Discover the gripping, action-packed history of the motorcycle, from the earliest petrol-powered two-wheelers to the blistering superbikes of today.

Tracing the history and allure of the motorcycle, this book illustrates the diverse spectrum of bikes from the earliest prototypes to battery-powered machines of the modern age. It showcases motorcycles in all their forms, from humble scooters that offer mobility to the masses, the scrabblers and racers that delight enthusiasts, to the iconic choppers and cruisers that can cross continents.

The Motorbike Book tells the fascinating stories behind the world's leading manufacturers, the roles played by their influential designers and engineers, and their milestone models. It not only charts the technological developments of motorcycles, but also the cultural backdrop against which the various models arose and their impact on society - as objects of curiosity, affordable means of transport, symbols of rebellion, or the first choice for full-throttle action on the road, trail, or track.

Fully updated to include the latest models from around the world and cutting-edge innovations, this new edition features over 1,000 must-see machines, with models from ACE to Zündapp. It is the ideal read for motorcycle and motorsport enthusiasts, whether they're a biker themselves or an armchair devotee.

A technical specification is given for each model and contains identification details, a lay-out with data for painting the different body components, one for the finish of the metallic parts and a section devoted to data for the maintenance of the engine and transmission. Illustrated with numerous pictures and technical drawings, the book is an indispensable instrument for all Lambretta enthusiasts. The guide has been expanded with a section reporting all the colours available for the Lambretta and with the homologations 'fiches' of the scooter.

The building of a vintage Indian Chief motorcycle is more than the restoration of a bike-it's the resurrection of a dream. Rebuilding the Indian chronicles one man's journey through the fearful expanse of midlife in a quest for peace, parts, and a happy second fatherhood. Fred Haefele was a writer who couldn't get his book published, an arborist whose precarious livelihood might just kill him, and an expectant father for the first time in over twenty years. He was in a rut, until he purchased a box of parts not so euphemistically referred to as a "basket case" and tackled the restoration of an Indian Chief motorcycle. With limited mechanical skills, one foot in the money pit, and a colorful cast of local experts, Haefele takes us down the rocky road of restoration to the headlong, heart-thrilling rush of open highway on his gleaming midnight-blue Millennium Flyer.

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

Today, we are familiar with the motorcycle in many forms; it ranges from the low-powered pizza delivery moped, to scooters, small commuter bikes, powerful sports machines and tourers, all the way to MotoGP racers. In the modern era, mass-produced motorcycles tend to be Japanese, with the 'big four' manufacturers - Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki - dominating the market. However, it wasn't always so. Until the 1950s, and even into the 1960s, British makers and designers ruled the roost, with names such as Scott, Rudge, BSA, Norton, Vincent and the mighty Triumph leading the way. In this book, enthusiast Colin Jackson tells the story of these incredible machines and the men who rode them, charting the 'golden age' of British motorcycles from its earliest beginnings as little more than a bicycle with a tiny engine, to the fast, powerful machines we recognise today.

After a botched spinal operation left her partially paralysed aged forty-five, Bizzie Frost found herself unable to enjoy the active and invigorating lifestyle she loved in Saudi Arabia. That was until six years later when her husband proposed they buy a Harley-Davidson. An invitation to join friends on a 2,500km ride to Oman was irresistible and they bought their Road King - Maridadi. Travels with Maridadi is an epic account of adventures on a Harley-Davidson in Saudi Arabia, a country rarely visited by outsiders during the thirty years that Bizzie called it home. Riding pillion with her airline captain husband, Frosty, she travelled thousands of kilometres across the deserts and mountains of the Kingdom, as well as other Middle Eastern countries. Her stories and photographs breathe life into the scenery, people and culture of the Kingdom, and convey the freedom and healing power of motorcycling on the open road.