Since his work first graced the pages of "Cycle World" magazine in 1977, Peter Egan has taken his readers on one unforgettable adventure after another. Whether riding along the Mississippi River to New Orleans for a tin of chicory coffee, or flying to Japan to test-ride new Yamahas, Egan's insight and gift with words makes every journey a unique and fascinating experience. Available in paperback for the first time, "Leanings "is a collection of Egan's favorite feature articles and columns from "Cycle World" magazine. Included among the 21 feature articles are Egan's first feature for the magazine, a story about he and his wife's cross-country trip on a British twin, his journey on abandoned Route 66, a history of the motorcycle jacket, and his visit to the fabled Tourist Trophy race on the Isle of Man. A selection of 27 columns are also reproduced here, covering a wide range of subjects, from the nearly lost art of the kick start, how to survive not being able to ride for an entire Wisconsin winter, and a look back at the motorcycle crash that nearly killed the great Bob Dylan. For added perspective, each feature article is preceded by commentary from the author. This is an unforgettable collection of the works of a master writer, whose simple adventures of life remind us all why we love to ride.

In 1957, The Motor Company, as they call Harley-Davidson in Milwaukee, was in trouble. The big twins were too big, the small two-stroke single was too small, and a surge of imports had taken the sporting market from the under-powered Model K.

It was time for something new and different.

It was time for the Sportster.

Never has a motorcycle been more aptly named. The Sportster kept the K's best features, borrowed the improvements of the imports, threw in some homemade hot rodding, and before you could say Superbike-a term invented to describe the XLCH-the Sportster was making history, setting sales and speed records, and introducing people to the sport of motorcycling and the mystique of Harley-Davidson.

The history is still going on.

This book tells how and why, in sequence, from the circumstances and models that preceded the XL through to the 1200 Evo, with its five speeds and belt drive. On the way, there are in-depth looks at the race-ready XLC that began the Superbike era (and took even the factory by surprise), at the radical Cafe Racer and super-sport Buell, and at the price-buster XLX that taught the imports the value of the dollar."

For the past fifty years and more, Harley-Davidson has been ruling some racing roosts. Its competition iron has always been significant, often supremely victorious and never without passion. To borrow a term from another scene, this is a book about "hog power."What were H-D's competition bikes? How did they fare? And who were the heroes who rode them?

Allan Girdler, noted wordsmith, historian and straight-talking H-D enthusiast, digs deep to bring fresh perspective, technical analysis, and rider anecdote to this substantial and fascinating story of America's most successful racing motorcycles.

His "review" starts in the early 1930s, after the board tracks, after the overpowering success of the Wrecking Crew and its eight-valve twins, after the ear-splitting Pea Shooters, at the beginning of a new era of American racing organized by a reorganized AMA. A time ripe for a new style of Harley racer based loosely on production designs.

Read of the XLR, CR, CRS, CRTT, KRTT, XR-750, XR1000, and many more. Learn about Len Andres, Bill Huber, Bart Markel, Jay Springsteen, Chris Carr, Scott Parker, Dick O'Brien, and other racing stars. This is an engaging, passionate story by acclaimed motorcycle and automobile writer, Allan Girdler. Allan is a former editor for "Car Life," "Cycle World," and "Road & Track" magazine. He has authored numerous books including "Harley-Davidson Sportster" and "Harley-Davidson XR-750."

Once upon a time, there was a guy named Max Balchowsky who decided he wanted to beat Ferrari and Jaguar at their own game-road racing. The trouble was, he didn't have the cash for a factory racer. So he built his own. Using a Ford homemade tube frame, a souped-up Buick V-8 and running on recapped whitewalls, Ol' Yaller whipped them all.

Welcome to "American Road Race Specials 1934-70." These were the glory days of road racing in the United States, from the first races between imported MGs to the world-winning Made-in-the-USA Scarabs and Chaparrals, and on toe the downfall of the Shadow.

This is the story of the men who built and ran their own homemade cars in pioneer SCCA and Cal Club races on town streets, airports and then the first purpose-built American racetracks. Here is Jim Hall, Lance Reventlow, Ken Miles, Carroll Shelby, Ak Miller, Balchowsky, Troutman and Barnes, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Roger Penske, George Follmer, and all the rest. . . .

And the cars: Ol' Yaller, Cunningham, Scarab, Chaparral, Kurtis, Devin, Zerex Special, Bocar, Caballo de Hierro, Pooper, Shadow, Ferraries with Chevy V-8s and every other possible chassis-engine combination a racer could think of. Some were crude, others deceptively homespun; most were half hot rod, half sports car-all of them were unique and built with passion.

Historian Allan Girdler's straight-talking technical writing and colorful storytelling brings to life the home-builts' history as no other could. Girdler is a former "Car Life" and "Cycle World" editor and is currently an editor-at-large for "Road & Track." His other books include "Harley-Davidson Racing 1934-1986" and "Harley-Davidson XR-750."

Harley-Davidson's XR-750 has ruled dirt-track racing for more than two decades. In fact, no other race car or motorcycle has won as many races over such a long time period. And the victories continue today.

This is the story of the legendary XR-750 from its development in 1970, when it was created to replace the aging KR. The first XRs used iron cylinder heads and barrels-and were painfully slow. By 1972, the motorcycles were redesigned with aluminum heads and barrels, and the XR-750 took home the trophies.

Found here is the development of the XR-750 with a technical analysis of the complete motorcycle, detailing specifications, modifications, innovations, and aftermarket components.

This is also the story of the men who designed, tuned and raced the XR-750. It was their engineering skill, iron-willed riding and tuning secrets that made the motorcycle a winner. The ranks include Jay Springsteen, Dick O'Brien, Bill Werner, Scott Parker, Cal Rayborn, Mert Lawwill, the Brelsford brothers, Gary Scott, Ricky Graham, and more.

The book is divided into three parts, the motorcycle's development, the season-by-season race championships, and how the pros make the bikes go-and go fast. More than 300 photos tell the inside story of the XR-750 on the dirt track, the XR-750 and XR-1000 on the street and XRTT on the road-race circuits.

Allan Girdler writes of the Harley-Davidson XR-750 with passion, enthusiasm and firsthand experience. He brings his straight-talking technical writing and colorful story-telling to the history of the XR-750. Girdler is a former "Cycle World" editor and author of many books including "Harley-Davidson Racing 1934-1986" and "Harley-Davidson Sportster. "