★★★★☆

By David Hough, MM411.com

Published by Mixed Media Publishing

ISBN: 0-9747420-3-1

Paperback: $29.95

Kindle: $9.99 (Part I or Part II)

I pull up to a sprawling house nestled at the base of the Olympic Mountain range in Washington State. It’s the home of my favorite author, AMA Hall of Fame award winner, David Hough, and I’m excited to finally meet him. Conversation quickly ensues and we spend the rest of the day in discussion. Dave’s stories flow smoothly, and I cling to every word of lessons learned, and the experiences of the master rider guiding the novice.

I leave armed with fresh knowledge and a copy of David’s latest work, The Good Rider—a book which immediately draws in the reader by defining exactly what makes a “good rider” and elaborates on which situations motorcyclists can truly control. Balance, throttle, braking, steering and cornering are dissected and explained. David includes helpful pictures to support his examples. And, reasons for fatalities are discussed alongside the Hurt Report, providing the clear rationale behind the concept of riding with ATGATT (“All the Gear all the Time”).

The Good Rider discusses in detail such subjects as lane positioning, peripheral vision, situational awareness, farkles, and personal limitations. Accurately identifying potential hazards and predicting the future are two of Hough’s fortes, and he doesn’t hold back on these topics. The book concludes with techniques for preventing breakdowns, packing luggage, sidecars, and riding with groups or passengers—all real world situations that can affect being in complete control.

Although much of the information in The Good Rider can be found in both Proficient Motorcycling and Mastering the Ride, it’s presented here in storybook format with personal examples and great advice. Discussions are supported with technical data, as one would expect given the author’s passion for understanding the “why” behind motorcycle crashes.

Although I still cling to Proficient Motorcycling as my brightly-tabbed bible, The Good Rider presents valuable suggestions for safer riding. Hough’s straightforward approach to seldom discussed subjects make his books stand out among the competition.

Christina Neiss is a new adventure rider and while recovering from an adventure riding-induced broken collarbone, devoured every available book on the mechanics of riding.