The most INFLUENTIAL motorcycle books
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- Kevin Cameron and Mark Hoyer pick a few of their favorite motorcycle books and talk about what makes these titles so great. Are these books part of how Kevin Cameron knows so much? Engines, riding technique, high performance mods…check out the show to hear the list.
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Thanks for getting Kevin on camera, I started reading his articles going back to 1969. I do miss the motorcycle magazine days even though RUclips it great too.
They’re not mechanically focused like your choices, but Peter Eagan’s three LEANINGS books are my favorites in my large collection of motorcycle books. No one describes and muses over the love of riding better.
Wish those were on audio!
I have followed Kevin since the 1970’s and think he is the most articulate and clear writer on the technical aspects of motorcycling that I have read. Kudos for TDC and these wonderful podcast videos.
My personal list for the most influential motorcycle books: Anything by Kevin Cameron or Peter Egan. Mike drop.
For the Two Stoke enthusiast I would recommend the "Two-Stroke Tuner's Handbook" by Gordon Jennings and "Two-Stroke Performance Tuning" by A. Graham Bell. Jennings' book is easy to read and describes the steps required to develop a Two-Stroke Racing Engine, in a logical Manner. Bell's book is more technically oriented and has a great volume of information for a Two-Stroke enthusiast to digest. I make these comments as a Two-Stroke enthusiast who has a Degree in Mechanical Engineering with an Empasis in Power and Propulsion. Also, I've been racing Two Stoke Motorcycles for over 50 years.
Regards,
Motorbike Mike Piekarski
I am an electrical engineer who designs electric motors, and designed an early alternative to the liquid cooled Mission Motors electric motor for an urban powertrain for an EV motorcycle from an American OEM. We too (electrical engineers) have the same challenge with achieving the intuitive understanding for how electromagnetic torque is developed in an electric machine (motor or generator) and how the torque and its control can be varied for different applications. As you both pointed out, technical papers published in the professional societies in my field (in my case, the IEEE or IEE) since 1980 have become places for academic oriented professionals to show how smart they are to other academically oriented professionals, and less about showing how their research (some of which is highly compelling) can be accessed, undertstood, and applied by the "everday" practicing engineer. This has occurred to a point where many in my field believe that true NPD can only occur in an academic environment (rather than in an industrial applied research lab which was more common when I was a lad), which drastically reduces the overall competitiveness of our internal industrial firms. Rant done.
A book that is fairly new THE SECRET HORSEPOWER RACE, Western front fighter engine development by Calum E. Douglas, is a technical delight. Much of it is over my head, but I've only run through it once. I haven't read all the words yet. There is stuff in here that I did not know. Not your average WWII fighter book.
The EE field is full of fluff. I see it all the time and Engineering is about trying stuff and it failing where you then learn, adapt and fix. Paper studies are a very minor part of that. I’ve employed PhD’s and they are in lots of cases useless as engineers because they pontificate about the verities of a subtle thing and miss the “oh shit, I need to fix the system somehow” philosophy.
I enjoyed this discussion. I have the three technical books that Kevin has written and value all three of them. Sportbike Performance Handbook might be misnamed, since it seems to really just explain how motorcycles work more than how to get more performance out of them as I originally expected. It filled in many gaps in my knowledge. I'll be on the lookout for the other books that were mentioned in this discussion. Oh, and I've been a Kevin Cameron fan since he wrote for Cycle Magazine. When that magazine came I would read his article and Ed Hertfelter before even checking what else was in there.
Yeah. Ed Hertfelder! Malted milk balls lost (and found when he was bonked) under the seat(s) of his van. “Unaware in Delaware”.
These videos with Kevin Cameron are pure GOLD!!!! I’m so hooked, just binging away!
On moto books: Shout out to “Motocross, techniques and training” by Brad lackey and Len weed👍. It was my bible when I was a kid!
Love Kevin amazingly DEEP thinker
Very very deep
Thankyou Kevin for all your books. I almost let a friend borrow my copy of Classic Motorcycle Race Engines until I saw the cost to replace it - OVER $500!
PE Irving ; Tuning for Speed. my copy is falling apart. Tony Foale ; M/C Chassis Design is engagingly straight forward. For riding technique, Keith Code ; Twist of the Wrist.
Thanks for that.
Sir Harry Ricardo’s book was in my public library in the early-mid-70s. I borrowed it repeatedly. That was in North Bay, Ontario
(Canada). A great library. Started from a Carnegie grant long before WW2.
I was excited until I saw the price. I'll keep looking but right now I can't afford $300 for a book.
Wi-Fi O2 sensor like to learn more about that
I got my Yamaha Tracer 9GT+ home, and it was a nightmare getting the clutch & brake levers at the right angle (I'm 6'3") I had to snip a "lawyer spring" off the clutch adjuster and tilt the bar forward because the clutch & brake didn't rotate that far. I didn't need much adjustment, but it didn't have much to give.
That was unnecessarily difficult. Especially after they made the handlebar, windshield, footpegs, and seat so adjustable.
Hello, long (very long) time Kevin fan here. I think there are a few reasons for the lack of useable information in 'technical papers' being available today. I have many old very useful articles from say Machine Design magazine (and others) in my stash from the 80's to the early 2000's that I have used often-niche kind of information, but it can save your butt at times. One reason is that the information is regarded as IP by companies-something that they have paid for and their thinking is that why would they want to share it with the competition? Another has to do with things that come up with under defense related contracts. These automatically fall under regulations that prevents it from being shared with non US persons. Even the simplest thing like how to work with O-ring seals can get stuck in that box. Sad to see the sharing of information shrinking down so much.
Not a technical book really but a wealth of technical information is 'The Racing Motorcycle' by Vic Willoughby-it has tons of info on bikes from the start of GP racing.
The RUclips videos are just great, thank for your time and efforts to put them together.
Any Article Kevin wrote, Gordon Jennings Two Stroke Tuning Handbook, Carrol Smith set
Keith Code’s books, Twist of the Wrist, etc… are very helpful for riding technique.
I know this comment is a few months late but does Cycle World have an archive/library that I could visit. I am an author and website admin and am trying to locate the remaining motorcycle literature in the USA, both pre and post war as a source list for future authors.
Sportbike performance handbook‼️❤️❤️❤️What a best seller‼️❤️ It should be on any bookshelf even if you are afraid of riding motorcycles‼️😁
So much great information in your videos , THANK YOU !!!
Wow, this is a podcast I didn't even know I needed in my life. Kevin Cameron is the man!
Excellent job you two. Thanks for sharing.
Ricardo even understood fuel injection in 1939
As a future topic. Why are engines designed with the exhaust in the front?
Would you recommend the sport riding book to a guy who rides cruisers or tourers
I got a copy of the Ricardo book and it's great
Lean Of Peak (LOP) operation of aircraft engines is almost like a religeon. KC's explanations over the years allowed me to be able to teach my engine customers how it works. I may not have had everyone convinced but at least they were good explanations.
The best but need more: Gordon Jennings, Prof. Gordon Blair. Bill Milliken and maybe some books that are in print. Just stretched the belt over my new Spica injection pump back in '82 but I haven't dragged my elbow (or shoulder) in turn 8.
When Uncle Kevin mentioned tinker toys, I was thinking how many youngsters would be able to relate that to the organic chemistry hydrocarbon structures. That was a brilliant real world example.
Kevin is such a gem. I’ll go book shopping. I’ve enjoyed Ken Condon’s writings as well
I want a Kevin shirt....!
My honourable mention:
Modern Motorcycle Mechanics by JB Nicholson.
Kevin is the MAN! I have followed him from his start. I have learned so much from him!
Great video. Please keep the book reviews coming. Thanks!
Ed Coonfield, Enduro Secrets Revealed changed my life
All of your podcast episodes have been fantastic! Please keep them coming
Thank you - I didn't understand squish until just this moment. Cool....
Pilots don't call it a collum of smoke. They call it a smoking crater....
I would pay good money to read anything KC deigns to write. (The new Superbike book is worth 2x what I paid for it.)
In the back of the Sportbike Performance Handbook, Kevin lists a bunch of books that he recommends.
Thanks man. Will plunk down my 500 bucks just for that list.
Just looked, there’s a used paperback on Amazon for $8.95
You are the friends there I dream about to talk about bikes.. even at the track the depth of knowledge is almost none...besides feel exceptions.
thks
Great video…really interesting. 👍 I’ve been riding dirtbikes for most of my life and it’s surprising how many fundamental things most of us don’t know at any real depth. Just bought the Ricardo book.
I think the sport bike guys are reading their speedometers in khp. I just took a buddy on his cbr 600 for a ride yesterday. I kicked his ass on the straight and in the twistys. 116 ftlbs of tourque at 2,000 rpms brutally beat that cbr 600. My 2012 streetglide weighs 1,300 lbs or more.
I think that probably says more about your buddy’s riding ability than it does about his bike.
@markpavletich747 more like “everything”
How in the hell does your SG weigh 1300 lbs?