Motocross Racers: 30 Years of Legendary Dirt Bikes [Paperback]

Ray Ryan (Author), Bill Forsyth (Photographer), Jeremy Holland (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 12, 2003

Off-road motorcycling is on the rise. Sales are up, motocross gates are filling with riders, and new manufacturers are dotting the motocross landscape, with Cannondale being the most notable of a group that also includes expensive, exotic bikes by Gas Gas, Vertemati, and TM. In addition, the new four-strokes are making waves among the sports participants, and the X Games are bringing the sport even further into the mainstream.

The first book available on the subject includes; awesome mix of fresh and archival photography; and the author is the editor of VMX, the premier magazine for vintage motocross fans. This is an inspiring tribute to a long-time American favorite that continues to elevate in popularity and exposure.

Motorcross racing pits man and machine against a jump-filled twisting dirt race course and 10 to 40 other riders. The first one to the checkered flag wins. In recent years, interest in the history of motorcross has led restorers, collectors, and enthusiasts to resuscitate motorcross racing machines back to their original condition.

In Motorcross Racers, 30 significant examples of restored race bikes are profiled with stunning color photography and detailed information about the machine’s race pedigree and historical significance.

Author Ray Ryan, editor of VMX magazine and one of the world’s vintage motorcross experts, collected photographs of perfectly restored historic motorcross models. The book includes:

• Rickman Metisse
• 1969 Hodaka Super Rat
• 1975 Husky Mikkola Replica
• Twin-port CZs of the 1960s
• 1973 Honda CR250
• 1981 Maico MC490
• Brad Lackey’s 1978 Honda RC450
• Mike Bell’s 1980 Yamaha OW40
• Johnny O’Mara’s 1980 Mugen 125W1
• Jeff Ward’s 1985 SR250 and 1992 KX250

With lavish photography of rare machines and in-depth information from an expert on the subject, Motocross Racers is a unique look at one of American’s fastest-growing motorsports.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

• The first book available on the subject
• Awesome mix of fresh and archival photography
• Author is the editor of VMX, the premier magazine for vintage motocross fans

This is an inspiring tribute to a long-time American favorite that continues to elevate in popularity and exposure.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; 1st edition (October 12, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760312397
• ISBN-13: 978-0760312391
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,247,769 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice book. Good value, October 7, 2006

By 

L. Brennan "technophobe" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Motocross Racers: 30 Years of Legendary Dirt Bikes (Paperback)

It's a delightful book - BUT if you expected a selection of bikes that included your own, don't count on it. If you had a big-bore machine, you're going to love this book. If you are one of the MANY who didn't, you may find this book a disappointment, in not being two or three times as thick.

The VMX world can be grateful for this book. But a new edition or addition is needed.

Definately Recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Trip Down Memory Lane, July 3, 2006

By 

H. Bates "hbates1" (Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Motocross Racers: 30 Years of Legendary Dirt Bikes (Paperback)

Having been a huge MX fan through the 70's and 80's, I remember almost all of these bikes. The photography is excellent and the stories about how each bike was important in the evolution of design is great reading. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is that I wish it was about twice as thick... It's still a good value for the money though.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming, January 12, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Motocross Racers: 30 Years of Legendary Dirt Bikes (Paperback)

Motocross Racers 30 Years of Legendary Bikes

By: Ray Ryan

This book is full of heart warming photos and facts about the bikes that started it all. I would recommend this book to all of those people who would like to learn about motocross history and people who make motocross a part of there own lives. This book is not for people who would like to sit down and read a nice picture book. This book has cold hard facts about who made bikes back then for motocross and also how they have changed throughout the years and the very first racers with these bikes.

I this book because it taght me what bikes were like a long time ago and because of how it went within the bike to show you how the engines and the whole bike really evolved from that time to present day.

This book teaches readers about the past in motocross. By the ebd of this book readers will have a full understanding of motocross and there values.

I would rate this book for about 4 ½ stars