by: The Motorcycle Safety Foundation
Paperback – 176 pages, 1st edition (October 1, 1995)
Whitehorse Press, North Conway, New Hampshire, USA
Dimensions (in inches): 0.41 x 10.49 x 8.26
ISBN: 1-884313-01-9
This book is sort of an “MSF Motorcycle Rider Course Light” for the general public. It contains material from both the Riding and Street Skills (basic) course and the Experienced Rider Course. While this is good, basic information for the rider who hasn’t yet taken an MSF-sponsored course, it is mostly a repeat for those with MSF experience.
Some of the illustrations are in color, and, as such, are better than those provided in MSF-sponsored training courses. But much of the book is devoted to an obscure discussion about how to divide traction forces amongst braking, turning and leaning; this discussion is also used in the MSF courses, and for some reason, it’s never really helped me to better understand the concept of tire traction.
The bottom line is that tires only have so much traction to give, and if you’re braking, turning and/or sliding all at once, you’ve pretty much used it all up. In any case, although the book is a useful reference, it could use a lesson from David Hough’s “Proficient Motorcycling” (see the wBW review), which I believe is a much more useful guide for learning street skills, and should be in every motorcyclist’s library.
wBW Motorcycle Riding Skills Book Reviews: Complete Idiot’s Guide to Motorcycles | Riding in the Zone | Motorcycle Track Days for Virgins | Stayin’ Safe: The Art and Science of Riding Really Well | Secret Skills of Motorcycle Riding | UK Road Signs, Road Laws and Licensing Books | Streetbikes: Everything You Need To Know | Performance Riding Techniques | How To Ride a Motorcycle | MSF’s Motorcycling Excellence, 2nd Edition | Smooth Riding the Pridmore Way by Reg Pridmore | David Hough’sProficient Motorcycling, More Proficient Motorcycling and Street Strategies | Ride Hard, Ride Smart by Pat Hahn | Sportbiking: The Real World by Gary Jaehne | Sport Riding Techniques by Nick Ienatsch | Total Control by Lee Parks | Twist of the Wrist,Twist of the Wrist II by Keith Code | Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider’s Handbook | Pass Your Advanced Motorcycling Test (U.K.) | Pro Motocross and Off-Road Riding Techniques | Motorcycling Excellence by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation
More Book Reviews: Listed on our Motorcycle Books Page
wBW Riding Skills Video Reviews: Ride Like a Pro III | Ride Like a Pro for the Ladies
More wBW: Motorcycle Safety Page | Riding Schools, Training and Track Days
wBW Rating:
