Motorcycle Safety and Dynamics - Volume 1
Maverick - Sep 9, 2011

“Most motorcycle casualties are primarily the result of rider error.” If you are a motorcyclist and this statement gets your attention, then you are one step closer to a lifetime of “safe” motorcycling. The next step just may be to order and read Motorcycle Safety and Dynamics. After reading the book, you will find yourself referring back to it regularly. 

James R. Davis and Cash Anthony are motorcyclists who have logged hundreds of thousands of miles on a motorcycle. James is a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor and they share their passion for motorcycle safety. They have a unique capacity to analyze and understand the dynamics of motorcycle riding and the ability to describe and present those dynamics in a way others can understand,

The authors base their presentation on knowledge, facts, and experience as motorcyclists. They pull no punches and support their assertions with examples and facts along with extensive use of graphs, charts, and tables to illustrate. As motorcyclists read this book and appraise or evaluate their progress through phases 0 and 1 of a riding career, they get a clear picture of where they are, how far they’ve come, and where they have to go to ride in control of their motorcycle at all times.

Please Note: The authors refer also to phases 2 and 3, which are covered in Volume 2, but not included in this review.

Fifteen years prior to writing this book, while on small group ride on a fall day, Jim and Cash witnessed one of their group cross a double yellow line and hit an oncoming truck’s left front quarter panel. This accident motivated Jim to become actively involved in teaching riders how to avoid a similar disaster and became an MSF instructor with Cash working as his range Aide. Eventually he realized that he could reach only 12 students per week teaching for the MSF.

He wanted to reach more motorcyclists so he created a web site called Motorcycle Tips & Techniques, with a discussion forum called “All things Motorcycle” where he could write and publish detailed articles about motorcycle safety and dynamics. www.msgroup.org He received many requests to publish the articles in an organized manner in book form. Riders wanted a ready reference that they could read and consult off-line. 

James R. Davis

Cash Anthony

In describing the purpose of the book, the authors state: “The ultimate objective for us in teaching and writing about motorcycling is to help motorcyclists survive their experiences by minimizing the risks of injury and death, and making the experience enjoyable for many miles.”

Motorcycle Safety and Dynamics - Vol 1 is a definitive book on how to survive the early stages of the motorcycling experience. It provides insights that will be valuable throughout your riding career. It covers virtually every aspect of your days as a wannabe through being a newbie at the sport, with lessons on the specific skills required to be a truly competent rider. Jim and Cash have distilled the results of over a half million miles of combined experience and have added Jim’s detailed analysis of the physics of motorcycling. 

The level of detail and knowledge of motorcycling and rider behaviors communicated in this book is a gift to motorcyclists who want to avoid becoming a casualty. Ambiguity, which sometimes mitigates the potential impact of presentations by educators and teachers, is noticeably absent in this book. The authors’ straightforward, clear statements, and dos and don’ts, accompanied by explanations, commands the reader’s attention.

Motorcycle Safety and Dynamics is well conceived, well organized, and well presented. After reading Volume 1, this review is intended to facilitate access to the book’s contents by all motorcyclists.   Cash and Jim have addressed a comprehensive list of topics related to motorcycling. There is something here for everyone – new and experienced riders alike. 

Many riders don’t talk about the technology, skill, and knowledge required to ride a motorcycle. Motorcyclists share stories of adventure, drama around what other drivers do to jeopardize there safety: e.g., near misses and near hits. But they don’t talk about things they did right and things they did wrong while riding a motorcycle. I am not sure why, but I think they should. When was the last time you met up with your riding buddies and said “I went into that curve too fast,” or “I rode too close to those semis at 90 miles an hour,” or “after riding 10 hours and riding into a downpour, I should have stopped rather than continuing to ride in an exhausted state.” 

While not certain it is intended, the authors’ style of presentation invites this type of discussion. 

Click here to purchase Motorcycle Safety and Dynamics – Volumes 1 and 2. Prices range from $74.99 for a color version to $15.00 for a B&W Digital Version.