Table Of ContentMOTOR
BIKE
The definitive
visual history
N 1,0 0 0 OF THE WO
HA ALL-TIMERL
D
ORE TAGNRDE LAATTEESSTT ’S BSE
M . BIKES H.T
F T
ROM APRILIA TO Z E NI
MOTOR
E
H
T
BIKE
BOOK
MOTOR
E
H
T
BIKE
BOOK
THE DEFINITIVE VISUAL HISTORY
Contents
LONDON, NEW YORK, MELBOURNE,
MUNICH, AND DELHI
DORLING KINDERSLEY
Senior Project Editor Jemima Dunne
Senior Art Editor Helen Spencer
Editors David Summers, Alison Sturgeon, BEFORE 1920
Sam Atkinson, Victoria Wiggins
Designers Amy Orsborne, Paul Drislane, Philip Fitzgerald, Gottlieb Daimler’s gas-powered engine on a bicycle set
Richard Horsford, Steve Woosnam-Savage
fire to the seat on its maiden voyage, but it heralded
Photographers Gary Ombler,
James Mann, Simon K. Fielder, Deepak Aggarwal
the birth of the motorcycle. The new century saw rapid
Picture Research Nic Dean
progress in design, durability, and performance.
DK Picture Library Claire Bowers, Emma Shepherd, Laura Evans
Jacket Designer Steve Woosnam-Savage
Database David Roberts, Peter Cook
Early Pioneers 10
Production Editors Tony Phipps, Ben Marcus
Great Marques: The Indian Story 12
Production Controller Linda Dare
Managing Editor Esther Ripley Three-wheelers 14
Managing Art Editor Karen Self
Birth of an Industry 16
Publisher Laura Buller
Great Marques: The Royal Enfield Story 22
Art Director Phil Ormerod
Associate Publishing Director Liz Wheeler Multiple Cylinders 24
Publishing Director Jonathan Metcalf
Profile: FN Four 26
DK INDIA America’s Golden Age 30
Senior Editor Monica Saigal Racing Machines/Scooters 32
Senior Art Editor Sudakshina Basu
Profile: Scott Two-speed 34
Editors Suparna Sengupta, Sreshtha Bhattacharya
Assistant Editor Gaurav Joshi
Art Editors Shriya Parameswaran, Pallavi Narain, Nico Alba
Assistant Art Editors Jomin Johny, Neha Sharma, THE 1920S
Niyati Gosain, Nidhi Mehra
Production Manager Pankaj Sharma After World War I there were bikes for the masses and
DTP Manager Balwant Singh
sports machines capable of covering the ground faster
DTP Designers Nand Kishor Acharya, Dheeraj Arora,
Mohammad Usman, Vishal Bhatia, Jaypal Singh Chauhan than any other vehicle. Mighty V-twins were built for
Deputy Managing Editor Pakshalika Jayaprakash Sinha
speed or for hauling a sidecar laden with the family.
Managing Art Editor Arunesh Talapatra
Editor-in-chief Mick Duckworth Two-wheelers for the Masses 40
Contributors Phil Hunt, Malcolm McKay, Hugo Wilson,
Profile: Brough Superior SS100 42
James Robinson
The Mighty V-twins 46
First published in Great Britain in 2012 by
Dorling Kindersley Limited, Profile: Indian Scout 48
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL
A Penguin Company
Copyright © 2012 Dorling Kindersley Limited
2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1
001 – 182744 – 04/12
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
A CIP catalogue record for this
book is available from the British Library.
ISBN: 978-1-4053-9440-6
Printed and bound in China by Leo Paper Products
Discover more at
www.dk.com
Great Marques: The Norton Story 52 On Military Service 94
Sporting Rides 54 Profile: Harley-Davidson WLC 100
Great Marques: The Moto Guzzi Story 58 Innovation and Evolution 104
Survival of the Fittest 60 Geat Marques: The Harley-Davidson Story 108
Out of the Mainstream 64 Economy Transport 110
Track Contenders 66 Racing Resumes 112
Profile: Norton Manx 114
THE 1930S
THE 1950S
Through the Great Depression, the emphasis switched
from speed to economy but machines became more With cars still a luxury, simple two-strokes were the
sophisticated in appearance and performance. Racing obvious choice, although powerful twin cylinders were
continued to test out new technology. aimed at the prosperous US market. The scooter was on
the rise, the ubiquitous Honda Super Cub was launched,
New Sophistication 70 and the Japanese made their first Grand Prix appearance.
Profile: Ariel 4F Square Four 72
Speed Club 76 Scooters 120
Reliable Transport 82 Profile: Lambretta LD 150 122
Great Marques: The BMW Story 86 Sports Twins 126
Economy Travel 88 Lively Lightweights 128
Hot Competition 90 Great Marques: The Honda Story 130
Tourers 132
Flyweights 134
THE 1940S
Great Marque: The Vespa Story 136
While the world was at war, motorcyle development was Useful Lightweights 138
put on hold with military bikes from BSA, Triumph, and Singles 140
DKW becoming workhorses throughout the conflict. After Trials and Scramblers 144
the war everyone needed a motorcycle. Racers 146
THE 1960S
Middleweights 188
The rise of the car hit the motorcyle industry hard but Great Marques: The Kawasaki Story 192
new niche markets included scooters for mods and Standing Out 194
powerful bikes for Café Racers. Beautifully engineered Fun on Wheels 196
Japanese machines with six gears and push-button Chrome and Smoke 202
starting began to infiltrate European and US markets. Off the Highway 204
Great Marques: The Triumph Story 206
Roadburners 150 Racers 208
Profile: Triumph Bonneville 152 Classic Style 210
Youth Appeal 156
Profile: Suzuki TC250 158
THE 1980S
Scooters and Mopeds 162
Great Marques: The MV Agusta Story 164 Although the motorcycle industry had little to celebrate
Willing Workers 166 in the economic boom, bikes were refined and updated
Tourers 170 with water-cooled engines, electronic ignition, improved
Great Marques: The Suzuki Story 172 aerodynamics, and better handling and braking power.
Built for Speed 174 Interest in classic bikes also influenced the design of
Rough Riders 176 new machines. Bikes became more specialized, from race
replicas and fully equipped tourers to rugged off-roaders.
THE 1970S
Road Sport 214
Classic marques like Norton and Royal Enfield went to the Profile: Honda RC30 216
wall, unable to compete with the superbike offerings from Power Play 222
Japanese manufacturers. Motocross bikes were launched Great Marques: The Yamaha Story 224
for the young, and trailbikes for US adventurers. Design Diversity 226
Mile Eaters 228
Superbikes 180 Dirt Diggers 232
Profile: Honda CB750 182 Racers 234
THE 1990S
City Rides 278
A period of sales growth saw an increased demarcation of Great Marques: The Aprilia Story 282
product classes, and a revival of several defunct marques, Practical Fun 284
the most successful being Triumph in the UK. Stylish and Off-road 286
economic scooters gained a new generation of fans, faced Racers 288
with rising fuel costs and traffic congestion.
THE ENGINE
Great Marques: The Ducati Story 238
Sports Bikes 240 How an Engine Works 294
Profile: Ducati 916 244 Engine Types 296
Street Style 248 Harley-Davidson X8A Air-cooled Single 298
Cruisers 250 Lambretta LD 150 Air-cooled Two-stroke 300
Tour and Adventure 252 BSA A10 Golden Flash Air-cooled Twin 302
Vincent Rapide V-twin 304
Yamaha YZF–R1 In-line Four 306
FROM 2000
Motorbike riders in the new millenium are rewarded
with remarkable sophistication – anti-lock brakes, GLOSSARY 308
power-reduction at the flick of a switch, exotically styled
INDEX 312
lightweight frames, luxury, and comfort. There is even
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 319
an effective electric motorcycle on offer.
Hypersport 258
Profile: Aprilia RSV4 262
Street Muscle 266
Far and Fast 268
Profile: BMW K1600GT 272
Engines: A single engine size has been given in cubic centimetres (cc) for each
Cruising 276 catalogue entry. Engine sizes can be converted to cubic inches (cu in) by multiplying
the cubic centimetres (cc) figure by 0.061.
Before
1920
In the last years of the 19th century, engineers strived to build the
most effective motorized bicycles and tricycles. In the first decades
of the new century, a standard layout for the frame, engine, drive,
and fuel tank was established; multiple cylinders and gearboxes were
added; and machines were refined from lessons learned on the long-
distance trials and races. Progress in motorcycle design, durability,
reliability, and performance was greater than at any other period.
