Customer Reviews

She's a Bad Motorcycle: Writers on Riding

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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?

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.

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.

I make a point of bringing a motorcycle book to read when my husband and I go on our annual bike tour. This year, I brought Bad Motorcycle. It's an interesting and eclectic collection of stories, essays and a poem (yes, it sucked. More on that later).

The writing styles and quality are as varied and diverse as motorcycle riders and the bikes we ride. Its not surprising that the book starts with a piece from Melissa Holbrook-Pierson's The Perfect Vehicle. She is able to describe the indescribable nuances about riding in a fluid, poetic and natural style. If you love motorcycles, do yourself a favor and buy The Perfect Vehicle. It's not without its flaws, but so well-written, the flaws are easy to overlook (which is more than I can say for a lot of writers.)

After reading a segment from Robert Fulton's One Man Caravan, I ordered the book because I couldn't get enough of his tales of derring-do during the 1930s.

For those who aren't into motorcycles, there are basically two types of motorcyclists. Harley-Davidsons and everyone else. I would fall under the 'everyone else' category. To me, motorcycling is like religion. Not everyone is into the same thing, but I totally respect people's choices. It's what makes the world go 'round. However, not being of the Harley faith, I found the piece by Hell's Angel pioneer, Sonny Barger to be OUTSTANDING. In the too short chapter of the book, Sonny bares a surprising amount of his soul with funny, insightful and intelligent writing. It has given me a new perspective on Harley riders.

Buried in the back of the book is a piece by Rachel Kushner which briefly chronicles her adventures racing in Baja. I was so intrigued, as soon as I finished it, I reread it.

Other memorable excerpts include Che Guevara's Motorcycle Diaries, Allen Norem's Storm, and Denis Johnson's Bikers for Jesus.

I read Hunter S. Thompson's piece on Hell's Angels. After reading it, I didn't really feel compelled to read the other stuff on Hell's Angels. However - and I knew I shouldn't have done this, but did it anyway - I read Diane Wakoski's poem My Hell's Angel. This sentimental pap from a groupie wannabe has no place in this book. How this made the cut is beyond me, but whatever. Any writer who writes about how beautiful she looks standing on a beach is a pretty good indicator of lame writing ahead.

And I'm going to go out on a limb here, and I'm sure this will ruffle the feathers of a lot of riders out there, but I think Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenence has to be one of the most overrated books of all time. There. I've said it. The emperor has no clothes. Clearly I lack the highbrow intellegence and depth to fully grasp the intellectual pomposity of this (IMHO) overly verbose, boring collection of printed hot air. I first tried reading it before I started riding motorcycles and couldn't finish it. Then years later I tried reading it again after I started riding and still couldn't finish it. But then again, I took a philosophy class in college and didn't care for it. It seemed like a bunch of overeducated people expounding on how the world SHOULD be and not how it REALLY is.

What a crock!Either this editor doesn't ride or he just doesn't get it.This compilation of stories about "riding" misses the mark...that is,unless your idea of riding is endless accounts of "outlaw bikers" lifestyles and detailed accounts of their continuous partying.The few stories contained which actually have a theme about the sensations and joys of undertaking a trip on two wheels could almost be printed on the jacket.Get a clue,or better yet,get Peter Egan's "Leanings".

My favorites chapters in this anthology were Ted Simon's from Jupiter's Travels, Robert Fulton's from One Man Caravan, and of course, Robert Pirsig's from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (which is a great read as well as a great ride). Eric Burdon's piece on Steve McQueen wasn't half bad either.

But there's far too much chaff with this wheat. About half of the chapters in this collection waste space on Hell's Angels and related gangery, much of which is bad fiction, dull fact, or has nothing to do with motorcycles. The lone standout is Sonny Barger's chapter which really is classic.

In the end, I think this book's value is twofold -- 1) you get perspective on the variety of riders, their perspectives, and their writing styles, and 2) it suggests further sources of motorcycle literature. But because the caliber of contributions perhaps befittingly matches the lack of sophistication or maturity of many bikers, I suggest that you borrow a copy (or buy used) and then do a lot of skimming.

**** - I enjoyed the stories of the clubs, world travelers and riders. Each story has its own flavor lent by the people, time and place which made it alot of fun to "ride along". Only one detraction- Rachel Kushners story seemed but a vehicle to express anger towards her old boyfriend. Her obvious intent made it difficult to read as she took every opportunity to poke at him- not too much there about riding, ostensibly the purpose of the book. I have ridden Baja for over 10 years, and there is a lot there she failed to mention. I'd like to see Geno line up some more writers to share their thoughts and adventures, with a touch more editorial control next time. I'd buy the next one!!!

What makes the motorcycle the "perfect vehicle of rebellion, lawlessness, and freedom," according to Melissa Hollbrook Pierson? Or to any other person articulate enough to write an answer? She's a Bad Motorcycle: Writers on Riding presents quite a few essays on the topic. These include works of fiction as well as accounts of real events, all jumbled together like the facts and dreams of the outlaw mythos that surrounds motorcycles and their riders. Insights on philosophy are preceded by stories of massively destructive parties, followed by detailed descriptions of motorcycle parts and modifications.

Each essay is by a different writer, in their own style, some being excerpts from novels or other complete works. A partial list of writers includes some famous names like Gary Paulson, Hunter S. Thompson, Ernesto "Che" Guevara, and Ralph "Sonny" Barger, a Hell's Angels chapter president. Readers will discover the rules of motorcycle clubs, as well as the formation of some of these clubs, and the dissolutions of others. Quite a bit of this volume could be considered to be the history of bikers, as there are several descriptions of Hells Angels in the early days, and their interactions with hippie groups in the sixties.

I suppose this book will mostly be read by armchair enthusiasts and weekend warriors, but it could have a much wider appeal. There are actually a number of essays by women who engaged in this most masculine of activities or vehicles, for example. Editor Geno Zanetti also chooses to end this book on an essay about a modern Christian revival event focused on motorcycles. She's a Bad Motorcycle would make an interesting addition to a number of different classes, I can imagine, given the essential Americana inherent to the biker. That being said, high schools might get into trouble for some of the brutal language and events depicted in some essays. The nice thing about this book is that because it being an anthology, people who don't read very much or often could pick it up and read a section here or there. Even those more interested in, say, riding that reading might be tempted to pick up She's a Bad Motorcycle on a rainy day.

I enjoyed a couple of the stories but the rest of them served to repeatedly remind me: these stories were written by WRITERS (I should've paid more attention to the subtitle.)...not by motorcyclists, bikers, enthusiasts, etc. If you absolutely love motorcycles then you'll likely find the stories to be trite, self-aggrandizing, and irrelevant. Most of the "writers" treat bikes as transient items in their respective lives...mere accessories to their inflated sense of "coolness" and self-importance. The book is filled with stories that follow the "I did this, I did that, I knew him, I saw this" model.