The Art of the Motorcycle

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The Art of the Motorcycle begins with a serious preface by Guggenheim director Thomas Krens, who calls the motorcycle "a quintessential symbol of the insecurity and optimism of our time." At 411 pages long (an ll-page, single-spaced bibliography of motorcycle books carries it over the top), it is a hefty compendium of motorcycle history, culture, design, and science. While the essays range from treatises to such fun stuff as "Bikes were always work for me," a long poem by Dennis Hopper, this thoroughgoing tome is above all a meticulous catalogue of the 96 motorcycles exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum during the summer of 1998, with details about engine design as well as esthetics. "Another significant innovation is the machine's throttle-controlled oiler," we read of the 1911 electric-orange Flying Merkel Model V. "Lubrication was a continuing problem in the early days ... but Merkel's system ... preceded by nearly two decades both Indian's as well as Harley-Davidson's adoption of this feature." The bikes are documented with crystal-clear photographs in this precision-built book. --Peggy Moorman

Book Description
This stunning book celebrates the motorcycle as one of the most compelling design achievements of the 20th century. Now affordably priced, this "classic vehicle" (MSNBC), with its gorgeous full-page and double-page photographs, is a must for motorcycle and design enthusiasts. Originally published to accompany the enormously popular Guggenheim Museum exhibition, the book includes entries on over 100 spectacular bikes (BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Indian, Triumph) as well as essays on the motorcycle in film, fashion, lifestyle, and history by such life-long rebels as Hunter S. Thompson and Dennis Hopper. Among the gems selected on both technical and aesthetic grounds are the 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmuller 1500cc; the pivotal BMW R32; the immensely popular 1950s Honda 50 Super Cub; the quintessentially American 1977 Harley-Davidson XLCR; and the Ducati 916, one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever produced. New to the paperback edition is a 16-page illustrated section featuring the magnificent motorcycles that were added to the exhibition when it traveled to the Guggenheim Las Vegas.

About the Author
Thomas Krens is Director of the Solomon R. Guggehneim Foundation. Matthew Drutt, former Associate Curator for Research at the Guggenheim, is currently Chief Curator at the Menil Collection, Houston.


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About the Author:Thomas Krens is Director of the Solomon R. Guggehneim Foundation. Matthew Drutt, former Associate Curator for Research at the Guggenheim, is currently Chief Curator at the Menil Collection, Houston.


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