Book Reviews

Excerpts from a review submitted to “HACK’d” the sidecar publication:

…The mainstream motorcycle press in this country has done a good job of ignoring them (Russian Motorcycles)probably because their importers are unable to afford expensive advertising fees. Only the specialized publications like HACK’D seem to have given them a fair shake. Promised books from experienced people like Dan Irizary have not made it into print.

There seems to be a reasonable amount of good information out there on the internet, but those of us who do not dot-com have been out of luck.

Mike Weaver's book changes all of this. A brilliant example of homegrown desktop publishing at its best The pages are not numbered. But they are printed plainly on good quality paper and there are over TWO hundred of them. Almost every page contains one or more illustrations…

…Very few of the pictures will have been seen before by anyone who buys the book.

Having dealt with the background, the meat of the book is devoted to the sort of practical information needed by anyone who is trying to use and maintain fairly primitive and well used machinery that is a long way from home. Some of the technical information was furnished by people to whom English is a second or third language, and has been left as received, rather than take a chance of harming, rather than helping it.

…This book is of interest to anyone who likes old Russian motorcycles. It is a must have for anyone who actually works on them.

James F. Craig

Weav,

I just got your book yesterday! It's great! Lots to digest, I like the tech tips. Good sound "how-to" from what I have seen. The identification pix and the history are great. I will reccomend this book to anyone thinking of buying an old russian bike. The only thing wrong with it, Dang it, is that I needed it LAST YEAR ;)

Thanks,
Jim Klinicke

Foilisti
I got my copy of Mike's book in the mail today. He even autographed it! (Thanks Mike!) I've sat down twice today to pour over it. Tough book to put down. Great collection of technical data, tips and drawings. The photo's and historys are fascinating as well.

What can I say, it's awesome! Darn glad I got it! It's especially neat to have after having the pleasure of meeting you at the Spring in the South Rally too.

Thanks for writing it Mike. It's a great piece of work! The Soviet bike fans have needed something like this for some time now. Thanks for stepping up and putting it together for us!

Rich Maund

Excerpt from "Horizontal View Spring 2002" the official Newsletter of the Cossack Owners Club of the U.K.:

Counter to any rumours or pressure - I do not intend to write a book on the history of Soviet and Russian motorcycles...

I will however be adding to the excellent book by Michael Weaver on the subject (see Horizontal View Winter 2001 issue).

Peter J. Ballard.
Technical Adviser.
10th January 2002.