Reddit Reddit reviews A Twist of the Wrist Vol. 2: The Basics of High-Performance Motorcycle Riding

We found 36 Reddit comments about A Twist of the Wrist Vol. 2: The Basics of High-Performance Motorcycle Riding. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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A Twist of the Wrist Vol. 2: The Basics of High-Performance Motorcycle Riding
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36 Reddit comments about A Twist of the Wrist Vol. 2: The Basics of High-Performance Motorcycle Riding:

u/Ole_Gil · 125 pointsr/motorcycles

Congrats on the Babigale and living down your dream!

Reality check: plenty of power is an understatement. Like others have said, your age group and situation is one of the most accident prone. If you are gonna cruise to starbucks every third Sunday, then you probably don't need much more than a basic rider course.

I'll tell you from experience that an 899 is an incredible motorcycle. The engine is good, but it's the chassis that is unbelievable. You already own the bike, it would be a sin not find out what it can do when pressed, because it shreds. Do yourself a ginormous favor and start doing some track-day schools. DON'T try to go be Rossi Sr. on the street, you will either mame/kill yourself or never improve because the learning curve is too steep. Also Twist of the Wrist I and II are must haves. Sport Riding Techniques by Nick Ientasch is another great read.

https://www.amazon.com/Sport-Riding-Techniques-Develop-Confidence/dp/1893618072/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499826120&sr=8-1&keywords=sport+riding+techniques

https://www.amazon.com/Twist-Wrist-Motorcycle-Roadracers-Handbook/dp/0965045013/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1499826148&sr=8-2&keywords=twist+of+the+wrist

https://www.amazon.com/Twist-Wrist-Vol-High-Performance-Motorcycle/dp/0965045021/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499826174&sr=8-1&keywords=twist+of+the+wrist

Lastly, the best way to get back at the people who call it a mid-life crisis is to become a proficient motorcyclist.

u/PriceZombie · 23 pointsr/LifeProTips

Thanks =)

Also I recommend Twist of the Wrist II. The DVD is entertaining in a "Vanilla Ice 1980's" sort of way.

u/BuckeyeBentley · 8 pointsr/motorcycles

Read Proficient Motorcycling and A Twist of the Wrist II, and watch the movie A Twist of the Wrist.

u/ridethepiggy · 8 pointsr/motorcycles

Oh man, have you heard about Twist of the Wrist 2?.

u/[deleted] · 6 pointsr/motorcycles

I'm 21, 6'2" and 190. Before the MSF class, I had never ridden anything, so I know exactly how you feel. Let me see what I can do:

> So, besides taking the MSF course, what can I do to learn more?

After the MSF class, read or watch Twist of the Wrist 2
(note: you can find these elsewhere for free) TotW 1 is good too, but 2 is more focused on practical street riding.

> What should I know (I realize this may be early since I haven't had any experience yet)?

Before you even touch a bike, you should know that motorcycles are in fact dangerous when compared to other methods of transportation. Be knowledgeable of the studies that prove it. Also, understand that while the activity is inherently dangerous there are many ways to reduce risk. The MSF class should cover most of this, but here's a couple that should be drilled into your head:

  • Gear up. All of it. Helmet, Jacket, Gloves, Boots, and something on your legs with more protection than a pair of Levi's.

  • Gear up ALL THE TIME

  • Don't ride in blind spots

  • Always be aware of your surroundings

  • Ride like every car is trying to kill you, because they are

  • Don't be a squid

    >Here in Arizona passing the MSF course waives your skills and written test for a license and I have a hard time believing that 2.5 days of experience is enough for me to feel comfortable riding around without more practice.

    I took the MSF class and picked up a Ninja 250 a month later with no practice in between. I puttered around the neighborhood streets for a while (about 200 miles worth of residential and <40mph streets) before I took it out on the highway. Mostly, work on your coordination. Keeping track of what gear you're in and what order you pull levers and push pedals can be confusing when you're also making sure you don't get run over. Practice until you're confident.

    > Also, I was looking around some dealers this past weekend and almost unanimously they said to ignore the MSF teachers' advice to go for a 250cc bike for a learner because I would "outgrow" it within a few months.

    Wrong. Well, Kind of. It's less the amount of time you own it and more the amount of technically challenging miles you've put on it. One piece of advice I love to give to people considering the 250 is this: Don't ever let anyone tell you that you need to have a big bike to be a good rider.

    I had my 250 for 3 months and put 3800 miles on it and I was still working on my form when I wrecked it. The people that get bored with a 250 in a couple months are the ones that go fast in straight lines. They upgrade to a 600 supersport, lowside it once and get scared shitless. It's why there are so many cosmetically damaged supersports on the market.

    > I've seen a lot of testimonials to the contrary and I mentioned that and then they said that it would be a safety issue, where a larger bike could accelerate out of accidents that a smaller one would get trapped in. Really, I just get the feeling that they are trying to upsell me on a larger bike but I was curious if these things are true.

    Plausible, but unlikely. Power is no substitute for safe riding. I feel a little safer in traffic on my 600 than I did on my 250 simply because I can get out of blind spots faster, but all I'm doing is accelerating to get out of someone's way instead of braking.

    And yes, the dealer is definitely trying to sell you a bigger bike. Bigger bike, more money, more commission.

    > Finally (wow this is a lot of questions) I was looking at a Ninja 250R, probably a used one since the refresh a couple of years ago. Any input on that as a starter bike?

    You should check out r/250r for fellow redditors with the 250r. Also, ninja250.org has one of the biggest knowledge databases on the two-fiddy.

    > I know it's a "sportbike" but it seems more like a standard bike with rider positioning. Also, would a guy of my height have an issue with one? I sat on one and compared to other bikes I felt like I was sitting very low and wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

    Inseam matters more than height. Cycle-ergo is an awesome tool that can tell you roughly where your knees will be and how much you have to lean. Honestly, at 6'2", the 250 was a little small for me. I had one of the older ones which was slightly different, but the new ones I sat on at the dealer were also cramped though there are guys taller than me that ride them comfortably. Next time you go to the dealer, sit on one with your hands on the handlebars and stay there for a while. If it seems a little small don't worry, there are a handful of things you can do to change the ergonomics of the bike. If you're completely uncomfortable after 10 minutes, you may want to look at a bigger bike. (Not a supersport.)

    > Basically, any advice you can give me would be great!

    I know I threw a lot at you and it may be a little overwhelming. You did the right thing by signing up for the MSF class to see if you're truly interested. If you don't make it through the class, don't worry; riding isn't for everyone. It's dangerous, it's expensive and it's certainly a lifestyle change. You'll find yourself going out of your way to hit the twisties and showing up late to things. You'll neglect other projects on the weekends so you can get some seat time. You'll shave your head to avoid helmet-hair. You'll hear the sound of an engine and whip your head around trying to see what kind of bike it's coming from. You'll lean into turns in your car.

    But riding is also one of the most rewarding experiences in the world. Getting over the fear, accepting the danger and finally throwing a leg over a bike is a feeling like no other. Once you do that, you get to experience the silent camaraderie of "the wave," the butterflies in your stomach just as you lean into a corner, the feeling you get whenever you see one of those 'curvy road ahead' signs, the exhilaration of completing a perfect set of twisties, and much, much more.

    Riding is awesome, and I'm sure you'll love it. Good luck in your class!

    EDIT: Downvotes? Seriously? I sure hope that was a bot.
u/jmkogut · 5 pointsr/motorcycles

A Twist of the Wrist and A Twist of the Wrist 2 oh and Total Control. These books are amazing.

u/SutekhRising · 4 pointsr/motorcycles

At the very start of the video you hear the engine throttling up, then a slight skid, followed by the throttle being chopped. This tells me the rider was rolling on the throttle either too aggressively or too early and the rear wheel broke traction and started sliding to the outside of the turn. Anyone who has read or watched "Twist of the Wrist II" knows this as "Survival Reaction #1:" chopping the throttle causes the rear tire to re-acquire traction and kick the bike upright, which usually results in a high-side. It sounds like the rider got lucky and didnt get thrown over. Instead, he hung on and was attempting to regain his composure (get his feet back on the pegs and finish the turn) but ran out of room. Its at this point that target fixation kicked in and the rider became a passenger. He watched himself ride in a straight line off the road, across the dirt shoulder, up the hill and into the air thanks to the large boulder.

Technically, this rider seems to exhibit all seven of the Survival Reactions (instinctive fear-induced reactions) that Keith Code explains:

  1. rolling off the gas
  2. Tightening on the bars
  3. Narrowed and frantically hunting field of view
  4. fixed attention (on something)
  5. Steering in the direction of the fixed attention
  6. No steering (frozen) or ineffective (not quick enough or too early) steering
  7. Braking errors (both over-and under-braking)

    In this scenario, the ideal course of action for the rider would be to not have gotten into the position that we see in the video. This accident occurred before the video even started.

    But short of that, once the rear tire started sliding out, had he kept the throttle input the same instead of chopping it, there's a chance the skidding wheel would have kept the bike tipped over on the ground, causing a low-side instead.

    And there is a slim (and I mean SLIM) chance that had the rider INCREASED throttle, the spinning wheel might have had enough force to power its way out of the slide and get back into line with the front wheel: Power on, lean a little more and hope that the turn doesn't have dirt on it from the last time someone wiped out there. With some luck, he might have been able to pull through the turn and wind up on the straight without any damage.

    Now, keep in mind that all of this takes place in less than a second. Even if your reaction time is FLAWLESS, that still doesnt leave much time to 1. identify the problem, 2. predict what's going to happen 3. decide on the best course of action and 4. execute that plan as quickly as possible. Even the best riders in the world get it wrong from time to time.

    Plain and simple, the rider sealed his fate the minute he started rolling on the throttle. Which - Im guessing - was motivated by his need to look cool, knowing that this turn is populated by people with video cameras.
u/Lumpy_bd · 3 pointsr/motorcycles

While you are making reading recommendations, can I suggest that you point him in the direction of A Twist of the Wrist by Keith Code? It really is one of the best instructional books in existence for becoming a better rider.

u/Pogogunner · 3 pointsr/motorcycles
u/Xysten · 3 pointsr/motorcycles

This book is great if you're looking to improve at the track as well. There is also a dvd that covers most of the material in the book.

http://www.amazon.com/Twist-Wrist-Basics-High-Performance-Motorcycle/dp/0965045021/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342376172&sr=8-1&keywords=twist+of+the+wrist+2

u/khafra · 3 pointsr/AskReddit

Space does not permit all the tips I've learned by reading this, this, this, this, and this.

But, briefly:

  • watch out for "edge traps"--where road work or a 2x4 in the street or anything similar can catch your tire and turn it to the side.

  • go somewhere safe, not on the road, and practice. Learn how hard you can apply your brakes, and how to ease off the back as you apply the front. Set up cones and practice various kinds of turns.

  • look far ahead, look all around, predict what other vehicles are going to do in one second, two seconds, five, ten.

  • Three words: Shots and wheelies.
u/friendly_jerk · 3 pointsr/motorcycles

You need to go to the track. Track days are friendly to even the most novice of riders.

Also, I recommend this book, and this one.

u/unoriginal_stuff · 2 pointsr/motorcycles
  • In short, there's nothing you can say or do now that will ease her mind.
    That all comes with time. Save up and pay for your own bike and gear, take the safely course. Try not the crash in your 1st year of riding. Show her you're responsible adult.

  • Don't ride in the rain, Take public transport. But sometimes it can't be helped. Just take it slow, wait for the rain to die-down if it get too heavy (what's heavy? you have to make a judgement on that)
    You can get riding gear that's water proof, but my experiences with them is that they don't work. Just carry a water proof backpack with a change of clothes in there, Kriega makes great stuff. The bike should be fine in the rain, but it's best to find a shaded area to park.

  • Just keep in mind that you're a beginning and know your limits. A twist of the wrist 2. Read it or Watch it.
u/ocelotpotpie · 2 pointsr/motorcycles

Check out Twist of the Wrist. There's a DVD and a book. Both are excellent. There are some great excerpts from it on youtube as well.

Book:
http://www.amazon.com/Twist-Wrist-Basics-High-Performance-Motorcycle/dp/0965045021


Some bits from the DVD on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWH_QiXw5n4&feature=related

u/Rocketsprocket · 2 pointsr/motorcycles

You may be leaning plenty already (for the street). The pegs on a sportbike are situated differently from those on a cruiser, and the amount of lean required to drag them may be more than what you need.

You might want to concentrate on skills specific to sportbike riding - yes, they are different from cruisers. (For example braking is different due to a different weight distribution between the front and back wheels.)

Keith Code's book is excellent.

u/StarWolve · 2 pointsr/motorcycles

Here's a list, off the top of my head - I know all these are on my bookshelf, but I'm probably missing a few more:

Hell's Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club by Sonny Barger

Freedom: Credos from the Road by Sonny Barger

Ridin' High, Livin' Free: Hell-Raising Motorcycle Stories by Ralph Sonny Barger

Dead in 5 Heartbeats by Sonny Barger

Under and Alone by William Queen

No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels by Jay Dobyns

Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga (Modern Library) by Hunter S. Thompson

Street Justice by Chuck Zito

The Original Wild Ones: Tales of the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club by Bill Hayes

Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road by Neil Peart

The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa by Neil Peart

Against the Wind: A Rider's Account of the Incredible Iron Butt Rally by Ron Ayres

Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work by Matthew B. Crawford

Honda CB750: The Complete Story by Mark Haycoc

Shovelhead Red The Drifter's Way by Roy Yelverton

Shovelhead Red-Ridin' Out by Roy Yelverton

A Twist of the Wrist 2: The Basics of High-Performan​ce Motorcycle Riding by Keith Code

Total Control: High Performance Street Riding Techniques by Lee Parks


Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values by Robert M. Pirsig - Still my favorite. A high school english teacher bought it for me when he found out I had just passed my motorcycle road test. I've read it at least 15 times, and get something new from it each time.


But the best recommendation - Buy the FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL for your bike and read it. Read it often, until you can almost turn to the exact page for each procedure.

u/Albert0_Kn0x · 1 pointr/motorcycles

Just go to Amazon right now and order this and this right now. Do it. Will save your life and make riding fun.


u/nagilfarswake · 1 pointr/motorcycles

I'm going to recommend something a little unconventional around here: an actual paper book.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0760313318/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_6wgwybXHCREVS

I bought this sort of on a whim when I started riding and was in the same position as you, and it was unbelievably informative and interesting to read. Its slightly out of date in that it precedes the advent of common electronic aides, but 100% of the stuff in the book is useful.

Also, while I'm recommending books for new riders, Lee Park's "Total Control" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0760343446/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_Mxgwyb3MVM3CF) is an absolutely brilliant book. Its specifically about street riding (as opposed to track) and is targed towards newish riders. This book basically singlehandedly changed me from a hesitating novice to a confident (though a little reckless, it taught me to ride well but doesn't teach thoughtfulness the way Keith Code does) rider.

And, of course, the great grand daddy of them all, Twist of the Wrist 2 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0965045021/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_aygwyb1BB573F). This book is so good and so dense that I still find new things to practice every page or two. The definitive riding technique book for good reason. No, you don't need to read part 1.

u/bbasara007 · 1 pointr/motorcycles

My friend that got me into riding races an R6 with more low end torque than an R1 (only tops out at 120 because of that though :/ ). Another is a bmw s1000rr. I myself ride a old 90 FZR600 supersport and a honda shadow.

It doesn't matter what type of bike it is, steering physics work the same. Cruisers just steer slow and with less lean. It doesn't mean your input on the turn should be any different.

This is also backed up by some well known pro's. Example:

Twist of the Wrist: Keith code

http://www.amazon.com/Twist-Wrist-Basics-High-Performance-Motorcycle/dp/0965045021/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344012435&sr=8-2&keywords=twist+of+the+wrist

Total Control: Lee Parks

http://www.amazon.com/Total-Control-Performance-Street-Techniques/dp/0760314039/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344012569&sr=1-3&keywords=total+control

Lee Parks spend a good amount of the book explaining the techniques for both sportbike and cruisers, which end up being the same thing.

u/im_mrmanager · 1 pointr/motorcycles

In addition to the MSF and additional training, this should be required reading https://www.amazon.com/Twist-Wrist-Vol-High-Performance-Motorcycle/dp/0965045021

u/drwatson · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Take a class and read this book. Geared towards racing but still very insightful for any rider.

u/AGGGman · 1 pointr/motorcycles

You can do that with the Ninja 250. It's all practice. Like V_Glaz_Dam mentioned you should watch the Twist of Wrist 2 series.

Here's something I wrote for one of my friends.

For books, I personally like this one the most. I feel like Nick took a lot information from the Twist of the Wrist books and made it more modern.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1893618072/ref=oh_o02_s01_i00_details



But I also learned a lot from Lee Park's book. Lee Park hosts a rider school where he runs over all the drills in his book and helps with rider technique. You have to google the class schedules but he comes around California at least once or twice a year.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0760314039/ref=oh_o04_s00_i00_details



The there is the Twist of the Wrist series
http://www.amazon.com/Twist-Wrist-Motorcycle-Roadracers-Handbook/dp/0965045013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330372612&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Twist-Wrist-Basics-High-Performance-Motorcycle/dp/0965045021/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1330372612&sr=8-2

I haven't read those books but the Twist of Wrist II videos are on youtube so you can check them out.



The last book I would recommend is Proficient Motorcycling. I highly recommended reading that one because it focuses a lot on general riding. Techniques that everyone should learn just to stay alive riding on the road. The book can be found at some libraries so you can save some money by just loaning it.
http://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guide-Riding/dp/1933958359/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330372534&sr=1-1-spell

The rest is all practice.
Also youtube "ninja 250 track" and you'll see a bunch of videos of guys racing their 250s on the track.

I wouldn't get on a track until you are at least familiar with your motorcycle. Get some miles under your belt before you decide to do it. After you are comfortable on your bike I would try to hook up with some local riders who are better than you. That way you can talk to them and learn from their experience. But remember to take most advice with a grain of salt. I personally use meetup.com to meet a lot of other guys to ride with.



u/TriumphRid3r · 1 pointr/electronic_cigarette

It's definitely because you haven't figured out how to handle it yet. I'm an instructor with Doc Wong Northwest. It's a free riding clinic & covers the finer details of sport riding. We teach the concepts covered by Keith Code's Twist of the Wrist 2. I personally help run the clinics in Albany, but they originally started in PDX. You should check them out. They meet the first Saturday of every month at BMW Motorcycles of Western Oregon in Tigard. Not only is it a great way to learn more advanced riding, but it's a good reason to get out and ride & a great way to meet other riders in the area.

I'd also like to recommend a few books to get you started:

u/silverfox762 · 1 pointr/Harley

Oh yeah, do the author a favor and buy the book to go with the video. He runs a track school, and really knows his shit. It's cheap. Don't let the "high-performance riding" label fool you. He means that literally- to perform at a high level.

http://www.amazon.com/Twist-Wrist-Vol-High-Performance-Motorcycle/dp/0965045021/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409609765&sr=8-1&keywords=twist+of+the+wrist+2

u/tomatopaste · 1 pointr/motorcycles

> The techniques I have learned and shared were taught to me in the MSF Beginner course. I think your advanced techniques and concepts might certainly be confusing and "over the head" to many beginners .. such as the OP.

I encourage others to think, and -- as I keep stating -- I fight misinformation. If you have a problem with one or the other, I really don't give a shit.

The MSF course teaches you the fundamental mechanics of riding and very little more. In retrospect, I'm horrified that they put people on the street with so little training. If you want to swaddle people in a nest of MSF generalities, go ahead. I may well be there, too, to point them in the right direction.

> Oh, and disagreeing with others does not have to equal calling them idiots.

I call it like I see it. Not an idiot? Demonstrate it by reading and writing carefully. Your post was poorly constructed, contained tangential information, and was simply wrong. Further, you were defending someone who has been going around spreading some dangerous misinformation.

Seek out information and learn.

Total Control

Proficient Motorcycling

More Proficient Motorcyclig

Twist of the Wrist

Twist of the Wrist Vol 2

u/vijjer · 1 pointr/motorcycles

Keith Code - Twist of The Wrist I/II (Vol 1 / Vol 2)

Also, once you're get to the apex, start rolling the throttle on smoothly. This will help balance your lean angle and the feeling of 'falling inwards'.

u/mesablue · 1 pointr/motorcycles

Actually, after reading through the Amazon reviews, the second book might be better for a street rider -- http://www.amazon.com/Twist-Wrist-Basics-High-Performance-Motorcycle/dp/0965045021/ref=pd_sim_b_1/190-3246003-3280920

u/TrexinF-14 · 1 pointr/motorcycles

Keith Code's training movie based on this book is available as a 7 part series.

Highly recommended whether you're the kind who takes your bike to the track or to the canyons. I would recommend that you purchase the DVD, it is a worth while investment.

u/Harb67 · 1 pointr/motorcycles

Seems like every single person in this video (save for the near-wrecks due to asshat car drivers) really needs a lesson on corner exit. You don't necessarily get back on the throttle once you pass the apex, you get back on the throttle as you bring the bike back up. Ideally these two things coincide, but when you're a squid on the street and blow a corner it's not uncommon to stay cranked over well past the apex.

A copy of Twist of the Wrist 2 or Sport Riding Techniques would have probably avoided nearly every one of these incidents ಠ_ಠ

u/Gertm · 1 pointr/motorcycles

The book is too cheap to not buy. Well worth the money.

But keep in mind: your tires need to be warm for this stuff to work properly.

u/demon646 · 0 pointsr/motorcycles

I read a bunch of different answers. I only use the brakes for slowing or stopping. When I've accomplished that, I let them go or let up. I try to be as efficient with my controls as possible, only using what I need, when I need it. That gives my brain more time to process the "big picture". I used to think of the bike as an extension of myself. Now, after experience and practice, it is :)

There is a lot that needs to be paid attention to when riding, so taxing your brain in a pseudo "ready mode" or other taxing thought processes isn't as good as fully paying attention to the present. Definitely practice any riding skills until they become natural. My goal is to have total awareness of my surroundings as much of the time as possible, but instantly focusing 100% on any potential emergencies while spending as little time in that state as possible, then going immediately back to total awareness. For example: I'm sitting at a stop light, swivel my helmet and see some one coming up fast. I then take action. Could be tap the brake, turn on my turn signal, or grab the bars and make my best effort to move to safety if needed depending on the situation. Then reset and scan.

With more practice, one can grab the clutch, twist the throttle, shift to 1st, and start releasing the clutch in well under 1 second or seemingly simultaneously. I've been riding for 21 years and it's 2nd nature, (I don't think about it) which allows for they key to being on the road in any vehicle = pay attention.

--

This is an absolute must for ANY rider weather you're racing, riding , or driving:
http://amzn.com/0965045021
http://www.amazon.com/Twist-Wrist-II-Keith-Code/dp/0965045072

u/RocketGrouch · -3 pointsr/motorcycles

This stuff really shouldn't be on Youtube though, as this is a commercial and pirated video.

Watch it by all means and then thank Keith Code properly:

https://www.amazon.com/Twist-Wrist-II-Keith-Code/dp/0965045072/

https://www.amazon.com/Twist-Wrist-Vol-High-Performance-Motorcycle/dp/0965045021