[Administrator]

Original Article:
"More Proficient Motorcycling" Book Review

Please discuss the Motorcycle.com article "More Proficient Motorcycling" Book Review in our Motorcycle Forums below. Use the reply button to let others know your comments or feedback on the article. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, along with your thoughts and personal opinions on the bikes and products we have tested.

 

[3810]

Kevin,

Whoever this Leif Merryfield is, a writer & book reviewer aren't part of his repertoire. I can't believe this pathetic journalistic disaster got printed on your site. I really expected higher standards from you folks. Certainly books as "classic" to our sport as both of Hough's deserve a far more literate & accurate review than this drivel. I'd criticise his writing style except there isn't any. You need to teach this gentleman how to write or ban him from your site. You'll never beat out your former employer with this kind of crap. Sorry to be so brutal, but somebody needs to wake up and proof-read articles before you cut them loose on your "clamoring for valid info" audience. Oh, I've had both of mine almost as of the day they were put on sale. I've read both of them at least ten times and they are still in perfect condition, no rubber bands necessary. Hint: You're not supposed to whip your pets with them. Cheers, Jack

 

[54937]

Ouch.

I am sorry you did not enjoy the review. My attempt was to provide a personal “road test” of Proficient Motorcycling and the sequel. These books address road riding skills- so I put those skills to the test on the road. Further, I wanted to convey to someone who has not read these books a taste of what they contain. Finally, I attempted to use a bit of levity, as I personally do not want to read a dry book review.

Sorry it didn’t work for you.

I am mystified why the binding of your copies of Proficient Motorcycling, etc. didn’t fall apart. Regardless, I would have dismissed one bad binding job as an aberration, but when the sequel exhibited the same problem as the original I thought it might be worth mentioning.

Perhaps I am using too much force when I slap my Alpaca?

 

[BrowningBAR]

I don't know why I am giggling like an idiot at this thread. But I am.

 

[longride]

Yikes! I didn't think his article was all that bad. I actually thought it was pretty good. I bought and read both books, and promptly gave them to a friend that needed the tips. There wasn't much there that I haven't already seen in 40 years of riding. Mine didn't have a chance to fall apart, as I didn't own them long enough. I'm not sure why the lashing of Lief comesin, except I don't think it was deserved.

 

[Buzglyd]

Yikes! I didn't think his article was all that bad. I actually thought it was pretty good. I bought and read both books, and promptly gave them to a friend that needed the tips. There wasn't much there that I haven't already seen in 40 years of riding. Mine didn't have a chance to fall apart, as I didn't own them long enough. I'm not sure why the lashing of Lief comesin, except I don't think it was deserved.

Any tips in there on how big a puddle of pre mix is allowed to get before it becomes unsafe?

 

[longride]

Any tips in there on how big a puddle of pre mix is allowed to get before it becomes unsafe?

How big is the puddle in your garage? Fix that petc*ck yet?

 

[vermicious]

I don't know why I am giggling like an idiot at this thread. But I am.

must... bite... tongue... ;-)

The books sounded great. I ordered both of them.

 

[Kevin_Duke]

Kevin,

Whoever this Leif Merryfield is, a writer & book reviewer aren't part of his repertoire. I can't believe this pathetic journalistic disaster got printed on your site. I really expected higher standards from you folks. Certainly books as "classic" to our sport as both of Hough's deserve a far more literate & accurate review than this drivel. I'd criticise his writing style except there isn't any. You need to teach this gentleman how to write or ban him from your site. You'll never beat out your former employer with this kind of crap. Sorry to be so brutal, but somebody needs to wake up and proof-read articles before you cut them loose on your "clamoring for valid info" audience. Oh, I've had both of mine almost as of the day they were put on sale. I've read both of them at least ten times and they are still in perfect condition, no rubber bands necessary. Hint: You're not supposed to whip your pets with them. Cheers, Jack

Jack, glad to have you reading, and I appreciate your critique. But I thought Leif's review was entertaining and informative - I believe he was fair in his review. The concern about the binding is a legitimate one, in Leif's case. Perhaps the structurally sound copies you have are earlier ones, and the more recent ones off the presses are of a lesser quality. Anyway, keep on reading, and we'll keep improving! Thanks!

 

[The_AirHawk]

For your next review, I would like you to read Proficient Book-Binding and More Proficient Book-Binding by Robert M. Tough...........

After that, you might enjoy reading his sequels Even-More Proficient Book-Binding, and Book-Binding: I know a Heluva Lot more about it than YOU!

 

[Kenneth_Moore]

"The prime sin of the father is delivered upon the son when it comes to “More Proficient Motorcycling.” Sin? Yes indeed. Both books share an egregious flaw that you will discover when you crack them open the first time. The cracking sound you will hear is the sound of the spine (binding) breaking. Both books then commence shedding pages like a Labrador in springtime."

Hilarious! Excellent article, Mr. Beast!

 

[vermicious]

I'm impressed with both books in the series and am prevailing upon my wife and my father-in-law to read them. I also picked up an excellent book for the mechanically inexperienced called "The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance." It covers everything from basic maintenance tasks to an approachable explanation of component interiors. I figured the cover price + a set of tools would be cheaper and more convenient than dealing with the nearest Aprilia dealership (50 miles away with only one mechanic).

 

[63134]

Love your humor, Leif! Hough's work definitely deserves a better publisher.

 

[Kevin_Duke]

For the record, we've added a short paragraph to the book review from the publishers of "MPM".

(After the initial posting of this story, the publishers of "MPN" responded with the following: "Sorry to hear that you got the printing with the bad glue. Newer printings have a stitched binding and will be much harder to rip apart. So sell your stock in rubber band companies.")

Also, they say: "In the interest of full disclosure, only Proficient Motorcycling is bound differently but both books are in later printings than the ones with the bad glue. Specifically the 9th printing of PM has the better binding. But we have not had problems with the current printing of More Proficient Motorcycling. Only parts of that bad MPM printing have been problematic as well. The printer must have refilled the glue bin with the lousy stuff in the middle of the print run. (PM was reprinted at the same time.) The problems did not show up for months as well. As far as we can tell, the books that are now in the main retail outlets are OK. We haven't had many complaints lately."