Today's super high-performance bikes are the most potent vehicles ever sold to the public and they demand advanced riding skills. This is the perfect book for riders who want to take their street riding skills to a higher level. Total Control explains the ins and outs of high-performance street riding. Lee Parks, one of the most accomplished riders, racers, authors and instructors in the world, helps riders master the awe-inspiring performance potential of modern motorcycles.This book gives riders everything they need to develop the techniques and survival skills necessary to become a proficient, accomplished, and safer street rider. High quality photos, detailed instructions, and professional diagrams highlight the intricacies and proper techniques of street riding. Readers will come away with a better understanding of everything from braking and cornering to proper throttle control, resulting in a more exciting yet safer ride.
Total Control: High Performance Street Riding Techniques
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Lee Parks is the former editor of Motorcycle Consumer NEws, Motorcycle Product News, CycleShark.com, and a former staffer from Motorcyclist magazine. In addition to being an accomplished and respected writer and photographer, Parks teaches a series of high-performance riding courses around the country, courses that have been extremely well reviewed by connoisseurs of such courses.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
54 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Well explained topics, full of graphics and photographs, this book is a perfect aid for those riders wanting to get the most of their bikes. It deals with technical subjects like suspension set-up and aerodynamics, as well as human topics like attitude, fear and fitness. Don't get misled by the title, since the techniques taught there apply to every bike type, not only to hi-performance superbikes. Written in a plain understandable language and including just the right and needed math formulae, Mr. Parks leads the reader through the entire book without much pain even for the complete novice rider. He even adds the right amount of subtle humour also.
Great book, highly recommendable.
Great book, highly recommendable.
44 of 45 people found the following review helpful
By 2 Wheel Tony
Format:Paperback
Overall impression:
First, the book "Total Control" was an exceptionally well paced and visually pleasing read! It is immediately obvious that you have spent a great deal of time and thought on the material placed within its pages. It's technical enough to clearly present the necessary data within the defined concept, without going so deep that it becomes difficult to navigate. Nor is it so simplistic that the reader would feel slighted by being overly "hand-held" or "kid-gloved". If there were three bears and some porridge handy, I'm sure "it's just right" would be the theme of the day.
Details:
While the majority of these concepts are not new to me, it is still nice to have someone else positively reinforce said concepts, and at times, distill them down to more accurate truths. This happened several times throughout the book when I would find myself nodding along with a passage, a bubble of remembrance surfacing in my mind as I recalled the event(s) that first led to the discovery of these factoids, usually in a much less desirable way. Often I had to set the book aside, while I mentally re-examined an idea I thought I knew backwards and forwards, yet was being presented from a different perspective. This of course, leads to additional insight and greatly increased understanding of not only the outlined principle, but also how these principles are all connected to one another. It's one thing to know a bunch of individual concepts, it is quite another to see them as a contiguous whole.
Without doubt, the most enjoyable chapters in the book for me are Ch. 4, 5, and 6 titled "Fear", "Concentration", and "Right Attitude" respectively. The truths contained within these three chapters are so profound, so absolutely and undeniably essential in every aspect of life, that I am amazed that so few people actually address it! I have been saying the very same things, although not nearly as well, for years. Yet the response is almost always the same: Disinterest, Scorn or flat out Denial. No, it's much better to focus on "hard" data like horsepower, torque, weight and so forth. Until someone goes to a track, and has the ex-racer / instructor absolutely walk away from them at any point on the track, while on a machine that makes 50% less horsepower and weighs 150 lbs more than theirs, then clueless that someone shall remain. I should know, I was that someone. Believe me when I say that it is a humbling, and if you have the right mindset, incredibly enlightening experience. Thank you for brilliantly explaining how the brain is the most important item to bring on a motorcycle ride!
Second favorite is the chapter on low speed U-Turns. A beautiful and clearly photographed example of how it should be done! I've lost count of the number of riders I've seen employ the exact opposite form, as if they were somehow going to yank a several hundred pound bike around 180 degrees, and consequently end up falling quite flat on the pavement.
Truthfully, I cannot fault anything within this book, except maybe the fact that I didn't write it myself!!
I am recommending this as a mandatory read for anyone who wishes to improve their motorcycling skills.
First, the book "Total Control" was an exceptionally well paced and visually pleasing read! It is immediately obvious that you have spent a great deal of time and thought on the material placed within its pages. It's technical enough to clearly present the necessary data within the defined concept, without going so deep that it becomes difficult to navigate. Nor is it so simplistic that the reader would feel slighted by being overly "hand-held" or "kid-gloved". If there were three bears and some porridge handy, I'm sure "it's just right" would be the theme of the day.
Details:
While the majority of these concepts are not new to me, it is still nice to have someone else positively reinforce said concepts, and at times, distill them down to more accurate truths. This happened several times throughout the book when I would find myself nodding along with a passage, a bubble of remembrance surfacing in my mind as I recalled the event(s) that first led to the discovery of these factoids, usually in a much less desirable way. Often I had to set the book aside, while I mentally re-examined an idea I thought I knew backwards and forwards, yet was being presented from a different perspective. This of course, leads to additional insight and greatly increased understanding of not only the outlined principle, but also how these principles are all connected to one another. It's one thing to know a bunch of individual concepts, it is quite another to see them as a contiguous whole.
Without doubt, the most enjoyable chapters in the book for me are Ch. 4, 5, and 6 titled "Fear", "Concentration", and "Right Attitude" respectively. The truths contained within these three chapters are so profound, so absolutely and undeniably essential in every aspect of life, that I am amazed that so few people actually address it! I have been saying the very same things, although not nearly as well, for years. Yet the response is almost always the same: Disinterest, Scorn or flat out Denial. No, it's much better to focus on "hard" data like horsepower, torque, weight and so forth. Until someone goes to a track, and has the ex-racer / instructor absolutely walk away from them at any point on the track, while on a machine that makes 50% less horsepower and weighs 150 lbs more than theirs, then clueless that someone shall remain. I should know, I was that someone. Believe me when I say that it is a humbling, and if you have the right mindset, incredibly enlightening experience. Thank you for brilliantly explaining how the brain is the most important item to bring on a motorcycle ride!
Second favorite is the chapter on low speed U-Turns. A beautiful and clearly photographed example of how it should be done! I've lost count of the number of riders I've seen employ the exact opposite form, as if they were somehow going to yank a several hundred pound bike around 180 degrees, and consequently end up falling quite flat on the pavement.
Truthfully, I cannot fault anything within this book, except maybe the fact that I didn't write it myself!!
I am recommending this as a mandatory read for anyone who wishes to improve their motorcycling skills.
85 of 93 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
From my website (http://www.rebelpacket.net)
I did manage to buy a book, "Total Control" by Lee Parks. This book, is (in my humble opinon), the greatest motorcycle instruction book since the start of motorcycle instruction books. Very clear, very precise anaologies to things that everyone deals with in real life, to help one better understand the art that is, motorcycling. One line that I read in the book struck me as something that I needed to do. "If you have not practiced riding with a bit of fear, you will panic when presented with the unexpected." For awhile, I was riding fast, but I wasnt really afraid of riding. I wasnt afraid of sharp corners or this and that, because I usually took them at speeds only slightly above average. I didnt have any fear. I need to work on riding with a bit of fear, so instead of letting the fear CONTROL me in a situation where I need my wits, not my reactions, I can let the fear flow through me, and use the wits.
I did manage to buy a book, "Total Control" by Lee Parks. This book, is (in my humble opinon), the greatest motorcycle instruction book since the start of motorcycle instruction books. Very clear, very precise anaologies to things that everyone deals with in real life, to help one better understand the art that is, motorcycling. One line that I read in the book struck me as something that I needed to do. "If you have not practiced riding with a bit of fear, you will panic when presented with the unexpected." For awhile, I was riding fast, but I wasnt really afraid of riding. I wasnt afraid of sharp corners or this and that, because I usually took them at speeds only slightly above average. I didnt have any fear. I need to work on riding with a bit of fear, so instead of letting the fear CONTROL me in a situation where I need my wits, not my reactions, I can let the fear flow through me, and use the wits.
I also learned about steering my motorcycle more efficently. The author talked about how most people try to steer with both hands around corners, and while they believe that their helping the motorcycle, in reality, their hands are actually fighting eachother sub-conciously. I know, I didnt believe it either. What Lee Parks suggested doing, was relaxing the outside hand in a corner, so its barely gripping the handlebar, and to push with the inside hand ONLY to steer/lean the bike over.
HOLY CRAP! He was completely right. I'm not talking just a little bit, makes a 1/10th of a difference. I mean he was COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY on the money. I came into a 25mph turn on a road I like to test/learn my skills on, and I did as he said. I relaxed my outside hand, and at the latest point in the turn, I pushed with ONLY the inside hand, and started to turn. Only problem is, that my turning was so much more efficent, that I actually turned too much, and almost ended up as a pretty ornament on the inside guard-rail. Insane! I came up to the next tight left turn, and went a quicker than I normally would have (fear + testing out this new found turning ability), and I ZOOMED through it, without a problem. A 25mph rated turn that I normally took at 50mph, I was able to take at 65-70mph, just based on a new turning technique. This sh*t works people. These guys know what their talking about. And while you need to practice, I can completely see how some of these books are manuals on how to get into the racing world.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Required Reading - A classic
My favorite riding skills book. If I had only one riding skills book to recommend, this would be it. Easy to read, personable writing style. Helpful tips and exercises.
Published 5 hours ago by K. Zutter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great resource!
I would recommend Total Control to literally everyone that rides a motorcycle (or ever plans to) who doesn’t already own a copy. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Matt Austin
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but Not Essential
The book has a few good pointers on turning and braking, but most of the topics are over simplified. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Commuter Ben
5.0 out of 5 stars
What every rider should know.
The book covered all the necessary skills a motorcyclist should know. Was surprised how much of the book could be applied to big cruisers since I have never driven a sport bike. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Fred K. Fletcher
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you only own two motorcycle books...
This should be one of them. (Twist of the Wrist II should be the other) Lee explains techniques and more importantly the mechanics behind them in a clear, informative and humorous... Read more
Published 18 days ago by David Schullery
4.0 out of 5 stars
one of the essentials
As a beginning rider I have found three excellent authors who have really helped me understand what I need to do to ride safely and in control and have FUN. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mark L
5.0 out of 5 stars
You can't help but learn something
Very informative with a good writing style. I can't wait to try the drills and techniques. A must read for anyone seeking to improve their riding.
Published 1 month ago by Jeff Backlund
5.0 out of 5 stars
The techniques in this book literally saved my life
I love this book so much, that I literally consider it essential for anyone who rides or plans to ride motorcycles. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jacob Bellonzi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Total Control
Great book if your interested in becoming a better and safer rider Was worth every penny... Parks writing style is informative and entertaining while teaching you the correct way... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Doug
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Informative
With practice the techniques in this book will make you a more efficient and more importantly, a safer rider. The book is very comprehensive as well.
Published 2 months ago by Toffler
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 7
books:
See all 7 books this book cites
- Motorcycle Chassis Design: The Theory and Practice by Tony Foale in Back Matter
- The Shock Absorber Handbook by John C. Dixon in Back Matter
- You Can Negotiate Anything: The World's Best Negotiator Tells You How To Get What You Want by Herb Cohen on page 47
- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values by Robert M. Pirsig in Front Matter
- Soft Science of Roadracing Motorcycles: The Technical Procedures and Workbook for Roadracing Motorcycles by Keith Code in Back Matter
See all 7 books this book cites
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
Look for Similar Items by Category
- Books > Professional & Technical > Automotive > Motorcycles > Repair & Performance
- Books > Professional & Technical > Automotive > Racing
- Books > Professional & Technical > Transportation > Owner's Manuals & Maintenance Guides
- Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Motorcycle Racing
- Books > Travel > Specialty Travel > Adventure > Cycling
