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This collection of articles by some of the biggest names not only in the motorcycle world, but the journalistic world as well, makes for good reading, whether you are a “biker” or not.
With contributions from “Hells Angel” Sonny Barger, daredevil Evel Knievel, chopper-builder extraordinaire Arlen Ness, and a collection of writers led by the late Hunter S. Thompson, The Harley Davidson Reader comes closer to explaining the “Harley” mystique, from early “Wall Of Death riders clear up to Orange County Choppers, than I would have thought possible prior to reading it.
Liberally spiced with early photos of Harleys and poster art of the Thrill Riders and “Biker” movies, this is not a “Coffee Table” book, but rather a definitive chronicle of the history of early (1903 was when the first Harley was manufactured) motorcycling, and goes a long way towards explaining why just the sound of a Harley evokes a feeling of freedom in all who hear it.
Peter Fonda explains how the movie “Easy Rider” came to be made, and automotive personality Brock Yates shows his superb talents as a writer in his chapter entitled “Outlaw Machine”.
From the foreword by Jean Davidson (granddaughter of one of the founders) to the final chapter “Night Riding” by Biker Billy, this is a fine read.
Reviewed by: Richard “Too Low” Haas
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