5 comments about Art of the Chopper.

1. I saw this book on another website and bought it off of Amazon.com and could not be more pleased with it. There are beautiful pictures of choppers and short interview stories to go with each builder. Tom Zimberoff is awesome! I even have my book signed by a few of the bikers. This book is a must buy if you like choppers.



2. After seing a piece on Zimberoff and this book on Speed Channel I headed down to borders to check it out. The pictures are amazing.They really do the bikes justice and help show why some of these machines belong in museums. There is a brief bio of the builders at the begining of each chapter.The only reason I'm giving this four stars is the absence of Indian Larry!! I'll admit I'm biased since his bikes are my favorite and for all I know Larry didn't want his bikes in this book..having seen many profiles on Larry it wouldn't surprise me if this was the case...now that Larry is gone maybe Zimberoff could make a small retrospective book on just Larry himself. Regardless there are plenty of styles to suit all chopper fans..from low and long to super high ape hangers...many of my friends that aren't down with choppers or even motorcylces for that matter are shocked to see this on my bookshelf..but after looking through the first few pages they always end up sitting down and checking it out front to back!..it's a real conversation starter.



3. THIS IS A GOOD BOOK WITH INTERESTING INFORMATION ABOUT TWENTY OF THE TOP CUSTOM BIKE BUILDERS. IT IS LOADED WITH GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS OF AWESOME CHOPPERS. THE REASON THAT I SAY THAT THIS IS A GOOD BOOK BUT NOT A GREAT BOOK IS THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WHEN INDIAN LARRY IS NOT EVEN MENTIONED. IN MY OPINION ANYWAY, INDIAN LARRY WAS THE QUINTESSENTIAL BIKE BUILDER. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.
   
   PAUL GRAMS
   ROCKFORD, IL.



4. The foreword is by Sonny Barger with a stand out quote, "Whether you call them transportation or art, they are all about one thing: fun." Beneath the wisdom is a photo of Barger sitting on a beautiful piece of art/transportation from 1957. We are experiencing a new wave of biker art with roots in the counter culture from the 1960's and American history even earlier.
   
   The book is fun to page thru with 20 bike builders mostly recognizable from The Discovery Channel. There is the Godfather, Arlen Ness and Dave Perewitz, amazing and enduring builders. Billy Lane's Knuckle Sandwich is a knockout. Matt Hotch -- the innovator and The Martin Brothers are dynamos. Joe Martin makes bikes that look like they are from the future. I wouldn't want to ride "Purple Gangsta" or "Trend Killer" but I have admiration for Joe's unique fierce vision. Ron Simms aka The Thug's "Gold Sporty" reminiscent of the 1960's would be a personal dream ride of mine for riding around the East Village. The Gold Sporty looks like a stunning musical instrument transformed into a moving piece of art that whispers don't underestimate me -- I am a fierce beauty! The book also includes Mitch Bergeron, Roger Bourget, Chica, Jerry Covington, Cyril Huze, Pat Kennedy, Russell Mitchell, Jim Nasi, Bob Phillip, Harold Pontarelli, Ron Simms, Donnie Smith, The Teutels, Eddie Trotta and Paul Yaffe. The Teutels bikes don't do it for me but the father-son portrait with Senior's lovingly possessive hug around Junior's neck and behind them the spray painted shout "Keep DOORS CLOSED" sums up the symbiotic insanity of why they have made mega-bucks riding the new wave of the bike art movement. Televison and the internet form the global media machine that has made chopper art, personalities and marketing a mega-big business. It makes me treasure the enduring old timers and their contribution to the new wave of Chopper Art.
   
   Paging thru the book is fun way to experience a new wave of biker art and some originals that have endured! There are short entertaining bio's that accompany the pictures and they are colorful -- the bikes and the builders.



5. `Art of the Chopper' is an appropriate title given the calibre of photography in this title. The pictures are very detailed and I find myself opening up the book time and time again to look at the bikes again, to see the features and smaller details you often miss when watching the builders and their bikes on TV.
   
   I bought this book because I wanted to learn more about the various builders I'd seen on Discovery Channel's Biker Build-off show on TV. While there's not an expansive volume of text on each of the 20 builders featured, the content is excellent because it gives you an insight into the philosophies of the individual builder on choppers and biker culture. The couple of pages of text written for each builder are a good sample to see if any one of the builders strikes a chord with you, and you would like to learn more about a particular character. After reading Zimberoff's text on Billy Lane, I decided to buy Billy's book to read, which I was also very happy with. After reading both, at least for Billy Lane what's written in `Art of the Chopper' is a good reflection of the builders featured and a good way of learning more about the people you like to watch on TV.
   
   Aside from the excellent photography, and good accompanying text, the finish and presentation of the `Art of the Chopper' is first class. The binding is strong, dust jacket is sturdy and everything speaks `quality', which is important for a book you'll look at and enjoy on a regular basis.

1 comments about Suzuki Rm80-250 1989-1995: Rm80, Rm125, Rm250, Rmx250.

1. Its been a great help for setting up my suzuki for better performance

3 comments about Classic Harley Big Twins.

1. When I ordered this book, I allready was in posession of the book "Knuckleheads" by Greg Field, but wanted more info on the Panhead and Shovelhead blocks.
   
   This book is actually three books into one. The first part about the Knucklehead is exactly a copy of the forementioned book by Greg Field, the other two parts discuss the Panhead (Greg Field) and Shovelhead (Tom Murphy) which are basicly built on the same basis as the Knucklehead, but ofcourse improved over the years until finally the EVO engine was born.
   
   Since no seperate books about the Panhead or Shovelhead are available at this time, this is the only source of information about these engines.
   The book is thick (over 500 pages) and describes every possible detail about this engineblock which served as a basis for Knuckle-, Pan-, and Shovelhead. Also nice stories are told about backgrounds of the birth of these engines, so that it's not only a technical story you're reading but sometimes also like a novel.
   Greg Field needs no further introduction: He's in my point of view the best author around when it comes to HD! Tom Murpy describes in a similar way the Shovel-Era.
   
   In short: A very nice book with even details like modelyear specific changes, so even someone who rebuilds one of these engines can find exactly the info about the engine he/she needs.
   
   Only thing I regret about the book is that it is not available in hardcover. The price would be a bit higher, but this is such a reference in your collection of books, that a hardcover would do more justice to the contents.
   A Perfect book, for a very acceptable price! Absolutely should not be absent in your collection!



2. I already had the Panheads book and wanted the shovelhead info. I found a few mistakes, like the first electric starter (servi-car)being in 1946 (pg272) when it was 1964, obviously a typo. But others were just wrong, (pg 289) caption says after pans the fuel petcock was moved to the left underside, and the picture is a 1966, the only year with it on the right!



3. WARNING DO NOT GIVE AMAZON YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, CONSTANT HARASSMENT, WILL
   NOT STOP EMAILING ME!

No comments about Bmw 500 and 600Cc Twins 1955 1969.

5 comments about Kawasaki Klr650: 1987-2003 (Clymer Motorcycle Repair).

1. I found this service manual to be a valuable tool in mantaining and repairing the KLR 650.
   Very detailed, step by step instructions for valve clearance adjustment and many other tasks that cost a small fortune to have completed at the repair facility.
   This manual is the best tool you could invest in for repairing your KLR 650



2. The Clymer's Kawasaki KLR650 service manual is certainly very good for the money spent. It has lots of pictures making service procedures clear. Amazon will save you $10 off motorcycle shop prices easily. Amazon shipping got it here quick also. Kawasaki dealer manuals would have cost me at least $75 for the operators manual and service manual package. It was well worth it to order this book from Amazon. I did a successful clutch service job by this book.



3. I'm not a fan of Clymer manuals in general, but this one seems better than most. It's better than the factory manual (which I also have).
   
   As far as I can tell, it has all the info you'll need to work on your KLR, and it's less than $20. If the book helps you fix one thing and avoid the dealership, you'll save way more than the price of the book.



4. Much better than most manuals i've seen. Sufficient details and illustrations so that you don't have to scratch your head about some stupid little detail.



5. The Amazon book description says 450 pages, but there are actually 331. Nevertheless, I have found this repair manual to be invaluable. I have been able to successfully do a tune-up, change radiator fluid, oil change, air and oil filter replacements, valve clearance measurements and then swapping out shims to adjust, replacing the cam chain tensioner (duhicky) and then adjusting (big job), upgrade the fork springs to Progessive springs, replace the front brake line, AND a myriad of other tweaks and adjustments thanks to this thorough user-friendly manual.
   
   There are a plethora of clear photographs that include graphic arrows and are numbered and then referenced in the detailed how-to sections of the book. Exploded diagrams are large and clear with parts numbered and then listed by name. Trouble-shooting diagnostic steps are well illustrated in tables. And there are dedicated pages about special tools for specific jobs, metric conversion tables for specs, fasteners & torque, as well as four pages of colored wiring diagrams.
   
   But besides just being thorough, the main thing I like about this manual is how easy it is to use. It provides a "Quick Reference Data" page containing all the info that you always need to know but can't ever remember -- oil capacities, spark plug gap and torque, tire pressure, drive chain play, serial numbers and more -- all on one page that you can copy and tack to the wall. Also, the routine maintenance procedures for the entire bike are covered in a single place, Chapter 3, so you don't have to waste time jumping around to other chapters that are dedicated to the details of each system.
   
   Servicing, repairing and maintaining a bike is a challenge for me, but with the right information quickly available, I have found that most jobs can actually be enjoyable. This Clymer manual for the KLR has helped make that possible.

No comments about Yamaha XZ 550 Vision V-Twins Owners Workbook Manual, No. M821: 1982 on (Owners Workshop Manual).

5 comments about Triumph Motorcycles in America.

1. I really enjoyed this book. It is easy reading and gives the reader and comprehensive overview of Triumph's influence in the U.S. I am considering either a 98 Thunderbird or an older Bonneville. Great reading!!



2. Provides the descriptive timeline from the introduction of Triumph in America to present day. Great book for the novice or expert Triumph aficionado. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.



3. Lindsay Brooke has written the best book I've ever read on the passion, the guts and the glory that was the Triumph story. Seamless weaving anecdote and accolade, he has produced a masterwork. Sitting in bed well after midnight, papercuts covering my fingers, lips chapped from reading, I simply couldn't put it down.



4. I have read just about every book the covers the history and detail of Triumph motorcycles, and this book is the best I have seen. When you consider the unique marketing of the US distributors and the American concept of what a great motorcycle should be this is a must read for anyone working on a Triumph in the US. Detailed, colorful, and well written, with plenty of reference photos it is the guide for the restorer or anyone seeking to understand the the role Triumph played in making this a nation of motorcycle riders.



5. I bought my first copy of this book while restoring a 1967 Bonneville T120R back in 1994. What first attracted me to it was the front cover of the 67 T120TT - the very same year and colors of the bike I was going thru, (except for being the TT version).
   
   Having owned 7 Bonnevilles and Tiger 110's over the decades, including three pre-units and two duplex frame bikes and been a Triumph junkie since 1968, this book still taught me things I never knew about Triumph and especially the invaluable influence of Johnson Motors that contributed so much to the success of the bikes.
   
   Strongly recommended if you want to get your history right on this most famous era of Triumph.

2 comments about On My Vespa (Permanent Collection of Italian Design).

1. This was a gift for my father-in-law and he loved it. It has great visual and written accounts of the Vespa. Great gift for anyone who is a fan of the scooter...



2. I just bought a Vespa and it was great to learn the history of this fine company. Fun reading with lots of good art work.

No comments about Honda TRX500 Rubicon 2001-2004 (Clymer Motorcycle Repair) (Clymer Motorcycle Repair).

No comments about Haynes Yamaha 2-Stroke Motocross Bikes Owners Workshop Manual: 1986 thru 2006 YZ80, YZ85, YZ125, YZ250 (Owners Workshop Manual).