Book Reviews
wBW Motorcycle Book Review Ratings
You asked for it! Here’s a listing of the books we’ve reviewed on webBikeWorld, sorted by our “Flaming Helmet Rating System”, and also sorted alphabetically within each rating group. The wBW Flaming Helmet Rating System: 4 = Fantastic book, a must have; 3 = Really good, should have; 2 = Would be nice to have, but don’t sweat …
Haynes Ducati Service – Repair Manual – wBW Book Review
Haynes Ducati Service – Repair Manual 600, 750 and 900 2-Valve V-Twins Service and Repair Manual, 1991 to 1996 Models by Penny Cox, Matthew Coombs, Haynes Manuals Hardcover: 250 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.69 x 11.06 x 8.42 Publisher: Haynes Pub Group; (January 2000) ISBN: 1859602908 More: wBW Ducati Page | Motorcycle Repair and Maintenance Article Index …
Ducati: The Official Racing History – wBW Book Review
Ducati: The Official Racing History by: Marco Mesetti, Eugenio Martera, Marco Montemaggi, Patrizia Pietrogrande Hardcover: 287 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.22 x 11.44 x 9.89 Publisher: Virgin Publishing; (March 2000) ISBN: 1852278935 More: wBW Ducati Page | Motorcycle Racing | Vintage, Classic, Antique Motorcycles Page For new generations of Ducatisti to understand the legacy of this legendary motorcycle …
Ducati Desmoquattro Performance Handbook – wBW Book Review
Ducati Desmoquattro Performance Handbook by: Ian Falloon Paperback: 160 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.38 x 10.66 x 8.32 Publisher: Motorbooks International; (April 2003) ISBN: 0760312362 More: wBW Ducati Page | Motorcycle Repair and Maintenance Article Index Recently Released: Tuning tips for Ducati’s Desmoquattro superbikes. Includes charts with specific suggestions by model and a section that helps determine how …
Moto Guzzi: The Racing Story – wBW Book Review
Moto Guzzi: The Racing Story by: Mick Walker Hardcover: 192 pages Dimensions (in mm): 16 x 253 x 197 Publisher: Crowood Press (2005) ISBN: 1861267355 List Price: $34.95 (£19.95) wBW Moto Guzzi Book Reviews: Moto Guzzi – The Complete History from 1921 | Moto Guzzi: The Racing Story | Moto Guzzi Story | Moto Guzzi Twins Restoration | Moto Guzzi V-Twins: …
Moto Guzzi: The Complete History from 1921 – wBW Book Review
Moto Guzzi: The Complete History from 1921 by: Mario Colombo Hardcover: 487 pages Publisher: Giorgio Nada Editore, Vimodrone, Italy Fourth Edition (February, 2008) ISBN-10: 8879113933 ISBN-13: 978-8879113939 Dimensions: 10.4 x 9.9 x 1.4 inches Dimensions (in cm): 26.5 x 25 x 3.5 thick List Price: $79.95 Available from Alibris at ~25% discount. wBW Moto Guzzi Book Reviews: Moto Guzzi …
Bikers’ Britain
Bikers’ Britain By: Simon Weir Spiral bound 208 pages 215mm x 150mm Published: 2013 by AA Publishing ISBN: 9780749573966 RRP: £12.99 The Automobile Association has been providing assistance and advice to British motorists since 1905 and is a trusted name in driving circles. RiDE, meanwhile, is a magazine held in high esteem among bikers. I …
Zero to Sixty: A Dakar Adventure
Zero to Sixty: A Dakar Adventure By: David Mills Paperback or eBook, 183 pages Publisher (Self Published): Trailblazer Guides February 2014 Dimensions (inches): 6 x 9 inches ISBN: 9781483408446 Cost: $14.99+$3.99 S/H paper; $8.99 eBook I was aware of the Dakar Rally, or what was originally known as the “Paris to Dakar” Rally, but I really …
There & Back Again To See How Far It Is
There & Back Again To See How Far It Is By: Tim Watson Hardcover: 264 pages Publisher: Haynes Publishing UK November 2011 ISBN: 978-1844259571 Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches Cost: $29.95 list/$21.07 street I just finished a really great book. Don’t let the title, which is rather oddly worded, put you off. “There & Back Again To …
Essential Buyer’s Guide Kawasaki Z1 & Z900
The Essential Buyer’s Guide by: Dave Orritt Paperback ISBN: 978-1-845845-23-0 Publisher: Veloce Publishing Publication Date: February 2013 60 pages. 195 mm x 139 mm x 4 mm List Price: $19.95/£9.99 Here’s another in the “Essential Buyer’s Guide” series from Veloce Publishing, which includes nearly 100 vehicles, from the Volkswagen Beetle and BSA Bantam to this …
Triumph Production Testers’ Tales – wBW Book Review
Triumph Production Testers’ Tales From the Meriden Factory by: Hughie Hancox Softcover ISBN: 978-1-845844-41-7 Publisher: Veloce Books Publication Date: November 2012 160 Pages. 183 Color & B/W Photos. 21×25 cm List Price: $39.95 USD; £19.99 webBikeWorld.com Book Review by “Burn” Hughie Hancox was well-known in the vintage Triumph community as an expert restorer and successful author. …
Triumph Production Testers’ Tales
Triumph Production Testers’ Tales Softcover ISBN: 978-1-845844-41-7 Publisher: Veloce Books Publication Date: November 2012 160 Pages. 183 Color & B/W Photos. 21×25 cm List Price: $39.95 USD; £19.99 webBikeWorld.com Book Review by “Burn” Hughie Hancox was well-known in the vintage Triumph community as an expert restorer and successful author. He started his career at the Triumph factory …
Italian Custom Motorcycles – wBW Book Review
Italian Custom Motorcycles By: Uli Cloesen Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-845843-94-6 Publisher: Veloce Publishing Publication Date: March 2013 128 Pages. 260 Photos. 250 mm x 250 mm List Price: $39.95; £25.00 Italian customs I can understand. After all, Ducati owners have been doing it all along; Ducatis are basically made for customizing. But Italian choppers? I hadn’t …
BMW Café Racers – wBW Book Review
BMW Café Racers By: Uli Cloesen Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-845845-29-2 Publisher: Veloce Publishing Publication Date: February 2013 128 Pages. 205 Photos. 250 mm x 250 mm List Price: $39.95; £25.00 BMW Café Racers continues what is now a four-part series of “square” (25 cm x 25 cm) books authored by Uli Cloesen for Veloce Publishing. The first …
Rolling Through the Isles
Rolling Through the Isles By: Ted Simon ISBN: 1408702193 ISBN: 13 9781408702192 Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.2 x 9.5 inches Publisher: Little, Brown (June 7, 2012) In 1973,Ted Simon and his Triumph Tiger set off around the world on what was to be both a physical and spiritual voyage of discovery. His adventures are chronicled in Jupiter’s …
Bonjour! Is This Italy
Bonjour! Is This Italy? By: Kevin Turner Softcover ISBN: 978-1-845843-99-1 Publisher: Veloce Publishing Publication Date: May 2012 144 Pages. Color Photos. 21×15 cm List Price: $24.95 or £12.99 Finally available in the U.S. (released today, June 29, 2012) is one of the funniest books I’ve read in a long time. Bonjour! Is This Italy? by Kevin …
Grace and Grit – wBW Book Review
Grace and Grit by: William M. Murphy Softcover ISBN: 978-1-933926-40-7 Publisher: Arbutus Press Publication Date: April 2012 180 Pages. B&W Photos. 6″x9″ List Price: $18.95 webBikeWorld.com Book Review by Rick K. It’s simply part of human nature to think of ourselves as more innovative and inventive than any of the previous generations. This is especially true …
The Motorcycle Touring Bible
The Motorcycle Touring Bible By: Fred Rau ISBN: 978 0760 337417 Dimensions (inches): 7.8 x 9.0 Publisher: Motorbooks (2010) 224 pages, Color Photos and Illustrations Cost: $29.99 (USD) $32.99 CAD £17.99 GBP Review Date: January 2012 Good basic background on the basics of motorcycling but not really focused specifically on touring, which is both a plus and …
Ducati Monster Bible
Ducati Monster Bible wBW Book Review The Ducati Monster Bible by: Ian Falloon Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-845843-21-2 Publisher: Veloce Publishing, Ltd. Publication Date: July 2011 160 Pages. 25.5 x 21.5 x 2 cm List Price: $59.95 USD; £30 GBP The Ducati Monster first seeped into my consciousness back around 2001 or so. It was during a visit …
Motorcycle Rider Training
21 Ideas to Save Lives From Motorcycle Rider Training Experts July 13, 2011 (Columbia, Maryland) — A panel of motorcycle rider training experts have contributed their expertise to in an effort to make U.S. motorcycle training more effective and more successful at reducing injuries and death. The report they have authored, entitled The State and Future …
Triumph Bonneville: Portrait of a Legend
Triumph Bonneville Portrait of a Legend by: James Mann and Mick Duckworth Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-85733-017-8 Publisher: Haynes Publishing Publication Date: May 2011 256 Pages. 300 Color Photos. 7″x9″ List Price: $49.95 USD; $55.00 CAD; £30.00 The Triumph Bonneville is one of the most enduring, classic and iconic designs in all of motorcycling. The Bonneville name …
BMW Custom Motorcycles
Choppers, Cruisers, Bobbers, Trikes & Quads By: Uli Cloesen Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-845843-25-0 Publisher: Veloce Publishing Publication Date: April 2011 128 Pages. 270 Photos. 250 mm x 250 mm List Price: $39.95; £19.99 BMW isn’t the first brand that comes to mind when I think about custom motorcycles. Nor the second… Sure, there are plenty of …
Essential Buyer’s Guide Harley-Davidson Big Twins
The Essential Buyer’s Guide Harley-Davidson Big Twins FL, FX/Softail and Dyna Series. 1340cc, 1450cc, 1584cc 1984-2010 by: Peter Henshaw Paperback ISBN: 978-1-845843-03-8 Publisher: Veloce Publishing Publication Date: May 2011 64 pages. 195 mm x 139 mm x 4 mm List Price: $19.95 The Essential Buyer’s Guide series from Veloce Publishing now covers about 53 vehicles, …
Kawasaki Triples Bible
Kawasaki Triples Bible All Road Models 1968-1980 Plus H1R and H2R by: Alastair Walker Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-845840-75-4 Publisher: Veloce Publishing Ltd., England Publication Date: November 2010 in U.S. and UK 160 pages. Size: 250×207 mm List Price: £30.00 UK; $59.95 in the U.S. It’s here! The Kawasaki Triples Bible has been a much-anticipated book for …
Tortillas to Totems
Tortillas to Totems: Sidetracked by the Unexpected By: Sam Manicom Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9556573-3-7 Publisher: Adventure Motorcycle Travel Books Publication Date: 2010 320 pages.21 x 14 x 2.4 cm List Price: $21.99 Tortillas to Totems is the fourth book of what I hope will be a continuing series by Sam Manicom. The other books in the …
Building the Ultimate Adventure Motorcycle
Building the Ultimate Adventure Motorcycle The Essential Guide to Preparing a Bike for the Journey of a Lifetime Author: Robert Wicks Format: Hardcover, 176 Pages ISBN: 9781844258369 Publisher: Haynes Publishing Illustrations: 300 color Size: 8.25 x 10.5 x .4 First Published: July 2010 (UK) List Price: $34.95 This is the third book in a Haynes …
365 Motorcycles You Must Ride
365 Motorcycles You Must Ride wBW Book Review 365 Motorcycles You Must Ride Author: Dain Gingerelli, J. Michaels C. Everitt Published: January 2011, 325 pages Motorbooks International ISBN: 978-0-7603-3474-4 I’ll have to admit to a few false starts with “365 Motorcycles You Must Ride”. I didn’t quite know what to make of a book that is …
India: The Shimmering Dream
India: The Shimmering Dream By:Max Reisch Translated by Alison Falls ISBN: 978-0-9556595-9-1 Panther Publishing, Ltd. 2010 216 pages List Price: $17.95 Our friends at Panther Publishing have done it again! They have resurrected another gem, entitled India: The Shimmering Dream by Max Reisch. The book is subtitled “The first overland journey to India by motorcycle in 1933” …
The Upper Half of the Motorcycle
The Upper Half of the Motorcycle Review The Upper Half of the Motorcycle On the Unity of Rider and Machine By: Bernt Speigel Translated by Meredith Hassall ISBN: 978-1884313752 Whitehorse Press 2010 189 pages List Price: $29.95 The Upper Half of the Motorcycle is without doubt the strangest motorcycle book I have ever read. I’m not …
Motorcycle Suspension Bible
Race Tech’s Motorcycle Suspension Bible Soft Cover: 254 pages Dimensions (inches): 8.0 x 10.0 Publisher: Motorbooks (Quayside Publishing), U.S.A. Publication Date: June 2010 ISBN: 978-0-7603-3140-8 List price: $34.99 Available From Amazon.com ($23.09) Highly detailed technical discussion about motorcycle suspension systems, components and operation with superb illustrations and photographs. Probably way more information than is needed by …
Modern Motorcycle Technology
Modern Motorcycle Technology How Every Part of Your Motorcycle Works By: Massimo Clarke ISBN: 978-0-7603-3819-3 Quayside Publishing/Motorbooks 2010 240 pages, photos, illustrations and charts. Printed and Bound in Italy. Dimensions: 8×5 inches List Price: $24.99 Modern Motorcycle Technology by Massimo Clarke is a brand-new release in the Motorbooks Workshop series. It is an absolute must have! …
The Motorcycle Book
The Motorcycle Book: Everything You Need to Know About Owning, Enjoying and Maintaining Your Bike by: Alan Seeley Hardcover: 160 pages, Color. Dimensions (in inches): 10.6 x 8.4 x 0.6 Publisher: Haynes Publishing; 2nd edition (September 2006) ISBN: 1844253422 List price: $29.95 Well written with clear and precise focus; excellent photographs demonstrating the tips; lessons …
Spark Plugging the Classics
Spark Plugging the Classics ISBN: 978-0-9556595-3-9 Panther Publishing (UK) 2010 16 pages, photos, illustrations and charts. List Price: $24.95 At only 16 pages, Spark Plugging the Classics is probably what Sherlock Holmes would call a “monograph” rather than a book. It was recently written by Stan Dibben. Does that name ring a bell? Sharp webBikeWorld readers (are there …
Maximum Control
Maximum Control Book Review Soft Cover: 159 pages Dimensions (in inches): 8.25 x 10.625 Publisher: Motorbooks (Quayside Publishing), U.S.A. Publication Date: January 2010 ISBN: 978-0-7603-3674-8 List price: $24.99 Pat Hahn is well known to webBikeWorld readers. He’s the author of Ride Hard Ride Smart (review) and How to Ride a Motorcycle (review). Now he’s back with this brand-new …
Modern Sports Helmets
Modern Sports Helmets – wBW Book Review by: James A. Newman Hardcover: 256 pages Dimensions: 22.5 x 28.5 x 2.5 cm Publisher: Schiffer Publishing, Atlen, Pennsylvania USA ISBN: 978-0-7643-2718-6 List price: $49.95 Available From Amazon.com ($37.96) This book is not just about motorcycle helmets; it’s part history and part technical guide to the evolution of head protection from …
I See By My Outfit
I See By My Outfit I See By My Outfit By Peter S. Beagle Paperback: 260 pages Publisher: Centro Books (July 25, 2007) ISBN-10: 1933572078 ISBN-13: 978-1933572079 Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches List price: $14.95 Author Peter S. Beagle is best-known for his fantasy novels. But five years before he found literary …
Motorcycle Safety Foundation MSF Basic RiderCourse
My Experience With the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) is known for promoting safety, education, and training for riders. The MSF offers two motorcycle training workshops, the Basic RiderCourse and the Experienced RiderCourse (review). The Basic RiderCourse is very popular; it is offered through various local training affiliates in most states …
Art of the Basket Case
Art of the Basket Case wBW Book Review Art of the Basket Case by: Andrew C. Bauer Softcover. 150 pages Dimensions (inches): 10x8x0.5 Publisher: Ilumina Publishing (2008) ISBN: 978-0-9718600-8-7 List: Price: $29.95 You can tell when the obsession has really taken hold. The first sign can be found by looking in the closet. It will be …
Custom Painting Idea Book
Custom Painting – Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles MBI Publishing (Motorbooks), 2008 Soft Cover. 160 Pages. Color Photos. ISBN: 978-0-7603-3169-9 Price: $25.95; £16.99; $28.95 CAD It’s like traveling the 9 circles of Dante’s hell. Motorcyclists can (and do) go deeper into the nefarious and ever more obscure areas of the sport. The farkling and customizing and mechanical …
Complete Idiot’s Guide to Motorcycles
Complete Idiot’s Guide to Motorcycles The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Motorcycles Author: Editors of Motorcyclist Magazine with Darwin Holmstrom & Simon Green Paperback 4th edition (January 2, 2008) Publisher: Alpha ISBN: 1592577040 The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Motorcycles, now in its 4th edition, is packed with information for newbies, and even seasoned riders may learn …
