Harley-Davidson is probably the most famous name in motorcycling history. Over the last 100 years, the company has earned a truly legendary reputation. And Harley-Davidson is more than simply a motorcycle maker - it represents an approach to engineering and styling that is essentially American.

In this pictorial history of the first decades of the world-famous motorcycle manufacturer, John Carroll uses rare archive photographs to show the evolution of the Harley-Davidson from the pioneering machines of the early 1900s to the end of the Panhead era. His book is a sympathetic and expert guide for all Harley-Davidson owners and enthusiasts and for everyone who enjoys motorcycling history.

The author describes how the Harley-Davidson company survived and prospered despite the Depression, two world wars, technical challenges and changes and fundamental shifts in the motorcycle market. He recalls the conception of the robust V-twin engine which has been at the heart of Harley-Davidson motorcycles for almost a century. The company has always favoured consistent improvement over radical redesign, and the much-refined V-twin still powers the Harley-Davidsons of the present day.

The book illustrates the wide variety of types of Harley-Davidson that have been produced - military and sidecar versions, machines for police patrol work and escort duty and for racing, including on American dirt tracks, where Harley has dominated for decades - and the first customized Harleys of the mid-1960s. But the author concentrates on telling the story of the long line of strong, simple, powerful street bikes that are the mainstay of Harley-Davidson's reputation.

Happy 100th birthday, Harley Davidson! Celebrate a century of the most exciting motorcycles ever made in 448 exciting, thrill-inducing pages of color photographs. With images of every Harley ever produced and sold, and complete specs on each one, this beautiful, oversized volume will rev cycle lovers' motors on high. Beginning with the first model made in 1903 (which zipped along at a grand 25 miles per hour), there's information on the motorcycle's designation, engine, bore & stroke, displacement, torque, Bhp, and top speed. In sparkling images, see 1907's Silent Gray Fellow, with its bicycle-like frame; move on to the post-war Hydra Glide, aimed at a totally new market; the Dyna Glide, born in 1947 and existing in all its shiny glory till 1996; the Evo Sportster, offered in two engine sizes; and right up to today's sleek, fast cycles. There are also brochure covers, countless close-ups of smaller details, and a wealth of other fascinating facts.

There are lots of books about Harleys, about their history, performance, lineage and the minutiae of their specification, but none of them will tell you what to look for when buying one second-hand. That’s what this book is about – it aims at being a straightforward, practical guide to buying a used Harley-Davidson.