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
Choose your own Harley tattoo design from Tattoo-Art.com.
Find and buy the Harley tattoo design that's perfect for yourself.
Pick out your Harley Davidson Motorcycle Tattoo design from many ideas at TattooJohnny.com
Tattoo designs - H >> Harley Davidson
Tattoo Symbol Index - ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
FAQs
Harley Davidson tattoo designs are often associated with loved ones and are commonly used to symbolize fellowship, brotherhood or belonging to a specific group.
What tattoos does Harley have? ›
But let's call out all the others Harley has in the films, for good measure:
- Black heart on her cheek.
- "Rotten" on her jawline.
- "Daddy's Lil Monster" on her left clavicle.
- "Property of Joker" on her left shoulder blade.
- "I'm watching you" with eyes tramp stamp.
- A decorative J on her right arm.
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 tattoos do bikers get? ›
Symbols of freedom, wings, eagles, flame, etc. Those are classic biker tattoos reflecting the belonging to the biker community.
What does the skull mean on a Harley-Davidson? ›
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.
What does the diamond tattoo on Harley Quinn mean? ›
The diamonds are surrounded by a vine of ivy, a symbol typically associated with Poison Ivy. As of the Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti run, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy are in a romantic relationship with each other, adding meaning beyond friendship and partnership represented in the tattoo.
What does an upside down Harley logo mean? ›
Anyone here remember when years ago guys would wear or display the Harley Bar & Shield inverted........up side down? This was done as a form of protest to the MOCO. I remember seeing guys do it but even back then I thought it was just stupid as he!! but hey.........what ever.
What is the Harley motto? ›
“Live To Ride, Ride To Live.”
What are Harley-Davidson riders called? ›
This nickname goes back almost a hundred years, to the early 1920s. The Harley racing team, nicknamed 'The Wrecking Crew', acquired a pet pig, which became the team mascot. The “Harley Hogs” soon became the “Hogs”. In the 1980s, Harley Davidson used the acronym and founded the Harley Owners Group, or HOG.
What does a green Harley mean? ›
Green Bikes are Bad Luck
The whole thing might have started because of World War II. Soldiers rode motorcycles painted green to carry messages or get quickly from place to place. The color identified them as military and made them a target for enemy rifles in the area.
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 are biker symbols? ›
The Most Common Biker Symbols Are:
- Confederate Flag (more precisely, its Naval Jack version). The tradition of its use came from American bikers. ...
- Skull. The skull symbolizes fearlessness in the face of danger. ...
- Emblem of the club (bikers usually call it the Colors). ...
- 1 %. ...
- Iron Cross.
22 = A member who has done prison time.
What does broken wings mean Harley? ›
Broken Wings = a patch meaning the rider has been in a crash. Burnout = Spinning the rear wheel while holding the front brake. Many places have contests to time how long it takes for the tire to blow out.
What are the Harley codes? ›
| DTC | PRIORITY ORDER | FAULT CONDITION |
|---|
| 81307 | 400 | Rear hand controls shorted low |
| 81308 | 401 | Rear volume up button stuck |
| B1309 | 402 | Rear volume down button stuck |
| B1310 | 403 | Rear mode button stuck |
118 more rowsThe Softail® has rear wheel suspension hidden away under body panels held in place with a swingarm. They're soft on your tail, hence the name. Models produced between 1984 and 2017 have shock absorbers along the bike's axis. On 2018 and later bikes, the shocks are under the seat.
What happened to Harley's rotten tattoo? ›
James Gunn removed Harley Quinn's 'rotten' tattoo in 'The Suicide Squad' after learning Margot Robbie didn't like it. An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. James Gunn requested to remove Harley Quinn's "rotten" tattoo in "The Suicide Squad." Warner Bros.
What does the Medusa tattoo mean? ›
A medusa tattoo is often interpreted as representing strength, power, and female empowerment. More specifically, some people get a medusa tattoo to indicate that they are a survivor of sexual violence and to symbolize their own empowerment. Content warning: This topic contains discussion of sexual assault.
What's Joker's nickname for Harley Quinn? ›
The most notable pet name that the Joker uses to refer to Harley Quinn is "puddin'" [2]. This nickname has become iconic in their relationship and is often associated with their dynamic.
Does Margot Robbie have a tattoo? ›
She was, like, rassed at me at the wedding. She was so angry, and I thought, 'I really shouldn't do this anymore. '" As for her own designs, Robbie has four tiny tattoos, one of which she gave herself, while another was drawn on her by the actor and model Cara Delevingne.
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.
