No other British motorcycle matches the style, performance or engineering ingenuity of the Vincent. This book concentrates on the post-1945 1000cc B, C and D Rapides, the Black Shadow, Black Knight and Black Prince, and the 500cc Meteor and Comet singles. There is also information on the special-order Grey Flash and Black Lightning racing models.

Tim Kingham looks at the iconic Vincent Black Shadow.

Read Matthew Biberman's posts on the Penguin Blog. "If you believe it is possible to fall in love with a motorcycle, you will love this book." -Jay Leno When Big Sid had a heart attack and gave up the will to live, his son Matthew Biberman panicked. Impulsively, Matthew promised his father that they would build a Vincati together. This fusion of two legendary motorcycles, the Vincent Black Shadow and the Ducati GT, a Vincati was considered near-impossible to build. But if anyone could do it, Matthew knew his father could. Big Sid was the mechanic to see about repairing Vincents for nearly sixty years. But now, Sid was old, busted up and broke. Matthew, despite sharing his dad's passion, had become a Shakespearean scholar. The two men hadn't spoken in years-but called a truce to attempt a shared dream. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance meets Shop Class as Soulcraft, in this heartfelt memoir that shows how two very different men built a legendary motorcycle, and along the way, discovered what it means to be father and son.

A beautiful and comprehensive celebration of the art and design of classic motorcycles, from the early twentieth century through the 1950s. This is the most beautiful book of its kind: celebrating the art and design of the luxury motorcycle by presenting forty of the best-designed and most enduringly iconic motorcycles ever made, spanning half a century. The book showcases forty rare and exceptional motorcycles, from 1905 to 1956, presented in chronological order, illustrated with stunning studio photographs that present the machines as works of art and wonders of design in themselves. An international roster is featured: a 1905 Peugeot Factory Racer, a 1916 Indian Power Plus, a 1929 Majestic, a 1936 Excelsior Manxman, a 1951 Harley Davidson 750CC WR, a 1951 Vincent 1000CC Black Shadow, and a 1955 Triumph Tiger Cub, among others. Written by a motorcycle collector and expert, the book presents the history of the motorcycle through the most significant makes of all time. Each is accompanied by detailed images and texts covering the bike's background, legends behind the machines, feats of design and engineering, and tales of classic races, rallies, and motorcycle shows. The book is enhanced with reproductions of period ads and historic photos, evoking a sense of time and place.

Famous for his classic hit 'Be-Bop-A-Lula,' Gene Vincent was one of the most influential rock 'n' roll artists of all time. This is the first American biography written of this rock pioneer and the most comprehensive account of his career and turbulent personal life. Adored by British and European fans, Gene Vincent moved to the UK in 1959 where his leather-clad, street-tough persona met with instant acclaim. The survivor of the crash that killed Eddie Cochran, his closest friend, he was to die himself at just 36, a victim of torment and tragedy. Illustrated.

Mike Hailwood has often been described as motorcycling's greatest rider. A superb all-around rider, Hailwood took eight world titles in the 250cc, 350cc and 500cc classes. This lavishly illustrated volume contains coverage of the British Championships and early Continental races in 1959 and 1960; riding for MV Agusta and Honda in 1960-61; back with Honda and four more world titles, 1966-68; BSA and the American Daytona classic, 1970-71; plus his incredible comeback in 1978 winning the Isle of Man TT on a Ducati and winning the Senior TT title on a Suzuki. Foreword by Giacomo Agostini. Hardbound, 10" x 10", 208 pages, 225 b&w illustrations, 16 color pages