Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Essential reading. Open any page and you will be richly rewarded. The best-in-class!" -- Roadgear, Inc.

"If there is one book every motorcyclist should own, this is it!" -- WebBikeWorld

"The ultimate biker's bible." -- Roadbike

"[Proficient Motorcycling] contains all the information needed to become and remain a safe rider." -- BMW Owners News --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Description

Riding a motorcycle can be a dangerous activity, but reading Proficient Motorcycling can significantly reduce those risks by teaching people how to ride safer and smarter. Whether they are beginning motorcycle riders or grizzled veterans of the road, readers of Proficient Motorcycling are guaranteed to find insights, training exercises, and riding tips not found in any other publication in the world. Proficient Motorcycling offers plain talk about surface hazards, weather problems, wild animals, carrying passengers, group rides, and traveling, among many other topics. Culled from the famous series of articles of the same name by legendary rider training guru David L. Hough, Proficient Motorcycling is an absolute must-read for anyone who rides a motorcycle.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: BowTie Press; 1st edition (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1889540536
• ISBN-13: 978-1889540535
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (228 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #212,070 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This item is part of The Bowtie Press Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

195 of 201 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a keeper.., June 18, 2000

By	Ross Flaven (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a born-again motorcyclist (22 years ago I gave up the saddle when my daughter was born, after 8 years of self-taught riding), I read everything I could find about riding technique, style, and strategy. Including the Dummy books, superbike/ego books, brandname books, and a host of others. I re-discovered some old friends from Road Rider magazine, which had morphed into the consumer-oriented Motorcycle Consumer News. There I also discovered David Hough's "Proficient Motorcycling" column, which immediately appealed to me on several levels: he's an unassuming writer with understated yet direct style; his topics were relevant to all skill levels; and, he discussed the minutiae of riding with clarity, consistency, and conciseness. Everything I'd been looking for to re-educate myself on the now unfamiliar world of motorcycling. When I learned this book--a compilation of years of articles and updates--was pending, I immediately pre-ordered it. Yes, this time around I've signed up for the MSF course--but this is the book I'll keep for reference and review.

If you are a born-again, or just starting out on a motorcycle, this book will go far toward putting everything into a natural perspective. For the cost of about four issues of Motorcycle Consumer News, I have decade's worth of words that help me intimately understand exactly what I'm doing on two wheels.

101 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful for a newbie rider like me., November 8, 2003

By	Erik Olson "Seeker Reviews" (Ridgefield, WA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Until recently, I've never had the desire to ride a motorcycle, mainly because I was afraid of becoming an organ donor. However, that suddenly changed a couple of months back, probably due to turning 37 and sitting through a marathon viewing session of "American Chopper" episodes. So, I began to shop around for a bike that would fit me, and at the same time I tapped into all the informational sources I could find about motorcycling (friends, the Web, etc.). "Proficient Motorcycling" was one of the first books I read, and I bought it based on the good reviews I saw on Amazon.com.

It was my desire to arm myself with as much knowledge and hands-on riding skills as possible before swinging a leg over the motorcycle I finally settled upon (a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy). I signed up at a local Harley-Davidson dealer for a "Rider's Edge" class, and "Proficient Motorcycling" was an excellent supplement to the MSF course materials. Indeed, Mr. Hough recommends taking an MSF course, and frankly I can't imagine a novice trying to ride without formal instruction.

The techniques that Mr. Hough advocates in "Proficient Motorcycling" have made me a better AND safer rider. I feel more confident riding my new H-D, and therefore I'm able to enjoy my road-time that much more. I've already started reading the book's sequel "More Proficient Motorcycling: Mastering the Ride" to build upon what I've learned so far. If you want to be a good motorcyclist (and not a "donor-cyclist"), then by all means dive into "Proficient Motorcycling."

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you ride, you should own it., February 3, 2001

By	L. Edward Day "led7" - See all my reviews

This is the best general introduction to safe street riding techniques on the market -- even better than the MSF's "Motorcycling Excellence," though new riders should read that too. Based on the long running "Proficient Motorcycling" column that appeared first in "Road Rider" and then in its spinoff "Motorcycle Consumer News," the book covers everything from the physics to the gear to the protocols of group riding. The author is a much better writer than the typical bike scribe. The information is sound throughout. It should be on every biker's bookshelf, and I strongly recommend reviewing it at the beginning of each riding season. This man's advice has undoubtedly saved lives. Make one of them yours.