As you might expect, the primary topic of conversation here at the Motor-cyclist offices is motorcycles. And when it comes to some subjects, I am totally in the dark—or at least I used to be. To bring myself up to speed with bike mechanics and the associated jargon, I picked up a copy of Massimo Clarke’s Modern Motorcycle Technology. In the introduction, Clarke writes that the book was “designed to describe as clearly as possible every aspect of today’s highly technological field of motorcycling.” I found that to be true, as the author successfully walks the tightrope between keeping those who know the subject matter interested and not alienating those who don’t.
I’ve used this book as a reference guide to piece together what various people around here are talking about, and it’s been quite helpful. A big reason the book communicates so well is that it uses a lot of photographs with descriptive captions. I was having a hard time wrapping my head around how a two-stroke engine works, but after studying Clarke’s illustrations and text, I now have a solid understanding. Not only does Clarke fill the book with lots of informative images, he also provides some information regarding the various technologies’ histories. If there was one thing that would make the book better, it would be an index so you could more easily find what you’re looking for.
If you can pull a piece out of a boxful of engine parts and describe its function, this book is not for you. But if you have a basic understanding of bikes and are curious to know more about how they work, this is an excellent read.
