No longer the simple machines they used to be, the modern motorcycle is as complex and diverse as the modern car. In an ever more competitive market, manufacturers are looking for new solutions to old problems - what's the most efficient transmission? How can emissions and fuel consumption be cut without affecting power? And how can new models be differentiated from one another? This book explains how the modern motorcycle works, in a straightforward style that's jargon-free and easy to read. It assumes no prior mechanical knowledge, simply an interest in a motorcycle's workings, and an open mind. The text is accompanied by superb cutaway illustrations from the major motorcycle manufacturers, clearly showing how individual components and systems function. It covers the latest innovations, including traction control and pushbutton gear change, as well as long-established technologies, such as fuel injection and ABS. How your motorcycle works will not transform you into a motorcycle engineer or expert mechanic, but in explaining precisely how everything works, it will increase your understanding, and thus enjoyment, of the machine.