Classic Harley Big Twins Review

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(More customer reviews)When I ordered this book, I allready was in posession of the book "Knuckleheads" by Greg Field, but wanted more info on the Panhead and Shovelhead blocks.
This book is actually three books into one. The first part about the Knucklehead is exactly a copy of the forementioned book by Greg Field, the other two parts discuss the Panhead (Greg Field) and Shovelhead (Tom Murphy) which are basicly built on the same basis as the Knucklehead, but ofcourse improved over the years until finally the EVO engine was born.
Since no seperate books about the Panhead or Shovelhead are available at this time, this is the only source of information about these engines.
The book is thick (over 500 pages) and describes every possible detail about this engineblock which served as a basis for Knuckle-, Pan-, and Shovelhead. Also nice stories are told about backgrounds of the birth of these engines, so that it's not only a technical story you're reading but sometimes also like a novel.
Greg Field needs no further introduction: He's in my point of view the best author around when it comes to HD! Tom Murpy describes in a similar way the Shovel-Era.
In short: A very nice book with even details like modelyear specific changes, so even someone who rebuilds one of these engines can find exactly the info about the engine he/she needs.
Only thing I regret about the book is that it is not available in hardcover. The price would be a bit higher, but this is such a reference in your collection of books, that a hardcover would do more justice to the contents.
A Perfect book, for a very acceptable price! Absolutely should not be absent in your collection!

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Three previous motorcycle color histories -- Harley-Davidson Knuckleheads, Harley-Davidson Panheads and Harley-Davidson Shovelheads -- are combined into one volume to provide a giant, colorful retrospective of Harley-Davidson's classic "cylinderhead" models. Marvelous modern color photography and a huge gallery of archival images depict examples of each model and variant, while an authoritative text reveals all the engineering and design breakthroughs, performance specifications, boardroom battles, marketing strategies, and competition histories.

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Cafe Racer: The Motorcycle: Featherbeds, clip-ons, rear-sets and the making of a ton-up boy Review

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(More customer reviews)Mike Seate has a leg up writing wise, he lives in Pennsylvania. Not that I think being from PA means you're a better writer, it just means you have to face certain slings and arrows that the boys in Newport Beach don't understand. In fact until recently Mike didn't even have a driver license. That speak volumes to the men and women in the other 47 states that experience what is known as "weather". It might seem trivial but as a harsh critic of motorcycle writing I have discovered it really is the key. This book chronicles three aspects of the Cafe Racer. First is Mike's personal experience "evolving" from a loud, low and slow biker to a fast, gritty ton up boy. He also covers both the history of the genre and where it is today. Many books have been written, both about the bikes and the "boys" of this era, some might be better but the photos and history here coupled with Mike's fine writing make it worthwhile addition to the veteran's shelf and a fine introduction for the beginner. Mike has a less strident attitude than some and is willing to see the gleam of the cafe racer spirit in bikes other than Wideline, pre unit drum only, leather-tank-strap models. While I think some of the "new breed" of ton up boys are a bit too cool for school, even us grumpy old men can appreciate the skill and hard work that goes into some of the new Cafe Racers even in this day of point and click purchases and CnC machining.

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A fascinating expose of the culture of the cafe racer - a motorcycle culture which emerged from WWII in the UK and the USA. Today, it's in the midst of a huge restrspective.

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How To Build An Old Skool Bobber (Biker Basics) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is really nothing more than a collection of generalized knowledge, and some good pictures. I don't need someone to tell me in a book that I need an engine, transmission, etc to build an old school bobber. "How to" suggests exactly that - you are going to tell me how things get done, and provide me with some good instructions, tips, tricks, and pictures to go along with it. If you want a book that gets down to the nuts and bolts of the building process, buy something from a different author because this book won't tell you how to build the bobber you want.

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Old Skool is kool. No theme bikes here, learn how to build a real American motorcycle based on a Panhead, Shovelhead or Evo engine. Don't buy expensive new parts, build your own bobber or chopper from mix-and-match swap-meet parts. Written by Kevin Baas, the Kennedy High School shop teacher with the Build-a-Chopper class, this book takes a back-to-basics approach to motorcycle assembly. As Kevin says, "if you can't buy it cheap, adapt it, and if you can't adapt it, build it from scratch." The author explains which engines fit which frames, and which transmission and primary drive is the best fit behind a particular V-Twin. The back half of the book includes three start-to-finish assembly sequences utilizing early and early-style engines, drivetrains and components. This 144 page book uses over 350 color images to illustrate kool parts and even kooler motorcycles.

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100 Years of Harley Davidson Review

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(More customer reviews)Harley-Davidson motorcycles hardly seem, at first thought, the appropriate topic for a glossy coffee-table type book. Having carefully cultivated a rebel image, Harley has for decades revelled in such perceptions, while customarily watching monied professionals drive off the lot on a Softtail. It's the ultimate in "irony advertising".
But the Harley story is also an American story, one of tales from the road across the USA. The company, celebrating its 100th year, is one of the few motoring ventures that maintains an image of quality vastly superior to Japanese knockoffs, primarily because of its storied history and presentation in culture for the last 100 years.
The story of the Harley Davidson corporate mentality, its financial devastation and recovery, and its appeal to an American society that loves its image takes up a good deal of space in this book, and makes for fascinating reading. In fact, the story alone would be worth a somewhat reduced price of admission (this book is expensive, after all), but the photography makes this a big keeper.
Double page after double page of legendary Harley models, dating back to the 1900's, capture the imagination, and the beauty of design in an incredible light. Photos from across the country call out for road trips. The photos capture much more than the HOG they portray - they are an invitation to hop on for a ride through American history.
This book is an excellent Christmas gift for anyone who owns, or always wanted to own their own Harley.

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Cafe Racers of the 1960s: Machines, Riders and Lifestyle a Pictorial Review (Mick Walker on Motorcycles, 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is fantastic book for those of us who weren't around to experience the cafe racers of the 60's and 70's. It's like a time capsle sending you back to the lifestyle and genre of the ton-up boys and what it meant to earn that label.
Book was just as described from seller, perfect and unused condition.

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Renowned motorcycle expert Walker profiles the exciting range of nostalgic '60s cafe racers superbike specials in this easy-to-use reference. Includes chapters on Goldie, Triton, Dunstall, Rockers, Homebrew, Cottage Industry, and Foreigners.

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