The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills, Knowledge, and Strategies for Riding Right (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Motorcycle Safety Foundation (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2005

Here is a book for the motorcyclist who wants to do it right! The most complete, authoritative book ever published on 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 that leading rider training organization has learned about teaching students of all ages and experience. It is the perfect refresher for anyone who has taken an MSF course and will be an eye-opener for those who have not yet discovered them. In a clear, engaging style with detailed diagrams and extensive full-color photographs and illustrations, the book covers rider attitude, proper dress, performance, maintenance and troubleshooting, as well as basic and advanced street skills. Included are tips on how to stop quickly when necessary; avoid traffic hazards; apply evasive maneuvers; countersteer for better control; travel skillfully in a group; identify and fix mechanical problems; ride more smoothly at high and low speeds; maintain momentum in off-highway riding; and much more. A remarkable source of riding wisdom, the first edition has been a best-seller and the definitive reference for the sport. This new second edition features the latest insights from the new, updated MSF curriculum, plus all new photos and graphics that make its valuable lessons easy to follow.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The most authoritative book ever published on safe riding techniques."

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Whitehorse Press; 2nd edition (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884313477
• ISBN-13: 978-1884313479
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,655 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Professional & Technical > Automotive > Motorcycles > Repair & Performance

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

100 of 102 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "The more you know the better it gets" (from the frontispiece), September 2, 2005

By 

John Joss (Los Altos, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills, Knowledge, and Strategies for Riding Right (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

MOTORCYCLING EXCELLENCE is perhaps the best nuts-and-bolts primer on motorcycle riding yet published. It covers the subject thoroughly, a single source for knowledge and wisdom in the basics. It addresses attitude, basic skills, controls, gear, safety inspections, night and group riding, streetb strategies, off-road techniques . . . the gamut of essentials. Plus the basics of training, from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, official authors of the book.
Most people, perhaps 90% of road users, consider motorcycles as 'just other vehicles.' They aren't. Motorcycles are as different from four-and-more wheelers as swimming is from walking, as reading is from watching TV. Learning to operate a motorcycle safely and well is as difficult, but as challenging and rewarding as, say, learning to fly, scuba dive or climb mountains--and survive. Like those other unforgiving pursuits, do it right or risk serious consequences. Motorcycling is an honest trade: incompetence, inattention or bad luck can kill or maim in seconds. That's where this book shines, in identifying and hammering home the essentials.
Expert contributors--a 'who's-who' of experience: Nick Ienatsch on picking the right bike, World MotoGP champion on safety gear and bike control, Paul Thede on suspension, AMA 250 champion Rich Oliver on stopping, Erik Buell on bike geometry, Reg Pridmore on the need for smoothness, Keith Code on counter-steering, World MotoGP champion Freddie Spencer on trail braking.
Why read this book? Complex, high-risk activities demand study and practice at all experience levels. In an era in which school-student driver training has been discontinued and the road IQ of most car drivers is at flat-worm level, riders are at risk and must defend themselves. Every ride is a learning experience. This book will enhance the first, high-risk 50,000 miles in every rider's life (thus it's an ideal gift for offspring). And the next 250,000 miles for experienced riders.
The illustrations and photographs are lavish and excellent. The appendices--MSF training, proper bike inspection, and a glossary--are thorough and well done. There are omissions, though, whence the loss of a review 'star:' e.g. tire compromise between wear and stiction (which is not yet intuitive for many riders), the availability of waterproof linings such as Goretex for gear. The editing, too, lacks polish--too many passages are prolix and rambling instead of being tight and tough. The message gets through, anyway.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ok if you've never touched a bike, worthless if you've taken the MSF course already., January 7, 2008

By 

H. Arvin "amethystlady77" (KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills, Knowledge, and Strategies for Riding Right (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This book is essentially the expanded version of the booklet they give you at the MSF Basic Rider's Course. As such, I found nothing useful in it. It would be a great book to read before you take the class, though. I was looking for strategies on braking and cornering in various conditions, but what I got was just a listing of road conditions, not what to do about them. It mentions the different types of skids, but not how to recover from them. I guess they want us to have to take their Advanced class...

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Be smart...be safe!, March 21, 2006

By 

S. Farley (Santa Fe, NM) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills, Knowledge, and Strategies for Riding Right (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

If you are one of the thousands of new (and older) bike riders out there, do yourself a BIG favor and read this book! It is hands-down the best on motorcycle safety. It describes, in detail, situations in which you'll find yourself in city traffic or open roads where you will need to make split-second decisions to save your butt! I have ridden bikes for 40 years and I have learned things in this book that I hope will allow me to ride another 40! Buy it, read it, and follow the great tips on riding safely.