The best Motorcycle Repair & Performance books: Reddit reviews

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Everything I will say comes from personal experience, which isn't transferrable, and reading books like Lee Parks' Total Control.

According to his advice, to brake even in the most controlled situations, you should apply the rear brake before the front brake. This maximizes braking AND grip, avoiding accidents such as yours.

From experience, if something undesired happened and you don't know what you did wrong, it's very likely you have done something wrong, and being conscious about it and trying to figure it out is a great symptom that you care and want to improve to not do it again.

Maybe your mind wandered a bit and you hit the brakes just a bit harder than you think. The street conditions you describe are worse than pouring rain, because the drizzle mixes with dust and oils in the tarmac making it very slippery. Heavy rain washes all that residue faster.

I'd give lee parks' book a shot, you will learn the technical aspects of why your accident actually happened and the correct technique to avoid it.

Drive safe, and heal soon!

Sign up for a CHP riding course. Start reading https://www.amazon.com/dp/0760343446/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_3K0PQDXHGP8PYN3N1XDF

Ride on empty back streets with no cars. After you start getting more confident, you can graduate to busier streets. Take a break and relax. Don't force yourself to ride. You should feel confident and clear minded before getting on.

It's been around for a longgg time mostly in the Harley poorly educated rider ring of things. I had a co worker who laid down his hog to avoid hitting a deer cause his "Daddy told him it's what you do"
uhhggg.

I cannot praise this book enough, please give it a gander
https://www.amazon.com/Total-Control-Lee-Parks-ebook/dp/B00R31222S

I think you'll find head positioning is guided by where your looking which is absolutely key. You want to be looking where you want to end up and if that involves moving your head then you should be doing that.

His head turned to focus round the corner to the furthest point he can see, tilted to level view against lean and while he's not at an extreme position his head is just about on the centerline.

Have you tried reading? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Total-Control-Performance-Street-Techniques/dp/0760343446 which will explain the body positioning and the reasons why it works.

Is that a 400? Looks sick! You're gonna love it, I guarantee it.

I've been riding for only 6 months and can't say any tips I give you would be coming from an experienced rider, but if you don't mind reading I recommend you read Lee Parks' Total Control book. I'm a guy that loves to read and dig down on the weeds of things, so I really wanted to learn more from an experienced rider. People kept recommending to get this book, so I did. And its been so helpful I always read a chapter or two before I head out, just so I can have a piece of knowledge with me when I'm out riding. It may save your life.

Anyway, have fun and ride safe ✌

Books are your best resource. The Motorcycle Basics Handbook from Haynes is a good place to start. In addition to that, I recommend the Haynes service manual specific to your motorcycle. YouTube is also a good resource, just search things like “how do motorcycle brakes work” or, “how does a motorcycle clutch work”.

Also, don’t be afraid to go to local motorcycle shops and ask for a job, tell them you’re interested in learning how to work on motorcycles. You can learn a lot that way because you’ll have a mentor looking over your shoulder.

Race Tech's Motorcycle Suspension Bible (Motorbooks Workshop) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0760331405/ I really liked the way this book explained suspension working.

Regarding transmission - first of all - what transmission you have in that outback? If it is 4eat - what “center” does it have? Does rear differential has LSD(visco or plated or suretrac or torque sensing)?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rebuild-Japanese-Motorcycles-Motorbooks-Workshop/dp/0760347972

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Some like it, some don't

I will defer to /u/ViperThreat.

I will say is that having a professional watching you in-person and giving you instruction is always going to be the best way to learn. They'll be able to catch things that you're doing wrong and help you reinforce what you're doing right.

If you're a fan of reading, I suggest checking out Lee Park's Total Control. It will help contextualize a lot the things that you'll learn either on your own or from others.

This book has good reviews, I think it will help a lot. Motorcycle Electrical Systems: Troubleshooting and Repair (Motorbooks Workshop) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0760327165/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NoxlFbSXKCYY0

No no. Of course not. Like others have said, you’re not going fast enough on the street to be able to hang off that much. Not enough centrifugal force and such. But a little butt slide off and leaning definitely helps on street level riding. Going 60 km around a corner, you also need less weight shifted off Center to achieve optimal tire contact and lean angel. If you’re taking that same turn at 130km you obviously need to move more weight off center, hence more exaggerated “track” shape. But the steps and things you move are the same.

On the street you should open your hips when you turn a corner, slide off the seat a little, etc etc. How much all depends on speed and degree of the corner. I think most people here can agree on that.

This is the best book about performance riding on the street. There’s also a course he runs as well. Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.ca/Total-Control-Performance-Street-Techniques/dp/0760343446/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=Lee+Parks&qid=1577781357&s=books&sr=1-1

Read this https://www.amazon.com/Total-Control-Lee-Parks-ebook/dp/B00R31222S/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1535450793&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=lee+parks+total+control

This book taught me a lot: https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Basics-Techbook-Editors-Manuals/dp/0857339982/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1527544626&sr=8-2&keywords=motorcycles+haynes

I'm in the same boat. I didn't grow up around this stuff so I had no idea. What I like about this book is it covers things that a lot of people who grew up in the culture seem to forget to explain because it's almost second nature for them. I remember things a lot better when I learn the "whys" and this book does just that. Also, the hard part about going straight into youtube or something is there's almost too much information. I find it great for specifics because it narrows your options, but for something like "general motorcycle maintenance" it's hard to distill the information you need down and separate the good from the bad.

You'll still need a service manual for your bike but this book will teach you what each part does and how it works, then you can take the knowledge you learn from it and apply it to the service manual.

your dad has no idea what he's talking about. if a bike had no suspension, it would have no grip, be sliding everywhere (and crashing), and absolutely destroy its tires. you should read this book if you want to know more. it's not very long and is pretty simple and easy for a beginner.

Depending on what trackday org you normally ride with, there's normally a suspension guy there to help.

Virtually every racer I know pays the suspension guy to setup the bike. There's some very good books around to learn more about suspension setup (Race Tech's Suspension Tuning Bible is very popular, and I learned a good deal reading it), but in general, those books will help you communicate with the suspension gurus more than they will turn you into a suspension guru.

It sounds like the shock is stiffer, and causing the front end to lift by keeping the rear from squatting under heavy throttle. It's probably a good thing overall, but there's also probably a better middle ground to be had.

Are you running a steering dampener? What bike is it?

I found the Haynes Motorcycle Basics Techbook (check Amazon) to be very useful in learning about the mechanics and history of pretty much any part of a motorcycle (engine design was particularly interesting). The book is well written, easy to consume and full of cross-sectional diagrams. Combined with actually riding a motorcycle you can get a really good feel for how everything works together.

Sure, a good book on the subject is : https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Motorcycle-Race-Engines-Technical/dp/1844259943

Going deeper really means getting into the nitty gritty that usually ends up in CFD analysis and the whole magic of static and dynamic stresses. :-)

I started the bike after trying 3-4 times last month and then there were a few bangs, but that was once i got it started with starter fluid. I accounted that to it just being being flooded from previous attempts. Btw, great tips both here and the one you posted before. I'll look into this. I've ordered this book, hopefully it will arrive soon.

I'm late but i just started reading : http://www.amazon.com/The-Essential-Guide-Motorcycle-Maintenance/dp/1884313418 Click on Take a look inside and goto page 7, 8, and 9 they have a pretty good list of tools to start with to help you with all basic maintenance.

Suspension isn't simple but baseline settings for your average street rider are incredibly easy to set. All you need are stands and a buddy to measure while you sit on the bike to set sag. Baseline damping can be set with a few pushes on the suspension and a couple quick test rides.

For /u/IronLion650 (OP), I'd recommend this book and to check out Dave Moss' website/facebook page/mobile app. He also travels a lot so check to see if he's ever in your area.

Also, I'm assuming you got GSXR fork/shock? Don't forget to make sure that the spring rates on whatever you installed are good for your weight otherwise you might be making your bike handle worse instead of better.

Taking a slightly more academic approach, I would highly recommend reading This phenomenally detailed yet accessible book.

I've read it cover to cover twice and it will give you a comprehensive (although novice) level of understanding of how motorcycles work. The diagrams alone are worth the price of the book, and the explanations are thorough and helpful even if you know almost nothing.

thanks lol. Dave Moss (on youtube/fb/app store) is a big help, also nice that he's at almost every track day/race weekend i go to. this book is a good intro book to learn the basics of setting up a bike for your weight, baseline damping settings, and what to look for to know how to adjust it and make improvements.

I rode for a year on stock suspension before upgrading, but no matter where you are at, the suspension will really help your riding. definitely do it as soon as you have the money to blow!

This book is very good as a reference for how it all goes together as well as a practical guide for common maintenance.

Thanks for explaining exactly how big bang enhances traction. Saves me a lot of typing.

Now, I suggest you read Kevin Cameron's Excellent book Classic Motorcycle Race Engines and also MotoGP Technology. You will have a much better grasp as to exactly how much effort was put into making the bikes more rideable, and how electronics and TC (albeit very crude versions) were used (for example, MV Agusta was experimenting with EFI as early as 1955.)

Yes the bikes were mean, fire-spitting beasts that would bite your head off if you put a wheel wrong. But to say they were completely without electronics or TC is just false, sorry.

Edit: and for what its worth, Ive been watching GPs since 91 myself :)

I bought this book this week for some reading before spring. Just educate yourself, there's lots of free information out there.

Don't just buy fancy suspension bits, learn how to use them.

If you don't have friends that you go with already (or even if you do), find some buddies at the track who are on similar bikes (especially ones that are faster) and talk to them. See what they are doing and if they're doing something differently, try it out.

Also record your laps so you can watch later and see what you're doing wrong and where you can improve. It's not as easy to remember where you're braking too early or not using all of the track when you're out there riding, but when you have a video of it, you can go back and watch it all again.

For everyone asking why there's so many washers (shims/toonie outsides), check out Race Tech's Motorcycle Suspension Bible. Many pictures, much learn. Good words.

tuning suspension is a lot harder than tuning a motor or really anything else on the bike to get right. I do not tune my own suspension nor do I know much about it, but I do know you do not set 'sag' on the front forks you set preload and that is based on the springs. Also 5 inches of sag seems like a LOT in the rear. You should read a book not make a thread I'd suggest this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Sportbike-Suspension-Tuning-Andrew-Trevitt/dp/1893618455/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422042366&sr=8-1&keywords=suspension+tuning+sportbike&pebp=1422042392314&peasin=1893618455

shameless plug: https://rocketpunchracing.wordpress.com/category/tech/suspension-tech/

Just a collection of articles I find useful. read the Dave Moss suspension tuning guide and the Sport Rider suspension tuning guide. If you want to learn more, checkout the book by RaceTech: http://www.amazon.com/Techs-Motorcycle-Suspension-Motorbooks-Workshop/dp/0760331405

enjoy.