She's a Bad Motorcycle: Writers on Riding [Paperback]

Geno Zanetti (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2002

Why do people ride motorcycles? Thomas Krens, curator of The Art of the Motorcycle, the most popular exhibition ever mounted at the Guggenheim Museum, writes: "For much of society, the motorcycle remains a forbidden indulgence, an object of fantasy, and danger." And of envy. No other machine is thought of as the vehicle—"the perfect vehicle" Melissa Holbrook Pierson calls it—of rebellion, lawlessness, and freedom. She's A Bad Motorcycle collects the writings of those who have sought that freedom. From the genre-defining—and exploding—Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance to Chasing Che the motorcycle has inspired a startlingly rich, unabashedly romantic body of writing that celebrates the risks and exhilaration of the journey to self-discovery. The book includes selections from Eric Burdon, Harry Crews, Harlan Ellison, Robert E. Fulton, Jr., Che Guevara, Fred Haefele, S.E. Hinton, Dennis Hopper, Richard La Plante, Erika Lopez, Horace McCoy, Allen Noren, Robert Pirsig, Gary Paulsen, Melissa Holbrook Pierson, Patrick Symmes, Keith Tye, Hunter S. Thompson, Lois Wilson, Daniel R. Wolf and Tom Wolfe, as well as photographs by Bruce Davidson, Martin Dixon, Ann Ferrar, Danny Lyon, Helge Pedersen, and Irving Penn.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The disparate writings gathered here by freelance journalist and motorcycle rider Zanetti include thoughts on the nature of riding, travel narratives, and stories from various segments of motorcycling culture, notably the Hell's Angels. A few are by familiar names, such as Tom Wolfe and Hunter Thompson, and some are a pleasure to read, as is a lyrical piece from Melissa Holbrook Pierson. Aside from the references to motorcycles, however, Zanetti's choice of pieces seems arbitrary in both selection and organization. A large number of them are extracted from much longer works, losing context and perhaps even sense. In the selection from Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, for example, the reader will have no understanding of the references to Phaedrus and why the difference between "classic" and "romantic" is so important. Background notes about the writers and the works from which pieces have been excerpted would have been helpful. Despite some interesting material, the book as a whole contributes little to the history and culture of this compelling machine. David Van de Streek, Pennsylvania State Univ. Libs., York
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Contains some very fine writing ... the biker lifestyle is revealed in all its blood-stained debauchery ... Geno Zanetti deserves praise." -- Brian Catterson, Cycle World, March 2003

"[Y]ou're sure to find one entry in this free-wheeling anthology on biker culture that'll get your motor running." -- Maxim Magazine

Geno Zanetti offers a must-read . . . many of the best books ever written on motorcycles are excerpted here. -- Andy Solomon, Times, March 17, 2002

Product Details

• Paperback: 271 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560253177
• ISBN-13: 978-1560253174
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,494,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars motorcycles and speed, January 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: She's a Bad Motorcycle: Writers on Riding (Paperback)

I want to comment only on one chapter of this book, the next to last. In this chapter, Rachel Kushner describes a race she was in down the Baja and her relationship with men, motorcycles and herself. Read it to believe it. It's amazing: action-packed, thoughtful and thoroughly absorbing. My only question is who is this writer?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Gang forum, December 16, 2005

By 

Sam Straight (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: She's a Bad Motorcycle: Writers on Riding (Paperback)

The idea of this book -- a collection of short stories that explore the rich phenomenon of why people ride motorcycles -- is terrific; but the execution is disgusting. Anyone genuinely clueless and curious about why people ride would get a perverse enlightenment from SHE'S A BAD MOTORCYCLE. Just one story from a Hell's Angel perspective would have been plenty. Instead, most of the selections are from motorcycle gang members who are too busy bragging about raping, terrorizing, torturing, and pillaging to bother with good writing. Few ever get around to the subject of what motorcycle riding means to them.

Zanetti also seems to have trouble finding a ride out of California. The other 49 states are severely under represented.

The only reason this book is worth even 2 stars is that it includes a couple token gems that deserve far better company. Entries from Melissa Holbrook Pierson, Robert F. Fulton, and a handful of others aren't enough to make the book worth buying; but they are well worth reading on their own.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Anthology, April 2, 2002

By 

A reader (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: She's a Bad Motorcycle: Writers on Riding (Paperback)

As a new rider I was looking for a book on the experience of riding, riders, destinations, etc. This book worked perfectly. It is a very good anthology of stories and, mostly, excerpts of other books. As in all anthologies, the entries vary in length and quality. Aside from just a few of the chapters, I enjoyed this collection very much. I do think that the editor should have given some information on the writers and on the original works from which the pieces are taken. I would have liked information on whether the original articles appeared in magazines or books and their dates of publication. I definitely recommend the book to anyone interested in reading about motorcycling.