Travelogues

Hundreds of trips along the same stretch of common road—Interstate 94 between Fargo, ND and Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN—would for most be a long, tedious and all-too-familiar boring journey. These nine stories were written over eighteen years and reveal the value of riding more deeply and truly than common ‘I rode there’ memoirs. For this rider, traveling forth and back was an opportunity for meditation, contemplation, ideas—and a venue for making life’s greatest decisions. Softly inspiring stories that read as true as the endless Midwestern prairie itself. Stories about piloting a road and a life, accompanied closely by the thrum of a BMW r 65 and the essential feelings and experiences of pure motorcycling. By Rand Rassmussen. Softbound, 6"×9", 64 pp., b/w illus. USA.

This is rare thing: An actual inspiring overview-of-motorcycling ‘coffee table’ book. Its images will completely transport you into a world-spanning journey with riders of every kind from over thirty different countries. All of the photographs are by the wonderful Argentinian photographer Henry Von Wartenberg and span decades of his explorations, travels, and efforts to present the world’s entire spectrum of riders and places. This book is subdivided into five themed sections. Punctuating the electric quality of the images are captivating section-introducing essays from several thoughtful emissaries of motorcycling, including Peter Egan, Paul d’Orleans, Andy Goldfine and Dave Nichols. This is truly a wonderful gift for any rider. Hardcover. 192 pages. Color photos. 9.5”x11”.

Sneak Peek: Read Andy's essay on our blog »

It has been forty years since Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was first published. Since then, it’s become a modern—and influential—classic. “Zen” is, at its core, about our human and cultural relationships with technology. Part travelogue, part philosophic inquiry and part personal memoir, it is so multi-layered that for its fortieth anniversary, Mark Richardson re-traced the ride, on the same bike, and produced a thoughtful and powerfully enlightening look at the incredible life of the reclusive author, and at the kaleidoscope of elements which make up this extraordinarily complicated work. Here is the stunningly compelling human story behind and within this classic. An amazing, compelling book. By Mark Richardson. Softbound, 6.5"×9.3", 288 pp., no illus.

No rider’s library should be without this classic account of one rider’s search for a philosophy of value and his quest for meaning in life. Beautifully written. Filled with ideas about sanity, quality and values. An amazing story.Seriously meditative. Justifiably famous. Most literate literature. By Robert M. Pirsig. Softbound, 4"×7", 430 pp., no 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.

An adventure eight years in the making about not only navigating 6000 miles across America on dirt roads, but also navigating a divorce, career changes, addiction, and a mental disorder. A deeply personal and often humorous look at phobias, spirituality, and getting along with others. This book has numerous cringe-worthy moments from the highest mountain passes to claustrophobic caves and the path is often bumpy. By Mathew Sturtevant. Softbound, 6”×9”, 220 pp. color illus.

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 picture is worth a thousand words and this beautifully designed book is filled with over 300 stunning images, captured 40 years ago on Kodachrome slides during Ted Simon's epic 1970's motorcycle journey around the world. The iconic story was told in the book Jupiter's Travels, and now can be relived in a vivid new photographic journey. Photos from another age, looking as sharp and colorful today as the day they were captured, views directly from Ted's perceptive eye.By Ted Simon. Hardcover. 256 pp., 10"×10". Color photos.

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.

Here is a book about hard-core, non-stop, record-crushing, subversive, all-weather, bad-ass motorcycle endurance riders—and in particular the peeled-back story of John Ryan, a living legend motorcyclist made of resolve, discipline, toughness and brains. Along the road you’ll meet an impressive range of other extreme riding obsessives, and gain a deeply informed understanding of motorcycling. A captivating read, impossible to put down. By Melissa Holbrook Pierson. Hardbound, 5.5”×8.3”, 208 pp.