Reviewers and historians have noted that Episode 3 takes significant liberties with historical facts for dramatic effect:
The episode focuses on the development of the , famously known as the Knucklehead.
: The show introduces a fictional character named Wharton , a chairman of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) who acts as a primary antagonist trying to shut down outlaw races. 3. Business Maneuvers Harley and the Davidsons - Season 1Eps3
: The episode portrays "hooligan" or outlaw racing as being open to black and female riders in the 1930s with Harley-Davidson's support. While inclusive, critics from Cycle News describe these scenes as mostly fictionalized drama.
The most interesting feature of of the Harley and the Davidsons miniseries is its depiction of the "Knucklehead" engine's birth and its role in saving the company during the Great Depression . Reviewers and historians have noted that Episode 3
: Because the original 1903 prototype no longer exists and has no known photographs, the production team had to "cobble it together" based only on oral histories and stories. According to Hemmings , bike builders worked until 3:00 AM most nights to maintain the fragile, period-accurate replicas used during the high-stress racing scenes. Harley and the Davidsons: Miniseries, Episode 3
: The series finale depicts Bill Harley calling the engine "the fastest damn motorcycle in the world" after its successful trials. 2. Historical Creative Liberties Business Maneuvers : The episode portrays "hooligan" or
: As sales plummeted during the Depression, the episode shows Edsel Ford offering a joint venture to manufacture "Servi-Car" tricycles under the Ford brand. In the show, Harley-Davidson declines, choosing to sell the Servi-Car themselves and expand into Japan with the Sankyo Seiyaku Corporation. 4. Technical Craftsmanship
