My cool motorcycle

By Chris Haddon ISBN: 978-1-909108-91-2 Published by Harper Collins 160 pages hard cover RRP: $29.99 They say every book has its own personality, but I can’t quite put my finger on this one. Perhaps a clue lies in the fact that this is the fifth title in the “my cool” series – previously there has been (my cool) caravan, bike (as in bicycle), campervan, and classic car. This one is sub-titled, “an inspirational guide to motorcycles and biking culture” and covers a very wide range of subjects within the over-arching theme. The stories are short and pictorially-driven, ranging from veteran speedway riders, beach racers, the inevitable Charlie Boorman piece, bobbers, postie bikes, to pure-bred stuff like Ducatis, BMWs, Nortons and so on. Even though it is a very broad-brush approach, the photography is rather good and helps to hold the concept together. The author says he has “a huge passion for all things retro and vintage” and this is most evident in the choice of the subject matter.