Legendary Motorcycles: The Stories and Bikes Made Famous by Elvis, Peter Fonda, Kenny Roberts and Other Motorcycling Gre: The Stories and Bikes Made ... Kenny Roberts and Other Motorcycling Greats - Hardcover

Basem Wasef’s fascination with all things mechanical spans back to his childhood in London, where he was known to sing “Happy Birthday” to his extensive collection of Matchbox cars. An accomplished writer, photographer, and producer, Basem has traveled from Andalusia to the Arctic Circle in pursuit of exotic vehicles. He resides in Los Angeles, where he enjoys year-round riding.

It is rare for a motorcycle to transcend its role as mere transportation and become truly legendary: Burt Munro s record-setting streamlined Indian, James Dean s first and last bikes, the Easy Rider choppers, and Evel Knievel s high-flying Harley-Davidsons are a few of this exclusive list.

Author and photographer Basem Wasef traveled extensively, recording the stories of these unforgettable bikes firsthand. Within the pages of Legendary Motorcycles, you will relive the glory days and discover the personalities of the men that made them legends.

Like many great concepts, the idea for Legendary Motorcycles developed from one simple question: What are the most historically significant bikes ever, the machines that made the legends? Long lists were compiled and revised, investigative phone calls were placed, and before long the book you hold in your hands began to take shape. Some bikes were easily found and readily available, while others appeared to be lost forever. The beauty of author Basem Wasef s hunt came not from the information he expected to receive, but from tangential clues and unexpected leads that emerged from the unlikeliest of sources. The end result is a collection of unforgettable stories and sumptuous photographs sure to delight all motorcyclists and enthusiasts.

Witness T. C. Christensen s Hogslayer dominate the drag strips. Relive Rollie Free s unconventional land speed record run atop the John Edgar Lightning. Watch Craig Vetter s Mystery Ship come to life. Behold Colin Edwards rise to success aboard his Yamaha TZ250D. Marvel at Evel Knievel s final stunt jump at the Chicago Amphitheater. Understand the inspiration behind Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Above all, explore and enjoy the pages of this book, and discover what has made these two-wheeled machines truly legendary.