Matthew Vale
THE BIKE BOOKS
I've been writing books since 2004, when my first tome, BSA Unit Construction Twins, was published. Each book takes a car or motorbike range, and provides a detailed technical description of each individual model which make up the range. Each book also gives a history of the company to help to place the range in context, the year on year changes to the various models and in some cases a blow by blow account of a restoration of one of the models in the range. Owners impressions from people who either owned one of the models 'back in the day' or who owns one today are an important element of each book. Advice on owning and running the bike or car today details the modifications and improvements that current owners can do to make their vehicle easier to live with today. All the books are well illustrated with original photographs by the author, and a smattering of original factory pictures as well.
I like to think that my books are both technically accurate and complete but are not dry and boring - I believe any book should be a good read, and strive to ensure that mine are. All my books are available on Amazon, from the publishers (www.crowood.com) and from any good bookseller in the UK, Europe and the USA.
BSA Unit Construction Twins
The Complete Story
Published in 2004 by The Crowood Press
ISBN-1 86126 689 8
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This is my first book and it covers BSA's 500 and 650cc twins produced betwen 1962 and 1973. These bikes were BSA's top of the range models through the 1960s, and were popular both in the UK and the USA. The book charts the design and development of the various 500cc and 650cc models through to the final Oil-in-Frame models of the 1970s which were produced up to the demise of BSA as a seperate company in 1973. The bike's competition history is covered, along with upgrades and modifications available to today's owners, and the experiences of owners of the bikes. In addition, the author's restoration of a 1965 A65 Lightning is covered in detail.
176 pages with lots of colour and black and white illustrations.
BSA Unit Construction Singles
Including the Triumph Derivatives
The Complete Story
Published in 2006 by The Crowood Press
ISBN- 1 86126 843 2
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This is my second book, and covers the BSA group's unt construction singles produced between 1958 and 1972. Covering the C15, B40, Starfire, Victor and Gold Star singles, it also covers the Triumph badged bikes, the TR25W, T25T, T25SS and TR5MX. Every model in the range is described, and a full technical description is given. The range's competition history, especially in the off road scrambles arena is addressed and the authors restoration of a rare 1960 C15 Trials model is documented, along with owners impressions - and that is an original factory picture of factory tester Percy Tait riding a 500cc BSA Victor on the cover.
175 pages with lots of colour and black and white illustrations.
Triumph Twenty-one to Daytona
The 'C' Class 350cc and 500cc Twins
Published in 2008 by The Crowood Press
ISBN- 978 1 86126 997 3
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My third book covers the small 'C' series Triumph unit construction twins, from the 350cc Twenty-one of 1957 through the sporting 500cc Tiger 100 and Daytona to the trail bike TR5T Adventurer. The book also takes a look at the ill fated Triumph Bandit and BSA Fury 350cc prototypes.
As with my first two books, this one covers the design and development of the bikes, along with a comprehensive description of all the models in the range, the range's competition history, owners views and impressions and the restoration of a 1969 T100C.
191 Pages with all colour illustrations
Triumph 650 and 750 Twins
Bonneville, Tiger, Trophy and Thunderbird
Published in 2009 by The Crowood Press
ISBN- 978 1 84797 120 3
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This book looks at the archtypical British Twin - the Triumh Unit Constrution 650 and 750cc models. It covers the Bonneville, Trophy, Tiger and Thunderbird models produced from 1963 through the Meriden 'sit in' models of the 1970s and 1980s, including the eight valve TSS and custom TSX variants, and the 600cc and 'Anti Vibration' models proposed for the 1983 model year which never made it into production. It also covers the Harris 'Devon' Triumphs produced under licence between 1985 and 1988 which kept the Triumph name alive until its ressurection by John Bloor in the 1990s. The authors restoration of a 1970 T120R Bonneville is covered, along with the bikes competition record and owners impressions.
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192 Pages with all colour illustations.
Norton Commando
The Complete Story
Published in 2011 by The Crowood Press
ISBN- 978 1 84797 238 5
The Norton Commando was the do or die bike for the AMC empire run by Dennis Poore, and was introduced in 1968. The 750cc and 850cc bikes with their rubber mounted engines were the UK Motorcycle industy's response to the Japanese in the late 1960s and 1970s. The book looks at all the Commando models, reviews the competition history, with a special look at the John Player Norton team and the Cosworth Challange bike, and records the author's restoration of a 750cc Commando in rare Hi-Rider trim. Owners reviews cover touring, cafe racing and production racer versions.
192 Pages with all colour illustrations
Triumph Pre-Unit Twins
Published in 2012 by The Crowood Press
ISBN- 978 1 84797 323 8
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This book introduced a larger format than my previous offerings, and covers the bikes powered by the Triumph 350cc, 500cc and 650cc twin cylinder engines which had separate gearboxes - hence the term 'Pre-Unit'. These bikes were introduced before World War 2 in 1937, and were the brainchild of Triumph's talented designer Edward Turner. The book covers the full range of bikes from the Speed Twin through to the 650cc twin Carb Bonneville, and includes the 350cc 3T model. Specialist models such as the competition Trophy and the military TRW are included, along with the generator engines used by the RAF in World War 2, and the emergence of the Triton - a Triumph engine in a Norton 'Featherbed' frame. The bikes competion history, owners impressions and full technical details are also covered.
192 Pages with all colour illustrations
AJS and Matchless
Post War Singles and Twins
The Complete Story
Published in 2016 by The Crowood Press
ISBN- 978 1 78500 195 6
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After World War Two, Associated Motor Cycles' range of AJS and Matchless motorcycles helped to put the British and Commonwealth worker back on the road. The reliable and strong 350 and 500cc singles were closely based on the famous wartime despatch riders mount which were the first British bikes to feature telescopic forks. The company's twin cylinder bikes offered greater capacity, performance and glamour, with the high performance CSR or 'Coffee Shop Racer' twins being the rockers favourite. The competition market was catered for with off road singles of 350cc and 500cc based on the road bikes, the purpose built 350cc AJS 7R, an overhead cam 350cc clubman's racer that competed against the Manx Norton, and the exotic Grand Prix racer, the AJS Porcupine. This book covers all the AMC four stoke bikes, the later Norton engined offerings, export bikes including the mighty Desert Sleds produced for the US market and the AJS Stormer two stroke scramblers produced in the 1970s.
192 Pages with all colour illustrations