The truth is this. Riding a motorcycle well is part skill, part willing to learn, part understanding of basic physics, and part giving a damn about your safety and the safety of those around you.

The, author of the Motorcycle Smarts book (and NASA engineer), debunks the myth that crashing is a matter of fate by explaining the most important topics that other motorcycle mega books gloss over.

You won't find page-filling discussions about how to get the most out of your first Sturgis Rally or how to select riding gear. Instead, you'll find one of the most in-depth, simple to understand explanations of lowside and highside crashes that exists-anywhere. Riders die every day in these rider-induced crashes-and it doesn't have to be this way.

Mastering the art of riding a motorcycle well is about understanding and overcoming rider fear. It's about having the head knowledge of how your motorcycle works so you can make it go where you want it to go. It's about understanding why riders crash so you can avoid making the same mistakes. It's about taking ownership of your riding safety.

In addition to in-depth discussions about rider fear and (lowside and highside crashes), Motorcycle Smarts covers topics like countersteering, muscle memory, and braking. It also addresses some of the most important lessons from the Hurt Report and makes a case for only riding motorcycles equipped with ABS-that has nothing to do with stopping distances.

Here's what one reader said:

"I was the lead motorcycle instructor for the Milwaukee Police Department for 20 years and received my Basic and Instructor Training through Northwestern University. I have varying views on a couple of techniques but found Motorcycle Smarts to be insightful and a good training tool for new riders-and a good refresher for experienced riders. I've encouraged my son, also a Police Motor Officer, to read this book."

- Mike, Retired Police Sergeant in Milwaukee

NHTSA studies show that nearly half of all motorcycle fatalities are caused by rider error-and the numbers aren't getting any better. The training isn't working. The current motorcycle skills books aren't working. We need a fresh approach to helping riders NOT crash. This book is that.

Skilled riders crash and die every day when there was NOTHING they could have done to avoid it. But it is also true that under-skilled riders crash and die every day when there WAS something they could have done to avoid it.

Motorcycle safety is a choice. Anyone who tells you different is a liar.