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.
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Tattoo designs - H >> Harley Davidson
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FAQs
In addition to symbols of freedom and speed, Harley Davidson tattoos are often complemented with roses, girls, crosses, and various phrases, which express a biker's personal preferences. At the same time, the location of a tattoo on the body does not really matter.
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 does Harley Quinn's tattoos say? ›
On her left upper back, we can see a tattoo of a jester's cap with the words “Property of Joker” inscribed above and below the tattoo. While the art of the jester cap remained, the words changed in The Suicide Squad to “Property of No-one”.
What is the Harley-Davidson symbol called? ›
The most popular and well known is the Bar & Shield® logo. Surprisingly, it has changed very little over the last 117-years. The bar has the words Harley-Davidson, and it sits in front of a shield with the words Motor Cycles.
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.
“Live To Ride, Ride To Live.”
What is the biker symbol? ›
As such, bikers in the 1960s began using the iron cross symbol to purposely get a reaction out of people and establish themselves as part of the counter-culture. It has remained a strong symbol in biker culture to this day and is often paired with mottos or symbols like skulls.
What was the first Harley 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 skull with two wings mean? ›
Skull with Wings: A Symbol of Freedom and Power.
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.
What does death skull tattoo mean? ›
The human skull tattoo generally represents death, the person wearing this tattoo usually uses it symbolize the fact that death does not scare them. It also reminds people that death is inevitable, therefore we should live always live life to the absolute fullest.
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 is Harley Quinn known for saying? ›
“Sorry, it's the voices. Haha, I'm kidding… That's not what they really said.” (Suicide Squad, 2016) This is probably Harley's most notorious quote from Suicide Squad.
What does Harley Quinn's jacket say? ›
Throughout Suicide Squad, Harley wears a silky red-and-blue varsity jacket with the words “Property of Joker” stamped on the back. This Saint Laurent jacket isn't a spot-on replica, of course, but it does have that irreverent and whimsical feel that we associate with Harley's fashions.
What does the Harley Quinn tattoo mean mental health? ›
These tattoos, often featuring Harley's iconic smile, remind us that behind every smile, there could be a battle with mental health, and it's okay not to be okay. The tattoos also portray her chaotic and contradictory nature, which can serve as a metaphor for the unpredictable nature of mental health disorders.
Can I get a Harley-Davidson tattoo? ›
But you don't need to be an outlaw member or a HOG member to get a Harley Davidson tattoo. It is also not necessary to own a Harley Davidson bike to get a tattoo. Your love for the bike is the only criteria you need to get one.
What is the Hells Angels tattoo? ›
HELLS ANGELS. Hells Angels Death's Head symbol super- imposed over a “1%” tattoo. The “1%” signifies that the individual is a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang (OMG). Image provided by Calgary Police Service Integrated Intelligence Unit.
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.
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.
