Motorcycles - Great Britain: Books - History (2/2)

Coventry's Motorcycle Heritage

Coventry was the birthplace of the British cycle industry and the city became heavily involved in the development of the British motor industry during the mid-1890s. From the first velocipedes built here in 1868, most of the later well-established cycle manufacturers quickly turned their attention to motorized vehicles, and many of the early motoring pioneers moved to Coventry to become part of this revolutionary work. Local companies such as Bayliss, Thomas & Co., Coventry Eagle, Humber, Riley, and Swift were just a few of the cycle firms quick to catch on, and steadily new companies were formed solely to manufacture motorcycles.

This book covers the history of all these companies and their products, focusing on the individuals who both founded and worked for such firms. From world-famous companies like Triumph, to the more obscure marques like Wartnaby and Draper, it provides a brief summary of each manufacturer, as well as an insight into the social history of Coventry at the peak of its involvement in motorcycle history.

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Motorcycle Road Tests 1949-1953 (from The Motor Cycle Magazine UK)

In 1952, Floyd Clymer published the first in a two-part series of motorcycle road test books that had originally appeared in the UK magazine, Motor Cycle. Obviously, these road tests focused on UK manufactured machines and European models that had UK distributors. The initial 1952 publication was followed by a second in 1954 that, in addition to motorcycle road tests, also included scooter, three wheeler and cyclemotor tests.
With 120 pages, profusely illustrated with 226 images plus specifications and performance information for each model, this publication combines both the 1952 and 1954 books into a single edition that includes 49 Motorcycle, 2 Scooter, 2 Three Wheeler and 7 Cyclemotor road tests.

The front cover of this book provides a detailed list of the machines featured in the individual road tests. However, the various manufacturers included are as follows.

Motorcycles: Ariel, Bown, B.S.A., D.M.W., Dot, Excelsior, Francis-Barnett, Greeves, Indian (Brave), James, Norman, Norton, Royal Enfield, Sunbeam, Tandon, Triumph, Velocette & Vincent.

Scooters: Vespa & Lambretta.

3 wheelers: Bond & Reliant.

Cyclemotors: Berini, Cucciolo, Mini-Motor, Velo-Solex, Cyclemaster, Power Pak & B.S.A. Winged Wheel.

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The British Motorcycle Story

Until the 1950s, even into the 1960s, British motorcycle makers ruled the roost, names such as Scott, Rudge, BSA, Norton and the mighty Triumph. There were many others now remembered by enthusiasts. Yet these were the companies which developed the motorbike from its earliest beginnings as little more than a bicycle with a tiny engine and made it the fast, powerful and exciting machine we recognise today.
This is the story of those British machines and their development, even the story of some who rode them. Within this story may perhaps be discerned some of the reasons for their demise, but this is primarily a story of success.

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British Racing Motorcycles

With foreign-built motorcycles generally dominating road and track today, it is perhaps difficult to appreciate that the situation was not always so. There was a time when virtually every manufacturer in Great Britain listed a racing machine in his catalogue and British machines dominated the scene.

Between the world wars, Norton, Rudge, Sunbeam, AJS and Velocette shared the spoils of victory despite the efforts of Italy, Germany, Sweden, France and Belgium. It was not until the mid 1930s that success began to come the way of the continentals, at first in the lightweight class, when Guzzi and Benelli from Italy appeared in the list of winners, along with Germany's DKW.

For many years after her decline as a force in world motorcycle manufacturing, Britain (and the Commonwealth) continued to provide great riders; Surtees, Hocking, Hailwood, Read and Sheene, to name but a few.

Contents: AJS 7R, BSA Gold Star, Manx Norton, Matchless G50 & G45, JPS Norton, AJS Porcupine & 3-valve, Rocket 3 & Trident, Specials, Triumph GP, Two Strokes, Velocette, Vincent HRD & Thruxton.

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British 250cc racing Motorcycles 1946-1959 - an era of ingenious innovation

From 1946 up to 1959, the 250cc class in Britain was supported almost entirely by privately built Specials and Hybrids.
This book recalls the men and machines involved, and traces their history and development, in what was clearly the most technically innovative class of Road Racing in the 1950s.

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British Custom Motorcycles - The Brit Chop - Choppers, Cruisers, Bobbers & Trikes

Many books have been written about British bikes and their racing history, but no one has devoted an entire book solely to the British-only custom motorcycle, and its chopper, cruiser, bobber and trike scene ... until now.

This book takes a look at some of the fantastic British motorcycle-based custom bikes around the globe. From the old to the new, it shows that when it comes to customising British bikes, things go much further than the simple chopped Triumph parallel twin. A celebration of all things 'custom Brit,' it is the only book devoted entirely to the British custom motorcycle, revealing the innovative, fresh approach to British-based custom bike building.

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Motos anglaises - Les marques de légende

With over 550 brands to its name, including the legendary Ariel, Brough Superior, Excelsior, Vincent, Velocette, Triumph, Norton, BSA, Royal-Enfield and Matchless, the British motorcycle industry dominated the world of motorcycling for several decades.
Also present on the world's greatest circuits, where the Norton 16H side-valve motorcycles, then the famous Manx, or even the Triumph overhead valve twins of GP and the unforgettable Velocette KTT won so much success, English machines have long been at the top of the competition. Riders such as Phil Heath, Joe Davis, Ken Kavanagh, Bill Lomas, Dick Mann, Geoff Duke or Bob McIntyre, Phil Read and the unforgettable Mike Hailwood, have also contributed to the success of English motorcycles by repeatedly offering them the laurels of victory.

With over 400 illustrations, this French book traces the history of the British motorcycle industry and its most iconic manufacturers, as well as the riders who brought them their letters of nobility. It should be noted that Triumph, legendary and indestructible, occupies a privileged place in this book.

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