Motorcycle Dream Garages [Hardcover]

Lee Klancher (Author), Kevin Cameron (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2009

You want to be on your motorcycle on the open road--but if you can’t, then the next best place is the garage.  There old bikes are restored, wild custom come to life, and friendships are made of beer, b.s., and bruised knuckles.  These are the garages where this book takes you--from the old firehouse to the lavishly finished tin shed to the plain old two-car attached structure harboring the treasured bike while the family car sits out in the weather.  Motorcycle Dream Garages opens the doors to sixteen palaces for two-wheeled work and play, among them a secret one in Chicago housing over one hundred rare and collectible bikes at a location known only to members of an underground club; a converted firehouse in St. Paul; a marble palace in Washington DC; and a variety of luxury motorcycle garages owned by racers and celebrities both in the US and Europe. Learn more about the book, the bikes and the author at the book’s website: http://www.motorcycledreamgarage.com.

 

See Motorbooks author Lee Klancher interviewed by Jay Leno on JayLenosGarage.com: http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/jays-book-club-lee-klancher/1211582/

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Motorcycle Dream Garages is a fascinating and beautifully photographed homage to dozens of folks who are obsessed by motorcycles as well as to the spaces they create to house those obsessions. Klancher (along with Kevin Cameron—who wrote the foreword—and collaborators Rick Schunk, Mike Seate, and Kris Palmer) has done an excellent job illustrating these with his excellent photography. In some of the photos, we can almost smell the grease and feel the grit of the parts-packed spaces. Additionally, Klancher manages to capture the character of his subjects with spare and succinct text that both tells us what drives these people as well as keeps us entertained. (His write-up on the secretive Hollywood fellow with the incredible toy collection is a masterful—and funny—portrait in words.)

In the end, this book certainly deserves a space on the garage bookshelf of anyone who has ever longed for a bigger/better/badder barn for their bikes. And yes, the $35 price tag on this tome might be a bit steep to some in this climate, but just think of it as research or inspiration. Someday…someday…" - Friction Zone

Klancher has created a work which is guaranteed to fascinate wrenches of all stripes and make them green with envy at the same time. In fact, when I took the book down to the shop, where I am employed, I almost had to engage in physical combat to regain possession of it from my co-workers. As a long time editor at Motorbooks Klancher has knowledge of his subject matter which is truly impressive, but I never felt like he was beating me over the head with it. It is also obvious that he is a true motor-head and loves sharing his passion and insights with others. If you have ever spent time spinning wrenches on bikes or dreamed of building your own custom garage or shop this book is a must have.” Examiner.com

“… all about the coolest garages in existence. If you’re a garage person or maybe just looking for inspiration to make your own space cooler, this is a must-read.” - Racer X Illustrated

 

Book Description

If you can’t be on your motorcycle on the open road, the next best place is the garage--where bikes are dreamed up, built, and restored, and friendships are made of beer, b.s., and bruised knuckles.  This book opens the doors to sixteen monuments to two-wheeled work and play, among them a secret one in Chicago housing over one hundred rare and collectible bikes at a location known only to members of an underground club; a converted firehouse in St. Paul; a marble palace in Washington DC; and a variety of lavish motorcycle garages owned by racers and celebrities in the US and Europe.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; First edition (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760335508
• ISBN-13: 978-0760335505
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,167 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #64 in Books > Professional & Technical > Automotive > Motorcycles

More About the Author

Lee Klancher is a writer and photographer specializing in testosterone-fueled topics. His writing and photography has appeared in thirteen books, a dozen large-format calendars, and hundreds of feature magazine articles. Favorite subjects include dream garages, motorcycle racers, old farm tractors, and breweries. Assignments have taken him piranha fishing in the Bolivian Amazon, soaking up truck driver wisdom in Alaskan dive bars, and climbing Slovenia's Mount Triglav.

His work can be seen in Men's Journal, Draft, Motorcyclist, Motorcycle Product News, Garage Style, and more. You can also read Lee's work in his Twitter feed and blog.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, October 4, 2009

By 

Herman Ortaagopyan "kamshaft" (cyberworld) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Motorcycle Dream Garages (Hardcover)

being a motorcycle nut when i saw the title i had to get it ,and when i got it i was so happy it was not full of Orange County Choppers kinda bikes in fact just the opposite people with great serious hobbies with really dream garages icing on the cake was when the author mentions my friends place (Powerplant Choppers) .My only complain on this book was that it was not more of it, cant wait for another one and hopefully one about motorcycle dream garages in Europe as well . herman agopian

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Motorcycle Dream Garages reviewed by Ken Aiken, September 11, 2010

By 

Kenneth J. Aiken "Kenzo" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Motorcycle Dream Garages (Hardcover)

Every motorcyclist has a dream garage, that list of bikes desired to be owned or ridden and a special space in which to park them that doesn't take second place to family or four-wheel transportation. The dream garage might have every tool needed to repair, restore, or custom build any motorcycle in existence. It could have showcases and wall spaces for rare memorabilia and racks to hold gear for any possible riding scenario. In any case, it would be unique, an extension of your own personality and passion.
Lee Klancher has found and photographed 17 very real dream garages. Some these, like Jay Leno's Big Dog Garage, are well known while others, such as one Hollywood garage that includes a MTT Superbike powered by a Rolls-Royce Allison gas turbine engine and a V-Max concept bike designed by Tim Cameron and built by Christian Travert, are understandably anonymous. Regardless whether these garages are famous or practically unheard of, publicly accessible or kept on a need-to-know basis, house the rarest bikes on the planet or people's favorite rides, all 17 of these are quite different in style and scope.
There are dozens of luscious machines featured in this book, but unlike so many coffee-table volumes this one focuses on the spaces that house motorcycles and the individuals who created these mechanical refuges. There's a bit of inspiration, no matter how modest, to be found on these 192 pages and among the 213 color photos in Kancher's book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Made by People Who Love Motorcycles for People Who Love Motorcycles, May 30, 2010

By 

Whyaduc (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Motorcycle Dream Garages (Hardcover)

I keep this book on the table by my reading chair and pick it up regularly. It always takes me to a happy place. They cover motorcycle garages from ones that are essentially museums at gritty garages that are full of classic bikes and artifacts (the unintiated might call it junk..but what in the hell do they know?). I raced motocross back in early 70's and there is a lot of fine on road and off road machinery from that era covered here. I love the fact that they covered both museum-like "garages" with perfectly restored bikes that probably never get ridden anymore and they show other men who love classic bikes and have worn bikes that they ride regularly and repair them regularly(as they need a lot of TLC) in disseveled garages. I have spend many hours in gagrages like these and they bring back wonderful memories.

Excellent book for lovers of motorcycles!