Lee ParksTotal Control: High Performance Street Riding Techniques

I've been riding since 1988. Back then, I had a 1982 Suzuki GN250, and I was absolutely fearless. That got me into a lot of crashes, but I somehow always managed to "bounce." When I got my first "big" bike, a 1981 Yamaha Maxim 650,I promply broke my leg on it. From that point on, I have ridden very conservatively. That has served me well and I've injury free ever since.Fast forward 16 years and I have moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, AKA, motorcycle heaven. When I would take my 2001 Honda GL1800A out onto the marvelous twisties of the area, I'd get passed up by SUVs and lead sleds. I did not mind being slow so much as being stressed as each corner came up. 30 miles of tight twisties would leave me exhausted, both mentally and physically. Every time I would get leaned well over, the bike would begin to feel spooky, and I'd fear that it was about to slide out. I started reading book reviews and decide to give Total Control a try.It was easy to read and to the point, with good illustrations and enough humor to keep it light. It addresses technique as well as mindset. I consider this a self-help book, and, to me, the most important part of a self-help book is the end-result, so I'll just skip to that.Last weekend, I took a ride on my Goldwing down Hwy 49 in California to the stretch known as the Little Dragon. I did not know that it was a famous road at the time, or that it is considered ill-advised for newbies, I was just enjoying a ride.I entered that stretch of road, which has sheer cliffs to one side and rock walls to the other, and no guard rails. The stretch is a bit tricky because it can encourage high speeds, but the turns are tight. I felt no stress, and just a touch of fear. If you don't feel a little fear when riding near sheer cliffs that have no guardrails, you might be in for trouble...Using the lessons learned in Total Control, I was able to hustle the 1,200 Lbs of man and machine through the turns with no more effort than if it had been that first 250 I owned. I would think, "I want to go THERE," and the bike would go THERE, effortlessly. The bike began to shrink under me and I felt the sensation of effortless flight. I continued this for 18 miles of sheer nirvana. I pulled into the hotel in Mariposa with a large grin on my face.The next day, I took 250 miles of twisties up to Mokelumne Hill. I took Priest Grade in the wet, Twice, without stress. Every now and then, the bike would get that old "spooky" feeling when heeled over. Every time it did that, it was my old habits kicking in. I would concentrate on relaxing and applying the principles of Total Control, and the bike would settle down. I found that the GL1800, a 900 Lb motorcycle, is every bit as sensitive as that 300Lb 250 was, and reacted the same way if I got hamfisted with it.I finished that 250 mile ride with a bit of pain in my legs, caused by not stopping enough. I was not tired or tense. I checked into the Hotel Leger, a haunted hotel, and stayed in a haunted room. I had sweet dreams of flying on my Goldwing. No ghosts visited. That was all the proof I needed.Sunday I am taking Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic, and 2 weeks later I am taking Level 2 of the same clinic. I hope I get half as much out of the clinics that I got out of the book.

Total Control by Lee ParksAfter reading Keith Code's Twist of the Wrist books and David Hough's Proficient Motorcycling, I wanted to look at a few other books on riding to gain more knowledge. Parks, Code, and Ienatsch focus more on racing due to their background in professional motorcycle venues. Generally speaking, most riders on the street won't apply every technique, but the skills and theories apply in either situation.Parks has his own Advanced Riding Clinic (ARC), and recommends it on a higher level than the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Experienced Rider Course (MSF ERC). All of the concepts taught in this book are apparently taught in his ARC. There are many good basics featured in this book, but it does not really help the inexperienced to intermediate rider as much as Hough's Proficient Motorcycling.Parks spends a lot of time talking about general theories from springs, shock dampeners, to managing fear, improving concentration, and looking at everything from a beginner's mind (Zen). These are certainly useful for anyone interested in motorcycles, and Parks even recommends other books specializing in each of these fields. At times, Parks' likes to brag about his achievements and proficiency in everything from martial arts to racing motorcycles, but he does cover a great deal at a surface level. He provides recommendations on safety equipment, recommended adjustments for better ergonomics, and how to speed shift.However, some of Parks' advice contradicts that of Keith Code and David Hough, and other authors. Parks does not believe in pivot steering, and recommends using both brakes - but to practice threshold braking with the rear brakes to find that certain point before lockup. Parks recommends using only your inside arm to steer, while Ienatsch will say to use both arms.Unfortunately, he does not back up these claims sufficiently. He would cite one professional racer that uses both brakes and affirms this is the correct way contrary to what other authors might feel. That said, I could cite that Valentino Rossi occasionally sticks his right leg out during hard braking and that we should all do that (Cycle World letter to the editor indicated that Rossi did this because it felt like he could brake deeper before a corner).Parks also mentioned that carbon fiber knuckle protectors on gloves are a no no, because the carbon fiber can shatter on impact and fragments might dig into your hand. I don't know much about this, but carbon fiber knuckle protectors do appear to be the latest fad in gloves. I've tried on a few shooting/tactical gloves with these doo-dads and they are uncomfortable.Total Control isn't as comprehensive as Hough's Proficient Motorcycling, but there are lots of photographs, diagrams, and additional information on speed shifting and rev matched downshifts to help out riders.Overall: 4/5 stars, I recommend Proficient Motorcycling and Twist of the Wrist 2 instead, or to buy Total Control for additional information.

Some useful road riding tips and techniques and probably good guidance for those trying track days. Shame it is aimed at the American bikers and a lot of pages dedicated to race preparation and suspension set up, which is of limited value for Mr Average road biker. Still a good read but you'd be better off buying Roadcraft and doing the IAM Skills for Life package.

Brilliant read leant alot very helpful, would recommend.

son thoroughly enjoyed more for the advanced rider

I'm happy with all aspects of purchase. Top seller! A *****

Well written and illustrated!