A massive compendium covering all aspects of the Harley-Davidson phenomenon. Thousands of full-color, glossy photos grace the 528 pages of this ten pound, oversized volume.
This great book tells the story of the Milwaukee company through a catalog of the bikes that have brought Harley-Davidson success, right up to the most recent models, and also investigates the work of HD customizers who turn a mechanical wonder into a moving sculpture.
At first a convenient means of transport, the motorcycle became a cult object. In fat, a legend has grown up around Harley-Davison motorcycles. They have become a trophy, a monument on two wheels whose myth has transcended one hundred years of American history, attracting generations of motorcycling enthusiasts throughout the world.
This volume brings together the best of these two books about Harley-Davidson, with wonderful photographs and inside anecdotes on a trip that traces one of the 20th century's most vibrant myths.
The first part tells the story of the Milwaukee company through a catalog of the bikes that have brought Harley-Davidson success, right up to the most recent models, and describes and illustrates the production process and the highly original, innovative technological solutions the company has engineered.
The second part investigates the work of HD customizers like Arlen Ness, Cyril Huze, and their colleagues, who turn a mechanical wonder into a moving sculpture.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best "coffee table" books on H-D: Something for everybody,
By Clamdigger (Pahoa, Hawai'i USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Great Book of Harley-Davidson (Hardcover)
This is a huge and heavy book, well printed in Indonesia on what seem to be top-notch materials. Except for a bit of excessive contrast in some of the old black & white illustrations, you really couldn't ask for higher production values. The work is a repackaging of two earlier works, "Harley Davidson, a Way of Life, a Hundred Year Old Myth" (2002) and "Harley Davidson, Evolution of the Myth" (1999), which in turn seem to be related to a number of similar titles published by the same authors in English, Spanish and French over the past ten years. But none of that detracts from the current title, at least for those who, like this reviewer, don't already own the earlier works. If this is an English translation, it is a fluent one.
The first third of the book goes over the history of the company and its products - even bicycles! - in good detail, with extensive photos of personalities, machines and even period literature. The photos are generally very good or better, and they alternate between close-ups, detail shots and typical advertising brochure-type product overviews to maintain your interest. There are many, many other Harley books that cover this same ground with equally good photography, but I am not aware of any which actually do a better job. The accompanying narrative seems to be equally comprehensive and balanced, although I've not yet read it all carefully enough to say how accurate it all is with any certainty. It certainly seems to be well done, though, and I found the parts I read interesting as well as keyed in well with the nearby photos. The remainder of the book, however, really makes the whole project for this reviewer: The authors have not only a love of beautiful restorations and classic, factory-stock Harleys, but also a passion for the infinite variety of "customs" that Harley owners and professional builders have churned out in great numbers over the past half-century or more. The illustrations chosen run a fantastic gamut from the bizarre to the beautiful... well illustrating the creativity and individualism which have come to be identified with this quintessentially American marque. Does this review sound like something written by the stereotypical "outlaw biker" or Harley fanatic? Well, no, actually... I've ridden "most vroom for the buck" Japanese bikes and über-practical BMWs for most of my life! But unless you have no soul at all it's impossible not to appreciate the Harley as both a riding "experience" - pretty unique until quite recently, when the Japanese finally got their American-style V-Twin clones "right" - and as an art form and starting point for individual expression - for which H-D is still unmatched. This book, by two French admirers, very admirably conveys the feeling so many have for Harley-Davidsons of all sorts... and will encourage a lot of new purchases!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, even if you don't ride Harleys,
By Nehalem Dave (Nehalem, OR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Great Book of Harley-Davidson (Hardcover)
Lots of great photos of custom bikes. If you hanker exotic custom treatments, this book has it all. Use for a cocktail table, shop reference or a door stop - heavy book full of heavy metal.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Present for Arden Harley Fan,
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This review is from: The Great Book of Harley-Davidson (Hardcover)
I found as another reviewer that the binding is seperating from the book itselfon the second page. It's so late now in the Christmas season to find another book. I'm trying to glue it back together. Hope it works. It's a beautiful book with amazing pictures and information about award winning Harley. I would buy it again and I recommend it to others. Check the binding inside the book before buying it.
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