The Indian has been the iconic image for American big V-Twins down the years, due in no small measure to the motorcycles designed by Charles B Franklin - the Indian Scout and the Indian Chief. Charles Franklin was born and raised in Ireland where he quickly became involved in motorcycle racing during the pioneer years. He rapidly established himself as Ireland's first big star of racing and was the first to represent Ireland in international motorcycle competition. In the Isle of Man TT he consistently finished in the top eight, and in 1911 claimed second place, a remarkable achievement in itself. But it was when he moved to Indian in the USA, where he became the Chief Design Engineer, that his genius really flowed. His designs catapulted Indian back into the forefront of motorcycle design in the 1920s and '30s and his racing engines and motorcycles won much glory for Indian against stiff opposition. Franklin introduced remarkable improvements in sidevalve combustion chamber design that pre-dated the work of Ricardo. He championed an holistic approach that popularised new features such as the semi unit-construction `powerplant', helical-gear primary drive, double-loop full-cradle frames and a host of other improvements to the early motorcycles. This book not only chronicles his life but also sheds much new light on the history of Indian motorcycles and the often turbulent times of the Indian Motorcycle Company itself. A much needed book for all Indian fans and all who love the history of the classic American V-Twins.

Over 50 years of motorcycling-riding, chopping, and eventually owning motorcycle stores. Stu Segal and his friends started riding and building bikes in the '60s, before the big name builders-before the reality shows, build-offs and movie star wives. Stu rode to work, rode to play, toured the country on his bikes. Twenty-five years ago he began writing for Iron Biker News, later as a blogger, occasionally for himself. Rants, raves, and sometimes ramblings . . . about motorcyclists and their world, the world of bikes and bikers. Riding from the '60s non-stop to the new millennium, always taking notes; here are some of the articles Stu wrote along the way, along with contemporary articles examining motorcycling of the past as well as motorcycling in America today.