Customer Reviews

Mick Walker's Italian Racing Motorcycles (Redline Motorcycles)

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Before the Japanese decided to take over the motorcycle business, England and Italy ruled the roost, with the Italians leading the way in terms of race wins, style and innovation.

This book covers the field in a comprehensive and most knowledgeable manner.

When I saw my old 1960's Moto Rumi Junior in this book, I knew I had to have it, and I must say, I have savored every single page.

A must have for every serious motorcycle enthusiast.

Mick Walker's "Italian Racing Motorcycles" is one of a series of books that covers the evolution of the road racing motorcycle by the nation of which the machine originates from. As the title indicates, this book discusses the motorcycles of Italy.

What I enjoy most about this series of books is the format. I find them easy to read, and a valuable resource to add to my library due to the abundance of information that Mick has compiled on a multitude of manufacturers. From Aermacchi to Rumi, everything you could ever wish to know about Italian road racing motorcycles is covered. While the Ducati section is large due to that marque's racing history, Mick does an incredible job at showcasing some of the manufacturers that exploded onto the road racing scene with much promise, only to be cast aside for one reason or another as time went by. The racing efforts of manufacturers such as Morbidelli, Bianchi, and Paton are covered in-depth. Mick does a fantastic job at not only talking about the machines, but also of talking about the riders, the engineers, and the mechanics that all helped to achieve some of the most incredible goals that anyone could dream of in the realm of motorcycle road racing. The pictures that Mick provides to accompany his writing are spectacular as well.

I also own a copy of Mick's "European Racing Motorcycles", and I am setting my sights on more of his work. You cannot go wrong with any book in this series. These books can be hard to get, but once you have your hands on a copy, you'll never let it go. I highly recommend this title to any motorcycle and road racing enthusiast.

The Italians love their motorcycles, and from Gilera, Moto Guzzi and Bianchi in the 1920s to Ducati and MV Agusta today, they have long excelled at motorcycle competition. In Italian Racing Motorcycles, the prolific motorcycle journalist Mick Walker covers the history of competition motorcycles built in Italy from A to Z, beginning with Aermacchi and concluding with the little-known Rumi marquee which began in the 1920s and ceased production in 1962.

Walker writes with brevity and clarity, which is necessary because he has a lot of ground to cover. This book is a revision of an earlier one that was first published back in the 1980s, and it has been greatly expanded with a revised lay-out that makes it easy to read. After a brief introduction to motorcycle sport on the Italian peninsula, Walker has an entry on each Italian manufacturer who was active in racing summarizing the technical development of the motorcycles and their racing results. The graphics are nice, with logos of each marquee and period photographs of the most important motorcycles.

Part of a series of six volumes, Italian Racing Motorcycles is not for the casual motorcycle fan who is looking for a glossy coffee-table book with lots of images of concours bikes and short essays. This reasonably priced, well-produced softcover volume is a reference work for the serious enthusiast who really wants to know his bikes.

My husband loves all things Italian--especially when it comes to motorcycles and cars. I bought him this book as an xmas gift and was really happy with it, he's always browsing through it. Great gift for any guy who is into Italian design and bikes.

This is a tour de force of Italian motorcycles written with the same level of passion that created them... Salute Mick!

This book digs deep into the the developement and history with photograhy and factory literature to match. Written in a livey fashion that makes a great read.

David