The Legend Begins, book

[exeric]

I have a chance to buy 'The Legend Begins' book. It's pricey but I don't mind spending money on literature because that is something that always pays back in enjoyment. Just curious if fellow members like, and value the book.

[Rubone]

It is somewhat useful, but a lot of it is poorly researched and pictures that are copies of copies. I've had mine since they first came out because back then there wasn't much for research material. It is a factory publication so some dealers may have a copy or two kicking around. See if you can find an old stock one. I wouldn't pay collector price for one.

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[exeric]

Thanks, Robbie. I know you are a savvy collector of ancient, vintage, and current motorcycle literature so I appreciate your opinion. I've seen that book quoted a number of times and would like to have a copy for myself. It's always nice to have something (old) new to read.

[BoschZEV]

I've obsessively collected motorcycle books and magazines for over 60 years, the result of which is I have over 90% of all English-language motorcycle books published since 1896. The 29-page Bibliography at the back of the Guggenheim's 1998 'The Art of the Motorcycle' catalog was easy for me to create, since it is simply a list of the major books I had in my library at the time.

Getting to the point, more recently my fellow Guggenheim co-curator, Ultan Guilfoyle, and I curated the 2020–2021 'The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire' for the Brisbane Gallery of Modern Art. In creating the catalog for that exhibition, sold under the same name on Amazon, we decided under each entry we also wanted to list the same minimum set of facts for each machine (year of the particular machine in the exhibition, country, years that model was manufactured, capacity, engine type (e.g. OHV 45° V-twin), h.p., and manufacturer). Despite the number of Harley-Davidson books in my library, H-D machines were by far the hardest to determine these few simple facts.

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For many obscure brands, one book sufficed to determine all the information we needed. In contrast, every Harley-Davidson required lengthy, frustrating time to go through numerous books to arrive at the actual facts. Facts, as opposed to "information" the authors had seemingly pulled out of the air.

[jim d]

I have probably have around 300 motorcycle related books including that one. Not a bad book with some good reference material in it that I refer to occasionally. I don’t think I would pay some of the eBay prices though. I would be more interested in the $75 range or less. A dealer should be able to do a search as Robbie say. Or just save it on a eBay search and wait for one to come along at a reasonable price.

[sw48]

I think it's a nice reference book but the eBay prices seem ridiculous.

[Steve Slocombe]

Dear Eric, the book came out in 1993 and I must have then bought my copy new from a Harley dealer for around $45. There is no ISBN. Most interesting for me is estimated production numbers by model by year up to 1965, plus dealer order sheets with retail and wholesale prices for most of those years.

[droptopford]

In the back of that book is a section with Production Figures that were unofficially compiled by an unnamed Harley Davison employee. The way the various models are listed has led many a neophyte Panhead owner into believing his FLH is a super rare treasure!.

[Chris Haynes]

I bought mine directly from The Hartley-Davidson Service Department at the Factory. A phone call will let you know if it is still available.

[JoJo357]

*M.A.D.*


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