Category: Harley Davidson Store

Price: $50.00 - $41.85
(as of Nov 09, 2024 21:29:30 UTC – Details)

Who knew, over a century ago, that the speed-hungry, cutting-edge motorcycle fanatics who founded Harley-Davidson were making history as well as bikes? The Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Archive Collection, showcasing more than 100 years of bikes that shaped motorcycle history, brings that history to gleaming life on page after page of motorcycles beyond compare.

Created in cooperation with the official Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, this book gives motorcycle enthusiasts an opportunity to pore over milestone bikes from the collection, and to linger over every detail that has made Harley-Davidson an icon of American open-road power and performance. With exquisite, detailed photographs and histories of more than 200 motorcycles from Harley’s collection, from serial number one built in 1903 to pre-World War II racers to the latest Street Glide, the book captures the excitement of the best-known motorcycles in the world.

From the earliest singles and twins through street, race, and military bikes powered by Flatheads, Panheads, Knuckleheads Evos,Twin Cams, and more, The Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Archive Collection is a stunning collection, all that’s missing is the patented roar, which readers are invited to supply!

From the Publisher

The Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Archive Collection

1913 Model 9-E

‘Speed: In the Bakersfield, California, road race, Frank Lightner’s stock Harley-Davidson (the kind you can buy, not a special racing machine) attained a speed of 68 miles an hour. ‘Economy: The Harley-Davidson holds the World’s Official Record for economy.

‘Comfort: The Harley-Davidson is the only motorcycle which incorporates the Ful-Floteing Seat and Free Wheel Control. The Ful-Floteing Seat places 14 inches of concealed compressed springs between the rider and the bumps. The Free Wheel Control permits the starting and stopping of the machine without the tiresome pedaling or running alongside common with the ordinary motorcycles.’

—Harley-Davidson advertisement

‘Motorcycling—Outdoors’ Greatest Sport’

War defined the world in which Harley-Davidson conducted business during its second decade, and not just war in Europe, but also along America’s southern border. Brigadier General John Pershing took four thousand men—on foot, on horseback, in trucks, and on motorcycles—into Mexico to pursue Pancho Villa, who had attacked ranches in Texas and New Mexico, killing seventeen Americans.

For recreation, Americans watched motorcycles race at specially constructed board tracks and on dirt ovals normally used for horseracing. Motorcycling was increasingly seen as a recreational activity.

‘Yours for Happy Days

When the American soldiers returned to a newly prosperous country after World War II, they wanted nothing more than to raise families of their own, which they did in unprecedented numbers. Between the years 1946 and 1964, Americans had approximately seventy-six million children.

This ‘baby boom’ generation provided a potential motorcycle market of unimaginable proportions, and Harley-Davidson was prepared to service that market with its line of small two-stroke motorcycles ranging in size from 125cc to 175cc. Whether a baby boomer wanted a Hummer, Topper, Scat, or Bobcat, Harley Davidson had a machine to help young riders fulfill their two-wheeled dreams.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Motorbooks; 2nd edition (June 19, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0760361541
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0760361542
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.4 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.25 x 1.5 x 10.63 inches