How To Ride A Motorcycle A Rider S Guide To Strategy Safety And Skill Development

A beginner's manual especially geared to the needs of entry-level riders, this book provides all the basic instruction necessary to become a motorcycle rider with an emphasis on the challenges faced by neophyte riders. Starting at neophyte level and evolving into a serious, intelligent expert, How to Ride a Motorcycle tells the reader how to be a motorcycle rider with a strong emphasis on safety and big-picture strategy ("think about it this way" as opposed to "do this.")

A guide to enhance your safety on motorcycle riding.

Ride Hard, Ride Smart is a practical, hands-on survival guide for the average motorcyclist. This book provides advanced survival and safety strategies for the developing rider. The vast wealth of knowledge and information developed by the motorcycle safety industry is bound into one chapter and one simple concept-the "three degrees of separation"-that sets the stage for the rest of the book. The three degrees of separation are riding strategies, training and skills, and protective gear-the things that separate the rider from death and injury. Hahn rates motorcycle risk and riding on a scale of one to ten, ten being mere moments away from certain death, and one being home safe in bed. Every motorcycle ride falls somewhere in between. Using the three degrees of separation, a rider can get the risk level down to a controllable level, creating the safest possible situation on a moving motorcycle.

Expert motorcyclist and author Ken Condon knows there is a right way to hit the road and track when you're behind the handlebars. In this new book Motorcycling the Right Way, Condon lays out a basic riding course for motorcyclists who are smart enough to acknowledge that "you don't know what you don't know." In setting forth the keys to riding safely and well, Condon's method capitalizes on reducing risks and potential crashes and increasing the rider's ever-improving skills and situational awareness. Filled with readable, useful advice and anecdotes from the road, Motorcycling the Right Way will be welcomed by beginners and returning riders, as well as experienced riders who are interested in learning more on the journey.-Adding new tools to the rider's bag: multitasking, sensory intelligence, self and situational awareness, risk smarts, visibility, and attitude adjustment-Improving the rider's ability to perceive danger, size up risks, and mentally prepare for the road-Expert advice on handling the bike, cornering, traction, braking, and turning-A sobering look at crashing and handling the aftermath of an accident-Special sections on dirt riding, group rides, highway riding, nighttime riding, passengers-The right way to avoid hazards and deal with perilous obstacles and road conditions

This is the book for the motorcyclist who wants to do it right! The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide to Motorcycling Excellence is the most complete and authoritative guide to motorcycle safe-riding techniques and strategies. More than one million students have completed courses developed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and this book is the culmination of what this leading rider-training organization has learned about teaching students of all ages and experience levels. It is the perfect refresher for anyone who has taken an MSF class and it will be an eye-opener for those who have not yet taken a formal training course. In a clear, engaging style with detailed diagrams and extensive full-color photographs and illustrations, the book covers rider attitude, proper gear, basic and advanced street skills, and performance, as well as skill maintenance and troubleshooting. Topics include how to stop quickly when necessary; avoiding traffic hazards; applying evasive maneuvers; countersteering for better control; traveling safely and skillfully in a group; identifying and fixing mechanical problems; riding smoothly at high and low speeds; maintaining momentum in off-highway riding; and much, much more. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide to Motorcycling Excellence is a remarkable source of riding wisdom and the definitive reference for the sport.

This best-selling book is also “#1 book in motorcycle safety” (Nielsen BookScan) and essential reading for all motorcyclists regardless of their years of experience. Author David L. Hough, a revered motorcycle author, columnist, and riding-safety consultant, lays out a clear course for all riders who want to sharpen their handling skills and improve their rides. This second edition, expanded and now in full color, offers new riders and road warriors the exact kind of advice they need to be prepared for anything when on the road, how to avoid accidents, and how to handle the unexpected. Hough, who began motorcycling in the 1960s, tackles every imaginable topic—from the mechanics of the bike, selection of the right-sized bike, and basic riding skills to night riding, group outings, and advanced survival tactics. In the chapter called “Motorcycle Dynamics,” Hough spells out the equipment needed and basic skills required to control a bike, and specifically keeping the rider’s safety and ability to avoid potentially injurious or fatal crashes. The author is outspoken and direct when it comes to safety, and he emphasizes the importance of the rider’s braking abilities and spells out how to improve them. The chapter offers six tried-and-true techniques for quick-stop tactics, critical for every rider to understand and master. He also addresses other vital skills that riders need to evaluate and improve, such as turning, maintaining balance and stability, and steering. He defines, compares, and analyzes the ins and outs of steering and control: direct steering, countersteering, push steering, out-tracking, coning, u-turns, and directional control. The chapter called “Cornering Habits” is a virtual master class in acceleration, deceleration, use of weight, throttle, leaning, and handling challenging terrain. Hough’s skill as a photographer and illustrator adds a graphic element to his books that leads to immediate understanding of the concepts he explains. The detail offered in each section of the book can only come from decades on the road, and the author is the consummate instructor, assigning homework to the readers in the form of exercises to practice and improve specific techniques that he outlines and illustrates in the text. Any rider who would venture out on the road without David Hough’s voice in his head takes an unnecessary risk with his own life. Proficient Motorcycling takes riders from long, snaking country roads right into the traffic of the big city, and Hough offers the best advice for riders dealing with the most challenging conditions, whether it’s road construction, snap-jawed intersections, skateboarders, or suddenly slippery road surfaces. A critical section of the book offers riders advice on how to deal with automobiles, including aggressive car drivers, oblivious SUV drivers, or “blind” truck drivers. The book offers the kind of first-hand experience that can literally save riders’ lives, as illustrated in the chapters “Booby Traps” and “Special Situations,” which offer evasive tactics and advice to avoid and handle everything from slick surfaces, curbs, and construction plates to ferocious dogs, hazardous wildlife, and difficult weather conditions. The final chapter of the book, “Sharing the Ride,” is geared toward experienced riders who travel together in groups or who travel with a second passenger on the bike. Topics covered are formation, packing for trips, communication between riders, sidecars, trikes, and more. The book concludes with a resources section of organizations, training schools, educational tools, and websites; a glossary of 80+ terms; and a complete index.

Riding motorcycles is fun, but author Ken Condon maintains that there is a state of consciousness to be achieved beyond the simple pleasure of riding down the road. Riding in the Zone helps riders find that state of being. It's the experience of being physically and mentally present in the moment, where every sense is sharply attuned to the ride. Your mind becomes silent to the chatter of daily life, and everyday problems seem to dissolve. You feel a deeper appreciation for life. Your body responds to this state of being with precise, fluid movements, you feel in balance, your muscles are relaxed, and it seems as though every input you make is an expression of mastery. This is "the Zone." Condon identifies all of the factors that affect entering the Zone and addresses each one individually, from the development of awareness and mental skills to mastering physical control of the motorcycle. At the end of each chapter are drills designed to transform the book's ideas into solid, practical riding skills. Riding in the Zone takes riders to the next level in their skill set.

A completely revised and updated edition of David Hough's successful book Street Strategies, the all-new Street Rider's Guide spells out safety tactics for motorcycle riders looking to get the most out of their favorite hobby;for as long as possible. Covering topics from A to Z, Street Rider's Guide is the new go-to handbook for motorcyclists who want quick solutions to nearly 100 commonly encountered obstacles and road challenges, what safety experts like Hough call increasing a rider's "situational awareness." As Hough writes in the introduction, ";the most important way to avoiding crashes is to figure out what's happening." While many books exist on the market for riders looking to improve their ride or get better control of their bikes, no book out there is dedicated to helping riders develop their situational awareness, which is the most critical skill a rider can have.INSIDE STREET RIDER'S GUIDEAlphabetically arranged topics from "Alley Acumen" to "Zone Woes"Short descriptions of over 80 critical situations selected by the authorExpert tips about how to recognize oncoming hazards and how to avoid themEach entry accompanied by a color photograph to illustrate real-life situation