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Re: [ST] Re: Motorcycle Roadcraft



> So it's you I have to thank!! Seriously, I think I've sold about five
> copies of the book in our riding group alone. It's on Grace's bedside
> table, and as she's just this week back on her bike, I'm peeking to see
> that she's reading it (for about the fifth time).


Hey, no problem! I'm glad to have helped! Five times? Now that is 
/really/ keen :-). I'd certainly be interested in her feedback once she's 
had a chance to try the ideas out...

 >1. Is/was it useful in your riding or did you find it a waste of
> >time/money?
> 
> Damn good book. It matches my personal prejudices, which is why I like it
> so much. But I can't commend it enough as ax excellent primer on road (as
> opposed to track) riding. The only other book I like almost as much is
> "Sportbiking: the real world", and now that I type this I don't like it
> nearly as much...

I've never seen or heard of that one. Is it a US publication? What's the 
focus?

> 
> >2. Has it in any way changed the way you approach your road riding?
> 
> Mine no, but again I'd preabsorbed a lot of what was there. 

How about Grace. Presumably she's absorbed a lot of her riding philosophy 
from you? I guess it will be easier for her to answer that once she has  
ridden a bit more in the 'Roadcraft' stylee?

> 
> >4. Anything in there that you didn't like or get on with?
> 
> All the cars are on the wrong side of the road...it was confusing at
> first...<g,again>. 


:-) :-)

To be serious for a moment, I was told they were going to try and produce a 
'US' edition, with the graphics, the spellings and the terminology all 
'Americanised'. Whether it ever materialised I don't know - I can find no 
reference...

> Seriously, it's a little BMW/tourer/courier oriented.

Yeah. Motorcycle traffic police in this country typically ride either BMW 
flying bricks or Honda ST1100 Pan Europeans. Having said that, you /can/ 
ride a Yamaha R1 to 'The System' - I followed a Class 1 motorcycle cop on a 
borrowed R1, briefly, and it was quite educational. Well, until he vanished 
into the distance anyway. 

> But if we all rode that way, we'd all live a lot longer...

Roadcraft doesn't mean slow, though. I've been amazed by the speed that a 
Police Class 1 on a Pan European can carry up twisty roads and through 
traffic. And you have to remember, as you are cranking it up to stay with 
them, that they are riding a touring motorcycle with extra lights, radio kit 
and a siren, and with panniers full of traffic cones and other crap, and 
that they are also riding quite serenely, within themselves and the limits 
of the road. It's a revelation.

> 
> >5. Is there anything similar in the 'states already that might be a 
> better
> 
> >bet for Americans than a British book written from the perspective of 
> >British roads and traffic conditions?
> 
> No. But I've been thinking about writing one...


Hmm... hey, if you and Grace ever get over to the UK on holiday, why not 
hire a couple of bikes and book yourself on some of training with somebody 
like Honda MAC? At least that way the roads will match the pictures in the 
book :-).

http://freespace.virgin.net/terry.martin1/honda_mac.htm
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=9gasl5%24p59%241%40taliesin.netcom.net.
uk
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=9gf3lb%24q64%241%40taliesin.netcom.net.
uk


> 
> >Cheers!
> 
> Back to you, and thanks again for the reference!

My pleasure, old chap!!


- - --

Ken Haylock - Sprint ST + TT600 - MAG Life Member #93160

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