A book you all should own

GoldenMotor.com
harry76

harry76

Well-Known Member
Apr 16, 2011
2,557
47
48
Brisbane, Australia
cobrafreak said:
I don't remember the blue Indian. It must have been a while ago?
Click to expand...
I think i posted a link about when you got your Simplex tyres and worksman rims. I found a video on Youtube and was very surprised to see he chose mountain bike rims (or maybe they are worksman rims) and Fat Frank tyres. I wonder if he was unaware of the Simplex tyres???? He said he went through many Fat Frank tyres on the Cannonball run, even though the speeds were only around 30 - 40mph. Something im sure your bike does with ease and a lot less tyre changes with your Simplex tyres.

I just found the video, you actually posted a reply on Youtube. He added a front disc brake on the Cannoball video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-30QWew1nw0
 
C

cobrafreak

New Member
Feb 16, 2011
1,049
9
0
sacramento ca
Ob yes, that was a real Indian. He was probably trying to save money with the fat franks. I went through three rears of those myself. They look nice but are much too soft. The Simplex tires are the bomb. The only thing better is what Pat is running the Boniville flyer on.
 
C

cobrafreak

New Member
Feb 16, 2011
1,049
9
0
sacramento ca
A little back story. I found out that this book was way back when, the first motorcycle tech manual. Nothing existed like it before. Interesting.
 
Beachcomber

Beachcomber

Well-Known Member
Nov 3, 2012
305
583
93
80
Redditch [UK] and Reichenau [Saxony ]
I have over 3000 books in my collection spread between here and my place in Saxony - mostly auto / bike related / historical ......... hardly any fiction.

There isn't a book in the World I'd pay that for - even my boxed "Shelby" story signed by all the main protaganists. To be precise -"Cobra Daytona Coupes".

I was chasing a Moto-Morini OEM workshop manual last week [ secondhand and oil stained ] - stayed at £2.70 until the last 5 hours then it went up to almost £50 - I bailed at £22.00 and thought THAT was unreasonable !

A further search on E-Bay turned up a disc version [ exact copy ] for 99 pence [ $1.50 ? ].

A quick visit to my local graphics place brought me a price of £15.00 for a complete copy, including the Blue cover, or £20 assembled and bound.

The softback "Early Motorcycles ............" version I bought [ new ] gives me the same information - and the £300 balance I would have saved will buy me the 350 / 500 Morini V twin I want !
 
Last edited:
Harold_B

Harold_B

Active Member
May 23, 2012
997
246
43
Grand Rapids, MI
I wouldn't pay that either and never considered entering the bidding. For some people that vintage book has more value than the vintage Klaaxon horns for Indian electrics going for nearly as much. To each their own, eh. And to a great extent it comes down to whatever a specialist market will pay. It would be fun to own a first edition (did you see the clarity of the illustrations and how much better they were than the paperback?) but not at that price for me.
 
2door

2door

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 15, 2008
16,302
175
63
Littleton, Colorado
I'm not trying to be a wet blanket here guys, especially Harold B, but be careful about sending things around from member to member. We had a bad experience with Happy (see> http://motorbicycling.com/showthread.php?t=8165 ) a while ago. A member, actually a moderator never passed him on and we lost the original little guy who we started with. That guy never posted here again. I wouldn't want to see a valuable source like this book disappear. Just a word of caution.

Tom
 
Last edited:
Beachcomber

Beachcomber

Well-Known Member
Nov 3, 2012
305
583
93
80
Redditch [UK] and Reichenau [Saxony ]
2door said:
I'm not trying to be a wet blanket here guys, especially Harold B, but be careful about sending things around from member to member. We had a bad experience with Happy (see> http://motorbicycling.com/showthread.php?t=8165 ) a while ago. A member, actually a moderator never passed him on and we lost the original little guy who we started with. That guy never posted here again. I wouldn't want to see a valuable source like this book disappear. Just a word of caution.

Tom
Click to expand...
2door,

I'm not sure if I'm missing something here. Are you concerned that I [ + some others ] don't find this book good value for money ? I'm not talking about the content here.

Neither am I talking about original impressions and 1st. editions etc. - books like that wiill always hold a high value for someone out there - but £18 for a paperback reprint book is a LOT of money.

I was in the book wholesale and retail trade for 15 years and know the cost of even low volume books and would say that £18 - £20 is the TOP end for a book of this type.

I can't imagine my comments will be to the detriment of the book's sales or lead to it's demise ???
 
2door

2door

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 15, 2008
16,302
175
63
Littleton, Colorado
Beachcomber said:
2door,

I'm not sure if I'm missing something here. Are you concerned that I [ + some others ] don't find this book good value for money ? I'm not talking about the content here.

Neither am I talking about original impressions and 1st. editions etc. - books like that wiill always hold a high value for someone out there - but £18 for a paperback reprint book is a LOT of money.

I was in the book wholesale and retail trade for 15 years and know the cost of even low volume books and would say that £18 - £20 is the TOP end for a book of this type.

I can't imagine my comments will be to the detriment of the book's sales or lead to it's demise ???
Click to expand...
No, you misunderstand, Beach. What I'd hate to see is someone getting the book, not passing it on and keeping it then disappearing. Just use a little consideration as to who you send the book to.
It looks to be a great source of info. I hope the 'passing along' idea doesn't go haywire and it get's lost. That was my concern based on what happened to our little yellow Happy guy. The idea of sharing the book, passing it around is a good one but you need to be aware that there are people out there who might find the book valuable enough to them that they decide to just keep it for themselves.

Tom
 
Last edited:
Harold_B

Harold_B

Active Member
May 23, 2012
997
246
43
Grand Rapids, MI
Perhaps Beach isn't aware of the parallel thread going on with this book in the Tavern. I think the book that is being handed from member to member predates his joining the forum. Last I knew land speed record holder Pat (SportsCarPat) had received the book from CobraFreak: http://motorbicycling.com/showthread.php?t=41652&page=2
I can understand the concern of having the book come up missing at some point but I'm hoping that if its travels are logged on the forum then we'll have an idea of how far it traveled before it needed to be replaced. I am more concerned with the photos and notes and such that are being tucked in the book and cigar box. Those cannot be replaced as easily. In the long run this is a totally uncontrolled social experiment within our very loosely knit group. It's a fun way to connect in addition to the forum and events and a way to get the book into some members hands that might otherwise not get to see it. If everyone has the consideration of the next member(s) in mind when they have it then it will get passed along eventually. The book has been around for about 100 years so there's no big rush.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom