024

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 111

@2Acharmcity_Gamer Год назад

Tell him get rid of that ceo and these BS dealership that’s over charging for these Harley bikes.

@robertcorrigan3816 Год назад

Wish Willie "G" and his team , well git more involved with Harley-Davidson and git rid of the German CEO.

@jagjr6772 Год назад

He’s 90 years old and retired. What do you expect him to do….he doesn’t have a team and not part of running the company.

@Dynachop420 5 месяцев назад

Yeah if Harley doesn’t change soon they are fucked

@wayne251975 Месяц назад

@@jagjr6772he could have an opinion

@Itsjake908 Год назад

Willie G is a living legend. God bless Willie G

@joelgalvan8358 Год назад

Nothing like the ride,of a Harley.

@robbiehutslar5509 Год назад

Willie G is one AWESOME DUDE!

@gordontownsend8439 Год назад

Met him a couple of times very gracious down to earth. Been riding Harleys since 1987 on harley number 7 now been hundreds of thousands of miles. It is a passion!

@JohnSmith-de2mz Год назад

I met him about 40 years ago at a ride in LA, a humble, polite, great guy

@melissadavis2311 Год назад

I love Willie G I love my harley I love all my harley clothes ,coats, boots and collectibles.

@harolddalesr8365 Год назад

But it's Woke. Time to let go.

@rambug99 Год назад

🇺🇸😎 Amazing, my Dad is also just turned 90. 🧡

@kevingurall5555 Год назад

You're looking good Willie G! Love who you are as a person. It must be very difficult to see the company being destroyed by the German resident who's now the current President/CEO /Chairman of the Board. It appears that he finagled his way into having so much power (by title and position) that nothing can stop him from turning it into nothing but a licensing play for clothing, footwear, housewares, etc. 120 years of manufacturing motorcycles known throughout the world, and he's killing it off. What's being done to the family owned dealers (being forced out of the business) that MADE Harley Davidson should be a crime. As customers, we're now left with these corporate mega dealerships that absolutely suck. Enough said. Because of these moves, HD's US sales will plummet further over the new handful of years. Died-in-the-wool HD riders no longer looking to buy new HDs - they're shopping other brands now.

@JoseGarcia-wb8wm Год назад

Couldn't have said it better don't plan on ever buying another HD bought 3 new bikes last year Triumph Suzuki and Kawasaki treated disrespectfully at local hd stealership 50 year customer Kawasaki

@Dirtycracker Год назад

Well said.

@DirtySouthConnection803 Год назад

@kevingurall5555 thank you foe commenting. Very well put! "Ride Free".👍🦅🇺🇸👌

@candyconstable2385 Год назад

Willie, I miss your hugs and Seeing you and Nancy. The years have flown by but the memories stay. Door County, fish boils, and all the people who added to the craziness and laughter 🎉 my love to both of you, good health. I'm living in Waukesha with my son Mark. God bless.❤

@ront9395 Год назад

Tell it, brother. They eliminated the Electraglide Classic and Ultra Classic. The only Batwing tourer is the Ultra Limited. With surcharges and taxes and fees a new bike is $37k. And they blew $400 million on an electric bike that isn't competitive.

@mikepurdy3952 Год назад

Thanks for making Beautiful Motorcycles, that I can't afford Willie G...

@joecrone9862 7 месяцев назад

😊I've got a picture of Willie G. sitting on my old Harley kr750. I need to have that made into a 8x10 and frame it. Glad to see he's still hangin in there.

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

Thank you for autographing my 95th anniversary Road Glide Willie!

@evil_musclemuscled3814 Год назад

Mr Davidson. Its not a hobby and you're the man 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

@beckyboggs424 Год назад

I have had the privilege of riding with Willie G, he is a very down to earth guy. His wife was a beautiful woman, they made a wonderful couple.

@kennethwise7108 3 месяца назад

Happy 91st Birthday Willie

@ElectraWillem Год назад

Willy G. did fine, but....... look what's now running the company !

@frankfurther3828 Год назад

Loafer-wearing golf pros who care zero about real riders.

@markwinchester3005 Год назад

When a motorcycle company has 'dealerships' that only sell T-shirts and coffee cups its no longer valid. Selling my last HD next week.

@matthewnaylor4412 Год назад

Yeah and them Tshirts cost as much as the motorcycles

@skyhill4279 Год назад

Love and best wishes to you Willie G from the land of your forefathers. God bless you sir! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@Jer_O Год назад

The Man, The Myth, The LEGEND..Willie G!!!

@hiflyer1168 Год назад

Too bad they've lost their way since these guys moved on. After a lifetime of HD's, current management makes me sick

@frankfurther3828 Год назад

"F the riders, it's all about the stockholders".

@cjjorge6636 Год назад

@@frankfurther3828 F the stockholders no $$$$$$$$ for them !!! lol HD SUCKS !!!! PULL THE NAME OFF YOUR BIKE !!!!!!!!

@Dynachop420 5 месяцев назад

That and dealerships are absolute jokes that are run shady as hell and don’t pay employees shit

@AbyssGP 11 месяцев назад

Guy is 90 and looks awesome

@timm9842 7 месяцев назад

My 96 Sportster still going strong. love it😊

@joel8034 Год назад

However, it's unfortunate that his company is allowing a band who has stated publicly their disgust with the united states. Any self-respecting motorcyclist who has ANY integrity willBOT attend the 120th OR the green dookie concert.

@DNiddy Год назад

Yep. These people have no resolve. It was a great year to make a stand and NOT attend. But these folks are the same ones who will go back to their Bud Light, take their kids to Disney, and watch the woke NFL. No wonder why this country is headed down. People haven't the stomach to really push for change.

@sandrider1962 Год назад

as one who has been in the saddle for 40 years +. I am sad to say, the brand & legacy dies with Willy G. Black Rock bean counters and such run the show now. Hard to say this, but I can't envision myself buying another new HDMC cycle.

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

His sons have no boys either so there goes the legacy. Michael Davidson (none), Karen Davidson (none), Bill Davidson (1 Daughter). There are no Harley members affiliated with the Mo-Co either so what you got right now is ALL that's left.

@roadglide1142 Год назад

Luv riding always will!

@frankfurther3828 Год назад

The Motor Company died in 1999. Witness the slow decomposition/dilution of a once-great, once-American company.

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

Yep, after the Evo it went downhill.

@antonysdao7275 9 месяцев назад

Why do you feel that way? (883C, Fatboy, Streetglide, Road King Custom (twice) Now 14 Streetglide Custom Stage 3.

@SilentAlchemy1333 Месяц назад

Evo was the last real Harley.

@frankfurther3828 Месяц назад

@@antonysdao7275 You know the old saying: "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand".

@johnDukemaster Год назад

Nice interview. He did his thing. I remember the first Superglide. We laughed! I remember the caféracer/sportster. We wondered. A friend of mine bought a new Lowrider -77 or -78. Had to make new tripletrees since the forkholes on the OE ones were not parallel. Well, I could tell alot of things about this brand that makes it an enigma why anyone would buy one. But when they work, they are nice! I rode Harley's for 20 years. But I will never go back. As a second bike, perhaps. A 90ies Suerglide would be nice! Or better, a -64 Duoglide!

@matrox 3 месяца назад

Willie G a great bike stylist. Nothing really great since he left.

@curtistignor3966 Год назад

America 🇺🇸

@rarebreed9208 Год назад

That permanent smile you get when your bank account stays fat.

@glenknight4681 Год назад

Well Willie G HD motorcycles are iconic and that’s awesome…. But what the problem many riders have with the HD company is that many dealers do not stand behind their products. The M8 17-19 years have sumping issues due to poor design. Why won’t the headquarters issue a memorandum to the dealers to resolve this issue? Many riders want to ride AMERICAN products because we are proud Americans but our American brand doesn’t stand behind its products for their customers! That’s sad Willie G.

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

He don't give a rats ass. LOL

@glenknight4681 Год назад

@@kennethwise7108 I have no doubt that you’re right about that. It’s sad because I want to support American made products but HD has taken the stance that it couldn’t care less about it’s consumers. I still own a 17 Electra Glide Ultra Limited ( with the sump issue M8 107) but I am going to sell it because I don’t or should I say I shouldn’t have to put money into it for a better oil pump that should’ve been installed in the damn first place). I own a 2012 V-STAR 1300 Tourer that is a blast to ride. Hell it’s my favorite bike I own. Months ago I did test ride a 2023 RG ST w/. 117! & wow that was a fun bike but 34K? Nah I’m good keeping my V-STAR for now.

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

@glenknight4681 yeah, it's disappointing to say the least and I totally understand your frustration. It's no different than the early twin cam 88's that were eating cam chain tensioners and destroying oil pumps and wiping out the entire cam chest components. No recall issued on those either! The designers and engineers of these bikes don't ride them hard or tour long distances on them. If they did they would've seen for themselves all of these issues. I've heard of some twin cam motors blowing up with a mere 20,000 miles on them! They easily could've put a small idler sprocket as a cam chain tensioner and/or go gear to gear but noooo. RIP HD 1903-1999

@zgarsamtavarez Год назад

In 2023 I celebrated HD's birthday by getting rid of my HD after the local HD dealer insulted me by making sure I knew that only new bikes are worth anything, used HD bikes are worth nothing unless they're sitting in their showroom, and realizing there are much better products out here, by companies relying in the quality of their bike and not the image of their riders to sell better bikes than HD.

@thomaskirkpatrick4031 Год назад

Hey Willy, are you ashamed of how the company is going woke?

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

He'll get it fixed. LOL

@tigerward88 Год назад

Harley's are not Harley's now

@jamesbrockey4871 Год назад

Those were the good old days,what he designed were classic,these days with HD? Not to sure??? Hope that they can hang on??

@thomaskirkpatrick4031 Год назад

Tens of thousands of idiots that don't understand the Harley Davidson motor company has turned its back on. When will they wake up and see it?

@FrankF-vp4pt 2 месяца назад

Willie! Why aren't you dealing with this woke insanity! Save your company and stand strong as an American company!

@kennethwise7108 Месяц назад

He don't give a $hit, he's a millionaire! His Son Bill can care less either

@newtonmetres Год назад

I heard he bought a Gold Wing upon retirement....

@tedsmith8319 Год назад

Why are you killing the brand and supporting the Rainbow Warriors by teaming up Budweiser? Go Woke Go Broke!...

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

Yeah, that'll surely put them out of business

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

Never understood why Michael Davidson (Son #1) had ZERO interest in his heritage and chose abstract art as a career path 😢

@kennethwise7108 4 месяца назад

And NOW we know where the "Willie G scull" came from.

@chrisgaskill7923 Год назад

Harley lost its way ....no longer american

@browngreen933 Год назад

Willie G. is the last of the third generation family members invovled with HD still around. John Harley, Jr, grandson of founder William S. Harley, died a couple years ago.

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

No younger Davidsons are out there either

@browngreen933 Год назад

@@kennethwise7108 Willie G.'s kids Billy Davidson works in the HD Museum and Karen Davidson in MotorClothes.

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

@@browngreen933 yes Sir

@harrykain285 Год назад

They better get there dealerships in line,this marking up prices well kill Harley,sell at MSRP? not to many stealerships doing that

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

Very, true hence why younger people have no interest in motorcycling. I'm 56 years old and can't afford a $50k motorcycle. There's no reason why these bikes shouldn't be at a similar price point as any import bike.

@GaryReed-f9b Год назад

They say after 2012 Harleys went all crap

@candyconstable2385 Год назад

Willie and Nancy I have sent you a message recently but I will try again It has been sometime since our paths have passed but I have remembered so many times as if they were yesterday! I had warm feelings about the fun we had in The Door trips Some of the happiest times. I wish you good health and to enjoy your family. God's blessing and Peace Love. Candy Constable

@riding2nowhere Год назад

Still a rip-off, I'll never buy another one!

@gentrydebbie1040 Год назад

I have many clothing items willie G signed for me in Atlanta . I Have owned many Brands but I grew up in the millde of nowhere Kentucky A Man lived close to me let me Ride a Knuckle Head ,which at The Time i did not know about Flat Knuckle Pan Shovel until i was 20 I rode the Knuckle Down a Dirt Road i was 14 and The sound got in my Blood , So i will always have a Potato Patato Harley ? It is The EPA causing the problem with keeping Harley's Sound, They run lean new off the floor ? The Billionares hungry for Green Backs lie about Climate BS so They Fly everywhere and sell Carbon Credits ? While the Company is forced to add so much un needed Junk on new Bikes ? The Old school Folk Like Me will keep our Older Bikes that we can Repair ourselves ?

@newtonmetres Год назад

They say on every ride he took out of urban areas he had a support vehicle with two HD mechanics and a heap of spares

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

😂

@NosActivated420 Год назад

HD is now woke. They are going down the wrong path with that philosophy.

@duggydugg3937 Год назад

getting a trike

@myclassiccarstory Год назад

HD ended when Willie G retired. The company has now gone woke and overcharge for all their new Chinese motorcycles.

@nojremlock6826 Год назад

Willie...what's with the woke deal. Buy that stock back and get back on track

@tonyverdile2944 Год назад

Harley Davidson motor companies back on decline with the crap they build now

@nevadastronghold Год назад

He’s a jew, ask the Davidson’s about the hostile takeover that pushed the Harley family out.

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

Facts! Sadly there are no Harley members affiliated with the Mo-Co anymore. Also, there are no younger "male" Davisons either. What you got right now is all that's left. Bill has a daughter, Karen no kids, Michael has no kids.

@Johnclark300 Год назад

Harley Davidson has always been putting out garbage, thats why I ride Honda, the absolute best motorcycle manufacturer in the world, Honda has been building quality products that you can rely on, and today, buying a motorcycle is an investment, and the best bang for your buck is the Honda gold wing. If your going to drop $20,000 or $35,000 on a bike, make sure it's a Honda gold wing, absolute best engine ever made in the motorcycle industry.

@ront9395 Год назад

Spoken like someone who has never ridden a Harley. I never put down someone else’s ride. You’re comparing apples and oranges. A Honda is a machine. A Harley is a work of art.

@Robert-x8o9o Год назад

I love the Harley Davidson brand but I will not be buying any other there bikes anymore if they go to India and China to make there motorcycle they will not be a American icon anymore.

@JNAMOTORSPORTS Год назад

Does he not have kids?

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

Yes, he has 3

@davidmroadking8513 21 день назад

Wg was great to bad the co has no one like him the co has lost of ground

@thudtrades1850 Год назад

Does he speak Chinese yet? Harleys ain't worth a phuck no more... either are the people who ride them.. The goods ones are being replace by credit card bikers...

@dennytuma Год назад

still can't build a decent motorcycle

@richardherron7670 Год назад

Willie G and Louie Netz creator of the Fatboy , which I proudly own. This man was born with God given talent and vision.

@cjjorge6636 Год назад

OLD HD IS COOL !!!! RIP 2023 HD MOTO IS WOKE AND THE GOVERNMENT OWNS IS NOW I'M GOOD !!!AND THE CEO SUCKS !!!!!!!!!!

@TurkeyChoppers74 Год назад

Bring back the old bikes ,,that's where the money is

@TurkeyChoppers74 Год назад

@@unclejesseandtherippers4047 your right ,the younger generation is full of brainless idiots

@cjjorge6636 Год назад

let it die lol

@kennethwise7108 Год назад

Better yet, SUPPORT OLDER BIKES WITH NOS PARTS TO KEEP THEM ON THE ROAD! Anything older than 10 years forget about it in my local Stealership. They'll quickly point you to the showroom floor to entice you to buy a $30k-$40k bike

@freddie_ray1498 Год назад

Harley Davidson has crapped on the old timers that helped to make this company. I love HD and own a 2012 FLHTK, but I'll never buy any HD older than 1976.

@09flstcmcodonnell42 Год назад

78 years old still riding everyday ain't nothing woke about Harley Harley Riders are not supposed to talk about anything woke other than it is negative BS

@frankfurther3828 Год назад

This AM I woke at 5:50. Before that I was unconscious.