The History Book Club discussion

This is the thread to discuss the "history of motorcycles".

If you are a motorcycle buff and collector, then the Ariel is the one you want for your collection. Not easy to find and sometime prohibitively expensive, they have an unmistakable profile and are treasured by their owners.

1937 Ariel Red Hunter



Ariel
Ariel Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer based in Bournbrook, Birmingham. It was one of the leading innovators in British motorcycling, and was part of the Ariel marque. The company was sold to BSA in 1944 but the Ariel name survived until 1970. Influential Ariel designers included Edward Turner and Val Page.

The original company was established in 1870 by James Starley and William Hillman to make bicycles. The name came from the first penny farthing bicycle, which was so light they called it the Ariel "spirit of the air". It merged with Westwood Manufacturing in 1896 and made a powered tricycle in 1898 with a de Dion engine. Hillman left soon afterwards to found Premier Motorcycles.

In 1902, Ariel produced its first motorcycle, which had a Kerry engine with an innovative magneto ignition and a float carburettor. In 1905, Ariel was taken over by Charles Sangster, who built a three-speed, two-stroke he marketed as the "Arielette", but his small factory closed on the outbreak of the First World War. In 1918, Sangster's son Jack took over and developed a motorcycle with a 4 hp White and Poppe engine that proved successful. Jack increased the range of motorcycles to include 586 cc and 992 cc machines and persuaded the designer Val Page to join the company. Ariel was merged with a company called Components Ltd. but this venture failed and in 1930, Jack was able to regain control and set up a new factory in Birmingham. One of their first bikes was the Ariel Square Four, designed by Edward Turner followed by the Ariel Red Hunter. The Red Hunter was a success, and made Ariel able to purchase Triumph.

During the Second World War, the Ariel factory was turned over to military production, including the Ariel W/NG 350 army motorcycle based on the Red Hunter but with higher ground clearance. In 1944, the company was sold to BSA and the 500 cc KH model was produced, together with the more powerful Huntmaster, which had a modified BSA A10 650 cc engine. Reliable and capable of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), the Huntmaster proved popular with sidecar enthusiasts.

The Red Hunter formed the basis for Sammy Miller's 1955 trials motorcycle which proved very successful in competition. In 1959, Ariel broke with tradition and produced the Ariel Leader, a fully enclosed 250 cc two-stroke that aimed to combine the benefits of the motorcycle with the advantages of a scooter.

BSA decided to close the factory in 1963 and move production to Small Heath. In 1967, Ariel produced its last motorcycle, a reduced capacity Ariel Arrow. In 1970, BSA produced the Ariel 3, a 49 cc trike (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_Mo...)

Well that looks like a superb motorcycle.

It is an exemplary machine and one of the first that had rear shocks and a foot shifter.

The Iron Redskin: The History of the Indian Motorcycle

by Harry V. Sucher (no photo)

Synopsis:

Indian is a magic name in motorcycling. Its mention brings to mind machines with flamboyant bold striping, lithe of appearance and, seemingly even at rest, poised for flight. There were over two dozen makes of motorcycle on the market during the heyday of motorcycling in the United States. Yet in the minds of many enthusiasts, none of these quite approached the verve, style, artistic functionality of design or handling abilities of the Indian. The Iron Redskin is the story of the most loved of American motorcycles. It is a vast work that has taken many thousands of hours to compile, yet it is one of the most readable and interesting motorcycle histories ever to be published.

One great motorcycle but be careful if you are driving an old Harley and then get on an Indian. The gas feed and the shifter are reversed on the Indian...gas feed on the left, shifter on the right. That could lead to some interesting results!!!!

For the die-hard Harley fan, it will tell you everything you need to know.

Harley-Davidson Century

by Darwin Holmstrom (no photo)

Synopsis

Get ready to rock, roll, and rumble through 100 years of Harley-Davidson history. Hit the highway with acknowledged authorities as you travel through a full century of Panheads, Shovelheads, Knuckleheads, Cafe Racers, and Evolutions.Cruise through the history of power and speed with Cycle World columnist Kevin Cameron as he documents the Motor Company's delicate balance between technology and tradition. Go hog wild with Hunter S. Thompson and Brock Yates as they outline the evolution of the outlaw image and the culture spawned by Harley-Davidson. Peter Egan sheds light on the XLCR Cafe Racer and best-selling authors Girdler, Field and Anderson add their expertise to deliver the most comprehensive history ever published on the Company and its highly sought-after motorcycles. Filled with hundreds of stunning new color photographs."One hundred years of Harleys are detailed and lavishly photographed in this oversized (seven pounds!) edition that is sure to send any motorcycle enthusiast to hog-heaven."- Business Review, December 13-26, 2002"This photo-rich celebration of Harley-Davidson's first 100 years will delight fans and illuminate for others the vehicle's enduring appeal."- San Francisco Chronicle, November 2002Features multiple contributing authors including Hunter S. Thompson, Brock Yates, Kevin Cameron, and Peter Egan.

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The beautiful Road King Classic

You love those motor cycles Jill (smile). I am trying to picture in my mind what you look like and you on top of the Road King Classic - somehow it just doesn't jive but what do I know.

Husbands drive Road Kings (they are really heavy, 800lbs+), wives drive Sportsters.!!!!

So you were behind your hubbie - I had a hard time picturing the gal who could handle that monster.

I'm behind him on the road on my Harley Sportster. Lighter and easier to handle. Although I actually know a couple of women who can handle the Road King........whew, not me!!!!

Now I am having a problem picturing you on the Harley Sportster - but again I will just give up the image of the Road King.

Indian Motorcycle, the classic machine for any motorcycle enthusiast, has released its new 2014 Indian Chief. It is good to see this company coming back to life. I believe the new model was revealed at Sturgis on August 3, 2103

When you say BMW, everyone thinks of the "ultimate driving machine" car but BMW made some of the greatest motorcycles on the road. This book covers all models with photos and narrative.


The Art of BMW: 85 Years of Motorcycling

by Peter Gantriis (no photo)

Synopsis:

The Art of BMW: 90 Years of Motorcycle Excellence presents stunning studio portraiture of the rolling sculpture that BMW has been creating for the past 90 years. Each bike portrait is accompanied by a concise, authoritative profile of the machine. All the classic bikes are here—pre-World War II BMWs like the R5 that defined performance in that era; the military R12 that carried the Wehrmacht as it blitzkrieged its way across Europe; the R75M that accompanied Rommel’s Panzers in North Africa; the Earles-forked R69S that offered the perfect platform for mounting a Steib sidecar; the R90S café racer; the K1 “flying brick”; and the GS (Gelände Sport) series that launched a dual-sport revolution. All the bike families are covered—the side-valve machines from the early years, the early overhead-valve performance bikes, the postwar Airheads and Oilheads, the four-cylinder and six-cylinder touring bikes, the early pushrod singles, the modern overhead-cam singles, the latest parallel twins, and inline-four cylinder sport bikes. From the first model, the R32 that launched BMW's motorcycle dynasty, to the latest (and fastest) model, the World Super Bike dominating S1000RR, this book captures nearly a century of motorcycling excellence.

Very interesting.

This is one evil machine. (See the quote at the bottom of the narrative). You seldom see them because they are sitting in someone's collection along with their Vincent Rapide.

Vincent Black Shadow



The first model from Vincent was the Rapide. However due to demand for a more "sports oriented model", the Black Shadow was introduced. The Black Shadow traced its roots to an early-model Rapide that had been specially tuned by factory tester and racer George Brown, his brother Cliff and legendary Vincent designer Phil Irving. With relatively minor modifications, such as enlarged ports, bigger carburettors and increased compression, the test model, known as "Gunga Din" was soon making 55 bhp (41 kW), creating the specification that would become the Black Shadow. The model became so popular that the production of the Black Shadow exceeded the production numbers of the Rapide. The Black Shadow was a "Stressed Frame" design. The engine, instead of being cradled in a set of frame rails, was suspended from above, becoming a stressed member, or integral part of the structure. The Black Shadow as well as the other post Second World War Vincents featured several new technological innovations, such as a unique and original alternative to the primitive telescopic front forks of the day, a sprung rear sub-frame, the extensive use of aluminium alloy and a unit construction stressed engine. It weighed in at a relatively light 458 lb (208 kg),[3] which was about the weight of a pre-war 500 cc bike.

The inspiration for the Black Shadow was Royal Air Force pilots flying over the factory, and soldiers serving in the war. The designers created a motorcycle that could be operated and maintained by men who had been injured in combat. The clutch could be operated with just two fingers, and maintenance was made far easier than anything previously available.

The reason for its name "Black" Shadow was that the entire bike (including the engine) was coloured black including baked enamel on crank-case and covers. The reason for the black on the crankcases is still disputed to this day. Some claim that the black colour was for looks, others claim that it had something to do with heat transfer and dissipation. Whatever the original reason behind the painting of the engine, it was very different from anything else at a time when everything was polished and chromed. There were a small number (about 16) of White Shadows, machines made to Shadow specification but with the plain aluminium finish of the Rapide. Fewer than 1,700 Vincent Black Shadows were made, all hand-assembled.

In 2007, The Vincent H.R.D. Owners Club commissioned the VOC Spares Company Limited to build a replica Black Shadow from new parts. Amongst other things, the project was to prove that all the parts were in stock and available from the VOC Spares Company Limited. Having received many glowing reports from the motorcycle press in the UK, the machine was eventually auctioned by Bonhams and now resides with a Member of the Vincent H.R.D. Owners Club in New Zealand.

Journalist Hunter S. Thompson wrote that, "If you rode the Black Shadow at top speed for any length of time, you would almost certainly die. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_...)

The great gonzo journalist at his best!!

Hell's Angels

by Hunter S. Thompson

Synopsis:

"California, Labor Day weekend...early, with ocean fog still in the streets, outlaw motorcyclists wearing chains, shades & greasy Levis roll out from damp garages, all-night diners & cast-off one-night pads in Frisco, Hollywood, Berdoo & East Oakland, heading for the Monterey peninsula, north of Big Sur...The Menace is loose again." Thus begins Hunter S. Thompson's vivid account of his experiences with California's most no-torious motorcycle gang, the Hell's Angels.
In the mid-60s, Thompson spent almost two years living with the controversial Angels, cycling up & down the coast, reveling in the anarchic spirit of their clan, &, as befits their name, raising hell. His book successfully captures a singular moment in American history, when the biker lifestyle was 1st defined, & when such countercultural movements were electrifying & horrifying America. Thompson, the creator of Gonzo journalism, writes with his usual bravado, energy & brutal honesty, & with a nuanced & incisive eye; as The New Yorker pointed out, "For all its uninhibited & sardonic humor, Thompson's book is a thoughtful piece of work." As illuminating now as when originally published in '67, Hell's Angels is a gripping portrait, the best account we have of the truth behind an American legend.

This is a 700 page picture book for the motorcycle enthusiast. A feast for the eyes!!

Motorcycles

by Valeria Manferto De Fabianis (no photo)

Synopsis:

This handsome, hefty little compendium spotlights a vast range of the world’s most important and influential motorcycle designs. Enthusiasts will appreciate the fine photography showcasing, through a variety of perspectives, the details of a wide range of motorcycles. Archival photographs of motorcycles in advertising are supplemented by hundreds of specially commissioned photographs of motorcycles in internationally renowned races and traversing the world’s most stunning landscapes.Custom motorcycles and some of the world’s most legendary bikes from Harley-Davidson, Triumph, and Guzzi are depicted in glorious full color, the images paying homage to the sleek design and unique characteristics of each. A chapter on the first motorcycle in history rounds out this celebration. Accompanied by captions containing informative tidbits and trivia, the images in this portable fantasy-garage will appeal to motorcycle lovers both young and young at heart.

Do you have tons of money to spend and don't know what to do with it. How about buying an Ace Motorcycle.

The Ace Motor Corporation was started by William G. Henderson after he sold Henderson Motorcycle to Schwinn.Production started in 1920 but ended in 1924 after a bankruptcy. Eventually Indian bought the rights and tooling for Ace. Ace used an unusual layout of a longitudinal four cylinder with a chain drive, which was very similar to Henderson Motorcycles. Because production only lasted for four years on the original run, these are very rare motorcycles.

One can only dream!!!

spiffy

Barn finds are getting harder to come by as collectors are combing the country for the classic in abandoned garages. But there are still some out there.

The Vincent in the Barn

by Tom Cotter (no photo)

Synopsis:

It’s every motorcyclist’s dream. A friend or acquaintance says, “You know, there’s an old bike that’s been sitting in this garage for years.” The hunt is on. And rather than the usual worthless Hondazukimaha pile of hopeless oxidation, at the back of that barn you find a genuine classic, the motorcycle collector’s dream.

The Vincent in the Barn tells forty such stories--tales of motorcycle hunting dreams come true. From Ducatis in basements to Vincents abandoned in sheds, Harleys in barns to Brit bikes moldering behind urban garages, these are the stories that fuel every motorcyclist’s fantasies. The only difference? They’re true.

Another of those motorcycles which will stretch your wallet but worth the price.

Matchless

Matchless is one of the oldest marques of British motorcycles, manufactured in Plumstead, London, between 1899 and 1966. A wide range of models were produced under the Matchless name, ranging from small two-strokes to 750 cc four-stroke twins. Matchless had a long history of racing success; a Matchless ridden by Charlie Collier won the first single-cylinder race in the first Isle of Man TT in 1907.

In 1938, Matchless and AJS became part of Associated Motorcycles (AMC), both companies producing models under their own marques. During the amalgamations that occurred in the British motorcycle industry in the 1960s, the Matchless four-stroke twin was replaced with the Norton twin, ending a long history of independent production. By 1967, the Matchless singles had ceased production.
(For the rest of the article, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matchless)



Source: Wikipedia

History of Motorcycles

by Mick Walker (no photo)

Synopsis:

A history, a reference, a visual powerhouse: if the sound of a motorcycle revving up starts your heart racing, delving deep into motorcycle lore will just add to the excitement.

With 200 photos of the models you love to see, a thorough look at the backgrounds of the finest machines, and bios of the great names, here's the definite leader of the pack in motorcycle books.

It takes in motorcycling from its early, hesitant start, focusing on all the pioneers of the sport; moves through the war years and after, when Japan emerged as a major manufacturer; presents the thrill of grand-prix and road racing; and checks out today's newest, high-performance road machines and tourers.

The makers whose top-of-the-line cycles appear include Harley-Davidson, BSA, Norton, Indian, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Triumph. Also covered: classic retros, customizing, speedway, the TT races, and world speed record machines.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

by Robert M. Pirsig

Synopsis:

One of the most important & influential books written in the past half-century, Robert M. Pirsig's Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a powerfully moving & penetrating examination of how we live, a breathtaking meditation on how to live better.

Here is the book that transformed a generation, an unforgettable narration of a summer motorcycle trip across America's Northwest, undertaken by a father & his young son.

A story of love & fear--of growth, discovery & acceptance--that becomes a profound personal & philosophical odyssey into life's fundamental questions, this uniquely exhilarating modern classic is both touching & transcendent, resonant with the myriad confusions of existence & the small, essential triumphs that propel us forward.

Award:

National Book Award Finalist Nominee for Contemporary Affairs (1975)