Modification is an important part of the total experience for many motorcyclists in the search for individuality, to make improvements or simply to make a beloved machine more suitable for their own use. It also supports a whole industry of parts suppliers, modifiers and manufacturers as well as providing the opportunity for all types of individual effort.
All types of modification have one thing in common: the overriding need to see that the change does not make the machine less safe to ride than the original. This excellent book from John Hardaker proposes a simple method - based on long-established aircraft and aero engine practices - of reviewing intended modification at an early stage so that any potential safety problems can be avoided.
The book is more than just a simple manual; it is a fascinating history and in some ways a biography, incorporating many memories from the author's long career, various related (and unrelated!) thoughts and a few original and possibly controversial suggestions which occurred to the author at the time of writing. Yet rather than preach, the author invites the reader to agree or disagree with any or all of these deviations from the basic method.
In writing the book, the author avoids the intricate detail of complicated engineering theory so as to ensure that the text is readily understandable to all motorcyclists, especially those who do not claim to be professional engineers but are still contemplating modifying their machines... or ...
