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Title: Harley-Davidson Shovelhead (Motorcycle Color History) by Tom Murphy ISBN: 0-7603-0164-6 Publisher: Motorbooks International Pub. Date: June, 1996 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $21.95

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Average Customer Rating: 1 (1 review)

Rating: 1
Summary: Harley Davidson Shovelhead
Comment: I read this book a few years ago when it first appeared.Shortly thereafter I wrote some notes on it and here they are.Keep in mind that I rode Shovelhead powered bikes for several years and I,for lack of a better word loved them.I learned all I could about them and looked forward to reading this book because it was a "tribute" to something I felt so strongly about.The book has some wonderful pictures of some beautiful bikes.That is its strong point.Much of the captions accompanying the photos leave a lot to be desired.The author attempts to explain things in his tongue-in-cheek manner and fails to explain anything.There's a lot of "ooohing and ahhing"over the bikes without telling the reader much.The author lists model designations and production figures yet doesn't even bother to explain what all those designations mean.Some models(the belt drive FLH for example) are left out entirely.The book is basically divided into two parts,"The FL series" and "The FX series",of Shovelheads.Much of the book is devoted to the FL series.Yet for all the space used on FLs,it could've been more informative.Basically,the FX series of HD bikes(Superglide,Low Rider,etc.)helped turn Harley Davidson's fortunes around from financial ruin to where they are today.But the author mentions little of this and less still on these bikes that had so much to do with HD's sucess.What he does say is filled with misinformation.He presents us with photos of "stock" motorcycles that have been obviously modified.He states certain model changes occurred certain years and he's wrong.Not only that but in one photo he states the "boattail-looking"rear fender on a 1971 Superglide was a one year only deal.The photo is of an original Superglide with said fender at a bike show.In plain view on the display card in front of said bike it describes it as a 1972 model.This among other things is why I found this book so disappointing,almost offensive.For such an exciting period in Harley Davidson's history,this book severely lacks in content,accuracy and presentation.A final thought.The author waxes warmly on his personal bike,a Shovelhead powered FXRS.He talks it up as such a smooth riding machine by HD standards(and they are).He says he'll always keep it.He then goes on to say that he regrets he may have to sell it to finance a new "dresser" for those long trips!What of the smoothness and rideability he just mentioned?From my personal experience,an FXR is every bit the equal of a full dressed HD and more so.The author falls between praising his bike then backhandedly slighting it causing one to not only wonder about his dedication to his bike but in the context of this book,the subject at hand,Shovelheads. To see something that I had consciously "studied" for so long misrepresented,while having been passionately involved with it pained me then(and still does now.)In advertisements for the book,it stated the author's involvement with Shovelheads goes back to 1969.If that's true,he should've payed more attention to what was going on.By the way,I hear the author now rides a Buell...