Harley-Davidson: A History of the World's Most Famous Motorcycle

Description

Harley-Davidson: words that evoke the open American road and the "Made in America" tradition like no others. The sweeping chopper handlebars, the distinctive throaty low-speed rumble of the engine and the unmistakable logo are recognized the world over. This book expertly ties together the mechanical evolution of Harley's engines - from the earliest motorized pedal bicycles to the iconic heavyweight twin-cylinder V-engines we know and love today - and the social history of the brand's phenomenal rise in the twentieth century, as innovative survivor of the Great Depression, supplier of the military during both World Wars and enduring symbol of freedom and rebellion. It is fully illustrated with pictures of the bikes and those who have ridden them as well as examples of Harley-Davidson's distinctive design aesthetic in advertising and collectibles.

When Margie Siegal was a teenager, she had a boyfriend with a motorcycle. The boyfriend was forgettable - the motorcycle wasn't. Since that time, she has written about motorcycle history for Classic Bike, Motorcyclist, Motorcycle Collector, American Iron, and Motor Cycle Classics. She is vintage editor for IronWorks motorcycle magazine.

"Oaklander Margie Siegal takes a historic, quirky, and technical look at America's favorite motorcycle, the Harley-Davidson, in this fond remembrance of the chopper and its iconic rise. The pictures alone are worth a gander: Harley parades, vintage ads, lots of chrome. Siegal can discuss the technicalities without being boring and puts innovations in context." --Oakland Magazine "Margie Siegal expertly ties together the mechanical evolution of the Harley engines with the social history of the iconic brand. Fully illustrated with historic images and pictures of the bikes, this book is a wonderful catalog of everything Harley-Davidson." --Women Riders Now "Lushly illustrated with images by photographer Dana Shirey and archival photos from the Dudley Perkins archive, there's plenty of eye candy offsetting the well-researched text. Technical enough for the gearhead without intimidating the newbie, every reader is sure to learn something from this book's straightforward and thoughtful perspective." --Iron Trader News