General Motorcycle Reviews

I took a packaged tour of the Alps in 2002. Thank goodness I took this book with me. This book had so much more quality information than the touring company, it was unbelievable! Each night, we would return from some awsome ride (not on the base or recommended route). It became a nightly ritual to review where we went. People, including the tour guide, wanted to know how I knew of these roads, I showed them the book.

Next time, I will just take this book and go, no tour company! I am a heavy rider, 30K miles per year, close to 400K miles ridden.

I use to go on travel with my motorcycle just one or two times a year. I'm really busy and I haven't too much time to plan these travels so I bought this book thinking it could help me to plan a travel by the Alps. But it was a surprise!!! All the travel was perfectly planned in this book! Hotels, Restaurants, special places, roads, etc. Just a little deception: the pictures are black and white!

I took John's first edition of this book and a map and rode the Alps and the Dolemites for ten days. We reviewed the routes and stops each morning and evening. This is a great resource if you are traveling in the area. I brought three other books on this topic and left them behind at hotels as the trip progressed, as I realized I did not need any other resources. Use this and an internet translator site (like Babelfish)and you can make your reservations in some of the same hotels that Edelweiss and other formal tour groups use.This new edition expands on the first by adding Corsica and updating the Alps/Dolemite section. It is a great read. John is the recognized authority on this area for those of us that don't speak other languages well, and don't live there.He is also correct in stating that the riding in this region is addictive.

I was introduced to this book by a friend who bought it as a gift for a family member. I asked to borrow it, and to my amazement I could not believe all the information and history the book contained. I immediately started searching the web for a copy. This book is a "keeper" for anyone who owns or has an interest in a Harley! I cant wait to see what Dieter & Oluf write about Harleys next!

This is one of those books that can be identified as the book of books on Harley-Davidson. If you own a Harley, this book is a MUST HAVE. If you don't have a Harley, you will want to get one after reading this bok and after looking at all the terrific pictures. It is a two volume set, now out of publish. To find this may be hard, but check for this with Amazon's serach for books that are out of print. Because this book is two volumes and is coffee table size, it can be read, looked at and studied by many. This is the Bible of Harley. Without a question, if anyone picks this book up with the interst of bikes they will love it. FIVE STARS AL THE WAY!

The Author of this two book set succeeds in something that all Harley-Davidson riders have, at one time or another, tried to do. Explain why we have this love affair with 650+ pounds of oil, steel and Milwaukee Thunder, and a lifestyle of unspoken Brotherhood. Words in themselves would not be enough, but the pictures therein speak volumes to us who, "Live to Ride - Ride to Live. I am sure that they will speak the same to you too.

As a MX and Offroad rider for over 2 decades, I thought I had a pretty good grasp of my riding ability....and my weaknesses....until I read this book. After applying the techniques and practicing them on the track, it was easy to feel the difference in how I handle difficult situations....easy to see where I fall into the most common, simple to cure, mistakes that make the race a battle with myself more than the guy ahead of me....and it was obvious how much faster my laptimes were. On my website at MotoxMadness, I only recommend one book that every rider should read...this one. Use it and it will change your life. See ya' on the track!

I just started racing and this book is very helpful. It practicly tells all the Pro riders secrets and tips. Also, it has sections where Gary Semic (A professonal teacher who teaches Jeremey McGrath)gives inside information on just about everything. If you like to ride Dirt Bikes and possibly thinking of racing, or just tooling around, THIS is THE book to own!

Really helpful for all riders. No matter if you are a beginner or pro, motocrosser or off-road, this book will help improve your skills. Uses lots of cool photos.

This is just a gorgeous book, I had the old Gary Semics manual, it was black and white photocopy stuff, this new book has all the Gary Semics stuff with updates and many sections covering different terrains, bikes and setups. The pictures are outstanding, I showed it to my dirtbike buddies and everyone wanted to buy their own copy. They usually copy the stuff so that says a lot about the quality. The information is of the highest quality, Gary Semics is maybe the top motocross teacher in the world, and his "47 absolute techniques of motocross" WILL make you a better rider even if you just ride for fun with your friends. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

This is an excellent book for improving your skills and preventing the spills. The pictures and instructions are so well written that anybody can understand and apply the techniques. A huge variety of topics for both trail riders and motocross racers, this book has plenty to offer all riders at any experience level. The chapters and subjects are well organized and easy to read. You will not be disappointed..

My husband and I both ride... but he's the one who rides on the dirt as well as the road. He's been looking for a book like this for ages, and was elated when I presented it to him as a birthday gift. It's packed with information and pictures on off-road riding, which requires techinques that no-one seems to write about - but it's all here in this book. A must buy.

This is a no nonsense book of some very devious people who were outlaws in morotcycle gangs serving self and their evil ways selling drugs, getting high, beating up people and just being real bad keeping up with the outlaw biker image. You'll learn of the gang initiations and the brutal nature of the biker gang if you upset them. Most were filled with an angry rage ready to unleash at any moment of provocation, which they did so frequently. Jail, prison, theft, hatred is just some of the personal anguish they experienced. Suddenly, these hard-core bikers come to an end point of total frustration and failure, even sickness and are saved by God, Jesus Christ, and tell about their rotten lives without God and how wonderful life is with the Lord. These men and women (and the girls were tough bikers, too) tell it all in a personal interview format. This is no small book and the cover and paper is of high gloss quality. If you want to know about bad people living in a bad life then this book can bring you face to face with these outlaw bikers who are now living for the Lord and are happy tell you their story! There are dozens of motorcycle pictures in this book with photos of the gang members and 263 pages of very interesting true crime reading. There are pages that reveal cruel tortures, so it's not a book for children. These are true stories by those who have commited crimes while operating inside the dark world of the outlaw biker lifestyle.

Remsberg's powerful and intimate photographs imbue his subjects with a dignity too often missing from studies of people living at the margins of society. Though Riders for God is worth the price for the photos alone (the Blessing of the Bikes is brilliant), it is much more than an art book. Remsberg elicits from his subjects the startling truths that belie the easy stereotypes conjured by the notion of Christian bikers. I found the powerful stories of redemption gripping and utterly unexpected. Rather than masking or exploiting their interior lives, Remsberg's photographs reveal. Remsberg's patience and gently prodding curiosity make him a wonderful guide connecting the reader with people generally regarded as marginal or simple. While he remains an outsider to the gang, he clearly gains their respect along with their candor.

This finely crafted book offers a fascinating look at a world that is doubly obscure: the mind-set and lifestyle of outlaw bikers and the world of religious extremists. Remsberg's photos are mesmerizing. And his text, which reveals these unique bikers in their own words, is equally compelling. Anyone with curiosity about human nature will be engrossed from the first page on.

Bikers from all walks of life, professional and blue collar,
articulate their "wisdom for the ride", accompanied by some great
pictures. All this in an elegantly designed package small
enough to put in your pocket or saddle bags. A timeless "big"
little book that really gives you your moneys' worth. 'Two
thumbs up, way up"

I was just a kid when I was sitting on the back of a bike and holding on for dear life. My arms around these two wide shoulders holding on with a vice like grip. I trusted my father and I knew he would never put me in danger. I remember the sound of the engine and the wind as we broke through some kind of a sound barrier or something. The sharp turns that we didn't slow down for and for sure I was going to fall off.The sounds and the screaming of the wind were a memory I grew up with.I didn't realize it then but it was the most exhilarating memory of my life.
It all came back as I breezed through my new copy of The Biker Code. Was it the fear of getting on the bike or was it just something that I just never got around to doing?
Every page brought me closer to that memory so very long ago. Did I just see my old man on one of the bikes or was I just looking for him? Why did I run away from it? Is it not to late? My God, how I just love all of those free spirited souls on every page. Is it not too late to go back to those memories?
A great book. An emotional journey. Maybe a dream that can be lived again.

This book changed the way I drive around bikers...because I didn't really understand their vulnerability, AND because I didn't appreciate their strengths. This book shows a side of bikers that non-bikers (like myself) need to see. It is both beautiful and moving.

It's been some time since I last read this biography of Wayne Rainey, but I certainly remember the emotions, and especially the growing pride, I felt with each turned page. The writing was very easy to read, and the content flowed well from Wayne's childhood and foundation of a Champion in the making, through his personal relationships, and to the present (time of writing). I recommend this book to all that loved to watch his battles with Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz, Freddie Spencer, and Mick Doohan, and wish to simply know more about the Champion. And I recommend it to anyone that thinks the world and life aren't fair. Perservere!

Wayne Rainey is my favorite Road Racer. This book really let's you know what it takes to be a World Champion and the struggle when its taking away. For any race fan this book is a must have!

I met wayne as a fan in 1987 at Road Atlanta when he rode for Honda after having read so many magazines about him.I never Heard of Kevin Schwantz until that weekend and Wayne despite being very busy, courteously found time to have Shay take a photo of both of us and give me an autograph.He was so receptive and pleasant.That weekend I watched in awe his amazing battle against Kevin's Suzuki and would never forget that day for the rest of my life.Then I continued to watch him on TV from 1988 to that fateful day.The book brought tears and lumps in my throat.This book tells it all and is a must buy.I am also a racer a know the will and the determination to win at all costs.This book also helps us analyze ourselves and our personal relationship with GOD.A precious collector's item to have.

This book is really good because there's a mouse that gets a motorcycle. I mean it's possum like he gets the motorcycle and he rides it by buzzing his lips it's cool. I mean sure it's a younger audience book but it's still possum I mean a mouse on a motorcycle what's not cool about that????? The characters are cool the boy helps the mouse's family just because he's nice. The setting is an old hotel in Los Angeles on 4th of July weekend the boy's father refuses to drive until the weekend is over. The mouse gets into an exciting adventure but I won't tell you about that. It's really exciting and entertaining I highly recommend it to anyone who likes an adventure. The mouse's father died so his mother doesn't like him to adventure but he does it anyways. All of his family to aunts and uncles live in the hotel. It even includes elements of old nursery rhymes.

I believe that Beverly Cleary is the world's most important children's author. Even adults will read and enjoy Beverly Cleary's books. my personal favorite is The Mouse and the Motorcycle. It is about a mouse named Ralph. Ralph is a regular speed demon. He has a love for the thrill of speed. The Mouse and the Motorcycle teaches the values of keeping promises and honesty. Ralph is always breaking promises. Everytime he does, something happens that causes a big problem. The book teaches respect. When Ralph ignores his mother, something happens like falling in a wastepaper basket. In the story's conclusion, Ralph realizes all he wants is to be a respectable mouse. The Mouse and the Motorcycle is enjoyable for all audiences. Its fun and exciting plot makes it a good read-aloud story. A good example of this can be found on page 23. "There it was at the end-the motorcycle! Ralph stared at it and then walked over and kicked a tire. Close up the motorcycle looked even better than he expected. it was new and shiny with a good pair of tires. Ralph walked all the way around it, examining the pair of chromium mufflers and the engine and the hand clutch. It even had a little license plate so it would be legal to ride it. "Boy!" Ralph said to himself, his whiskers quivering with excitement. "Boy, oh Boy!"." Every boy and girl of any age would love this story! Comparing Beverly Cleary's books, I have discovered they should be rated first. The majority of children's books are aimed mainly to young girls while Beverly Cleary's books are enjoyed by girls and boys. Beverly Cleary's books promote good values unlike books such as Sideways Storys from Wayside School by Louis Sachar. The children in these stories do not respect their elders. Beverly Cleary's beleivable characters make her silly plots seem real. Louis Sachar's characters are not believable which make the plot just plain weird. The Mouse and the Motorcycle should be considered a children's classic.

Th Mouse and the Motorcycle, by Beverly Cleary, is the hilarious story of a mouse, a boy, and a toy motorcycle. This the most comical, action-packed story I have ever read. I think that Keith is a young, generous boy who gives Ralph his two most prized possessions, a toy motorcycle and a crash helmet. I love the way Mrs. Cleary portrays Ralph as a medium-sized mouse who is bold, funny, and adventurous. I love how Mrs. Cleary writes her books; when I read them, it seems as though they come alive! Her language is sparkling and well written. This book makes me want to read all of Beverly Cleary's books!

I bought this book with about 5000 miles of riding experience and it has helped alot. This is a book that every motorcyclist should own. The author also writes a monthly column for "motorcycle consumer news" by the same title. check out this link it is a good example of what the book is about http://www.mcnews.com/ It explains in detail the physics behind what the bike is doing and why. I believe the book has made me a smarter safer rider. It will do the same for you. It also includes actual practice skills for you to improve your riding. great book. In addition take a motorcycle safety foundation riding course, log in to www.msf.org

This is an excellent book for any one riding a motorcycle on the street. Even if you are an experienced rider this book is worth a read. If you have riden in the past, maybe even for years, but have not been on a bike in some time this is a great way to catch up on the latest strategies to be safe out there. It is well written (a pleasant surprise in this kind of book) and presents the information in a very easy to understand way. It's even entertaining! You can read it over a weekend.

The techniques presented in this one book, if practiced and followed, will make you a better and safer rider. It worked for me. Until something better comes along this one is THE book to read on the topic of riding street bikes safely. It will also make a good reference to use for brushing up when certain skills get rusty.

Ride on the street? Have not read this book? Just get it.

Very easy to read and very informative. Each of the chapters can be read on their own but you may want to read the first chapter on the first reading. I recommend this book with out hesitation for all riders but especially for beginning riders. The chapter on low speed maneuvers will on it's own be worthwhile to beginners. Of course, the best way to continuously learn new riding techniques is to continuously consider yourself a beginner (in the mind of a beginner their are many possibilities, in the mind of an expert, few).

This book is not and does not try to be a shop manual. What it is, is a well-done primer on the theory behind the various systems in a motorcycle. The chapter on engines was fascinating to me. It explains, in rough historical/chronological order, the development of various engine designs, and how each was a reponse to weaknesses in previous designs and how each one introduced it own problems (while at the same time older designs were tweaked in various ways to minimize problems). The design variations include number of cyllinders, number of crankshafts, orientation of cyllinders with respect to each other, orientation of the crankshaft with respect to the motorcycle, ratio of bore diameter to stroke length, various arrangements of valve trains, etc. Two stroke engines are also covered. Illustrations are extensive, but tend to be pulled from other books or from manufacturers manuals, so sometimes include unnecessary detail, especially in the carburation chapter (which was very complex and a little over my head). Some chapters (e.g., exhaust systems) were not as detailed as the engine chapter and were slightly disappointing.

I followed this book up with Keith Cameron's Sportbike Performance Hankbook, which explains some systems in more detail. Cameron's book is ostensibly a book for souping up your motorcycle, but in the end managed to convince me that I want to keep my bike stock unless I don't plan to use it on the street: the manufacturers generally know what they are doing.

One caveat about Motorcycle Basics Manual: the book was authored in England and uses U.K. terminology. A glossary at the end gives U.S. equivalents, but a few things are left out.

In the first review of this book are the words: "Don't expect this book to allow you to fix your bike."

This is absolutely true: this book is for people with little or no mechanic knowledge -- it's a great primer, but is NOT any use as a workshop reference.

If you already know something about bikes, this book will teach you little new (although it was nice to finally learn what a desmodromic valve was :)

I'm a young(ish) woman who is absolutely new to the world of motorcycles. I bought this book from Amazon after reading through the posted reviews, and am pleased to say that it was an excellent purchase.


I really don't have anything to compare this book to, but I can say that it has been a wonderful introduction to the nuts and bolts of motorcycles. I never really understood what constituted an engine before picking up this book, but now I can talk intelligently on many mechanical matters with my grease-monkey mates. It's also a great reference when you're struck by a killer question about the intricacies of gear shifting, or whatever.


The book's only drawback, from my point of view, is that the text is rather dense, which makes it slightly daunting to sit down with. All in all though, my thanks and congratulations go out to the author.