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Books > Sport & Leisure > Transport: general interest > Road & motor vehicles: general interest > Motorcycles: general interest
Motorcycle riders from all walks of life-from Main Street to Wall
Street, Hollywood to Washington, D.C.-are invited to peel back
their "badass" masks and answer one simple question: What is the
meaning of life? Their answers expose the motorcycle community's
lesser-known philosophical and charitable nature and help to smash
the typical motorcycle-rider stereotype. Joining the "regular
folks" interviewed are celebrities, including Peter Fonda, Gen.
Tommy Franks, John Paul DeJoria, Jillian Michaels, Kyle Petty,
Carey Hart, and Norman Reedus, along with a former chair of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, a congressman, a senator, a former NASA
astronaut, governors, military generals, actors, rock n'roll and
country artists, corporate executives, and NFL, NBA, MLB sports
figures. Whether you drive on four wheels or straddle a "wild
thang" on two, these voices are sure to enlighten and entertain.
Despite being one of the most successful motorcycles of all time,
the Royal Enfield Bullet has had a very chequered history. Its
story begins in the 1930s and by the 1950s it was at the height of
its popularity in post-War Britain. Then it became a stalwart of
the Indian Army and manufacture transitioned from Britain to India.
The near-collapse of the Royal Enfield marque in the 1990s almost
meant the end of this classic motorbike, but with the involvement
of the Eicher Group from 2001 onwards, the updated Bullet generated
new interest and renewed its original commercial success, just like
a phoenix rising from the ashes. With over 200 photographs, this
book describes the origins of the Royal Enfield company and the
pre-war Bullets from 1932 and the relaunch of the Bullet in 1949
with its radical swinging-arm frame. Derivative models such as the
350 and 500, as well as those for competition and road are covered
as well as specials such as diesels, V-twins, Egli and big-bore
Bullets. The development story behind the lean-burn, electric-start
and 5-speed updates is discussed as well as the UCE - the all-new
Bullet from 2008 and the Classic and its design story. Finally, the
evolution beyond the Bullet is covered which includes the
Continental GT and Himalyan 650 twins.
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.
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