Motorcycle Books & Films

[themagpie]

For a lot of us it's that time of year where riding is either painfully cold or nearly impossible.
One of my favorite ways to pass the time is Audio Books and Motorcycle Films!!

I wanted to create a thread where we can all share our favorite Motorcycle Books and Films, or maybe a GOOD Moto Travel Series you've seen from other Youtube Creators.

I'll start this thread with some of my FAVORITE Motorcycle Books that are available on Audible so you can listen to them while you do other things:

• Jupiter's Travels by Ted Simon
• Dreaming of Jupiter by Ted Simon
• The Man Who Would Stop at Nothing, Long Distance Motorcycling's Endless Road by Melissa Holbrook Pierson
• Lone Rider, The First British Woman to Motorcycle Around the World by Elspeth Beard
• Everything written by our friend Sam Manicom, but start with Into Africa: Africa by Motorcycle- Every Day an Adventure
• Under Asian Skies by Sam Manicom
• Distant Suns: Every Day an Adventure, Book 3 by Sam Manicom
• Tortillas to Totems Sidetracked by the Unexpected: Every Day an Adventure Book 4 by Sam Manicom
• ONE MORE DAY EVERYWHERE: Crossing Fifty Borders on the Road to Global Understanding by Glen Heggstad
• BLIND CURVES, A Woman, a Motorcycle, and a Journey to Reinvent Herself by Linda Crill
• IN SEARCH OF GREENER GRASS, Riding from Reality towards Dreams and Finding Fulfillment by Graham Field
• EUREKA: FINDING THE LINE BETWEEN DESIRE AND CONTENTMENT, THEN RIDING IT by Graham Field
• DIFFERENT NATURES: And the Spaces In-Between by Graham Field
• TOUCHING THE WORLD: A Blind Woman, Two Wheels, 25000 Miles by Cathy Birchall and Bernard Smith
• GHOST RIDER, Travels on the Healing Road by Neil Peart
• TO DAKAR AND BACK, 21 Days Across North Africa by Motorcycle by Lawrence Hacking, Wil De Clercq
• The Classic: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
• Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work by Matthew B. Crawford

Some Honorable Mentions I haven't read myself, but friends have recommended to me

• It's All Good by Andrew Daddo
• Under and Alone: The True Story of the Undercover Agent Who Infiltrated America's Most Violent Outlaw Motorcycle Gang by William Queen
• Fast Company: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Motorcycles in Italy by David M. Gross
• Is That Thing Diesel? by Paul Carter
• Investment Biker: Around the World with Jim Rogers by Jim Rogers
• Across America by Motor-Cycle: Remastered and Reset by C.K. Shepherd and Mark L. Hunnibell
• Motorcycle Therapy: A Canadian Adventure in Central America by Jeremy Kroeker
• Extreme Frontiers: Racing Across Canada from Newfoundland to the Rockies by Charley Boorman
• Far and Away: A Prize Every Time by Neil Peart
• 50 Wild Motorcycle Tales : An Anthology of Motorcycle Stories by Walter F. Kern
• 50 More Wild Motorcycle Tales by Walter F. Kern

Also Not a Motorcycle, but a Bicycle and still a great read of an Adventure Around the World on Two Wheels is Round the World by Bike by Alastair Humphreys (it was really good.)

 

[HippoDrone]

Awesome post @themagpie I am not much of a reader, but there has been some amazing journeys penned in folks journals, so I can imagine that they would make fantastic stories and books!

 

[themagpie]

Motorcycle Films!

Starting with more Professional or "Cinema" Films:

• The World's Fastest Indian
• One Week
• 21 Days Under the Sky
• Grease 2
• Road to Paloma
• The Greasy Hands Preachers
• Long Way Round (TV Series) YT
• Why We Ride
• The Best Bar in America
• Flats by Matte Media
• Oil in the Blood
• Out of Nothing
• Somewhere Else Tomorrow
• Arrows of Fire
• Ride N Seek (TV Series) YT

More Indie Films

• Halfway to Nowhere by Tim Caraco
• Never Ride Alone by Scott Englund
• Dust to Glory
• White Knuckle: The Story of the Motorcycle Cannonball by Brian Darwas
• Finding Main Street by Sole Creative
• A Motorcycle Journey "Rediscovering Pakistan the Untold Tale"
• The Tenth Step by Thunder Dragon Media
• Pursuit Horizon "Stop Working: Start Living"
• The Unfamiliar Road | Overland Motorcycle Adventure by Daniel Greening
• Sit Stay RIde: The Story of America's Sidecar Dogs by One Acre Films
• Beyond the Border- Riding Solo in Mexico by Noren Films

Short Indie Films and Amateur Series
Note that Videos that are Available to Watch on Youtube have a "YT" next to them

• Motorbike Vietnam South to North by Tim and Fin YT
• Ladakh India | A Journey into the Himalayas by Alex Chacon
• Pretty Much anything made by Stories of Bike YT
• Long Live the Kings Short Film Doc by Arthur & Clement
• Headed East by Jack Harries YT
• Chasing the Bullet a Royal Enfield Documentary YT
• Tokyo Gone by Speedtractor (English Subs)
• Driven to Ride
• Why I Ride Ep 1 Passion At Work by Alchemy Creative
• Why I Ride Ep 2 by Alchemy Creative
• Motorcycle Diaries - A journey to the Highest Village in the World by Carlos Costa YT
• Epic North Coast 500 Motorbike Adventure by Steve Brooker YT
• Broken Roads - from Finland to Mongolia on a Motorcycle YT
• Motorcycle Adventure through the American West, the Trans-American Trail by Drew Gaines YT
• Tour of Idaho by Dirt Bike Test YT
• AMSOIL Rides the Divide YT
• Hunt for the Wild - The Trans Euro Trail Adventure by Greg Villalobos YT
• Transamerica Adventure 2018 by KiwiGrom YT Series
• Around the World with Rhys Lawrey YT Series
• Get Lost | A Solo Motorcycle Adventure Series to the Darien Gap by Teague Fleury
• Not Dead Yet - Oisin Hughes YT Series

I could go on but I think this is a good Primer, it also has the added benefit of priming the creative juices when you think you've run out of content to make. I find ideas start popping up in my head as a result of watching content like this! XD

 

[Pooley]

Quite the bookworm

I wanted to create a thread where we can all share our favorite Motorcycle Books and Films

My favourite motorcycle film would be something like long way round, when I watched it years ago it planted that dream in my head of going on a crazy adventure one day!

 

[Meifesto]

• Long Way Round (TV Series) YT

Don't forget Long Way Down aswell
And Race to Dakar with Charley Boorman.

New Season of Long Way should be released this year i think

 

[themagpie]

Don't forget Long Way Down aswell
And Race to Dakar with Charley Boorman.

New Season of Long Way should be released this year i think

lol I didn't forget it. I just didn't like it.
Race to Dakar wasn't bad though.
Technically I also missed The Ride with Norman Reedus too... it's just not on my list of faves.

I saw lol Interested to see how the ADV community takes it, since they did it on Harley-Davidson Livewires. A lot of people were already not happy when they announced it, but I'm waiting to see the actual series.

 

[Meifesto]

The Long Way Down wasn't bad, really enjoyed watching it. watched it back to back with the Long Way Round, and it still had the same feel etc to it.
Took a bit longer to start up, so the first couple of episodes could have been better xD

But some of the places in Africa, wow.


I wasn't aware of the Livewires xD Would be interesting though.
Planning on testing one of those myself this year

 

[Pooley]

I wasn't aware of the Livewires xD Would be interesting though.
Planning on testing one of those myself this year

Yes I heard about this a while ago, but with their short range can it really be as entertaining as previous installments? Time will tell

 

[wwgd]

Books
Guy Martin who is a road racer and record has a few books following his antics,

Netflix,
Speed is my need

 

[Meifesto]

I absolute love Guy Martin, and the fact he has his "own" youtube channel now isn't helping either xD

 

[R-Rated]

I am going to throw these out there for new and seasoned riders alike. Of course, I point out why they should be required viewing material:

Harley-Davidson and the Marlboro Man - What better than a buddy flick about a man trying to reconnect with his childhood friends and how their lives all followed the cliched stereotypes they always wanted to be. Seriously, anyone that has been around Harley riders in a group or most motorcyclists beyond the DGR should spot at least three of the characters. Beyond that, who among would not want to chuck it all, hop on our bike and just ride to find something else in life?

Beyond the Law - Imagine, remember, when you first got into riding. Hardtail, jugs, Evo, all just words at first. Now think to when motorcycle words took on life. Now think about when that life overpowers what you were before you started. How to reconcile the multifaceted self is the base storyline in this reportedly based on a story that once was in Easyriders magazine based on real events. You will wonder why you have not watched this sooner by the time you get to the end and look past the stagehand catching the knocked over lamp. BTW, yes the overall scheme is how it sometimes goes for folks in the professions presented on screen, unfortunately.

Easy Rider - Ah, yes warmer weather brings on wanderlust for two friends trying to find America. This piece of film history captures the true meaning of disillusionment. Was it worth the price paid to take this journey? Well, you just have to watch and enjoy in the safety of your normal life being thankful you made different choices.

Finally,

The World's Fastest Indian - This guy had true intestinal fortitude and was a verifiable real life person, unlike the above films!

Seriously folks, go watch these. . .

 

[scooterwuf]

I'd like to add if anyone is interested:

I See By My Outfit, by Peter S. Beagel. Two friends, a writer and a painter and both musicians, ride their scooters from the Bronx, New Your to California across 1960's America.

Frankenstein Scooters to Dracula's Castle, by Martin 'Sticky' Round. A man, his family and good friend ride modified scooters (with motorcycle engines) from the UK, through Eastern Europe to Turkey and Greece. Along the way the visit Dracula's castle.

- Wolf

 

[Meifesto]

Not so familiar with books, but I love my movies, so..... ;

Most off them are already mentioned i'm guessing, but a few adds.

Big miss in the lists is:
Akira (1988) - A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by two teenagers and a group of psychics.

Ilse of Man TT shouldn't be missing:
Closer to the Edge




And a bonus movie, as it does contain a motorcycle, but more importantly, it is filmed in POV, the whole movie.
Two cameras's stuck to the actors head. And thus deserves more love and attention.
Hardcore Henry

 

[HippoDrone]

Streamable Movie:
Quadrophenia - a film about the Mods and Rockers in the UK back in 1964 - One of my fav biker movies, I've even made a video about it on my channel.
DVD Movie:
Silver Dream Racer - Pop legend David Essex stars opposite Beau Bridges in a bittersweet story set in the cut-throat world of motorcycle racing.
The Great Escape - Not technically a motorbike movie, but one of the most iconic bike chases in movie history.
Streamable Series:
Sons of Anarchy - some may hate me for this, but as an entertaining cheesefest of biker stereotypes and escapism it was bloomin epic in my book.

YouTubers you MUST Watch:
C90 Adventures - Humongously bingeable, you gotta watch from the start.
Itchy Boots - Humongously bingeable, you gotta watch from the start.
Andy Man Cam - Our very own (all but a while back) @AndyManCam
TeaPotOne - Our very own (all but a while back) @TeapotOne

 

[scooterwuf]

The iconic bike sliding shot in Akira has been stolen and re-used in other animated films/TV shows.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1030301776711434240

- Wolf

 

[Meifesto]

The iconic bike sliding shot in Akira has been stolen and re-used in other animated films/TV shows.


- Wolf

Yes, and in some real-time movies as well.
It is a great shot, and an even better movie xD

 

[LoneWolfer]

Some great movies and books in this thread. Gotta give a huge second to Road to Paloma. Flew too far under the radar given the fact that it is a Jason Momoa flick. And The Best Bar in America took two tries to watch as the first 45 minutes are "difficult" to get through for me as I could not connect with the main character, but that last act pulls it together and makes his character more understandable.

 

[Meifesto]

TT3D: Closer to the Edge is also one to add to the list.

 

[UncleL]

I guess I can add a few interesting movies:
- Fixing the Shadow
- Stone Cold
- Masters of Manace
- Wild Hogs
- The Wild Angels
- Roadside Prophets
- Werner Beinhart
- Bikie Wars Brothers in Arms
- Hell Ride
- One Week
- Stone
- Freebird

 

[whingnut]

Films:
Mondo Enduro! (vimeo)
Dirtbag (amazon)
Dirtbag II (amazon)
Robins Road trip (amazon)