Legendary Motorcycles

Motorcycles are mythic, far more than mere transportation, but some are in a class of their own, truly legendary machines. There are the Triumphs: James Dean’s, Marlon Brando’s in The Wild Ones, the one Steve McQueen took over the fence in The Great Escape. There are Evel Knievel’s and Elvis’s Harleys, the Easy Rider Stars ‘n’ Stripes bike, and T. E. Lawrence’s Brough Superior SS100; Von Dutch’s Condor, Craig Vetter’s Mystery Ship, and Mike Hailwood’s Honda RC162. These are just some of the machines that have made motorcycle history, and that make this book a feast for the eyes and a fact-filled odyssey for the motorcycle aficionado. Illustrated with commissioned photographs and historical images, the book profiles the bikes--not just the models but the actual motorcycles--that have achieved legendary status in the last century. Their stories, told here in detail for the first time, make up the story of the motorcycle in American culture. See Motorbooks author Basem Wasef interviewed by Jay Leno on JayLenosGarage.com: http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/jays-book-club-basem-wasef/1168295/

Motorcycles connote freedom and free spirits. They have inspired songs like "Born to Be Wild" and have helped make the image of James Dean. They've come a long way from their ungainly two- and three-wheeled ancestors that first appeared in the late nineteenth-century. Packed with archival and specially commissioned photographs, this stunning volume traces the evolution of the motorcycle, documenting the major milestones in this illustrious history and spotlighting the most influential models that have emerged over the last century. Among the many manufacturers whose bikes are represented are BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Moto Guzzi, Suzuki, Triumph, and Yamaha, all of which are showcased in hundreds of brilliant color photographs. Accompanying the extraordinary photographs are the stories behind the vehicles, with a wealth of technical information about each motorcycle.

Motorcycles are mythic, far more than mere transportation, but some are in a class of their own, truly legendary machines. There are the Triumphs: James Dean’s, Marlon Brando’s in The Wild Ones, the one Steve McQueen took over the fence in The Great Escape. There are Evel Knievel’s and Elvis’s Harleys, the Easy Rider Stars ‘n’ Stripes bike, and T. E. Lawrence’s Brough Superior SS100; Von Dutch’s Condor, Craig Vetter’s Mystery Ship, and Mike Hailwood’s Honda RC162. These are just some of the machines that have made motorcycle history, and that make this book a feast for the eyes and a fact-filled odyssey for the motorcycle aficionado. Illustrated with commissioned photographs and historical images, the book profiles the bikes--not just the models but the actual motorcycles--that have achieved legendary status in the last century. Their stories, told here in detail for the first time, make up the story of the motorcycle in American culture. See Motorbooks author Basem Wasef interviewed by Jay Leno on JayLenosGarage.com: http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/jays-book-club-basem-wasef/1168295/

Illustrated profiles of the greatest motorsports pairings of man and machine, from the winner of the first Indy 500 race to the Audi R10 the dominated Le Mans for nearly a decade.

Records the 90-year history of Harley-Davidson motorcycles with photographs marking every development stage.

This book aims to trace the fundamental stages of the evolution of the motorcycle, from the first rudimentary experiments on two wheels, up to the hypertrophic motorcycle of today. And always with a choice of models that have succeeded in marking an era: from the first rattling Harley-Davidson of the 20th century to the jewels of Japanese technology, the Honda and Kawasaki from the 1970s and 1980s, passing through the no less important columns of Italian motorcycling, such as the Ducati 916 or the Guzzi GT 500 Norge, and continuing on to the models just out on the market. A trip through time - outfitted with splendid images, detailed diagrams, and data sheets - that will lead bike enthusiasts through the sounds and smells, the anecdotes and tales, to the purest essence of motorcycling. AUTHOR: Fascinated from a very early age by everything with wheels and an engine, Andrea Rapelli learned how to transmit his passion to others. After high school, he started to write for Panoramauto and EVO Italia, where he still works today. In spite of the fact that he deals mainly with automobiles, he is an avid biker: he couldn't live without the feel of the air on his skin, the smell of the asphalt,= or those aromas from nature that you can only get from being on two wheels. Currently, he also works for the website motorbox.com and for the monthly Autorama, where he is engaged mainly with road tests. SELLING POINTS: *Authoritative texts written by a major expert in the field. *All the models that have made motorcycling history. *A full volume representing over a century of motorcycling history, illustrated by splendid photographs. *A must for all motorcycle enthusiasts ILLUSTRATIONS: Photographs throughout

From the appearance of the first single cylinder engine, followed by its twin cylinders, the Harley-Davidson has distinguished itself by its imposing models, known for their trustworthiness and endurance, and by their many wins on the racetrack. The motorcycles, powered by V-Twin Harley-Davidson engines, have forged the legend of this American brand - already in business for over a century - through families of highly prestigious names: Hydra Glide, then Duo Glide and finally Electra Glide, and also Softail, Dyna, V-Rod and Sportster--names that exist and have persisted, in the case of certain models, for more than 50 years. In spite of competition that in late years from America and then from the UK and Japan, Harley-Davidson has prevailed because of the innovations it has introduced - at times belatedly, but always the fruit of sensible reflections - and because it has diversified its family of motorcycles to make them correspond to the public's expectations. Without falling into the trap of expanding technological innovations to an exaggerated level, the new Harley-Davidsons have become motorcycles offering modern performance while at the same time conserving the spirit of the brand and, above all, that special Harley-Davidson character. All you need to do is climb onto the saddle and rev up a Harley-Davidson to discover a new motorcycling universe, where the concept of pleasure reveals new meaning. This is the universe that this book invites you to discover, through the history of the brand's main models, embodying nearly 110 years of motorcycling adventures, and touching upon touring, sport, customisation and a simple and outright passion for motorcycles. AUTHOR: Pascal Szymezak is a motorbike journalist. He has worked as an editorial consultant for music-themed volumes and, in particular, he was the curator of the title 'Heavy Metal,' and worked on graphic design for the book 'Dream Cars of the Twenty-First Century' (2013). Illustrated

In 25 richly illustrated profiles, champion motocross riders describe the experience, the winning bike, and its special features.