Harley-Davidson Sportster and FXR: books - history

Aermacchi - Harley-Davidson Motorcycles

This book explores the history of Aermacchi, a leading Italian manufacturer with roots in aviation. Known for aircraft like the MC72 World Speed Record holder and World War II fighters, Aermacchi transitioned to motorcycle production in 1950.

At the 1956 Milan Show, the company introduced the Chimera, a futuristic overhead-valve single-cylinder model with enclosed bodywork. By the late 1950s, stripped-down versions of the Chimera led to some of Italy's finest sports and racing motorcycles, including the Ala Verde and Ala d'Oro.

In 1960, Harley-Davidson acquired 50% of Aermacchi, and in 1978, the Varese factory was sold to Cagiva. This book includes insights from key Aermacchi figures, adding depth and authenticity to its account.

Contents of the book:
- Before Bikes
- Early Motorcycles
- Chimera
- Ala Rossa-Ala Verde
- Wet-Clutch Racers
- Transatlantic Partnership
- Off-Road Competition
- Dry-Clutch Racers
- European Roadsters
- The Linto Project
- Two-stroke Racers
- End of the Road
- The Classic Rebirth
- Index.

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Harley Davidson Sportster (Paperback)

In 1957, The Motor Company, as they call Harley-Davidson in Milwaukee, was in trouble. The big twins were too big, the small two-stroke single was too small, and a surge of imports had taken the sporting market from the under-powered Model K.
It was time for something new and different. It was time for the Sportster.
Never has a motorcycle been more aptly named. The Sportster kept the K's best features, borrowed the improvements of the imports, threw in some homemade hot-rodding, and before you could say Superbike - a term invented to describe the XLCH - the Sportster was making history, setting sales and speed records, and introducing people to the sport of motorcycling and the mystique of Harley-Davidson.
The history is still going on.

This book tells how and why, in sequence, from the circumstances and models that preceded the XL through to the 1200 Evo, with its five speeds and belt drive. On the way, there are in-depth looks at the race-ready XLC that began the Superbike era (and took even the factory by surprise), at the radical Café Racer and super-sport Buell, and at the price-buster XLX that taught the imports the value of the dollar.

Paperback edition.

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Harley-Davidson Sportster 1965-1976 - Brooklands Portfolio

Brooklands Portfolio book about the Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycles from the years 1965-1976. Describes the Harley-Davidson Sportster XLH, DLCH, 833cc, 1000 cc, DR-750 and XL.

• The 29 articles, taken from contemporary British and American motorcycle magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

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More information on the Brooklands Portfolio books

Harley-Davidson XR-750 - The Complete History

This is the story of the legendary XR-750 from its development in 1970, when it was created to replace the aging KR. The first XRs used iron cylinder heads and barrels-and were painfully slow. By 1972, the motorcycles were redesigned with aluminum heads and barrels, and the XR-750 took home the trophies.

Found here is the development of the XR-750 with a technical analysis of the complete motorcycle, detailing specifications, modifications, innovations, and aftermarket components.
This is also the story of the men who designed, tuned and raced the XR-750. It was their engineering skill, iron-willed riding and tuning secrets that made the motorcycle a winner.

The book is divided into three parts, the motorcycle's development, the season-by-season race championships, and how the pros make the bikes go-and go fast. More than 300 photos tell the inside story of the XR-750 on the dirt track, the XR-750 and XR-1000 on the street and XRTT on the road-race circuits.

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Harley-Davidson Sportster, son histoire mécanique et humaine

The Sportster represents more than 20% of Harley-Davidson's global production annually. A success that continues for a type of motorcycle that appeared in 1957 with a displacement of 883 cm³ and which still appears in the American manufacturer's range under this displacement, along with the 1 200 cm³ Sportster.
It is now available in different models and its Sportster power unit has also spawned a new breed of motorcycles, young, sporty, with character, fun, and technically modern, the Buell.

If the book deals with the design at the birth of the Sportster, before revealing its developments and presenting its main special models powered by cast iron engines, it is without forgetting to insist that it is from the aluminum engines that it knows its revival and that it multiplies its versions, like the other Harley-Davidsons with Big-Twin engines.

From competition to Sportsters transformed into Choppers, it adapts to all styles and all uses to seduce a very large male clientele, but also female. This Sportster, adored and controversial, remains a special Harley-Davidson that deserves a special tribute, because the lifespan of each Sportster is not a few years, as is generally the case for the majority of motorcycles, but several decades.
Many professionals offer parts to restore, modify, improve and personalize it, which explains its exceptional longevity and its very large number of fans.

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Harley-Davidson Mythos Sportster - Historie, Modelle, Technik, Umbauten

The smallest and sportiest Harley-Davidson has been built since 1957. With well over a million machines sold, it is the most successful roadster in the world. The basic concept with an air-cooled V2, compact dimensions and a comparatively sporty chassis has remained unchanged to this day.
The Sportster became a legend not least because of its countless successes in racing: no other motorcycle has won more titles on dirt tracks and on America's speedways!

This book tells the fascinating story of the Sportster myth, examines technology and model variants from then and now, gives tips for buying used bikes and tuning, and shows more than 200 of the most spectacular Sportster conversions in the world.

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