A fifty year motorcycle racer shares insights into life and death from the seat of a racing motorcycle.

A lavishly illustrated and definitive look at the design evolution of the racing motorcycle. The dynamic between competition and design has always fueled the evolution of racing motorcycles and inspired astonishing feats of design and engineering. This book traces the development of the sport bike, from the earliest French motorcycles to the dominance of British machinery in the 1930s, the exotic Italian motorcycles of the 1950s and 1960s, the influence of American racing in the 1970s and 1980s, and today’s Japanese superbikes. More than fifty classic motorcycles—from Harley-Davidsons to Peugeots, Velocettes, Moto Guzzis, BMWs, Kawasakis, and Ducatis—are presented chronologically illustrated with stunning studio photographs that present the machines as works of art and wonders of design in themselves, accompanied by rare and beautiful archival images that place the subjects in the contexts of classic races, rallies, and motorcycle shows, and accompanied by essays revealing the legends behind the machines. Some of the championship motorcycles featured include the 1902 Manon, the 1922 Harley Davidson 8-valve, the 1935 Terrot 500, the 1948 AJS Porcupine, the 1954 Moto Guzzi V8, the 1965 Honda GP 250, The 1976 Suzuki RK67, the 1986 Cagiva GP, and the 1990 Ducati Supermono.

The Motorcycle Diaries Writing in your own words the information that you receive helps you assimilating and consolidating knowledge that otherwise you would forget soon.When do writing helps eliminate "it sounded good in your head" by forcing your hand; brains forgive fuzzy abstractions, prose does not. Interior 110+ pages Good Quality white paper. Perfect for Writing Inspiration Size 6 x 9 Premium matte finish cover Perfect for:Stocking Stuffers & Gift Baskets ,Birthday & Christmas Gifts,Graduation & End of School Year Gifts ,Summer Travel,Teacher Gifts,Art Classes,Doodle Diaries

BMW began its life in aero-engineering--as anyone who’s ever ridden one of its motorcycles might guess. These are bikes as close to airborne as any get. And what’s more, fifty percent of all the motorcycles BMW has manufactured are still flying down the world’s roads. These are the best, and in this book, the best of the best get their due, with brilliant, full-color photographs of BMW’s classic models and detailed descriptions of their features, all located within the context of a concise history of this legendary marque. From the first of BMW’s bikes, the R32, through the models that catapulted the company out of the ruins of World War II, to the latest bikes with the revamped opposed-twin-cylinder “boxer” engines that brought BMW its first fame--these are the bikes that made history, and, better yet, gave the most demanding riders a taste for flight.

A beautiful and comprehensive celebration of the art and design of classic motorcycles, from the early twentieth century through the 1950s. This is the most beautiful book of its kind: celebrating the art and design of the luxury motorcycle by presenting forty of the best-designed and most enduringly iconic motorcycles ever made, spanning half a century. The book showcases forty rare and exceptional motorcycles, from 1905 to 1956, presented in chronological order, illustrated with stunning studio photographs that present the machines as works of art and wonders of design in themselves. An international roster is featured: a 1905 Peugeot Factory Racer, a 1916 Indian Power Plus, a 1929 Majestic, a 1936 Excelsior Manxman, a 1951 Harley Davidson 750CC WR, a 1951 Vincent 1000CC Black Shadow, and a 1955 Triumph Tiger Cub, among others. Written by a motorcycle collector and expert, the book presents the history of the motorcycle through the most significant makes of all time. Each is accompanied by detailed images and texts covering the bike's background, legends behind the machines, feats of design and engineering, and tales of classic races, rallies, and motorcycle shows. The book is enhanced with reproductions of period ads and historic photos, evoking a sense of time and place.

Finally! The world's most incredible motorcycles are given the artful representation they deserve. The motorcycle should have disappeared with the advent of the inexpensive automobile, since Henry Ford's Model T usurped the motorcycle's position as a primary form of utilitarian transportation, but a funny thing happened on the way to extinction - the motorcycle not only survived but thrived. Enough people were enamored of the thrill and beauty of the two-wheeled mechanical beast to ensure it would continue to exist indefinitely. And exist they have! Many of the motorcycles manufactured over the past century truly fit the description of "classic," and many consider these machines works of art. Written by noted motorcycle author Patrick Hahn, Classic Motorcycles presents the history of motorcycling as told through the most significant, iconic, classic motorcycles of all time, with both period photography and modern portrait photography. All the best domestic and international makes are represented here, from BMWs, Indians, and Triumphs to Vincents, Ducatis, and Harley-Davidsons - the most classic models. You'll drool over the 1933 Matchless Silver Hawk. Each motorcycle was shot in a studio setting using photographer Tom Loeser's light-painting technique. Period ads and relevant historic photos and documents are spread throughout the book to supplement the portraits of the bikes, really evoking a sense of time and place. Prepare to be in awe of the undeniably classic motorcycles in this collection. It's the only motorcycle history you'll need.

This is the definitive story of Triumph, told through 130 years of its magnificent motorcycles. Created with support from Triumph and with a foreword from CEO Nick Bloor, The Art of the Motorcycle is a celebration of Triumph's most beautiful bikes, and an essential companion for any fan. With unprecedented access behind the scenes, the book tells the story of Triumph's motorcycles through the years, from the earliest models and much-loved classics to the most recent bikes. Features include: Entries on each of the greatest Triumph models Stunning photography throughout - including never-before-seen images Detailed technical information Early design sketches First-hand reports from the people who were there Other treasures from the Triumph archives With insightful, thoroughly-researched text, Triumph - The Art of the Motorcycle is the ultimate history of an enduring icon, told through its greatest machines.

The Art of BMW: 90 Years of Motorcycle Excellence presents stunning studio portraiture of the rolling sculpture that BMW has been creating for the past 90 years. Each bike portrait is accompanied by a concise, authoritative profile of the machine. All the classic bikes are here—pre-World War II BMWs like the R5 that defined performance in that era; the military R12 that carried the Wehrmacht as it blitzkrieged its way across Europe; the R75M that accompanied Rommel’s Panzers in North Africa; the Earles-forked R69S that offered the perfect platform for mounting a Steib sidecar; the R90S café racer; the K1 “flying brick”; and the GS (Gelände Sport) series that launched a dual-sport revolution. All the bike families are covered—the side-valve machines from the early years, the early overhead-valve performance bikes, the postwar Airheads and Oilheads, the four-cylinder and six-cylinder touring bikes, the early pushrod singles, the modern overhead-cam singles, the latest parallel twins, and inline-four cylinder sport bikes. From the first model, the R32 that launched BMW's motorcycle dynasty, to the latest (and fastest) model, the World Super Bike dominating S1000RR, this book captures nearly a century of motorcycling excellence.