Juggler
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Posts posted by Juggler
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Cobie,
Thanks again for responding...
I do remember that tidbit. I've got long thighs, so I really have to scoot back. I'll have to get the leathers on again, and dedicate some time to this.
Have a good weekend.
--Alan
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Juggler,
Are you jamming your leg up, doing a "calf raise" and also driving the outside leg into the tank? Did you get on the lean bike at Level 2, and if so do you recall what the coach went over when you got trained on that?
Best,
C
Cobie,
Thanks for responding. I am doing a "calf raise", and trying to drive my leg into the tank. With the tank being flatter on my bike, it's hard to wedge my knee against it. I didn't have this issue on the School's bikes (there was a better pocket).
I did get on the lean bike (actually, you were there), but don't remember the exact details.
I'll play around with this some more. Worst-case scenario is that I ask you about it when I see you at VIR later this year.
Thanks again.
--Alan
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Prior to taking the L3 class, I over-analyzed all the potential variables. That's the beauty of the L3 class is the skills they teach are very simple. Things really began to gel for me as far as the "body positioning on the bike".
I too heard about "kissing the mirror". From some of the pictures it looks like some guys are leaned WAY over. Not much room for error IMHO. The pictures of the pros look like they have moved their butts parallel to the long axis of the bike.
I don't want to give anything away here, but hanging off is only half of the solution. Having your lower-body anchored is the other part.
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This is an old post, but I'll add my $0.02.
The biggest positive I see doing the CSS thing is that there are far fewer variables to worry about.
- Not having to worry about a semi truck coming around a blind corner (happened to me at The Dragon)
- No cops
- No animals
- Everyone going the same direction
I try to tell my wife being on the track is actually SAFER, but she hates the whole bike thing anyway.
Another benefit over a normal trackday that the CSS guys have is that generally everyone is doing the same drills (at least in the Two-Day course), so you kind of know what to expect.
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+1 on the North.
It's fairly technical, and it's a nice course.
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I've done the L1 - L3 classes, and on the class bikes, I was really able to lock my knee into the tank. There's a really nice pronounced "lip" (for lack of a better term).
I have a GSXR-1000, and the tank doesn't have such a lip, and I'm finding it hard to lock in. I've got StompGrips on, but it still doesn't feel as positive as I would like.
I was looking at some video of some of the Suzuki guys (Mladin, Spies, and Yates), and it looked like they weren't really using their knees, but were just using their feet. I really liked the way the class bikes felt, and if there's a different technique, I'd love to hear it. I just don't feel as confident that I'm locked in.
Suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
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I put an Elka 3-way on my last bike and it was sweet. High quality of manufacturing, and very good support.
I'm thinking of doing the same on my new bike.
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They work well. If I were to do it again, I would get the black instead of the clear. With the clear, you'll see the air bubbles, no matter how careful you are, and from a distance, it will make the paint job look strange. At least with the black, it's obvious what it is. Plus the black adds 5 HP.
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Celeste,
I would wait. You may find that being on a track may tilt you toward wanting more of a cafe-racer style bike or the other way.
You mentioned the SV650 which are very popular on the track and street, so if you HAD to have a bike, that's a good choice.
Good luck!
A few years back I took the MSF class and bought a street bike (small 250cc)--road it for a year. But got rid of it after moving to a more populated area (too much traffic--didn't know my way around.)
I plan to take the basic MSF again this month, followed by Level I in 2 more months. Should I wait until after Level I to purchase a bike? i.e. Will riding the class bike around the track, learning more about cornering, etc., help me decide what to look for in a bike? Or should I just go out and buy something now?
(Also, I could get something used/generic -- older Suzuki SV 650? just to use between the MSF and deciding what I really want.)
-C
Experiments In Riding
in Articles by Keith
Posted
Keith,
Don't go damaging my instructors! (I pay for 'em, and that kind of makes them mine.)
I was riding through some standing water the other day, and was worried about sliding, so this came at a good time. See you guys in September!
--Alan