She's a Bad Motorcycle: Writers on Riding

by Geno Zanetti (editor)

Why do people ride motorcycles? Thomas Krens, curator of The Art of the Motorcycle, the most popular exhibition ever mounted at the Guggenheim Museum, "For much of society, the motorcycle remains a forbidden indulgence, an object of fantasy, and danger." And of envy. No other machine is thought of as the vehicle -- "the perfect vehicle" Melissa Holbrook Pierson calls it "of rebellion, lawlessness, and freedom."

She's A Bad Motorcycle collects the writings of those who have sought that freedom. From the genre-defining -- and exploding -- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance to Chasing Che the motorcycle has inspired a startlingly rich, unabashedly romantic body of writing that celebrates the risks and exhilaration of the journey to self-discovery. The book includes selections from Eric Burdon, Harry Crews, Harlan Ellison, Robert E. Fulton, Jr., Che Guevara, Fred Haefele, S.E. Hinton, Dennis Hopper, Richard La Plante, Erika Lopez, Horace McCoy, Allen Noren, Robert Pirsig, Gary Paulsen, Melissa Holbrook Pierson, Patrick Symmes, Keith Tye, Hunter S. Thompson, Lois Wilson, Daniel R. Wolf and Tom Wolfe, as well as photographs by Bruce Davidson, Martin Dixon, Ann Ferrar, Danny Lyon, Helge Pedersen, and Irving Penn.

Genres: Motorcycle

271 pages, Paperback

First published January 9, 2002

Reviews

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of short stories and excerpts from other books. Some chapters were great, and some were terrible. It might be a good one to read just to get ideas of which other books about motorcycles that you might want to read.

[Kate McLaughlin]

"But even if you are an asshole, a Harley can be personality spackle in that it'll cover over any deficiencies. That's why balding midlife-crisis boys get them." -erika lopez (page 235).

[GT · Rating 3 out of 5]

In celebration of my new bike.