Customer Reviews

Indian Larry: Chopper Shaman

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i know this may sound strange to some, but the way indian larry passed was the way i think a lot of us would like to go, in defiance of practicality. doing what it is that we truly love to do. taking a risk and then taking it again. im not a biker and i dont pretend to be, and not being one makes it difficult for me to conceptualize what a real biker truly is. but of all the biker shows i have watched and all the magazines and books i have read, indian larry truly embodies that image. he defines in my mind the quintissential biker. i watched biker build off from the begining and indian larry was instantly my favorite. of course being born and raised in brooklyn myself quickly endeared him to me. i remember around the time larry passed the pope had died too. and i remember thinking to myself, wow, the pope known and loved by billions and yet i feel nothing for him. and then here is this guy from brooklyn who builds motorcycles and lives an oddball lifestyle and says and does things that i instantly relate to. larry made me think, i mean truly ponder life in just a couple of hours that a world spiritual leader could not do in how many years? i never met you larry but i miss you. and if this sounds mushy to some, well im sorry. as for the book, its magnificent. a fitting tribute to a true motorcycle legend. great writing and excellent photographs from different times in larrys life. its really amazing to see the evolution of this man. the weight lifting muscle bound photos are a trip. then a couple pages later he has a drug-mug. then hes swimming at coney and riding his bike in shorts- in the winter! i hate the cold so these pix crack me up. there are plenty of studio bike photos of all the biker build off bikes. its a great book. any one who admired indian larry should have it and i am truly glad that i have one. p.s. to all the people who contributed to this book, you did an excellent job. jackthewack, march 06

This could have been a much better book if it weren't for Nichols continual essays on how Indian Larry fits into the author's personal view of Viking mythology. After the umpteenth time reading how Indian Larry was a "mythic hero" confronting his self-made demons and emerging as a new person, I was ready to scream. Seriously, that thought makes up about 90% of the written content of the book. The pictures, and the brief comments from other bike builders are pretty interesting, but the maddening writing of Dave Nichols ruined this book for me.

Larry was happy being who he was. He states as much in his interviews during his Biker Build Off episodes. I feel the author of this book forgets that and puts Larry high on this pedestal where Larry never wanted to be. His bikes was his art and he appreciated his fans that wanted to see it. What made him unique is that he was kind, caring and considerate. Traits that one hardly ever sees in a person, especially all at one time. This book does Larry justice when telling his story from boyhood to bikehood but loses its flavor when the author throws in his collegiate words to make his point on how great Larry was. Larry seemed, to me, like he was a simple man who wanted simple things and, to put it simply, wanted to share his art with those who would appreciate it. Long story short, this is a good book with a good read and some great photos.

This book is a must if you're an Indian Larry fan or just into custom bikes. The guy was a legend, he seemed to touch so many peoples lives in a positive way and lived life to the full and this book is a great tribute to him. It has some fantastic photos of the bikes he built, his mates he rode with, fans and and some great reading about the journey of his life.

"The motorcycle is like a sacred object to me. When I go out for a ride, I'm exactly in the moment. It's like meditation; I'm in the flow." INDIAN LARRY

This is a great book even if you're not into motorcycles. Indian Larry was a master at art (which happened to be motorcycles). I have read this book 3 times now, and I still love it.

Ordered the book for my dad for Christmas see that he had met Indian Larry a month before he passed away... I thought the book was going to be paper back, but came in hard back cover, which was way more awsome ^.^ book was in great condition and got to the house a week before Christmas!!!

if your an Indian Larry fan, this book is a must. After reading this I have even more respect for the man, if that's possible. RIP Larry

Indian Larry has been a hero of sorts since I "met" him in Iron Horse years ago-when I got this book,I spent an hour just looking at the photos and reading captions.the actual reading however,was so disapointing that I would not recommend the book.the text consists of a few facts or at least items of interest surrounded by pages of referances to mythical times,kings,queens,etc-an introduction with that BS would have served it's purpose-to spread it throughout as filler is a shame.find a back issue of Iron Horse with an Indian Larry interview to learn about the man-buy this for pictures or if you want to read semi-coherant ramblings from someone who seems confused but grasping for an answer to life-

This man didn't have an average live, I think it's one thing on everybody will agree...
This was a good man, who just lived his life as he could, just like us, but with less compromise.
The book is really interresting (even for people like me who've been already reading about him), the pics go from "old Polaroid" to very high quality (especialy regarding the bikes).
The thing I really did not appreciate is the comparison between his life and a "hero tale". I think Larry himself wouldn't have appreciate this...
If you like choppers but don't know the guy, buy this book ! If you already know him a little, save your money for another one !
Laurent
http://www.laurent-roy.com

Purchased as a gift, full of great yarns & photo's, for the right person this is a great buy! Enjoy!