At 10 o'clock on the twenty-eighth of May 1907 the first Isle of Man Tourist Trophy motorcycle road race began. The riders pushed off on their 500cc single cylinder bikes and ten laps and 158 miles later, Charlie Collier aboard a Matchless would be declared the victor. This book is a history and celebration of the bikes of those early years of the TT races. It covers the events and personalities that led to the creation of the race and its challenging course; the early success of the British motorcycle manufacturers: Norton, Velocette, AJS and Matchless and their riders. The origins of the Italian Fours: Gilera and MV Agusta Quattro are covered and the influence and reign of the Japanese manufacturers too are covered: Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki. There are also details of the technical developments that enabled the bikes to conquer the mountain course with world-record beating times.

In this book 30 significant examples of restored race bikes are profiled with colour photography and detailed information about the machine's race pedigree and historical significance. [From back cover].

As this book explains, the Japanese did not suddenly become proficient in the design and development of motorcycles when they first appeared in Europe at the end of the 1950s. Instead, the Japanese had been involved with motorcycles since the beginning of the 20th century. True, early Japanese motorcycles copied Western design - a trend that continued for several years after WWII. But soon they designed a succession of highly innovative machinery, not only to the Grand Prix world's benefit but to the paying 'over-the-counter' customer, too. Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha, plus Bridgestone and Tohatsu, have all built and sold racing motorcycles which the public could also buy and enjoy.

Until the 1970s, North America was considered a backwater with respect to world championship–level motorcycle road racing. European racers viewed American riders as being less talented and rode around in circles on tracks made of dirt. That all changed when Kenny Roberts exploded onto the Grand Prix racing scene and became the first American to win the world championship in motorcycle road racing's premier class. Roberts' success launched an era of American dominance that lasted for nearly 20 years and still echoes through the annals of the sport. This is the story of the legendary American riders who beat the Europeans at their own game, including Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, Kenny Roberts Jr., and the most recent American world champion, Nicky Hayden. With additional chapters about the American World Superbike champions and those Americans who competed for the World Championship, this is the story road racing fans have been waiting decades to read.

Few paint a more vivid or varied picture of the joys of riding than this collection of stories from a motorcycling life by Lance Oliver, who has spent more time than most of us thinking about and writing about the art and practicalities of motorcycling.

The Kawasaki Triples Bible covers the entire production of three cylinder two-strokes from 1967 to 1980, featuring a year by year breakdown of bike specs, including the KH250, 350 S2, KH400, H1 500 and H2 750 models. Illustrated with hundreds of archive photographs and period adverts, plus personal memories from some of the racers and tuners who got the best from the fearsome H1 500 and H2 750 machines of the 60s and 70s, this is an invaluable resource for any collector or restorer of these fabulous motorcycles. With information provided by Kawasaki Museum, acknowledged experts such as Rick Brett and Dave Marsden, and lifelong Kawasaki triples owners, it defines the enduring appeal of the models. It also contains excellent tips on spares, tuning, rebuilds etc., and captures the very essence of what made the Kawasaki triples the most rebellious, kick-ass two-strokes of their time.