CL125A (1967-1969), CA/CB/CL 160 (All Years), CA/CD175 (1968-1970), CB/CL175 (1969-1973), CD175 (1967-1978 U.K.), SL175 (1970-1971 U.K.), CB200 (1974-1976), CB200 (1973-1978 U.K.), CL200 (1974)

Buying a classic bike is an expensive business and mistakes can prove costly financially and in time, effort and stress. Wouldn't it be great if you could take an expert with you? With the aid of this book's step-by-step guidance from a marque specialist, you can! BMW's GS series is one of the world's milestone motorcycles, in production for over 25 years. It pioneered the adventure sport, category big bikes that are capable of travelling off-road, in many ways, it's the Range Rover of motorcycling. And it's now more popular than ever, thanks in part to the massive publicity surrounding Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's round the world trip, on GS'. This book is a complete guide to buying one of these iconic bikes secondhand: what to look for (10min and 30min evaluations); spares prices; guides to auctions and paperwork; lists of useful contacts in the GS community; and just as important, consideration of whether it's the right bike for you.You'll discover all you need to know about the GS you want to buy...Working step-by-step through the bike's strengths and weaknesses. This books unique points system will help you to place the bikes value in relation to condition whilst extensive photographs illustrate the problems to look out for. This is an important investment - STOP! don't buy a BMW GS without this book's help. One hundred colour photos, useful appendices and expert advice mean this book could save you 1000's.

Many words have been written about the Honda FireBlade, about its history, performance, lineage and specification, but few tell you what to look for when buying one second-hand. That's what this book is about - it aims to be a straightforward, practical guide to buying a used Fireblade. It won't list all the correct colour combinations for each year, or analyse the bike's design philosophy, or consider its background as a standard-setting sports bike - 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 one of these Hondas, plus spares prices, which is the best model to buy for your needs, and a look at auctions, restorations and paperwork. A unique points scoring system allows a thorough assessment of the potential purchase and puts it the Firebalde into the correct price category for its condition.

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.

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").

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.

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

The Kawasaki Triples Bible covers the entire production of three cylinder two-strokes from 1968 to 1980, featuring a year-by-year breakdown of bike specs, including the KH250, 350 S2, KH400, H1 500 and H2 750 models.Illustrated with hundreds of archive photographs and period adverts, plus personal memories from some of the racers and tuners who got the best from the fearsome H1R 500 and H2R machines in Europe and the USA, as well as road riders who owned the triples back in the 70s. There are technical tips and advice from experienced Kawasaki triple enthusiasts and club members worldwide, plus information from some early dealers in the Kawasaki marque. The book also contains useful advice on spares availability, tuning, future market values etc. and tries to capture the essence of what made the Kawasaki triples the most rebellious, kick-ass two-strokes of their time.This unique book is an invaluable resource for any collector, restorer, or just a fan of these fabulous two-stroke motorcycles.

A Veloce Classic Reprint. Tales of Triumph Motorcycles and the Meriden Factory is a delightful and often humorous account of life with the Triumph motorcycle company in its heyday. Hughie Hancox started work with the Triumph Engineering Company (manufacturer of Triumph motorcycles) in 1954 and, apart from a short break for national service, stayed with the company until it closed in 1974. In his time with Triumph, Hughie worked in the Experimental, Service, Product Road Test, Toolroom, Final Production Assembly and Service Repair Shop departments before joining the staff in the Service Office. He also served as a Technical Writer/Advisor/Customer Relations "Trouble Shooter." Even his National Service was spent with the "White Helmets" motorcycle display team! Here, Hughie tells the story of his life in the famous Meriden factory and of his many adventures with Triumph motorcycles and Triumph people and, by doing so, records the fascinating inside story of one of Britain's greatest motorcycle marques.

This is the most beautiful book of its kind: celebrating the art and design of the luxury motorcycle by presenting forty of the best-designed and most enduringly iconic motorcycles ever made, spanning half a century. The book showcases forty rare and exceptional motorcycles, from 1905 to 1956, presented in chronological order, illustrated with stunning studio photographs that present the machines as works of art and wonders of design in themselves. An international roster is featured: a 1905 Peugeot Factory Racer, a 1916 Indian Power Plus, a 1929 Majestic, a 1936 Excelsior Manxman, a 1951 Harley Davidson 750CC WR, a 1951 Vincent 1000CC Black Shadow, and a 1955 Triumph Tiger Cub, among others. Written by a motorcycle collector and expert, the book presents the history of the motorcycle through the most significant makes of all time. Each is accompanied by detailed images and texts covering the bike s background, legends behind the machines, feats of design and engineering, and tales of classic races, rallies, and motorcycle shows. The book is enhanced with reproductions of period ads and historic photos, evoking a sense of time and place.

The book is the fruit of hands-on experience gained in the workshop as well as knowledge gleaned over years of consulting books, manufacturers' manuals and specialist magazines by one of the leading technical journalists in the sector, Massimo Clarke. It is intended as an easy-to-read guide with clear, precise contents regarding the restoration of classic bikes, with attention being focussed not on pre-war models but those from the Sixties and Seventies, those on which we still work most frequently today. All aspects of restoration are dealt with special reference to mechanical work on the engines and the chassis components, those which enthusiasts can do themselves in their own garages, using tools that are easy to find at reasonable costs. The book is enhanced by an in-depth examination of the reassembly of the crankcase and two chapters dedicated to the final drive and the spark plugs. A guide of fundamental importance for those who want to "get their hands dirty" around their classic bikes.

The story of the air-cooled 'big' Kawasaki bikes in definitive detail, researched and written in Japan with the full co-operation of the factory. This series of models put the company on the map during the sixties and seventies, helping it to survive a difficult era that saw hundreds of Japanese motorcycle makers reduced to just four. Successful immediately, these models defended Kawasaki's honour on the tracks as well as in the showrooms, handing the company numerous world championship titles. The series was recently revived as part of a retro boom, and a new machine has been launched, delivering the same thrill and charm as its predecessors.

Remember the smell of Castrol R at a 1960s scramble? Or riding a 1970s trials bike through every type of natural obstacle possible? If you want to revisit those memories, or relive the competition of earlier times, this book is for you. Buying, restoring, and riding classic off-road competition bikes is now something that you can do!This book gives enthusiasts of classic off-road competition motorcycles a step-by-step guide to a full restoration. Covering dismantling the motorcycle and its components, restoring and sourcing parts, paint spraying, decals and polishing. With chapters covering engine, frame, forks, fuel, exhaust, seat, brakes and tyres, you'll see how to take a bike from scratch to a full rebuild; then on to safe set-up and general maintenance. Includes chapters focussing specifically on pre-65 and twin shock models.

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.

In 1969 The Honda Motor Company launched a motorcycle that many consider to be the world's first super bike. The Honda CB750 had the first mass-produced 4 cylinder inline engine, a single overhead camshaft with 4 carburettors, a 4 into 4 exhaust system and came with electric start and front disc brakes as standard. This specification set the bar higher than had been seen before on a production motorcycle and lead to the other Japanese motorcycle manufacturers introducing their own 4 cylinder motorcycles, albeit some time later. Following the success for the original CB750, Honda went on to produce a range of motorcycles using SOHC 4 cylinder engines. All with their own characteristics, they proved to be reliable and smooth running and even today can offer real reliable transport on modern roads if restored correctly. Now with some examples over 40 years old many enthusiasts wish to restore these classic machines. This book has been written to guide the enthusiast through his or her restoration of these fine classic motorcycles.