Bike Books

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D-Rider · #1 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 11:36 am

I've just got hold of a couple of bike books that I've been after for some while.

The first is Tony Foale's Motorcycle Handling and Chassis Design.

It's not too hard to get hold of it but list price is very steep (€69)
I found it on USA Ebay - brand new from the author - still expensive at about £30 but far cheaper than list and it was a book I've wanted for some time as it is probably THE authoritative source.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motorcyc ... Literature

I did have a bit of a problem with it getting lost in the post and contacted Tony who sorted it all out and gave me a free copy of his chassis/suspension analysis software too - to make up for the delays.

His website is worth a visit as well - it contains a lot of the articles he has written over the years (freely available)
http://www.tonyfoale.com/

The second is a book that has been out of print for a while - I've been searching for ages for a copy ... the closest I came was a copy on Amazon for £100 .... obviously out of the question.
The book is Phil Irving's Tuning for Speed (6th Edition)

Although originally released decades ago, it has been updated and most of the principles still apply - it's still regarded as a key reference source.
Anyway, I've finally tracked down a seller with new copies at £24.99 ... and I now have one of them.
The place I found it is Motor Books: http://www.motorbooks.co.uk/
They seem to have a pretty good selection of books

I now have some reading to do.

#2 Post by **mangocrazy** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:12 pm

Hi Andy, I must admit I've had a look for Tony Foale's book in the past and been put off by the price. £30 is about what I'd be prepared to pay, as well. Was that price a one-off, or does it come up regularly at that price?

The software sounds interesting - does it set your bike up for you? (joke) Actually I could use something like that to try and work out the linkage ratio on my old VFR's rear suspension. I've been buggering about with the ride height to try and get it to steer quicker and at the same time trying to get a suitable rate spring for the shock. I've gone from a 900lb spring to a 1400lb spring and it's still too soft. Next step is a 1600lb spring (!)

A suspension guy I know reckons that increasing the ride height is possibly also raising the effective linkage ratio, which means that the spring rate is too soft as a result. Ho-hum...

<edit> it might be better if I followed the link first before asking the question, might it not...

D-Rider · #3 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:46 pm

Hi Graham - it's on ebay at the moment - the link I posted above takes you there (but gives the price in $).

If you search ebay uk for the book title it returns no uk results but one international seller. It shows the current price in £ (£30.96 + £8.33p&p). If you click on it you get the ebay page I posted up.

BTW although Tony is living in USA at present, those destined for Europe are distributed for him by his son who lives in Spain.
With a few delivery problems I had the opportunity to correspond a bit with Tony to sort things out - he seems a very nice chap.
I was particularly glad to do this as it was some of Tony's innovations in the '70s that inspired me to think a lot about bike design and aim for a mechanical engineering degree .... though I entered a course that was a general engineering course allowing you to specialise (or not) - I expected to become a mechanical engineer but went down the Electronics and software route ... but still did my final year project for Triumph (Meriden) .... and I guess that some of the reason for all of this can be traced back to Tony!

As for his software, I've installed it but not really played with it yet (it's on my desktop pc which I don't use so much but didn't want to install the single license on my laptop as that's actually work's pc)

Viking · #4 Post by **Viking** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 10:09 pm

I was looking at a copy of Foale's book, but the price (AU$175) put me right off.

There is also this one:

Code: Select all

Author&#58; Noakes, Keith
Published&#58; 2007
Binding&#58; Softcover
No. Pages&#58; 176
Dimensions&#58; 21 x 25
Illustrations&#58; 266 colour and black & white photographs

Description&#58; Whether it is for road or race, every builder of a motorcycle wants to gain a performance advantage over the opposition and there is no exception. Cutting edge chassis design is a major factor in motorcycle performance. This book charts the history of fifteen of the most innovative chassis manufacturing companies. It contains full specifications for many chassis and is an invaluable reference for any motorcycle enthusiast and a valuable guide for the trade. 

Manufacturers covered are&#58; 
 - Nico Bakker &#40;The Netherlands&#41; 
 - Bimota &#40;Italy&#41; 
 - Dresda Autos &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - Egli &#40;Switzerland&#41; 
 - Harris Performance Products &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - Hejira racing &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - Magni &#40;Italy&#41; 
 - Maxton Engineering &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - P&M Motorcycles &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - Quasar &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - Rickman UK &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - Colin Seeley Racing &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - Segale &#40;Italy&#41; 
 - Spondon Engineering &#40;United Kingdom&#41;.

On top of that, I remember an author named 'Bell' who had a book about tuning 2-stroke engines, as well as someone who had a series of books on bike tuning (4-stroke, 2-stroke, and chassis). If I remember, I'll dig up the details when I get home tonight.

EDIT: Found it!

Code: Select all

Author&#58; Bell, A Graham
Published&#58; 1999
Binding&#58; Hardcover
No. Pages&#58; 229
Dimensions&#58; 17 x 24
Illustrations&#58; technical photos & illustrations

Description&#58; This fully revised second edition takes the reader through the various modifications that can be made to a two-stroke engine and its components to give maximum useable power output and mechanical reliability. All areas of engine operation are explained and analysed, from air and fuel, through carburation, ignition, cylinders, porting, reed and rotary valves and exhaust systems to cooling and lubrication, dyno tuning and gearing. It includes new material on the latest advances in porting, reed valves, exhaust valve digital controls, carburettor design, engine cooling techniques and synthetic lubricants.

Viking · #5 Post by **Viking** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 10:10 pm

Would it be worthwhile making this thread 'sticky'? Might save people time and effort when looking for reference material like this.

D-Rider · #6 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 10:17 pm

Viking wrote:I was looking at a copy of Foale's book, but the price (AU$175) put me right off.

There is also this one:

Code: Select all

Manufacturers covered are&#58; 
 - Nico Bakker &#40;The Netherlands&#41; 
 - Bimota &#40;Italy&#41; 
 - Dresda Autos &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - Egli &#40;Switzerland&#41; 
 - Harris Performance Products &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - Hejira racing &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - Magni &#40;Italy&#41; 
 - Maxton Engineering &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - P&M Motorcycles &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - Quasar &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - Rickman UK &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - Colin Seeley Racing &#40;United Kingdom&#41; 
 - Segale &#40;Italy&#41; 
 - Spondon Engineering &#40;United Kingdom&#41;.

mmmm that looks interesting too - quite a "who's Who" of chassis builders there ..... might have to look out for that one ....

Edit: Motor Books have got it for £9.99 - reduced from £19.99

Viking · #7 Post by **Viking** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 10:28 pm

D-Rider wrote:Edit: Motor Books have got it for £9.99 - reduced from £19.99

Even after adding on the postage costs, that's half the price it is here. Time to break out the credit card!

Viking · #8 Post by **Viking** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 12:10 am

I found those other books I mentioned above.

Motorcycle Tuning: Chassis
Author: John Robinson
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd (May 1992)
ISBN-10: 075060798X
ISBN-13: 978-0750607988

Motorcycle Tuning: Four Stroke
Author: John Robinson
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2 edition (January 15, 1994)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0750618051
ISBN-13: 978-0750618052

And finally,

Motorcycle Tuning: Two Stroke
Author: John Robinson
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2 edition (January 15, 1994)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 075061806X
ISBN-13: 978-0750618069

DavShill · #9 Post by **DavShill** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:13 pm

Just read this. It's a good read, not just the bike context but the whole polictical thing surrounding the erection of the east/west curtain. Recommended reading.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stealing-Speed- ... 290&sr=8-1

BikerGran · #10 Post by **BikerGran** » Fri Apr 07, 2017 5:01 pm

I've been given some bike books to sell on behalf of the NABD - mostly manuals etc for/about classic bikes - Any point in me listing them here (ie would there be enough interest to make that tedious job worth my while?)

#11 Post by **mangocrazy** » Fri Apr 07, 2017 5:13 pm

Hi Bobbi, I'd be interested in seeing what books you have. I'm sure there would be interest from others as well.

BikerGran · #12 Post by **BikerGran** » Fri Apr 07, 2017 7:48 pm

Had a better idea - this is a link to an album showing the books (I may have parted with one or teo but I can check easily enough. The album's on Facebook but it says that anyone with this link can see them, they don't have to have a Facebook account.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... a5413fd2b6

Greg · #13 Post by **Greg** » Fri Apr 07, 2017 9:48 pm

Either of these two - if not both (I could do with the royalties lol)

https://corporate.haynes.co.uk/press-re ... techniques

https://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Motorc ... 0857330594

Gio · #14 Post by **Gio** » Fri Apr 07, 2017 10:25 pm

BikerGran wrote:Had a better idea - this is a link to an album showing the books (I may have parted with one or teo but I can check easily enough. The album's on Facebook but it says that anyone with this link can see them, they don't have to have a Facebook account.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... a5413fd2b6

I have a copy of the BSA book by D W Munro it was lived in a box in our loft the last 35+ years lol I used it when I was at uni on my BSA. Dammit now I want to buy another, but it'll have to wait until the CB400 is back on the road.

Also the book Classic Cars its lurking alongside my Blackbird workshop manual (loose leaf folder).

I think a few would be worth a bit, just don't know which ones.

Gio · #15 Post by **Gio** » Fri Apr 07, 2017 10:30 pm

Greg wrote:Either of these two - if not both (I could do with the royalties lol)

https://corporate.haynes.co.uk/press-re ... techniques

https://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Motorc ... 0857330594

Congrats on those, my son has a copy of the 1st one as he goes offroading in Dubai at least one weekend a month.

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