Build Book Better!

He’s been and gone and done it again. Odgie – aka Crazy Odge, for reasons we can’t possibly comment upon – has just published a new book. Well, a pair of new books. And whereas his earlier book, Confessions Of An Esoteric Engineer, was a wild rollercoaster ride involving but not limited to motorcycles, hotrods, philosophy, mental health, punk rock, fetishism, the Big Bang and quantum physics, his latest offering is somewhat more focused.

Crazy Odge’s Bumper Bike Build Compendium compiles all of his motorcycle builds and touches on some of his cars from the mid-1960s right through to the present day. This vast body of work runs to two full volumes, 60 years and nearly 600 pages! The fun starts with Odgie’s crude attempts to modify his field-bike Bantam at the ripe old age of 11. Then the books progress through all manner of bikes and styles – bobbers, choppers, off-road bikes, race bikes, and bikes that simple defy description.

As you’ve come to expect over the years of reading Odgie’s articles in this very magazine, he shares step-by-step photos and descriptions of the entire bike building process, revealing not just the mechanics and engineering but the often complex thought processes behind them.

Regular readers also know that Odgie’s writing is inspiring, educational, inclusive and accessible. His easy-going style belies his in-depth knowledge from a lifetime of experimentation. It’s all shot through with a sharp wit and occasionally irreverent humour, and is never anything less that thoroughly entertaining.

Crazy Odge’s Bumper Bike Build Compendium is a big, heavy, bright, colourful pair of books that will provide hours of enjoyment to any petrolhead or even just the casual observer.

Each book costs £25 plus £4 UK delivery, or buy both together for £40 plus £8 delivery. Order directly from [email protected]