Harley-Davidson Sportster

Allan Girdler is , by far, the best Harley author. His extensive research and attention to historical detail are unequaled. Sadly, it appears this publication is - temporarily, at least - out of print.

If you love Sportsters, like I do, you will love this book. It is well written, well illustrated, and fun to read. Not the most modern book, the most recent Sportsters are 4 years old now and not in this book by the time it was published, but nonetheless a good history.

When I was thinking about buying my first HD I did some research both on technical stuff and the history of its models. The model that attracted me the most was the Sportster, which is completing 50 years in 2007. This is a great book to tell us a little about its history and evolution. Since part of the fun in riding a Harley is enjoying its tradition (mechanicallywise you'd be better off riding a Honda), I highly recommend this book.

This is a nice piece of work, as it chronicles the years leading up to the Sportster, starting with the pre-Sportster years of Model K, then on to the Sportsters themselves, from their inception in 1957 to today's rubber mounted models. The book has a friendly writing style, written by someone who knows and loves Sportsters like one of the legions of devoted Sportster riders around the world. He includes personal anecdotes, describing his experiences with the various models in an inviting style, as if he were in your living room just talking bikes with you and your friends. Descriptions of all the major developments and models include candid and unbiased observations from today's perspective, but what really makes this book a ride down memory lane are the quotes from motorcycle magazine reviews from back in the day, so we see the early Ironheads from today's eyes, as well as from the eyes of the riders of its time (funny how back then, no one complained of the excessive vibrations that we hear today of the older bikes, because most bikes were bone rattlers back then). Dewhurst devotes just about as much attention to the Ironhead era as he does the Evolution, or Blockhead era of today, and augments his writing with a healthy helping of David Dewhursts's photography. Surely people who had Sportsters up through the 80s will wax nostalgic when seeing photos of the old XLR, XLH (the gentleman's tourer), XLCR, and XLX Ironheads, among others. Newer riders will be able to trace how the Sportster evolved into what it is today, and notice how many similarities today's Sportsters still share with the old war horses, while still remaining a potent bike today. This is a great book for the Sportster enthusiast from any period, and anyone who is interested in motorcycle history. This bike fought back the British bikes up through the 60s until it was overtaken by the new, hot Japanese bikes. The Sportster is no super Sportbike today, but it is still a hot piece of machinery with the elegance and power of a simple muscle bike, and all the presence of a Harley Davidson. It is still a classic looking machine, whose aesthetics are still eagerly sought after today.

This is a great book for anyone who loves Sportsters! All the important models are illustrated with multiple photographs in full color from the KH to the modern XL. The book is written with insight and perspective, as well as an unequalled passion for the Harley Davidson Sportster. The author isn't afraid to tell it like it is when it comes to comparing Sporties to their bloated brethren. Fatboys are for fat boys - I'll take my Sporty any day.