Book - How to Restore Your Harley-Davidson Motorcycle - Authentic Restoration Guide

[got_groove]

How to Restore Your Harley-Davidson Motorcycle - Authentic Restoration Guide - Motorbooks International - Bruce Palmer III (brand new paperback copies)

I have been looking for one of these out of print books for months. I've found some that are available online in places like ebay and Amazon for $160 to $500 or so. Some are asking over $900 each! Man, that's a lot of money. Has anyone else noticed how expensive this rare book seem to be getting?

Well, I recently lucked out and found a place that had them in stock new and I bought a bunch. They are being shipped to me now. So, when I have them in hand I'd like to make them available to other AMCA members here on the forums first. Let me know if you are interested by sending me a Private Message (PM).

$125 each including shipping in the lower 48. (If I don't sell them all here I'm putting them on ebay for $200 each)

Thank you,
Brian

[tomcat1]

I sent pm....

[sirhrmechanic]

pm sent. Thanks, Sirhr

[Chris Haynes]

The book may be on backorder. It is not out of print. If it was out of print then Bruce would be free to make all the corrections and additional information and publish it himself.

[Robert Luland]

$900 Clams! Holy smok’en bunny turds! I’ll never look at that book the same way and nor will I ever use it as a rest for my coffee cup again!

[got_groove]

Out of stock or out of print, I'm not one to know the difference. Please excuse my possible mis-statement about it being out of print. However, the fact is ISBN# 0879389346 currently remains unobtainium in the normal marketplace as far as I can determine. Which may help to explain why I was absolutely sick to my stomach when I saw this ebay seller is asking people to "buy it now" for $859.28. That's not nice at all. I sent an email to Motorbooks International today asking about the current status, so we'll let them explain what's going on. I hope to hear from them. In the mean time, my order apparently hasn't shipped to me, either. I'm still hopeful! Thank you very much. Brian
ps: here is the eBay link I was referring to:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Restore-Your-Har...item4f9c512737

[cdndewey]

That is just crazy. I paid about $30 for my first one and about $40 for second one.

[c.o.]

That is just crazy. I paid about $30 for my first one and about $40 for second one.

I've just got the one copy that was priced in the range you mentioned. I'm wishing now that I would have had the foresight to buy a truck full!!! The same thing happened with "The American Racer" by Stephen Wright. The prices for first editions are crazy and when I got a copy of the re-print, Mr. Wright said it was a superior book with greatly enhanced pictures.

[Chris Haynes]

Which may help to explain why I was absolutely sick to my stomach when I saw this ebay seller is asking people to "buy it now" for $859.28.

So out of the goodness of your heart you are only charging 125 bucks for a forty dollar book.
Guys. This is where the word profiteer comes into use.

[portagepan]

patina

Is my copy worth more with grease on the pages, and a little peeling of the spine? A corrected, and expanded version would be golden. And how about giving a little respect for the 1965's Bruce?
Mike

[cdndewey]

Is my copy worth more with grease on the pages, and a little peeling of the spine? A corrected, and expanded version would be golden. And how about giving a little respect for the 1965's Bruce?
Mike

I guess that would depend on what pages the grease was on....less money if it's in the electrical section...haha

[exeric]

I got my copy from Bruce, right after it came out. I rarely even looked at it until I got into this '48 FL and it has been the most valuable tool in my toolbox for that project. I remember visiting Bruce in Tampa or seeing him at a Florida swap meet and he would mention that he was working on this book. In my mind I would think, yeah, right, he's going to write a book, and if he did, I imagined it would be some cheap little Easyrider's publication with a cartoon of Miraculous Mother on the cover. I was stunned when I saw the girth, and depth of that tome. I contend that "How to Restore Your Harley Davidson" is the most ambitious and valuable motorcycle book thus far. Of course $900 for a copy is ridiculous, but in a weird way, it's a grand tribute to the greatest book ever written about modern Harley Davidsons.

[got_groove]

So out of the goodness of your heart you are only charging 125 bucks for a forty dollar book.
Guys. This is where the word profiteer comes into use.

Sure, I'd like to be compensated for my time and effort. IF I ever get the books I ordered. Of course, if you prefer, I would sell you one for $850. Should I put you on my waiting list? I am a capitalist and a vintage motorcycle enthusiast. If that's wrong, please inform me.

[Kozy]

Every time I buy a piece of literature that's out of print for some ridiculous price, because I just had to have it, I find the same book at a swap meet for a lot less. But my record high is only $80 not hundreds, found the same for $15 at a SM and felt really taken. Last time I seen a How to Restore on a table it was $35. It was like new.

[got_groove]

The book may be on backorder. It is not out of print. If it was out of print then Bruce would be free to make all the corrections and additional information and publish it himself.

Hi, here's an update. Based upon the above quoted response, I contacted the publisher of this book by email. Here is the response I received from them this morning:

"Dear Brian:
Thank you for your inquiry.
It is out-of-print and no longer available.
Sincerely,
Lori
Customer Care Assistant Supervisor
Quayside Publishing Group"

So, with no offense to Chris Haynes, it appears that it is actually out of print. As of today, I continue to wait for a response on the shipment of the books that I ordered. Status currently indicates that my order is being transferred from the warehouse and has not shipped to me yet.

Guys, I'm in the process of coaxing my '55 pan / sidecar rig back to as near correct as possible. I had it at Davenport, where the judges politely informed me I have a lot of work to do on this bike to get it even close to correct. Thus begins the saga. I wanted a copy of the book for the purpose of correcting some issues on my bike. I checked the vendors at the 2010 Davenport meet and could not find it. Then, when I searched online retailers through google and yahoo, as well as eBay and craigslist, I was very, very surprised that this book was either not available or that used, slightly used and new copies were going for $150 (eBay) to $350 (Amazon.com) and over $1100 each (another eBay seller).

Some places found online do currently show the book available, like google shopping for example, for around $40. I submitted an order for one book from each of several separate retailers, one after the other, only to find it out of stock and unavailable in each case. Frustrated, I continued my search and figured I would eventually uncover a bunch of these things sitting around on the shelf somewhere. The last time I placed an order I decided to try to order up a few copies and see what came of it.

Frankly, I'll be quite surprised if I ever receive my book order. But, I'm optimistic and hoping for the best. I have not been charged for my order yet and I have been told the charge will show when the order has shipped. Please note: IF it does not come through, and soon, I would happily pay someone here $125 for a copy of this book for my own use (either new or used but legible and useable).

And, if all else fails, I suppose I could always write my own book... about searching for the holy grail of HD restoration books!

Thanks. Happy wrenching and riding!
Brian

Just for fun, here's a pic of some the bikes in my stable... including the panhead: