The Essential Guide to Dual Sport Motorcycling

Mr. Adams has captured the joy of dual sport motorcycling. His skills, passion for the sport, and ability to communicate make this book a must read. The text is well written and very readable. There are photos and illustrations that add quality and clarity throughout. I am an experienced rider and I found many useful tips that have enriched my riding experiences. Less experienced riders will consider it an indispensible read that will save them much money and pain. (Posted on 12/15/09)

As roads become more crowded and the speed capabilities of everyday motorcycles approach those of the fastest racing machines, the desire to enjoy the simple pleasures of gathering a group of friends for an off-road adventure gets more appealing all the time. You may know of trails in your area and be aware of events you might enter, but the unknowns could be holding you back. Carl Adams has done us all a great favor by creating an encyclopedic look at dual-sporting; 'Everything you need to buy, ride and enjoy the world's most versatile motorcycles' to paraphrase the book's cover. Malcolm Smith wrote the foreword, and you can't ask for a higher recommendation than that. This book contains so many nuggets of wisdom, you'll be at least a year ahead of the game by the last page. — Dave Searle (Posted on 10/12/09)

...maybe this summer it's your turn to make the leap to dual-sport riding. There's more to it than just getting off the road, though - you'll need advice and information, teaching and tutoring, and a great place to start is Whitehorse Press' new title The Essential Guide to Dual-Sport Motorcycling by Carl Adams. (Posted on 10/2/09)

Just short of 200 pages in this well laid-out and informative soft bound book liberally spread with 250 colour plates and diagrams and tables will help both those new to bikes with a duplicity of role as well as old hands.

New riders will definitely benefit from the clear explanations of dual sport gear, accessories, and techniques, while experienced riders coming to dual sport from a street riding background will find chapters covering advanced dirt riding skills, GPS navigation, and preparing for multi-day trips. All terms are explained and riding techniques are described in detail. (Posted on 10/2/09)

If you want to learn about dual sports this is 'the' book to have.

...Riding partners of Carl, and other experts all contributed to making this book a fantastic resource and distillation of many thousands of hours of dual sport riding experience.

...It's a good read and very informative. I'm happy it'll have a home on my bookshelf.

...The book makes you want to get out and ride and practice some skills! (Posted on 3/30/09)

Whether you're getting ready for an afternoon off-road ride, a weekend trip on a nearby back-country trails, or an adventure riding vacation in some far-off land, The Essential Guide to Dual Sport Motorcycling will help motorcycling enthusiasts get the most out of this popular sport. Seasoned rider Carl Adams lays out all you need to buy, ride, and enjoy the world's most versatile motorcycles.

Whatever your riding level, this book will give you a broader perspective of the dual sport experience through which you can begin your journey to better motorcycle adventures. (Posted on 3/25/09)

The Essential Guide to Dual Sport Motorcycling is an excellent primer for anyone interested in getting started in this natural form of motorcycle enjoyment. If your only bike in your garage is a street only bike, then you're missing something that can only be found on two rut roads and dirt tracks. This book will help you decide which style of dual sport riding will suit you best and which gear you should be using. If you've ever stood where two roads diverged in a yellow wood and wanted to take the one less traveled by, but knew your street bike wasn't up to the task, then you owe it to yourself to try dual sport riding, and this book is an excellent first step. (Posted on 1/15/09)

The Essential Guide to Dual Sport Motorcycling contains all the information you need to select, equip ride, and enjoy the world's most versatile motorcycles. It's comprehensive, fun to read, filled with great photos, includes a foreword by Malcolm Smith, and the author is donating his royalties to the Pediatric Brain Tumor foundation. What's not to like? If you have any interest in dual sport or just want a good insight into off road motorcycling, this book is well worth the price. (Posted on 11/13/08)

This book by Carl Adams is a book whose publication I've been looking forward to for months and have to confess some worry that it wouldn't be very good or would be dry and too technical in nature. But this book was worth the wait and it's already given this dual-sport novice a lot of food for thought.
When you take the book into your hand and it falls open, the first hints that you've got your hands on a valuable resource come to you. To start, its introduction was written by motorcycling legend Malcolm Smith, the jovial and amazingly talented focus of many parts of 'On Any Sunday'…a renowned international motorcycling hero for several decades. Across from this introduction, the Mr. Adams' acknowledgement indicates that his royalties have been assigned to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, a generous act and also one that automatically makes any reader a charitable contributor. It was a deft touch and one which virtually makes the reader a part of this book's success. The tone of his remarks about choosing a dual-sport (a choice I am in the process of making for the first time) also conveys well the romantic nature of motorcycling.
Motorcycles are about dreams, dreams of freedom and dreams of adventure. That is obviously something that this author understands well because he frames what could be a dry technical treatise about bike and part selection criteria into a search for which motorcycle will best suit your individual motorcycling dream. Do you want to rack up a lot of miles on tarmac, ride until the road ends and then continue on trails or focus on riding on trails all the way? Yet, while appreciating the individual choice that a dual-sport represents, the author also clearly and concisely presents the criteria to be considered while making that choice. It was very nicely done.
From the choice of motorcycle type, the author then proceeds logically to looking at gear selection, a matter made more complicated than selecting street gear by the more diverse climactic conditions in which trail riders can find themselves. Many street riders ride only during good weather but a minority ride year round and dual-sport and other off-road riders seem to have a lot in common with those riders. A look at how street and off-road riders' needs differ is presented, followed by technical details about motorcycle setup for on and off-road use. Tires and suspension setup in particular are looked at in detail.
From equipment selection, the author switches over to a look at how riders need to rework their 'mental software' to handle situations different from the street riding they may already be used to. Two chapters go on to discuss specific basic and more advanced off-road riding skill, skills different from the ones street riders use. These chapters are followed closely by one whose topic is trailside repairs, a vital skill to cultivate for those who may be riding where no one else will pass for weeks.
Finally, having engaged the reader at the start and then progressed to a very thorough review of technical information, the author returns to looking at the fun aspects of dual-sport riding: organized clubs and events (riding is a solitary activity which is often enriched when shared with other people), how to ensure that trails remain open for off-road riding by working with others, essential navigational skills and information about some of the ins and outs of trips and distance touring.
This book is a very valuable technical look at an aspect of motorcycling with which I am just starting to become familiar. But even more than that, it is now a new favorite book and one which I anticipate using as a reference for a long time to come. Well done! (Posted on 11/1/08)