I have frequently stressed the fact that knowledge is power, so I not only consistently practice on my bike, but I read as many motorcycling articles and books as possible. One book that I have just read is entitled, "Proficient Motorcycling" by David Hough. This book compiles David's many motorcycling magazine articles and life-long riding experiences into one guide and it is indeed a very good ride. This book is one of the more easily understood books about motorcycling and techniques that I have read thus far. The book talks about cornering skills, delayed apexing, and some of the many road surprises, traps, and hazards.

As background, David Hough has been riding assorted types of motorcycles since the 1960's with at least 750,000 miles under his belt. He began riding strictly as a utility function to get back and forth to work, but that soon changed. He began contributing articles to a motorcyclist magazine entitled "Road Rider" about his travels, thoughts, and experiences. Road Rider magazine called and asked David to write a six part safety type feature which blossomed into the "Proficient Motorcycling" column that continued for seventeen years, through Road Rider's transformation into Motorcycle Consumer News. David Hough is also certified with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and serves as a consultant for several safety and training organizations.

Proficient Motorcycling, the book, is David Hough's accumulated knowledge from all of his articles, journeys, and experiences. The book starts out with a chapter on risk. David does this to impress upon the rider that riding is fun, but it is a serious business. It certainly is a wonderful sport and can consume many of us, but we should never take our riding abilities for granted. The rest of the book is about motorcycling and how to ride at your best. David peppers his stories with personalities such as Ricochet Red, Rider Ralph, Bigdawg Dan and many other interesting characters. The stories are lessons that are easy to read and understand and at the same time present real life situations and how to handle them. As I was reading, I found myself looking forward to the next section to see what kind of situations the characters were faced with and better yet, how they were going to manage them.

This is a book that I will reread many times so that I can practice the techniques, memorize the advice, and turn my riding skills and actions into habits. I also always want to be aware of the road and the dangers and not get too comfortable on my motorcycle. As a beginner, intermediate, or expert motorcyclist, this book is a motorcycle handbook that is a must to have in your library. If you never read another motorcycling book, this is the one to have.

To get a copy of this book, click on the link below.

Until next week, ride safe and free!