Motorcycle books - Reviews

[sfarson]

Flash412... Enjoyed "Gathering Speed... " many stories and experiences!

I also agree with many of the suggestions in this thread. Another book I'd toss in... "Long Rider" by Mark Tiger Edmonds. He's an English Professor and during the summer he rides. Over 1,000,000 miles on his BMW. So many stories, and many are hilarious. There was one about his friend hitting a dog that had me gasping for breath. It's a different kind of book and the writing is diverse. A good read if you like motorcycle stories.

 

[BRADFORDBENN]

Another book I'd toss in... "Long Rider" by Mark Tiger Edmonds.

I would also recommend it. I read it this summer while I was riding around the country it was very entertaining. I just started "Long Way Round" and so far the first two chapters have been pretty enjoyable.

 

[flash412]

Maybe if you sent more swag around, people would buy your book, Flash.

Here you go. I sent in a copy and it was reviewed in the ON a few years ago. (It's also been favorably reviewed in Motorcyclist, Euro Moto and Motorcycle Consumer News.) Ask at the offices of the ON who has it and borrow it (take it?) from them. The husband of the editor wrote the review. I suppose the son of the editor pasted up the review. Nepotism is apparently alive and well in the MOA. The odds are favorable that somebody named Cohen has it.

 

[globalrider]

What's your favorite motorcycle book?

The bible of all Alps touring books Motorrad - Touren in den Alpen by Denzel
Great maps, pics and write-ups.

Which books are worth reading?

I've read quite a few books that fall into Adventure Touring category:
- 8 Around the Americas on a Motorcycle by Werner Bausenhart
- Into the Den of the Bear and the Lair of the Dragon on a Motorcycle by Werner Bausenhart
- Africa - Against the Clock on a Motorcycle by Werner Bausenhart
- From Nordkapp to Cape York on a Motorcycle by Werner Bausenhart
- Two Wheels to Adventure by Danny Liska
- Riding the Edge by Dave Barr
- Investment Biker by Jim Rogers

Which ones should be stored in the tank-bag for ready-reference?

If you are into Alps travel, without a doubt Motorrad - Touren in den Alpen by Denzel

There are countless other Alps related travel books available from Hein Gericke, Louis and Polo (too many to mention).

Which ones should be stored in the system case to be used as kinding?

I can think of a few, but...lets be nice

 

[braddog]

What's your favorite motorcycle book?

Which ones should be stored in the system case to be used as kindling?

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - has nothing to do with either zen nor motorcycles. It's a book about schizophrenia and should have been titled, Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut, Sometimes I Don't.

I think that's the most accurate assessment of that book that I've seen. It's a philosophy book about the author's obsessions and schizophrenia. I found the bits where he's actually talking about riding kind of interesting, because his trip starts in Minneapolis (where I live now), and details where he crosses Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana (where I grew up).

My answers to the original questions would be:

- I don't really have a favorite motorcycling book, although I like Mr. Hough's books.

- A book for the tankbag would definitely be the Anonymous book, and maybe the factory manual.

- Kindling? Maybe the aforementioned "Zen" book, but I don't like to destroy any books, really.

 

[LDRidr]

Good Motorcycle Books

Daniel Meyer (http://lifeisaroad.home.comcast.net/) has written two books for motorcyclists. Daniel hangs on on the Valkyrie riders board and has written some extraordinary stories which he compiled into these books, some of which are available on his home web site. One of his that circulates around the web is the sotry of "When Squirrls Attack," not the orignal title but the title I have seen used on web sites.

Check him out. You will be glad you did. (normal disclaimers here.)

 

[CANADIANSTEVE]

favourite motorcycle book

The Mike Duff Story
" Make Haste, Slowly "

by Michelle Ann Duff

I bought my first bike from Mike, and later some bike parts, from Michelle.
Yes, they are the same person ... well, not exactly.
Steve

 

[Visian]

Helge Pedersen is the MAN

Ten Years on Two Wheels.

The photos are phenomenal and the personal experiences are engaging.

If you ever get to see Helge's multi-image slide show on his ride, do not miss it!



Ian

 

[paulsibek]

Thanks Guyz!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to you all, you just completed my Christmas list.

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kbrick]

While not strictly a motorcycle book, "Blue Highways" by William Least-heat Moon has to be a top choice for any one getting their head straight for a long ride.
Another book that is motorcycle specific is "Purple Mountains" by Notch Miyake. As I recall he gave a seminar at the Trenton National Rally in '02.

 

[BobFV1]

"Zen And The Art..." - true, it's not about motorcycling, but it is about Zen - in the literal meaning of Zen which is "self" (the Kanji character looks like a little man). Anyway, I think "Zen And The Art..." is about why many people, including me, enjoy riding - it frees your mind. My oldest son is in to sport bikes now and whenever we go riding together I always think about the sad fate of the son in that book. Makes you happy for what you have.

Merry Christmas!!!

 

[Grey_Matter]

TWO WHEELS THROUGH TERROR by Glen Heggstad

Please buy this book. You will not regret it. It is by far the most engaging book I have read in a couple of years. I found myself actually holding my breath a few times.

Overview: http://nationalprivateer.com/wh_wheels_through_terror.html

In addition Glen is currently on a round the world ride on a F650GS Dakar. You can follow his current adventure on the ADVrider site below:

ADVrider Link: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41699

Order From: http://store.yahoo.com/guilty-net/twowhthte.html

 

[cline123]

Danny Liska

I haven't read Danny Liksa's book. Anyone have a copy they are willing to sell?

Danny's daughter did a presentation for the Houston BMW Club a couple of years ago. I had never heard of Danny Liska before that evening. Wow! What a wonderful presentation she gave. She showed many of Danny's unpublished slides from around the world. It was stunning photograpy. Danny was not only a story teller, and adventurer in the true sense of the word, but a master photographer.

Danny's daugher lives in Houston. At the time of the presentation, she was trying to put together another Danny Liska book with his photograps.

I hope it happens.

 

[harryt11]

I haven't seen it mentioned, but "Leanings" by Peter Egan is one of the best books available. A collection of his Cycle World articles over the years. I think Peter Egan is by far the best Moto journalist around. I also enjoyed the already mentioned "The Perfect Vehicle: What it is About Motorcycles" or something to that effect by Melissa Holbrook Pierson.

 

[flash412]

I'd highly reccommend "Seventy Years on a Motorcycle" by Herbert Foster Gunnison. I never actually met him but had seen him many times at various rallies. After having read his book I was mad at myself for not taking time to "go meet that old timer"

Based on this recommendation, I went out and bought the book. It is 80-85% NOT related to motorcycling. What little bit of motorcycling in there is pretty well written even though he taught English at a university. The best thing it has going for it is that he thought Pursig's book sucked, too. That's an indication of his mindset, even if Gunnison didn't write the book he set out to write (either). If I were grading against all other motorcycle books, I'd give it a C-.

The guy is a living example of shirtsleeves to silk to shirtsleeves in three generations. (He's the third generation.)

 

[jshuck]

my fav

I liked Carl Fogerty's Bio. The best part was where he was trying to describe a flight back to the UK. He tried to remember the bird sitting next to him. He said" she was one of the Spice Girls...you know the ugly one"

Mo Moto Fidel was excellent too... Guy smuggles a GS into Cuba.. some great sex scenes too.

 

[robsryder]

When this thread came out a few years back I added to my collection of motorcycle books based on many of the recommendations. Some of the books I've already read and some I haven't (yet). I went to my bookshelves and picked up a few that I have read and found worthwhile.

"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", Robert M. Pirsig - I first read this in high school when the book was initially published. (My bike at that time - a Honda CB350). Interestingly, I formed some opinions about BMW folks from the early part of this book - now those initial impressions seem to be incorrect . The only BMW bike I'd ever seen to that point was a /5 owned by a physician that lived nearby - I did not know the doctor, but could recognize the bike. More ZAMM info at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance
http://www.robertpirsig.org/
http://zamm.home.att.net/
http://ww2.usca.edu/ResearchProject...me=Pictures-Robert-Pirsigs-original-1968-trip {many photos from Pirsig's trip here, including of his Honda and buddy's BMW}
More recently I've tried to re-read ZAMM, but when the topic drifts too far from bikes I lose interest. I guess that I've changed..

"Blue Highways", William Least Heat-Moon - not a motorcycle book, but it could have been. This is a great book to carry along on a multi-day trip. Easy to fall asleep in the tent reading by flashlight. More info at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Highways
I couldn't get interested in the author's other books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Least_Heat-Moon

"Jupiter's Travels", Ted Simon - I found this book in my public library a number of years back and thought that it was a fantastic read. I was able to meet Ted Simon (at MOA rally in NC in 96 [was it REALLY that long ago?] and purchase a copy of my own - which Ted signed.) Subsequently I purchased the companion book
"Riding High" from Ted Simon. The second title sort of completes the round-the-world trip and fills out more of his life. I enjoyed Ted's writing style and then purchased
"The Gypsy in Me", "The River Stops Here" and a video documentary about a more recent round-the-world ride by an older Ted. More info can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Simon
http://www.covelo.net/people/pages/ted.shtml
http://www.jupitalia.com/

"Obsessions Die Hard", Ed Culberson - this is the book that really made me want a GS. I'll likely never go through the Darien Gap or even ride to the tip of South America but I certainly did enjoy reading about Ed's adventures. When I first read this book Ed was still with us. I really felt bad about his illness and subsequent passing. I recall Bob Higdon getting Ed's bike (Amigo) and riding it to the AMA museum. Somewhere I have a photo of Amigo.
http://www.motolit.com/obdieharmotp.html

"One Man Caravan", Robert Edison Fulton, Jr. - This is a wonderful book. The ride took place about 70 years ago through parts of the world that we continue to hear about. How different things seem now than during his ride - or are they really different? Fulton was quite a guy - he subsequently made a video ("Twice Upon a Caravan") about his ride - he carried a movie camera with film (a much bigger challenge than with today's video cameras). The video documentary was very well done and, in my opinion, very educational given the current global situation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Edison_Fulton,_Jr.
http://www.whitehorsepress.com/product_info.php?products_id=1674
http://www.whitehorsepress.com/product_info.php?products_id=5109

"Purple Mountains", Notch Miyake - a nice book about a journey around the US on a GS. [Note to self: go out and take a nice long ride on GS real soon!]
http://www.fingerlakesbmw.org/notch/flpurple.php

 

[njnear]

I've got 2.

First, Motorcycling Across Michigan by William Murphy. Good description and recommended routes throughout Michigan. It was what inspired my to ride around Lake Superior last summer.

Second, Rand McNalley Road Atlas. Just follow the green dots. Or in case of the newer editions, follow the yellow highlighted roads. Those are the scenic routes. Plan trips in the comfort of your own home this winter, then get out and ride. Caution! Be very careful when reading about the western mountain states/provinces. It's almost an impossible, delectable, smorgusboard of "preferred" routes.

 

[redclfco]

When this thread came out a few years back I added to my collection of motorcycle books based on many of the recommendations. Some of the books I've already read and some I haven't (yet). I went to my bookshelves and picked up a few that I have read and found worthwhile.

"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", Robert M. Pirsig - I first read this in high school when the book was initially published. (My bike at that time - a Honda CB350). Interestingly, I formed some opinions about BMW folks from the early part of this book - now those initial impressions seem to be incorrect . The only BMW bike I'd ever seen to that point was a /5 owned by a physician that lived nearby - I did not know the doctor, but could recognize the bike. More ZAMM info at:

I like the portrayal of the BMW rider because of the true dichotomy presented that exists in real day life...The guy had an expensive motorcycle but used as crescent wrench on his chrome, yet at the same time rejected real life solutions such as making a shim from an old beer can for the bars...

The fact he rode a BMW was not important, it could of been a Yamaha, the point for me was that general attitude in life-in-America is to surround your life with the finest, from a bike to a trophy wife, then not respect these things and people, and show the disrespect by ignoring them and scratching their chrome or psych by ignorance and abuse.

It boils down to America's lack of respect for their own way of life..

ho hum, that's what I got out of the book...