How your motorcycle works: Your guide to the components & systems of modern motorcycles (RAC Handbook)

I bought this book because I was tired of feeling so stupid whenever someone would stop and talk with my husband and me about our bikes. (We have 2009 Triumph Bonnevilles, which look very similar to the old ones, and people frequently ask us if they are originals.) I mean, I know the "official specs" for my own model, but beyond those numbers, I was pretty clueless as to the inner workings of motorcycles.I like the fact that the author uses a variety of makes, models, and classifications in his explanations and descriptions. There are so many out there, it would be impossible to cover them all, but he sets a good solid framework for understanding the basics. I really appreciated reading it. (I have to admit I did quite a bit of highlighting for future reference!)

Henshaw does a great job explaining how so many of the nuts and bolts work on your average bike. The pictures are detailed and very helpful, and though you won't be able to build a bike from scratch after reading it, you'll feel a lot more comfortable around mechanics when they jump into the technical jargon. I wish the book went a step further and added sections on troubleshooting typical systems, but even so a great buy for anyone new to motorcycles

I had no idea what it was really going to provide me when I got it. I am new to motorcycles. For a newbie, it is an excellent book. I now have a perspective about my bike that I would probably not have had otherwise. It is easy to read and very easy to understand. Experienced bikers will probably find it boring and too basic. Now that I understand the very basics of all the parts and components of the bike, I know find myself YouTubing the details and opening a whole new world to understanding my bike.

An OK book. I won't say I didn't learn anything, but some of the explanations were unclear. I think that this book could have benefitted by having more drawings.

This book is a pretty straightforward read and does not take too long to finish. It provided good information on many topics and stated many reasons for compromise here and there on certain components. I had trouble understanding the transmission section so i had to resort to watching youtube but everything else provided ample pictures etc. However i did have a fairly decent understanding of engines prior to this book. Overall a good read and helped me understand various components.

Short book but a good look at components, and how they function. Even being around motorcycles for a very long time this book does clarify and gave me a few insights that I had never realized before.

This is a short, concise book that does a good job about describing the components and systems of a modern motorcycle. It is easy to read and understandable. It will not make you into a shop mechanic, but if you want to understand a lot more about your motorcycle, this is the book for you.

Perfect introduction to the nuts and bolts of how motorcycles work. No previous mechanical experience is necessary to get a clear picture of the major operating systems on most motorcycles.