The Rider's Guide to Living and Survival

"There are moments when time stands still and all that exists is your line through a beloved corner. The growl of your high-tech motor and the rhythmic sensation of your knee puck sliding against smooth tarmac are the only clues that moments are passing. It is as if you have been transported into a parallel universe where time and motion somehow combine into an expression of pure passion, pure joy.

It is during moments like these that the voices of the riders who have come before can be heard. Some still living and some long since passed. All have shared the joy of a moment such as this. They speak to you across the bridge that links this moment to so many others. They speak of adventure. They speak of passion. They speak of danger. And when you learn how to listen, they tell you secrets about how to truly live."

The Rider's Guide to Living and Survival takes a close look at the risks we take and asks deeper questions which can embark a rider on a journey of self discovery. The bulk this book comes from a host of performance riders and the legacy they have passed down. It is much larger than each of us, yet so personal and poignant that it speaks directly to us all.

The guide starts off with a rider's personality test, now available online, that helps identify the sections each rider needs most. Each section in this handbook focuses on a different type of survival.

First is the struggle and union of passion with survival. This is a survival of the mind, heart and spirit that is inextricably a part of riding any motorcycle.

The second section is a crucial look at financial survival. Motorcycles, riding gear, tires, tickets, crashes and amateur racing all have a major financial impact on a rider—but there are many ways a rider can make even a modest budget sustain their passion for sport riding.

The third section discusses legal survival. From avoiding tickets to minimizing the impact of your activities on local politics, there are many tactics and precautions to consider.

The fourth section focuses on physical survival. Many tips and strategies in this section focus on sensing an incident before it happens and practicing techniques for reading unfamiliar roads. How to discover and expand a rider’s limitations and sport riding skills with some measure of safety is discussed. There is also a key look at sensing and dealing with group chemistry.

Finally, there is a section on the collective survival of our sport. The inevitable reactions and restrictions that sport riding faces are outlined. Ideas on solutions such as road etiquette and how we interface with the communities our sport impacts are considered.

The glossary and reference sections define and detail the concepts discussed in this handbook.

Please read this book in any order that strikes your fancy… no matter which topic piques your interest!

Enjoy and ride well!