From Boneshakers to Choppers: The Rip-Roaring History of Motorcycles - Softcover

Smedman, Lisa

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1554510155 ISBN 13: 9781554510153

Publisher: Annick Press, 2007

Synopsis

The fastest book on two wheels explores the timeless appeal of the motorcycle.

In 1885, two German inventors strapped a motor to a bicycle, and the world's first motorcycle was born. Riders have been hooked ever since.

Climb aboard From Boneshakers to Choppers and discover how these two-wheeled wonders spawned subcultures that continue to flourish today. From early endurance contests that catapulted Harley-Davidson to fame to pulp novels featuring rugged biker heroes, you'll witness the burgeoning motorcycle image of the early 20th century.

Move on to wartime when the military pushed the motorcycle's portability by designing collapsible motorbikes to drop -- by parachute -- behind enemy lines. Then follow the motorcycle through the definitive postwar years: the birth of the Hell's Angels, the ultimate cool of biker Marion Brando in The Wild One, and the scooter-as-fashion craze of the mods. You'll also discover the world of adventurous female bikers, take to the tracks of stunt riders, and hit the road with cross-continent racers.

Brimming with an amazing collection of archival and contemporary photographs, From From Boneshakers to Choppers will take you on an unforgettable ride.

About this title

About the Author:

Lisa Smedman is a novelist, short-fiction writer, and one of the founders of Adventures Unlimited magazine. She lives in Vancouver, B.C.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Introduction:
The Passion for Motorcycles

Ever since the 1800s, when the first "motor bicycle" roared onto the scene, motorcycles have captured our imagination like no other machine. We still celebrate them in movies, books, magazines, comic books, design exhibitions and in fashion. Whether you admire them from a distance, are a first-time rider, or a long-time devotee, you're part of a huge, diverse community of fans. What is it about the motorcycle that inspires such passion?

To begin, the motorcycle gives its rider a sense of freedom -- there's nothing between you and the outside world. You feel the wind in your face, the hot sun on your back, or the cold sting of rain. And there's no denying that many enjoy the sheer speed, and with it, the scent of danger. Not only can riding a motorbike be an exhilarating experience, it's also affordable -- most models are cheaper than cars and less costly to run. Riders also identify with their bikes -- their sleekness, their stylish design, their signature paint job. Quite simply, a motorcycle becomes an extension of the rider's identity.

So how did this infatuation begin?

The motorcycle's origin was modest. The first models were not much more than motorized bicycles -- clunky in design, rough to ride, messy, and temperamental. Enthusiasts kept tinkering away, trying to improve the performance of their bikes and fulfill their dream of freedom on the road. From the start, inventors raced their one-of-a kind prototypes, in some cases riding them so fast the machines nearly tore to pieces.

By the early 1900s inventors built factories and started mass producing their designs. William Harley, along with his friends Arthur and Walter Davidson, were among those first innovators. As soon as the average person could buy a ready-made motorbike, customers clamored for the new machines.

Before long, motorbikes were racing along muddy roads in World War I, delivering messages to the front lines and carrying the wounded back to medical stations. After the war, new speed records were set and broken as eager designers continued to improve upon the basic styling. During the Great Depression, though, sales grew sluggish. The new concept of the assembly line-made cars less expensive, so the motorbike was no longer a contender as the family vehicle. Manufacturers struggled. But as World War II loomed, the motorcycle hit the battlefield once more. Some were fitted with treads that made them look like miniature tanks, while folding motorcycles were parachuted to agents behind enemy lines.

The war ended, and veterans returned home, but many weren't ready to fit into a conventional lifestyle. The motorcycle found a new niche as a vehicle for the adventurous and the rebellious. They appealed to this new kind of "bad boy" and were soon their machine of choice. Before long, "outlaw" motorcycle clubs like the Hells Angels clashed with police, and the "biker" was born. For many, riding a motorcycle was an act of defiance and a way to assert personal freedom. A new sub-culture evolved.

With the arrival of Japanese bikes in the 1960s, a completely different brand of rider emerged -- one much less subversive, but equally in love with the freedom of the motorcycle. If there was ever any doubt about the broad appeal of the motorcycle, it quickly evaporated.

Thanks to the motorcycle and the imagination of its riders, daredevil acts emerged, adventurers undertook grueling round-the-world tours, and oddly themed races were staged, together with those of a more conventional nature, such as drag races. Clubs of all descriptions formed, while increasingly sleek designs and steadily improving engines responded to consumer demand.

Freedom and adventure, combined with an exhaust-whiff of danger, are part of the irresistible allure of the motorcycle. From the time the first motor was mounted on a bicycle to the choppers of today, these two-wheeled wonders have had a remarkable history.

About this edition

• Publisher: Annick Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1554510155
• ISBN 13: 9781554510153
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 124