This is a history of motorcycling and a visual directory of major marques with detailed specifications, shown in over 1250 fantastic photographs. This is the ultimate book for all lovers and devotees of the motorcycle - its history, development and culture. It is a complete account of the motorcycle, including special features on sport and racing, touring, custom motorcycles, record breaking through the years, motorcycles at war, in the movies, at work, and much more. It is a comprehensive marque-by-marque guide with pictures of every motorcycle accompanied by detailed text. It includes a dedicated section celebrates the Harley-Davidson - looking at its history and evolution, with a directory illustrating every model ever produced. Hundreds of photographs, authoritative text and fascinating archive material reveal all there is to know, past and present, about the purest form of mechanical power. In this fully illustrated volume, the world of the motorcycle is covered from its iconic status down to mechanical nuts-and-bolts. The first of four sections, "The World of Motorcycling", charts the evolution of the motorcycle from 1885 to modern superbikes. The "A - Z of Motorcycles: is a marque-by-marque encyclopedia of models and manufacturers, both existing and defunct. The "World of Harley-Davidson" is a complete guide to this legendary machine. Harley-Davidson Models is a directory of every H-D model produced. This is an invaluable reference book for all enthusiasts, from novices and experienced riders to historians and collectors.

Pointless, risky, absurd. Yes, that is the beauty of it - absurdly determined to metamorphose themselves into a glossy photograph seen in a glossy magazine that caused a spark of desire within the tinder-dry kindling of their imagination. They were consumed with all that the photograph promised until that reality could be made theirs: to achieve all of the experience, the life's journey implied within it, to redefine their already long lives, to change themselves, to fast-track to the achievement of the decades of experience exemplified by those young adventurers in that glossy photograph in that glossy magazine. What an absurd notion. For no other reason, it had to be: three quickly became five guys on heritage motorcycles, hooking up with an ex-Special Forces operative and a combat zone photographer to make it seven for a safari across the top of Africa. From Spain to Tangier, they traversed the Riff, navigated the Atlas Mountains, circled Cirque du Jaffar, and rode through the Gorges du Ziz. Rough-riding across Morocco has never been so much fun. Wild camping on the way under star-spattered sky, across unforgiving terrain where luxury is a warm sleeping bag. In places where if you don't guard it you lose it, and where changing co-ordinates on a fast and furious basis makes good sense. Through oft sudden lows where the warmth of a Moroccan welcome exceeds the heat from black coffee, honeyed mint teas, or a meal from a hot tajine. Until dusty boots touch down on the sands of the Sahara at Erg Chebbi to witness a new dawn rise.

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.

ATTEMPTING 300KPH on an untested experimental motorcycle could be considered a perfect way to kill yourself, but Paul Carter is still, well, PAUL CARTER and danger at high speed is his second name. Whether discovering that being dyslexic means delivering your lines to camera back to front in the midst of filming a TV series, or starting a new business and travelling the world, or dealing with life's more sober moments like the birth of a son or the loss of a father, Paul Carter is still the funniest man in the bar and the nicest 'alpha male' you'll ever meet as he risks all for the sake of a cracking yarn. SO STRAP YOURSELF IN and HOLD ON TIGHT for his FOURTH BOOK - we just have to hope that he won't be institutionalised before completing his fifth!

Oi, mate, is that monstrosity diesel? From the author of the bestsellers Don't Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs, She Thinks I'm a Piano Player in a Whorehouse and This Is Not a Drill, this is the eagerly awaited next installment of Paul Carter's rollicking life. Take one mad adventurer and a motorbike that runs on bio fuel (cooking oil i.e. chip fat to you and me) and send them with one filmmaker on a road trip around Australia just to see what happens. What you get is a story full of outback characters, implausible (but true) situations, unlikely events and unfortunate breakdowns, all at a break neck pace. Never one to sit still for long, this is what Paul Carter did next. Whether you've been shocked, delighted, entertained, horrified - or all of the above - by Paul's stories whether from oil rigs or the road one thing is for sure, they are always high octane adventures.

Motor trikes have been around since the dawn of motoring, with many starting out as utility vehicles or prototypes of cars. But trikes haven't died out or become mere relics of motoring history - companies all over the world still produce them today, and many will convert a motorcycle into a trike. Trikes are not only huge fun, but can also be a lifestyle choice. They are as diverse as the people who ride them, and this book illustrates the vast range of machines available. The reader will discover a plethora of trike designs and layouts from the late 19th century to the present day. Some influential designs include Piaggio's three wheeled vehicles, the Morgan three wheeler, and the Harley-Davidson Servicar. This book also features the products of companies that convert motorcycles into trikes, and shows some mass-produced examples that you can buy today. Then there are the weird and wonderful machines built by individual enthusiasts - a testament to their engineering skills and true eccentricity...

Few activities offer more fun and excitement than motorcycling, but to get the most out of it, there's a lot you need to know. From buying and maintaining a bike, to riding safely, to finding great places to ride, "Motorcycling For Dummies" puts you on the road with savvy and style, whether you're male or female, new to riding or an experienced vet.

This fun, practical, and informative guide gets you geared up and ready to ride You'll get plenty of help in selecting the right bike and step-by-step instructions on performing routing maintenance tasks. You'll also find out how to develop safe riding habits and, maybe most important of all, fit in with the biker crowd. Plus, this indispensable resource shows you advanced riding techniques, offers travel tips for long-distance rides, and even helps you get your kids started in motorcycling. Discover how to: Buy a new or used bikeSelect safe, tough riding gear, from helmet and jacket to boots and pantsGet proper training and learn essential riding skillsInsure your bikePass even the toughest licensing testTry your hand at cruising, touring, sports biking, and moreGet involved in motorcycle clubs and eventsDeal with dangers on the roadCustomize your bike to improve both style and performance

Complete with lists of great biking events, organizations, people, and even movies, "Motorcycling For Dummies" gives a whole new meaning to the term "easy rider."

Building a custom motorcycle has never been more popular, with even the major manufacturers keen to capitalize on the growing trend. A custom motorbike is the product of an owner using their own skills to produce an individual machine, and with the right tools and approach it is well within most people's means to take a standard machine, new or second-hand, and make it their personal statement. Providing clear and practical advice, this new book, Customizing Your Motorcycle - Shed-Built to Show Bike introduces the reader to the techniques and processes needed to customize any motorcycle. Eschewing the practice of using expensive off-the-shelf parts, it shows how the shrewd use of salvaged and alternative sources is not only economic but also results in a satisfyingly unique custom machine. The book also covers an introduction to the main styles on which today's custom scene was founded. Choosing a suitable bike and how to make decisions when buying second-hand are covered. Workshop setup and tools and components of a bike and custom parts are also covered. Basic improvements and the essential maintenance to make a safe and usable bike are discussed. Projects demonstrate how to make custom parts, while examples of how different custom bikes were built by the author show how they are designed and put together.

He begins by describing how he started out in bike racing by going to race schools. Advice is given on how to get started in the sport before Carl explores all the key techniques which the novice rider will need in their repertoire.He goes on to talk about preparation for race riding, how you gear yourself physically through fitness, diet and teamwork for the demands of each race. Mental strength is just as important – how to block out danger, the different approach required for qualifying and racing, and how to treat the opposition.Then we take to the track, as Carl explores the essential components of competitive racing. With expert advice from Ducati’s top technicians, Carl stresses the importance of testing and set-up; race strategy is also covered – how and when should a rider overtake? There is Carl’s own insight into track management as he talks the reader round the Superbike circuits in Britain and the rest of the world. There is also a full review of other types of racing, such as Enduro and Motocross and a look at leisure road riding.The book combines personal experiences and anecdotes from Carl’s glittering career, with advice on how to improve their techniques.

Many books have been published about Japanese motorcycles, but none has focused exclusively on the Japanese motorcycle-based chopper, bobber, trike, and quad custom bike scene--until now.

This book looks at some of the fascinating custom projects out there, accompanied by stunning photography of the finished bikes. A great book for Japanese bike fans, and fans of the custom bike scene in general.

Presenting 17 international customisers and their interpretations of the BMW R nineT, Soul Fuel reveals a new approach to customising. A custom bike is, above all: unique. The subculture of the custom bike community and its trends are of major importance, not only for the motorcycle's hardware, but also for the software associated with the lifestyle. Customisers deliberately reject a digitised and perfected world with something handmade and raw - a kick start for the imagination of all free spirits. With the market launch of the BMW R nineT in 2013, the unique Soul Fuel project started in earnest. Over the course of the nascent cooperation, the first selected customizers received an R nineT, which they were able to remodel and modify pursuant to their own vision. To date, 17 customisers have created fascinating customisations of the R nineT through Soul Fuel. Five additional projects are to follow in 2018. Introducing the bikes completed to date, the book Soul Fuel is an homage to the "customising attitude" towards life. When we take a look into the workshops of the most innovative customisers, we can virtually smell and hear the welding equipment. We experience the creative process that emerges from custom bikes made on the basis of the R nineT, up close and personal - like when musicians cover their favourite song, and in doing so, place their own distinctive stamp upon it. With full passion and dedication, Blitz Motorcycles, 46 Works, El Solitario, and others create exceptional interpretations of an exceptional machine. As unique and customised as the machines it presents, Soul Fuel boasts incredible graphics, layout, and fascinating portraits of the customisers in one innovative, impressively- designed book. Text in English and German.

An angel spreads his wings. . . .

Sonny Barger is the number-one spokesman for the motorcycle experience. His New York Times bestseller, Hell's Angel, was an exhilarating history of his adventures with the world's most notorious motorcycle club. Now he brings us rousing, moving, and wildly entertaining true stories of his renegade brothers and sisters in the relentless pursuit of liberty, individuality, and the "ultimate ride."

And what stories he has to tell -- freewheeling, bare-knuckle tales of brawls and battles, brotherhood, breathtaking adventures, crazy quests, and the inevitable classic scrapes with "John Law." The most colorful legends and unforgettable characters of biker lore come alive in this book. In addition, celebrities like Steve McQueen, Johnny Paycheck, and David Crosby thunder through these pages in a sensational collection of rebel tales that runs the gamut from poignant and inspiring to thrilling and utterly outrageous.

Whether you ride, have never ridden, or dream of riding, Ridin' High, Livin' Free is a reading experience you won't soon forget -- a fascinating glimpse into a unique culture of freedom that recognizes only one commandment: the code of the road.

Suspension is probably the most misunderstood aspect of motorcycle performance. This book, by the world's most popular suspension specialist, makes the art and science of suspension tuning accessible to both professional and weekend mechanics alike. This step-by-step, fully illustrated guide shows how anyone can make their bike handle like a pros, and how any rider - street, dirt, or racetrack - can improve their performance.Paul Thede runs the highly successful and popular Race Tech Suspension Seminar, and brings all his knowledge to bear in this book. From clearly explaining the three forces of suspension to make an accurate assessment of the state of your suspension; thorough testing procedures that gauge how well you are improving the suspension and your riding ability; even the art of chassis geometry for riding perfectionists, this book employs step-by-step photographs that show the disassembling and reassembling projects for forks and shocks for optimum performance. The book even provides detailed troubleshooting guides for dirt, street, and supermoto - promising a solution to virtually any handling problem and increased performance.

There are many books about Triumph, but most of them concentrate on the glamorous twin-carburettor Bonneville and three-cylinder Trident. Alongside these headline grabbing bikes, Triumph built a whole series of single-carb machines that had all the style of their twin-carb cousins, but were not much slower, delivered better fuel consumption, and were easier to live with. Unlike the many books about Triumph's history, this one is a straightforward, practical guide to buying a Trophy or Tiger secondhand. In the Veloce Essential Buyer's Guide format, it delves into what these bikes are like to live with, and the values, advantages, and disadvantages of different models. Plus, of course, what to look for when buying one - including engine, transmission, frame, brakes, suspension, paint, chrome, and more.

BSA was once the world's most successful motorcycle company, manufacturing more machines than any other in the world by the mid-1950s. And yet, after winning the Queens Award to Industry for exports in 1967 and 1968, it collapsed into bankruptcy in 1973. This is an epic story of rise and fall, even by the precarious standards of the British motorcycle industry. With over 170 illustrations, this book recalls the founding of the company and its foray into bicycle and then motorcycle production. It describes the evolution of the various models of motorcycles including specification tables and discusses the diversification into cars, commercial vehicles and guns for Spitfires. It recounts the successes - two Maudes Trophies and numerous racing victories, and documents the fall from grace to bankruptcy and beyond.

'The Lawton siblings are as charming as ever, and Presley and Shot's opposites attract dynamic makes for a passionate, unyielding union' Publishers Weekly, starred review! From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes Jay Crownover's latest steamy and suspenseful romance. Return to Loveless in this passionate opposites-attract tale where cautious Presley and bad boy Shot have to find a middle ground, risking their hearts in the process... 'Crownover delivers the goods' Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author 'Crownover writes cowboys that make you want to pack your bags in search of a small-town ranch!' Melissa Foster, New York Times bestselling author An irresistible romance between a doctor who plays by the rules and the outlaw who breaks them in order to protect her! Dr Presley Baskin has always lived a quiet, calm life. Unfortunately, nothing about her life in Loveless, Texas - especially not the wild, rowdy, and impossibly close-knit Lawton family who've claimed her - is quiet or calm. When loner Presley then finds herself roped into patching up local bad boy Shot Caldwell against her better judgment, she wants nothing to do with the dangerous, brooding leader of the local outlaw motorcycle club. But when someone starts stalking her, Shot is the only person she trusts to help. Plus he owes her one... Palmer 'Shot' Caldwell has always known his life isn't built for relationships. At least until shy, secretive Presley reluctantly pulled a bullet out of him. He's oddly protective of the pretty doctor, so when she comes to him for help ... and hard-hearted Shot suddenly realizes there's nothing he wouldn't do to keep her safe. Readers are loving Jay Crownover! 'Crownover takes her contemporary western series to dizzying new heights. ... Crownover ends this series with guns blazing' Publishers Weekly 'I know I'm always going to get a fantastic read, with amazing characters, every emotion possible, and brilliant links to some of her other books' 5* reader review 'I always recommend any books written by Jay Crownover' 5* reader review Filled with heart, intrigue and cast of characters you'll fall for, don't miss out on the other titles in the Loveless, Texas series! Praise for Jay Crownover and the Loveless series: 'I'm in love with Loveless, TX!!' 5* reader review 'I always recommend any books written by Jay Crownover' 5* reader review 'I've never read a Jay Crownover book that I have not loved' 5* reader review 'Off the charts attraction, dramatic suspense, heartbreaking betrayal, deep emotion, and unforgettable romance will keep you turning the pages to the climactic end. Fans and new readers will devour this fantastic story. I couldn't put it down!' Jennifer Ryan, New York Times bestselling author 'Once again, Jay Crownover proves why her words are so addictive! Her characters bleed life so tangibly, you feel like you're drowning in the emotions: in the best way possible. Five big huge stars for Justified! Don't miss this page turner!' Harper Sloan, New York Times bestselling author

A motorcycle should be simple: one engine, two wheels. But, back in 2009, Fred Jourden and Hugo Jezegabel couldn't find any that fitted their specifications - so they decided to make their own. Leaving their 9-5 jobs, they set up Blitz Motorcycles in Paris, creating a garage where they would build only the most beautiful and unique motorcycles, all hand-designed, custom-built and tailored to the rider. This was the start of an adventure that would take them from strength to strength, and from garage to desert to mountain. Blitz Motorcycles: A Vision of Custom Motorcycles presents first the vision and then the motorcycles in one strikingly illustrated volume.