Donny Petersen

Donny's Unauthorized Technical Guide to Harley-davidson, 1936 to Present: Volume Iii: the Evolution: 1984 to 2000 Donny Petersen

Donny Petersen has been educating motorcycle enthusiasts about Harley-Davidson bikes for years. Now, he has combined all his knowledge into a twelve-volume series masterpiece and this third book is one that every rider will treasure. Petersen, who has studied privately with Harley-Davidson engineers and has spent thirty-six years working on motorcycles, is sharing all of his secrets! As the founder of Toronto's Heavy Duty Cycles in 1974, North America's premier motorcycle shop, the dean of motorcycle technology teaches about the theory, design, and mechanical aspects of Harleys. In this third volume, discover: 1. How to identify the Evolution models. 2. Why the Evolution models are better. 3. Everything you need to know about engines. 4. Troubleshooting every facet of the Evolution. And so much more! The Harley-Davidson Evolution The Japanese had more than quality. Their arsenal included acceleration and speed combining with good braking and handling. They could design, tool-up and build a new motorcycle in a mere eighteen months. The flavor of the day could easily be accomplished with this organizational skill and dexterity. On top of this they had lower prices. The Gang of 13 took over a failing company or did they? By 1982, Harley-Davidson sales went into a tailspin with plunging production. The USA was in a deep recession. Adding to the perfect storm was the flood of Asian imports that many believe were being sold in the U. S. below their manufactured costs. Whether this was true or not, how did a small country a half-world away manufacture a quality product that was faster, handled better, and was less expensive? Furthermore, these import motorcycles were more functional. Well, of course they did because USA motorcycle manufacturing offered old clunker styling that was slower, did not handle well, and broke down all the time! And for all of this, Harley-Davidson's cost more. Insulting if one thinks about it.