Aprilia. Derbi. Ducati. Honda. Husqvarna. Kawasaki. KTM. Quite an all-star lineup, no? New models from all of these marques and more can be found in The New Motorcycle Yearbook 1: The Definitive Annual Guide to All New Motorcycles Worldwide, by Simon De Burton, a renowned motorcycle journalist and former road-tester for the Evening Standard in London.

This full-color, 288-page coffee-table book is a compilation of every motorcycle model launched worldwide in 2005. Each bike is painstakingly outlined, with everything from technical specs to design components, and accompanied by breathtaking photography. This is the ultimate guide to new motorcycles, one Merrell Publishers hopes is the first in an annual series devoted to new forms of two-wheeled transportation.

De Burton’s treatment of his subject is exhilarating, and the layout and design of the book make it either a breeze to flip through or a rewarding in-depth read. Whether you want to simply admire the art of motorcycles, or you really want to know what makes them tick, this book can accommodate you.

It begins with a “Trends, Highlights, and Predictions” chapter, which outlines the recent evolution of motorcycles, starting with the crotch-rocket of the mid-’80s and ending with the current scooter and custom bike craze. “Advances in Engineering” comes next, covering the influences of race technology on motorcycle design and engineering. And then the book gets serious.

The 220-page third chapter, “The Motorcycles,” covers almost every form of two-wheeler, and each model gets a two-page spread with sharp photography and up-to-date specs. Did I say it’s thorough? Even obscure marques are included, and they get just as much ink as the big boys.

After the motorcycles chapter, the yearbook takes a slight left turn, with features about key designers such as BMW’s David Robb, Ducati’s Pierre Terblanche, and the famed Triumph (and more) designer John Mockett, the man most recently responsible for the Bonneville and the Rocket III. These are insightful interviews, providing rare glimpses into the lives of men whose work shapes our motorcycling experience. At the end of the book, you’ll find a helpful glossary and a breakdown of all the motorcycle types represented within.

Did I mention that it’s comprehensive? RB

SOURCES

The New Motorcycle Yearbook 1:
The Definitive Annual Guide to All New Motorcycles Worldwide $39.95
by Simon De Burton
288 pages
Merrell Publishers Ltd.
49 W. 24th St., 18th Fl., Dept. RB
New York, NY 10010
212/929-8344
merrellpublishers.com