At the Creation: Myth, Reality and the Origins of the Harley-Davidson Motorcyle, 1901-1909

Backed by a decade of research, this study documents the critical and early years of the Harley-Davidson motocycle in its birthplace of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Herbert Wagner brings to life the human side of Harley-Davidson's quest to motorize the bicycle and then promote it as a powerful, fast, reliable and thrilling means of personal transportation. This book examines the origins of two-wheeled transportation at a time when combining the gasoline engine with a bicyle was the province of dreamers and con men.