Vintage motorcycle manuals offered on CD

A collector of vintage motorcycle manuals is offering his precious finds on CD for $9.99 plus shipping. It's an original idea and the YouTube video advertising the CD is enjoyable. A Royal Enfield motorcycle is one of the first images to come up.

The seller says the CD contains a full version of Mondern Motorcycle Mechanics, Third Edition, from 1948 and there is a U.S Army handbook on motorcycles circa 1953.

It's fun to watch as the video flips through pages. According to the seller the CD is searchable, so finding your favorite motorcycles should be easy.

I have no connection to the seller and, since I don't have the CD, I can't tell you if it really is as good a buy as it appears to be. But watching the video is free. Take a look. The seller's web site is http://www.frontier-trading.com/

Ever wonder how they think YOU look?

India Automotive reported that Harley-Davidson is considering opening motorcycle stores in India in 2009. The big, thirsty Harleys would be subject to high import duties and so would appeal only to "well heeled" customers, the story said.

It was the illustration that made me laugh. A chunky, bearded rider on a fat Harley-Davidson cruises with a passenger, a woman whose bra strap is not so artfully on display. This is the image Harley-Davidson has in India, apparently. Not surprising. Most Americans probably have the same mental picture when the brand is mentioned.

Riding my Royal Enfield Bullet in the United States I occasionally get a reaction that stereotypes India. Recently, in a parking lot, a big American admired my motorcycle and I explained it was built in India. He did a convincing imitation of a sing-song Indian accent in praise of my Bullet. He meant no disrespect: he had learned it from Indian co-workers who probably find him amusing.

Still, it's always a bit odd to see or hear how other people think of you. The big Harley-Davidson is the motorcycle of America and Americans have a weight problem. So I can't really complain about the picture.

Except for one thing: In India, Harley-Davidsons would be ridden by Indians. That gives you another picture entirely. No visible bra straps, at least.