The motorcycle can lay claim as the most influential form of mobility becoming the embodiment of liberation and rebellion; never more so than in the 50s and 60s with the era of rockers, ton-up boys, the 59 Club and cafe racing. My Cool Motorcycle celebrates a love affair with motorcycles and the strong culture within the tight-knit community. Explore how the origins of the era of motorcycle subculture have lived on, through the fashions and spin-off cultures that this versatile machine has spawned. Looking back across a hundred years of the motorcycle, My Cool Motorcycle charts iconic makes and sought-after classics, along with a cross-section of passionate owners. Chapters include: It's a Keeper: Exploring the irreplaceable and sentimental bond that determines a motorcycle as being 'a keeper' whether its a cherished motorcycle being handed down generations, or a garage find sure to generate your own curiosity for local garages. The Wider Picture: Looking beyond stories of traditional ownership and exploring the motivations of individuals who take motorcycling one stage further. Diversity: Consider how some people choose to push aside conformity and extend the boundaries of their chosen path, adapting their persona and how they choose to live their life through fashion, hobbies, culture and, crucially, motorcycle ownership. Retrospective: The 1960s saw a dramatic shift in motorcycle ownership and the onset of the 1970s saw the biggest boom in motorcycle sales with everyone seemingly opting to take to the roads. This chapter is an opportunity to take a retrospective look at the exciting motorcycles indicative to this era of change.

Based on the civilian WL model, Harley-Davidson's WLA ("A" for "Army") motorcycle was first produced in 1940. It would remain in production through 1945, and eventually over 90,000 were delivered for use in all theaters of WWII. Like the WL, the WLA was equipped with a 45 cubic inch (740 cc) flathead high compression engine and a rugged frame. Military modifications included blackout lights, fenders without traditional sides (to reduce mud clogging), an air cleaner to facilitate off-road use and easy maintenance, and a crankcase breather that enabled the fording of water obstacles. The motorcycle typically was also equipped with leg protectors, a skid plate, leather rifle or machine gun scabbard, an ammunition box, radio or luggage rack, and a windscreen. This U.S. Army technical manual TM 9-879 was created in 1943 for the men who operated and serviced the WLA in the field. In its pages you will find a description of the motorcycle, and information regarding its use and care.Originally classified "restricted," this manual was declassified long ago and is reprinted here in its entirety. Legal disclaimer: The name "Harley-Davidson" is a trademark of H-D Michigan, LLC and the Harley Davidson Motor Co., which reserves all rights to it.

Get an inside look at the real beginning of outlaw biker culture with this "raucous and heartfelt recounting of the early days of biker clubs" (Roadbike").The story starts one weekend in 1947, at a motorcycle race in Hollister, California.A few members of one club, the no-holds-barred "Boozefighters," got a little juiced up and took their racing to the street.Word of the fracas spread, and soon enough Life" magazine was on hand to tell the world, with sensational (albeit posed) pictures of the outlaws. And then the "Hollister riot" made its way into the movies, immortalized in Marlon Brando's "The Wild One."What was the reality behind the myth?Through interviews with the surviving members of the Boozefighters, current member Bill Hayes and club historian Jim "JQ" Quattlebaum take readers right into the fray for a firsthand account of what happened in Hollister, and the formation ofthe Boozefighters, where the outlaw biker culture truly began.The book, "with its great stories and entertaining real-life characters" (MotorcycleUSA.com"), is "mandatory reading for anyone interested in American motorcycling history "(Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly").

GS850G (1979-1981), GS850GL (1979-1983), GS1000G (1980-1983), GS1000GL (1981), GS1100G (1982-1983), GS1100GL (1982-1983), GS1100GK (1982-1984)

This is a humorous investigation into the unlikely, yet very real connections between the likes of Marx and Foucault and one of the legendary symbols of outlaw individualism. Harley-Davidson Riders Club Great Britain is the oldest in the world, it was formed in 1948 and has a membership of 1,500 nationwide. In "Harley-Davidson and Philosophy" words like Sturgis, Hollister, and panhead share the page with philosophical giants such as Marx, Hobbes and Socrates. Fourteen philosopher/bikers set out their thoughts in a series of essays, combining humour and philosophical introspection. This book offers a celebrator appreciation of the aesthetics of Harleys, the Zen journey of the endless highway and the direct approach that bikers confront situations, with slogans such as F*** The World. Melding bikers recollections with philosophical speculation, this book is a perfect gift for the bike enthusiast, the philosophically inquisitive and anyone with a brain and a sense of humour.

Vespa and Lambretta remain the two most iconic motor scooter brands, even four decades after the latter's demise. But what made them such a European sensation in the postwar era? And why were they particularly popular in Britain in the 1950s and '60s? Motor scooter expert Stuart Owen explains the rise of Innocenti's Lambretta and Piaggio's Vespa, from the wartime ruins of Italy, through years of plenty as the two manufacturers exploited a ready market for affordable, economic transport, and then their decline into more uncertain times as motor cars trespassed on their success. He also explores the rich history of accessorising and customising the scooters, their essential role in the mod movement, and the revival in Vespa's fortunes following the release of the cult film Quadrophenia.

Complete coverage for your Honda VT1300 Series built from 2010-19. Routine maintenance and servicing Tune-up procedures Engine, clutch and transmission repair Cooling system Fuel and exhaust Ignition and electrical systems Brakes, wheels and tires Steering, suspension and final drive Frame and bodywork Wiring diagrams Reference Section With a Clymer manual, you can do it yourself...from simple maintenance to basic repairs. Clymer writes every book based on a complete teardown of the motorcycle. We learn the best ways to do a job and that makes it quicker, easier and cheaper for you. Our books have clear instructions and hundreds of photographs that show each step. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, you can save big with Clymer! Step-by-step procedures Easy-to-follow photos Complete troubleshooting section Valuable short cuts Model history and pre-ride checks in color Color spark plug diagnosis and wiring diagrams Tools and workshop tips section in color

Injury. Adrenaline. Addiction. These are the things that fuelled one man's race to international stardom as he pushed boundaries and took life on and off the bike to the limits. Starting out as a talented youth riding the desert tracks of California, his reckless nature and incredible talent earned him a position in the rarefied world of professional motorcycle racing. Despite the success in his professional life, his personal life was crumbling around him - John was battling with depression and temptation, which began to threaten his career, health and marriage, ultimately bringing him to a life of alcoholism, addiction and even smuggling. In his remarkable memoir, one of the world's most renowned riders takes us on a raw and unique journey to the extremes of fast living. John 'Hopper' Hopkins is an icon for motorsport fans worldwide. He won't let anything hold him back. He has broken almost every bone in his body (twice), suffered a bleed on the brain, and had a finger amputated... yet he continued to race. Finally, at the age of 35 - with his latest crash at Brands Hatch in 2017 putting him in rehab for two years - he decided to hang up his helmet. Leathered tells the incredible story of an unparalleled career. From bone-crunching injuries and alcohol-fuelled antics to the breakdown of his marriage, it unveils the true stories behind the lurid headlines.

There are lots of books about the Norton Commando; about its history, performance, lineage, and the minutiae of its specification. But none of them will tell you what to look for when buying one secondhand. That's what this book is about - it is a straightforward, practical guide to buying a used Commando. It doesn't list all the correct colour combinations for each year, or analyse 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 that do all of that - but it will help you avoid buying a dud. Point by point, it takes the reader through everything that needs looking at when buying a Commando, plus spares prices, which is the best model to buy for your needs, and a look at auctions, restorations and paperwork The last of the 'classic' Nortons, the Commando remains a collector's item, and many have been saved, restored and ridden - this book tells the reader how to be part of its ongoing story.

The two stroke Vespa is rightly regarded as an iconic scooter. Its initial purpose was to provide low cost transportation to the masses in the 1950s, but it evolved through the vibrant '60s to became a symbol of the burgeoning youth culture, and on into the '90s when it became firmly entrenched as an Italian icon. The history of this phenomenon has been well documented, as has the subculture that surrounds it, but there has been no previous attempt to provide a guide to buying one of these classic scooters. This book will help ensure that you avoid the main pitfalls and end up with your very own slice of La Dolce Vita on the driveway. This Essential Buyer's Guide is packed with good advice from running costs, paperwork, vital statistics, valuation and the Vespa community, right through to whether your scooter will fit in with your lifestyle. This is the complete guide to choosing, assessing and buying the Vespa of your dreams.

Having this book in your pocket is just like having a marque expert by your side. Benefit from Chris Rooke's years of experience with Triples, learn how to spot a bad bike quickly, and how to assess a promising one like a professional. Get the right bike at the right price! Packed with good advice - from the difference between models and which is the right one for you, through assessing the engine, paintwork, frame and what are original or aftermarket features - this is THE COMPLETE GUIDE - to choosing, assessing and buying the Trident or Rocket III of your dreams!

Honda's Valkyrie/F6C burst onto the motorcycle scene in the mid-1990s, completely changing the way Cruisers looked and performed. Honda's history with horizontally opposed engines in motorcycles dates back to the mid-1970s and the Valkyrie's fully chromed flat-six-cylinder engine continued this trend with a 'Hot-Rod' version. Its 'Classic American' styling and aggressive sounding clean-flow through exhaust system made the Valkyrie/F6C an instant hit with both motorcycle press and public. Offering three different models of the original GL1500 Valkyrie, Honda dominated the Cruiser market, winning numerous awards along the way. In this book, Peter Rakestrow looks at the development and detailed history of the GL1500 Valkyrie/F6C from 1991, including the NRX1800 Valkyrie Rune of 2004, a concept motorcycle that became reality, to the 2014 GL1800 Gold Wing Valkyrie/F6C. Covering detailed changes of year by model, including specification sheets, this is the first book to cover the full story of a motorcycle that has become a legend in its own lifetime.

The Vincent Black Shadow is a name that resounds whenever classic bikes are discussed. The Vincent company were already advertising their existing Rapide machine as 'The world's fastest production motorcycle' when, in February 1948, the Black Shadow was announced with a then unbelievable top speed of 125 mph on pool petrol. It's no wonder that the bike has been a constant source of fascination since that announcement. Few, however, have defined exactly what comprised a Black Shadow and how today you can spot a genuine one. The Vincent Black Shadow explains how the model was originally conceived in secrecy, its development and subsequent production, discussing in depth those features it shares in common with the other Vincent models and those that differentiate it. Charting the details of the changes introduced in its production life and the modifications in the interests of speed or improved road performance that may have been done to it by generations of owners over the sixty-odd years since production ceased, Tim Kingham offers a lavishly illustrated and essential read for any fan of this iconic bike.