Safe riding: Staying alive on your motorcycle : the complete safety manual [Hardcover]

Mitch Williamson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1980

     Safe Riding is the first fully comprehensive motorcycle safety manual.  Not only does it tell you how to drive your cycle safely and get out of any driving problems you may encounter, but it also details many potential problems and how to avoid common (and uncommon) hazards in the first place.

     In a highly informative yet readable style, Mitch Williamson describes:  the safest way to learn and gain experience; how to judge if a motorcycle is safe for you; what clothes to wear for maximum protection; physical fitness (including a seven-point exam); the importance of weather conditions; passing, turning, and lane position; expressway and surface hazards; and much, much more.  In addition, actual accident case histories are presented and analyzed for causes and preventive measures.

     Safe Riding is the one manual completely devoted to identifying the many different kinds of risks involved in riding a motorcycle and giving practical advice on how best to handle these risks for safe, enjoyable motorcycling at all times.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mitch Williamson is actively involved in teaching motorcycle safety and changing the current legislation on cycles to ensure safe riding.  He lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Everest House; 1st edition (1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896960986
• ISBN-13: 978-0896960985
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,168,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful concise safety tips for motorcyclists, January 9, 2003

By 

Harpman "Bill" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Safe riding: Staying alive on your motorcycle : the complete safety manual (Hardcover)

This book is an easy read of some 207 pages, all of which are related to safe operation of a motorcycle. Many anecdotal examples are used to describe various potential safety hazards and situations to the motorcyclists and methods used to avoid injury in each. Chapters include proper clothing for protection, surface hazards, speed related risks, weather, right-of-way and intersection hazards, making yourself 'seen' on a motorcycle, lane positioning, passing traffic, proper turns, and much more. Actual cases are presented and advice on what an operator should have done to avoid the risks. While the book went to press in 1980, none of the road risks have changed. Essential reading for anyone who rides a motorcycle and should be adjunctive to an accredited motorcycle safety riding course.

1.0 out of 5 stars Worst book on motorcycling ever, March 29, 2011

By 

oldfordguy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Safe riding: Staying alive on your motorcycle : the complete safety manual (Hardcover)

Mitch Williamson is a fool. Do not take advice from this guy. He knows very little about the safe operation of a motorcycle, as evidenced by how many accidents he admits to in his book. He also knows very little about motorcycles in general, as the book is filled with blatently incorrect statements about motorcycles and their operation (like "if your trip meter indicates you are close to the "reserve" point, go ahead and switch to reserve. That way, if you run out you have some left in the "main" tank." Huh? There is no separate "main" and "reserve" tanks; if you are on reserve when you run out, you are completely out! Also, much of his advice is contrary to accepted standards on motorcycle safety (such as recommending that you sit at a red light with the motorcyle in neutral, or swerve towards oncoming traffic to cross railroad tracks at a 90 degree angle.) If I had to guess, he has probably been killed in a motorcycle accident by now (if indeed he has ever even actually ridden a motorcycle.) If you are considering riding a motorcyle, DO NOT read this book, you will either have to un-learn a bunch of bad habits, or will be dead from following this moron's advice. He is obviously a socialist who believes every statistic that comes his way without questioning them, and believes that laws should be written to protect people from themselves. He thinks no one under 16 should be allowed on a motorcycle, when it's obvious that we learn far quicker and with longer lasting effects when we are younger, which would go a long way to making a safer motorcyclist. A smart man would say "if you haven't learned to ride before you are 25, you should stay off the bike, because you are too old to learn to ride safely. By the way, I have been riding motorcyles on the street since he wrote this book, and I've never been in an accident with another vehicle.

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is great, May 4, 2000

By 

"stepho" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Safe riding: Staying alive on your motorcycle : the complete safety manual (Hardcover)

i loved this book it was so breathtaking i all most fainted it helped me alot i never leave my house without this book it made my girlfriend not be scared of my health when i go out on my harley any more thank you very very much.