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.

This book is the fifth in the Mick Walker Racing Motorcycle series. It covers the Grand Prix Motorcycles from Japan.

"Describes the science concepts involved in several types of motorcycle racing"--

People have been enjoying and racing motorcycles since 1901, when the extreme vehicle first emerged on the scene. This age-appropriate book gives readers a comprehensive look at motorcycle racing, with a focus on today’s most popular events, such as Motocross and Supercross. “Fast Fact” fact boxes and sidebars teach readers about the sport’s most famous men and women, as the text includes tips on how readers can get involved themselves. The text concludes with a graphic organizer of the most common motorcycle racing flags.

This is the inside story of how motorcycle race team of the 'forties worked. How a division in the company's outlook drove it to bankruptcy. The story of how a member of the racing team saw it all. How he participated in racing, and devised a new machine, but was swept aside. How he emigrated, and tried to get a factory to embrace a new world view but was frustrated again. Lessons that Detroit might heed. How he moved into an academic program, and aided the US Air Force in its search for lower costs.

While the history of European ompetition motorcycles has been largely dominated by Italian, British, and German marques, other builders around the continent have also played significant roles from the turn of the century to present. Arranged by nation, this book examines more than two dozen important marques, including Bultaco, CZ, Elf, Husqvarna, KTM, Ossa, Peugeot, and many others. A wealth of rare photography, including a special color section, includes candid shots of the top personalities and the bikes both at rest and at speed.

As this book explains, the Japanese did not suddenly become proficient in the design and development of motorcycles when they first appeared in Europe at the end of the 1950s. Instead, the Japanese had been involved with motorcycles since the beginning of the 20th century. True, early Japanese motorcycles copied Western design - a trend that continued for several years after WWII. But soon they designed a succession of highly innovative machinery, not only to the Grand Prix world's benefit but to the paying 'over-the-counter' customer, too. Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha, plus Bridgestone and Tohatsu, have all built and sold racing motorcycles which the public could also buy and enjoy.

"Describes safety features and rules governing different types of motorcycle races, including Moto Grand Prix races, supermoto races, and enduro races"--Provided by publisher.