Customer Reviews

Ultimate Motorcycle Book

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This book has great photos, no dark areas or confining borders to the photos, and intelligent text that always complements the main features--the motorcycle photos. Though mainly an exposition of the many types of motocycles in the world, this is also a history book touching on vintage bikes, famous racers, and facts about changing technology that have made certain bikes pathbreaking achievements of engineering. There is only a two-page section on motocross, the same volume of pages allocated to scooters. No elaboration into the sub-phyla--or sub-classes--of arena cross or supercross. But that's not a big deal, because what you have here is well worth it on its own. Wilson includes a great layout of "Electrics and instruments" which is reminiscent of Gray's Anatomy, in that it looks like a dissection scene from biology class. He lays out the electrical system of a motorcycle (street bike), looking like nerves branching out of a spinal cord. This is an innovative way to present this, with the amber, red, and white light covers and the battery cell covers still on. Only someone obsessed with this subject matter could have done this, which has the benefit of rubbing off on less-devoted adherents of the sport and the products who still need to be motivated by reading this book. And by simply studying it. Way more than words here. This is the lifetime achievement superstar reception room table favorite book in our law firm. Amazingly, no client has stolen it yet.

"The best spin-off from the invention of the wheel is, without any doubt, the motorcycle."

Whether you are a rider, someone who likes to admire motorcycles, or are curious to learn more, this book is for you. The book balances the "lure of the open road" mystique of motorcycles, with solid history, and gorgeous photographs of important and well-known models.

The first few pages look at how Gottlieb Daimler developed the first motorcycle. You will also see impressive photographs of a replica made from the original drawings. From there, Mr. Wilson teaches us about how engines developed, and where they were located in the design. Then, the issues of other needed technologies are explored (like brakes, suspension, and safety features). Original black-and-white photographs vie with color advertisements and beautiful color side views of motorcycles for your attention.

The main section of the book looks at the history of the world's motorcycles, by geography. Each page is crammed with views of motorcyles from ever angle, photographs of riders, and lots of specifications and other interesting details. Major parts of this section cover the United States (Harley-Davidson, Police Motorcycles, Henderson, Custom Bikes, Indian, and Other Classics), Germany (BMW, DKW, Sidecars, MZ, Munch, NSU, and Other Classics), Great Britain (AJS, Brough-Superior, BSA, Norton, Triumph, Speed Records, Velocette, Vincent HRD, and Other Classics), Italy (Benelli, Ducati, Gilera, Scooters, Moto Guzzi, MV Agusta, and Other Classics), Japan (Honda, Touring Motorcycles, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha), and a few bikes from Austria, Czechosloakia, France, Scandinavia, and Spain. The strength of this section is that many brands are covered. The corresponding weakness is that not very many models can be displayed for each brand.

The most exciting part of the book for me was the section on Motorcycle sports. These include Grand Prix racing, Superbikes, endurance racing, T T racing, Motocross, trials, speedway, desert racing, American racing, drag racing, and sidecar racing. Just looking at these exciting bikes is enough to make you wake up, and sit and stand up taller.

The final section displays key points about how the various parts of a motorcycle work.

Mr. Wilson is lucky to have been able to draw upon the Motorcycle Heritage Museum in Westerville, Ohio for models to illustrate the book. We are fortunate to be able to see them also.

If you just want to see Harleys, you will prefer Mr. Wilson's outstanding book, The Ultimate Harley-Davidson.

Looking at these marvelous machines made me think about other ways we can enjoy the wind in our hair and a feeling of freedom. If you like those experiences, have you ever tried other means to enjoy them? How many can you find? Which ones are even more fun than motorcyles? For me, a small boat on a choppy ocean going full throttle racing to get close enough to identify a humpback whale is an even better joy.

Now, consider what experiences are even more enjoyable than "wind in the hair" and "feeling free" in the form you like best . . . and are safer. How can you enjoy them more often? Can you enjoy any of them just by looking at a book?

Exercise your imagination to open up more possibilities for seizing all the juice life has to offer!

As a sportbike rider it is an exciting thought for me to imagine an 'Ultimate Sportbike Book' using the familiar and excellent layout of the ultimate series of books. But no such title exists. Instead, and what the ultimate motorcycle book delivers, is a historical overview of road going motorcycles.
The bottom line is: we would all love to see an 'Ultimate Book' devoted to our own little field of motorcycle interest (mine is sportbikes and race bikes), so knowing that, this book is bound to leave a person wanting more. Thats just the way it is. But this is nevertheless an excellent book. In places it looks laughably outdated, which is normal considering it is an old book, and not even the cornerstones of sportbiking are shown. Neither is the 916. No gixxers neither.

Its an old book, but its well done, and it covers its subject quite well, all things considered. ANother excellent Ultimate book.

How do I know this book is not as good as it should be?
Well, I have a very similar DK "ultimate" book for bicycles. That one covers everything from all the different bikes & accesories to the skills & techniques required for good riding, as well as general maintenance.

THIS motorcycle book has none of that. 90% of the book covers various motorcycles, most of them old cruisers, with just a few points on each one. It has only about 18 brief pages at the end to discuss the workings of a motorcycle and other things such as tyres, clothes, etc. That is just not enough.

This book is simply a summary of various motorycles from a historical perspective (with hardly any included from the "sports-bike" category). Not only that - all the bikes are old ones starting from 100 years ago. None of the newer sports bikes are covered in any sort of real detail. But aren't they one of the most popular [if not THE most popular] types of bikes? (I don't know, because I'm new to this) Any book worthy of using the word "ultimate" is the title must be both well-balanced and very thorough. This book is neither.

If you want my opinion, do not buy this book if you have not seen it. I can't believe everyone else rated it so highly, unless of course they're the sort who get nostalgic reading all about a bunch of old cruisers!

POUR MON PERE QUI EST TRES MALADE ET HOSPITALISE, JE RECHERCHE DES ARTICLES ET/OU PHOTOS DE LA MOTO SUIVANTE : GNOME ET RHONE / 500CC / FLATWIND / BI-CYLINDRES / TRANSMISSION A ACATENE / BOITE 3 VITESSES / MOTEUR ENCASTRE DANS LE CADRE / CADRE EN TOLE ONDULEE POUVEZ-VOUS M'AIDER ? MERCI - CHRISTINE