Harley-Davidson is one of the biggest motorcycle manufacturers in the world. Its story began in 1903, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The original founders were William S. Harley, Arthur Davidson, Walter Davidson, and William A. Davidson. The company stood firmly against the test of time, surviving even the Great Depression. That alone is a big accomplishment, seeing that most businesses went bankrupt during that time.

Harley-Davidson remained relevant in the ever-changing industry for over a century. Today, the motorcycle brand enjoys a large customer base across the globe. As of 2017, Harley-Davidson reported revenue of a whopping 5.647 billion dollars.

Each business lies on the foundation of a specific product or service. For Harley-Davidson, this represents motorcycles. But if you want to establish yourself in the market, you can’t rely on a good product alone. An important part of success is building strong brand recognition. Your choice of logo will determine whether people will remember your brand’s name or not.

Apart from a solid graphic design, you’ll also have to choose the right font for the job. Harley-Davidson understands this well. Their typeface evokes prestige and reliability, which helped them attract countless loyal customers over the years.

What font does Harley-Davidson use? In this article, we’re going to look at how the font’s changed over the years. You’ll also find alternatives that resemble it closely.

What font does Harley-Davidson use?

The logo consists of a shield placed behind a horizontal bar. The bar has ‘Harley-Davidson’ written on it. On the other hand, the shield has the word ‘Motor’ in the top part and ‘Cycles’ in the bottom part. Harley-Davidson has been using this iconic logo ever since 1910.

If you want to capture Harley-Davidson look, you can use the following two premium fonts: Compacta created by Fred Lambert, and Block Gothic RR Bold Extracond created by Steve Jackaman.
The so-called Harley-Davidson font is Block Gothic RR Bold ExtraCond. This is the font the company uses to brand all its products. The Harley-Davidson logo uses this font because of how clear and screen-friendly it is.

The artist behind this font is Steve Jackaman, a British font designer and typographer. It was published by a company called Red Rooster Collection. Jackaman has been in the industry for over forty years. During this time, he’s also worked with other famous companies such as BBC News, BMW, and Apple.

The typeface belongs to the sans-serif font family and comes in five weights.

What font family does Harley-Davidson use?

The font Harley-Davidson uses in its logo is Block Gothic RR Bold ExtraCond. It’s part of the sans-serif font family and comes in just one style. The font supports over one hundred languages and comes with many characters.

These characters include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, punctuation marks, numbers, and various other symbols. Its beautiful and artistic look makes it an excellent logo font. You can also use it in website headings.

The history of Harley-Davidson’s font

The Harley-Davidson font has roots in the 20th century. It was created shortly after the company’s birth. Its characters are unique and easy to read. When it comes to designing your logo, you always want to go for a simple yet elegant look.

The font is called Block Gothic RR Bold ExtraCond. You can also use the Compacta font, which looks very similar. Just keep in mind that neither option is free. You can’t access some of the features without paying for the premium version.

What is the Harley-Davidson font good for?

Block Gothic RR Bold is a popular font choice of many designers. You can use it anywhere from game art to branding projects. Its rugged texture makes it an interesting choice for T-shirt inscriptions as well. Some people also use the font in invitation cards.

Although it does come with a free version, you may not be able to use all its feature unless you upgrade to the premium version.

Some good alternatives to the Harley-Davidson font

If you’re looking for some solid alternatives to the Harley-Davidson font, you can check out the options on our list:

Compacta font

Compacta font resembles the letters used in the original Transformers logo. It was created by the designer Fred Lambert and released by the Letraset design studio. It comes in two styles: Regular and BT.

This sans-serif font was heavily influenced by the Stencilled alphabet, a popular 17th-century typeface.

Dot matrix font

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Created with the help of Mario Arturo, Dot Matrix uses uppercase letters inspired by brush strokes. This gives it a very elegant look.

Bakerie font

This handwritten font comes in 7 weights, 3 widths, and 2 versions. You can use this versatile font in several different types of projects. The light weights appear polished and sophisticated, while the heavy ones carry a playful connotation.

Belanda font

Designed by Subectype, Belanda is a lively monoline font. We recommend using it for logo design, titles, and social media posts.

More fonts similar to the one Harley-Davidson uses

If you’re picky about your fonts, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. The following fonts also capture the overall feel of Harley-Davidson’s logo.

Dephion

Kitten

Majorelle

Meltow

Orchid Key

Poppy Flowers

FAQ on the font Harley Davidson uses

What font does Harley-Davidson use in their logo?

Harley-Davidson’s logo sports a unique, custom typeface that’s become as iconic as the brand itself. Often referred to as ‘Harley-Davidson Lettering,’ this stylized script is pretty much in a league of its own. It’s got attitude, it’s got style – just like a Harley, right?

Can I use the Harley-Davidson logo font for my projects?

Ah, the Harley font does look pretty cool, doesn’t it? But hang on a minute – it’s a custom typeface copyrighted by Harley-Davidson. Using it without permission could invite a legal tornado. Better play safe and stick to commercially available or free fonts.

What font does Harley-Davidson use in their marketing and advertising?

Aside from their signature logo, Harley-Davidson often uses the ‘Compacta’ typeface in marketing materials. Compacta’s bold, condensed look makes a striking impact – perfect for capturing attention. It echoes the brand’s powerful, rebellious identity.

Where can I download the ‘Compacta’ font?

If ‘Compacta’ has caught your fancy, you can license it from websites like MyFonts or Fonts.com. Just a heads-up, though – always read the fine print to understand what you’re signing up for. Each font licensing deal comes with its own rules and regulations.

Is the ‘Compacta’ font suitable for all types of content?

‘Compacta’ is a versatile player in the typography game. Its condensed, bold style is a winner for headers and titles. But for body text? Might be a bit too heavy. Always think about readability and the overall aesthetic of your project.

How can I use the ‘Compacta’ font on my website?

Once you’ve got your license for ‘Compacta’, you can embed it in your website’s CSS. You’ll need to upload the font files to your server and reference them in your stylesheet. Don’t forget to test how it looks across different browsers and devices!

Does Harley-Davidson use the ‘Compacta’ font in their mobile apps?

Harley-Davidson aims for brand consistency, and that includes their mobile apps. You’ll see ‘Compacta’ making appearances there too. This ensures that no matter where you encounter Harley, the experience feels connected and on-brand.

Can the ‘Compacta’ font be used in different languages?

‘Compacta’ does offer a range of language support, which is one reason it’s widely used. However, not all languages may be fully supported. If you’re working on a multi-lingual project, it’s always a good idea to check language compatibility before diving in.

How can I incorporate the ‘Compacta’ font in my design?

‘Compacta’ is a bit of a showstopper, ideal for headlines or captions that need to pack a punch. Try pairing it with a simpler font for body text to balance things out. As always, let your project’s vibe guide your font choices.

What’s the history behind the ‘Compacta’ font?

Fred Lambert, a British type designer, crafted ‘Compacta’ in the late 1960s. Its bold, condensed style was a fresh take on sans-serif fonts of the time. Little did he know, ‘Compacta’ would one day be synonymous with the spirit of Harley-Davidson!

What font does Harley Davidson use? Our final thoughts

If you own a business, you likely understand the importance of making the right creative decisions. The right look can help you attract potential customers and boost your revenue. An essential part of every brand’s image is its font. Consider looking at the font choices of existing brands.

Harley-Davidson uses a unique, confident font in its logo. This makes it excellent for building the company’s brand recognition. Apart from logos, the font also works great in social media posts and websites.

But while you can use this popular font yourself, it won’t be without price. To access its full features, you’ll have to pay for the premium version. This can be a problem if you’re on a tight budget. And if you’re just building your business, you likely are.

Luckily, we’ve also researched other fonts that resemble the one used in Harley-Davidson’s logo. No matter how particular your tastes are, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for.

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