I can't think of anywhere I'd less like to be than in a car. When you're driving a car, you're not taking part, you're a spectator. You're in a can; if it's cold you turn up the heating, if you're hungry you have a wine gum. You might be looking at what's going on, but you're definitely not a part of it. A BIKER'S LIFE is the dramatic, humorous and candid memoir of one of the most recognisable names in motorcycling. Henry Cole's passion for motorbikes began when, at the age of eight, he was first introduced to a 'man cave'. His great-uncle Redbeard's corrugated iron shed was 'stuffed to the gills with old motorbikes' which Henry helped rebuild and ride. Since then, Henry's life can be charted through the bikes and journeys he has been on - from a stifling public-school education, via many years battling addiction, to the big-sky iconic routes Henry has ridden for over twenty series as presenter of numerous TV shows. This book reminds millions of motorcyclists why their bike gives them the freedom to be exactly who they want to be: to say 'Fuck you, fuck the world, I'm doing my thing.' When you ride a motorbike you become part of a worldwide community of kindred spirits - those of us who will not be pacified by driving a car, but instead live for adventure, escape and the sheer thrill of the throttle.

XJ600S Seca II (1992-1998 U.S.), XJ600S Seca II (1992-1996 Canada), XJ600S Diversion (1992-1998 U.K.), XJ600SC Seca II (1992-1998 California), XJ600S Seca II (1992-1996 Australia)

In the 1960s, Japanese motorcycle manufacturers were eating into the markets in Europe and the United States with genuinely new designs and modern technology. In 1968, Honda dropped its four-cylinder bombshell in the form of the CB750, complete with electric starter, five-speed gearbox and front disc brake. More than that, it offered speed, convenience, reliability and oiltightness, features that were normally mutually exclusive. The first 'superbike' had arrived. In this book, Rod Ker tells the story of the Honda CB750 and its development during the 1970s. The author also covers the Four's subsequent rebirth as a classic, its present iconic status and includes buying advice for the twenty-first century.

"There's something about motorcycles, and the lure of freedom and the open road that they promise. If you've ever wanted to take a motorcycling holiday, you've been before and are looking for new ideas for places to go, or you just want to do something completely different, then this book will inspire you. Featuring 38 spectacular routes from the snowy passes of Patagonia to Australia's Red Centre, Awesome Motorcycle Journeys of the World is the perfect inspiration for your next big motorcycling adventure. All the featured journeys can be taken as part of a 2-3 week vacation, or linked to form a longer trip. You can choose to take your own bike, hire one on arrival, or pick up a bike as part of an organized tour. Whether you are an experienced overlander looking for a quick adventure fix, or a novice rider seeking inspiration these journeys will open up a whole new world of motorcycling possibilities. Inside Awesome Motorcycle Journeys of the World The perfect book for anyone who has ever dreamt of taking off on a bike and exploring the globe. Presents 40 awe-inspiring routes taking in the best of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Americas. All the featured journeys can be taken as part of a 2-3 week vacation, or linked to form a longer trip. Options for taking your own bike into the country, renting a machine there, or booking a bike-inclusive tour. Includes stunning photography and route maps showing points of interest on the way. Each journey is accessible for everyone regardless of level of expertise on the bike. "

There are lots of books about the Triumph Bonneville, about its history, performance, lineage and the minutiae of its specification, but none of them tell you what to look for when buying one secondhand. That's what this book is about - it aims at being a straightforward, practical guide to buying a used Bonnie. It won't list all the correct color combinations for each year, or analyze the bike's design philosophy, or consider its background as part of a troubled industry - there are excellent books listed at the end of this one which do all of that. But hopefully it will help you avoid buying a dud. Point by point, it takes the reader through everything that needs looking at when buying a Bonnie, plus spares prices, which is the best model to buy for your needs, a look at auctions, restorations and paperwork. Over 29 years in production, the Bonneville is for some the definitive postwar British vertical twin, perhaps even the definitive British bike of all time, with all its strengths, weaknesses and character. Although there might seem to be a wide range of models and special editions, all are based around the same 649cc or 747cc vertical twin. There were plenty of changes over the years, but none of them changed the basic format of this classic British bike. Aside from all the history, the Bonneville remains a tremendous classic to own, so long as you're prepared to look after it. The last Bonnies truly deserve the term 'practical classic.' Whichever one you choose, it should be fast, agile and good looking, and on a twisty English B road, there's nothing like a Bonnie. One hundred color photos, useful appendices and expert advice mean this book could save you 1000's.

Classic superbikes are at the pinnacle of two-wheeled production engineering. Designed for adrenalin-inducing speed, breath-taking handling and head-turning good looks, these superb machines are the most glamorous and desirable bikes on the road. Classic Superbikes represents a fresh and informative approach to the subject. In handy pocket-sized form it chronicles 75 of the world's greatest machines, from the earliest superbikes such as the Honda CBX 1000 and Suzuki RG500, to the Yamaha YZF R-1 and Ducati 996 SPS. Each of the 75 bikes in the book is examined in great detail over four pages. Stunning cut-out photography from a variety of angles and detailed annotations describe the motorcycle's special features, while lively text explores the history of the bike and aspects of its design. For the real enthusiast there is a comprehensive specification box containing fact and figures, from engine size and tyre measurements to top speed, weight, power output and gearbox.

A completely revised version of one of the best-selling motorcycle riding skills books of all time. Today's super high-performance bikes are the most potent vehicles ever sold to the public and they demand advanced riding skills. Get it right, and a modern motorcycle will provide you with the thrill of a lifetime; get it wrong and you'll be carted off in a meat wagon. The line between ecstasy and agony is so thin that there is absolutely no margin for error. "Total Control" provides you with the information you need to stay on the healthy side of that line, providing a training course developed and perfected through decades of professional training in Lee Parks' Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic. This is the perfect book for riders who want to take their street riding skills to a higher level. Total Control explains the ins and outs of high-performance street riding. Lee Parks, one of the most accomplished riders, racers, authors and instructors in the world, helps riders master the awe-inspiring performance potential of modern motorcycles. This book gives riders everything they need to develop the techniques and survival skills necessary to become a proficient, accomplished, and safer street rider. High quality photos, detailed instructions, and professional diagrams highlight the intricacies and proper techniques of street riding and the knowledge gained will apply to all brands of bikes from Harley-Davidson and Suzuki to Ducati and Kawaski to Honda and BMW and more Readers will come away with a better understanding of everything from braking and cornering to proper throttle control, resulting in a more exhilarating yet safer ride.

CB450 (1965-1974), CL450 (1968-1974), CB500T (1975-1976)

DT1 Series, DT2 Series, DT3, DT250, DT360, DT400, MX250, MX360, RT1 Series, RT2 Series, RT3, YZ250, YZ350, YZ360

Clymer Honda CR250 1988-1991 - CR500R 1988-2001

The Veloce company is well regarded for producing some of the best single-cylinder motorcycles in race form and for private use. It is not so well-known that Veloce Ltd also produced some twin-cylinder machines: the Roarer, for racing, and the Model O for production. These bikes had many engineering features in common, such as twin contra-rotating crank shafts, inline cranks, shaft drive, and swing arm rear suspension. The supercharged Roarer was never raced because of the advent of war; this also put paid to the development of the Model O, which would have been the first so-called "Superbike." After the war, the Goodman family, owners of Veloce Ltd, focused on the production of a "Motorcycle for Everyman" - an idea that had featured in their production bikes since the formation of the company. They drew on the ideas embodied in the Roarer and the Model O to produce the twin cylinder LE range of motorcycles. These, however, were not well received by the motorcycling public, and many blame the production of the LE for the eventual demise of the company. The purpose of the book is to present, from an engineering perspective, an analysis of the Roarer and the Model O, comparing and contrasting the methods adopted by their designers to meet the different design specifications of these bikes, and to illustrate how the ideas developed in this exercise appeared in the LE range of motorcycles. The authors, Brian Agnew and Ivan Rhodes, met in the 1960s when Brian worked at Rolls-Royce Derby. They spent their weekends tinkering with motorcycles, and both have an intimate knowledge of the Velocette twins both from their time spent together and from their personal projects.

Honda have manufactured and sold more motorcycles than any other company, with their bikes being the most popular amongst buyers, and many are now enjoying a renaissance as collectibles. This book is designed to help non-professional motorcycle collector decide whether or not to buy and restore Honda motorcycles from 1959 to 1985. For each of the models featured, there is a colour photo of the bike opposite a text description, including the difference and similarities between the model being discussed and similar ones.

Custom Bike Building Basics is the basic bible that at-home builders need to build and modify their own motorcycle. Brought to you by Chris Callen, Cycle Source Magazine, and Wolfgang Publications, this new book starts with a chapter on Setting up your Shop. The next chapter is just as important: working with, and welding, steel. Grass roots bikes are often built using a "donor bike" as the foundation and source for the majority of parts. Two chapters offer tips on choosing the best donor bike, and scrounging the swap meets for the things that didn't come along with that bike. Once you have most of the parts, you still need A Plan, with a plan and a donor bike, it's time to Build a Roller. This is a chance to see how things fit together in the real world, what might be needed for wheel spacers, and exactly how the fenders should mount. The final topics are two that most of us find very intimidating: Upholstery and Wiring. With one chapter on each Topic, the mystery and fear are eliminated. Simple leather work is not rocket science. And basic wiring, especially for a bike without turn signals, is likewise a pretty straightforward operation - especially with the help of a good how-to chapter on each topic. New from Wolfgang Publications and Cycle Source Magazine, Custom Bike Building Basics is the one book you need before you tear into that donor bike and begin the process of creating your own motorcycle.

Simon rode a motorcycle around the world in the seventies, when such a thing was unheard of. In four years he covered 78,000 miles through 45 countries, living with peasants and presidents, in prisons and palaces, through wars and revolutions. What distinguishes this book is that Simon was already an accomplished writer. In 25 years this book has changed many lives, and inspired many to travel, including Ewan McGregor.

The first and only monograph entirely devoted to the Lambretta LUI scooter, produced by Innocenti in their tens of thousands, designed by that master of body styling, Nuccio Bertone, creator of outstanding cars like the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint and the Lamborghini Miura. The Lambretta LUI was innovative - perhaps too much so - and that was possibly the reason it was not understood, and it was unable to cut for itself as big a slice of the youth market as it should have done. Innocenti believed in the LUI with all its conviction, having invested considerably in advertising it in all available media: television, cinema, newspapers and magazines. A mighty effort that did not bring in the hoped-for results But today, the LUI has been recognised, quite rightly, as one of the shining examples of Italian design as applied to a scooter. Published as the first in a series of books spotlighting the most important and significant Lambrettas, this treatise unveils all the technical and stylistic secrets of the LUI model by model, illustrated by invaluable archive material never before published, and is written by Vittorio Tessera, a major world historian on the popular two-wheeler in all its variations. This first monograph in the series will be followed by others on the Lambretta world, including the LiTV 1, LiTV 2, LiTV 3, S/SX, DL and Junior series. TEXT IN ENGLISH & ITALIAN

Piaggio and Vespa scooters: cheap to buy, fun to ride, and easy to maintain. But there's more to the vehicle purchase process than meets the eye, so what should stop you buying the first bike you see? In this book, each and every step of the assessment and purchase process is explained with easy to understand steps.From identifying which of the many Piaggio scooters is right for you and your needs, through to viewing a bike, and giving it a serious evaluation, this book explains where due care is needed and particular pitfalls to look out for.The expert insights in this Essential Buyer's Guide will see you right when it comes to finding your perfect two-wheeled match, calling upon the input and experience of years of Piaggio ownership, restoration, and riding. Finding the best deal for your money is made simple with this pocket-sized companion that addresses all issues that potential buyers of Piaggio scooters will face when it comes to finding the right bike.