An Advanced Riding Toolkit of Books
As additional reading to the Survival Skills series of CDROMs, Survival Skills recommends these four books as the core reading for any rider looking to improve their road riding skills on 21st century
roads.
Survival Skills says:
"Motorcycle Roadcraft is at the heart of nearly all UK-based advanced riding courses, and is widely admired abroad as well for its clear and
comprehensive treatment of Defensive Driving techniques. My own courses build on the basic principles laid down in Roadcraft.
Reading Roadcraft is an absolute must for anyone who wants to improve their riding and push themselves beyond the basic level. It's coverage of
defensive riding techniques is designed to move a rider upwards from the DSA practical test level.
It's not, however, the 'complete' book, and there are areas where the theory in the book was clearly intended to be fleshed out with practical
training. If Roadcraft has a particular weakness, it is that the coverage of machine control is poor - there is little treatment of the mechanical techniques of riding a motorcycle.
Treat it as one book in a library, and not as a bible."
Survival Skills says:
"This is the missing link in Advanced Riding, and my own courses draw heavily on the ideas advanced in this book.
Keith Code's theories were developed on the race track and his California Superbike School is well known in the US as well as in the UK. Many of his
"tool kit" of ideas will help smoothness and control on the road too.
Once again, it's not the 'complete' book - there is little about defensive riding techniques - but many of his ideas are applicable on the road, such as
the sections on understanding the importance of the throttle, planning your cornering, machine control. In particular, the section on target fixation and
survival reactions will make sense to anyone who has ever scared themselves on a bike.
The style of writing is not the clearest and takes some getting used to but any rider who cares enough about his or her riding to give it some thought
and put a bit of effort in, will get something out of this book and improve".
Survival Skills says:
"This relatively little known book was for many years the basis for most of the "why your bike goes round corners" or "how to use the brakes" articles
in the bike press. It's also assisted me put some background knowledge in place to help me to run my courses.
It's not the easiest read as it is quite technical in places, but the late John Robinson of Performance Bikes was one of the few journalists who wrote with real authority on technical issues.
Put it into the melting pot with Roadcraft and Keith Code, and you will have a much clearer understanding of advanced motorcycling principles -
Robinson explains why it happens, Code will tell you how to do it, and Roadcraft will tell you where, and where not, to do it".
Survival Skills says:
"'Proficient Motorcycling is' a well-respected book from the Motorcycle Consumer News column writer David Hough. According to the cover notes,
"amusing anecdotes, helpful instruction and detailed photos and diagrams... will develop your riding skills".
Maybe I've not got a Transatlantic sense of humor (!) but though there is a lot of good content in there, I didn't find it easy going. If Roadcraft is '50s
British Pathe News, dry to the point of coma, this is 90's "Friends", all laboured jokes and canned laughter. After you've read the same style of
"anecdote" for the nth time, you begin to want to skip straight by them and get to the meat of the matter.
Unfortunately this isn't too easy. Take the section on 'Superslabs' or motorways to us Brits. We get to the solid advice in the end (a bit like riding
the motorway, really), but you might find that unless you're forcing yourself to read every chatty word, you've already flipped to the next section. Which
would be unfortunate, because the book is full of well-concealed nuggets of gold.
There are some weird imbalances. Deer might be a big threat to riders on country roads in the States but do they really rate FIVE pages (plus another
half-page under night riding!) when "Smarter cornering lines" rate just four? After all, even US riders have to go round bends.
Having said all that, get it, read it, absorb it. There's a lot of good stuff in here that mirrors my own thinking on risk management as the key behind
safer road riding, and it also covers a lot of the technical stuff relatively simply.
Better yet, buy it with a copy of Roadcraft and a pad of Post-It notes - so you can cross reference the two."
Extending the Toolkit - More Recommended Books
These are all excellent books for continuing your riding education.
Survival Skills says:
"David Hough's sequel to 'Proficient Motorcycling' takes over where the first book left off, explaining the dynamics of safe motorcycling, including ways
to become a better rider, navigating the roads, and lifesaving tips to remember while riding".
Survival Skills says:
"The MSF are at the forefront of rider training in the USA and have exported their ideas world-wide. Their 'Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills,
Knowledge and Strategies for Riding Right' covers rider attitude, protective riding gear, pre-ride inspection, maintenance, and troubleshooting, as well as basic and advanced street skills.
It includes tips on how to create a 'space cushion' to: avoid traffic hazards; stop quickly; counter-steer for better control; manage traction; position
your body for smoother, more consistent riding; travel skillfully and safely in a group; maneuver effectively and efficiently in off-highway riding; and much more.
As they remind us: "the more you know, the better it gets"."
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