This wonderful 76-page, Hardback book, written by Mick Duckworth, is essential for all motorcycle enthusiasts, detailing more than 60 of the defining racing machines.
All the models featured in Classic Racing Motorcycles are specially photographed in colour, with comprehensive technical specifications and informative background text.
The bikes are arranged in chronological order to show how the technology developed, decade by decade, and detail shots show key points of each model.
Racing has always been at the forefront of motorbike technology and Classic Racing Motorcycles profiles the all-time best of the breed. It features the bikes that were Grand Prix championship winners and major contenders across more than six decades of racing from the 1930s to the 1980s.
Among the new technology which these machines pioneered are: overhead and double-overhead camshafts, telescopic forks, swingarm and monoshock rear suspension, two-stroke disc-valves, four-valve cylinder heads, liquid cooling, four and even six-cylinder engines and aerodynamic fairings.
The 60 plus bikes featured in Classic Racing Motorcycles include examples from all the major Japanese and European manufacturers. Among the models chosen are many which are part of important collections, including rare machines from the former Eastern Bloc.
The motorcycles featured are:
Moto Guzzi C4V 500cc (1926)
New Imperial 250cc (1935)
Rudge Four.-Valve 500cc (1935)
AJS V4 500cc (1939)
BMW Type 255 (1939)
DKW 350cc (1939)
NSU Kompressor 350cc (1939)
Velocette Roarer 500cc (1939)
Velocette KTT MkVIII 350cc (1947)
AJS 7R 350cc (1948)
Mondial 125cc (1951)
Vincent Grey Flash 500cc (1951)
DKW Three 350 (1953)
NSU Rennmax 250cc (1953)
BMW RSRennsport 500cc (1954)
MV Agusta 125cc (1954)
MSU Rennfox 125cc (1954)
Gilera Saturno 500cc (1955)
Matchless G45 500cc (1955)
NSU Sport max 251RS 250cc (1955)
Moto Guzzi 350cc (1956)
Gilera Four 500cc (1957)
Moto Guzzi V8 500cc (1957)
Moto Morini 250cc (1958)
MV Agusta Six 500cc (1958)
Benelli 250cc (1959)
Jawa 250cc (1959)
MV Gusta Desmodromic 125cc (1959)
MZ 125 cc (1959)
MV Agusta 500cc (1960)
Honda RC162 250cc (1961)
CZ 250cc (1962)
Honda CR110 50cc (1962)
Honda RC145 125cc (1962)
Matchless G50 500cc (1962)
Norton 30M Manx 500cc (1962)
Honda CR77 350cc (1964)
Jawa 350cc (1965)
Suzuki RK65 50cc (1965)
Yamaha RD56 250cc (1965)
Bultaco TSS 250cc (1966)
Honda Six 250cc (1966)
Kirby Metisse G50 500cc (1968)
Jawa V4 350cc (1967)
Suzuki RK67 50cc (1967)
Linto 500cc (1968)
Seeley G50 500cc (1968)
Yamaha RD05A 250cc (1968)
Benelli Four 500cc (1969)
Paton 500cc (1969)
Derbi 50cc (1970)
CZ 420 500cc (1971)
Yamaha Phil Read Special 250cc (1971)
Harley Davidson RR250 250cc (1972)
Miaco TS125 125c (1973)
MV Agusta 350 350cc (1974)
Suzuki XR14 500cc (1975)
Motobecane 125cc (1980
Suzuki RG500 500cc (1980)
Kawasaki KR500 500cc (1981)
Yamaha OW48R 500cc (1981)
Kreidler 50cc (1983)
Norton JPS Rotary 500cc (1991)