The New Motorcycle Yearbook 2

Motorcycles occupy a curious corner of human civilisation. They are simultaneously practical transport, engineering masterpieces, objects of lifelong obsession and, to non-riders, baffling devices apparently designed to convert money into noise at remarkable efficiency. The New Motorcycle Yearbook 2 embraces all of this with infectious enthusiasm, celebrating the machines, manufacturers and personalities that continue to make the world of motorcycling so endlessly fascinating.

Edited by Simon de Burton, this handsome volume gathers together the latest developments from the motorcycle industry, featuring everything from cutting-edge superbikes and elegant touring machines to fascinating classics and limited-production exotica. It explores the innovations, the design philosophy and the stories behind some of the world’s finest motorcycles, all lavishly illustrated with photography that may cause involuntary browsing of classified adverts shortly afterwards.

The writing strikes an appealing balance between technical insight and accessible commentary, making it enjoyable whether you know your Desmodromic valves from your telescopic forks or simply appreciate beautiful engineering. Along the way you’ll encounter famous manufacturers, legendary models and enough gleaming polished metal to convince you that chrome remains one of humanity’s greatest achievements, despite its unfortunate tendency to reveal fingerprints with forensic precision.

Beautifully produced by Merrell, this is far more than a catalogue of motorcycles. It’s a snapshot of an industry constantly balancing heritage with innovation, where every new model promises to be lighter, faster, safer and somehow even more desirable than the one parked in your garage—which, naturally, remains "perfectly adequate" until you turn the next page.

This copy is in Fine condition, with clean pages, sharp corners and an attractive binding that has clearly been well looked after. It presents exceptionally well and would sit proudly on the shelf of any motorcycle enthusiast, coffee table connoisseur or collector of beautifully illustrated motoring books.

Offered, as always, by Crappy Old Books, where the name suggests mouldering paperbacks rescued from damp sheds but somehow the shelves keep filling with elegant volumes like this instead. Whether you’re an experienced rider, a lifelong admirer of motorcycle design, or simply someone who enjoys looking at machines that are considerably faster than common sense, The New Motorcycle Yearbook 2 is a thoroughly enjoyable reminder that two wheels have always been more than enough to inspire a great many dreams—and occasionally a slightly alarming insurance premium.

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