British Motorcycling Books
Online Discussion
- Britbike.com: Motorcycling books and changes in the publishing industry.
Sources
Out-of-Print
U.S.
U.K.
British Motorcycling Books
General Interest
Hopwood, Bert. Whatever Happened to the British Motorcycle Industry?"
- "Although I knew the ending it was still interesting reading". Ken.
Irving, Phil. Phil Irving, an Autobiography".
- ".. one of the best books I've ever read. What an interesting life, it reads almost like a novel." Gerry.
Ixion. Motorcycle cavalcade: The history of the Motor Cycle 1884-1950.
- "Written by a guy who was there in the pioneer years and knew blokes like Pa Norton. Only read the 1st chapter
so far (saving it for long winter nights) but its great history. Took me the best part of a year to track down a copy
though." Graeme.
- Considered an all-time classic in motorcycle maintenance and repair. Includes a broad range of general shop info and entire sections devoted to detailed coverage of Ariel, BSA, HD, Honda, Indian, Kawasaki, Matchless and A.J.S., Norton, Panther, Royal Enfield, Sunbeam, Suzuki, Triumph, Velocette, Vincent, Villeirs, and Yahama.
Radco (Frank Farrington). The Vintage Motorcyclist's Workshop. 1986. 247pp Photos, drawings.
- (Reprinted by Haynes 1987)
- A wealth of motorcycle mechanics and shop info with a tight focus on Vintage.
Staff, "The Motor Cycle". Hints and Tips for Motor Cyclists. 1954.
- "A wee book like [The Motorcyclist's Workshop]." Graeme.
Torrens. The Motorcyclist's Workshop, Sixth Edition. 1954. ILLIFE & Sons Ltd, Dorset House, Stamford Street,
London, SE1
- "First published in 1931, I picked up a 1954 sixth edition at a recent Kempton Park autojumble. It has really
knowledgeable and detailed sections on, e.g, the ideal workshop, fitting bearings, lapping, removing sprockets and
broken studs, timing and tuning, etc. It is written in a clear and friendly old fashioned style and has masses of
delightful line drawings to illustrate points in the text. A real gem IMHO." Bill S.
- "I'll second that recommendation! This is a must read if you are a diy'er." Chuck.
- "By jove I third Bill's recommendation of Torrens' book! A jolly good read." Graeme.
Triumph Motorcycle Books
Bacon, Roy. Illustrated Motorcycle Legends
Bacon, Roy. Illustrated Triumph Buyer's Guide
Bacon, Roy. Triumph Bonneville T120 1959-74. Bacon, Roy. Triumph Twins Restoration
- Bacon's books are fairly well regarded even if they are known to include errors.
- "Bacon seems earnest, albeit somewhat misinformed on certain issues.. likely colored by the fact of where he is located." Doug
Bird, Richard. Triumph Bonneville
Gaylin, David. Triumph in America
Gaylin, David. Triumph Motorcycle Restoration Guide - Bonneville & TR6 1956-1983
- Out-of-print ($200 to $260 on Ebay)
- The consensus is that Gaylin's books are meticulously researched and both more detailed and more accurate than those by Remus and Bacon.
- "THE bible for triumph enthusiasts.. better than Bacon's books and
Remus's competing tome. I have all 3 and Gaylin's is my favorite and the one i use the most" Doug.
- "Far more useful than Roy Bacon's version."
Gaylin, David. Triumph Racing
- ".. has some tips on cams and tuning tips by racers in the back of the book." Doug
GT Foulis & Company. Triumph Tiger 100 and Daytona November 1988. reprinted 1991 and 1998 (Haynes Publishing)
Hancox, Hughie. Tales of Triumph Motorcycles & the Meriden Factory. Dorset: Veloce, 1996. ISBN: 1-901295-67-2
- "Autobiographical, enjoyable."
- "Excellent read. Insider view of 50's and 60's Triumph production including many
anecdotes about factory hijinks and culture. Interesting tidbits on the evolution, design, and problems with the
Triumph line. Hancox also chronicles his experiences in the Royal Signals MOtor Cycle Display Team. Highly recommended." (BT)
Hancox, Hughie. Unit 650 Rebuild
- Available on DVD (2) and cassette (2). 3 hours 10 minutes showing complete tear-down, inspection, and re-assembly of
a 650 unit engine. Also available for non-unit 650 twins. Rave reviews all around. (BT)
Hazeldine, Paul. Triumph Bonneville Year by Year
Kane, Gerard. Original Triumph Bonneville - Restorer's Guide 1959-1983
- "Recommended"
- "Lots of good detailed colour photos"
Nelson, John. Triumph Bonneville - Super Profile
- (Received at least one negative recommendation)
Nelson, John. Bonnie, the Development History of the Triumph Bonneville
- "It was, at the time it was published, considered THE BOOK on the Triumph Bonneville. I have only found a couple of errors in it." Kadutz
Nicholson, J. B. Modern Motorcycle Mechanics, Seventh Edition. 1974
- General information plus specific sections on Ariel, BSA, HD, Honda, Indian, Kawasaki, Matchless and A.J.S., Norton,
Panther, Royal Enfield, Sunbeam, Suzuki, Triumph, Velocette, Vincent, Villeirs, and Yahama. Univeral acclaim! [BT]
Remus, Tim. Triumph Bonneville and TR6
- Generally negative recommendations
- "Good color photos, but many innacuracies"
- "Remus... is horribly
inaccurate..(Nice shiny pix though)." Doug
Shelton, Stan. Triumph Tuning
- Several positive recommendations. Long out of print, but now updated and readily available according to Doug.
Woolridge, Harry. Triumph Trophy Bible
- "Very good". "Recommended". Author used Triumph production records
- Generally comes with high recommendations
Wilson, Steve. Triumph Motorcycles from 1950 -1988
Wilson, Steve. Triumph T120/T140 Bonneville. Sparkford: Hanyes Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85960-679-2
- Chronicles the Bonneville from its beginnings through the "New Millennium Bonnie". Details year-to-year changes and
has many photos. Situates the Bonneville in popular culture and includes a Who's Who chapter. I found the writing
stilted and contrived and the effort required to read it blunted my initial enthusiasm for the book. (BT)
BSA Motorcycle Books
Bacon, Roy. BSA Twins and Triples: The Postwar A7/A10, A50/A65, and Rocket III
Osprey, 1980.
Bacon, Roy. BSA Gold Star and Other Singles. Osprey, 1982.
Bacon, Roy. BSA Twin Restoration. Osprey, 1986.
Bacon, Roy. BSA Singles Restoration. Osprey, 1988.
Bacon, Roy. BSA A7/A10 Twins: All Models, 1946-1963. Niton, 1989.
Bacon, Roy. BSA Bantam: All Models. Niton, 1989
Bacon, Roy. Illustrated BSA Buyer's Guide. Niton, 1990
Bacon, Roy. BSA Unit Singles: C15 to B50, 1958-1973. Niton, 1990
Bacon, Roy. BSA A50/A65 Twins: All Models, 1962-1972. Niton, 1990
Bacon, Roy. BSA Pre-Unit Singles: B,C, and M ranges. Niton, 1991
Bacon, Roy. BSA Rocket 3 & Triumph Trident 1968-1976. Niton, 1991
Clark, R.M., ed. BSA Twins A7 & A10 Gold Portfolio 1946-1962. Brooklands, c1996
Clark, R.M., ed. BSA Twins, A50 & A65 Gold Portfolio 1962-1973. Brooklands, c1996
Clew, Jeff. BSA Bantam Super Profile. Haynes, 1983
Cycle World on BSA 1962-1971. Brooklands, 1987
Falco, Charles. The Gold Star Buyer's Companion. Pacific, 1996
Gardner, John. BSA Goldstar Super Profile. Haynes, 1985
Golland, A. Goldie: The Development History of the Gold Star BSA. Haynes, 1978
Holliday, Bob. Story of BSA Motorcycles. Patr.Stephens, 1978
Main-Smith, Bruce. The Gold Star Book. Main-Smith, 1974
Morley, Don. Classic Motorcycles: BSA. Osprey, 1991
Parkhurst, Joe. Hurricane Named Vetter, A: The Story of the Last BSA Motorcycle. Vetter, 1978
Ratio, Rupert (aka Barry Ryerson). BSA Unit Singles Engine Manual
- "It is about the most valuable resource I have for dealing with my unit B-models." Bill Litant
Ryerson, Barry. Giants of Small Heath: The History of BSA. Haynes, 1980
Vanhouse, Norman. BSA Competition History. Haynes, 1986
Wright, Owen. BSA M20 & M21 Super Profile. Haynes, 1955
Wright, Owen. BSA A7 & A10 Twins Super Profile. Haynes, 1984
Wright, Owen. BSA: The Complete Story. Crowood, 1992