Classic Bikes

Rating:
Summary: Easy read, lots of inside info on the "Classic" companies
Review: Peter Henshaw writes about the history of classic bike manufacturers with a style that doesn't give a clue as to how hard it must have been to gather all this history. He has articles and photos covering: Ariel, AJS, BMW, Brough Superior, BSA, Douglas, Ducati, Excelsior U.K., Excelsior U.S.A., Harley Davidson, Henderson, Hesketh, Indian, James, Jawa, Laverda, Matchless, Morini, Moto Guzzi, MV, new Hudson, New Imperial, Norton, NUT, Panther, Royal Enfield, Rudge, Scott, Sunbeam, Triumph, Velocette, and Zenith.

80 pages. 100 full color photographs including some Harleys like the W-series 750cc, a 1923 J model, a 1915 F model and the 500 cc single that I don't remember seeing in the big official Harley book. There are 15 color photos of classic Harleys. The Vincent photos and company history alone justify buying this book.

If I had any complaints it would be that I wanted to see the whole bike in some of the photos instead of the few where they only show the engine section and alittle to each side.

I hope Peter Henshaw does some more detailed writing on specific models, or I should say, specific brands of classic bikes. But, here is a pretty good overview of the major players, excepting the Japanese makers of which at one time there were almost 200 in number.