As anyone can see in the Vintage Motorcycle Photo Gallery here at Montana Harley-Davidson, Motorcycling and Montana go hand in hand. From the winding mountain roads to the great open spaces and National Parks, Montana is a completely beautiful adventure for the taking! It's not just the spaces, it's also the people; hardworking, friendly, red blooded Montanan's raised on personal freedom and adventure. We do things differently here, and that's what adds to the charm of this great place. You have to experience for yourself to truly understand it. If you haven't made it here yet, here's your invitation!
A Brief History
Montana Harley-Davidson was as dream in the making since 1964 when owner, Doug Woodahl, first made his passion for two wheels and speed a reality. At 13, Doug put a lawn mower engine in his three speed Schwinn because he couldn't afford to buy a motorcycle. He decided, "I'll just build one myself." Doug later bought his first official motorcycle at a sheriff's auction as a freshman at the University of Montana. The bike had been at the bottom of the Clark Fork River for two years and needed an extensive rebuild and true to form, Doug decided to rebuild it himself. While dissembling the bike in his dorm room, he found the frame full of silt and sea shells from the river. This was going to be a big job.
When the University smelt horrible chemical odors coming from his room due the acids he was using to the get rust off the many motorcycle pieces, they let themselves in while he was out. When he returned, he found his room occupied by some staffers waiting to deliver the news; you either get the motorcycle out of your room or you will be kicked out of school. Easy enough, the other students in the dorm offered to all takes pieces of the bike and keep them in their rooms while he worked on them.
In 1970, Doug asked a local motorcycle shop if he could use their facility to rebuild his Clark Fork River motor. It didn't take long for them to recognize his talent and shortly after they offered him a job. Doug has been "professionally" wrenching on bikes ever since.
Doug set out on his own in 1985, and started "Have Wrench Will Travel" from is one car garage. By 1990 he had a strong enough following to open his first Harley-Davidson Dealership in a 5,000 square foot building on South Ave in Missoula. By 2001, there were enough customers from the Kalispell area making their way to Missoula to patron the store, they opened a second location on Highway 93 in Kalispell. With the addition of this new location being added, it seemed suitable to change the name to Montana Harley-Davidson. The Kalispell location opened it's doors for the first time at 9AM, September 11th, as the world was glued to the news and shocked by the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.
After two remodels on South Ave, the dealership in Missoula had finally outgrown its location and built a new 60,000 square foot facility off Interstate 90 in 2005. This facility allows us the space to offer our customers and exceptionally large collection of Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories, Apparel, and a state of the art Service Facility. "I truly love the motorcycle business. There isn't anything else I would rather do," expressed Doug Woodahl.
We are motorcycle people here, if you are too, or would like to become one, come by any day of the week and we will do our best to make sure your motorcycle experience is the best in the Northwest!
|
