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Head Check: What it Feels Like to Ride Motorcycles
Penned by one of the most prominent motorcycle journalists of the 21st century, Head Check invites readers to take in the color and detail of a rider's life vividly realized, richly observed, and transcendently described. During his tenure at Motorcyclist magazine, Jack Lewis has touched readers around the world not only through his incandescent prose riffs and self-effacing humor, but also through a consistent and deeply felt humanity.
This collection of magazine features and columns alongside personally published pieces and new material may be populated by motorcycles, but it centers around the varied experiences of riders (and their tolerant keepers) in a world where risk is a bet you make with yourself for purposes that must always surpass mere recreation. Head Check is -- beneath the sarcastic wit, wide-eyed fear, profound humility, and occasional descents into scatology -- a collection of love stories. Recommended for riders, readers, passengers, and humans.
This collection of magazine features and columns alongside personally published pieces and new material may be populated by motorcycles, but it centers around the varied experiences of riders (and their tolerant keepers) in a world where risk is a bet you make with yourself for purposes that must always surpass mere recreation. Head Check is -- beneath the sarcastic wit, wide-eyed fear, profound humility, and occasional descents into scatology -- a collection of love stories. Recommended for riders, readers, passengers, and humans.
- GenresMotorcycle
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2014
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16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 14, 2016
The author does a masterful job of reminding us, why we ride motorcycles. The peace. Lonely dirt roads away from everything. The solitude. Actively letting go of all the ills of life; broken homes, divorces, missing buddies, returning home from war. A wonderful text and easy read. This is a must read for all motorcyclist and sidecar aficionados. The writers has a special gift for weaving motorcycle therapy and life together with a splash of humor. Excellent read!
August 10, 2017
Some gems; mostly rather dull motorcycle journeys.
I thought this would have insights into the mindset of the motorcyclist. It does, a little. There are some gems, like a soldier's respect for a man's tools, there for the taking, but not taken. There was also some advice for reckless riders. The problem for me was the descriptions of endless road journeys. I don't know how anyone can make these an interesting read. This wasn't a book I couldn't put down, it was one I didn't want to pick up. Maybe I should have read the description of the contents better.
I thought this would have insights into the mindset of the motorcyclist. It does, a little. There are some gems, like a soldier's respect for a man's tools, there for the taking, but not taken. There was also some advice for reckless riders. The problem for me was the descriptions of endless road journeys. I don't know how anyone can make these an interesting read. This wasn't a book I couldn't put down, it was one I didn't want to pick up. Maybe I should have read the description of the contents better.
April 12, 2018
Excellent life stories!
Enjoyed the stories of motorcycles and life. Stories from a man who lives well. Enjoy the road of life, Hope to see you down that road one day.
Enjoyed the stories of motorcycles and life. Stories from a man who lives well. Enjoy the road of life, Hope to see you down that road one day.
March 6, 2019
Great read
I enjoyed the stories. Each held my interest as it developed characters and plot. I'll be reading this author's other books
I enjoyed the stories. Each held my interest as it developed characters and plot. I'll be reading this author's other books
November 21, 2016
A few years back I bought a motorcycle, but like many of us before the actual bike was in the garage "research" was being done and dreams were being had. This is the time that I read Lewis' Head Check. Travel books can often come across as self-centered, non-articulate diaries of happy people doing fun things, but this is not the case with Head Check.
I believe that Lewis has a military background and the writing is heavy with one liners and aphorisms containing bits of information and wisdom. One of my favorites (in a chapter called "The Long and Whining Road) is "Strange it is to have everything you want, and still want things."
Motorcycle touring is a strange activity blending boredom with adrenaline and ugliness and the harsh reality of the world with beauty and the inexplicable feeling of pure freedom. There are times when Lewis captures motorcycle touring in its entirety which is not an easy thing to do.
Lewis' writing is honest and lacks the naivety of armchair authors. As Lewis writes, "to run and throw yourself into the world: there is liberty that requires no document, no government to grant it. nothing can take it from you but fear.
I believe that Lewis has a military background and the writing is heavy with one liners and aphorisms containing bits of information and wisdom. One of my favorites (in a chapter called "The Long and Whining Road) is "Strange it is to have everything you want, and still want things."
Motorcycle touring is a strange activity blending boredom with adrenaline and ugliness and the harsh reality of the world with beauty and the inexplicable feeling of pure freedom. There are times when Lewis captures motorcycle touring in its entirety which is not an easy thing to do.
Lewis' writing is honest and lacks the naivety of armchair authors. As Lewis writes, "to run and throw yourself into the world: there is liberty that requires no document, no government to grant it. nothing can take it from you but fear.
May 30, 2015
Excellent motorcycle book
I love the way Jack Lewis writes. Humor and humanity, in equal doses and surprising juxtaposition. He's not kidding when he subtitles this book Why We Ride Motorcycles. Pretty well nails it for me, as a somewhat older rider facing some of the same limits and modalities. Like that Ural lifehack rig he talks about: That's my fall back plan for when I can't hold a bike up at a stoplight any more. I could go on, but you'd probably react like my wife when I read one too many notoriously funny quotes - polite but enough is enough.
I love the way Jack Lewis writes. Humor and humanity, in equal doses and surprising juxtaposition. He's not kidding when he subtitles this book Why We Ride Motorcycles. Pretty well nails it for me, as a somewhat older rider facing some of the same limits and modalities. Like that Ural lifehack rig he talks about: That's my fall back plan for when I can't hold a bike up at a stoplight any more. I could go on, but you'd probably react like my wife when I read one too many notoriously funny quotes - polite but enough is enough.
February 18, 2015
"slow is easy, easy is smooth, and smooth is fast." -148
I'd already read Lewis' columns in Motorcyclist magazine, so thought this book might be a waste. It's not. Lewis' stories are much, much better than the heavily edited versions that appeared in the magazine. His profanity and voice are much funnier and more appropriate in the full version. If you even slightly enjoyed his magazine writing, you'll absolutely love this book.
I'd already read Lewis' columns in Motorcyclist magazine, so thought this book might be a waste. It's not. Lewis' stories are much, much better than the heavily edited versions that appeared in the magazine. His profanity and voice are much funnier and more appropriate in the full version. If you even slightly enjoyed his magazine writing, you'll absolutely love this book.
December 23, 2015
Lewis has a fresh view on the art of motorcycle riding.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews