Rent a Harley Davidson motorbike

Through MotoShare, you can rent a wide variety of Harley-Davidson motorbikes from private owners and/or dealers. From a Night Rod, Fatboy or Muscle to a real custom, we rent it all! You can easily see availability and reserve your favourite Harley online.

Only through MotoShare do you not pay a deposit in advance and do you have our attractive rental conditions with lots of free kilometres as standard. So make your choice quickly and book a great trip.

History of Harley Davidson

In 1901, two young friends, Bill Harley and Arthur Davidson, came up with a way to make cycling easier with the help of an ignition engine. In 1903, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company was founded and the first three motorcycles were sold. In the years that followed, the brand grew rapidly. In 1920, 28,000 motorcycles were sold in no fewer than 67 countries.

During the Second World War, almost 100,000 motorcycles were ordered by the American army. After the war, large numbers of the famous Liberator were left behind in Europe, including in the Netherlands. In the years that followed, Harley Davidson continued to innovate and sell motorcycles. The H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group), founded in 1983, is a club that now has more than 650,000 members. Although it has been a publicly traded company since 1986, the romance of these unique motorcycles remains.

Why ride a Harley?

A Harley-Davidson is not just a motorbike. It is an extension of your personality. The motorbikes represent freedom. A Harley is not the fastest or most manoeuvrable machine, but riding this American icon cannot be compared to riding any other motorbike.

If you ask owners why they chose this brand, you will get different answers. We have listed the most striking ones:

Second youth

If you are over forty and you start riding a motorbike, people will quickly judge you as crazy or immature. If you ride a Harley at a later age, people will think you are young at heart and have class...

Personal

There are thousands of parts available. This allows you to customise your Harley to suit you perfectly.

Always modern

You never have to worry about your motorbike becoming outdated. A Harley – even if it's more than 20 years old – is always in style!

Friendly

The community is very strong. Wear a Harley cap, T-shirt or jacket and enthusiasts from all over the world will come up to chat with you.

Sound

Of course, the brand is known for its unique sound. The cylinders in the V-twin engine are driven by a crankshaft. This construction results in two combustion moments in quick succession, with a pause in between. So you hear pop-pop... pop-pop... pop-pop. Even with the silencers in place, it's a wonderful sound!

What makes Harley Davidson motorcycles so popular?

Originally conceived at the beginning of the 20th century to make motorcycling accessible and affordable to as many people as possible, Harley Davidson has grown into a true cult brand. Harleys are not fast, extremely reliable or comfortable. Yet the motorcycles from Milwaukee are known all over the world. From accountants to film stars, from postmen to surgeons; people from all walks of life want to own a Harley. It is a motorcycle brand that leaves no one untouched. The brand has something magical, something mysterious.

But what are the three main reasons why a motorcyclist chooses a Harley Davidson? We have listed them below:

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The motorcycles represent freedom and individuality. Owning and riding a Harley Davidson makes a statement. Jeff Bleustein, the CEO of Harley Davidson, expressed this feeling as follows: ‘There is – sometimes deep down inside – a sense of adventure and a need for freedom in every human being. Harley Davidson is an American icon that brings out that feeling.’

Sound

The distinctive sound, caused by the V-shaped two-cylinder engine with only one recess in the crankshaft, is the reason many fans buy one. In the 1990s, the sound of its motorcycles was registered as a trademark.

Unique

Almost every Harley is unique. No other motorcycle is customised to such an extent. Even before it leaves the dealer, virtually every Harley is customised to the owner's personal preferences. No other brand has so many accessories available for purchase. The HD Sportster is the longest-running model from the same manufacturer in motorcycle history. With so many customisation options, that's easy to explain...

Popular Harley models

The Harley-Davidson Motor Company was founded in August 1903. It was the company of William Harley and Arthur Davidson, two young engineers who released a single-cylinder motorcycle with 3 hp that year. In 1909, a model with a real V-twin piston engine followed. It was a motorcycle with two cylinders positioned at a 45-degree angle to each other.

Over time, Harley-Davidson became increasingly known for its robustness and reliability. At the end of the First World War, the first Harley factory was established in Milwaukee. Harley-Davidson's great success came during the Second World War when the “Liberator” model became known as the motorcycle of the liberators.

Over the past 100 years, Harley has brought a large number of models to market. Many of the motorcycles were given illustrious nicknames that were perpetuated by the brand. Think of the Shovelhead from 1966 (the valve covers resembled coal shovels) or the Panhead from 1948 (with its pan-shaped valve covers).

Harley-Davidson builds reliable motorcycles that retain their value. These are motorcycles that – perhaps due to the simplicity of the technology used – last a long time. Many owners are also proud of their bikes and often maintain them very well. It is not unusual for a Harley-Davidson that is more than 30 years old to still look like new. From the range, we have selected the three most iconic models.

Sportster

The first Sportster was produced in 1957. It would become Harley-Davidson's most successful model ever. The Sportster was the first Harley with hydraulic shock absorbers on both wheels. Until 2004, the engine was attached to the frame of the Sportster. This made the bike precise to steer, but also transmitted more vibrations to the rider.

Electra Glide

The Harley-Davidson Electra Glide was introduced in 1965. It was a new version of the 1936 Knucklehead and had the first electric starter. The Electra Glide would become the standard for touring bikes.

Fat Boy

Since its debut in 1990, the Fat Boy has been one of the most popular models. Striking features of this model are the massive disc wheels, the curve in the distinctive rear mudguard and the muscular lines of the engine.