British Imports

America imported British motorcycles by the thousand in the 25 years after the Second World War. These were different from Harley-Davidsons, being light, nimble 350/500cc singles that introduced a new generation to bikes. By 1950, imports had captured 40 per cent of the market. Which was why Harley-Davidson tried to have an extra import tariff imposed. Not until the late 1950s with the XL Sportster, did the company have anything really comparable with a Norton or a Triumph. Maybe it was the experience of Indian which had tried to meet the imports head-on with small home-built bikes, but which soon succumbed to bankruptcy, that encouraged Harley-Davidson to persevere with its conservative model policy.