Ridin' High, Livin' Free: Hell-Raising Motorcycle Stories

By Ralph Barger and Sonny Barger

Book Overview

The open road, a well-tuned machine, and a fine "old lady" hanging on to your back. That's freedom. That's living. Ridin' High, Livin' Free Sonny Barger is the number one spokesman for the outlaw biker life. His New York Times bestseller Hell's Angel was an exhilarating history of his experiences with the world's most notorious motorcycle club. Now the Angel spreads his wings even wider to bring us rousing, moving, wildly entertaining true-life stories of his renegade brothers and sisters in black leather and their relentless pursuits of liberty, individuality, and the "ultimate ride." And what stories he has to tell -- freewheeling, bare-knuckle tales of brawls and battles, brotherhood, breathtaking adventures, and crazy quests, and the inevitable classic scrapes with "John Law." The most colorful legends and unforgettable characters of biker lore come alive here: badass dudes like Cincinnati, one of the many Folsom State Prison graduates riding the nation's highways; lone-wolf dreamer Moto Guzzi Ron and his remarkable run at the North Pole, dodging killer bears along the way; and the 1960s saga of party girl Loaded Linda who finally abandoned the biker life for a Silicon Valley gig. Celebrities like Steve McQueen, Johnny Paycheck, and David Crosby thunder through these pages -- alongside some incredibly stylish hog-straddling ladies and quixotic personalities -- in a sensational collection of rebel tales that run the gamut from the poignant and inspiring to the thrilling and utterly outrageous. And through it all, Sonny celebrates the revered creed of the free-spirit motorized wanderer, an ingrained pride and loyalty to the biker fraternity and the glorious machines they love more than their mothers. Whether you ride, have never ridden, or just dream of riding, Ridin' High, Livin' Free is a reading experience you won't soon forget. It's a fascinating glimpse into a unique culture of freedom that recognizes only one commandment: the code of the road.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060006021
• ISBN13: 9780060006020
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Laugh out loud at times

I love this book, half way through it and some made me cringe while others made me laugh out loud. Sonny did a good job with the stories he chose. To those that say some of the stories cant possibly be true - well for one thing how would anyone know ? And the other thing, so what ? In Sonny's own words and forward on the book he states clearly that some are fiction or not, and no one knows for sure. Lighten up and enjoy the reading !!!

One damn good read!

You'll not be able to put this one down! It's serious, it's saddness but most of it is hilarious! Sonny did a great one Here!! If you love the biker lifestyle buy it! It's one damn good read!!

A great, fun book to read...Well recommended!

What a blast! Some of the stories are a little long in the tooth, but, like the preface says, who cares??? As long as they're entertaining, which most of them are. A few are outright boring, but the gems more than make up for them. Nice short stories, so you can leave it and pick it up as you wish. Well recommended!

You'll laugh, you'll cry and then you'll ride

Let's face it.... Most of us ride a motorcycle for a variety of reasons. One of them being to live out the fantasy of the outlaw biker. Sonny is the real deal and so are these stories. After you read each of them, you can close your eyes and just for a moment be transported in time to another place. This book is about all of us who seek the freedom of the road. It will give you a sense of just how special our little fraternity of "The Biker Life" is. You will come to know and identify with all of these characters and their lives.I bought this at a book signing out here in Westwood Village, CA. What a thrill to meet Sonny and have him sign my book. The big surprise to me was that he actually talked with me for some time. We talked about his books, his life and his regrets. When you hear him talk, it creates a mixture of fear and fascination with in your own mind. Although most of us will probably never become an official HA, this book brings the experience right into your own living room."Ridin' High and Livin' Free" It's a beautiful thing.

Couldn't Put it Down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This collection of stories from the most famous 1%'er is a must read!!! Everyone who rides for the sense of freedom and escape it provides, will enjoy each and every chapter in this book. Simple stories speak columes of what riding free is all about. For those who are dreaming of riding, make sure this is your first stop in researching the idea. From the hilarious to the humbling, this book is meaningful and well written. Thanks Sonny for another great contribution!