Sport Riding Techniques: How To Develop Real World Skills for Speed, Safety, and Confidence on the Street and Track [Paperback]

Nick Ienatsch (Author), Kenny Roberts (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2003

Contemporary sport bikes accelerate faster, brake harder, and cut through corners deeper than ever before. These technologically advanced motorcycles are exhilarating to ride, but to really get the most out of a motorcycle’s performance capabilities a rider must develop his or her own personal performance. Riders need to take their skills to the next level. Now, in this book written specifically for sport riders, well-known journalist, racer, and riding school instructor Nick Ienatsch provides the tools and techniques to help riders analyze and develop that personal performance. If you’re an experienced rider, Nick will help you hone and perfect your skills, operate controls with even greater finesse, and apply race-proven techniques on the track—as well as on the street. If you’re a beginning rider, Nick will show you how to develop proper skills and safety habits that will add to your motorcycling enjoyment and build your confidence. Whatever your current riding ability, Nick will teach you to safely find the absolute limit of bike and rider.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Contemporary sport bikes accelerate faster, brake harder, and slice through corners deeper than ever before. These technologically advanced motorcycles are exhilarating to ride, but to really get the most out of your motorcycle's performance capabilities you need to develop your own personal performance. You need to take your skills to the next level.

Now, in this book written specifically for sport riders, well-known journalist, racer, and riding school instructor Nick Ienatsch provides you with the tools and techniques to help you analyze and develop that personal performance.

If you're an experienced rider, Nick will help you hone and perfect your skills, operate controls with even greater finesse, and apply race-proven techniques on the track. If you're a beginning rider, Nick will show you how to develop proper skills and safety habits that will add to your motorcycling enjoyment and stay with you for the rest of your life.

About the Author

Nick Ienatsch began racing in 1982, and in the mid nineties won two AMA National Championships, two No. 2 plates, and two No. 3 plates. Nick has been a top motorcycle journalist since 1984, and among his most popular articles was a series in Motorcyclist called “The Pace,” in which he first explained his approach to safe, fun sport riding. Now a contributing editor to Cycle World, Nick has written a new series called “RideCraft.” Nick is also the lead instructor at Freddie Spencer’s High Performance Riding School.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: David Bull Publishing (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893618072
• ISBN-13: 978-1893618077
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Motorcycle Racing
  • #3 in Books > Professional & Technical > Automotive > Motorcycles
  • #4 in Books > Professional & Technical > Automotive > Racing

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Substance without flash, April 29, 2005

By 

Christopher Lim (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sport Riding Techniques: How To Develop Real World Skills for Speed, Safety, and Confidence on the Street and Track (Paperback)

Keith Code's popular books Twist of the Wrist I & II came out long before Ienatsch's book, and are ubiquitous partly due to that, and partly because they are available everywhere and discounted even on Amazon. One of the reasons I was hesitant about buying Sport Riding Techniques was because of the price. However, it's worth every penny.

Code's books are written in an aphoristic style that is eminently quotable, but low on detailed explanation. Although Ienatsch's book is filled with gorgeous colour photos, his writing dispenses with flashiness and instead goes into detailed but down-to-earth explanations. I bought both of Code's books before Ienatsch's, and Sport Riding Techniques helped fill in a lot of holes left by the Twist of the Wrist series, in addition to being significantly more up-to-date.

Why exactly does the rear brake lock more easily than the front? At exactly which point do you get off the brakes and on the throttle? Exactly how do you balance lean angle and acceleration? Notice the key word "exactly"; you aren't left guessing.

There is also a clear distinction between track-only techniques and street techniques, which is necessary although some people may not like to hear it.

This is one of those books that rewards first-time reads, yet will keep rewarding re-reads for years to come. This book definitely deserves to be more widely read, especially outside the US.

62 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Master Speaks, June 14, 2003

By 

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

This review is from: Sport Riding Techniques: How To Develop Real World Skills for Speed, Safety, and Confidence on the Street and Track (Paperback)

When a rider and writer of Nick Ienatsch's stature puts all his wisdom, knowledge and experience into a book, it's time to sit up and listen carefully, especially these days when 100-HP 600s and 140-HP 1,000s are ripping 10-second quarter miles at 140+ (G-SXR 1000 tests) and are available to anyone with $ whether or not they have a clue.
Nick is among the very best writers about motorcycling, ever, up there with Don Canet and Kevin Cameron (no point in ranking them subjectively, because all three are excellent). He is also a champion racer, primarily on 250s. Having ridden on the road with him, I attest to his smooth, skilled way of proceeding, and his concern for safety.
This book should be required reading for every rider who puts a wheel on road or track. Once read, it should be memorized and used as the core belief set that will make a rider quicker and safer, and every ride more enjoyable, including anyone else who is along for the pleasure of it. No one should dare suggest that he or she is 'above it,' knows better and 'doesn't need' the lessons Ienatsch teaches. We all do. This book will, among other things, keep a rider alive to ride again and enjoy one of the most interesting and pleasurable ways to get down the road devised by Man.
Don't argue with me. Get it.
PS One of life's ironies is that Ienatsch, one of the best writers on motorcycling who ever puts finger to keyboard, doesn't have a regular gig and is only read intermittently in CYCLE WORLD. Let's hope that changes, soon.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good read, May 7, 2003

By 

Eric Robinson (Sarver, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sport Riding Techniques: How To Develop Real World Skills for Speed, Safety, and Confidence on the Street and Track (Paperback)

It starts off with the basics even a rookie rider would know but then it grows into more detail with every chapter. I bought it because I liked Nick's article "The Pace." For the novice rider, you'll know most of the content but I'm sure there are some things you'll learn from it. The way he describes limits on cornering and braking with the tire point system is a nice fresh approach. It will be a great book for someone who is new to Sport Bikes. It's also good for those who have been riding because you can never stop learning or looking for ways to improve on your riding. It's worth the money in my opinion.