Books by Bertie Simonds

When it first appeared in 1992, Hondäs CBR900RR FireBlade was a revelation. Light, agile and powerful, it broke the 750cc sportsbike mould with its 893cc engine and established the FireBlade legend. Over the next three decades more than half a million FireBlades and Fireblades would be sold, making it one of the most successful and recognisable motorcycles on the planet. Aside from sales success, it has achieved phenomenal sporting success too - particularly in road races such as the Isle of Man TT.The latest model, the 2022 CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, is a natural evolution of the type and a worthy successor to the FireBlades of old. It represents the peak of sportsbike innovation and development today - just as the CBR900RR did back in 1992.In this fully-illustrated 132-page publication, Classic Motorcycle Mechanics editor and Fireblade fanatic Bertie Simmonds tells the complete story of this iconic model.

Sleek, futuristic and deadly - the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon was born from the crucible of the air war over Vietnam and the need for cheaper, simpler and more maneuverable fighter aircraft with which to combat the many thousands of Soviet-bloc supplied aircraft sold around the world.

The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is the undisputed king of fighter aircraft, scoring around 105 kills for zero losses in air-to-air combat. Designed as a pure air superiority machine, the Eagle has since become one of the best fighter-bombers in its class: the Strike Eagle.   Since it entered service in 1976, around 1600 F-15s have been built for six air forces around the world. Fast and agile, the Eagle has been the defensive tip of the spear for the Free World. The Israelis blooded the Eagle in the Middle East when they first took delivery in 1979. Since then both fighter and strike versions have been in almost constant action, through Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and beyond in the war against terror