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Customer Reviews (6)

Good book, great price
Got this book for about $4.00. Very informative, have been riding ten years and I still learned some things.

Start here. Now.
If you're new to Motocross or just need some reminders this book is a great first step and reference. You'll never learn everything with a book in active sport like this, but it covers all the bases well. I take it to the track with me 'just in case' and it helps me with the right language to explain things to my kids. - And it's heavy enough to hit yourself in the head when do something foolish.

Best Motocross Manual
I've been to many Motocross schools, had many instructors, and have read several books about the Best Sport on Earth.
This book not only has the best info, but it's laid out in such a way one can use it to keep improving their skills.
When you want to be a better rider, simply refer back to it!
Do you want to have more fun? Ride faster, more efficiently, and have more confidence? How about riding so that you look good (and don't crash)?
I recommend this book as indispensable.

Lots of good, timeless tips
This book has a lot of timeless tips about motocross racing and dirt bike riding with plenty of photos to walk the reader through the various techniques.I highly recommend that anyone new to this sport read the book cover to cover just to get well-grounded in the basics. There are some more advanced techniques covered, but this is primarily for the beginner to intermmediate rider. Some of the suggestions here will definitely lower your lap times.

Probably made my crash rate 1/2 of what it would have been....
Before I jumped into dirt riding I thought I'd better educate myself a bit and got this book.Compared to anything else out there it it loaded with good info.I like Semics has his little green quick "how too" or comment section on certain topics.So you can pick up the book and look at a couple of pages and not get bogged down in material."Hey in sand you can go faster becuase as soon as you chop the throttle the sand helps stop you" quick and simple tricks like that all over this book.Things all you guys who've been ridin since you were 4 already know but for those of us whos mother would not let him ride until he got out of the house then this book may keep you from taking some soil samples needlessly. ... Read more

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Best friends Carlos and Ricky race all the time, but when their bikes are sabotaged before a major race, they cant trust each other. Theyll have to band together to figure out whos pulling a double cross. ... Read more

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With millions of participants worldwide, motocross and off-road motorcycle riding are the most popular amateur motorsports in the worldâ€"and, many agree, the most physically demanding.For a sport that asks so much of so many, a training manual is a mustâ€"and this one is the very first to make the necessary know-how accessible to the amateur rider. While providing sound advice for the would-be Ricky Carmichael of tomorrow, this handbook offers a no-nonsense, real-world approach that the average racer or rider can understandâ€"and turn into real results.

Among the topics the book covers are: weight training and proper nutrition in a fast-food world; age-specific training programs; gear; scheduling; staying hydrated, healthy, and injury-free: keeping a log; cross-training; balance, reflexes, and flexibilityâ€"and how to improve all three; race-day warm-ups and stretches; arm pump and how to train it out of your system; taking it to the next levelâ€"for the would-be pro riders; trainers, gyms, online, and published guidance; and staying motivated and avoiding burnout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Just the basics
I was a little disappointed by the content of this training manual.The author assumes zero previous health and fitness knowledge, and consequently rehearses the basic priciples most of us learned in fifth grade gym class.
I expect most racers who are serious enough to buy a specialized training guide are looking for motocross-specific exercises and training routines.Instead we get running, pushups, and a reminder that junk food is not good for us.Also the writer repeats himself a lot, and his overused metaphors are not funny.

NOT THE BEST
ALTHOUGH IT IS A GOOD BOOK, IT SHOULD BE NAMED DIFERENTLY. IS MORE ABOUT HOW TO BE FIT AND HOW TO TRAIN YOUR BODY FOR MOTOCROSS

great book
Great book. No games. to the point and easy to follow. It also happens to be the only current book out there. Other than this I have had to look up old Husky manuals, Brad lackeys book, Ake jonsons the technique of motocross , among others that are 20-30yrs old. It is great that the only book out there is pretty good. Like all training books the real test is if you really do what is prescribed. ... Read more

Product Description
In addition to pro tips and step-by-step photos on jumping, cornering, braking, starting, training, and more, this popular dirt rider's bible has been fully updated to include the very latest techniques in full-color photos. All-new information features data on four-stroke bikes, as well as updated information on the latest body positions, bar set-ups, and jumping techniques that reflect the current emphasis on front-wheel landings. Up-to-date advice makes this an essential guide for today's off-road racers and riders. The author is Jeremy McGrath's personal trainer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Good for used & great information
I received this used book expecting wear however that wasn't the case.It arrived not only quickly but in excellent shape.The book itself is packed with some good riding techniques for beginners.It also contains some great tips to get you started.

Room for improvement
I'm having a hard time reading this book.I think the gems of information are in there, but I'm having work pretty hard to get them out.Why?Formatting: low contrast color choices.In some places, dark text on a dark background makes for difficult reading in low light.Clarity: the author(s) repeatedly fail to define terms precisely.I'm left to guess what they mean.A how-to book shouldn't leave the reader wondering.Ego: they seem to worship Jeremy McGrath.Call him infallible.It feels like a primary school clique to me.Bad science:For example, pg.41, tip #5: "Carry most of your weight on the footpegs to lower your center of gravity."Based on my understanding of basic physics, changing the position of where the rider's weight is supported has nothing to do with where the rider's center of gravity is.Sure it's good advice, carrying the rider's weight on the footpegs drastically improves the bike's handling, but the authors' explanation of the physics is complete nonsense.It leads me to question all other explanations.I imagine the authors know their stuff, but they've got a lot of room for improvement to communicate their ideas in print.

Book Full of Great Riding Tips
This proved to be a very useful book to me.The authors of this book broke down the various aspects that are required to ride a dirtbike efficiently and safely.After I read through this book, I could critique my riding technique and make corrections.I immediately noticed results the first weekend out in the woods.My speed was increase and my comfort levels went up.At the conclusion of that ride, I noticed that I was less tired than usual and could have went back out for more.I've become a better rider as result of reading this book.I would recommend it to anybody wanting to become a better rider.

AWESOME!
This is just a gorgeous book, I had the old Gary Semics manual, it was black and white photocopy stuff, this new book has all the Gary Semics stuff with updates and many sections covering different terrains, bikes and setups. The pictures are outstanding, I showed it to my dirtbike buddies and everyone wanted to buy their own copy. They usually copy the stuff so that says a lot about the quality. The information is of the highest quality, Gary Semics is maybe the top motocross teacher in the world, and his "47 absolute techniques of motocross" WILL make you a better rider even if you just ride for fun with your friends. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

Worth every penny!
This is an excellent book for improving your skills and preventing the spills. The pictures and instructions are so well written that anybody can understand and apply the techniques. A huge variety of topics for both trail riders and motocross racers, this book has plenty to offer all riders at any experience level. The chapters and subjects are well organized and easy to read. You will not be disappointed.. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent book despite the typo on the binding
The binding says "motorcyle" but that's about the only issue with the book.

Lots of good info, all the little tricks you can do to make a bike sell for more. Ways to prolong the life of the motor and seals. Could be more on carburetion, but that's going away anyways. The suspension setup was what I bought it for, and this book shed a lot of light on the subject. My bike handles much better, and I know what adjustments to make to improve it in different terrain.

You probably don't need it if you've been maintaining your own bikes for years, but you might learn something too.

Maintenance?
This book is so basic that it falls short of being valuable.There is nothign in this book that an owners manual does not have.You are paying for information you already know.Possibly ok fora beginner, or Trainable.

Book Review
This book contains some good tips, but also a few technical errors. Minor oversights in proofreading perhaps but they are worth noting here as this book will no doubt be read by aspiring off-road enthusiasts, not seasoned veterans. On page 81 in the inset piece titled "Is my clutch toast?", the author states that a worn or stretched clutch cable will cause your clutch to slip, when in fact just the opposite will occur. If there's too much free-play in the cable your clutch pack will not be fully disengaged with the lever pulled in, causing it to "drag" when a gear is selected. The other error of note is on page 95 regarding the carburetor air mixture screw function. The author states that turning an air screw in will make the mixture leaner when in fact, the air screw turned in reduces the air flow, which makes the air/fuel ratio richer.

Great Setup Tool
This guide is a great tool learning how your bike works beyond the user manuals and give great tips to personalize settings and functionality of your trusty metal steed.I am not a mechanic but thought I had a good understanding of how most the bikes work these days.I found myself constantly thinking "Huh, so that's how that works!"Lots of great tips on maintenance and care.I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to do their own wrenching and really tweak their ride for speed and safety. ... Read more

Product Description
This all-new edition is extensively revised to cover all bikes built from 1985 through 1999. Step-by-step instructions and a generous selection of exclusive photos show how to maintain, modify, and set-up every component, and how to correct common flaws. Advice is also provided for buying used bikes, setting up a shop at home, and preparing for race day. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Buy the 3rd edition instead...
Bottom line - well worth the money, but there is a 3rd edition available.I ordered the 2nd edition by mistake and returned it.The 3rd edition is in color and MUCH easier to read.3rd edition has a 'bit' more 4 stroke info but not enough to justify buying the 3rd edition if you have the 2nd.

Good book.Good for beginners and as a reference for the experienced.

You may want to take some of the things he says with a "grain of salt" or "does this apply to me" attitude though.Page 22 has a Maintenance Interval Chart that suggests changing the transmission oil every 2 hours and a top end rebuild every 10 hours - or less depending on riding conditions.Not sure I want to change the oil in the middle of a 4-hour easy trail ride.Yes it probably is supposed to apply to 2 strokes on the mx track but he does not state that.

Just buy it.


.

Reasonable basic book
not a bad book for most two stroke motorcycles, however the book is very poor when it comes to modern four stroke machines which exist today, it discusses the likes of xrs, which would be very out of date with yzfs and crfs of modern times. but all in all worth the price

Beyond the repair manual.
I have 2 boys who race MX and off road and I race off road and we do most of our own repair and tuning work. This book makes it much easier. It goes way past the repair manual with time saving tips and necessary illustrations. The tuning stuff is completely missing from the repair manual. I don't know if this is THE best book to have in the garage but it works for me. I've read it almost all through and highly recommend it to someone who races or pits for a racer.

Good solid stuff.
Eric Gorr's book is a great help to all dirtbike owners. In addition to your bikes workshop manual it should cover absolutely EVERYTHING you will ever need to do to your bike.

The writing is good, it's organized and to the point. There are specific sections for all the major models.
This is one of the better tecnical books I own, and I highly recommend it.

The Awesome Trail bikes by Shane Harvel
The Trail Bikes is a really good book.If you are looking for a
dirt bike,or if your looking for how to ride one this is the
place for you go to.Believe me this is the place for you to
go to.GOOD LOOK ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Print versus DVD
The photographers included in this book are the best in the business and some of the images are truly fantastic.I doubt many gen-x-ers will buy this book and appreciate the talent and effort that goes into capturing a still image when they can go out and buy a Travis Pastrana DVD with someone jumping off the grand canyon, but such is the age we live in.Not a knock, just a recognition of the difference between print and video, and who is likely to enjoy which.

For those who appreciate motocross as it was in the 70's and 80's and appreciate outdoor tracks more than supercross, I give this five stars.For X-games fans, I give it only three.Therefore, an overall four star rating.

For the price, you can hardly go wrong. ... Read more

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Fast-paced X Games Action at your fingertips! Your readers will blaze through these extreme sport titles! With high-action photos, diagrams, and Fact! boxes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Great easy book!
This book contains 17 close-up, clear and current photographs of motocross riders in action.The book outlines the types of bikes used, the equipment necessary and safety measures.I feel it is a great book for a young reader interested in motocross.Although it is RL2, I would say it might be a higher reading level.There are words such as suspension, equipment and others that might be difficult for a young reader.The book is well constructed with a hard bound cover and heavy weight pages.It provides additional resources in the back via websites and other books. ... Read more

Product Description
The ultimate reference book on the history, design and tuning of 2-stroke and 4-stroke Motocross motorcycles from famed motojournalist Jim Gianatsis. Fully covered are suspension design, development and tuning. How motocross engines work and can be modified for better performance. Fully illustrated with extensive detailed diagrams and photographs, including the evolution of the sport's top motocrossmotorcycles and their riders from the 1960s to present day as photographed by Jim. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Leading Book on Motocross Bike Evolution, Design & Tuning
The world's leading book on the evolution, design and tuning of motocross and dirt motorcycles. Includes suspension tuning, engine performance, and some of the most famous photos taken by Jim Gianatsis from the history of motocross with top riders including Bob Hannah, Roger DeCoster, Marty Smith

NEW REVISED EDITION NOW AVAILABLE!
Design and Tuning for Motocross: Revised Edition 2008 - is now available on Amazon.com and updated with new chapters on the latest 4-stroke motocross bikes, along with my great old motocross bikes and race photos from back in the 1960s-1970s. Newly added is a technical look update at how dirt bikes evolved have evolved from when this book was first published in 1971 when exotic prototype 2-stokes ruled the "Golden Age of Motocross" to the present where production 4-stokes have become the required weapon of the sport.Run anAmazon.com Search for the new ISBN Number 1578650992 or click here:Design and Tuning for Motocross: Revised Edition

Jim's classic motocross race photography is also available for sale as prints, posters and murals on the [..] Website. ... Read more

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This book is suitable for ages 8 to 14 years. Follow motocross from its humble origins as 'scrambling' in Britain to its many varied and exciting forms today, showcased in two great annual events, the X-Games and World Freestyle Championships. ... Read more

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This follow-up to Freestyle Motocross: Jump Tricks From the Pros presents 25 new tricks in the same format done by the top freestyle riders (Mike Metzger, Travis Pastrana, Corey Hart, etc.) Like the first book, this edition shows each trick in step-by-step, multi-angle photography, with text describing how the pro does the trick. The front of the book features short, fun profiles of the riders and a section describing the bike set-ups preferred by current pros. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The BEST guide ever - for any level of rider
As a MX and Offroad rider for over 2 decades, I thought I had a pretty good grasp of my riding ability....and my weaknesses....until I read this book. After applying the techniques and practicing them on the track, it was easy to feel the difference in how I handle difficultsituations....easy to see where I fall into the most common, simple tocure, mistakes that make the race a battle with myself more than the guyahead of me....and it was obvious how much faster my laptimes were. On mywebsite at MotoxMadness, I only recommend one book that every rider shouldread...this one. Use it and it will change your life. See ya' on the track!

One of the Essential Books for Beginner to Pro Rider
I just started racing and this book is very helpful. It practicly tells all the Pro riders secrets and tips. Also, it has sections where Gary Semic (A professonal teacher who teaches Jeremey McGrath)gives inside informationon just about everything. If you like to ride Dirt Bikes and possiblythinking of racing, or just tooling around, THIS is THE book to own!

Extremely informitive and useful. Geared for all riders!
Really helpful for all riders. No matter if you are a beginner or pro, motocrosser or off-road, this book will help improve your skills. Uses lots of cool photos.

Excellent reading for riders of any ability
This book is written in an easy to read fashion. Clear and concise, with illustrations that show exactly what you need to know. You can read it from cover to cover or start any chapter you want. Covers all aspects ofmotocross. I loved it.

Excellent fundamental motocross /off-road techniques for all
This book is a great resource for fundamental motocross riding skills.After reading the book I've attempted many of the techniques described and with excellent results.As in any industry skill is attained through practice.The book does a good job of providing what should be practiced while continuously referring to motivational type phrases to assist in the understand of nothing happens without effort and persistence.

After reading the book, you can easily watch a motocross race and see the pros apply these very same techniques.

I recommend this book for the novice through advanced rider.All skill levels can gain something of value from this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Build a factory race replica or maximize your stock motocross or off-road bike with expert techniques from tuner and columnist Eric Gorr. Tuning suspension is explained in detail, describing everything from changing fork seals and replacing shock springs to revalving and adjusting the compression and rebound damping. This updated edition covers the aluminum-framed Powerjet-carbureted Honda CR250 and CR125, the XR400, the Yamaha four-stroke YZ400F and WR400F, plus new for 1999 bikes. Revised and updated 3rd edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great info and insight for do it yourself mechanic/riders.
This is the best source of information I have found for specific changes, upgrades and tuning that applies to late model two stroke and four stroke dirtbikes. Up to the publishing date all the big four's MX bikes are reviewed and gone through to show you what needs to be done to make your bike better. The suspension sections apply to more than just the bikes included in the tuning section. Most of the information in this book cannot be obtained anywhere, it's like talking to an experienced mechanic about specific issues and what to do about them. This is not a piece by piece, step by step repair manual, it's readable. Great book for the dirt biker that chooses to or has to work on their own bike. The sample sections show you how thorough this book is. There may be small errors on part numbers, etc. since I noticed in ordering a part for my 1991 KX125 that the part # had changed over the years or something of the sort.

Great for introductions
The material in this book may be familiar to seasoned racers and repairmen. But. For me, that is just getting started in motocross, the info I found in these pages was INVALUABLE.

Informative, but limited
The previous review is an accurate description.

Gorr's Performance Handbook attempts to cover a huge amount of material -- essentially every aspect of motocross tuning. That's a lot for any single author, especially in a single book. The result is a lack of thoroughness and detail on certain topics. Four stroke motors, for example, are neglected in comparison to his sections on two stroke motors. The book is an updated version of Gorr's older book directed at two strokes.

Still, I like the book because there is nothing else like it. I use at a starting point for tuning information, then follow up with more detailed sources. The chapter on chassis and suspension tuning is my favorite because there is so little information available on this topic.

I can recommend it as an introduction to performance tuning.You will need more info down the road. It was fun to read despite its shortcomings.

Must Have - Must Read!
This is a must have-must read reference book for any and all dirt bike riders/mechanics. If you are thinking of doing some of your own dike maintenance you will well served with this edition. Even offers some performance tweaks for specific bikes/models.

Great Book!
I have been tinkering with motorcycles and dirtbike for 39 years now. I really enjoyed reading and re-reading this book. It contains practical examples on many different models and years of commonly available bikes and also the theory behind how it all works.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to get better at riding and maintaning dirtbikes. ... Read more

Product Description
Here are the bikes that have carried their riders to championships--described by the riders who steered their bikes to victory. In twenty profiles, riders tell readers what it was like to ride a winning bike, how special features put it ahead of the competition, and what memorable moments happened along the way. Each profile, illustrated with action photography from the bike's glory days as well as present-day images, offers a detailed technical analysis of the engine/transmission, frame, suspension, brakes, and other features that made the bike special. Rich with detailed photography and one-of-a-kind anecdotes, this is an irresistible celebration of the spirit, the grit, and the gear that made motocross what it is today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Story of the Mythical "Works Bikes" of 1970s and 1980s Motocross
Terry Good's "Legendary Motocross Bikes" is an exceptional new book devoted to the author's incredible collection of the championship winning motocross specials known as "works bikes." Anyone who spent time around the dirt bike scene back in the 1970s or 1980s knows what a "works bike" is and is familiar with the mystique that surrounded them, but this term is probably obscure to younger motorsports enthusiasts or the general public, so it can do with a bit of explanation...

A "works bike" is a motorcycle that has been specially prepared for competition by the factory or in the English parlance "the works" as in the "Triumph works" or the "BSA works."With motorsports, there has always been the concept of "win on Sunday, sell on Monday." Whether on two wheels or four, racing success has always given motorcycle and automobile companies greater prestige and helped them to move product.And, in motorcycle racing, when the factory runs its own racing program, that effort is known as a "works team" to differentiate it from private entrants racing on the same model bike.

A "works bike" was usually based on a showroom model, but the engineers at the factory often use their racing team as a test program, to try out prototypes and new components to see how they work.Factories usually tried to make the motorcycles their works teams used appear as close to the showroom models as possible in order to create the illusion that their famous riders rode a bike that was exactly like the one you could buy.In reality, the motorcycle factories were often just as good at creating illusions as the magician David Copperfield.
"Works bikes" were often full of exotic components that were too light or too expensive to sell to the general public.These factory specials could have special frames, lighter engine castings and internals or upgraded suspension components.In some cases, the special parts would filter down to showroom models, but in others the exotic materials were only intended for one purpose - to win races and cover the factory in glory.

In the 1950s, England's BSA had a factory "works team" that it used to test motorcycles and win "Scrambles" races, which is what the English then called the sport of motocross.The special versions of the "BSA Gold Star bikes that its riders won races on used exotic Reynolds 531 aircraft tubing, improved suspension components and more powerful engines to cut a swath through British competition. As Sweden and then Czechoslovakia became motocross powers, its companies also began to produce more exotic motorcycles for its sponsored riders to use.

In the early 1970s, our author Terry Good, the hero of this tale, began to compete in American motocross competition.He was good enough to become a professional and to compete on the AMA (the American Motorcycle Association because this is a story about men that often need doctors rather than the ones who practice medicine) 125cc National Circuit.This was a great time to be active in American motocross because it was the era that the sport began to grow by leaps and bounds and we went from seeing the European riders dominate every U.S. motocross they entered, to parity and then eventually, American domination.And, Good, like every other young motocross racer developed a fascination with the mystical works bike that the champion riders were mounted on.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the special bikes the hotshot Europeans rode when they came to the states for the Trans-AMA series and other races took on a great mystique.In the beginning the works bikes Americans coveted were lightweight two-stroke Czech CZ's, Swedish Husqvarnas and German Maicos, but as the best European riders, men like Joel Robert, Torsten Hallman and Roger DeCoster signed contracts with the Japanese factories, the European works bikes were replaced in young men's motocross dreams by factory Yamahas, Suzukis, Kawasakis and Hondas.

The Japanese manufacturers were much larger companies than the specialized European motorcycle firms.Each of them sold hundreds of thousands of motorcycles each year and this gave them deeper pockets as well as greater engineering resources than the European companies. The Japanese factory specials became increasingly innovative and exotic and each of them represented an considerable investment.When the factory pilots made an appearance at a local motocross track, it wasn't the famous riders that many of the male spectators wanted to see when they crowded around the pits, but instead to catch a glimpse of the special works bike in an effort to learn what made it so fast.

Terry Good raced for a number of years and obtained his first former works bike in 1978, a three year-old 125 that Pierre Karsmakers and then Bob "Hurricane" Hannah had ridden.Eventually, in 1980, he managed to buy a current Mugen works bike, a highly modified Honda, for $4,000, which was then a lot of money for a 125cc motorcycle. Good married young, had a large family and became a successful businessman, but he always kept his interest in motocross. He ran a successful racing team, imported Mugens and motorcycle components and after he became successful as a trader in the futures market, he began the hard work of tracking down and collecting the most famous works bikes from the 1970s and 1980s.Over the past few decades, Good's obsession with factory race bikes has enabled him to create a collection of one championship mount after another and then each of restoring each of them to their championship-winning condition.


The final step in Terry Good's works bike obsession was to document the collection that he has assembled so that others can enjoy the fruits of his laborious hobby.The result of a years of research, interviews with riders and mechanics and countless photography sessions is the 160 page Factory Motocross Bikes, where he documents each of the bikes in his collection - or at least the ones he had when the book went to print, for he seems to have an insatiable appetite for these factory specials.

The book is softcover and in a "landscape format" that suits its subject.It begins with Sten Ludin's 1961 Monark/Lito, the most prolific race winner in World Championship history and it and each motorcycle has its own chapter, which usually consists of a number of images of the restored bike, some period photographs and a nice recollection by the rider.It would have been interested to have a 1960s Rickman-Metisse or CZ included, but it is Mr. Good's collection, isn't it? The next bike is Swede Torsten Hallman's Yamaha YZ637 from 1971, followed by a 1972 Suzuki RH72 that the great Joel Robert rode and then the Suzuki RN72, a 500cc "Open Class" motocrosser that the legendary Roger DeCoster rode to one of his World Championships.The bikes continue throughout the 1970s and 1980s with more Suzukis, Bob Hannah's Yamaha's, then many exotic Honda works motorcycles, each of them described in detail so that the reader knows what made them special and how they were to ride from the rider's seat.

Through these exotic motorcycles, which were sometimes so special that none of the major components interchanged with a showroom model, you can trace the evolution of the motocrosss bike.The narratives on each motorcycle explain the increasing power of the two-stroke engines, the "lay-down" shocks and the "monoshocks" that revolutionized rear suspension design, the "long travel revolution" where forks and suspensions gave riders the ability to absorb ever greater jumps without slowing down and the introduction of the light-but-stiff one-piece monocoque frame.Each of these developments, which were prototyped on the mystical "works bikes" soon made their way to the production motocross motorcycles.Only the exotic materials like magnesium and titanium and hand-lightened components rarely found their way down to the competition bikes you can buy on the showroom floor.

The book tells the story of these bikes well and if you are one of the late baby-boomers that grew up with these bikes or who read about them in the pages of Cycle or Cycle News, you'll find the story of the development of the first single-shock suspension and the "claiming" of Marty Smith's works bike at Hangtown fascinating.Otherwise, anyone with a technical interest in bikes or racing or an interest in motorcycle history will enjoy the story of Good's collection.It is probably too specialized a book for someone with a casual interest in motorcycling.I would have enjoyed reading about more of the 1960s bikes and an appendix with technical specifications of each bike and their race results, but this would be my only quibbles.Legendary Motocross Bikes was a welcome surprise, an excellent addition to my motorcycle bookshelf

What happened to the 60's?
Great book but it skips the sixties with the exception of one bike. Where are the Husqvarnas, CZs and Maicos (AJS, Bultaco, Greeves, Ossa, Puch, Penton, Sachs, etc) that started the sport in the U.S.? ... Read more

Product Description
Motocross began in the 1960s as a European form of off-road racing, but once it was introduced in the United States in the 1970s, its stateside popularity exploded. Since the mid-1980s, virtually every motocross world champion has been United States-born.

Motocross America traces the lively history of motocross in the United States. The book is being released in conjunction with The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum (in Ohio), which will open a full-scale exhibit about U.S. motocross history in March 2005. ... Read more

Product Description
Off-road motorcycling is on the rise. Sales are up, motocross gates are filling with riders, and new manufacturers are dotting the motocross landscape, with Cannondale being the most notable of a group that also includes expensive, exotic bikes by Gas Gas, Vertemati, and TM. In addition, the new four-strokes are making waves among the sports' participants, and the X Games are bringing the sport even further into the mainstream. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The Evolution of the Motocross Bike
Motocross Racers is an Australian production that has been published for the American market by Motorbooks, the prolific Minnesota-based motorsports label.It's a beautifully produced book that serves as both a picture book as well as a guide to the constant evolution of the post-war motocross machine.The author Ray Ryan and photographers Bill Forsyth and Jeremy Holland are all active in the vintage motocross movement and work together on the magazine VMX.

For the uninitiated, motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle competition where the riders race on unpaved circuits with steep hills, descents, straights and corners.Originally these circuits were natural paths through British and European parks, but eventually more challenging, purpose-built courses became the norm. Because the bike has to be muscled around the circuit, with the arms lifting the handlebars and the legs absorbing the shock of repeated landings, it is a deceptively athletic event, requiring good upper and lower body strength as well as endurance. Crashes are also part of the sport, but the most common result of these are muscle strains, bruising and broken bones rather than serious injury, for modern safety gear has made the sport much safer.

Motocross started in Great Britain in 1924, where the sport was originally called "scrambles," and it gradually became popular in Europe. By 1952 a European Championship was organized, and in 1957 that series became a World Championship. Immigrants from England and the continent brought the sport to Australia and New Zealand, where it became popular after World War II.

In the United States, where flat-track racing on oval courses had long been popular, scrambles on closed circuits only had a small following until the 1960s.By 1966 and 1967, when European riders like Torsten Hallman and Oriel Puig Bulto began to demonstrate their abilities on the relatively easy American courses, some American riders began to specialize in motocross.The Trans-AMA, a U.S. series with the top international riders, began in 1970 and helped to fix motocross in the American consciousness and start an off-road motorcycle boom in the States.In the early years of the Trans-AMA, European riders were dominant, but in 1978, the last year of the series, Bob "Hurricane" Hannah was the victor. By the 1980s, U.S. motocross had come of age and American riders began a 13-year winning streak at the Motocross de Nations, the "Olympics of Motocross."

In any sport that pits one man and machine against another, competitors will improve their machine in order to gain an edge against their rivals.In the 1940s motocross bikes were usually just street bikes that were stripped of their lights and other road equipment, but gradually these lightly modified machines - which did not cope well with the bumps and jumps of the rough circuits - gave way to stronger, lighter custom frames made of light-but-strong chrome-moly tubing for those who were factory-sponsored or who could afford them.The best riders rode on hand-built factory specials, the production of which was only affordable for factories which sold thousands of motorcycles.Some riders began fabricating "bitsa" bikes (for a bit of this and a bit of that), which gradually led to the mass-production of specialized motocross bikes from major manufacturers who tested components and concepts on their prototype bikes known as "works bikes."

During the evolution of the sport of motocross from the 1950s through the 1970s, the top manufacturers in the early years were in Belgian (FN or Fabrique National) and British (BSA, Norton, Matchless), then Czech (CZ), Swedish (Lito, Husqvarna), and German (Maico). In the 1960s and `70s, the tremendous engineering talent and volume of the Japanese began to tell, and Suzuki, Yamaha and Honda won one world title after another while also dominating the huge new sport of American motocross. By the late 1970s, the four large Japanese factories were selling more than a million motocross bikes a year.

Stadium motocross, known as "Supercross," began in the United States and soon spread to Europe.Drawing audiences of 70,000 or more, Supercross events were incredibly successful and immediately outdrew the crowds on outdoor circuits.Its tremendous popularity was a lifeline for outdoor motocross in the United States, where the circuits were usually far away from population centers.Because the spectacular supercross events were fast-paced, colorful and easy to film, they made motocross into a trendy sport and top riders like Bob Hannah and Jeremy McGrath became household names.

Engine technology also changed dramatically over the decades. In the 1950s, heavier, more complex four-stroke engines (where the spark plug fires every four times the engine's piston rotates) were dominant in motocross, but by the 1960s, two-stroke technology had evolved to the point where their greater power and lighter weight made them the mount of choice.However, in recent years things have come full circle as the two-stroke engine, which produces considerably more emissions, has come to be seen as an evolutionary dead-end and has been replaced by new, powerful, lightweight 4-stroke designs.

All this evolution is on display in Motocross Racers, which starts out with four-stroke motocross bikes. First there is an exotic factory-built Les Archer Manx-Norton special, then a lengthy section on the legendary Rickman-Metisse, the English frame kits that made factory "works bike" technology available to the every rider who could afford them in the 1960s. This is followed by an Eric Cheney-built custom bike with the famous BSA Gold Star engine, then a BSA 441 "Victor" Grand Prix bike.The transition to two-stroke technology begins with the unbreakable Czech CZ, a classic Swedish Husqvarna 250 motocrosser that was ridden by the World Champion Torsten Hallman, followed by a 1967 Suzuki TM 250, the Japanese company's first real stab at what was becoming a growing market. The last bike of the 1960s featured in the book is the small Hodaka Super Rat, a 100cc motocross bike which got thousands of American boys started in the sport.

Motocross Racers includes the ground-breaking 1973 Honda Elsinore, a Bultaco Pursang Mk 7, then World Champion Joel Robert's featherweight "works" Suzuki RH250, the rare British four-stroke CCM special, a bike that couldn't make the grade because of its low power-to-weight ratio, the revolutionary 1974 Yamaha460YB, that began the single rear shock revolution, another Husqvarna, one of the CZ company's last competitive bikes, a rare Puch factory motocrosser, then there is a steady stream of long-travel 1980s Japanese mounts - Hondas, Yamahas, Kawasakis and Suzukis - only broken up by a Husqvarna and a Maico, as the Japanese had become dominant in racing as well as technological development. The march of bikes concludes with some 1990s Yamahas and Hondas, the development of the monocoque-framed motocross bike and finally, with the Austrian KTM company's latest model at press-time, the 2003, KTM525SX, a light, powerful 4-stroke bike with a wonderfully broad powerband.

Rather than a steady narrative, author Ray Ryan has chosen to cover each of his motorcycles in its own chapter, describing the unique strength and weakness of the bike and the part it played in the evolution of the motocross bike.His writing is clear, concise and the text is not overly technical, but those new to motocross may want to look some things up on the Internet.There isn't a lot of information on the riders of each era, but the focus here is on the technical development, rather than the personalities involved.The images are outstanding, with virtually all of the posed in suitable outdoor locations. It would have been nice to see more period action shots, but permission and photo gathering may have been an issue, especially for authors working from Australia. In only 158 pages of text, Ryan covers a lot of bumpy ground.I can't think of a better introduction to the mechanical side of history than Motocross Racers: 30 Years of Legendary Dirt Bikes.

Memory book ~ Dream book
A beautiful book that has a great photo or two of many historic race bikes over the years.
The commentary on each machine and why it is significant is very well written.
A great book to have on the coffee table or on the work bench to spark discussions among riders of all ages.
Highly recommended!

Glorious pipe-dream fuel !
Great compendium of real-world bikes (vital for making the dreams all the more real), with just enough detail in the copy to keep you moving through.

More of a coffee table book than a body of serious restoration material but until they fully reprint the first 18 issues of VMX magazine and sell it as a book, this is as good as it'll probably get.

If you didn't want to expand (or start) your vintage MX collection to further relive the prime of dirtbike evolution before hand , you sure will after buying this.

Well worth having and works as a nice partner to the book "legendary motocross bikes".

Heartwarming
Motocross Racers 30 Years of Legendary Bikes
By: Ray Ryan


This book is full of heart warming photos and facts about the bikes that started it all.I would recommend this book to all of those people who would like to learn about motocross history and people who make motocross a part of there own lives.This book is not for people who would like to sit down and read a nice picture book.This book has cold hard facts about who made bikes back then for motocross and also how they have changed throughout the years and the very first racers with these bikes.


I this book because it taght me what bikes were like a long time ago and because of how it went withinthe bike to show you how the engines and the whole bike really evolved from that time to present day.


This book teaches readers about the past in motocross.By the ebd of this book readers will have a full understanding of motocross and there values.



I would rate this book for about4 ½ stars

Nice book. Good value
It's a delightful book - BUT if you expected a selection of bikes that included your own, don't count on it. If you had a big-bore machine, you're going to love this book. If you are one of the MANY who didn't, you may find this book a disappointment, in not being two or three times as thick.

The VMX world can be grateful for this book. But a new edition or addition is needed.
Definately Recommended.
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Product Description

The Hardy boys and their friend Jamal are thrilled to be participating in a motorcycle exhibition. It's going to be an exciting weekend, with many talented cyclists heating up the competition and a valuable prize for the winner -- a classic motorcycle! But when burglaries and suspicious accidents send the benefit skidding out of control, Frank and Joe find themselves racing to crack another case.

As the Hardys make their way through the long list of possible saboteurs, danger gains on them. Can they cut the criminal off before the finish line, or is this race speeding toward disaster? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Hardy Boys Motocross Madness
This is a great book. In the book Motocross Madness by Frankin W. Dixon, Frank and Joe Hardy need to find the menace who is terrorizing the motorcross race. The race was planned to pay for Corrine Fernandez hospital bill. Corrine was hurt in a motorcycle accident and she had to be in a wheelchair. It all started out at Corrines where the race was held,everybody wanted to win the grand prize,the O'Sullivan SD5. Somebody was rigging the race and even stole things from people. The Hardys try to solve who is behind this so they enter the race. They go through a heap of trouble trying to catch the person but it ends up being a few people that you wouldn't expect. I enjoyed the book because of all the unexpected events that happened. I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure!


Nathan Strash
Cedar Park Christian School
Bothell,WA

Hardy Boys Motocross Madness
This is a great book. In the book Motocross Madness by Frankin W. Dixon, Frank and Joe Hardy need to find the menace who is terrorizing the motorcross race. The race was planned to pay for Corrine Fernandez hospital bill. Corrine was hurt in a motorcycle accident and she had to be in a wheelchair. It all started out at Corrines where the race was held,everybody wanted to win the grand prize,the O'Sullivan SD5. Somebody was rigging the race and even stole things from people. The Hardys try to solve who is behind this so they enter the race. They go through a heap of trouble trying to catch the person but it ends up being a few people that you wouldn't expect. I enjoyed the book because of all the unexpected events that happened. I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure!


Nathan Strash
Cedar Park Christian School
Bothell,WA

Keep your son reading!
My son couldn't put this book down. So many boys don't like to read (probably the "cool factor"), but the Hardy Boys books always keep my son reading. He loved this one in particular since he races motocycles. He said it isn't acurate always in the terms used and such, but he really enjoyed it.

Exciting Motorcycle Action!
The latest (and, sadly, last) Hardy Boys story finds Frank and Joe at a motorcycle rally held to benefit a disabled young woman.
Of course, this being a Hardy Boys story, there are plenty of thrills and mystery.
Someone breaks into the rally sponsor's office, there's a mysterious fire, the Boys' friend has his motorcycle stolen, all in addition to plenty of motocross action!
Naturally, Frank and Joe are deeply involved in the case and pursue the criminals right up to the exciting conclusion!

Hardy Boys Say Farewell After 78 Years
For those of you who may not know, Motocross Madness, #190 in the long running Hardy Boys series, will be the FINAL volume in the series that began in 1927. The characters of Frank and Joe will live on in a new spinoff series, called Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers, to be released in June 2005, but it won't be the same Hardy Boys as you've come to know them. Over the years, there have been other Hardy Boys spinoff series, such as The Hardy Boys Casefiles, Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Supermysteries, etc., but those series were published right alongside the original Hardy Boys Mystery Stories series, which continued to add new volumes. The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories had gone through many changes since 1927, including changes in publishers, going to paperback, having rewrites done, etc., but they still managed to survive through it all, and a collector could count on seeing a new title come along almost as sure as counting on the sun rising each day. Now however, the sun has set, and the last volume has arrived. It's hard to believe that this series has lasted through 16 Presidents, is older than The Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge, became a series only 15 years after New Mexico and Arizona became states, and a mere 24 years after the Wright Brothers invented the airplane, and yet continued clear until the 21st Century. I'm going to miss that thrill of looking forward to the next title in the series.... ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

it help me
This book will help u get to your stages u want to get to. Some of the tricks you have to do on bigger jumps because you have to get more air time but build up slowly on ramps and get into bigger tricks.You never know you might be in the x games or gravity games.

This book was easy and very helpful with my performance.
If your looking for tips and how to ride like the pro's then you got to get this book. It was easy to understand if you know all the terms. It really helped my performance and now I do better on the track. This is a must get for any dedicated MotoCross Rider.

Not for beginners
Being a beginner, I was hoping to see at least one chapter of "how to jump" or even a few chapters on "beginning freestyle jumps".But, if you are an experienced jumper, this book is for you.Great pics and instructions.Just too advanced for my abilities. ... Read more

Product Description
Mike Porter is an excellent Motocross racer. He works after school for Bill Maslak in a Honda cycle shop that is owned jointly by Bill and Mike's mother.Bill is his sponsor, mechanic and mentor since Mike's father's death in a tragic motorcycle racing accident. Ann Porter, Mike's mother, is not a supporter of Mike's racing having lost her husband to the sport. She wants Mike to go to college instead.

Mike is a little on the overconfident side. He has an accident in the last race of the previous season that puts him out of contention for a factory sponsorship. He hopes to prove himself and secure the sponsorship in the new season.

He also has a rival, Walter Ackley, who is a good rider but a particularly nasty individual. His goal is to injure Mike during races so he can secure the sponsorship for himself

Follow Mike's heroic efforts to capture his dream in the book "Motocross Mike".

More adventures with Mike Porter will follow soon in "Motocross Mike Races Supercross".

#####Cover Art byJim Brosch ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great Book!
This is a great book.My 12 year old son, who fights us when it comes to reading anything but magazines, read this, talked abut it and now goes online to see when Mr. Loomis will have another book out. As a parent, it's nice when kids have options that don't include wizards and vampires.Those topics certainly have broad appeal but I'm sure my son isn't unique in his desire to read about real people doing real things.

Loved It
I bought this book for my son who rides/races motocrooss. He loved this book and is looking for a sequel! He's not a big fan of reading and it is hard to find books on this subject to get him interested. Great choice for pre-teens to teens to read.

teacher- Ginny Carlisle
Our school was fortunate enough to have Mr. Loomis as a guest speaker. He took the children through the writing process with the use of this book, he was very informative and enlightening.
Motocross Mike is a refreshing approach at aiming and obtaining interest of relucant readers, especially boys. Several of our students who rarely read unless required to do so, were caught reading this book when they were suppose to be working on something else. That's a good sign!!
I would strongly recommend that any media specialist should put it on their "Got to have list". You won't be disappointed.

great book
This was a great book to read with my 12 year old son and my 10 year old daughter. We would read a chapter evey night,it was action-packed. We couldn't wait to read what would happen to Mike next. We had a hard time putting it down. I highly reccomend it.

Revved and Ready to Read
As a literacy volunteer I saw how hard it is to entice young boys for whom reading is still a challenge to pick up a book. Motocross Mike's adventures on the track should do the trick.

Retired elementary school principal, Charles Loomis knows his sport and knows his kids. Motocross Mike deals with the stuff that keeps young readers revved and ready to read -- trouble with Mom, trouble with a bully, a little danger and great friends playing hard together. An excellent choice for the middle school reader.

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