Indian: The History Of A Classic American Motorcycle [Hardcover]

Tod Rafferty (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 29, 2001

This definitive chronicle of America's first motorcycle is an essential for any cycle aficionado. It features concise hardware histories of every model produced by Indian from 1901 to the mid-1950s, when the company ceased production. Author Tod Rafferty also covers the millennial rebirth of the marque, including details and photographs of the new 2000 Indian Chief and the new Scout. This comprehensive volume contains more than 250 specially commissioned photographs, plus authoritative text and full specifications for all key machines.Tod Rafferty is the author of The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Motorcycles and Harley-Davidson: The Ultimate Machine. His work has appeared in Cycle World, Bike, Big Bike, and American Roadracing.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tod Rafferty is the author of The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Motorcycles and Harley-Davidson: The Ultimate Machine. He has written for numerous enthusiast publications such as Roadracing World, Cycle World, Bike, Big Bike, and American Roadracing. He lives in central California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Courage Books; Revised edition (October 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762411392
• ISBN-13: 978-0762411399
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 10.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #688,276 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding illustrations of the different models, January 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Indian: The History of a Classic American Motorcycle (Hardcover)

I was fortunate to find a copy of this book in the close-out bin at a local bookstore. This was such a good book that I'm now looking at the author's other books.

One thing I like is that the book is profusely illustrated, and that all the background clutter has been cut away from the photos, so that all you see is the bike against a plain white background. Combined with the clear photography and printing, it really allows you to see machine details that would normally get lost.

Another nice characteristic of this book is that the emphasis is upon the bikes, with background information on the state of the company that helps to explain why the bikes evolved the way they did. This historical orientation was aided by the chronological orientation of the book. Related to this is that the book was about bikes, not lifestyles. I hope that when I get a copy of his book on Harleys that this will be true there as well (notice that most books on Harleys have more photos of "trailer trash" than they do of motorcycles, and that you rarely get a chance to see what the older bikes looked like from the factory? -- OK, rant mode off).

If you are fortunate to run across this book, buy it.

Now, if we could get books like this for all the major European and English manufacturers (hint, hint).

5.0 out of 5 stars The Indian: a history of a Classic American Motorcycle - Purchased at Amazon, July 17, 2011

By 

Paul du Pont (MORRISTOWN, NJ, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Indian: The History of a Classic American Motorcycle (Hardcover)

This is a great book. It arrived in perfect condition, well protected, by USPS mail. There are a tremendous number of outstanding photographs. I purchased another history book on the same subject ("The Iron Redskin" - Also purchased at Amazon) which goes much deeper in the history of the company, but it is much longer and basically prose oriented. This book really shows off the different models pictorially. - Outstanding.

Paul du Pont

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Indian: by Tod Rafferty, May 18, 2007

By 

Gary L. Shinn (Cody, Wyoming) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Indian: The History Of A Classic American Motorcycle (Hardcover)

Record City had awesome service getting the book to me. Thank you!
The book arrived in perfect condition. I will certainly use them again.
The book is a gift for a friend. I know he will be very excited with the history and information in this great book.