1 comments about Motorcycle Adventure To ALASKA: INTO THE WIND: A TEEN NOVEL.

1. A hundred years ago, Tom Sawyer and Jim rafted down the Mississippi River on an astounding journey that carried them into amazing adventures. They encountered two drunken charlatans, escaped great danger and discovered the magic of Old Man River. Teenagers and adults across America love Mark Twain's classic tale of life on the Mississippi.
   
   
   
   Today, however, teens love fast video games, air hockey and skateboard parks. They race BMX bicycles and ride dirt track motorcycles. They love faster adventures.
   
   
   
   A "Motorcycle Adventure to Alaska" grabs readers like a dirt track knobby tire and doesn't let go for teens in the 21st century. Written by long time motorcycle adventure feature writer, Frosty Wooldridge, the characters Trevor and Dan Compton ride a new kind of river made of asphalt and gravel while their raft turns into iron steeds with tires and rumbling exhaust pipes.
   
   
   
   This is a book about two boys coming of age. Ever the rambunctious teenager, Trevor rides into danger with fearless abandon, but rides himself and his brother into plenty of trouble. He is a wild-eyed explorer who loves nothing better than telling outrageous stories to strangers. Trevor hitches up his leathers while becoming Buckskin Trevor of the mountain men, Fishbait Trevor who catches the biggest fish in Alaska and Mad Trapper Trevor who chases after the gold and many more. He is funny, crazy and a pain in the butt for his brother. But he's got what every young boy wants! Heart! Courage! Confidence in his life!
   
   
   
   Once they hit Alaska, Trevor and Dan find themselves in the middle of a Mountain Man Rendezvous that begins a remarkable series of shooting flint lock rifles, tomahawk throwing contests, eating raw fish and battling the biggest man in Alaska in an arm wrestling contest. From there, they face a grizzly, fight some bad guys, fish for the biggest salmon in Alaska while viewing Denali "The Great One" the highest peak in North America.
   
   
   
   Something magical happens along the way. The boys mature into young adults with a sense of responsibility to themselves, animals, the planet and others. This book is a heck of a read for teenagers, but as the endorsements explain, more than a few adults will be reading this book for the sheer pleasure of an adventure they wished they had taken as teenagers. If you like motorcycles, you're going to love this ride! Adults who love motorcycle adventure will find this book teaches their kids values, responsibilities, hard work and character pay off in the life process.

4 comments about Building Your Perfect Bike: From Bare Frame to Personalized Superbike.

1. The tips given will make this a valuable resource long after I build my perfect bicycle. Great pictures and useful information adorn this indispensable work for the bicycling enthusiast.



2. For the neophyte, the book provides a fine introduction to what features or products could help improve riding enjoyment. It is organized around sample projects of a 'beam' style road racer, a tourer, and a dual-suspension mountain bike. It contains a lot of discussion regarding the varieties of missions a bike might take on and how features or products for some missions aren't much good for others, for instance, and encourages the rider/reader to seek a more personally-suited machine. For the experienced rider who knows what s/he wants to ride and is looking for advice on BUILDING the dream bike her/his self, however, it is a bit thin on the nuts and bolts needed to get it all together and working smoothly. Retitle it "Things you could buy for different kinds of bikes you want to build and problems that might creep up if you do," maybe.



3. While the book is only 128 pages long, it is crammed to the gills with important details and information about bikes and how to build them. The photographs are excellent and are a great help in explaining the more intracate deatails of assembling a bicycle.

   Richard Ries does a nice job of organizing the book in a logical progression. He starts with the bicycle frame and how to select it all the way through to the final installation of all the bike components. He also details what components are good and which to select from. I have been looking for a book like this for a long time. Many books cover repairing the bike, but there are few, if any, that logically takes you through each step of building one. He gives advice on how to avoid trouble and tips on how to do certain tasks easier. The only downside of the book is that it was written in 1997. Although not a big problem, there are certain hardware advances that are left out of the book because it is not current. However, the book is very helpful in teaching the basic things needed to know about building a bike. "Machineheads" will most likely feel that the book is too simplistic in nature, but for the rest of us who struggle with mechanical endeavors, this is just what we need. This is not a repair manual, but a primer on how to build your first bike. Richard Ries draws from his own personal bike projects as examples to demonstrate how to do it. The advice is down-to-earth and understandable. This book is out of print, but you may be able to track it down on the internet. A very underated book. Don't let the size of the book fool you. Every page is essential without all the fluff. Now, I can finally start on my own bicycle project and maybe you can too. Hopefully, Richard Ries will attempt a new edition of his book with updates. I, for one, would certainly buy it.




4. I received this book as a gift from a non-cycling family member. At first I was excited and eagerly read it. Well, it is interesting, and does provide some advice on how to select components, but mainly its a coffee table book to read when your significant other is watching some show/movie you are not interested in.
   DINGS: --If you are an experienced rider, serious about building your own bike, and read current bicycling magazines, you probably already know more than what this book will tell you, --the components are circa 1997-2000. --It does not give a comprehensive step-by-step process to buy bike components, --likewise it is not a comprehensive installation checklist, and it is *very poor* in how to fine tune installed components such as derelliers (sic) or forks. --It does a poor job on geometry and sizing.
   PROS: You can find it in discount/half-price book shops for less than $10, it is colorfully illustrated, it makes a good book for a kid interested in bikes, it provides an overall approach to designing, sourcing, and building a custom bike.

3 comments about Superbikes of the Seventies.

1. Motorcyclists are known by the machines they ride. And men are known by the company they keep.

   These veritable truths account for why Harley men keep to their own kind on the open road. Whether on reconnaissance in local territories, carrying the flag from coast to coast in a well-regulated convoy or striking a daring posse deep into the uncharted badlands, Harley men place their trust and confidence in other men of robust character and proven substance. Men who can be counted on through good times and bad. Men who never surrender, and don't take prisoners. Stout and hearty men who sit proud and righteous in the saddle. Men who make up the Harley-Davidson brethren.

   There's no place here for anyone looking for a false way in and an easy way out. There's no place for men or bikes that by artifice are here today but by expediency will be gone tomorrow. There's no place for those who pledge allegiance to far-eastern feudalism by riding Asian atrocity cycles slammed together in some godforsaken land. There's no place for the sniveling lisp and depraved cowardice of atrociteurs who would make a slobbering mockery of real American motorcycling.

   That leaves the atrociteurs off on their own, with a facade of pose and pretense, and a despair of resentment and bitterness. Taking the badges of vulgarity off their throwaway contraptions out of shame, but leaving a space as blank as their empty souls. Carrying on with a sham travesty of brotherhood that's nothing but a hollow charade. Pretending to be the real deal but fooling nobody.

   Not ordinary American folk, who are comforted that all is well on the home front only when they see genuine Harleys lead their Fourth of July parades down the Main Streets of America. Not womenfolk, who by intuition know the deep rumble of the mighty Big Twin as the unmistakable confirmation that real men are in command of the nation's destiny. Not even youngsters, who have a keen sense of authentic role models and clearly know the difference between a real American motorcycle and some knock-off in tin and plastic.

   There's a fork early on in the road for every motorcyclist in America, with paths going off in opposite directions. A life membership in the brotherhood of righteousness is part of the authentic Harley-Davidson experience. A life sentence among the damned is reserved for the atrociteurs.

   Choose carefully, `cause there's no turnin' back.

   _______________________________

   They call me . . . The Highwayman
   _______________________________




2. How would you like to go to all the trouble of writing a book, only to have some [one]write a quasi-fundamentalist rant about the most ridiculous motorcycles still manufactured, and then post it as a "review" of your book? ...



3. Roland Brown has put together a great book showcasing the beginnings of the sport of superbikes. It's nice to see a serious account of an ever more popular past time. We in America area bit slow and backwards (As evidenced by the caveman wanderings of one of the "reviews" of this book...Just how many times can the word "atrociteurs" be included in one inane tirade anyway?), so it's unfortunate to see a reluctance to change be marketed as the embracement of heritage and tradition. It's sad to see so many people act as lemmings and purchase a chrome illusion of brotherhood rather than be truly passionate riders. Labels and stereotypes aside, riding a motorcycle goes beyond such simple-minded definitions originating from ape men that no longer connect with the sport, but instead place a death grip on a now transparent illusion of legacy. It would seem that it's more important to appear as though you have a love for motorcycling by decorating yourself with all of the expected ornamentation that goes along with the ridiculous ideal. True motorcyclist are not imprisoned by false badges of store-bought honor. True motorcyclist do not cast judgment on others for the machine they choose to operate.

   Mr. Brown does an outstanding job of showcasing the bikes that were able to go beyond the idea that a motorcycle can only be one thing. He offers a display of machines that stretch and twist away from such foolish expectations. Rather than cling to a long dead icon, he shows us how our future has been paved. In doing so, he creates a vision of what may come next. It's quite clear from his lively description of these now historic superbikes that he is a genuine motorcyclist that has a passion for the sport rather than a delusional outlook on what once was.

   The call me...The Realist (aka: Milo)

No comments about HANNA-BARBERA'S WHEELIE AND THE CHOPPER BUNCH.

5 comments about Savvy Guide to Motorcycles.

1. The Savvy Guide to Motorcycles is a well-written narrative by an author that has real-life experience riding motorcycles. Shirley Kennedy relates much of her material to her own experiences, giving this book a personal touch as well as believability.
   The book is broken into logical sections and well illustrated. The author includes a number of sidebars with data that supports her text. There is a useful glossary and an impressive bibliography included to enhance the reader's understanding of the subject. The layout is clean and well structured.
   As a motorcyclist with several years experience I appreciated the way the book advances each theme. Ms. Kennedy avoids boring the experienced rider while structuring her material so a new motorcyclist can understand it easily.
   I highly recommend "The Savvy Guide to Motorcycles" to anyone that rides (or wishes to ride) motorcycles!



2. Savy Guide to Motorcycles, is a very smartly writen and well composed book that any beginner and expert rider can relate to and gain knowledge from.The book is a nice compilation of Shirls' experience as well as her fellow riders. I especially liked the points of references that encourage you to do your own research. I have read many motorcycle books and a few were rather dry, but I found this book to be very refreshing. Good job.



3. This book is outstanding. It's blend of information, instruction and humor makes it valuable to both the beginning rider and experienced rider. I have recommended it to my motorcycling friends and consider it to be a very well written book.



4. In this "Savvy" guide the author has written a book which will increase the enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of motorcycling for anybody who reads it. She manages to convey her love of the sport and impart a large amount of valuable information using a writing style that is both easy to understand and pleasant to read. As befits a librarian, the book is full of references which will allow those who desire to study a particular subject in depth to do so easily. The book has an extensive bibliography in addition to the many links found within each chapter. This is a great read for not only the new rider, but the returning rider and the experienced rider as well. I highly recommend it.



5. This book is well written and easy to read. It contains great information for the beginner motorcyclist and will be entertaining to read for more experienced riders who may want a refresher course as well. The book contains a helpful glossary and an exhaustive bibliography that will satisfy anyone's craving for more information.

No comments about Top Chops: Master Chopper Builders.

1 comments about Kawasaki ZR550 and 750 Zephyr Fours Serv & Repair Manual 1990-97 (Haynes Manuals).

1. Haynes'service and repair manual for Kawasaki Zr550,Zr750 90-97 is a book that anyone who does theyr own maintenance and repairs should have.The book gives you a step by step guide of everything from change of oil and sparkplugs to the most difficult repairs. This book is an abolute must!

1 comments about World's Fastest Motorcycle: The Day The Bonneville Salt Stood Still.

1. Outstanding photography and story of the 3-way motorcycle streamliner battle at Bonneville in 2006. 2006 featured the best salt racing surface in many years and for the first time, three legitimate contenders for the world speed record. The book has excellent construction data on the three bikes as well as a top flight narrative. It's coffee table quality for the photography alone, and I'd put it there if I had a coffee table. The book also includes a value-added DVD featuring a video story of the contest. I have seen some of the author's research material, and he could fill several more books. Mr Stein is a extremely dedicated and knowlegible historian and this book shows it. I have had the privilege of meeting Sam Wheeler and Denis Manning as well as having a close-up look at internals of the E-Z-Hook 'liner after the meet. I can't say too much about everyone's long term efforts.

2 comments about Treasures of China.

1. this book is a must read for all ardent followers of world history. it reveals a lot of priceless heirlooms of mankind which far exceed other world heritage such as the colossus of rhode the library of alexandria and temples of incas. surely a very must buy for all amazon buyers



2. A beautiful book giving concise summaries and photographs of the most astounding sites and national treasures in China. A very helpful book for someone planning a trip and wanting to visit some of the spectacular scenery and sites of China.

No comments about Two Wheels to Adventure (Alaska to Argentina by Motorcycle, Bigfoot 1).