Topic: the CB750K book: need your opinions, please.

[HondaMan]

I'm getting to the last chapter (Reassembly) and the last hundred pix or so. I've found that I've had to re-edit about 50% of the color pictures if I'm going to print them in monochrome, and the results are not always full of the information I'm trying to convey (like, "Notice the brown and yellow marks on the wristpins where..."). Color tells a much longer story for each picture than black & white will.

The binding costs for a paperback are about the same as a 3-ring binder version with tabs and an updatable "appendix" format of some sort. I lose control over the pictures if I turn it over to a conventioanl publisher, and they dictate how the pictures will look. Umm...I'm not crazy about that idea: I've seen too many Chilton printings...

Xerox announced some very low-cost new color laser technology, to be available in a month or so. This makes me interested in making the books here (well, having my wife make them, actually, while I rebuild bikes...she has printing experience).

So, I'd like to hear the audience's comments, please?
(No, it won't come in CD or digital form, for obvious reasons - I've got well over 1000 hours in it and probably twice that much in dollar costs, so far.)

Thanks,
HM

[GammaFlat]

I'm patiently (ok, not so patiently) awaiting the book.  I guess the format will be dictated some by cost but I believe there will be "price insensitivity" to a point.  Folks will want the color version and the cheaper of bound and three ring - I imagine it might be nice to walk in the garage with the 3 pages you need instead of trying to prop open a bound book.  ...my humble opinion. 

There are a few bikes in my garage waiting for your book so they may drink from the fountain of HondaMan publishing.    ..or at least they're waiting for their owner (Me) to obtain and read the book  

[the technological J]

is your book a technical how to or a historical documentation of modifications? a tech book would be cool in the binder but if its more a reading book  than a teaching book then spare little expense and traditional bindings..... im buying one either way....(do u autograph them for members?)

[bucky katt]

i think a 3 ring, updateable format would be cool.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

If you can do the color cheaply enough and it's better quality than the B&W then that only makes sense.

[lordmoonpie]

Well I think colour is always better - even in exploded engine diagrams you can show oil flow in colour etc. to and from the pump. I'd go for colour and properly bound myself and hang the cost - ring binders tend to get damaged more easily than a decent bound book. I presume you'll send to this side of the pond HM?

[mick7504]

I agree with LMP - Hang the expense.
Give the cat another canary - As the saying goes.
For the amount of time and effort, let alone the cost that has gone into it so far I really think that a professional publication by a professional bloke should also have a professional look.

[lrutt]

Are you intending this book to be the 750k equivalent of the excellent Guzziology book that he Moto Guzzi fans have available?

All depends on exactly what the intent of this book is. If it's to be a type of shop manual then the 3 ring is the way to go as the pages will lay flat to refer to on the shop bench. If it's to be a coffee table type book then def bound.

[andy750]

Bound or 3-ring binder would work for me but definitely would like the colour. Expense is not the issue here and Ill be getting a copy regardless (unless you sell out ;-)).

Good luck!
Andy

[SteveD CB500F]

I can organise distribution here if we can arrange a multiple order for the UK (and hence save a bit on postage?)


Steve

[mystic_1]

Color print in a three-ring binder would be my vote.  I'll be putting mine into page protectors personally to avoid the greasy thumb prints like on my other shop manuals

mystic_1

[Raul CB750K1]

Three-ring will make it easy to scan and share - therefore, go to the bound version.

I have myself download quite a few books from the internet, but I've discovered that many times it is more expensive to print them myself than to buy the book. You will probably have already done the math, but if the price is right, most of the people would rather buy than print. It happens with me specially with books with pictures as opposed to text. Text is informative and it doesn't matter much from where do you read. Pictures are entertaining and you always come back to enjoy them, and the enjoyment also comes from where you are looking to. It is not the same a professional bound book than a bunch of scanned copies, badly printed in my home printer.

[Simpson]

Put me down for a color copy, as I really enjoy reading Hondaman's posts.
Either formats is fine.

[HondaMan]

I can organise distribution here if we can arrange a multiple order for the UK (and hence save a bit on postage?)


Steve

Good idea! I'll get with you when it's ready. 

[HondaMan]

is your book a technical how to or a historical documentation of modifications? a tech book would be cool in the binder but if its more a reading book  than a teaching book then spare little expense and traditional bindings..... im buying one either way....(do u autograph them for members?)

It's definitely WAY technical. Each section includes a theory portion on how the parts work (like carbs, alternators, suspension geometry and such). It's step-by-step for the most part, if you're trying to build/tear down/rebuild a 750K model.

(Autographs!? Who in the world would want me writing in their book? Wouldn't that take the Newness away?) I'm just an old guy who really likes these bikes...

[MCRider]

Color print in a three-ring binder would be my vote.  I'll be putting mine into page protectors personally to avoid the greasy thumb prints like on my other shop manuals

mystic_1

I agree. Assuming it is a working shop manual, I have mine in 3 ring binders whenever possible.

Maybe if it was a coffee table book, it should be bound.

I agree with any and all efforts to secure it from bootlegging. That may pre-clude a 3 ring version per Raul. Maybe 3 ring versions only available if one buys the bound version. Be tough about it.

Maybe if one buys an expensive bound copy you could discount a shop copy (3 ring binder). But you said the costs were about the same. Maybe color in the coffee table book, B&W in the shop version.  Just thinking out loud.

I have a Clymers in my library that stays clean, and one in my shop that's all mucked up.

[MCRider]

I have voted 3-ring, color, but that is my selfish preference, but that doesn't accurately reflect my feelings. See my post above.

[BobbyR]

I would say color, and just shrink wrap the pages 3 hole punched, I would put it in my own binder. What would a binder cost us and it would lower you intial outlay.

[Bob Wessner]

I would say color, and just shrink wrap the pages 3 hole punched, I would put it in my own binder. What would a binder cost us and it would lower you intial outlay.

Good idea.

[lordmoonpie]

It's definitely WAY technical. Each section includes a theory portion on how the parts work (like carbs, alternators, suspension geometry and such). It's step-by-step for the most part, if you're trying to build/tear down/rebuild a 750K model.

(Autographs!? Who in the world would want me writing in their book? Wouldn't that take the Newness away?) I'm just an old guy who really likes these bikes...

Great that it's technical - even better signed by the legendary HondaMan, put me down for a signed copy

[moham]

It's definitely WAY technical. Each section includes a theory portion on how the parts work (like carbs, alternators, suspension geometry and such). It's step-by-step for the most part, if you're trying to build/tear down/rebuild a 750K model.

(Autographs!? Who in the world would want me writing in their book? Wouldn't that take the Newness away?) I'm just an old guy who really likes these bikes...

Great that it's technical - even better signed by the legendary HondaMan, put me down for a signed copy

ditto for this guy (pointing at self)...

[Henning]

Do it properly, which in my opinion is a bound book with color illustrations. A few points:

- Will work better in libraries
- Get the whole project out of the door once and for all
- Free your wife for more sensible pursuits
- Free you to work on revision 1 

Judging by your contributions to this site, it should be THE reference book to the SOHC 750, which means it will be around for a loooong time, and may never be bettered. Here again a bound book will work better. We will just have to pay what it costs. But, judging by the way the dollar is going, it should be a cheapie for us foreigners.

And yeah, expect a lot of comments from here, which is why you need time to work on revision 1.

Any idea on prices?

[mystic_1]

I would say color, and just shrink wrap the pages 3 hole punched, I would put it in my own binder. What would a binder cost us and it would lower you intial outlay.

That's really good thinking actually.  I'd be for this option.

You could offer a bound version for an extra fee for those who want it that way.

mystic_1

[Old Scrambler]

If its a technical manual.............print it as a manual.  The thoughts of revisions or add-ons would make it attractive to the truely interested users of the information.  After the first year or so of revisions or corrections, you could go for a library-quality bound book with a narrative introduction and history of yourself and your bikes.

I like the signed manual for SOHC members.

Bill Silver printed a spiral-bound set of manuals for the HONDA 250 and 305 twins.  Several photo-copies have been made and occasionally both versions are re-sold on ebay.  He now offers the updated info on DVD but only has B/W photos.  Either way, you will always have someone interested in making copies.  If you sign the manuals with a special blue ink, it may not be copied........at least not on low-quality equipment.

Put me down for two originals........that way I won't be tempted to give my brother-in-law a copy!   

[Ricky_Racer]

For my purposes, a three-ring binder format would be preferable if for no other reason than I could copy a page to use in the workshop without risking damage to the original. Based on your forum postings (which I've normally saved in an edited pdf format) I think this is going to be a heck of a tech tip/manual and you may (as do even the best authors) want to provide revisions and additions.  I'd be more than happy to provide my own 3-ring binder and perhaps add a section of blank paper in the back for my own build notes.

So my vote (whatever that's worth) would be for a shrink wrapped, hole punched, color printed bundle of Hondaman's wisdom on all things SOHC!    RR