Been watching the mini series "Harley and the Davidsons" Of course Lots of 'liberties' taken in making this mini series. Now it has me interested in the Real history - can anyone point me to a Good historical book on Harley Davidson - want to read all the facts of the history

NOT interested in a picture book - Looking for the Real complete history in print

Thanks

 

100 Years of Harley-Davidson by Willie G. Davidson is probably the gold standard but there have been a couple of people that called the book a little bit one sided. I guess the author could be said to be biased but I think he criticized things that deserved it.

Harley Davidson Motor Company by Missy Scott is quite a bit more critical of the company but she does cover some things that aren't mentioned in Willie G's book.

Donny's Unauthorized technical guides (I think there are five or more volumes) contain a LOT of really interesting details but they are really aimed at collectors and mechanics and restorers so they aren't so much of a history book.

 

There's also "Harley-Davidson, the Mikwaukee Marvel", by Harry Sucher. And for a close look at the MoCo in the '30's, I recommend "Harley-Davidson 1930-1941: Revolutionary Motorcycles and Those Who Rode Them", by Herbert Wagner.

If you want more of a technical history, there's "Inside Harley-Davidson, an Engineering History of the Motor Company-1903-1945", by Jerry Hatfield.