An Illustrated History of American Custom Motorcycles
Worth buying if: You collect visual histories of motorcycles and design.
Skip it if: You need an exhaustive, academic history with extensive sourcing.
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9781855326149. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
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Summary
An Illustrated History of American Custom Motorcycles by Andrew Morland and Peter Henshaw presents a concise, 127-page visual survey of U.S. custom bikes, tracing key styles, builders, and iconic machines with photographs and explanatory captions.
Why this book now
This Osprey-published volume remains a focused reference for enthusiasts and designers interested in the roots of American custom motorcycle aesthetics.
30-second preview
Two quick cards, fifteen seconds each.
Card 1 of 2
Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You collect visual histories of motorcycles and design.
- You want a concise, photo-led primer on American custom bikes.
- When you want immersive details, the era comes alive through details and research.
Maybe skip if...
- You need an exhaustive, academic history with extensive sourcing.
- You expect long narrative biographies or novelistic storytelling.
- You only want something with very current references and examples.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9781855326149
Worth buying if: You collect visual histories of motorcycles and design.
Skip it if: You need an exhaustive, academic history with extensive sourcing.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Light Short sit-downs
At 127 pages, this is a short, image-heavy read suitable for one sitting or as a reference to revisit specific builders and styles.
What stands out here
This 1997 Osprey edition emphasizes photographs and captions—visual documentation is the book's central feature rather than lengthy text.
Best way to approach it
Browse by image and caption first to absorb styles and machines, then read the short explanatory sections for context and terminology.
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Exact edition: ISBN-13 9781855326149
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.