Books

Not something you’d hit with your dualsport, it’s a decidedly low-tech but effective way of keeping track of what it is you put into and on your motorcycle in the way of upkeep and maintenance. This simple but effective 5th edition 88 page spiral bound notebook has features that will enable those of us who can remember to write things down, an admirable place to do so and to refer to later. Updated with larger print, better spacing and other refinements to make it even more user friendly. Included are pages for service logs, trip data, oil changes, replacement tire entries and many other things like a winter storage checklist, specs for your bike, and an English/Metric conversion table to name a few. Small enough to fit in a jacket pocket, tank bag or other handy location (3.9"×5.75"). Bike Log has a laminated cover and even sports a drilled hole so you can hang it on a nail in your garage. Nice.

Riding a motorcycle at speed invites one of life's most profound experiences. Living as it does in that narrow space between danger and exultation, a fast motorcycle represents one of modern life's last anchors to something ancient and timeless. Done well, riding a fast bike on a good road holds the power to put a rider in a state of exalted grace. A complete collection of the author’s stories penned during an eight year tenure at Sport Rider magazine. Part cautionary tale, part joyous recollection, these 53 stories offer rare insight into the world of riding fast. By Jeff Hughes. Softbound, 6”x9”, 332 pp.

A high-performance riding book written for street riders! Learn the secrets the pros use to have total control of their bikes. Each skill is broken down into small easy steps with examples for sportbikes, cruisers and tourers. Based on the successful Advanced Riding Clinics run by the National Endurance Champion author. Second Edition is updated with even more easy-to-navigate technical details of motorcycle function, performance, riding technique and more. By Lee Parks. Softbound, 8.25"×10.675", 192 pp., color illus.

Written by one of the best writers about motorcycle saftey, ever. For 18 years, thousands benefited from his sage advice in his “Stayin’ Safe” columns in Rider magazine. Through selfless exhaustive research and a keen eye, he pioneered the development of better riding skills to aid fellow riders. This collection of articles and personal stories gives a glimpse into his best work, as well as the man himself. By Lawrence Grodsky. Hardbound, 6.5"×9.25", 352 pp., no illus.

The subtitle of this book is “The Ultimate Guide To Proficient Motorcycling” and that’s not a stretch. David Hough has written a column on motorcycle street smarts for over 25 years, and his vast experience is presented here in an entertaining and instructive manner that is pure informational gold for the seasoned or beginning rider. This Second Edition book is packed with situations ranging from urban riding, to in the country, and featuring a high level of graphical explanation. Hough’s text explains the way to triumph over the everyday hazards and scenarios we all encounter. An excellent book for everyone who goes forth on a motorcycle. By David Hough. Softbound, 8.25""×11"", 288 pp., b/w illus.

A heavyweight motorcycle starts, stops, and turns differently than a lighter bike, especially when it is loaded down with a week’s worth of gear in the panniers and a passenger on the pillion. Advanced riding techniques, technical information and practical riding drills are laid out in an easy to read style, augmented by beautiful full-color photos and illustrations on nearly every page. Education at its funnest—read, practice and then ride like a pro. By Pat Hahn. Softbound, 8.25"×10.75", 160 pp., color photos & illus.

Despite not having anything to do with motorcycles, this classic travelogue is a great read and offers insight and wisdom into how to travel, better and with more meaning and purpose. After losing both his wife and job on the same day, the author embarks on an unforgettable journey along the back roads of the United States, following the routes marked with blue on his old style Rand McNally atlas and discovering all of the wonders that 13,000 miles of rural America has to offer. A classic, masterpiece of travel writing filled with fun, unique and memorable stories and real-life characters. By William Lease Heat-Moon. 5.5”x8”, 448 pp.

This guide features 300 of the most beautifully scenic tours through virtually every kind of landscape. Mile-by-mile details and stunning photos of famous destinations as well as lesser-known back-roads rides too. A wonderful combination of regional knowledge, storytelling, full-color maps and images describe the scenery, history and points of interest along each route. Completely updated 4th Edition. Keep it on your coffee table for easy reference and inspiration, or use it to plan your next epic journey. Softbound, 5.3"×8.42", 496 pp., color illus.

Get ready for the gripping true story of Wendy Crockett and Ian McPhee's 100,000-mile motorcycle world record attempt. Their plan: travel through every Australian state, then replicate the journey in the US, hitting 58 capitals. But from breakdowns to hospitalizations, nothing went as planned. Despite the odds, their determination prevailed. "Pushing Miles" is a raw, humorous look at their journey into endurance motorcycling history. Paperback, 789 pages.

Fascinated by the land of endless horizons, sunshine, and the open road, Richard Grant spent fifteen years wandering throughout the United States, never spending more than three weeks in one place and getting to know America’s nomads: truckers, tramps, rodeo cowboys, tie-dyed concert followers, flea market traders, retirees who live year round in their RV’s, and the murderous Freight Train Riders of America (FTRA). In a richly comic travelogue, Grant uses these lives and his own to examine the myths and realities of the wandering life, and its contradiction with the sedentary American dream.

Along with a personal account, American Nomads traces the history of wandering in the New World, through vividly told stories of frontiersmen, fur trappers and cowboys, Comanche and Apache warriors, all the way back to the first Spanish explorers who crossed the continent. What unites these disparate characters, as they range back and forth across the centuries, is a stubborn conviction that the only true freedom is to roam across the land.By Richard Grant. Softbound, 320 pp.

This guy gave it all up just for a chance to compete in the Isle of Man TT. He quit his job as a big-shot ad exec, sold everything he owned, and put every ounce of his soul into a race that he didn’t even know if he’d qualify for. Talk about passion… He was also the subject of a documentary film, One Man’s Island (#3293). This isn’t just a companion book to the film – it’s an amazing story written by the man himself. Whether you’re a long-standing fan or a greenhorn to the TT, this book will grab you right from the beginning. By Mark Gardiner. Softbound, 6"×8.75", 247 pp.

Desperately afraid he would do something sensible with some inherited cash, Canadian English Professor, Ted Bishop succumbs to the siren song of a Ducati Monster and embarks on a cross-country pilgrimage from Edmonton to Austin, discovering along the way the intricate and tangled interplay of life, work and art. The book draws the reader in with a harrowing account of the author in a near-fatal meeting between motorcycle, semi-truck, pavement and ditch—resulting in a heightened appreciation for life’s ‘big picture’ stuff. Thoughtful and great. By Ted Bishop. Softbound, 5.5"×8.25", 262 pp., no illus.

Fire up the wayback machine and prepare to vicariously take a two-wheeled motorized journey through time and space with well-known moto-journalist and traveling-man, Clement Salvadori. The book describes 29 motorcycle trips, and one in a VW van, covering six continents — excepting Antarctica — since 1957. The writing is all new, no boring reprints, though a few of the trips have been written up in magazines in a very different fashion. Follow along on this magic-carpet ride of two wheel travel, arranged alphabetically from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and zooming thru decades of discovery, exploration and life lessons only achieved through a life-long love of motorcycles. Engaging, easy-to-read and filled with worldly historical observations and intimate personal insight into the life of a dedicated rider and respected moto-journalist. By Clement Salvadori. Softbound. 5.5"×8.5", 414 pp., b/w illus.

This travelogue originally authored by Clancy is for the avid motorcycle adventurist, the travel dreamer thirsting for motorcycle touring. Clancy circled the globe during 1912-1913 on a 1912 Henderson motorcycle. There were no GPSs, ATMs, Internet, and often no gas, roads or motorcycle repair shops. It describes the first motorcycle global adventure ride by the man who survived a dream quest with his gun, determination, grit, and guts. A wonderful historical account detailing the adventures and difficulties of traveling around the world 100 years ago. By Carl Stearns Clancy. Edited by Dr. Gregory W. Frazier. Softbound. 5.5"×8.5", 324 pp., b&w illus.

A kind of sequel to Jupiter’s Travels, Ted Simon examines the repercussions of spending four years in the saddle and facing the unknown and how it has affected his later life of marriage and child rearing. Also, because a great deal of his journey just did not fit into the earlier book, many details are related in more depth here. Interesting and compelling. By Ted Simon. Softbound, 5.5"×8.5", 320 pp., b/w illus.

In 2001, at the age of 69, Ted Simon decided to retrace his original journey. It took him two and a half years, during which he revisited all the countries he had traveled through his first time ‘round. He found much had changed, and he reflects upon the increased poverty, political upheavals, environmental issues and changes in himself. This book is a hugely inspiring read with a positive message at its heart…that no matter what age you are, you can still set off on an adventure and still be surprised and excited by what life throws at you along the way. Softbound, 6"×9" 448 pp., b/w illus.

A number one best-seller in the late 1970s and one of the greatest motorcycle books—and indeed one of the greatest travel books—ever written. Ride along with Ted Simon as he and his ‘70s Triumph Tiger go ‘round the world in four years covering 78,302 miles. This is the classic motorcycle travelogue, filled with poetic descriptions and refined insights on life and about riding. It will leave your imagination richly filled. By Ted Simon. Softbound, 5.5"×8.5", 447 pp., b/w illus.

Lois is at it again, unabashedly taking on the kind of challenging adventure most of us could only dream of. Armed with maps, a baffling array of visas and an abundance of charm and determination, she dons her sparkly helmet and sets off on a grand motorcycle trek across the Dark Continent of Africa, destined for Cape Town. Never mind the small matter of navigating the Sahara, war-torn Angola and the Congo Basin along the way. An entertaining, action-pack and funny and fast paced page-turner about following your dreams, sure to inspire you to pack your bags and tackle your own adventure. Softbound, 5"×7.7", 416 pp.

Keeping a girlfriend satisfied is difficult. Add in a grueling 6000 mile route around the Baltic Sea with her riding pillon through treacherous storms, abysmal road conditions, shabby accommodations …let’s just say if she ain’t happy, you ain’t happy. A stunningly pragmatic and honest travelogue – not afraid to tell the whole story of the challenge and transformation that really can and does occur, not only in the course of epic adventures, but also as part of the daily experience of life. A must read before planning the next riding adventure…with your significant other…if you want it to stay that way. Glean bits of relationship wisdom while reading enchanting descriptions of travel through the picturesque scenery of Baltic Europe. By Allen Noren. Hardbound, 6”x8.5”, 35 pp., no illus.