RTI Rider Training Institute > E-Zine

Rider Training Institute

RTI E-Zine for Motorcyclists

Compiled below are a number of links to help you find some resources quickly. By no means is this list meant to be exhaustive. Rather, it is a sample of some places where you can begin to search, to educate yourself and hopefully augment your riding experience.

On this page:
Roads - Magazines - Government - Clubs - Books - Insurance - Race - Tracks - Trackdays - Off-Road - Touring - Hand Signals - Rentals - Museum

New to motorcycling? Here's more information on selecting your first bike and riding gear.

A Day in the Life... Of a Rider Training Motorcycle. Read about the basic course from the motorcycles perspective

GREAT MOTORCYCLING ROADS IN ONTARIO

Great Ontario Bikeroads - A wonderful compendium of twisty and scenic roads found across Ontario. This site also has many other articles and links. Well worth a look and a read.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/elhum/

MAGAZINES

You can often find international bike mags at Indigo/Chapters and other large media outlets. They are often more costly, and much of their revenue comes from advertising. Their editorial content is sometime more humourous or less politically correct than some of the North American publications.

TWO (wheels only) Magazine from the UK is a good example
http://www.two.tv/
UK Superbike Magazine is another
http://www.superbike.co.uk/

GOVERNMENT

Ministry of Transportation, Ontario
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/gradu/
The Official Motorcycle Handbook – a must-read before writing your M1 test http://www.fedpubs.com/subject/personal/motorcycle_hdbk.htm
And the Motorcycle's Permit Study Guide http://www.fedpubs.com/subject/personal/motorcycle_study.htm

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CLUBS AND ONLINE LISTINGS

Ontario Road Riders Association - "Clubs working together to promote a positive image of motorcycling"
http://www.orra.on.ca/
The Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada (MCC) – National motorcycle organization
http://www.motorcycling.ca/orig/index.html
Huge listing of Canadian, US and international clubs and organizations
http://www.comnet.ca/~cochon/clubsandorganizations.html
Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group
http://www.cvmg.ca/
CanadianWomenMCRiders – One of many riding groups/forums in Canada
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CanadianWomenMCRiders/
GTA Motorcycle Club
http://www.gtamotorcycle.com
http://www.motorcycle.com/
Ontario Dual Sport Club
http://www.odsc.on.ca/
Trail Hounds Dual Sport Bike Club of Ontario - http://www.trailhounds.ca
Motorcycle Clubs and Charity Rides – pages of links to local clubs and groups
http://www.supershowevents.com/clubs/index.html
Ontario Motorcycle Rides – Charity rides and organized fundraising rides
http://ontario.bikerides.ca
Charity rides and organized fundraising rides
http://www.lets-ride.ca/events/ontario.htm
Motorcycle News Online - British online bike media site
www.motorcyclenew.com

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BOOKS

There are many books which can improve your riding techniques and add knowledge that would otherwise take years to learn through trial and error.

Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well
and More Proficient Motorcycling by David L. Hough
David is a moto-journalist and has been writing for several decades on every topic you can imagine. His books cover details from touring and group riding to things you might not learn from anyone else. They're well worth a read whether you spend a lot of time in the saddle, are planning a big trip, or even if you're just a hobby rider.

http://www.whitehorsepress.com/ - books, gear, videos/DVDs, all sorts of bike stuff

A Twist of the Wrist: The Motorcycle Roadracers Handbook
and A Twist of the Wrist, Vol. II: The Basics of High Performance Motorcycle Riding by Keith Code
Keith Code has written several books on racing and runs a race school that travels across several US states. Many of the techniques explained in his books have applicability to both road and track situations.

Sport-Riding Techniques by Nick Ienatsch
Basic to intermediate level riding techniques
Nick raced professionally and also managed several racers' careers. He is currently a racing instructor at Freddy Spencer's race school.

Pro Motocross And Off-Road Riding Techniques by Donnie Bales
If you prefer to ride in the dirt or want to learn how, this is a good book. Basic to advanced riding and jumping techniques, as well as some trick technical details your motorcycle dealer probably doesn't know.

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MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE

http://www.kanetix.ca/motorcycle-insurance - an online broker that will search several suppliers like RBC and Kingsway and give you rough estimates based on the criteria that you enter.

Kingsway

Riders Plus

State Farm

Primmum – Open Road

President's Choice

RBC

Several other insurance companies may provide motorcycle coverage. Ask your current insurance company if they cover bikes and get a quote from them. It's recommended that you get a few quotes BEFORE you purchase your bike, as you may be shocked by the insurance quotes you get, and possibly change the model you buy.

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RACE SCHOOL

FAST Racing School - Run by award-winning Canadian race champ Michel Mercier in Shannonville, Ontario (near Belleville). Some of the most fun you can have with your leathers on. http://www.fastridingschool.com/english/

R.A.C.E. - Sanctioning body responsible for organizing motorcycle roadracing events in Canada, and offering a racing school at which you can acquire your ‘R.A.C.E.' license (required for virtually all motorcycle roadracing events in Canada). http://www.shannonville.com/ click on ‘R.A.C.E.' link.

Freddie Spencer (US)
http://www.raceschools.com/
http://www.superbikeschool.com/