The Upper Half of the Motorcycle: On the Unity of Rider and Machine Paperback – August 1, 2010

This is a great book that deals with the mental side of motorcycling - all the things that no one told you, and you need to know.First of all, I need to mention that this is a fairly heavy read. It's not a book that you can expect to read through and understand, I found that I needed to re-read certain portions numerous times until I understood it completely. This could be due to the fact it is a translation from a German language original, or maybe Mr Speigel has written it as he thought best. I have been recommending this book to alot of people, but always with that caution - which seems well justified now that I read other reviews here and find that there is even a medical doctor who has failed to comprend the great points to be found in this book...To anyone who is skeptical that Upper Half could actually contain any valuable information that you haven't heard before, just stop to think - how many times have you heard a motorcycle racer say that racing is 10% physical and 90% mental? There's a reason for that. For anyone who takes the time to really think about motorcycling - indeed performance motorcycling - it's obvious that there is a very large mental component involved. What I find very surprising is that there are not many books or instruction that deals with the mental side. Upper Half is a valuable resource that practically fulfils that entire void and answers questions that you hadn't even thought about.If you have ever struggled with being 'afraid' to use greater lean angle, or being unsure about the limits of traction - this is the book that can answer your questions. Rather than just telling you what to do, or what not to do, Upper Half actually explains the reasons behind why we are afraid to use extreme lean angles, and why we can have such trouble coming to terms with the traction provided by modern sports tyres. This is a great approach. Personally I found it to be much more powerful and effective once I know the reason why, rather than just doing something without knowing the reason for it. I spent some time thinking about the points in this book, and once I 'got my head right' it was amazing that it had an instant effect on my riding, and every aspect of my riding - road, track, and everything in between.For anyone who is thinking that they are interested in learning more about the mental side of motorcycling, but aren't sure you can make it through some heavy reading - I would recommend starting with Total Control by Lee Parks, which touches on some points in a much easier to read manner. For people who want more - Upper Half is comprehensive and sure to inform.

It is very telling that the two people who have given this book one star openly admit to not giving it a full read. The lesson is that if you are looking for a silver bullet, or an easy answer, don't buy this book. The author tackles the concept of metacognition....how we learn about the process of thinking. And he doesn't hand you fish, instead he hands you a fishing pole. Maybe that frustrates some types, but I think its great.If you ever decide to become a pilot, you go through a lot of effort, study and practice in order to one day convince a certified examiner that you have learned how to fly. You sweat your way through your final flight test, and if you are lucky enough to pass, the examiner unceremoniously informs you that you have earned your license to learn. It dawns on you that something like flying can never be mastered, and you need to approach such an unnatural enterprise with a constant and focused spirit of self-review and reanalysis.Spiegel examines the academic study of how people learn and process sensory-motor information and then makes it relevant to your riding. Instead of handing you one-off tips and pointers, he builds a framework from which you can identify, analyze and improve any weakness in your riding. The toolkit is universal.We all know when something 'feels' right and things just click, whether that be a good run in the twistys or that one sweet shot on the back nine. For years, people have tried to write about that feeling but the results are often frustratingly vague or irritatingly new-agey. Spiegel writes about the science behind getting in the zone and staying there, and the real reasons for why trying too hard always backfires. In that respect, this book is a game changer. If you have ever done any kind of physical skill instruction, this book will crystallize all the advice and methodology you have heard about over the years. If you have ever hit a plateau or a mental block trying to learn a new sport, this book will help you get past it.Its a translation of a book by a German academic, people. Have some patience and sally forth, its worth it. You can't order every solution in life off the dollar menu. Sometimes you've got to sit down with your Chinglish assembly manual and fire off some neurons in order to build yourself something good.

The mos scarry book ive read. Factual but terrifing

In the first chapter, I thought back to myself writing term papers and trying to squeeze in extra content to make a page content. I wasn't seeing the relevance. But, then the author makes the connection, and you're like oh ok, I see where your going. And then your like this is insightful. And then your staying up later to read more of it. And then by the end you're like this is one of the most insightful motorcycle books I've read.I wouldn't start with this book as a new rider. I would read some of the other popular books first. But then once you have a few of those under belt, read this.Note, this is a book to make you think. Not a book that you pick up to get a checklist. And not something to just skim by quickly. It is dense and for good reason, packed full of insight and theory. This book makes you think about what you are doing and why and what else you should be doing or thinking about.I especially liked the mental practice advice. You can only practice so much and even then you can't practice some scenarios safely. He gives you the tools to do this and to think about what you should be practicing.After I finished the book, I went out and road my motorcycle and felt connected in a new way. I was trying to feel the road through the motorcycle. Maybe I did that somewhat before, but this book made me aware of it and understand the feeling.

The most involved book on riding a motorcycle. It covers all the stuff you need to know and how to do it but goes far beyond in understanding how you and your brain relate to riding and the motorcycle itself. Don't miss this opportunity to ride better and safer

Full of very accurate descriptions of how our mind and body work. Most of these informations are generally unheard before for the general public, nor in specialized magazines

Bought as a gift for a friend, they said it’s very heavy on the physics on the motorcycle and rider which is pretty fascinating and helps a rider understand how they can play with these laws to go faster and be more stable. Great read.

This is an excellent book. It takes the total focus off the bike and causes the reader to analyse themselves as human beings who have taken the decision to match their natural strengths and weaknesses with the complexities of the motorcycle. It will change your approach and attitude to motorbike riding.

This fluent and factual translation of the <Obere Hälfte des Motorrads> is THE classic to understand all interactions between rider/driver/pilot and the motorcycle, a car or an airplane and a necessity for every intelligent person to optimize his/her skills and abilities to operate machines by adequate brain function use.Arnold WAGNER