Books we love to read

As much as you'd like to, you can't ride your motorcycle all the time.

But that doesn't mean you have to leave your enthusiasm for two wheels behind when you're forced to do other things. There are plenty of motorcycling books out there that can stoke your passion for riding even when you can't.

The trick, as always, is finding the good stuff. And that's where we come in. We asked around the AMA offices to see what staffers recommend, and we've come up with a list that includes everything from beginner books to novels that are sure to keep your mind where it belongs when you're not riding.

You can order these at your local bookstore or get them online at www.whitehorsepress.com, an astonishingly comprehensive motorcycle-specific mail-order bookstore.

And if we don't list your favorite motorcycling book here, drop us a line with the title, author and a brief description, and we may just add it to the list.

The Complete idiot's Guide to Motorcycles
by Darwin Holmstrom and the staff of Motorcyclist Magazine
After you read this book, you won't be.
Recommended by Grant Parsons, American Motorcyclist Senior Editor

Ghost Rider: Travels On The Healing Road
by Niel Peart (The drummer for Rush).
In a 10-month period, Peart's daughter and wife died. In an attempt to sort out the tragedy, he sets out on his bike from Eastern Canada, rides to Alaska, down the western half of the U.S., Mexico and finally. Along the way, he describes some of the routes and sites.
Recommended by Mark Holland, AMA Systems Analyst

Hear Me Roar: Women, Motorcycles and the Rapture of the Road
by Ann Ferrar
One of the first books written for motorcycle enthusiasts comes with lots of essays, a resource directory of websites, periodicals, aftermarket suppliers and club contacts. In addition, there's an illustrated history of pioneering women in motorcycling—from turn-of-the-century adventures to the drag racers, stuntwomen and motocrossers of today—a reference section with safety information, and advice on choosing a motorcycle and gear. In compiling the book, the author rode more than 30,000 solo miles to interview hundreds of women.
Recommended by Bill Kresnak, American Motorcyclist Legal Affairs Editor

Hell's Angels
by Hunter S. Thompson
OK, it's about biker culture, and it's written by a guy who's famous for being more than a little whacked. But it's a great read.
Recommended by Grant Parsons, American Motorcyclist Senior Editor

Jupiter's Travels
by Ted Simon
There's a lot of "I rode my bike around the world" books out there, and the best of them aspire to be as good as Jupiter's Travels. Very few succeed.
Recommended by Grant Parsons, American Motorcyclist Senior Editor

Motorcycle Owner's Manual, a Practical Guide to Keeping your Motorcycle in Top Condition
by Hugo Wilson
A great primer on simple motorcycle maintenance, with tons of well-lit photos that will make you familiar with how a motorcycle works.
Recommended by Grant Parsons, American Motorcyclist Senior Editor

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills, Knowledge, and Strategies for Riding Right
by Nate Rauba
Compiled by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), this book is an excellent resource on motorcycling safety. Increase your confidence level while riding with the knowledge gleaned after 21 years of research. The book covers everything from a beginner's frame of mind, to advanced theory for experienced riders.
Recommended by Bill Kresnak, American Motorcyclist Legal Affairs Editor

The Perfect Vehicle: What it is about motorcycles
by Melissa Holbrook Pierson
This is a book about the love of motorcycling, written for those not yet converted as well as for those who are.
Recommended by Bill Kresnak, American Motorcyclist Legal Affairs Editor

Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well
by David L. Hough
Reading "Proficient Motorcycling" can significantly reduce risks by teaching people how to ride safer and smarter.
Recommended by Imre Szauter, AMA Legislative Affairs Specialist

Running with the Moon
by Jonny Bealby
When Jonny Bealby's fiancée tragically died of a mystery virus while the couple was traveling in Kahmir, he decided that the only way to overcome his grief was to go on a huge adventure- traveling alone from the top of Africa to the bottom, and back again, on a motorbike. On his journey he had to contend with wild animals, tribal chieftains, civil wars, sandstorms, wipeouts and other hazards; but the biggest challenge of all was facing up to his own grief, and finding the heart to fall in love again, this time with an Algerian woman he met on his travels. This book is both an adventure story and the story of Bealby's inner journey towards new hope and new love.
Recommended by Beatrice Doherty, AMA Marketing Administration Assistant

Street Strategies: A Survival Guide for Motorcyclists
by David L. Hough
"'Street Strategies' could save your life," says David Searle, editor of Motorcycle Consumer News. "Read these stories and commit their lessons to memory."
The perfect companion to "Proficient Motorcycling", Street Strategies is a unique collection of street riding savvy gleaned from years of real-life motorcycling. Each page serves as a reminder of a specific hazard and offers a short lesson designed to help readers avoid an accident. Perfect for the novice and expert alike.
Recommended by Imre Szauter, AMA Legislative Affairs Specialist

Twist of the Wrist
Twist of the Wrist II
by Keith Code
Both are good, analytical approaches to the machines and mindset of riding a motorcycle well. They're not just for racers, especially "II". These books will make you think differently about things you thought you already understood, like corners.
Recommended by Grant Parsons, American Motorcyclist Senior Editor

Two Wheels on Two Reels
by Mike Seate
If there's a movie with a motorcyle in it, Mike Seate writes about it in this fun retrospective of motorcycle and motorcycle-related movies. You'll become a regular at the video rental store.
Recommended by Grant Parsons, American Motorcyclist Senior Editor

The Ultimate Motorcycle Book
by Hugo Wilson
This coffee table book with Hugo's usual rich photos will bring you up to speed on the significant motorcycles of the last century.
Recommended by Grant Parsons, American Motorcyclist Senior Editor

Well Made in America: Lessons from Harley-Davidson on Being the Best
by Peter C. Reid
In 1981, 13 Harley-Davidson managers purchased the ailing motorcycle company from its parent conglomerate, AMF. Saddled with $83 million in debt, they had to avoid bankruptcy, restore employee commitment, revolutionize manufacturing processes and dramatically increase sales-immediately. Today, business professors throughout the world cite the Harley-Davidson "miracle" in their classrooms. What really happened? Here's an in-depth look at how this pioneering group of owner-managers combined Japanese work methods with American know-how, triumphed over financial instability and foreign competition, and ultimately breathed new life into the company to become a big time success.
Recommended by Terry Cook, AMA State Programs Development

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values
by Robert M. Pirsig
Not much Zen, and not a whole lot of motorcycle maintenance, either. But this touchstone work is good for making you care about what you are doing in a philosophical way. Pirsig uses a cross-country motorcycle trip with his son, who abandons him when he goes nuts, to bring the point home.
Recommended by Bill Andrews, AMADirectlink.com Web Editor