Quick Reference Guide to books on Motorcycling

acalliste · 06-15-2009, 09:30 AM

This thread is meant as a quick reference for some of the books available today on motorcycle riding techniques, safety, tips and hints. Some of them are not only great for potential and beginner riders, but also make great reading for the experienced riders who may need a refresher. And there is always something new to learn. Other books are best for experienced riders, and there are some aimed at those looking into getting into track days or racing.

Great books for beginner riders, and a refresher for experienced riders:

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills, Knowledge, and Strategies for Riding Right (2nd Edition)

How To Ride A Motorcycle: A Rider's Guide to Strategy, Safety and Skill Development

Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well

More Proficient Motorcycling: Mastering the Ride

Street Strategies: A Survival Guide for Motorcyclists

Books for experienced riders looking to get more out of their riding experiences, and those possibly looking to get into track days, or racing:

Performance Riding Techniques: The MotoGP manual of track riding skills

Smooth Riding the Pridmore Way

Ride Hard, Ride Smart: Ultimate Street Strategies for Advanced Motorcyclists

Sport Riding Techniques: How To Develop Real World Skills for Speed, Safety, and Confidence on the Street and Track

Total Control: High Performance Street Riding Techniques

A Twist of the Wrist 2: The Basics of High-Performance Motorcycle Riding

Motorcycle Track Day Handbook

Twist of the Wrist: The Motorcycle Roadracers Handbook

Soft Science of Roadracing Motorcycles: The Technical Procedures and Workbook for Roadracing Motorcycles

Anyone who has read any of these books is encouraged to post their opinion or a quick review on them. Did you find them helpful? Easy to read? How often do you read them? Do you recommend them?

Or if you have any books to add to the list, please feel free to post the title, and a link to where they can be purchased if possible.

Happy reading!

jschmidt · 06-15-2009, 02:59 PM

I read as many as I can. Total Control is still the best, most approachable, most content-rich of the bunch.

Read a bunch of books. They really do improve your riding. But if you read only one, my recommendation is Total Control.

acalliste · 06-15-2009, 03:21 PM

I haven't read that one yet. Looking to add it to my library. It looks to be a particularly hot summer, so I might devote more time to reading some of these books than to riding for the next two months.

kevinwilly · 06-15-2009, 03:40 PM

And this is in the women's forum because.......?

And before you ask- NO, i have nothing useful to add.

acalliste · 06-15-2009, 03:48 PM

Haha! No reason, really. I suppose I could put it in one of the bike forums. Or maybe new riders.

Guru · 07-23-2009, 10:31 AM

I have attended the Keith Code school, and have a little insight into his personality, and teaching style, but without that the Twist of the Wrist books seem confusing, and are a little dry to read.

Lee Parks on the other hand presents material in a fresh and interesting manner. He is unusual in his approach to a lot of things, but he is detailed, and will make you understand not onlt the techniques, but the theory behind them. His exercises are easily accomplished, and he presents matererial the road rider can use, as well as material the track rider, or racer will find helpful. he covers everything from ear selection (Apparel) to gear selection (RPM ranges). It is an easy and fun read, I am on my second copy, since the first fell apart from frequently being re read.

One note of caution, I attempted to incorporate two of his suggestions at once, and caused a minor commotion. In the two up chapter, he suggests a gentle, reassuring pat on the thigh for your passenger, repeated often. I usually don't need encouragement to pat my passenger (hopefully a cute female) on her thigh. In the cornering section, he encourages use of one hand to control the handlebars, keeping one hand from fighting the other. Although he suggests letting the outside arm stay relaxed, even suggesting it lay limp on the tank, I being the clever individual that I am, decided to gently rub my girlfriends thigh as we went into a tight right sweeper, at, well, lets just say hyperlegal speed. She became totally unglued, telling me to NEVER take a hand off the bars at that speed EVER again with her on the bike.

Oh well, I was just trying to improve myself

acalliste · 04-06-2011, 10:03 AM

Anyone got any new books to add to this?

LaurenOE · 04-06-2011, 10:19 AM

This is my favorite - my tome.

Sport Riding Techniques: How To Develop Real World Skills for Speed, Safety, and Confidence on the Street and Track

The concept of percentage points for cornering and braking along with other bits is why it remains near the porcelain throne.

mariposa · 04-06-2011, 09:12 PM

I'll be making note of these as I get back into riding and have always felt like I definately have no natural skills when it comes to riding!
Thanks Laureno and Acalliste!

And Guru..enjoyed the story about the thigh rub! The thigh pat is one of my favorite things about riding 2up with Tejas! He rubs/pats my thigh and I squeeze him back w/my legs. It's a nice arrangement but I can see how high speed turns might be a time when your trusting passenger might want your hands on the wheel even if she likes them on her at other times. Thanks for sharing!
Tejas enjoyed Total Control too!(the book)

RiverRoadWarrior · 04-07-2011, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinwilly

And this is in the women's forum because.......?

And before you ask- NO, i have nothing useful to add.

What about DVDs?

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