READING ABOUT MOTORCYCLES IS DEFINITELY NOT AS FUN AS RIDING THEM. Regardless, much can be learned from books and magazines to increase your riding pleasure. Over the years I have continued to digest a quantity of motorcycle magazines each month and I revel with each new issue that I receive.
I have also found occasion to read a number of motorcycle books. Some books are focused on manufacturers and their history. Others are books about places to ride. This latter kind I find enjoyable, although they are not the type of books I would buy myself (they are given to me as gifts), as I prefer to plan my riding adventures by looking at maps.
However, I have been asked which are my favorite motorbike books, and although I own a bunch, and have a few I would call “favorites,” I was more intrigued by the notion of what other riders considered as their favorite motorcycle books, which could prompt an expansion of my motorbike library.
To prime the literary pump, so to speak, here are a few of my favorite motorcycle books and it would be ideal if you would add yours below:
Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig. Although not really a book about motorcycles, per se, the foundation of the novel is based upon a father and son cross-country motorcycle tour that occurred in the 1960’s. (The book was published in the 70’s and became a critically acclaimed best seller).
A Twist of the Wrist, by Keith Code. Although I own both books (Volume 1 and Volume 2), I was particularly impressed with Chapter 15 in Volume 1 (“How to Fall”) which offers the most unique insight into motorcycle safety in regards to crashing. You can read more about it here: Have You Planned Your Next Motorcycle Crash?
David Hough’s Proficient Motorcycling series: Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well and More Proficient Motorcycling: Mastering the Ride. These books are practical references about riding and rider safety. No matter how experienced and skilled a rider you may be, it’s hard for me to imagine any rider, whether newbie or old-timer, not finding value in these books.
OK, enough from me, add your motorbike books below.
A BIG + 1 on David Hough’s books. I recommend them to ALL new and returning riders. Too bad my brother never took my advice and wrecked my DR60 last week. LOL
I’ve been riding for a year and a half (30.000km – second motorcycle now) and I was lucky enough to find “Proficient Motorcycling” by David L. Hough a few days after I bought my first bike.
I don’t know if it is the best book available, but I’m sure it is a great book, and maybe one of the best for a begginner, since it focus on survival and pleasure, rather than on performance. I’ll never know for sure, but I suspect Mr. Hough has saved my bones and/or life more than once.
Top motorcycle book on my list is definitely ‘ TUNING FOR SPEED’ by Phil Irving. Though the book was written a long time ago it is still refered to by me when tuning my classic bikes. I’m not trained as an engineer but this book make me look like one. Friend asked where I got my training and i always said ‘Phil Irving School’ and they nod like they know where the school is.
“Shop Class as Soulcraft”, and Peter Egan’s “Leanings”.
Both superb books in their own right, and happily about motorcycles too.
Chris
Oops — Carla’s book’s full title is “American Borders: A Motorcycle Misadventure.” My bad.
“Jupiter’s Travels” — Ted Simon
“Motorcycle Misadventures” — Carla King
“Two Wheels to Adventure” — Danny Liska
Classics, every one.
As soon as you asked the question, I knew the answer… Leanings by Peter Egan. We share a love of the blues, hanging out with our motorcycle buds and sometimes just sitting, thinking about what it will be like to get out from under a foot of snow and get on the road when springtime finally rolls around.
Mine hmm.?Anything that has lots of pictures you can colour in
Read many of the already mentioned and agree – I consider almost any book even remotely motorcycle related a great read; to the growing list, I would add Neil Peart’s Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road and Landscape With Drums, A Concert Tour By Motorcycle.
Also, at the risk of appearing to romanticize the outlaw lifestyle, which I don’t, some of the books of that genre are excellent, gritty reads: a couple to consider are William Queen’s Under and Alone and Hell’s Angels: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club, co-authored by Barger and Keith Zimmerman. Not totally related is Bill Hayes’ The Original Wild Ones: Tales of the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club.
xseleven heaven. like somebody said,”it’s a good read”. I,ve got 2 xs 11’s, 79 & 80. 95 horse multi, fast, handles good, besides my 2 goldwings, buell blast, old kaw’s. I,m 57 & am thinkin about maybe a faster bike. Just added a yam v-star 1100.bought 4 bikes last year, I think I’m nuts.
My favorites are:
Total Control – High Performance Street Riding Techniques by Lee Parks
Sport Riding Techniques by NIck Ienatsch
Both books explain basic and advanced riding techniques while emphasizing safety.
I have read both books cover to cover and still refer to different sections of the books regularly.
Several of my faves have already been mentioned, with Zen leading the list, but I noticed The Long Way Round by Ewan Macgregor and Charlie Boorman is missing. Reading their exploits first adds quite a bit to the shows, and makes the whole experience that much fuller.
I have two recommendations.
“The Old Man and the Harley” by John J. Newkirk.
The book centers around the author’s father’s motorcycle trip across America in 1939 to visit both the World’s Fair in New York City and the San Francisco Golden Gate Exposition.
“The Perfect Vehicle” by Melissa Holbrook Pierson.
A book about the magic that makes a motorcycle more than just transportation.
Neither book is perfect. Both lose their focus in several places when introducing issues that don’t really belong to their stories, but when they are at their best you will feel the footpegs under your feet.
Most writing about motorcycles substitute enthusiasm for writing skills. For all their flaws both books are well written.
As well as some of the above, I really enjoyed these 3:
Lois on the Loose, Lois Pryce. This girl rides a Yamaha XT 225 from Alaska to Argentina. Gutsy.
Race to Dakar, Charlie Boorman About his attempt at Dakar race 2004. The book has a lot of insights not in the DVD.
The Life and Times of a Good Keen Man, Barry Crump About Barry’s years in Australia hunting crocs, and his ride across Europe to India on an old BMW 750/5. It’s available at Amazon.
After forty five years of motorcycling it still holds as much of a thrill getting on the open road as the time I cocked a leg over my first bike,
I am the proud owner of two bikes, not new but well loved, a 10 year old Honda ST 1100 Pan European the sedate ride with a bit of zip for when my wife wants a gentle ride and a 10 year old Honda VFR800FI our adrenaline rush for when we want that bit of zing.
Amongst my favourite m/c books are, in no particular order, as follows ;-
Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance,
The Bikers Bible by Graham Allardice
Twisting Throttle Australia by Mike Hyde (A Kiwi hilarious trip around Aussie on the seat of his pants)
Take care and be cool from NZ
Not really a book but a Motorcycle adventure on the web.
http://www.thetimelessride.com
!0 years on the road and counting. Many great pictures.
Shop Class as Soulcraft. Anyone that does their own wrenching should read this book.
Like most people I have standing obligations that prohibit experiencing first hand my own round-the-world journey. As such most of the MC books I read are travel monologues or adventure blog ride reports. Typically the travelogue/ride report genra tends toward the monotonous we rode here, saw this, ate that, slept there sort of diatribe. A particular book that shatters that stereotype and found me re-reading with pleasure is “Breaking The Limit” written by Karen Larsen. Sure the book is a travelogue with well written prose but beyond the motorcycle journey there’s so much more… enjoy!
I am a new lady rider as of Spring 2009 and here are my favourites:
David Hough’s Proficient Motorcycling. Awesome book that helps me understand the physics of a motorcycle and and riding. Every rider should own this book. I plan to read this book over and over!
Ride Like A Pro Companion Book to the DVD. This book gives more details for the exercises in the DVD. I do these exercises for my parking lot practice.
The Chrome Cowgirl: Guide to the Motorcycle Life by Sasha Mullins. The best book out there for lady riders. A fun read with lots of great info for women. Yes you can ride and still be glamorous!