Classic Bike Guide - Real rides, real riders

Book review: June 2010

This month's book reviews by Classic Bike Guide.

We have teamed up with Amazon UK to allow you to purchase many of them on-line at reduced prices.

If you have a title you'd like us to review, please drop the CBG team a line from our contact page.

Joey Dunlop – The Biography

If you think you’ve seen this before, you’d be right for this is a reissue on the 10th anniversary of the Irishman’s death.

While never making it all the way in World Superbike or GPs, Joey Dunlop carved out a potentially unbeatable TT record with 26 wins. He was idolised by thousands and held in high esteem by Honda, to whom he gave service for most of his career.

This was a man for whom a handshake was a binding contract – a facet of the man’s character that is sadly lacking in most people these days – who worked on his own machines, ran a pub and selflessly delivered aid to conflict areas of Bosnia, Albania and Romania. A man for whom 50,000 people turned out at his funeral.

It’s a great book, hardbacked 192 pager, with countless images, both colour and mono, especially from his early days in the Armoy Armada. Author Mac McDiarmid takes a close look at the man from career, personal and behind the scenes. It’s published by Haynes and retails at £25.

ISBN 978 1 84425 940 3.

However, the lovely Rebecca at Eventageous PR Ltd, has very kindly given us five copies to offer up to you – and all you have to do to be in with a chance of winning this fine tome is to answer this question correctly and send your effort into CBG Joey Dunlop competition, at the usual Horncastle address.

WIN! this book in our June 2010 Competition>>

Buy from Amazon: Joey Dunlop: His Authorised Biography

How to restore your motorcycle

While starting out armed with a basic workshop manual, a few spanners and a bucket load of enthusiasm is as good a way as any to restore a motorcycle, it sometimes help to have a book like this which can often point you in a direction of which you’d never previously thought. This is the second edition of a 192 page softback – a little shorter than A4 – compiled by our very 'American Idle' Mark Zimmerman.

It’s a little different in that it doesn’t focus on one particular machine, but takes in many from the likes of Honda’s Benly, to Vincent’s Rapide including all the regular stuff such as setting up your workshop, painting, polishing, valves, cams, timing, gearboxes, wheels, bearings, forks etc, but also electricals, electronic ignitions, fuel injection, suspension etc. It’s brilliantly photographed, which helps the explanations – in all a very well researched and thought out work. Handy.

It’s published by Motorbooks, in the USA, and distributed in the UK by Grantham Book Services, at Trent Road, Grantham NG31 7XQ. Tel 01476 541000. See www.granthambookservices.co.uk. Price is £18.99.

ISBN 978 0 7603 3772 1.

Buy from Amazon: How to Restore Your Motorcycle (Motorbooks Workshop)

MotoGP Technology

Hardly the stuff of the average classic motorcyclist, however, the engineers among you will find this glossy hardback, by Neil Spalding, fascinating. The 272 page book begins with the 990cc machines and then moves on to the present 800s, taking a close look at the designs and the insides of all the factory teams’ machines. As well as the mechanics, the chassis designs, brakes and electronic, the book explains gyroscopic effects and aerodynamics. Deep but written in an easy way, so that the reader does not bog down in tech-speak and confusing figures. Interesting.

Published by Haynes, retails at £25.

ISBN is 978 1 84425 834 5.

Buy from Amazon: MotoGP Technology

Harley-Davidson – All the motorcycles

If anyone wants to know anything about any Harley-Davidson, then this book is for you. Compiled by Mathew Gerst and published by Haynes, it’s a Harley book with a difference, in that it documents in detail all models, singles, twins, trikes, scooters and strokers from 1903 to the launch of the Evolution models in 1983. There’s a complete technical specification, plus performance and production figures, all complemented by first class photographs of both restored examples and original archive material

It’s a comprehensive hardback from Haynes, of 400 pages, it’ll stand on your shelf at 10in high x 7in wide and will cost you £25.

ISBN 978 1 84425 676 1.

Buy from Amazon: Harley-Davidson: All the Motorcyles 1903-1983