On 2 Wheels: An Encyclopedia of Motorcycles and Motorcycling

This new book traces man's ongoing attempts to build the fastest motorcycle on earth. From the very beginning, men and machines have been pitting themselves against the forces of nature to lay claim to the elusive title, on country roads, and later on the beaches at Daytona. In modern times, these pioneers have flocked to vast, dry lake beds in the deserts to methodically probe the limits of power, aerodynamics, mechanical reliability, and traction, ever pushing upward the absolute maximum speed at which a motorcycle can operate. Come along as Tom Murphy leads a historic tour of this exotic sport, introducing us to Denis Manning, Don Vesco, George Smith, Leo Payne, and many others who built or drove record bikes. Murphy takes us to the autobahns of Germany, El Mirage Dry Lake in southern California, Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, and Lake Gairdner in Australia, where the vast empty spaces make natural test beds for today's high-speed runs. He shows us the innovative hardware conjured up by both backyard mechanics and heavily funded factory teams. And, he describes the number one enemy of speed--air drag--as well as how speed-hungry racers have dealt with it over the years. He even shows how much it costs to field a competitive machine--and it ain't cheap. It's all here, with dozens of rare archive pictures showing the people and machines that have set the world records and made history along the way.