A Twist of the Wrist: The Motorcycle Road Racers Handbook

by Keith Code

Here's everything you need to successfully improve your riding whether you are a novice or veteran, cruiser to sportbike rider. This book contains the very foundation skills for any rider looking for more confidence when cornering a motorcycle. Notes and comments by Eddie Lawson. Foreword by Wayne Rainey. A world-wide best seller since it first year of publication, A Twist of the Wrist has been read and re-read by street riders, novice racers and national and world champions. Translated into more than a dozen languages the demand for translation continues. Today, riders around the globe are riding faster, safer and with more confidence thanks to the step-by-step theory contained in this book.

Genres: Nonfiction, Motorcycle, Motorcycling, Racing, Self Help, Reference, Sports

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Keith Code is an American former motorcycle racer, writer, and founder of the California Superbike School. He has been called "arguably the best known and most successful on-track motorcycle instructor in the world".

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two pieces of advice for anybody desiring to ride a motorcycle: take a Motorcycle Safety course and read this book.

I acquired this book shortly after taking the Motorcycle Safety Program course in Pennsylvania. I wasn't interested in road racing or heading out to a track. I was looking for things that might be useful in gaining better control over my machine. What I found was a witty, entertaining and very helpful book. It has been thirty years since I read it, but that has not diminished the impact that it made on me. His chapter on Crashing had very useful information, and a catchy subtitle "Relax: Your Just Road Testing Your Leathers". This was the first good information about getting away from the bike I had ever seen or heard. Coupled with his earlier concept of Thinking It Through, it only made sense to get free of the bike so a bad situation doesn't become worse. Having laid a bike down at speed in my younger days, I can attest to the disorientation involved, so his advice about not trying to get up before you are sure you've stopped is very appropriate.

All of the basic information about steering, braking, the situational awareness required in riding are explained well. His pivotal chapter about having only so much attention to give to anything contains excellent advice for many situations. If you have to devote too much attention to the dozens of operations involved in operating the machine, that cuts into the attention you can give to what you want to accomplish. In his case, that meant the race, in my case it meant paying more attention to traffic and potential threats to my continued well being.

[Andrew Karnowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was recommended this book by a friend before I started to ride motorcycles. He had said reading it changed the way he rode. When I bought my first bike, I decided to read it in hopes of having a good starting point for the base of knowledge. A lot of what it said came across as common sense and directed at racing more so then your average rider. I did find value in the writing, however I didn't see it as a game changer like my friend.

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some theory to practice

Quite a few insights for any rider. Like anything, the theory must be followed through with practice. Helped me as a road rider to consider road positioning, speed and braking.

[Kevin Kuruc · Rating 3 out of 5]

For non-racers this book does have some helpful tips. The points about where to look, what countersteering is, and how to brake were all useful. Lots of not so useful material however, too.

Probably excellent if you are a racer.

[Fredrik Ahlqvist · Rating 4 out of 5]

A more "in the head" book than ATOTR II.
Not as big of a must read as the sequel and a bit dated but still a very good read.
Are you interested in motorcycle racing and the human aspect of it, pick this one up!

[York Qie · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome "info" book that doesn't feel boring. it's awesome, filled with tidbits of insight and paired with illustrations to help you imagine. lastly, it pushes you to keep practising to get better - always a good tip.

[Tom Menke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've known Keith a long time and this book is spot on

[Kevin Bjorke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still the o.g. for track riders, less so for commuters and country touring but the emphasis on practice and thought will help all.

[Petrol Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best book ever when it comes to learning how to ride.

[Stephanie R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good advice although most of it is for racing and I was looking for advice on everyday street riding.

[Jace Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!! I recommend to all who are riding motorcycles.

[Johannes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not 100% my cup of tea because the book almost exclusively focuses on track riding. Some useful tips for street riding nonetheless.

[Blethesda Hork · Rating 5 out of 5]

Required reading if you want to ride a sportbike properly

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this twice. It’s invaluable if you’re a new rider.

Wear your gear, learn about your bike, and if you ride a sport bike consider going to a track for lessons. ❤️

[Chirag Bafna · Rating 5 out of 5]

you can't learn to ride by reading a book, but you can definitely get better at it. must read for people who want to ride better, faster and longer

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having begun riding motorcycles in the Fall of 2007, I found this book to be most helpful. I had taken a safety class, so I was familiar with many of the concepts, but it's always nice to read a different perspective. The crux of the book is this: since the 1960's, the technology and equipment for motorcycles have improved tremendously: tires, brakes, engines, etc. perform at a much higher level. But track times have only increased by less than five percent. Obviously, the reason is the mentality of the riders. This book is mind-changing. One learns that the bike can handle more than the rider. So, when encountering a sticky situation (like a tight turn) remember: the bike can handle it. Stay with it, because most bad instances occur when we do what our instincts tell us.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

My uncle who taught me to ride told me I had to read this book. I can see why that is too. I may not be into racing, that's why I chose to ride a dual sport instead (plus the roads in my town). Anyways, this book teaches you how to fall when it happens (because everyone is going to fall at one point or another). It teaches you about counter-steering, braking, and so much more. The only thing I wish is that I read this before my motorcycle class. All in all, a good read for beginning riders.

The only reason I gave this a four is because I had to discipline myself to read so many chapters every day. Since it's more about racing, it's harder for me to focus, but it really does cover things all riders need.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a general introduction to the science and practice of race riding. Primarily forced on how attention is split and the impact of those choices, most of this is basic but necessary, though likely in itself not sufficient.

I didn't get as much out of this Volume 1 book as I did from the Vol 2 video. It may be the medium, or may be the content. Next step is to read Vol 2 and see if the content is what resonated.

[Rahmat Romadon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buku ini memaparkan teknik-teknik riding serta tips-tips racing di jalan raya dan race track - khusus untuk sport bike dan motor balap. Wajib punya bwt yg gila balap motor dan safety riding di jalan raya.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smart guy, weird writing style.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vol II is better and includes everything in this edition.

[Ede · Rating 4 out of 5]

preng!

[Uldis Sturms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book learned an awful lot, great explanation on road cambers, increasing and decreasing radius apex, bankings.

[Nicholas Moryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent into to motorcycle racing (not general riding skills), albeit dated. Doesn't have much technical detail and very high level as compared to, e.g., "Going Faster" (for car racing).

[Alex Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must read still today for any aspiring road racer or track day enthusiast

[Daniel Silverman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Within 4 pages it completely restructured the way I rode my motorcycles. Blew my mind.