Must Have Motorcycle Reference Books: What are your favorites?

[cyclingday]

This one is definitely more in the coffee table book catagory, but it was the companion book to the Guggenheim Museum’s, The Art of the Motorcycle exhibit.
If you saw that show, then you know how impressive it was.

And this little paperback, is the book that started it all, for a lot of collectors.

It’s old and a bit funky, but I still love it!
The first place I ever saw a 1931 Schwinn built Excelsior-Henderson, model KJ, was in the pages of this book.
Thank you, T.A. Hodgdon
AMCA 1954

 

[cyclingday]

This one was always a favorite of mine, which you can tell by its condition.
Thoroughly dog eared and enjoyed, coffee stains and all.
But a must have for the early BMW Motorcycle enthusiast.

The last entry in the timeline, is the 1976 R100 RS.
So that gives you an idea of how far back this book goes back in my collection.
I remember those sitting on the showroom floor!
Now those bikes are considered classics!

 

[cyclingday]

Considered by many Indian guru's to be the Indian Bible for technical stuff and company history. The Iron Redskin by Harry V. Sucher. Probably banned by the woke snowflakes because of the title???
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A fond memory of mine, that I didn’t fully appreciate at the time, was when my dad was buying a 1938 Sunbeam motorcycle from Doc Sucher.
He asked me if I wanted to go over with him to pick it up, so I said sure, why not?
When we got to Doc’s place, he met us with his usual glee.
He took us to an outbuilding he had in the backyard, and showed us a few of the fabulous motorcycles he had.
One of them being a spectacular Indian Four.
I don’t remember the year, but I seem to remember it being a 1937 model.
I ran like a top, and ticked away like a Swiss watch.
One of those most beautiful machines I have ever seen or heard.
Next came the Sunbeam, which was the reason we were there.
Harry gave it the typical sales pitch.
I distinctly remember him exclaiming,
“ New Tires of Course!”
Classic!
Anyway, he looked at me, and said, “ You’re a young guy, why don’t you throw a leg over it, and let’s see if we can get it running?
So I reluctantly kicked that old British 500cc Single Cylinder motorcycle to life, with one kick.
Harry, my Dad and I all cheered with glee, as that classic old bike sprang to life.
We ran it for a bit, and then shut it down, to load it up, and be on our way.
Thanks, Doc!
That was an experience I’ll never forget.

 

[New Mexico Brant]

Wow! What a book if you like the early bikes! Just arrived today from Australia.

 

[New Mexico Brant]

Don Emde’s: The Speed Kings is another favorite.