The Elemental Motorcyclist offers riding advice in a conversational tone, often using amusing anecdotes to illustrate its message. The author does not pound home hard-and-fast rules, but offers gentle suggestions for riders to consider as they grow in their riding experience. Brent occasionally recalls his youthful mistakes to help others choose a better path. The essays are divided into four "elements," each loosely denoting a particular flavor of the motorcycling experience.