Topic: Motorcyle Book Recommendations (or other)?

[xtalon]

Well, Spring is here and Summer is right around the corner and this is when I do most of my reading.  I have never read a motorcycle related book other than say Motocourse, but I would be very interested in reading some.  I vaguely remember seeing a couple recommendations in other threads, but I didn't write anything down.  Any good recommendations?

I'm not talking about technical books here, more the freedom of the open road, at one with nature and the World type books, cross country touring or world touring by motorcycle, etc.

Even if you don't have a motorcycle related book per se, even if it is a book that represents the same type spirit that motorcycling represents, feel free to mention it.

-xTalon

[mcpuffett]

You may want to try Jupiters Travels , The Long Way Round, anybody else think of some good books?  , cheers mick.

[TedT]

Definitely Long Way Round, Both of Peter Egan's Leanings books, and I'd also have to say Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig.  I can't think of any other ones off the top of my head, but those are the ones I read and re-read in my own library.

[nickjtc]

If you have a mind for some 'training' type reading, David Hough writes good stuff. Proficient Motorcycling is one of his.

http://motorcycles.about.com/cs/otherbooks/gr/proficmoto.htm

[Raul CB750K1]

Last easter I read "The perfect vehicle", by Melissa Holbrook Pierson. Pretty entertaining as it dwells very much into the psychology of why people get attracted to motorcycles. The only thing I didn't like much is that sometimes it got excessively "sentimental" -no wonder being written by a woman- and many times it seemed a Moto Guzzi product placement -as the author had a couple of Guzzis.

Next weekend we have two extra days off, and I have the ubiquitous "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" ready.

I second the David L. Hough reccomendation. I've read "Proficient motorcycling" and "Street strategies". "More proficient motorcycling" is on the waiting list. "A Twist of the wrist" (1 and 2) are also in the waiting list, they deal with riding techniques.


Raul

[Cvillechopper]

It's been said already but Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a must at some point.  The philosophy section(many snipits really) isn't as well thought out as Persig's follow-up Lila some 20 years later but the approach to life changed mine early enough that I ended up with a SOHC and loving every nuckle-busting, wrench dropping moment, part breaking moment.

Another, although not about motorcycles but about journeys, that I'd recommend is Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon.  It's a cross-country trip in a van along the less traveled roads (i.e. blue highways on the map).  It's been a while but I remember enjoying the approach to each mundane stop as anything but.

[mick750F]

   I found "Investment Biker" by Jim Rogers to be a great read. There's a better synopsis of it here... http://books.global-investor.com/books/16018.htm ...than I can give. It's much more about the journey than it is about investment but it gives some good insight to the world economy and cultures too. It's almost laughable though how he and his girlfriend start out on the trip. Him on his spiffy BMW GS and her on an older BMW street bike. Kind of makes you wonder about his judgement...

Mike

[ieism]

I just got "The Honda Story" from the library, an illustrated history on Honda road and racing motorcycles. You'll finish it in a day or two, half of it is pictures, but It had some interesting stuff in it.

http://www.themotorbookstore.com/hostroandram.html

[tmht]

Though I have yet to pick it up... I have heard really good things about the Colin Seeley biography that came out recently.

[martini]

Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson is an interesting look into a bizzare subculture.

[Rushoid]

I've mentioned these before on another thread. Neal Peart is the drummer and lyricist for Rush. Yes, I'm a little biased, but he gets good reviews. I've only read Ghost Rider so far, but plan to read the others. Here's a brief synopsis from Wikipedia:

Peart is the author of four non-fiction books, the latest released in September of 2006. His growth as an author predates the published work by several years (not including his work as Rush's primary lyricist), through private letters and short travelogues sent out to a small circle of friends and family.

The Masked Rider: Cycling In West Africa

Written in 1996 about a month-long bicycling tour through Cameroon in November of 1988. Written in the first person, the book allows the reader to follow Peart through towns and villages, with four fellow riders. This was not Peart's first cycling tour, but it proves to be one of the most difficult. The original had a limited print run, but after the critical and commercial success of Neil's second book, "Masked Rider" was re-issued (with slightly different cover art) and remains in print as of 2006.

Ghost Rider: Travels On The Healing Road

Being as popular as Rush are, the tragedies that befell Peart over a ten month span were widely reported through the media. Peart and the rest of the band were always able to keep his private life at a distance from his public image in Rush (very much by choice). "Ghost Rider" is again a first-person narrative of Peart on the road, now on motorcycle, in an effort to put his life back together as he embarked on an extensive journey across North America.

Traveling Music: The Soundtrack Of My Life And Times

Deciding to take a road trip, this time by car, Peart reflects on his life, his career, his family and the thing that ties them all together: Music. This book follows Peart still carrying emotional scars, but building a new life. As with his previous two books, "Traveling Music" is a first-person account.

Roadshow: Landscape With Drums, A Concert Tour By Motorcycle

Thirty years after Peart joined Rush, the band found itself on its 30th anniversary tour. Released in September of 2006 (see Peart's Official Website), this book chronicles that tour both from behind Neil's drumkit and on his motorcycle.

[TedT]

It's been said already but Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a must at some point.  The philosophy section(many snipits really) isn't as well thought out as Persig's follow-up Lila some 20 years later but the approach to life changed mine early enough that I ended up with a SOHC and loving every nuckle-busting, wrench dropping moment, part breaking moment.

Another, although not about motorcycles but about journeys, that I'd recommend is Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon.  It's a cross-country trip in a van along the less traveled roads (i.e. blue highways on the map).  It's been a while but I remember enjoying the approach to each mundane stop as anything but.

I agree completely.  Finding that book by chance one day set me on a total path to motorcycle ownership and my mentality towards caring for my own bike.  That, and as I found out a few years back, the fact that he was riding a CB77 when he wrote that book.

[xtalon]

WoW, I didn't expect to get so many responses.  All these should last me quite a while.  Thanks for all the recommendations!

Now to choose one or two from the list... 

Thanks again!

--xTalon

PS Keep them recommendations coming if you have them.  Hopefully others will find them useful too.

[gerhed]

I'd say "The Bikeriders" by Danny Lyon
--About the Chicago Outlaws of the early 60's--interesting look at a bunch of guys most of whom
probably didn't make into the 70's.  Barnes & Noble may not carry this one.
Please note: I stole the pose for my avatar.

[Chris Liston]

Kieth Code,  Twist of the Wrist 1 and 2

[Vatch]

Last easter I read "The perfect vehicle", by Melissa Holbrook Pierson. Pretty entertaining as it dwells very much into the psychology of why people get attracted to motorcycles. The only thing I didn't like much is that sometimes it got excessively "sentimental" -no wonder being written by a woman- and many times it seemed a Moto Guzzi product placement -as the author had a couple of Guzzis.
Raul

I read it last year. It was interesting to read about how people get into bikes.  I guess I didn't realize Guzzi's had such a cult following, but agreed, a little Guzzi heavy.    ZAMM is always a classic. 

A completely different type of cycle book, "The Rebels" (can't remember author).  I read it a couple years ago.  About a graduate student from Canada that does his dissertation (sociology I believe) on becoming a member of a 1%er MC.  It was academically written, but an interesting read given the topic.  Found it by accident on a shelf in a unviersity library.