The nickname actually comes from the racetrack.
Harley-Davidson first jumped into national racing in 1914 at the Dodge City 300. They didn’t win that year, losing out to Indian, but they came back strong and took victories in 1915 and 1916. Before World War I, Harley riders were dominating events so consistently they earned the nickname a title that was also used for top Indian teams at the time.
When racing resumed after the war, the Harley squad returned to form. One of the team members, Ray Weishaar, had a pet piglet named Johnny who became the unofficial mascot. After wins, the team would take victory laps with Johnny riding on the gas tank. Reporters started calling them “the Harley Hogs,” joking that Harley was hogging all the wins.
The name stuck.
Over time, “hog” became part of Harley culture. The company eventually embraced it, using H.O.G. as the acronym for the Harley Owners Group and even incorporating it into stock market listings. Marketing leaned into the nickname, although today’s tough, iron-badged hog looks a little different from Johnny the piglet.
Still, it’s a great reminder that one of the most iconic names in motorcycling started with a small pig, a fast bike, and a team that just wouldn’t stop winning.
