Zen and the art of Motorcycle riding

Motorcycle riding is a martial art. It takes much study and then ten times as much practice to become a truly proficient rider. This book is a theoretical study guide to help riders gain more from road, track and dirt riding training courses. It€s more handbook than light entertainment. It was written in 2014 and is slightly outdated now. The author is working on an updated version.

Good motorcycle riding basically involves being in harmony with your bike, getting body posture, muscle tension and weight distribution right and then just looking where you want to go. The bike will take you where you are looking and would handle road irregularities and even control smaller inevitable slides automatically. Riding becomes much safer and also much more fun.

Whether you are only interested in staying alive on public roads, or race on track or off-road, the same basics apply: All riders require the ability to ride, swerve and brake faster than other road users in typical situations to get the odds in their favor, including on slippery surfaces. On dirt riders need the ability to handle bumpy, loose and slippery surfaces. Grip on track surfaces are more predictable than on public roads, making more extreme riding styles possible.