Some motorcyclists ride year round, but most of us put the bike to bed sometime in December. This leaves the question, what do we do all winter? If you're like me you read. Here are some of the motorcycle related books that I have.
Riding Better
All of us can benefit from brushing up on our riding technique. Here are some of my favorite books on riding.
Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well 2nd edition
Mastering the Ride: More Proficient Motorcycling 2nd edition
By David L. Hough
Written by motorcycling expert David Hough, this book is an excellent choice for a winter brush-up on skills and a source of great ideas for spring training exorcises. Hough also makes some great suggestions for advanced training and further reading
Proficient Motorcycling is the first in the series. Its chapters include discussions of risk, motorcycle dynamics (what actually makes it turn), cornering, surviving the urban environment, surface hazards, weather, and group riding. His explanations and descriptions are easy to understand. Best of all, he gives suggestions for practicing his techniques in real life.
Mastering the Ride is the follow-up to Proficient Motorcycling. The chapters here go into much more depth on many of the same issues as his first book. Discussions include; mastering attitude, higher skills and smart riding, mastering speed, mastering those nasty road hazards, mastering the art of conspicuity, situational awareness as well as cornering, throttle control shifting and braking.
Hough also discusses his take on the current state of motorcycle training. He suggests a number of places that offer advanced training for riders of all stripes.
Total Control: High Performance Street Riding Techniques 2nd edition
By Lee Parks
One of the riding schools recommended by Hough is the Total Control Advanced Riding Clinics founded by Lee Parks. The clinics evolved from the first edition of this book. Parks' book concentrates on skills needed for performance riding. He covers things like chassis dynamic (traction suspension etc.), Mental Dynamics (fear attitude and concentration), Body Dynamics (vision, line selection, body position and more), setting up your bike, fitness and gear.
These three books take us from getting started, to intermediate street riding and on to very advanced techniques for performance riding.
Motorcycles and our 2nd 50 Years: An Owner's Manual for Riders over 50
By Reg Kittrelle
Something a bit more lighthearted but just as important is Reg Kittrelle's Motorcycling and your 2nd 50 Years. If, like myself, you are on the brighter side of fifty this book is for you. Kittrelle addresses all of the issues that those of us at a certain age need to think about. Kittrelle covers age versus old, fitness, food, bike choice, gear, and thinking about when to stop riding. Kittrelle discusses these issues with wit and the appropriate level of seriousness.
Motorcycles and our 2nd 50 Years can be purchased at Kittrelle's web site http://www.motorcyclesand2nd50.com
Where to Ride
Ride Michigan: a Guide for the back roads
By Bill Murphy
Bill Murphy's book is a delightful guide to riding the back-roads of the beautiful state of Michigan. Murphy divides the into four sections, Southern Sojourns, Northern Delights, Waterfront Wanderings, and Great Lakes Circle Tours. Ride Michigan also includes short chapters on fun local rides and events and destinations. Murphy describes in detail thirty rides including ride highlights and map. He also includes short descriptions of over thirty short rides around the state.
Several other books by Murphy describe rides in Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Ride Guide: Covered Bridges of Ohio
By Kurt Lieb and Steve Butterman
OK, this was written for bicyclists, however, it is a must have for any motorcyclist interested in covered bridges. The book describes eleven rides covering more than thirty-seven covered bridges across the state. A great weekend trip would be the two rides described in Ashtabula county. These 40-mile (each) rides encompass thirteen magnificent covered bridges. The book is small enough to throw in a saddle or tank bag. If you enjoy a leisurely ride and the chance to stop and soak up part of the Midwest’s history this book is for you.
Motorcycle History
Grace and Grit: Motorcycle Dispatches from the Early Twentieth Century Women Adventurers
By Bill Murphy
Now for a bit of history. Yep the same Bill Murphy. I received this book for my birthday last month, so I haven't had a chance to read it, however it looks very interesting. Each selection starts with the lyrics of an early twentieth century song. Essay titles include “Victorian Girls Breaking all the Rules,” “Della Crewe--Small Town girl with big dreams” and “The Adventures of Effie and Avis Hotchkiss.” This is just a few of the essays in this intriguing book.
© Tim Marks 2015 All rights reserved
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