Choppers don't have to cost thirty thousand dollars. In fact, a chopper built at home can be had for as little as five thousand dollars. The key is the use of a donor bike for most of the components. How to Build a Cheap Chopper documents the construction of four inexpensive choppers with complete start-to-finish photo sequences. Least expensive is the metric chopper, based on a 1970s vintage Japanese four-cylinder engine and transmission installed in a hardtail frame. Don't look for billet accessories or a fancy candy paint job on this one. Next up, price wise, are two bikes built using Buell/Sportster drivetrains. The fact is, a complete used Buell or Sportster can be had for five thou or less. Now you've got more than an engine you have wheels and tires, brakes, hardware, lights, harness, and some sheet metal. Bolt all that stuff to a simple hardtail frame to create an almost-instant chopper. Most lavish, but still cheap by comparison with many of the bikes built today, is a big twin chopper built from carefully chosen aftermarket parts. A RevTech engine and five-speed tranny set in a Rolling Thunder frame. Accessorize from the swap meet and add a simple one-color paint job to create a bike no one needs to be ashamed of.

The Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Co. began producing motorcycles in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1901 and quickly became the world's largest manufacturer. While the Harley-Davidson WLA was the motorcycle of choice for the U.S. Army, during WWII Indian's Chief, Scout and Junior Scout models were drafted into service. This handbook for the Model 340 / 74 Military Chief was adopted by the Army in October, 1941. During WWII, Indian made over 33,000 motorcycles, but it emerged from the conflict in financial trouble. Production was seriously curtailed by 1949, and the company ceased operation in 1953. This original Indian maintenance handbook is an exact copy of the original 1940 edition. It's a wonderful asset for the collector, docent or fan.

This purpose of this report is to: * Analyze fatal two-vehicle motorcycle crashes for trends and crash characteristics using FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) data; and * Identify possible factors relating to the drivers/operators in these crashes.

First-hand accounts of riding & racing motorcycles in the 1950s. "Sometimes, on certain mornings in early fall, when there is a light fog and the air holds a hint of moisture, I can recall so clearly the sound of a single's exhaust." Thus begins this journey into memory, back to a time that has to be called the Golden Age of Motorcycles. British bikes--BSA, Triumph, AJS, Matchless, Norton, Velocette--had invaded roads and race tracks previously dominated by Harley-Davidson and Indian. In the open land surrounding cities bikers were blazing trails, making Hare and Hound courses. If there was a rule it was "run what ya brung," never mind about insurance, licenses, headlights, mufflers, crash helmets. There never was a time when so many were so free on two wheels.

Many books have been published about Italian motorcycles, but none has focused exclusively on the Italian motorcycle-based chopper, bobber, trike, and quad custom bike scene - until now. Even though customizing is not normally associated with Italian brands, there are some fantastic individually-built Italian custom bikes out there, old and new. In recognition of the trend Ducati entered into a new market segment when it launched its power cruiser Diavel in November 2010, while Moto Guzzi has its Aquila Nero range ... these and many other custom-style bikes have been well-received in the customs scene. This book looks at some of the fascinating custom projects out there, accompanied by stunning photography of the finished bikes. A great book for Italian bike fans, and fans of the custom bike scene in general.

150 pages, 82 black & white illustrations, size 5.5 x 8.5 inches. Originally published under the title The Book of the Ariel by W.C. Haycraft, this book is one of The Motorcyclist s Library series published in the USA by Floyd Clymer by arrangement with the original publishers Pitman Ltd. of London, England. It includes complete technical data, service and maintenance information and detailed instructions for the repair and overhaul of the major mechanical and electrical components for all 200, 250, 350 & 500cc OHV and 500 & 600 c.c. SV Ariel 4-stroke single cylinder models including the OG, OH, VA, VG, NG, VB, Colt LH, and Red Hunter NH, VH & VHA from 1939 through 1960. There is adequate detailed text and diagrams to assist in major refurbishing such as an engine rebuild or even a complete renovation. This publication has been Out-of-print and unavailable for many years and is becoming increasingly more difficult to find on the secondary market and we are pleased to be able to offer this reproduction as a service to all Ariel motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide.

The year was 1928 when two young Hungarians decided to travel around the world on a motorcycle. Like Robert Fulton, whose circumnavigation of the globe is chronicled in his 1937 book "One Man Caravan", Sulkowsky thought his was the first around-the-world journey on a motorcycle. Sulkowsky's account of his travels, originally published in Hungary in 1937, has now been translated into English and published with the original photographs. The trip, on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with sidecar, started in Paris, France. During the next eight years Sulkowsky and his friend Gyula Bartha travelled through Europe, Africa, the Mideast, India, Australia, south-east Asia, China, Japan, North and South America, and back to Europe. They earned enough money to keep travelling by selling photographs and accounts of their experiences and giving lectures in the many cities they visited along the way. Sulkowsky gives a very clear-eyed view of the world in the 1930s -- a world where the colonising influence of Europe had affected much of Africa and Asia. He describes in detail the overwhelming effect the British had on Indian culture and contrasts that with countries farther east where the trappings of European dominance barely reached beyond the major cities. Sulkowsky and Bartha experienced the riches of sultans, witnessed primitive cultures and extreme poverty in remote villages, travelled through wilderness with the ever-present danger of wild animals, and traversed roads of all descriptions. They dealt with mud, sand, extreme heat and cold, and rivers where the motorcycle had to be taken apart to cross in a small boat. This intelligent and engaging book offers a unique worldview between the World Wars, flavoured by a sampling of the great diversity of cultures and the wide variety of human life that exists on this planet.

Honda have manufactured and sold more motorcycles than any other company, with their bikes being the most popular amongst buyers, and many are now enjoying a renaissance as collectibles. This book is designed to help non-professional motorcycle collector decide whether or not to buy and restore Honda motorcycles from 1959 to 1985. For each of the models featured, there is a colour photo of the bike opposite a text description, including the difference and similarities between the model being discussed and similar ones.

136 pages, 39 black & white illustrations, size 5.5 x 8.5 inches. Originally published by Douglas Ltd UK, this book consists of two original factory maintenance manuals combined together in a single publication. The first 78-page section deals with the complete 1948-1951 range, including the Mark III, Mark IV, Mark V, 80 & 90 Plus models and the appropriate Sports, De Luxe & Competition derivatives. The second 56-page section is specific to the Dragonfly. As to be expected from a factory publication, it includes complete technical data, service and maintenance information and detailed instructions for the repair and overhaul of the major mechanical and electrical components. There is adequate detailed text and diagrams to assist in major refurbishing such as an engine rebuild or even a complete renovation. Obviously, the predominant focus of these manuals is the post-war models that were manufactured from 1948 until production ended in 1957 but much of the information will also be of interest to owners of the pre-war models. These factory manuals have been unavailable since Douglas was purchased by Westinghouse Brake & Signal in 1957 and they are becoming increasingly more difficult to find on the secondary market. We are pleased to be able to offer these reproductions as a service to all Douglas motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide.

"Help They're all out to get me " Is a book created to make the new, and even the not-so-new motorcyclist a better motorcyclist. Within these pages you will find tips and tricks that make surviving the everyday world for the everyday rider a much easier proposition. Inside you'll find everything you need to get yourself out on the road safely as well a confidently, with recommendations for just about every conceivable occurrence that can plague you, both on the open road, as well as right outside your door. This book will teach you, or refresh your memory on the little things one needs to know about motorcycling, as well as the large. Everything is covered here from putting down your kickstand to accident management in a group ride situation. "Help They're all out to get me The motorcyclists guide to surviving the everyday world." Is truly one specialized tool that should be in every rider's toolkit

80 pages, 33 black & white illustrations, size 5.5 x 8.5 inches. Originally published under the title The Book of the Ariel Leader and Arrow by W. C. Haycraft, this book is one of The Motorcyclist's Library series published in the USA by Floyd Clymer by arrangement with the original publishers Pitman Ltd. of London, England. It includes complete technical data, service and maintenance information and detailed instructions for the repair and overhaul of the major mechanical and electrical components for all 247cc parallel twin two-stroke models of the Ariel Leader and Ariel Arrow constructed from 1958 through 1966. There is adequate detailed text and diagrams to assist in major refurbishing such as an engine rebuild or even a complete renovation. This publication has been Out-of-print and unavailable for many years and is becoming increasingly more difficult to find on the secondary market and we are pleased to be able to offer this reproduction as a service to all Ariel Leader and Ariel Arrow enthusiasts worldwide.

10 pages, 51 black & white illustrations, size 5.5 x 8.5 inches. Originally published under the title The Book of the Honda 50 by John Thorpe, this book is one of The Motorcyclist's Library series published in the USA by Floyd Clymer by arrangement with the original publishers Pitman Ltd. of London, England. It includes complete technical data, service and maintenance information and detailed instructions for the repair and overhaul of the major mechanical and electrical components for the entire Honda 50cc series of mopeds and mini bikes constructed from 1958 through the 1970 models. There is adequate detailed text and diagrams to assist in major refurbishing such as an engine rebuild or even a complete renovation. Applicable to the C100, C102, C110, C114, C50, P50, PC50, PF50 OHV & PF50, and all 50cc Mini Trail and Monkey Bike variants. This publication has been Out-of-print and unavailable for many years and is becoming increasingly more difficult to find on the secondary market and we are pleased to be able to offer this reproduction as a service to all Honda enthusiasts worldwide.

132 pages, 71 black & white illustrations, size 5.5 x 8.5 inches. Originally published under the title The Book of the Triumph Twins by W.C. Haycraft, this book is one of The Motorcyclist's Library series published in the USA by Floyd Clymer by arrangement with the original publishers Pitman Ltd. of London, England. It includes complete technical data, service and maintenance information and detailed instructions for the repair and overhaul of the major mechanical and electrical components for all Triumph twins from 1956 through 1969 except the T100T & T120R models. There is adequate detailed text and diagrams to assist in major refurbishing such as an engine rebuild or even a complete renovation. Applicable to all 3TA, T90, 5T, 5TA, T100, T100A, T100S/S, 6T, TR5, TR6, TR6S/S, T110 & T120 350cc, 500cc & 650cc Triumph pre-unit & unit construction twins built from 1956 through 1969. Does NOT cover the T100T or T120R variants. This publication has been Out-of-print and unavailable for many years and is becoming increasingly more difficult to find on the secondary market and we are pleased to be able to offer this reproduction as a service to all Triumph motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide.

Packed with good advice on choosing the right Kawasaki, with a comprehensive inspection guide and in-depth analysis of strengths and weaknesses, this book covers desirable upgrades, modifications to avoid, valuation and predicting which models will become collectable (if they aren't already). Illustrated throughout with photos of key areas to check and foibles to be aware of, and featuring details ranging from the Kawasaki community, to whether a Kawasaki Z1 or Z900 will suit you and your lifestyle, this is the complete guide to choosing, assessing, and buying the Kawasaki of your dreams.

Safe Riding is the first fully comprehensive motorcycle safety manual. Not only does it tell you how to drive your cycle safely, but it also details many potential problems and pitfalls, and how to avoid common (and uncommon) hazards in the first place. In a highly informative yet readable style, Mitch Williamson describes: the safest way to learn and gain experience as a motorcyclist; how to judge if a motorcycle is safe for you; what clothes to wear for maximum protection; physical fitness (including a seven-point exam); the importance of weather conditions; passing, turning, and lane position; expressway and surface hazards; and much, much more. In addition, actual accident case histories are presented and analyzed for causes and preventive measures. Safe Riding is the one manual completely devoted to identifying the many different kinds of risks involved in riding a motorcycle and giving practical advice on how best to manage these risks for safe, enjoyable motorcycling at all times.

"TRAVELS WITH ERNEST" by Ryan Keith TRAVELS WITH ERNEST tells the story of a ride around the northern part of Ireland on a Vespa named Ernest. The author seeks to experience at first hand the changes in Ireland as the population adjusts to the tangible prospect of a lasting peace. He does this with a mix of serious deliberation, and a sense of fun - and a toolkit. It was clearly an historical moment in time: after the Peace Talks, there appeared at last to be a real chance of finding an alternative to the years of strife between republican Nationalists and loyalist Unionists. The author felt a need to meet the Ulstermen face-to-face, and to confront his own prejudices with an open mind. There is another attraction: his choice of route around Ireland's shoreline follows the sites of shipwrecks from the Spanish Armada which lie dotted along the Irish coast. He finds there is something magical in a sense of place, of being physically at the site of great events, a shadowy excitement which brings a greater understanding of history. On Ulster's empty roads, the ideal link between these stopovers is a venerable Vespa, little changed in design since the first Vespa appeared in 1946, and still going strong. In modern Ireland, pubs, restaurants, and visitor centres make travel comparatively easy, even for a wild-looking, portly figure on a motor scooter; and the people of Northern Ireland prove to be just as Irish as those found in the rest of the island. Most of those he meets are characters in their own right: they speak their minds, and they tell their stories with an honesty that is both engaging and admirable. But violence has still not disappeared from the landscape, and there are reminders of this in the news broadcasts which punctuate his travels. Above all, it is the Irish people on both sides of the border who captivate the author. Often it is Ernest, which brings about an opening to a conversation, and then there is no holding back. The people he meets in bars, B & Bs, and in the street or in the countryside, all have a story to tell, and the author is a more-than-willing listener. This is a personal view of a complex but essentially human dilemma, and it gives insight to a story that is largely misunderstood. If - as some say - the latest developments are not the final solution to the problems of Northern Ireland, they may at least prove to be the beginning of a solution. Ryan Keith

In this second part of his fifth volume on Harley-Davidsons motorcycles, Donny Petersen, who studied privately with Harley-Davidson engineers, shares practical knowledge and streetwise tips on the Shovelhead motorcycle. Donny presents what Harley-Davidson has to say through the myriad of service bulletins back in the day in everyday language. He also uses his extensive practical experience to constructively critique the official line, offers additional hard-earned information, and then shares what he does to his own bikes. He provides - solutions to fix the Shovelhead's teething problems; - Harley's responses to ongoing problematic aspects of vibration, as well as the aftermarket's cures; - tips on working with the Shovelhead's carburetors and five ignitions; starter and charging systems, electrical switches, circuit breakers, and relays; and - best practices for lubrication, as well as the progression of front forks and shocks, brakes, wheels, and tires. Written in straightforward language, this guide offers step-by-step instructions to help all levels of enthusiasts, from novices to expert mechanics. In his usual forthright manner, Donny makes technical issues understandable, interspersing explanations with entertaining stories about the lifestyle that comes with being a Harley rider.

Put one of the most knowledgeable motorcycle tour guides in Alaska in your pocket with this witty, fun book that brings to life the best roads and off-beat destinations in the state. This colourful guide lists all the road routes in Alaska with recommended dirt road excursions past mines, mountains and streams. The book includes ideal itineraries, the most interesting side roads, and great places to sleep, eat, and get off your bike to sightsee. Gear suggestions, motorcycle transport options, camping tips, and how to incorporate the Marine Highway System into your trip are also part of the package. The content focuses on the Alaska dirt and paved highways, but also includes the Canadian highways of interest as well as the Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Delta Junction, Alaska. Created by author Lee Klancher and long-time Alaskan motorcycle tour guide Phil Freeman, this obsessively-researched book combines unsurpassed detail on the best backroads in Alaska with first-hand recommendations for the best hotels, cabins, restaurants, and micro-breweries from a guide who has visited every corner of America's wildest state.

128 pages, 64 black & white illustrations, size 5.5 x 8.5 inches. Originally published under the title The Book of the BSA Bantam by W. C. Haycraft, this book is one of The Motorcyclist's Library series published in the USA by Floyd Clymer by arrangement with the original publishers Pitman Ltd. of London, England. It includes complete technical data, service and maintenance information and detailed instructions for the repair and overhaul of the major mechanical and electrical components for all models of the BSA Bantam constructed from 1948 onwards. There is adequate detailed text and diagrams to assist in major refurbishing such as an engine rebuild or even a complete renovation. Applicable to all 125cc and 175cc BSA Bantams including the following touring models: D1, D3, D5, D7, D7D/L, D10, D14, D14/4 & Bantam 175, it is also applicable to the same series of competition models. This publication has been Out-of-print and unavailable for many years and is becoming increasingly more difficult to find on the secondary market and we are pleased to be able to offer this reproduction as a service to all BSA enthusiasts worldwide.

Lois Pryce was working at the BBC in London, firmly set on the career track. But unbeknownst to her coworkers, Lois was leading a parallel life as well, that of a biker babe with an overwhelming case of wanderlust, one that couldn't be satisfied by a weekend holiday. Her days in a cubicle were numbered, and it wasn't long before she was back on her bike and looking for adventure.

Armed only with the Spanish words for "caution" and "cheese," Lois set off to conquer America---both Americas, actually. Starting in Alaska and working her way down the Pacific Coast, she rode through snow, desert, and everything in between to reach the southernmost tip of Argentina.

Lois tackled every type of fellow biker imaginable and endured everything the continents could throw at her with quick thinking and a vibrant sense of humor. Whether bribing her way through Central American borders, spending the night in a Mexican brothel, or crashing her bike in Patagonia, Lois's bright, funny travelogue will charm anyone who longs for adventure and a stretch of the open road.

154 pages, 76 black & white illustrations, size 5.5 x 8.5 inches. Originally published under the title The Book of Matchless by W.C. Haycraft, this book is one of The Motorcyclist's Library series published in the USA by Floyd Clymer by arrangement with the original publishers Pitman Ltd. of London, England. It includes complete technical data, service and maintenance information and detailed instructions for the repair and overhaul of the major mechanical and electrical components for all Matchless singles from 1945 through 1956. There is adequate detailed text and diagrams to assist in major refurbishing such as an engine rebuild or even a complete renovation. Applicable to all 350 & 500 cc single cylinder O.H.V. touring models including the G3L, G80, G3LS & G80S built from 1945 through 1956. This publication has been Out-of-print and unavailable for many years and is becoming increasingly more difficult to find on the secondary market and we are pleased to be able to offer this reproduction as a service to all Matchless motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide.

The Honda 250-305cc Scrambler was an iconic machine whose origins were relatively unknown. Silver provides the history of the bike and includes interviews with the riders who were part of the development of the history-making design.

Custom Bike Building Basics is the basic bible that at-home builders need to build and modify their own motorcycle. Brought to you by Chris Callen, Cycle Source Magazine, and Wolfgang Publications, this new book starts with a chapter on Setting up your Shop. The next chapter is just as important: working with, and welding, steel. Grass roots bikes are often built using a "donor bike" as the foundation and source for the majority of parts. Two chapters offer tips on choosing the best donor bike, and scrounging the swap meets for the things that didn't come along with that bike. Once you have most of the parts, you still need A Plan, with a plan and a donor bike, it's time to Build a Roller. This is a chance to see how things fit together in the real world, what might be needed for wheel spacers, and exactly how the fenders should mount. The final topics are two that most of us find very intimidating: Upholstery and Wiring. With one chapter on each Topic, the mystery and fear are eliminated. Simple leather work is not rocket science. And basic wiring, especially for a bike without turn signals, is likewise a pretty straightforward operation - especially with the help of a good how-to chapter on each topic. New from Wolfgang Publications and Cycle Source Magazine, Custom Bike Building Basics is the one book you need before you tear into that donor bike and begin the process of creating your own motorcycle.