The Racing Motorcycle – A technical guide for constructors –Vol 2
John Bradley’s acclaimed first volume has become a bible to anybody thinking of building and racing their own motorcycle. In addition, it has become a reference work to many others involved in tuning or modifying production machines, including works teams!
He has now published the second volume (ISBN 0 9512929 3 5) which majors on construction techniques and materials than can be used when building a bike. Once again this gifted chartered engineer, who has personally built and ridden many different bikes, often achieving national success, uses his writing talents to help others understand the complexities involved in building a competition machine.
Bradley manages to explain complex theories and mathematical formulae in a way that the layman can understand what needs to be done to build and construct safe, reliable, race winning machines. While many may think that brazing a few tubes of mild steel together may be the answer to their problems, he shows it could just be the start of them!
Like the first soft-bound volume (ISBN 0 9512929 2 7) which has now sold in over 30 countries, this 450 page second tome is illustrated with black and white photos, line drawings and relevant tables and formulae.
Despite an excellent writing and teaching style that allows you to read through complex subjects with reasonable ease and learn at the same time, this book is not light reading for the annual holiday. What this book is though, is a must for anybody involved in motorcycle engineering and racing and anybody who wants to understand exactly how a motorcycle works.
It is not cheap at £38.00 (plus £5 p&p UK or £6 airmail) but this is against £3,800 to buy you a couple of years at college to gain a fraction of the knowledge contained in it pages!
The two volumes together probably form the most comprehensive and invaluable work on the subject anywhere in the world!
If you haven't got the first volume then get the two direct from Broadland Leisure Publications, PO Box 72, North Yorks,YO21 3YE or email sales@.broadlandleisure.com Tel. 01947 893356
Review by Ian Kerr