Harley-Davidson, an iconic American chopper brand, ventured into the motocross world with two attempts. The first, a handcrafted prototype, never surpassed 65 units and faded quickly. In 1978, they tried again with the MX250, a production-ready dirt bike crafted by Italian motorcycle maker Aermacchi, which Harley owned through its association with AMF. The partnership began in 1960 when Harley teamed up with Aermacchi, known for making seaplanes. By 1973, Harley acquired the rest of Aermacchi, aiming to compete with Japanese motorcycles by branding zippy Italian bikes with the Harley name.