4 comments about Classic Honda Motorcycles (Illustrated Buyer's Guide).

1. The author spends too much time talking about who bought the bikes and not enough time on the bikes themselves. This book lists the models and serial numbers for some bikes but not all. This information is critical to buying a old bike. For example: eng.# c72e-a100001 frame#c72-a10001 The engine and frame number tells us that its a 1960 ca72 model. This info lets us know if it has the original engine or not. Having the correct #s is important in determing the value! Also, many older bikes lack paperwork(title,registration)and many,many bikes have incorrect paperwork through fraud or D.M.V. error. I bought this book because the title said "buyers guide" its not, its the "brief history of honda" Good luck



2. For the right audience, this book is a true gem. The "Buyer's Guide" part of it's title could be misleading but it is a great book for what it really does do. This is NOT a book that tells you how to buy a current Honda motorcyle from a dealer. It is also NOT a comprehensive listing/specification of every Honda model ever made. It does not replace a Clymer manual for any specific Honda model. This book's focus is for the collector/hobbiest who has a general interest is in Classic Hondas (most bikes more than 10 years old). It reviews the major models, has tons of excellent B&W photographs of each model (especially the models from the late 60's and early 70's which are often treated too lightly in other books). It gives the reader an idea of what Honda made and what they might like to get involved with. It tells about what kind of commitment it takes to buy, restore, and maintain these older bikes. As a person who has collected Honda's for 30 years, I found this book to a great addition to my literature collection and a great book to recommend to people that have a broad interest in the older Hondas. While this book does give some general ratings on the older bikes and rates them overall, this books true value is its wonderful overview of Honda's, especially those from 1959 through 1985, which I have not found in this detail in any other book on the market to date. This book should be a MUST HAVE for any Honda collector.



3. A disappointment. This book is a complete departure from the reliable "Illustrated Buyer's Guide" format that has been successful for so many years. Motorbooks International has inexplicably dropped their excellent star ratings of the desirability and relative worth of the various models that was their stock in trade. I hope this isn't a taste of the future.
   The "Classic Japanese Motorcyces" is far a better buy, even if it is spread a little too thin for the subject. Forget this one.



4. Sorry to have disappointed the two reviewers who were expecting some kind of $$$ value assignments to each machine mentioned. The book is, in fact, a "download" of my 40 years of experience, owning and riding vintage Hondas. I tried to follow the conventional format of the other MBI guides, but other people were mixed into the editing process along the way. Due to some page count restrictions, some of the "ratings" boxes of each machine were deleted.
   Owning, maintaining and riding the vast majority of the bikes mentioned gave me a chance to share that experience with others through this book. The sheer number of models that Honda produced through those years is more than can be included in one of these small guide books. I included most of the notable models, with some cautions or recommendations about ownership, wherever I could.
   The rapidly changing collector bike market affects the dollar value of these bikes, greatly. Trying to peg a fixed value in the book, would be shooting at a moving target. On the whole, all of the bikes have risen in value since publication. In some cases, aftermarket parts have been produced in small numbers to meet the demand, but the Honda factory no longer supports machines over 10 years out of production. Current restoration costs greatly exceed the "market value" of the bikes, when completed, in most cases. ...
   I am continuing to focus on the 250-305cc model Hondas, built from 1960-67 and will have new offerings on those machines soon.
   Bill "MrHonda" Silver @ ...

4 comments about Harley-Davidson Data Book.

1. This book is data source for H-D line-up from 1903 to 1996. Included are year-by-year listings ,black and white photographs. (listings:"Main Models","Specialty Models","Retail Prices", "Production Totals","Options","Paint Colors","First-year", "Only-year","Motor Company Minutes","Racing Notes")

   ...Good book!




2. This book is data source for H-D line-up from 1903 to 1996. Included are year-by-year listings ,black and white photographs. (listings:"Main Models","Specialty Models","Retail Prices", "Production Totals","Options","Paint Colors","First-year", "Only-year","Motor Company Minutes","Racing Notes")

   ...Good book!




3. This book is data source for H-D line-up from 1903 to 1996. Included are year-by-year listings ,black and white photographs. (listings:"Main Models","Specialty Models","Retail Prices", "Production Totals","Options","Paint Colors","First-year", "Only-year","Motor Company Minutes","Racing Notes")

   ...Good book!




4. This book has so much miss infomation you don't know what to believe.ie 1966 FLH first year info says fuel shut off is on the lower left tank. It's on the right tank. (the only year it was).There are many omissions like no production totals for 1965 FLH. These are just a few of many mistakes.

No comments about Yamaha Pw50 Y-Zinger, Pw80 Y-Zinger & Bw80 Big Wheel 1981-2002 (Clymer Motorcycle Repair) (Clymer Motorcycle Repair).

5 comments about Hells Angels at War: Hells Angels and Their Violent Conspiracy to Supply Illegal Drugs to the World.

1. Here again LaVigne takes on the Hells Angels, and as with his other works the author's bias shines as bright and clear as the sun. In describing the recent war between Scandinavian chapters of Hells Angels and the Bandidos, and other conflicts between the clubs, he portrays the Hells Angels as cunning, calculating and devious adversaries to police, the civilian population at large, and other motorcycle clubs; but he downplays the Bandidos' role in the violence. Not surprising, considering how proud he seems to be to have had his picture taken with national officers, including the national president, of the Bandido Nation at Sturgis. Many times the author's writing style relies heavily on what seems to be quotes from newspaper stories covering various biker conflicts, which, in itself, becomes very tedious. LaVigne's journalistic ego never seems tire in telling the reader how he's traveled to this and that country as an expert in "motorcycle gang" politics and tactics advising various governments and police departments on how to handle this "problem." He also is quite proud of his theory that the Hells Angels all along have planned to and will absorb the Bandidos MC; how the Hells Angels bitter enemies in Canada, the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club will never become Bandidos; predicting this will all come to pass; etc. He continually states this WILL happen. Well, for all of LaVigne's "expertise," he is wrong: The Rock Machine just became a probationary part of the Bandido Nation, and it's now just a matter of time before they are fully accepted into the fold. This, and other misinformation, is indeed is a reflection of the author's inadequacy in the field of journalism. His hatred of the Hells Angels Motorcycle club clouds any sense of objective reporting on the subject.



2. A very thorough investigation into the bikers, the police, and the public. This book is something of a big deal up here in Canada because the upper rungs of the RCMP were embarassed by it revealing their sometimes reprehensible strategies. The RCMP brass reacted by coming down hard on the officer who leaked the information to LaVigne. Really a sad story because the officer is highly decorated and leaked the information only because he was fed up with being stifled in his pursuit of the bikers. Of course the main focus of the book is the bikers. It certainly shows illegal biker gang members for what they are; career criminals who will do anything for more money and power.

   On the down side the book can be tedious. It largly consists of a frank description of events. More of an attempt should have been made to identify the important people and tell their specific stories throught the book. Instead what we tend to get is a constant stream of seemingly unrelated events.




3. How does Yves LaVigne know the exact weight of bombs that had gone off??



4. I am at a loss to guess how you can be a professional journalist when I managed to find several hundred spelling errors, not to mention your utterly dreadfull grammar. Not only is your book worse than the homework of my students, but it is the most boring thing since Moby Dick.
   P.S. I use your books to show my students how NOT to write.



5. I am only giving this even 2 stars because some of the stories in it are interesting. Enough so that you keep reading the book. But this book contains some of the worst writing I have ever seen. As other posts have mentioned, there are spelling mistakes everywhere. But what is worse is that the book follows no timeline, or formula so stories involving dozens of names of people become a confusing mess. It's pretty much a complete mess and it's hard to believe it got published in this form. To top that off the author seems to think he's the only person on earth who knows anything about bike gangs. His ego is massive. Since the book was written, half of this theories in this book about the future of the gangs have been wrong.

1 comments about Motorcycle Arizona.

1. The book has some useful touring information presented with a sense of humor. It could use a little polish and some color pictures would make it more appealing. Overall it will save the reader some time in planning a motorcycle trip to Arizona and is worth reading.

No comments about BMW: The Racing Story.

No comments about HONDA MOTORCYCLE MANUAL: ALL MODELS, SINGLES AND TWINS 1960-1966: 50cc, 125cc, 250cc & 305cc..

1 comments about Harley-Davidson (Drive. Ride. Fly.).

1. There are few brand names in the world that provoke such an image of power, rebellion, and individual freedom as does the name "Harley-Davidson." This book takes us on a reading journey with the big boys on Harley's to Sturgis, South Dakota and on the road across America. I was already imagining myself as this rebel in black leather riding into town as I looked at the photos of those bikers cruising down the main street. The truth is that today's bikers are regular folks and not much like those gangsters that Marlon Brando portrayed in "The Wild One" many long years ago.
   
   There is a certain mystical quality to the lore and myth that surrounds Harley bikes and their riders. This book picks up on some of that powerful energy. The photos really capture the beauty and artistry of these machines. What is nice about this book for younger people is that it does not glorify "The Hell's Angels" image and delivers something much more family friendly and enriching. The text is good at getting the reader little pieces of information and history. It makes a great marriage to the colorful photos which are abundant inside the book.
   
   A good read for young men of all ages. Should be of greatest interest to teenage boys but it appeals to the young at heart!
   
   I personally recommend this book for all young male readers and old dreamers like myself! A must read book!

No comments about How To Set Up a Group Motorcycle Ride: Factors to Consider When Setting Up a Ride for a Group of Motorcyclists.

No comments about Paint Your Motorcycle (Biker Basics).