5 comments about Smooth Riding the Pridmore Way.

1. Just too much personal history. If Reg is your hero this is for you. If you are trying to learn to or improve your riding... There are some useful tips and techniques and things to think about in this book. Nothing I had not come across elsewhere though. Some things I would question. Just worth it.



2. You will enjoy this book whatever your experience in motorcycles. To say be smooth is the same as to say be fast but author does have some helpful advices to share.



3. I've read a lot of motorcycle rider books. Several are riding strategies and training related. This book is very well written. The progression and explanation of the riding tips are such that you immediately understand what and why he's recommending a certain skill. Its also structured in a way that you can use it as a reference and progressively master each technique.
   
   Was I impressed? I registered for a CLASS day with Reg and will be riding almost 1,000 to get there for it.
   
   Recommend the book? Absolutely. Read it, add the techniques to your riding, and you come to appreciate the lessons almost immediately.



4. I'm sure Reg wrote this book for the good rider that wants to raise his skill level. He does go into valuable points for downshifting and braking that are applicable to all riders. For the new track day rider, I found two areas that other books don't cover as well, or at all: 1) Keeping tight lines, not using the whole road (or track) and why, 2) his four-step method to learning how to hang-off a bike is certainly the best and safest approach to this topic I have read anywhere. He has other valuable insights to offer after you've mastered the basic riding skills. The best sources for those are (depending on your experience) "Motorcycling Excellence" (best for a first-time rider) by the MSF, David Hough's "Proficient Motorcycling" combo(I personally prefer his second book, "More Proficient Motorcycling.") and Nick Ienatsch's "Sport Bike Riding Techniques." As far as I'm concerned, Hough's and Ienatsch's are "must-reads" for all riders from the first-time newbie to highly skilled rider. If you really want to hone your track riding or racing skills, latch onto Andy Ibbott's "Performance Riding Techniques: The MotoGP Manual of Track Riding Skills." Definitely a "must-read" for those that are track bound. Lastly, to have a complete library of riding skills & techniques, buy Lee Parks' "Total Control," last on my personal list but still worthwhile. If you ride, I guarantee these seven books will be the best investment you ever made. They cover it all, no need to invest any further.



5. Let me begin by saying that I was slightly disappointed by this purchase. I had hoped for an in-depth discussion of riding technique, providing useful insight on bike control and operation.
   
   What I got, however, was page after page of misty eyed reminiscences about the "good old days" of motorcycle racing. While interesting, this is not what I was hoping for in a book about riding skills.
   
   Actual technique sections were rather light on detail, and provided no more information than even the most basic of motorcycle instruction courses. Essentially the book could be summed up by just writing in big letters "DO EVERYTHING SMOOTHLY", and leaving it at that.
   
   On the other hand, this book might be useful for people who have just begun riding a bike, and have not undergone any instruction.

5 comments about What If I Had Never Tried It: The Autobiography.

1. I bought this books because I was just intrigued with the fact that someone writes autobiography being 27 years old. I do not think he did it for a money or fame so I wanted to check it out. I am not fan of Valentino or Moto GP. This book by far surpassed my expectations. It is written in the way as you would talk to the person with conversation jumping from one thing to another without much chronological order and this make it enjoyable reading.
   
   Two things I liked the most is that he pays a lot of tribute to the team what is quite rare in his position. Other thing is that he reveals such intimate details and opinions about his decision making and motivation, as well about honda and yamaha teams which is really unusual keeping in mind the guy is still in the business.
   
   One thing I miss is to learn what was the writing process and to which degree Borghi was decided on the style and content. I think the ending could have been written better, but it is always the thing with good books.



2. I'm not one to read lots of books, but this one was easy to read and I didn't put it down until I finished it in about 2 days. I'm a Rossi fan and it was pretty cool to read about the things from his past and present and the reasons he does wat he does. His good humor comes through or sure.



3. In America there's not much coverage of Moto GP, so I didn't know that Valentino Rossi is one of the highest-paid athletes on the planet and a national hero in Italy. I began to watch Moto GP on satellite TV in Thailand about three years ago and was captivated by Rossi. He used to stand on the podium with a little smile on his face, as if to say, "What fools these mortals be!" He hasn't been winning so much lately, but he did two weeks ago in an awesome display of excellence.
   
   It's hard to imagine just how competitive Moto GP is; tons of money are involved and every one of the riders is incredibly talented. We're talking speeds of more than 200 mph on two wheels. Rossi has been World Champion seven times, which should give you an idea of his skill and determination, especially when you realize how many times he has crashed or fallen off the bike. Success never came all that easy.
   
   The book is a typical "as told to" effort by Enrico Borghi, a motorcycle journalist, and translated by Gabriele Marcotti. It is probably as close to Rossi's own beliefs as possible, but it's not great literature. A lot of time is spent on why he races bikes instead of cars (except for his adventures in rally racing, one of the most difficult competitions in the world), why he was happy to leave Honda, and how many friends from his village he is still very close to. I could have done with a bit less self-justification, but he claims to have been persecuted by the press all along, and this is his chance to speak his piece.
   
   Rossi is a fascinating person, a gorgeous man if ever there was one, and if you are at all interested in him or in motorsport you will enjoy this book.
   
   The only other thing I've been able to find about Rossi was an interview in a British man's magazine that said he likes Dire Straits. Hey, Vale! I like Dire Straits, too.
   
   James Ashley Shea



4. This guy is the best rider in the world and his story is very interesting.



5. This book is a LONG read. I don't know if the translation got lost, but it was painful. I don't know if Rossi actually penned the verse, but it comes across as poorly written and not at all thought out.
   
   His stories are all over the place, and he tends to say the same thing over and over again, but in different ways.
   
   On the plus side, it does help explain a bit about Rossi, and what he's about.

1 comments about Race to Dakar.

1. I must say I really enjoyed this book. The DVD was good, but the book is great. You really get the feeling you are along with the racers. IMO I have read the LWR and feel that the Race to Daker is a better book.

5 comments about Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, 5th: Worldwide Motorcycling Route & Planning Guide (Trailblazer).

1. I have to say, I read this book cover to cover. I was surprised how up to date it was. I've been motorcycling for a few years for general transportation and fun. I started getting interested in adventure motorcycling this past year. I like to get off the normal tourist routes when I travel and adventure motorcycling looked like a great way to to see some parts of the world.
   
   The book does a good job of covering all the major topics - picking a bike (it reviews 10-15 of them), what to wear, items to bring, how to pack, gear, typical mechanical issues to expect, safety, border crossings, etc. It also covers popular routes in different regions of the world. These sections are okay, but they really didn't have enough depth for me to decide where I might want to go. It only acts as a stating point. Then again, I'm sure there's TONs of routes to take per country, so I can't imagine it would be easy to add more detail to any level of comprehensivness. If the author reads this - a set of top 10 routes might be nice, especially if it included a rating system for different attributes. The second half of the book is made up of 2-5 pages short stories or diaries from riders. These stories were the best part of the whole book. I wish there were more because they're very interesting and you learn from those as well. They really leave you wanting to go out and hit the road.



2. The title pretty much sums it up. This book is the gold standard for adventure motorcycling or travel in general. With heaps of specific information necessary for your trip, along with some classic European humor makes for a great cover to cover read and/or an invaluable reference book. With information ranging from tire change instructions to the state of travel in Columbia this book has any would be or genuine adventurer covered.



3. I love adventure riding and own a BMW R1150 GS Adventure. This book covers a great deal on the stuff you need to know before that big trip. It also is an enjoyable read even if you can't do that big trip.



4. This is the bible for long distance adventure on and off road via motorcycle. I highly recommend this book.



5. and one of them left bad taste... the guy was riding in Africa with the author of the book and a buddy and had tire problem (tubes he put in were getting punctured after some miles). He was simply left out by his partners to deal with his problem and had some hard time when run out of spares .. It makes me wonder if author consider this story is good for his book what are the other ones..
   
   there is some useful info in the book though... especially bike comparison

No comments about How to Build Motorcycle-engined Racing Cars (Speedpro).

5 comments about The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Travel: Tips, Technology, Advanced Techniques.

1. I have been planning on taking long trips in the near future and this book should be every long distance rider's bible. Lots of great info on what, where, how and why you should do things in order to travel long and comfortable. Covers every aspect about traveling on a motorcycle. Why not prepare well for a trip and enjoy? What you don't know do due lack of knowledge may ruin your trip. "Motorcycle Travel" will take care of all the possible problems. Written by those who have already done it, and know what to do and not to do. Ride smart, buy "Motor Travel".



2. For anyone seeking information about motorcycle travel, this is THE book to have! Dale does a great job of covering many aspects (dare I say All?) for traveling by motorcycle, and then some. Everything from weatherproof riding gear, GPS, suspension, campers, tents, seat cushions to suggestions for wiring new equipment into your bike can be found in this comprehensive guide. The book is loaded with full color photos. I've been riding a number of years now, and thought I'd kept up on the latest gear and travel info... until I read this book. I've learned a few things and found a few new gadgets to look into. Highly recommended for someone just beginning to travel my motorcycle, or the seasoned rider.



3. If you are even just thinking about motorcycle touring a must read. I read this book as I was planning a long trip which helped on what to take, how to pack and what to expect on the trip. The information is top notch and I will read it again before my next trip.
   
   A good companion to this book would be:
   Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well
   by David L. Hough



4. The book was bound with the pages out of order!! Cheap China manufacturing, no quality control from what used to be a trusted publisher.



5. If you only read one, read this one. I have been out of motorcycling for 26 years, owned four in my earlier day. I wanted to tour then but never did. This time I am doing it. I wanted to start out right so this was the first book I read. Extremely informative. It covered just about everything I needed and more. If there is any negative maybe I could ask for more guidance on which motorcycle. However, as I found in researching motorcycles, there are just too many factors. You must know what kind of travel you'll do, set your requirements of the bike, do the research on the bikes, sit on all of them, ride if allowed, settle on the one for you, take a motorcycle saftey course, buy and have fun. Don't go too small or too big, it must fit you. Dr. Fraizer's book is good too.

5 comments about Twist of the Wrist: The Motorcycle Roadracers Handbook.

1. Got this book along with a couple other authors riding books. Goes into great detail about racing and riding techniques. Thumbs up



2. Great book for the weekend rider to the begining roadracer, easy reading, and easy to relate to. I enjoyed reading a chapter or subject topic, then going out and applying what I learned to my riding technique. This book covers things you should be thinking of while riding and makes you think about what you already do but, don't know why.



3. This book doesn't have anything groundbreaking and is a little dated as of 2007 but is a very helpful reminder of the important things that you learned and forget to apply when you are actually riding. Not at all technical. The sidebars don't really tie into the content very well, but overall, it has helped me improve my track days.



4. This was by fare the worst motorcycle book I have ever read. From the start to the finish Mr. Code tried to explain the basics of how a motorcycle operates. But what he really did was take a hundred plus pages explaining that you should pay attention while riding a motorcycle. The tips that are given in the book are common sense tips that if you have ridden a bike once then you already know them. I would not recommend this book to any rider.



5. This is a must have read and is better if you study it before you start racing or going to your first track day.

5 comments about A Twist of the Wrist 2: The Basics of High-Performance Motorcycle Riding.

1. Not bad reading at all. Keith does a wonderful job of keeping the chapters to a reasonable number of pages. I would suggest Lee Parks, Total Control to be a better, more useful read.



2. It is difficult not to like this book, Keith Code knows motorcycling. But if you are looking for street riding, there is little here to help you. Throttle control and bike balance was very good, so any understanding about motorcycles is important. I will always honor Keith Code since he was my first teacher with his first twist of the wrist. Thanks



3. Terribly written book. Has many ideas and concepts I've tried and haven't found viable for me. HOWEVER, two chapters in the book are very worthwhile: 1)The 7 deadly Survial Reactions and 2) the chapter on visual directional control--the "Two-Step." These alone make it worth the price of the book. There are many books that teach motorcycle riding techniques far better, that you can actually understand because they aren't written by someone who must have spent his high school career flunking English. Glad it's cheap.



4. I thought I was a pretty good rider, 29 years of experience riding all kinds of bikes - but had never taken an advanced rider class. While reading this book, I quickly realized how many mistakes I had been making. E.g., over the years I had figured out most of the steps involved with making a turn as described in the book, but I did not have ALL the steps figured out - there were some CRUCIAL pieces I was missing.
   
   My riding has improved dramatically since reading this book, and my enjoyment of riding is back to where it was when I first started riding!
   
   I wish I had read this book when I first started riding and every year since. I wish someone had recommended that I read it. I am making sure that all my riding buddies read it if they haven't already. Don't be proud, get this book.



5. Now, this is an interesting book...
   
   On one hand, it is packed with very useful information for both the street rider (the group of which I am a part of) and, I assume, the track rider. Code brings some interesting things to the table and makes these concepts pretty easy to understand even for the novice rider.
   
   On the other hand, as has been mentioned in plenty of other reader reviews, this book is likely the most poorly written professionally published thing I've ever read. It is *filled* with errors, inconsistencies, howlers, and non sequiturs. Not only that, but words are seemingly randomly bolded and asterisked (sometimes both at the same time) and more random words are thrown into a glossary at the end of the chapter. In a lingo-centric sport like motorcycling, why not define more things like low-side, roll-on, contact patch...things like that? Instead, we get words like:
   
   Sail: A Piece of canvas or cloth spread to the wind to cause a vessel to move
   
   or
   
   Point: A particular spot
   
   or
   
   Dazzling: To Impress deeply. Brilliant
   
   or
   
   Wisdom: A wise saying or teaching
   
   WTH? Very strange. All in all though, a good book that I, as an intermediate rider, was able to glean much useful information from. If you can get passed the irritating manner in which that information is presented, you'll probably find it helpful as well.

5 comments about More Proficient Motorcycling: Mastering the Ride.

1. The Book is Great, However the pages are coming unglued and falling out, individually. Very bad book binding process, must contact Bowtie for concerning issues.



2. This is a great book for improving your riding skills such as braking, riding and turning at slow speeds, and handling road curves.



3. 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!



4. 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.



5. 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.

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

1. If there was just one book I had to buy, this wouldn't be it, but I liked it. It had a lot of good things to say about mental attitude. There are some things I would of like to see him leave out, like his pictures. I am glad that I read it and will review it from time to time.



2. "Total Control" isn't the pinnacle of riding techniques. Hough's "Proficient Motorcycling," (both of them) and Ienatsch's "Sport Bike Ridng Techniques" are the hands-down winners in that respect. However, the book has some worthwhile content that other books don't cover. As a secondary source, it is well worth price. Some of his scrunched-up portrait photos would have a buzzard turn around and fly the other way.



3. I first read "A Twist of the Wrist 2: The Basics of High-Performance Motorcycle Riding", then I read this book. I greatly appreciated Twist of the Wrist for providing the geeky details and well-written descriptions of what was happening to the bike and rider when everything is working correctly (or not), but this book was able to add some more pictures that helped to clarify things which weren't clear to me from Twist of the Wrist.
   
   There were some descriptions in Total Control that resonated better with me than what was in Twist of the Wrist, and vice versa. The same thing can be said for the drawings and pictures.
   
   My recommendation: buy both books. If you don't like reading very much and want better step-by-step pictures, then Total Control is probably the better book for you. Once again, I strongly recommend buying both books - Total Control and Twist of the Wrist 2.



4. Purchased the book for my son whose passion is riding his sportbike on the track and hopefully race in the future. Read portions of the book myself and I have to recommend it to all who are sportbike aficionados. The book is to the point - dead center. Gives great pointers, helps you understand what you may be unable to articulate. Great read!



5. 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.