Outlaw Machine Harley-Davidson and the Search for the American Soul

The legendary story of Harley-Davidson's rise to power--not only as an international industry leader but as an American cultural icon. How did the Harley-Davidson motorcycle, originally a machine for casual riders, evolve into a symbol of defiance and liberation? An embellished 1947Lifemagazine article about a California town terrorized by gangs of motorcycle punks changed the world's perception of motorcycles from sporty machines to menaces-to-society, and as the loudest and heaviest bikes on the market, Harley-Davidsons were considered the baddest of them all. Outlaw Machinechronicles the fascinating social history that built Harley-Davidson's reputation--including the rise of Hell's Angels and the counterculture classicEasy Rider--and, more entrancing still, the bike's and its company's storybook rise to international fame and popularity. Written by renowned automotive journalist Brock Yates,Outlaw Machineis the definitive book on the Harley-Davidson and its place in American culture.