Product Description

A beginner's manual especially geared to the needs of entry-level riders, this book provides all the basic instruction necessary to become a motorcycle rider with an emphasis on the challenges faced by neophyte riders. Starting at neophyte level and evolving into a serious, intelligent expert, How to Ride a Motorcycle tells the reader how to be a motorcycle rider with a strong emphasis on safety and big-picture strategy ("think about it this way" as opposed to "do this.")

Topics covered include what you need to know (like an iceberg, there's much more to riding than you see on the surface); selecting a bike, riding gear, and insurance; How a motorcycle works—controls, operation, and basic maintenance (not to forget maintaining the right mental additudes); venturing out—from your first ride in the practice lot to trouble areas like freeways or gravel roads, everything you should know; getting good and getting involved—what to do once you've caught "motorcycle fever" (trading up to new bikes or multiple bikes, finding advanced training, and general nuggets of wisdom on participation in the motorcycle community at large)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #295329 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Review

About the Author
Pat Hahn is the author of the best-selling book Ride Hard, Ride Smart. He is also an MSF-Certified Instructor for 8 years, and Public Information Officer for the State of Minnesota, helping coordinate public information and education for the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center, a project of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Hahn lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Darwin Holmstrom is the author of Complete Idiot’s Guide to Motorcycles.

Customer Reviews

Exceeds Expectations 100 Percent
Holy cow, I never would have guessed how good this book was by just the title. I read every book that comes out and this one is going to make a big difference in new riders lives.

This book has everything a rider needs to know to get started: preparation, picking out a bike and riding gear, how to work the controls, how to practice, when to take a rider training course, what to do after you get your license, how to get better and get familiar with different types of roads and traffic, safe riding procedures, and more.

What's really cool is the way Mr Hahn reveals some of the mysteries of riding (countersteering, mental overload, what other books to read along the way) and also attacks some myths that go along with riding, like "If I had to explain, you wouldn't understand" and "laying it down" and "there are two kinds of riders" etc.

Rider attitudes one through four will keep me alive for a long long time, even for an experienced rider I was surprised how much I learned about attitude and evaluating my ability.

There's also a section with drills and stuff to practice on your own after you take the MSF course but before you really head out into traffic. You could probably do these drills whether or not you took the course.

It's easy to read, too, and humorous at times, not as funny as his other book, but this one has way cooler photos and diagrams and important advice for hungry new riders. Anybody who's thinking about getting into riding, or anybody who has been been riding for less than two years should get this book.

I'll be loaning my copy to my nephew when he turns 16. Ride safe everybody.

Just what I needed
I almost didn't buy this book based on that "joke" review below, but boy am I glad I did! There is a ton of information here and it's just what I needed as a beginner!!! I can't wait to take the MSF course this spring and then start using the techniques in this book.

I highly recommend it if you are thinking about getting into riding or if you're going to take the MSF course.

Woohoo!

Good writer, but lacking material
I liked this book as Pat Hahn seems to be able to write a pretty good book. It was a generally quick read, and an easy one at that. However, what he chose to include and to leave out. I agree with the chapter on how to be a mentor or ride coach. Perhaps Pat is getting a bit ahead of himself? However, in the long run, I' probably go with the MSF's motorcycling Excellence, as it has more information, albeit, a bit dryer.