In the book "At the Creation" much is made of the fact that the motorcycle that Harley-Davidson calls their number 1 could not in fact be a model from any earlier than 1905. Using bicycle pedals and running on the light fractions of petroleum of that era (gasoline did not appear until at least 1908) the original HD machine used a French made De Dion-Bouton engine just as the several USA made motorized bicycles that came before it had done. This includes the R.C. Marks of 1896, The Orient-Aster of 1900, the Hendee MFG. Indian of 1901, The 1902 California (the first Transcontinental Vehicle trip), and the 1902 Thomas Auto-Bi to name a few of the USA makes.

This 1905 HD is very similar to the Laurin & Klement Slavia Model A which some people attribute as the first motorcycle since it was the first purpose built motorcycle designed from the first to use a liquid petroleum (Ligroin) fuel and was not a converted steam engine as the 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller (world's first production motorcycle), and the 1895 Capel Holden four cylinder motorcycles had been.

De Dion-Bouton was the world's largest auto maker in 1900. Dozens of bicycle shops used their engines to motorize bicycles. In 1900 through at least 1903, Werner Brothers were the world's largest motorcycle makers (After H&W) until Hendee passed them when both brothers died the same year. Laurin & Klement evolved to become Skoda Works, today a division of Volkswagen.