5 comments about More Proficient Motorcycling: Mastering the Ride.

1. If you're too stupid to take the MSF course or equivalent, this is the next best thing. If you've already taken the course, this book fills in a lot of the cracks. Easy to read, and it willl save your life!



2. I read this book and keep refering to it for years till I handed to my Dad (a new rider at 55) to help him understand motorcycle riding a bit more.



3. This book is an excellent place to gain more knowledge of motorcycling or to review old information on motorcycling. Will probably reread book every year before motorcycling season begins.



4. If you want to ride a motorcycle safely then you must buy and read this book. I re-read it each year in the winter to refresh my riding skills in preparation for the upcoming riding season. The best book on motorcycle safety skills development.



5. I strongly suggest purchasing this book. It is full of information to help you become a better rider. As a Road Captain in The Christian Motorcyclist Association it helps me keep our Chapter members informed on safe riding practices. The writer has excellent knowledge of motorcycling and uses many real life situations to illustrate his point. He is very witty in his writing which makes the book fun to read. I would also reccomend the first book Proficient Motorcycling

5 comments about The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance.

1. Writing a book on a subject like this, with tens of makes and hundreds of models on the market, is a balancing task. Mr. Zimmermann has made it remarkably well.
   His examples are very carefully chosen, he always explains the basic principles, and he writes in such a relaxed manner, that you feel "at home" regardless of the make and mode of your own bike.
   A very good complement to the service manual of your own bike - this with this book you are not stuck even if the quality of your manual is only tolerable.



2. This book is by far the best I've ever seen and better than I hoped for. It explains with color pictures how things work and why along with tips for getting the job done. Although this book is great for beginners it is also good for intermediately skilled do it your self folks with its in depth explanations.



3. The book is a detailed overview of motorcycle repairs. Well written and easy enough to go through - a few more diagrams or photos may have helped but then it would be too easy!



4. In addition to Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well and a shop manual, I consider this book to be a must buy for any rider. Taken as a supplement to a shop manual, this book's mix of generalized how-to and how-it-works demystify a lot of the "installation is the reverse of these steps" and "Turn this screw for reasons we will never explain" instructions in the shop manual. This manual is really the difference between just following steps and actually understanding why you're doing what you're doing. Zimmerman is a great, engaging writer too which makes the book a real pleasure to read.



5. Well-organized, easy on the layperson's eyes but without talking down to us either. "The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance" is divided up into sections and subsections that make it both an interesting cover-to-cover read but also very easy to use as a fast reference when repairing on the fly, taking the "Teach a man to fish" over the "Give a man a fish" approach. If all you want to know is how to change a spark plug you can probably find a faster how-to online. If you want to know how to change the spark plug AND just what the spark plug is doing, why and how and what happens when it's not doing it right, this is the book you're looking for.
   
   My '03 Kawasaki Vulcan isn't a toy, it's a tool; my only mode of transportation in this poor economy averaging 2,000 miles per month. And if I can't afford a car I certainly can't afford a conventional motorcycle mechanic looking to squeeze my wallet for what isn't there. So when my work-out-of-the-backyard mechanic isn't available or my work takes me away from him for a few months, I want to be able to do a fair amount of maintenance and repairs myself. Or at least know what I'm talking about when I do go to the conventional mechanic. Especially being female, it's still a challenge for some mechanics to see women as anything but walking, gullible, bags of money.
   
   This book has been my first giant leap into that realm. For all the varied motorcycles and configurations out there, Zimmerman gives a solid, most-common overview. More importantly, he does a fantastic job explaining to the layperson just how the various components work. This way, when I have a weird power loss happening under specific weather conditions, I'm not just looking at a laundry list of possible suspects in my owner's manual (or the appendix of this book). I can also go back through paragraphs and sidebars about just what the engine needs, analyzing for myself what the symptom tells me the engine isn't getting, and from there, I'm better equipped to diagnose the likely problem(s) myself than just blindly "Try replacing A, B, or C."
   
   For any biker out there, male or female, looking to be a little less dependent on your local Super Acme Made Of Money MegaMotorsports service shop, for those looking to better maintain your bike (and trust me, the key to hitting 130,000 miles is maintenance, maintenance, maintenance), and for those who want to learn in plain English just what makes your dream machine tick, "The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance" will be your new best friend!

5 comments about Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance.

1. This book was recommended by a friend of mine to facilitate my Padawan ways of bike maintenance. I'm very impressed, and the illustrations are excellent. Everything is broken down into the most basic steps when making a repair/modification. It's so much easier to maintain and repair your own bike, than to have your LBS do it. Don't be a tool, buy the book.



2. Excellent book full of information about MTB parts including differences from one brand to another. Full of drawings that helps understand how things should be done.



3. With all the advances in Bicycles over the years I needed this book and all the information inside. It is very easy to understand and provides the useful information I needed.



4. The Good
   - This is a great book for mountain bikes. Since mountain bikes have a lot of "specialised parts" that road bikes don't have, e.g. suspension, disc brakes, v brakes, etc., this book is much better than books that cover all bikes in general. They just don't have sufficient detail in explaining MTB parts.
   
   - This may be a bit subjective. Illustrations in the book are drawings instead of actual pictures. Drawings seem to give me pretty decent understanding on what the author describes. I have used a book with actual pictures but they sometimes are unable to show all the details that a drawing sometimes can.
   
   The Bad? ... or what should be better?
   - I would have preferred more pictures to describe a particular task. Reading a whole lot of detail can sometimes be difficult.
   
   - Sections can be categorised in a more 'reading friendly' format. The previous book I had (sorry can't remember the author) sections it very nicely and makes it very quick to find items that you like to fix.
   
   The good plus the bad, I rate this book 4 stars.



5. I bought this book for my husband who is a mountain biking nutter. He just loves it, can't get his head out of it. We would definately recommend this book to anyone who is interested in repairing/maintaining your mountain bike.

5 comments about Total Control: High Performance Street Riding Techniques.

1. If you ride a sport bike and want to learn to lean it correctly/safely around curves, fast without jerks and changes in the arch, this is the best specialized book for you! Learn about the common reasons people crash like you have never heard it before--why we panic and what that causes, which ultimately results in a crash. And how to overcome it! Great book.



2. Whether you are into sport bikes, racing, cruising, or whatever. If its on the street with 2 wheels and a motor, you need to get this book! The closest you'll come to having a one on one coach. Practice sessions are all worked out. Shows you how to critique your own performance. Skills on turning, body position, shifting, braking, and how to get the most efficiency out of your riding. How to go faster safely, and handling your bike on the road. It is ALL in here!
   
   Think you know how to ride? Ready for that track day? Grab this book first and show yourself a few MORE new things you never knew. Though this book is for more advanced riders, newer riders will benefit by learning better habits, and breaking bad ones.
   
   Get it, get it, get it!!



3. If you own a motorcycle, or even plan on getting one in the near future this book is worth it's weight in gold!
   It doesn't matter what type of riding you do, (or how long you've been riding).
   
   From a college kid, this book is great!



4. I bought this book as part of an ongoing effort to improve my riding, starting with myself. Lee Parks puts the information into an easy-to-understand format, which makes this book accessible to almost any rider. That said, this is NOT a beginner book. I've been riding for 30,000+ miles/4 yrs - an intermediate sport rider. I am good at cornering, and can drag my knees while also riding smoothly/calmly. This book does not cover basic motorcycle riding, and assumes you already have the necessary skills to go from point A to B. It teaches you ways of getting there more efficiently and much faster, and explains suspension setup, line selection, apexes, various types of corners, traction concepts, throttle control, trail braking, track days, even mental/physical fitness. It approaches the reader with the expectation that you are trying to improve your skills in high-intensity street riding (and hopefully) moving onto a track, where you can make better use of the information. Take a local MSF course, get familiarized with your bike, and then read this book.



5. I have heard such great things about Lee Park's riding clinics that I thought I'd try his book. I found it pretty basic. I was really expecting a lot more info about exactly how to improve your riding techniques. He gives a few exercises, but it's not very detailed about how to do them correctly, common mistakes, how to tell what you're doing wrong, how to fix a bad habit, etc. I'm sure he has all that info -- it's just not in his book. I guess you have to take his seminar before he unlocks the treasure chest of knowledge.

5 comments about Honor Few, Fear None: The Life and Times of a Mongol.

1. I had read the book, "Under and Alone" years ago. This book is a GREAT look at the other side of the story. Anyone with a brain understands that the WHOLE story of the Mongols MC isn't told here, but it's still an interesting peak into the club and an interesting story told from a unique viewpoint. I'd definately recommend this book to bikers and anyone within the biker subculture.



2. A standard 1%er pose is the wide-eyed "We're not all saints, but we're just a club of guys who like to party and ride." (As long as they're sure you won't believe this.) Ex-gangbanger and current outlaw president Calvos takes this line in his rejoinder to Billy Queen's Under and Alone, with just a few details left in to make sure you do realize that the Mongols are heavily armed and kill people who piss them off.
   
   Don't expect a realistic picture of the outlaw life in this book. Calvos wants to respond to the criticism in Queen's book (Queen was an ATF agent who infiltred the Mongols) for growing the club by flooding it with his street gang friends and connections, rather than recruiting bikers. He's unapologetic--look at the results! Facing down the Angels! Chapters everywhere!
   
   Sherman Alexie said that Indians spend their time arguing who's entitled to call themselves an Indian, and bikers to the same. This entertaining book is in the grand tradition, responding to Queen's Mongol's chapter's accusion of "We're real bikers and you're not." After all, Queen's chapter let in Queen, make him treasurer unasked, and gave him access to all the books. How lame is that?



3. Honor Few, Fear None is neither well written nor interesting. It really isn't comparable to William Queen's Book, Under and Alone, which was better written, even if you don't appreciate ATF infiltrating a motorcycle club.
   
   This book should be an embarrassment to the Mongols MC and any other 1% club. It may cater to those who don't know anything about motorcycle clubs, but for those who do, it is one man's self-serving example of his ego and does not come close to the truth. For example, most people in Doc's position would not put down other brothers in the club just to build their own ego. No 1% club would allow another member to speak poorly of its own members.
   
   Doc's version of the events at Laughlin gloss over the fact that he fled and left brothers on the floor of the casino to die after doing nothing to avoid the conflict that was building. The extensive sections about everything he stole as a kid are another example of his distorted sense of bravado. Then, he talks about doing "hard time" at Wayside, a Los Angeles County jail, for inmates sentenced to short term, local sentences.
   
   Don't hold your breath waiting for Doc to write another book about the inner workings of the Mongols MC since he is now out of the club with the dishonor that he deserves.
   
   Save your money and don't bother with this book.
   
   
   



4. Read this book a second time and have to say it is disrespectful of the club and specific members in it - a gross "no-no" in the 1%er world on both counts.
   
   If, as one other review offers, Cavazos is out of the club in lieu of his book that's a wise move on the Mongols' part.



5. I guess it was only a matter of time before the Mongols MC, similar to Sonny Barger and the Hells Angels MC, embarked upon a public relations campaign of their own. In "Respect Few, Fear None" Mongols MC president Ruben "Doc" Cavazos presents his side of the story concerning the rivalry and clashes with the Hells Angels MC, the ATF undercover operation, and the history of the club.
   
   Doc's version of events concerning agent Bill Queen is corroborated by details in Queens book "Under and Alone" and by Queen's testimony in court and in interviews which lends credibility to "Respect Few, Fear None". During the trial Doc asked Billy outside the courtroom if he missed riding with the Mongols and Billy replied "Yeah, I do". In "Under and Alone" Billy Queen admitted to feeling a real brotherhood within the Mongols MC and even felt more of a kinship with the Mongols than with other federal agents! The San Fernando Valley chapter were idiots (Doc's words) but Bill Queen took a genuine liking to many Mongol members in the L.A. and other surrounding chapters.
   
   This isn't to say the Mongols are really great guys who, when not riding their Harley's, are getting cats out of trees or giving free violin lessons. But, the government failed to produce compelling evidence of many of the crimes they accused the Mongols MC of committing. While the Mongols MC aren't exactly knights in shining armor, they're probably not as evil and criminally inclined as the media, police and feds lead the general public to believe.
   
   Doc appears to have been instrumental in vastly increasing the membership and cleaning up the club's image by instituting a code of conduct of sorts. The only problem is that most of the new members are ex-Mexican gang bangers from the mean streets of East and South L.A. While the Mongols MC was historically a mixed white and Mexican club it seems with Doc's new recruiting strategy it's being turned into an exclusively Mexican club with a few white hangers on. White one percenters looking to join a club should keep that in mind.
   
   Overall this is a very interesting book and fast read. I could say more but don't want to spoil it for everyone. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in "outlaw" motorcycle clubs.

5 comments about Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga (Modern Library).

1. A very high quality production run, hard-bound with illustrated dust jacket etc. of a very hard to find modern classic. Read Thompson as he was before he became a cartoon character like caricature. Succinct and insightful with the acerbic wit front and centre where it belongs. A cracking good read ! Excellent value too in this Modern Libraries edition. Why pay all-kinds of stoopid money on E-bay for a dog-eared paperback when you can have this for little more than the price of lunch for one alone.



2. I fear many young readers don't read Hunter because their sole perception of him stems from the Fear and Loathing movie. Perhaps it makes them overlook him, falsely believing they could only take something away from his genius if they themselves were acid freaks or outlaw motorcyclists. What they don't understand is story development is only part of the delicious masterpieces Hunter serves up. He could make a sentence, one short, lonely sentence brilliant. He could read the inner workings of his non-fictional subjects' minds, both good and bad, as though he held some secret intercom to their brain. Regardless of the story, whether it was some drug binging adventure in Vegas or hot presidential campaign, Hunter's details lacked in nothing. If he wrote it, the reader can close their eyes and be in that distant place in that distant time. I wasn't yet born in the 60s and 70s, but I can see that the residue from that era still heavily molds our society and our government. To move forward, it is important to understand our past. And, Hunter's work serve as an ambassador or a time machine for us to go back and reconcile and comprehend such an unbelievable time.
   So, read the book. Read all his books.



3. This is a wonderful republishing effort in hardback with a great photo of Hunter on its cover - a tribute to Thompson's literary accomplishment and treatment of the Hells Angels when they were truly a cultural attraction.
   
   Hunter's writing is clear, fast-paced, insightful, hysterial, and damning with just a bit of the Thompson humor to get the real point across. There's not be a book on the Times and the Angels since to match it.
   
   Great addition to the library - thanks, Dr. Thompson - RIP



4. I highly reccommend this gritty book. It is a very real feeling honest expose of the cult of the outlaw bikers, how the American media reacts to and manufactures disinfomaiton. It is a story of the sorry truth of the patholoy of the underclass of American society. One of Thompson's best.



5. "Hell's Angels" lacks some of the personal edge and Gonzo reporting style that I expect from Thompson. It is fun in parts, but overall it's too objective. After a few chapters, I found myself thinking, "I get it, these guys are burnouts and misfits, and I don't need be told any more minor stories about their antics." I can't be satisfied with this book as a piece of historical journalism either because there is so much post-1966 Hell's Angels history. Altamont and other important events occurred after the book was written, so I feel like I still don't have a good handle on the Hell's Angels' full significance in American culture. The thing I will remember the most from the book is the quote by Samuel Johnson, "He who makes himself a beast gets rid of the pain of being a man." This quote succinctly describes a core motivation of the Hell's Angels and others who know the pleasure of fringe lifestyles and behavior.

4 comments about Riding on the Edge: A Motorcycle Outlaw's Tale.

1. I think this book was as good as the Sonny Barger book, Hell's Angel if not better.
   Very gritty and realistic and man, John Hall is a very good writer as well. He kept me reading and reading on.



2. "Riding on the Edge" is, IMHO, the finest work of 1%er biker literature on the stands today. Written by an Old School biker and original member of the Pagans MC, this is a thoughtful, respectful and captivating story of what it was like to be a 1960s motorcycle outlaw.
   
   Written by John Hall, today a professional journalist and academic, Hall's book eclipses Sonny Barger's very successful effort (Hell's Angel) and, when compared, makes a mockery of Ruben "Doc" Cavazo's recent book about himself (oh, and the Mongols MC, too).
   
   "Riding" is a wonderful read with the best outlaw biker book cover on the stands to date. Well worth the purchase.



3. This is a very GOOD book, well written and well documented.The style is even better than an other all-time icon, Hells Angels by H.Thompson.It is worth every euro I paid for it.As an european biker I get a better look at the history of 1%-America in years. Most of the publications were always about the HAMC and now more books are published about the other clubs:giving a more balanced look at these matters.Truly an outstanding piece of work.



4. In 2006 John Hall's literary agent James Fitzgerald of New York contacted us about the book. At that time Fitzgerald was informed that John Hall in fact did not have authorization to write, print or publish any thing about the Pagan's MC. John Hall has never contacted the club at all to seek authorization. The book is interesting to read for the most part, however it is by no means a acurate and true account of the 1 1/2 years that John Hall was a member of the club. Not only is it an exageration of his own status and position within the club, but also certain alleged events written of in the book are totally fictional and never happened. For the most part he dropped names of men that are dead now, however others are still alive and atest to the false nature of this personal account of John Hall. John Hall was nothing more than a spoke in a wheel. John Hall is not a original member of the club and does not have the respect or honor that position would grant.
   Pagan Ronnie 1%
   Pagan's MC

3 comments about Zen and Now: On the Trail of Robert Pirsig and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

1. Saw the author speak at his first book event last night, purchased the book there, and stayed up all night reading it. Like many, I know now, I couldn't get through Zen and the Art.. during my first read as a teenager. I also didn't know the author was from St. Paul (where I live). This book gives great insight into Pirsig, but also into Richardson.
   
   It's so well written and, by it's very nature, compelling. I read to see what would happen next. Also very evocative of the landscape and people. And he has to be commended on his reporting skills, finding and interviewing all those people from Pirsig's past.
   
   I just finished a new Harper Lee biography. So I guess this is a new genre: respectful, compelling books about the lives of recluse authors...without help or guidance from those authors!



2. Hello,
   I really enjoyed this book, in fact it exceeded my expectations. I had been looking for some back story to ZMM that would include more information about the original trip and characters. With this book I found all that I was looking for and it's own story. Which I feel does a good job of adding to the original work. (Not the philosophy portions so much but more the narrative story.)
   
   I have been a fan of ZMM for 13 years and longed to take this trip myself. After reading this book much of the draw from the original has dissipated. It is not that I don't like ZMM anymore. But my view of the original ZMM is less romanticized in my mind. Furthermore the volume of research put into it's creation answers a lot of the questions that lingered in my mind.
   
   The author is a skilled writer and the book flows along well.
   
   If you enjoyed the original you will enjoy this too.
   
   Thanks,
   
   J
   
   P.S. In the end I might not want to take the same trip as Mark but it makes me want to take my own trip again.



3. Like Mr. Richardson I'm a huge fan of Pirsig and motorcycling and bought this book when I saw a review of it in the WSJ. I was deeply disappointed. Zen and the Art ... works because of the explorations into various facets of philosophy and identity. It's not really about a motorcycle trip, it's about exploration. Richardson's book explores nothing. There are a few random stabs into his family relationships and past experiences but they are far from profound and seem tacked on. All you learn about the author from this book is that he's whiny and prone to making spurious correlations. He never comes across as understanding Zen and the Art ... You'd think from reading Richardson that having to camp was high on the list of human miseries. That, and having to drive with the sun in your eyes. Real hardships, those.
   
   As a travel narrative writer he fails badly. I had to force myself not the skip the sections where he's describing which way the creek he was driving next to turned or how the water in this creek made a gurgling sound. In Pirsig's book such descriptions served as launching points for something else. Here there's no context for this, it's just bland, the-sky-was-deep-blue type, description. And there's a lot of it.
   
   I did not know much about Pirsig's history or the story surrounding the writing and aftermath of Zen and the Art ... and those parts were interesting and seemingly well-researched. Those parts were less than half the book, unfortunately. I may have expected too much from Zen and Now as writing anything even close to Zen and the Art... is a high bar indeed.

5 comments about The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes(Expanded and Revised 5th Edition).

1. This is a great book for anyone wanting to save money and do their own bike maintenance and repairs. It's straightforward, easy to understand, and has lots of pictures to guide you through the process. I highly recommend it.



2. The photos are really detailed and clearly explain what the text is referring to. Highly recommended.



3. This is an excellent guide to bicycle repair and maintenance, even for the novice and not-so mechanically inclined. Have fun and save valuable dollars in the process.



4. Todd Down is one of those cycling writers whom you quickly learn to respect. He's one of those self-taught cycling gurus who has the ability to write in an easy-going style that gets his point across.
   
   And this style shows up in The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes (Expanded and Revised 5th Edition), a paperback edition that should be on the bookshelf of many cycling enthusiasts, as it has excellent coverage on the maintenance and repair of mountain and road bikes alike. It's a basic but good reference, with easy-to-follow instructions. The photos and illustrations are quite helpful when trying to tackle an upkeep issue.
   
   This reader found the chapter on wheels and tires to be very thorough. His instructions for spoke maintenance and replacement, along with the section on truing wheels, to be quite helpful with solving a problem on one of my bikes.
   
   There are a couple of other books worthy of considering if you're looking for decent books on bicycle maintenance and/or repair. Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance and Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance (2nd Edition), both by Leonard Zinn, are well worth considering, both for content and ease of understanding. But if you want to save some bucks and go for a single volume that will probably cover about 90% of the basic repairs that you'll come up against, then stick with Todd Down's book here. This one is also an excellent resource for teaching youngsters how to perform basic bicycle repairs as well.
   
   If you need a manual that goes into greater depth, be sure to look into Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair 2nd Edition by Calvin Jones. Also known by some as "BBB-2", this a 5-star manual which is considered by many, especially advanced riders and cycle shops, to be the best reference around. This one is considered by some to be somewhat tool-centric, but considering that it comes from Park Tool, that is understandable. Note: don't mistake this for the earlier Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair, which was published in 2005. The newer 2nd edition is far better.
   
   In conclusion, if your needs are for a basic bike DIY fix-it book, then Todd Down's Bicycling Guide to Complete Maintenance and Repair will probably fit your needs, especially if you're going to teach youngsters how to do basic repairs themselves. If you need more, then by all means pick BBB-2.



5. Excellent book! The best we have seen on the market! Highly recommend it to anyone.

5 comments about Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well.

1. This book is essential reading for the new biker. If you have not already figured it out, this book is the bible for motorcycle safety.



2. I just bought a new motorcycle after about 18 years out of the saddle and decided I needed to brush up on some riding tactics. I bought "Proficient Motorcycle" by David Hough to give me the refresher I needed.
   
   The book itself is solid stock, with nice thick high quality gloss paper. The cover is even thicker paper that folds inward at the edges to prevent wear as you thumb through the pages. The binding is glued and threaded with fourteen strong stiches... high quality all around.
   
   But wait... do you like sticky gooey residue all over the back cover of your books? No, you say? Well, you may be a little disappointed then. The "Free 144 Bonus Pages" is actually a CD-ROM attached to a plastic holder on the back of the book. The CD has a huge yellow warning sticker on it, "If you break this seal you cannot return the book". Ok fine. The problems start when you go to "break the seal". You have to literally destroy the plastic sleeve to get the CD out, which requires you to pull it from the back paper cover. This will rip some of the back cover off with it. And now there is a sticky adhesive mess all over the back cover that will stick to the back page when you shut it. I had to put tape all over the back cover in order to "seal in" all the adhesive residue from the advertisement CD.
   
   And that's what the "144 bonus pages" are... advertisement for the Motorcycle Consumer News magazine. You get three old issues with plenty of oppurtunities to subscribe. They should have left this out, no one want this CD and it destroys the book cover.
   
   So, a little worse for the wear, I cracked open the book and read it from cover to cover.
   
   The information contained was useful and enjoyable to read. But the "enjoyable to read" part actually has an expense to it. The motorcyle lingo and the off-the-cuff casual nature will put you at ease, but when this style sours into heavy sarcasm, it can be confusing.
   
   For example, on page 38 shows a photograph of a couple on a motorcyle wearing the lid-style helmets. Perfectly legal and popular where I live. The caption says, "You don't really need a real helmet if you are clever enough to avoid crashes." Yes, pretty obvious sarcasm but possible misleading.
   
   There is other questionable language in the text also. Sometimes Hough will refer to crash victims as "road stains". That's always tacky, regardless of context. On more than one occasion he refers to scruffy bikers that like to wear black leather with metal studs as "terrorists" and at other times as "biker trash". This is type of language is not funny and not necessary.
   
   Those negatives aside, however, I really enjoyed the writing style. Hypothetical characters like "Interstate Al" and "Biker Bob" are not only enjoyable to read about, but made me think of their situations when I was out on the road. This is a very effective teaching tool that I found enjoyable and informative.
   
   Overall, I think this book is worth the money. The information is very valuable and it is presented in a enjoyable way. I am without a doubt a better rider after reading "Proficient Motorcycling". I am even thinking about buying Hough's next installment, "More Proficient Motorcycling". I may have pointed out a few negatives about the presentation here, but I am happy I bought and read this book, and my overall impressions are positive.



3. This book, which is referenced and applauded by every other motorcycle instruction resource, lives up to all expectations. For the beginner it should be considered their two-wheel bible. More experienced riders can benefit by gaining insights before riding off into unfamiliar environments: the urban rider crossing a high mountain pass for the first time or what the farmer can expect passing through the desert. Anyone considering a trek across country should make reading this book part of their preparations. Think safety! Keep the Ride Alive!



4. This is a good must read book for every motorcyclist newbie or seasoned, who loves to ride and would like to live to tell the tales. It has given me fabulous insights to handling the bike, leaning through corners and very good tips to ride safe. However, in India, where most of you westerners would have small heart attacks just riding around in cars, the tips and lessons on road and traffic is all but irrelevant. Here sharing the same lane with someone is the accepted thing. Still a good book and a must read for all



5. I got this bike to expand my knowledge of motorcycling. I've been riding for 6 months, now, and have taken 2 closed-course skills classes (MSF Basic and Experienced course), but now winter is approaching and I'm likely to ride less but wanted to do something to keep the skills and mindset fresh.
   
   This book fits the bill quite well. The book targets the social rider or commuter, and describes the skill set and mindset that someone commuting to work, touring, etc. will need, and touches on various riding situations that you'll need to know how to address -- curves, animals, bad weather, wind, etc.
   
   I think it's a great all-around motorcycle book and will give me something to digest this winter before hopping back on next Spring.