Cobie Fair
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Posts posted by Cobie Fair
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Tenaciousjay,
What exactly do you mean when you say "walk"? Did you have one little slide, did it step out a few inches, or a nice progressive slide that lasted a while? What did it do? Per Keith's article, you have to "clean" the tires to get to the new rubber. At many of our schools students have been surprised when I've informed them they were leaving grey lines coming off the turns.
Cobie
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I recently completed Level I training at Willow Springs. It was an outstanding experience, in every way. I have signed-up to do Level II in October, at Willow. Cobie was my instructor. I would like to have him again. Is this possible?
Hi AlanS,
Here is the complete answer on requesting a coach: we will always try and accomodate this, but it's not always possible. Reason is coaches have different skills (and rotate duties, so one doesn't get assigned a duty for multiple days, like working off-track for example), and sometimes are required to do a duty that would not allow him/her to take a student. Sometimes in the rotation, I have to do Level 4 Consultant, and won't be on track that day coaching.
The best way to request is to send an e-mail to me directly, so even on the road I'd get it (cobie@superbikeschool.com), and I'll put it into the works. Sending it earlier is better, more chance to accomodate.
Hope this clears it up.
Best,
Cobie
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Hi Everybody.
I taken ALL Levels I - IV, plus Level IV twice. My riding has improved greatly.
Question about Fast Sweepers...
I'm approaching a fast long sweeper coming from a short staight away, and I'm still accelerating.
Do I close the throttle on corner entrance approaching (TP), or do I enter the corner power on?
OK, what's the thing that grabs your attention on this, front end traction?
Cobie
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Thanks Racer,
I thought I was to old to get to those lap times but I have been on a mission....What really made it special was that I didn't ask for it. I let my riding do the talking and new one day if the technic and lines were right, I would get it. My son was there doing his very first track day so the whole day was just as cool as it gets...
Your comment means a great deal....Thanks Racer.
Nicely done, mate, nicely done and very glad to hear it!
Cobie
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Hi Guys,
Been away from the forum for a while, I'll chime in on this. There are a few issues, how about we just tackle one at a time.
With trail braking, there are times it for sure is needed---long, late apex decreasing radius type turns is one good example. The tire has only so much load it can handle, cornering or breaking. The more cornering load put on the tire, the less breaking load will be able to be applied. That's pretty straightforward. Lots of novice rider/racer crashes have happened with riders carrying the brakes too hard/too late.
OK, another issue is the slower the bike is leaned over, the more lean angle is used. I won't attempt to explain it as well as Keith does (complete with drawings) in Twist 2, Chapter 15. This chapter, and the drawings will show exactly how slow steering uses more lean angle.
Would there be any reason one wouldn't steer it as quickly as possible for any turn, for any bike, for any condition?
Best,
Cobie
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A couple of years ago, I purchased the DVD of A Twist of the Wrist. I had long heard of the books Vol 1 & 2 and thought this to be a great way for me to visualize the lessons. In reading some of the forums, members make references to either Vol1 or 2 or sometimes the "Soft Science" book. Should I still purchase the Twist of the Wrist books or do I have all of the content in my DVD?
Hi Jaybird,
The video is excellent, but doesn't have all the info that is in the book, and is based only on Twist 1. Keith doesn't go over the same info twice, unless he has more to add. The Twist 2 book, and the Soft Science book are quite different, and worth having for sure. I've read them, or parts of them, many, many times, and we (the coaches) still use them as references regularly. Nice thing about the books, you can get right to the section you want to review. They are nicely, and clearly written, don't have to be a scientist to read them
Best,
Cobie
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It's been a while since I've been on one, but 125 GP bikes are another world in terms of handling. The ones we had at the school (for any that don't know, we had a 125 GP school for a while), were '94-'96 RS-125's. One had to re-learn what really precise and light handling was all about, nothing I had ridden really prepared me for that. And the brakes--honest to god 1 finger at any speed.
You didn't hang off the things much and when getting used to the steering had to put WAY less effort into it.
Then, when you got back on a nice, light 600, all you could think of was, "What a freaking pig this thing is!"
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I wonder if we ought to start a topic for mechanics and suppliers, see who has had good success with them? What do you guys think?
Cobie
I think that's a great idea, Cobie.
OK, I'll start it off. When Will was racing a lot, he used GP Suspension, think he's out of Portland. I got one of his spring kits for my ZX-9R, liked it a lot.
C
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I run a Penske 3-way on my CBR.. I've had VERY good interaction with Penske. They custom built and sprung my shock specifically to my weight in gear and were very quick to deliver.
What's a Penske run these days?
C
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Wondered where to post this on the forum, if any have a suggestion on a better place, let me know.
This last trip, we had just gotten our new 10's. Truth be known, I spend a lot more time on the 6's, and usually get around better on one. This new 10 though, wow, what a pleasure! It just does everything well, and pretty much right out of the box (well, good tires on it for sure).
VIR has a nice long front straight with a high speed kink in the middle. Pretty sure Will got it up to an indicated 186 (red line in 6th) and it was till pulling, before shutting it off.
Brakes are fantastic, great feel.
Power comes on from the basement and doesn't hit you like a wall.
Handling--feels like a big 600.
Riding position, excellent.
Downside: I'm not particularly enamoured with the syling of the muffler--nothing a Leo Vince would fix
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Dear All,
Just back from our late spring east coast tour. Really, we've been on the road since mid april, but non-stop for all of May. Schools went very well, weather mostly cooperated, though a bit wet towards the end of the last day at Barber.
I mentioined this elsewhere, but we were in internet hell on this trip! 2 locations had no internet access at all, and we were in each for a while. Then others had little or poor connection, so this kept me off the forum for most of the last month
We are back... seems like about 10 seconds, qs we have 4 days of schools starting tomorrow, then (drumroll please) begin shooting the new Twist 2 video/DVD. I really don't even know all the things that Keith has planned, but the little I do know sounds FANTASTIC. I tried to get a part, but the guys shooting are pros, and guess what--they wanted pro actors! Go figure. OK, so I get to be a riding double, that should be fun.
Seems like there has been lots of good stuff on the forum while we were away. I'm constantly impressed by the quality of the posting here, please all, do keep it up.
Best,
Cobie
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DC in SD, and Rick 448:
DC--a '27 at the Streets is going quite well, get me an application!
Rick: I think the UK guys had run a one day school race school, but not sure if they are currently. They haven't been as strict as I have on requiring racing experience in the past. Truth be told, I have relented on this point in a few cases with exceptional prospects, and it has turned out mostly well, but they have to be exceptional. The right thing to do is get on Johnny's radar screen: let him know that you are interested. He travels even more than I do I think, and not on the forum much, but here's his e-mail, shoot him a note. That being said, he might or might not be able to get back to you rigtht away. johnny@superbikeschool.co.uk
Best,
Cobie
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Great note and blog about Schmi's school!!! I've just gotten a chance to read it (we were in internet hell on this last trip--in some casee no or very limited access for several weeks).
Great blog, and nicely written (always great when something communicates well and has some humor too!).
Best,
Cobie
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He didn't steer too hard, he accelerated too hard.
It was suggested in commentary by Julian Ryder after watching the slow-mo of the highside that it probably wasn't a bad input by Lorenzo so much as a technology glitch with his super-duper MotoGP traction control system, which should have limited the power at the back wheel to prevent it losing traction. It looked to Julian like he gave it a big fistful and the electronics popped out for lunch at just the wrong moment and delivered all the power to the back tyre.
With the unfortunate results under discussion...
Haven't had a chance to see this, been on the road, but if it went to full power, wouldn't it just keep coming around?
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I just got home and looked at the profile and it is a 195/65 if that helps at all
I'll let Will know about this thread, but he's been traveling to Pocono, not sure if he'll have e-mail access soon.
Cobie
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Hey Far J,
I didn't see you at the end of the day, wanted to know how your school went?
Best,
Cobie
Hello Cobie,
The class was excellent, I be able to adjusted my body position and using my knee to hang on to the tank which also allow my upper body to lean more and relax both of my arms. I can see a big improve from 1.58 lap time to 1.44 and I know that I can do better and not scaring my instructor.
I saw you after, but you were busy, however everything went very well and I will be taking Level 3 this year.
Thanks and Best Regards,
Far J.
Exellent far j, thanks for the post---nice lap time improvement too
Cobie
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Highsides won't happen from turning it in too quickly--it's the slide and then hooking back up part when it snaps back in line.
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Ok the forums been quiet the last few days while ccs is on there east coast tour so I thought I`d ask you all this question.
I have never set my sag on any of the bikes I have bought until now, but only as I am educating myself on suspension setup I wonder how many other people are happy to keep factory settings, so for all of you guys and girls out there, when you get a new bike do stay with factory settings, do you run factory settings for a while to see what its like and then set your sag later or is setting your sag the first thing you do when you get your new bike.
cheers
B
Hi B,
We actually get our bikes from the factory, but what can happen at a dealership, if they aren't knowledgeable, paying close attention with the pre-delivery set up?
We did leave our bikes stock for a while, suspensions can take a little braking in too. For sure nothing wrong with checking the sag, and many bikes have needed new springs (we just did a school, and the rider's springs we checked were too soft in the forks for his weight).
It's a good starting point with any sport bike.
best,
Cobie
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How do I get the tires from the school before I take the class?? Will you be there doing tires at VIR on the 18th?
Hi Hank,
Call the school: 800-530-3350. You can get tires shipped to you from the factory if you are registered for the school. We often can sell you a set at the school, and sometimes even get them mounted for you. For that, the office should be able to help set that up, make sure our chief mechanic can handle it that day, and we have tires on hand.
Best,
Cobie
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What I see is that he adds lean angle right before he hits the apex...then adds just a little bit more and then... see ya!
Is it my imagination or has his rigid foot peg touched down and unweighted his rear wheel? Looks like his body weight is far forward, no?
I didn't see any puff of pavement, nor did it look like the bike lifted. I think he just rode if off the wheels.
C
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These are a couple of videos of one of the School's younger students, Peter.
Peter is really good, I saw him last sunday, I have fund him a little bit because I know that they still sleep in the truck because they are trying to save money. His site is http://peterlenz.com/ and I can say that if he got a good support then he can go very far.
I just want to give credit to his family and California Suberbike school on what you give to Peter.
Thanks Guys!
Far J.
Hey Far J,
I didn't see you at the end of the day, wanted to know how your school went?
Best,
Cobie
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Tweek,
One thing is, did you get on the lean bike in level 2? If not, we should get you on that.
One of the main uses for that bike is to get an excellent body position, so the rider doesn't fight the bike, and is looked on in the right places (legs holding on, not arms).
C
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Will do- forecast is rain/snow showers and a high of 43 for the first day... nothing like buying tire warmers and rain tires at the last minute!
I do miss having a real season change, but it's hard not to like the weather in SoCal.
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Don't have much data on the Bridgestones. We do use the Qualifiers on the student bikes, and they are impressive. We normally get 4-5 days per set, depending on the track and the rider.
We do have a killer discount for students, both on the Qualifiers, and the newer Sportmax. $200 and $250 per set. Again, this is just for students that are registered, or just finished a school.
C
Schools In Northern Ca
in School Questions/General Discussion
Posted
Hi rydnonedge,
A few things to know: the NorCal schools are super popular, and fill up well in advance. Sears Point (Infineon) and Laguna still have room in the fall, but some of the groups are already sold out. Calling the office is the simplest: 800-530=3350, or e-mail: info@superbikeschool.com.
Regarding the bikes: most that have come, even if used to something quite different, have gotten used to our bikes in a session or 2. One nice thing about getting on a well-set up bike, even if it's better than yours, you'll now have something to measure your bike by.
Hope this helps, call, e-mail (or post) if you need anything.
Best,
Cobie
Cobie@superbikeschool.com