The Encyclopedia of Motorcycles [544pp]

The motorcycle fuels the senses like no other form of transportation. Whether you like the romanticism of the early pioneering days, the Easy Rider lifestyle of the Harley-Davidson, the high-revving performance of the superbike, or the urban chic of the scooter, the wheeled machine has universal appeal. The very earliest motorcycles were steam driven. The oldest that survives is a French “boneshaker” from 1869, its steam engine mounted alarmingly under the saddle. It is a long way from today’s global motorcycle market, dominated by Japanese makes. In between, an industry was born and motorcycles became a way of life, not just a mode of transportation.