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

by Margie Siegal

Overview

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 'potato potato' roar of the engine and the unmistakable logo are all emblems recognized the world over. This book expertly ties together the mechanical evolution of the 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 in movies such as 'Easy Rider'. It is fully illustrated with pictures of the bikes and those who have ridden them as well as beautiful examples of H-D's distinctive design aesthetic in advertising and collectibles.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780747814955
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	05/10/2014
Series:	Shire Library USA , #783
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
File size:	20 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Mechanical Beginnings
Sidevalves and The Depression
The Chopper Era—Motorcycles Become Popular Again
Evolution
The Harley-Davidson Community—Clubs and Racing
Conclusion
Further Reading
Places to Visit
Photograph Acknowlegements
Index

Editorial Reviews

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

From the Publisher