1 comments about How-To: Advanced Custom Motorcycle Chassis.

1. Motorcyclists involved in either building a bike from scratch or adding to a factory chassis will appreciate the photo-packed, project-oriented "How To: Advanced Custom Motorcycle Chassis", which discusses upgrades, frames, assembly specs and more. Over 400 color images accompany details on what to buy and how to assemble all kinds of parts, including sidebars of information from industry leaders. A 'must' for any collection catering to motorcycle hobbyists.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

1 comments about The Custom Painting Idea Book: Cars, Motorcycles, Trucks (Idea Book).

1. Joann Bortles is a great painter if you've seen her stuff in the magazines. This book has a ton of great info about painting, how to get your concept just right, what to ask your painter. But the best part is that it's filled with photos of custom bikes, cars, and trucks. If you're stuck on where to go with your project, start here.

5 comments about Fast Company: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Motorcycles in Italy.

1. Different..... a great read. My daughter lived in Bologna for a few years, and I visited the city which made the book more interesting to me. It really helps to have spent time in the culture on this one. After you get over the funny "attempt" to cover up the Ducati name..very wierd...it's just a wild ride through a culture on many different levels.
   Don't read this book to get page after page of mototcycle details. This is a story about people and culture that produce the bikes from the viewpoint of an outsider..who in the end becomes a part of it all. I enjoyed the writing style and content more because it's a true story.



2. Within captivating literary style, Gross's portrayals illuminate an Italian world as it is now, and this is clearly not the world of "Room with a view". Surely the Italian journals and "Corriere della Sera" are well versed with the struggles of Italian boutique businesses trying to meet the challenge of growth to an international level, but to follow the chain of events of Ducati from within and during a major transitional effort is a special gift. To become acquainted with personal and detailed snapshots of corporate design processes and the trials of prima donna designers is equally rewarding, and sheds a fair light on recent Ducati products. From the beach exploits and dreams of characters depicted, one senses the struggles of modern young Italians. Add to this the author's struggle to rationalize infatuation with a young and arrogant love, and one finds another level or dimension of the Italy of today. This love may have equally been heterosexual, it's characteristics in modern day Italy would have been the same. The vignette descriptions ranging from learning to ride a motorcycle, different bikes, and tours reach out to the motorcyclist in all of us, as these motivate us to reach beyond ourselves whether or not a leg is thrown over a bike. This is a book for everyone where one truly gains a view into the beauty, challenge, and flavor of Italy today. On other levels, having been an Italian ex-pat for three years, ridden motorcycles for 30 years, and a Ducatista for 15 years, this book has touched on many levels and reminds of the need to return.



3. The book was a good read on several levels. As a motorcycle
   enthusiast and as a designer.. the stories from Ducati.. the inner
   workings.. design process.. people were fascinating. Having worked
   with all sorts of clients and designers I related easily to the events.
   Bologna was presented in vivid descriptions, with its culture,
   people, society coming to life. I kept having flashbacks to my 2
   years in Milano as well as subsequent visits. I toured most of Italy
   but sadly I only stopped at the train station in Bologna. Hopefully
   on a future trip I can go to Bologna and visit Ducati.
   I thought the sections at the seaside were hilarious.... the descriptions
   were like Fellini on Jolt cola I was more exhausted with those stories than
   the moto giro ones.
   The sections on the MotoGiro were also very compelling for one that rides a
   motorcycle....the good, the bad, the ugly, the danger, the exhilaration were all there.
   Personal life was interesting, full of irony, but in the end none of my business.
   Throughout the book I especially enjoyed kind of a deadpan
   description of the theater of the absurd that is Italy..left me with
   lot's to think about.



4. It is almost as much fun to wonder how David Gross, in a "inside Italian motorcycles" book learns so much, so fast. But he is smart, and he falls in love with Italy in more ways than one. Arriving in Bologna, Italy as "creative director" of the newly financially juggled - hell, can I say that it was "Ducati" now? - motorcycle company, the author adjusts quickly, first seizing upon advertising strategies that center on visualizing Italian grit, and helping to inject a world personality into what the cognoscenti know is the world's most sexy motorcycle.
   We're reminded of the woman - a non-motorcyclist - who once gazed on a 1973 Ducati "Super Sport" 750 cc. twin (upon which the modern dukes evolved), and exclaimed, "This is the most beautiful motorcycle I've ever seen!"
   And so it is. The imagistic makeover is spliced by Gross'es personal introduction to what we had always heard - that Italy is wild, vain - and unlike the United States - more than mildly corrupt.
   `Fast Company' gives hilarious portraits of "crazy genius" motorcycle designers, their temper tantrums, roaming union gangs, and hair-raising motorcycle rides on the cobblestones.
   This is a fast-paced, well-written book, tracking the birth of the single-cylindered dukes (great vintage road racers today!). It deftly changes names and dances away from potential lawsuits in a chase for grace and meaning.
   In the end, you'll not quite understand the Italian mystery, but for sure, you'll get stylish prose from David Gross, say, the antithesis of a Harley book, which will never get beyond its own narcissism. "Fast Company" is for fans of the finest - a literary rocket for the mountain road.



5. "Fast Company," the first book by David M. Gross, is an amazingly rich and detailed account of an American businessman's life in Bologna Italy. Unlike many recent accounts of Italy dripping with overtly idealized romanticism, David instead takes on a much more challenging task. Without the crutches of good vs. evil dichotomies, moralizing, descriptions of fantastical feats or extremes in characterization; David has composed an insightful book that allows his readers to truly observe Italy and its people from a beautifully lyrical yet thoroughly grounded perspective. This feat is only possible due to the author's own depth of experience as both a business man, lover, and passionate motorcyclist.
   
   This account skillfully manages to mix the seemingly disparate worlds of love, business, sport, and culture into an account that as often frustrates as it gives cause for laughter or deep reflection. We learn the difference between language and communication with David as he recalls his often times hilarious encounters with the many eclectic employees of a faltering yet proud motorcycle company. He describes in invigorating detail his love for a young Italian that, like exotic motorbikes, is equally beautiful and dangerous. In sometimes overwhelming detail, he succeeds in describing what becoming and being a motorcyclist means, whether taking a leisurely ride or primally pushing the limits.
   
   The only short coming of this great book is that David's own character often seems to be overshadowed by the many other characters that surround him. He is not overt in giving his opinion, and is quite obviously non-confrontational in demeanor. David is often times a listener, and observer; these very aspects of his character are the keys to what make him his friend's and coworker's confidant and allow the insight so inherent in his writing. His own character may not be overtly painted, but if a reader is observant (a lesson that David artfully teaches) one does become familiar with the author through his experiences.
   
   My recommendation is that you read David's story; yes, you will become intimately acquainted with "life, love, and motorcycles in Italy" but even more so, you will come just a little closer to knowing how you might respond if asked the question, "are you ready to fly without a parachute?"

1 comments about How to Build a Bonneville Salt Flats Motorcycle (Custom Builder).

1. This is more a story of a group effort on how *not* to proceed, ie, "Learn from my mistakes" been-there-done-that 1st hand account. A very entertaining read, it helps to demonstrate that LSR [land speed record] racing is NOT for the light of pocket; the "budget" effort detailed in this story would have been impossible without the considerable sponsorship noted and emphasized (& rightly so) throughout.
   
   This story is about the wrenching leading up to the LSR event, & very short on the "rider's experience" as the author/builder chose to have a professional drag racer ride his machine during the actual record attempt.
   
   Like I said, this is more about "How I bungled things, watch & see what can go wrong" than some formulaic "this is what you need to do" and manifestly more enjoyable reading because of it!

1 comments about Advanced Custom Motorcycle Assembly & Fabrication Manual.

1. This publication is a great resource for fabricators at all levels. I am an educator and teach fabrication , this publication is a great resource and the clarity on the building of these bikes draws the reader right into the build itself. The selection of the different builds makes this book interesting to fabricators at all levels. Good stuff!!
   
   Ewan Chowen
   Welding Instructor

1 comments about How to: Custom Motorcycle Wiring (Custom Builder).

1. While this is not as complete as I would like it to be it is still a valuable resource if you are chopping and rewiring or trying to wire a kit bike from scratch.

2 comments about How to Custom Paint Your Car (Motorbooks Workshop).

1. I saw the cover car at a GoodGuys Car Show and then saw this book. So I bought it and all I can say is wow. It was amazing to see the process of how the real flames were painted. She takes you through the whole thing, from start to finish. The story of how she came to paint these flames is pretty funny even. The rest of the book is also great. The author JoAnn really goes into detail explaining all the techniques, from traditional flames to graphics. I really liked the wide variety of techniques she goes through in this book. There's a chapter on painting pinup girls that really blew me away. I can now mix up skin tone and paint people after reading that chapter. There are good explanations of the tools used, airbrushes and spray guns. It was very easy to understand and you don't need to be an experienced painter to use this book. I am a beginner and I could follow the lessons in it. But my favorote was the real fire process. The photo on the cover does not really show how incredible this car looks in real life. Some of the photos inside the book show the car more accurately, but the depth of the flame layers is unreal. If you want to paint real flames, check out this book. I do have another of JoAnn's books and thought that one was good, but this one goes over things that the first one does not.



2. This book answered alot of questions I had when I painted my hot rod. The book is written in a very easy to understand, no nonsense style. It does not waste space on things you don't need. I especially liked the troubleshooting chapter. That came in very handy. One thing that helped is that there are plenty of pictures. There is a photo for every step of each technique. You can really see how it is done. If you are looking to get a tool that will make it easy to do any kind of custom paint work, this is the book for you. It covers flames, tribal graphics, even airbrush artwork. It tells the tools and materials you need for each each kind of artwork. Best $16.00 I ever spent.

4 comments about How to Custom Paint Your Motorcycle (Motorbooks Workshop).

1. I picked up the book over the weekend, as well, and it is really good. Some of the best photos, really showing the details that you only see when you are actually trying to do this stuff. Too many books will show you a few 'in-progress' shots, and the end results, without giving you all of the in between details that make all the difference in understanding how it is really done. Joann explains that she was trying to include things that other books on the subject really don't cover, and I for one think she has done an outstanding job on this book. It's the bikes that we all have seen in the magazines, and it is really neat to see the paint as it was being done - how it was being done! Great work. Great read, too. Interesting stories, details, photos... I'm going to pick this book up often, and use it as inspiration. The chapter on the pin-up mural makes me want to give it a try, rather than make it all seem very intimidating and impossible for the person who might not have the experience, like me!



2. I really love your "down to earth approach" and attention to "small detail" which really helps to fill in the voids for me. Other airbrush books tend to have big steps that seem to skip alot of the process, where this book, goes over each step in great detail that makes it easy to follow along. I like the way she really explains how to mix the colors and the tools she uses. I have just started painting and doing airbrush work last year. The info in this book meets me at where I am in addition to explaining some of the "goofs" and "boo boos" I have already made. I especially find the chapters on doing artwork, flames and graphics to be extremely helpful. As a novice, I feel you can never be too detailed when you explain "how to do's". Love the way she describes the processes, progress and tips for "what colors to use", etc. I am really looking forward to her next books.



3. is really good book very complete and very easy to learn, exelent for beginers in the paintjob world



4. This is a really good box for someone who already has some painting experience and wants to try custom graphics. I am really happy with how my bike turned out with the help of this book!

No comments about Iron & Lace 2009 Custom Motorcycle and Centerfold Model Calendar.

5 comments about Billy Lane's How to Build Old School Choppers, Bobbers, and Customs (Motorbooks Workshop).

1. This is not a "how to build a chopper" book. It is a "how Billy L builds this or that, and sometimes 'why'". I've been out of the chop scene since my youth, so the info contained I found very interesting in a general sense and quite inspiring too. Quite a good book, but not great. If you like Billy's style of bike, buy this book. I certainly don't regreat buying it.



2. There is way too much in the way of welding skills and sheet metal fabrication. Certainly not a "How To" book but more of a "How I do it" book.



3. Lots of pictures and easy to understand. Complete detail from end to end. It is however a little for the more skilled reader and builder. I enjoyed and learned form it.



4. You can judge this book by its cover. It's basically a glorified magazine with lots of color pictures of Billy building the Bobzilla bike. The captions are reasonably detailed, but lack enough information to be truly useful. Some of the text is thoughtfully written and fairly in-depth about Billy's personal preferences. However, DO NOT buy this book if you are looking for a step-by-step manual on how to put a bike together. On the other hand, if you like Billy Lane's bikes, and enjoy watching bike building on TV, you'll be glad to have this colorful (and sometimes funny) book in the bathroom. My legs have fallen asleep more than once while trying to finish a chapter.



5. I thought this was a pretty thorough book all things considered. Billy does a nice job covering some of the important tools you should have in your shop as well as the different aspects to consider when building a custom bike. He is an engineer and a master at his trade. I enjoyed it and felt it was informative.