Great American Motorcycle Tours
By Gary McKechnie
John Muir, $17.95, ISBN
ISBN 1562614401

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First, there were boomers, then yuppies, now there are "rubs." That's what Forbes magazine recently dubbed the rich urban bikers who are buying most of the Harley-Davidsons these days. Motorcycling has shaken its greaser image in favor of a more polished look.

If you're a "rub" eager to get out on the highway, a new book should get your motor revved up. Great American Motorcycle Tours is a travel guide especially for motorcyclists, with suggested back road tours in every region of the country. The choices range from a Memphis-to-New Orleans "Blues Cruise," to an "Amish Country Run" in Pennsylvania. Author Gary McKechnie, a former standup comedian, adds a dash of wit and wisdom to the practical advice in this tour guide. You gotta love a book that groups the people in its "acknowledgements" section according to their favorite Beatle (for the record, John Lennon has the most). McKechnie even persuaded the original easy rider, Peter Fonda, to contribute a foreword, "Why I Ride."

So, straddle that Hog (or Honda), choose your favorite scenic route, and hit the road.