Books for motorcycling beginners

[Mental Trousers]

This is a list of books that people might find helpful. All books are available on Amazon.com. Please note that none of these books have been reviewed by any member of Kiwibiker so if you would like to provide a review please do so in this thread.

Any other suggested books can be added to the list as well. Please post suggested books in this thread.

Please keep posts in this thread to reviews or suggested additions only. All other posts will be removed.

Motorcycle Safety Foundation

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills, Knowledge, and Strategies for Riding Right (2nd Edition) (http://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Safety-Foundations-Motorcycling-Excellence/dp/1884313477/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203753714&sr=8-1)
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Whitehorse Press; Second edition (October 1, 2005)
ISBN-10: 1884313477
ISBN-13: 978-1884313479

Motorcyclist Magazine, Darwin Holmstrom, Simon Green

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles (4th Edition) (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Motorcycles-4th/dp/1592577040/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203753808&sr=8-1)
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Alpha; 4 edition (January 2, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1592577040
ISBN-13: 978-1592577040

Jim Bennett

The Complete Motorcycle Book: A Consumer's Guide (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Motorcycle-Book-Consumers-Guide/dp/0816038546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203754901&sr=8-1)
Paperback: 258 pages
Publisher: Facts on File; 2nd edition (March 1999)
ISBN-10: 0816038546
ISBN-13: 978-0816038541

Graham Allardice

The Biker's Bible (http://www.amazon.com/Bikers-Bible-Graham-Allardice/dp/B000MF6IUO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203890115&sr=8-1)
Paperback
Publisher: Phantom House (2002)
ASIN: B000MF6IUO

Phillip Coyne, Bill Mayblin, Penny Mares

Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider's Handbook (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-Roadcraft-Police-Riders-Handbook/dp/011341143X)
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Stationery Office Books; New Ed edition (27 Jun 1996)
Language English
ISBN-10: 011341143X
ISBN-13: 978-0113411436

Driving Standards Agency (Great Britain)

The Official DSA Guide to Riding: The Essential Skills (http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Books/Official-DSA-Guide-to-Riding-Driving-Standards-Agency-Great-Britain/9780115526442)
Paperback: 271 pages
Publisher: Stationery Office Books; Revised Edition
Language English
ISBN-10: 0115526447
ISBN-13: 978-0115526442

Some of the more advanced Road Riding books (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=67784) may also be of interest

[Mental Trousers]

Websites that maybe of interest to beginner riders

Land Transport NZ (http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/)

Getting a motorcycle license (http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/licensing/motorcycle/index.html)
New Zealand Road Code (http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/roadcode/index.html)
Motorcycles: Land Transport New Zealand safety information (http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/road-user-safety/motorcyclists/)

BRONZ (http://www.bronz.org.nz/)

Ride Right, Ride Safe (http://www.rrrs.org.nz/index.html)

Ride Forever (http://www.rideforever.co.nz/)

Ride Forever website (http://www.rideforever.co.nz/about/index.html)

New Zealand Institute of Driver Educator's (http://www.drivinginstructor.co.nz/index.php)

Motor Cycle Theory Test Questions (http://www.drivinginstructor.co.nz/test.php?q_category=Motor%20Cycle)

[Mental Trousers]

Please note that these books have been listed as suitable for beginners by Amazon. We don't actually know how suitable they are and as such are only suggestions.

[Zuki Bandit]

Cool, thanks for that!

[Krazyklaus]

Websites that maybe of interest to beginner riders

Land Transport NZ

Getting a motorcycle license (http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/licensing/motorcycle/index.html)
New Zealand Road Code (http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/roadcode/index.html)
Motorcycles: Land Transport New Zealand safety information (http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/road-user-safety/motorcyclists/)

And don't forget www.rideforever.co.nz

[Soul.Trader]

Dad gave me quite a new one called "The Biker's Bible" by Graham Allardice. It's a NZ book. It's got lots of information for new riders - but like most of the motorcycling leaner's books I've read, 95% of the content was just plain obvious. TBH, there's only so much you can learn from a book - and that could probably be summed up in about 5 pages.

[emerald]

I bought Pro Motocross and Off Road Riding Tecnniques 3rd edition from Amazon. Cost all up WAS 33.00 NZ and came within 5 days last week. Great book as i am a beginner.

[Terminated]

Title: Proficient Motorcycling
Author: David L. Hough
ISBN 1-889540-53-6

Heads Up and Enjoy

[H00dz]

thanks all for the info, this was well received even for not so new bikers like me

[Strike]

keep'em comin, i wanna absorb as much bike knowledge as i can, i can't get enough!

[Bren]

and a real easy one here for the young'uns

[twistemotion]

Title: Proficient Motorcycling
Author: David L. Hough
ISBN 1-889540-53-6

Heads Up and Enjoy
Yip, I'm reading that one at the moment. It seems like an excellent book - just need to practice all those techniques now, and get them to become second nature!

[Number One]

Total Control - High Performance Street Riding Techniques
By Lee Parks

http://www.totalcontroltraining.net/HTML/Instructors.html

Very good book, excellent pics to demonstrate 'form' even a section for pillions! Well written, practical and provides mesurements and suggestions for drills and exercises to practise the skills and techniques.


Take control of your machine
Find the perfect line everytime
Perfect your form and tecnique
Ride faster and safer

[tate35]

Cool thanks for the information

[n3on]

Anyone know of any sources for the Suzuki RGV? I'm having trouble finding any sort of manual.. in english that is

[newbould]

Title: Proficient Motorcycling
Author: David L. Hough
ISBN 1-889540-53-6

Heads Up and Enjoy

Easy reading and good info. Some of the American terms irritate (like "superslab" = motorway) and have to reverse all the lefts and rights to cope with left hand drive motorbikes that they all have in the States:msn-wink: but still good.
The Police Riders guide reads like lectures from a stuffy british cop. Different sort of approach but the essential info is the same - stay awake to what's going on round about you and don't ask your tyres to do too much at once. Tyres must be like men - crap at multitasking!

[NOWOOL]

Don't forget
there's also the free DVD available from www.rideforever.co.nz

and it caters to riders of all experience levels.

[cc rider]

Thanks for the referral, Nowool. I'm waiting to see if they'll send a copy to Oz. Worth a try. Aaron Slight - cool. :yes:

[The Everlasting]

Just finished reading Proficient Motorcycling by David L Hough,it is a great book,and has been really informative and helpful in my quest to improve my riding skills..:)

[Scorp]

Just finished reading Proficient Motorcycling by David L Hough,it is a great book,and has been really informative and helpful in my quest to improve my riding skills..:)
I'm about to order a copy myself. Ride Forever DVD is on it's way in the post.

[blackdog]

i see no-one has mentioned 'twist of the wrist' by keith code
2 volumes, once you have mastered the very basics this is invaluable
dvd available too

[R6Genesis]

Title: Proficient Motorcycling
Author: David L. Hough
ISBN 1-889540-53-6

Heads Up and Enjoy
Yip, I'm reading that one at the moment. It seems like an excellent book - just need to practice all those techniques now, and get them to become second nature!
+3..... excellent book, I think he has two more:

More Proficient Motorcycling: Mastering the Ride
David L. Hough
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: BowTie Press (March 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1931993033
ISBN-13: 978-1931993036

Street Strategies: A Survival Guide for Motorcyclists
David L. Hough
Paperback: 91 pages
Publisher: BowTie Press (September 1, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1889540692
ASIN: B0058M7U7G

[Tricia1000]

The most invaluable book that I have in my repertoire, and I teach this syllabus, is Riding the Essential Skills. You can buy it from amazon.co.uk. It has exactly the same rules, except for the NZ give way rules, and the road signs are English, but easy to recognise. They ride on the same side of the road, and there isn't anything of its calibre available in New Zealand. The american books are good, but you need to convert from the toher side of the road, so positions all need to be mirror imaged, which can get confusing.
I have a number of Riding the essential skills books that I loan to my students, who are undertaking training with me, and they have all found it to be of enormous use.
When we are doing car training, we use the car version of the same book. Well worth the 10 Uk pounds sterling, plus postage.

[Roadsafe Nelson]

Riding the Essential Skills. You can buy it from amazon.co.uk.

Fishpond.. $25.52 & free postage in NZ :niceone:

http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Books/Official-DSA-Guide-to-Riding-Driving-Standards-Agency-Great-Britain/9780115526442

[R-Soul]

i see no-one has mentioned 'twist of the wrist' by keith code
2 volumes, once you have mastered the very basics this is invaluable
dvd available too

+1
especially the second one. The first one he rambles on a bit.

[Quasi]

Damm fine Monsta in the ride forever website:innocent:


And don't forget www.rideforever.co.nz (http://www.rideforever.co.nz)

[Danzano]

i see no-one has mentioned 'twist of the wrist' by keith code
2 volumes, once you have mastered the very basics this is invaluable
dvd available too

+1

Most interesting Dvd I have seen in a long time :-)

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[Old Steve]

I think it's called:

Elementary Motorcycling
Brent Allen
Amazon Kindle books

Down to earth, good examples from the everyday world.

[Mushu]

i see no-one has mentioned 'twist of the wrist' by keith code
2 volumes, once you have mastered the very basics this is invaluable
dvd available too

Best single resource I have found the twist 2 book/dvd
Basicly I give that book to anyone who will read it.

Sent from my XT535 using Tapatalk 2

[ural]

not a book, but quite a lot of useful info in a rather succinct and entertaining form from a UK-based instructor

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLq49az9efu7sa8YNx2cQhe_MUgTA9-hNH

[RGVforme]

Another vote for "A twist of the wrist" videos...Its on the net if you look about.I still go back to this for revision and inspiration.

You got to love Uncle Keith lol.

"Once the throttle is cracked open it is rolled on slowly evenly and continuously throughout the remainder of the turn"

"Now repeat that 100 times"

Legend.:ar15:

[Old Steve]

Any motorbike book by Brent Allen, known on other forums as "Capt Crash Idaho". Check his facebook videos as well.

(Oh I see I've already posted about "Elementary Motorcycling". But do check out his Capt Crash videos)

[SuperMac]

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/SurvivalSkills

Kevin is s highly experienced UK instructor, who's a bit of a maverick - mixing sports psychology and other dcience where appropriate to enhance more typical training. Well, as near to typical as he gets. He's also behind the 'No Surprise' campaign.

[Aphro_Ant]

Another great website is www.msgroup.org, it also has the tips and techniques on the website available in book form. Though it is an American site hence they ride on the wrong side of the road, so you must convert side of the lane and road over in places.

[SuperMac]

https://m.box.com/shared_item/https%3A%2F%2Fapp.box.com%2Fshared%2Fvm2l0corpz#co ntent

Ignore the 'X' and scroll down for loads of free e-books / articles

[EdwardPoero]

Hello everyone, Maybe this question has been asked before, if so I apologise.

I would like to know what are the 2 or 3 best books about runes for beginners.
Does anyone have any experience with runes?

Thank you

[Jeff Sichoe]

https://quake.fandom.com/wiki/Rune

[pritch]

I'd have thought the Honda Rune was a bit big for a beginner, it's probably not LAMS approved.