When I had my first beetle I was a big fan of How to Keep you VW Alive - Step by step for the complete idiot. Mostly because I was an idiot mechanically back then.
Yep. Way more than you ever wanted to know about why free parking is bad here: https://www.amazon.com/High-Cost-Free-Parking-Updated/dp/193236496X
Brief overview of book here: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/15/business/economy/15view.html
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
I second this. They are straight forward and would be great to learn on.
That said - you do know on todays highways they are death traps. The drum brakes don't stop for $%^&, it handles like a tractor, has tiny skinny tires with no grip, and the only crumple zone is your skull. Really, if a texting soccer mom in a Tahoe T bones you its probably over
I'd highly recommend the High Cost of Free Parking by Donald Shoup (RIP) on this subject. Great, pioneering book about how we fail to deal with the huge externalities of personal automobiles.
This had been on my list of books to read for a while:
https://www.amazon.com/High-Cost-Free-Parking-Updated/dp/193236496X
"Shoup proposes new ways for cities to regulate parking – namely, charge fair market prices for curb parking, use the resulting revenue to pay for services in the neighborhoods that generate it, and remove zoning requirements for off-street parking."
Yeah, Su's not just reading off a script. Her English has come really far; she's at the point of having enough vocabulary to feel like she can express what she wants to express once she picks the right words out of her dictionary. So she still has to do a translation of concepts into a smaller set of words (sort of like the book Thing Explainer) but she's got the confidence to do so.
Lots of Vancouverites need to understand the true cost of the government giving away so much land without user fees. I suggest reading the seminal tome The High Cost of Free Parking
>free parking has contributed to auto dependence, rapid urban sprawl, extravagant energy use, and a host of other problems. Planners mandate free parking to alleviate congestion but end up distorting transportation choices, debasing urban design, damaging the economy, and degrading the environment. Ubiquitous free parking helps explain why our cities sprawl on a scale fit more for cars than for people, and why American motor vehicles now consume one-eighth of the world's total oil production. But it doesn't have to be this way. Shoup proposes new ways for cities to regulate parking – namely, charge fair market prices for curb parking, use the resulting revenue to pay for services in the neighborhoods that generate it, and remove zoning requirements for off-street parking. Such measures, according to the Yale-trained economist and UCLA planning professor, will make parking easier and driving less necessary. Join the swelling ranks of Shoupistas by picking up this book today. You'll never look at a parking spot the same way again.
Read Proficient Motorcycling by David L. Hough. It's the most comprehensive guide in becoming a better rider; beginners and experienced alike agree that this is a great read; I have it on paperback and in the off season, I give it a read; there's so much to learn.
https://www.amazon.com/Going-Faster-Mastering-Race-Driving/dp/0837602262
This book goes into incredible detail on how to approach learning a new track specifically. I've done a lot of reading on websites, forums and essays on race-craft and race driving. This book is still the biggest contributor to my skills in iRacing.
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
Following the guide in the book, buy some tools and a box to keep them in that will fit in the rear window well. Then do the basic tuneup. Learn how to set your valves, and why the number 3 cylinder's valves should always be set looser than the other cylinders. Figure out how to advance and retard the distributor. Figure out the proper method for changing your generator belt.
Then you'll want to learn how to do all of that by feel with your eyes closed, so that, some dark night, you'll be able to do it all on the side of the road. Bugs are not unreliable, but they pick the damnedest times to do janky stuff.
Most parking lots are sized for the 4th busiest day of the year. Which means 360 days of the year it's just a massive expanse of asphalt doing nothing except making people who didn't drive there walk farther.
Source: https://www.amazon.com/High-Cost-Free-Parking-Updated/dp/193236496X
Why upgrade from the Fanatecs so soon? They're pretty solid. My inverted clubsports have taken a crapton of abuse and have good feel.
Biggest upgrade in my simracing has been this, FWIW.
Basics like when/how to add which fluids, changing a tire, at what point to see a mechanic are things my kids learned before they were allowed to drive. When I was their age I toasted my VW and had to learn about engines to rebuild it because I had no money. "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot saved me an incredible amount of money and was the original "Idiot" book.
You are in prime riding country, in all directions you can go exploring. You’re gonna have so much fun! Then you know about dear, just be careful dawn and dusk when they tend to move. There’s some really good reading material for you.
Proficient Motorcycling: The... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1620081199?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Sure thing! I realized I forgot to answer the book question, the driving books that I learned a lot from were Ross Bentley's Speed Secrets books - less so on raw technique and moreso on thought processes and way to approach things. Back when I read them the first time (I was probably 11 ish so... 2006 I guess?) They came as a series of books but they're now all compiled into one book: it's on Amazon here and is absolutely worth the money. Plus it's way cheaper than it used to be. It helps understand how to break down corners and think about what's going on which then applies the knowledge you have of the vehicle to apply it. It takes longer than reading a simple how to but as a result you'll be a more complete driver after - and potentially get yourself the skill set to drive the fsae car or other cars more quickly and easily.
A good way to practice is iRacing or rfactor or pcars - something with a more real tire model than say Forza or Grand Turismo. Obviously this isn't cheap, sim racing on a college budget can be tough but it's something to look into. It's much more forgiving than real life.
Practice going the slowest you possibly can and keeping your balance while feathering the clutch and brake, making counter turns and proper uturns. I'm talking waiting for a short red light and never putting your feet down slow.
I urge you to get the book i linked below, basically it goes over everything you are experiencing and why.
Man that's a lot to unpack. There's a ton to learn and the school of hard knocks is the toughest one.
As u/Ralliartimus noted, wear the gear. That's boots, overpants, jacket with spine protector, gloves, full-face helmet. All the gear, all the time.
Generally speaking, drivers are nowhere near as aware of you as you might think they should be. Be very aware of this, particularly in places where someone can turn in front of you (approaching intersections, driveways, etc.) No gear will protect you going from 45 to zero in a few feet.
Not sure what bike you're getting and it sounds like you're committed already, but I'd advise getting an older bike without a lot of fairings. You are going to tip over. Guarantee it. Learning and tipping a cheap, older, lower powered bike is definitely the way to go.
Keep the stock exhaust. Virtually no one likes listening to a loud pipe and, if we're being honest, they're hard on the rider as well. Speaking of, include ear plugs with your gear. Tinnitus really, really sucks.
Take every rider training class you can. Read Proficient Motorcycling and other books about riding. If there are off-road riding classes around you, take them. It's a different kind of riding and you can learn things that apply to your road skill set. A lot of professional riders got their start off-road.
There's paragraphs and paragraphs more, but that's off the cuff.
Good luck!
Yo, thanks for suggesting a book. Rarely see people talk about Motorocycle book on this sub. I also wanna shout out Proficient Motorcycling. Kinda dog shit, but I got it for $1 at a Goodwill and it has some really cool picture and statistic breakdowns.
Another good one is Ross Bentley's Speed Secrets: Professional Race Driving Techniques (Amazon and iTunes). I now look up to him like my greatest teachers from school as a child, and I merely read his book.
He covers driving, handling, racecraft, even tuning, your mindset, etc. He's an astoundingly good communicator. My Forza performance launched into the sky as I absorbed each chapter.
A Galileoscope and books. I currently like Thing Explainer, which seems really good for that age. Any space book will do though.
Update with Amazon link to book
Practice. Practice. Practice. Find an experienced riding buddy and get a helmet headset/intercom. Take some more classes. Read a book - here's a really good one:
Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough
The Suzuki’s are wonderful bikes as well, they’ve got their own look sound and feel. I’m not sure if you’ll find any in your price range that has ABS but on the other hand we’ve been riding without it for over 100 years. Have you taken the safety class yet? Do you know anyone who rides who can help you look at bikes and answer questions? I recommend this book, because you’ll read it more than a few times over the next year or so as you learn to ride. Covers a lot of information most of it or much of it anyway you may not understand yet until you get on the bike.
Proficient Motorcycling: The... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1620081199?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Well first it’s really important to stay up on the maintenance aspect. You know how the brakes feel on your bike and if they ever feel different for some reason you examine that carefully. I check the brake pads when I start the season and of course examine the tires. But I test the air pressure in my tires once a week for sure. I still work as a field service engineer so I don’t ride the bike much during the week, so before it comes out of the garage on the weekend I check the tires cold with a quality air pressure gauge. There’s a couple three places around my house in the country where I can safely see if there’s anybody around and I start first about 20 or 30 miles an hour and I progress to 40 and then 50 or 55. You’ve got to know your bike and I have discovered with my big Yamaha Raider, especially if carrying a passenger, if I “touch” the rear brake lightly first (it’s a very quick transition I don’t mean to sound like I’m holding the back at all it’s just a touch and then a clamp on the front) the back squats down a little then I can really clamp hard on the front and the front will stop me. That may not work for your bike, you have to experiment with it and get the feel and you need to do this about 8 or 10 times. The next week try it again and you’ll notice right away that your hand and foot and brain are working slightly differently and you’ll find yourself stopping better. If you get new tires, especially if it’s a different manufacturer, wait until they’re broke in and try this again. Do this whenever you feel the need, but also realize that during practice you “know” that it’s going to happen. The idea is to get the muscle memory going so that when you Don’t know it’s going to happen, you can safely perform the maneuver without thinking and focus on the Myriad of other things taking place in that moment. I have found this book an excellent read.
Proficient Motorcycling: The... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1620081199?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I would buy this book for her, you should read it too. Even experienced riders like myself read this book a few times over the years as a reminder. You don’t encounter every situation right away so having this information in your head and explained in a way that most anyone can understand is very good. Plus here is the MSF study guide as well.
Proficient Motorcycling: The... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1620081199?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Safety course is a great idea. Helps your brain understand the physical mechanics of riding. Also this book really helped me too and I give it to any friend that buys a scoot.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1620081199/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_TM46DFBEXPXY1CSYK3E3
I don’t understand why your father is disrespecting you especially knowing this is all you can do right now. That’s pretty sad, though I don’t know the entire situation of course. If I saw you I would wave, I don’t give a rats ass what people are riding. I wave to mopeds just see them smile. Take the time learning everything you can now because what you do now will stick with you for the rest of your riding life. always wear your gear and take time to practice emergency stops in a safe area of course. Read your operators manual and learn everything you can about operators maintenance and take care of your bike. Knowing how things work helps you imagine what the machine is doing as you are operating it. I totally recommend this book, it really teaches you a lot about riding on the street. Proficient Motorcycling: The... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1620081199?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share Take care out there!
That 'on rails' statement is Speed Secret #22 from Ross Bentley's excellent book. I believe it's a paraphrase of the classic Mario Andretti quote:
“If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough.”