Books.

As a sort of follow on from the big bang thread, and as I'm interested and hopefully starting an apprenticeship in bike mechanics later this year, I think it's a good idea to do some reading and try and learn a good deal of stuff about bikes and engines.
What books would you recommend?

Ideally I'd buy an engine to take apart and butcher, but I can't afford that on top of other things, so that's not an option (yet)

I'd like to learn how an engine works, first I'd need a basic understanding, but a deeper knowledge wouldn't be beyond me. And then tuning..
I'm more interested in tuning than suspension, and can see myself going in this direction at some point after the apprenticeship is over.

This might be a stab in the dark, but cna you help me?

I highly recommend locking your studious self in a room with some knowledgable .orgers (of which there are many so take your pick - I'd also recommend asking them first )

Do make sure you start a topical conversation with them though

As long as it turns to bikes within 5 minutes I'm happy
Thing is there's nobody around here really, so books it is until the apprenticeship.

And as for being locked in a room with .orgers- have you met the EAR lot?!

Ok well on a serious note, do you have a Haynes manual for your bike? From what I've read in those, they're pretty helpful with lots of pictures (hence why I was interested in the first place )

Get a very cheap engine off of Ebay and have a look inside, doesn't have to be a SV engine and it doesn't have to work if it is cheap enough.

Haynes used to do a few books on engines.

You could lock yourself in a room with me... it won't help but it might be fun.

Originally Posted by Grinch

You could lock yourself in a room with me... it won't help but it might be fun.

Kinky....

haynes also do a general engine maintenence book, electronics book, etc. they are pretty good. alternatively, pop into your local library and have a peek around. never know what you might find.
but getting an engine and some decent tools is best to start off with

Yup i have a haynes manual- though I'm thinking more along the lines of something that explains to me HOW and engine works, gas flow, stuff like that..
I'd like to get an engine, but can't see that happening in the next couple of months, unless its dirt cheap.
I'll have a look for a haynes on engines.