Dave Perewitz has always let his work speak for itself: A brief glance at-let alone a ride on-one of his custom creations, with its perfect blend of engineering, design, aesthetics, performance, power, personality, and beauty, says volumes about why Dave is one of the top chopper builders in the world. Here, for the first time, Dave Perewitz tells his story. With journalist and longtime motorcyclist Mike Seate, Perewitz describes the long years, hard work, and unflagging passion that transformed him from a kid with his first motorcycle (a 1964 Harley-Davidson Sportster) into a star riding his latest creation into the Easyriders Bike Show in Dallas while the cameras of the Discovery Channel rolled. The autobiography of a man who has been a major influence in the custom motorcycle industry for 30 years, this absorbing book offers a rare look at how a self-taught designer, mechanic, painter, and fabricator managed to build the American dream his own way, bike by custom bike.
From the editor-in-chief of Easyriders magazine, One Percenter presents an unprecedented social analysis of American outlaw biker culture. A longtime biker and self-proclaimed nonconformist, Dave Nichols is not a subtle man. “Bikers are the last wolves in a land of sheep,” he affirms—but the motivations of today’s biking culture stretch far back into the annals of human history. One Percenter: The Legend of the Outlaw Biker illuminates the origins of rebel mentality, which began far outside of cycling: with groups from the Mongols and Huns to the Vikings, from pirates to the gunslingers of the Old West. In his signature no-nonsense style, Nichols traces his own defiant mindset from ancient times all the way into the modern era, where this one-percenter perspective is best embodied by outlaw bikers. As biographical as it is insightful, One Percenter also touches on the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycle, gives a brief history of Easyriders magazine, and unapologetically criticizes the U.S. media for what Nichols views as a biased, unfairly negative portrayal of motorcycle clubs. Complete with an exclusive collection of photographs taken by Kim Peterson, editor of In The Wind magazine, this book offers a fascinating and analytical discussion of the rebel ethos that has become a staple of American popular culture.
Take an exhilarating ride through the history of the American bike, biker, and the biker nation in this fascinating and comprehensive chronicle of the biker era and today's ever-expanding legion of motorcycle enthusiasts. Impassioned, idiosyncratic, and razor sharp, Born to Be Wild traces a century's worth of the culture, the bikers, and the bikes themselves. Who are these bikers? Are they those hard-living, leather-clad, tattooed guys often associated with images of the Hells Angels and Satan's Sinners? Or are they those clean-cut, suit-and-tie wearing riders with the sporty helmets you pass on your daily commute? In fact, they are both, for what began as a subculture of misfits and outlaws has grown into a flourishing society of men and women who celebrate the freedom of the open road and the brotherhood they find among bike enthusiasts of all stripes. Today's biker has evolved from the rough-and-tumble antihero to a vast and vibrant biker culture populated by a new breed of rider including the RUBs, or Rich Urban Bikers, and championed by everyone from titans of industry like the late Malcolm Forbes to media celebrities like Jay Leno. And while elements of rebellion still remain intrinsic to the biker mystique, the culture has in fact expanded to include a plethora of riders from the American mainstream -- doctors, lawyers, and executives -- who love the freedom they find on their bikes and the camaraderie they find with their fellow devotees. It is also a multibillion-dollar industry that draws hundreds of thousands of participants and spectators to its annual events. Born to Be Wild, written by motorcycle journalist Paul Garson and the editors of Easyriders magazine, captures as never before the spirit and evolution of the biker era. Beginning in 1895, Born to Be Wild traces the development of the modern bike, with special attention to Harley-Davidson's supreme contributions to the quality of the machines as well as the aesthetics of biker society. Featuring numerous fascinating sidebars that highlight the particular characteristics of the culture, the book also explores the socio-political events that have culminated in the great biker nation that we know today. With more than two hundred photographs of bikes and bikers across the decades, Born to Be Wild is a definitive work that will open readers' eyes to a thriving society, one whose celebration of freedom and the open road precisely reflects what is best about our country as a whole.
Millions of loyal Harley fans can’t be wrong. With their distinctive styling and sound, Harley-Davidson motorcycles have won the hearts of people--from all walks of life and from all over the world. "Harley-Davidson: The Good, the Bad, and the Legendary" captures just what it is about Harleys that make them so popular. This anthology is a tribute not only to this legendary piece of machinery, but also to the stories, history, and lifestyle behind its rise as the world’s most popular bike. If you’re still in awe of that first Harley, still riding and wrenching on Harleys, or still dreaming Harleys, then this book is for you.
In the beginning, there was Arlen Ness. Before Jesse James, Billy Lane, and the battling Teutuls, Arlen Ness started the business of building celebrity choppers. He is a long-time custom motorcycle builder whose bikes combine the artistic and the extreme. These rolling sculptures have been covered in motorcycle and even hot rod magazines for decades as Arlen Ness built a worldwide reputation as an innovator and sought-out builder of themed custom bikes. This book traces the growth of the Arlen Ness reputation, business empire, and custom bike resume and features stunning new photography of all the bikes in Arlen’s personal collection, over 50 in total.
Barbieri explains everything a new rider needs to know to become a real biker. By sharing the lessons he learned the hard way, Barbieri gives the new biker a head start to become more comfortable, credible, and knowledgeable about the motorcycle culture.
