Motorcycles Books

Patricia Santana has struck a chord on so many levels. She went back into the 1960's where even as children we knew they were turbulent, yet exhilarating times. Her expression of adolescent curiosities, love and confusion are as prevalent today as they were during that time, making this a novel that most people will have a self-to-text connection with. Being the child of immigrants I easily related to the home she grew up in and the traditions of the world during that time.
The novel is a well crafted. It makes us look at the world through the eyes of truly plausible, interesting characters and gives us some insights of the devastating aftermath of the Vietnam War.

Unfortunately, I am not the Francisco that Yoli, the young heroine in Patricia Santana's beautiful first novel, falls in love with. But I wish I was. For long after having read this novel, I still find myself thinking of Yoli and imagining her giving me "the look". Isn't that the highest and most worthwhile achievement of a novel? That a Yoli or a Don Quixote become as real as hope, and in our moments of reflection, their words and actions echo our own internal beauty? Patricia, may you give us many more Yoli's and may your clear and strong writing, like a rippling, cool, mountain brook, continue to remind us of our source.

I'm a great fan of the "coming of age" story and of the first novel. "The Cider House Rules" by John Irving, being one of my favorite coming of age stories.

In Patracia Santana's "Motorcyle Ride on the Sea of Tranquility" we view the world from the eyes of a teenage Mexican American girl/woman whose brothers' recent return from Vietnam has turned her world upside down. Her brother, like so many Vietnam vets., has returned home possessed by demons.

While her brother struggles to right himself fourteen-year-old Yolanda "Yoli" Sahagun must not only learn to deal with her beloved brothers' gloom and doom mood but learn to deal with her own daunting and confusing experience. That of becoming a woman.

I hope the rest of America soon discovers, as I did, this rich, humorous, sad, and wonderful story. Author Santana obviously has her finger, and her heart, on the pulse of the Latino community. The dialoge is strong and Latino in this well written and well told story. For a glimps inside the life of a real Mexican Ameican family, read "Motorcyle Ride on the Sea of Tranquility." Cammy Diaz A @ L

I just received this for Christmas and think it's great. Nice maps and route descriptions, but much more than that also. You get a bit of history along with the route descriptions, and also recommendations for good (i.e. not McD's) restaurants and interesting places, events, and activities along the way.

Great directions and descriptions of places in Michigan I'd never heard of before.

This book is a must for any motorcyclist in Michigan. William Murphy details different runs throughout Michigan down to hotels, where to eat, local history, even gives you mile markers for each city. If you are tired of the same local runs, this book highlights the best and scenic roads our state has. Also, In the back he highlights emergency numbers, hotels, bike shops, and many clubs. Thanks William!!!

Easily the best source on the subject of motorcycle chassis design. Its too bad that it is painful to obtain (guessing not readily kept in stock...delay in shipping). This pain isn't made any better by the artificial shipping delay induced by Amazon if the buyer elects to use the "super saver" shipping option. Also, for some unknown bureaucratic reason, Amazon US will not make available Vol 2 even though many customers have requested it. Everyone I know who has bought Vol 1 through Amazon has requested Vol 2.

So, if your motorcycle interest is serious, buy the book...it is well worth the price and the wait. And be sure to make a formal request to Amazon for Vol 2. Who knows...maybe customer service will do something about it?

I've "only" read half the book, but, you see, I'll be reading this book over and over for a "LONG, LONG" time. This is NOT a "How Too", read through, put it on the shelf type book. Not for the weak minded, mathmatically challenged, engineering phobic types. This is serious stuff that needs your full attention, a good calculator, and more importantly, time. If your serious about racing motorcycle engineering or want a thorough understanding of motorcycle engineering, this is it. Very well written, easily understandable and a "METRIC TON" of information. Everything given in Metric and Imperial. By the way, if you need/want, volume 2, you'll have to order it from "Amazon UK". These two volumes are undervalued in my opinion! Two Excellent Books!

when this book arrived at my house, i sat down & read it for 5 hrs straight. i didn't move from my chair. when i took it to my friend's house he sat for 3 hrs buried in it while i fidgeted quietly nearby - he never looked up. he straight away ordered himself a copy, as did most motorcyclists i knew.

this book will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about how bikes work. that is, the why's of frame design, how gears work, types of suspension & what they do... and all as clear as day. this is the best book every made - bar none - about motorcycles. the title sounds dry & perhaps niche-like, but if you care at all about how motorbikes do what they do, you will be totally absorbed by this book.

we are all still waiting for volume 2... please John Bradley!!!


---edit... you can get vol 2 from amazon.co.uk, and i just ordered it. Its a damn shame i didn't know it was available for the past 3 years.. i guess i was stupid to think amazon US would sell it just cos they sell vol 1 (???)

This was a very intrestling book about the 2nd best coach and the incredible story of the 1991 season. This is a must read book for FSU Fans everywhere. I thourghly enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves college football.

As a freshman at Florida State in '91, I worked with the football team as a student athletic trainer. I remember Ben Brown, and how he spent almost every minute with the team, nearly becoming a part of it. Take it from someone who was there: Ben Brown got it right. If you want to know what a season at the top of college football's elite feels like, read this book. Even today, reading passages takes me back to memories I will never forget. I just wish Ben could have been with us in '93, when we won the National Championship, so he could have written a happier ending.

I felt this book reached deep down into college football. I was thrilled when names such as Edgar Bennet, Charlie Ward, Amp Lee, and Danny Kanell. I felt the boos of the opossing fans and felt the cheers of ours. Until I read this book, I never realized the preparation it takes to coach a college football team. This was a well planned, well thought, documentation of Florida State Football.

Well I had to rate it something, or Amazon's software wouldn't accept the note . . . I guess five stars will have to do.

As of October 9, 2001, this book is again immediately available directly from our stock, and usually ships in 24 hours.

I appreciate your patience in waiting for the reprint, but here it is, available right now, and at no price increase.

Thank You!

Mike Arman

Having taken the time to actually read the book and put it to good use on my Sportster. I definately give it a thumbs up attitude.

Having met one of the authors about 10 years ago was the icing on the cake. I used to have his addy, but I lost it. If anyone knows where his bio is, I'd like to see it.

Valkrie

Having taken the time to actually read the book and put it to good use on my Sportster. I definately give it a thumbs up attitude.

Having met one of the authors about 10 years ago was the icing on the cake. I used to have his addy, but I lost it. If anyone knows where his bio is, I'd like to see it.

Valkrie

Looking back at the 1998 Supercross season was great. I love these collectable books. It was neat to relive the year with the great Jeremy McGrath and his reclaim of the title after a horrible '97 season.

I recommend this for anyone that loves Supercross and wants to hold on to some of the great years in the history of the sport.

Brent Madarasz, the author, did an great job of illustrating the 1998 SX series in this 144 page all color book.

This was a very well laid out book for all new and old fans of Supercross and Motorcross. The pictures were awesome. It was also very well written. This is the best book on the sport I have ever read or seen.

This book is GREAT. A masterpiece by Gary. having owned GSXR's I am biased. But I am a Kawasaki devotee and still found the book good. It is techinical, refreshing and complete. Well worth the price. It could do with a few more road test reports, but other than that.. Comon Gary, how about a book on the ZXR?

This is the bible of GSXRs, if you have a gGixxerh have just lusted after one, or are looking to get one, you got to get this book. It brought back fond memories of the mid-eighties sportbikes. The info and the pictures are top notch, and you can find out so much about such famous riders like Kevin Schwantz, Doug Polen, Mick Grant, Gary Goodfellow, Anders Andersson, and James Whitham, who all took their turns on the Gixxer.
Great book, it shows all, the good, bad and the ugly, about this bike. Years covered are from the first GSXR, the 1985 750 (not until 86 was the bike imported to the US) up until the 97 year.
Cheers!

Having owned several GSXRs from the first model available in '86 and the last one in '97. I found this book to be extremely informative. Explanations by top racers and the Suzuki factory provide great insight into the creation and on-going development of the GSXR. Enough technical detail is provided to understand changes to the motorcycle without having to be a Mechanical Engineer. The book also helped me not get taken by a person claiming to sell an '86 LTD version with a standard clutch. Based on the information in the book there was no such thing as a LTD with a standard clutch (they ALL came with a dry-clutch)

Not since "Easy Rider" and the Hell's Angels have motorcycles (and biker gangs) inspired such a freedom-loving odyssey through the seamier side of mainstream America. The story itself is an eclectic mix of violence, hip tragedy, and storybook romance, where love plays out against a backdrop of crime, drugs, and wild adventure. Candidly written with stark depictions, such as a hauntingly intense gang-rape scene of the girl's mother, and cross-cultural elements that I found very neat and honest, the Wolfpack sets itself above any open road drama I've seen.

Not since "Easy Rider" and the Hell's Angels have motorcycles (and biker gangs) inspired such a freedom-loving odyssey through the seamier side of mainstream America. The story itself is an eclectic mix of violence, hip tragedy, and storybook romance, where love plays out against a backdrop of crime, drugs, and wild adventure. Candidly written with stark depictions, such as a hauntingly intense gang-rape scene of the girl's mother, and cross-cultural elements that I found very neat and honest, the Worfpack sets itself avboe andy open road drama I've ever come across.

I thought this book was pretty amazing- a story of freedom, love and motorcycles seething with criminality and the pleasures of the flesh. It's a love/adventure story, but with elements of the Wild West, Mom, and the Mob.

This book is an excellent source of information about the wonderful world of Harleys. It's also compact enough so that you can take it anywhere. It's for the Harley lover in us all.

Although this is a very small book (size that is) the contents are fantastic. For a low price, you get a book with nice photo's and details about the changes from year to year about the different models. Very nice for your library and somehow you keep grabbing the little book...

If you liked his columns in Rider magazine, you will like this book. Every page is to be enjoyed. Just plain good reading.

I've been reading Clements articles in Rider magazine for years. With this book I don't have to wait for the next issue! Great stories for the motorcycle rider.