Cobie Fair
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Posts posted by Cobie Fair
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Good job on handling that slide!
I had a look at your photos, wondered if we'd gotten you to Level 2 and 3 yet? If not, consider that, we have some stuff we can do there that will help you on the bike. If you have done level 2, let me know.
Best,
Cobie
Thanks, Cobie.
I did Levels I & II on the same weekend. It was my understanding that Level III gets more into body position, so decided to keep working with my basics another year. I did learn how quicly reference points need to change. My fastest lap with you guys was around 2:15. My fastest lap this weekend was 1:56. NO WHERE NEAR THE SAME TURN IN POINTS! I found that I can go faster if I am being towed, but that doesn't count in my book.
I got another day @ Barber in September to do some more work.
Look for me in Level III next summer, though!
For sure let me know when you set a date, I'll be ready for you.
Regarding your photo, now that you have done Level 2, did you get on the Lean Bike?
C
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Hi everyone. The weather is finally warming up here and it's time to go riding again! I went to the level I school last August and plan on going to a track day at the end of May and practice some of the things I learned at school. I've been reading the books again and trying to remember everything, but there's nothing like being on the bike and just moving!
I used to ride a Honda Shadow from '88 to '97 but got an '02 CBR600F4i about 18 months ago, so I consider myself a newbie.
Many try and work on too much at one time. Take a hint from how keith has set up the school, do one thing at at time!
C
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For sure having the legs in good shape is a plus, but how many use too much to hang onto the bike with? I remember being so sore after the first real track riding of the year (and was in decent shape back then). Now it's not nearly so bad, and I'm not in as good a shape, but I'm for sure lazier.
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Here's the question: when you corner aggresively, what single technique do you pay the most attention to? Steering (quickly)? Throttle control? Viusual skills? Body Position? What ranks top for you?
Cobie
I'm sorry to say that the technique that I worked on the most is "when in doubt, gas it", but what I NEED to work on is corner entry precision. Picking RPs so that I can nail my turn-in point, corner entry speed, lean angle, etc. It seems to me that if you nail the corner entry and execute standard throttle control, you will have yourself one heck of a great turn! Is that right? Did I leave something out?
Paul
let us know how your turn entry precision works out.
C
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Hi Marcus,
You've covered a bit of ground, I'll start with a few questions and one point: what if any schools have you done---in Oz I assume?
You commented that you put pressure on the inside peg and it altered the line. Have you looked at Chapter 19 in Twist of the Wrist 2, on Pivot Steering?
best,
Cobie
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Why do you think that is so?I will also admit that I'm personally faster on a 600 than a 1000.Paul
They are fantastic all round packages: power, handling, brakes, weight, suspension. It's a big selling class for the manufacturers, it's a big racing class, and they put a lot into these bikes.
I haven't spent much time on Suzuki's or much else out there, but the liter bikes I have ridden have been a bit of a handful. Case in point: I'm pretty sure the lap record at the Streets of Willow is on a 600.
C
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Hi I'm Heath,
I figured that I would start reading posts and learning about this site, then I stumbled on this forum for newbies, so here i am. I am living in San Diego. New to the site obviously, and have never been to the track as of yet... I am however going (hopefully if I am not deployed again) at the end of April. I have been riding on the street for about 12 years off and on, and I am looking to better my skills and get a piece of this 'track thing' that everyone keeps talking about. I am very passionate about riding and cant go a day without thinking about it much less doing it. I try to improve upon skills that I have learned, self taught (not the best method) or read about. I currently ride an 08' MV Agusta 910 Brutale (what a blast to ride), and plan on taking it to the track; so if anyone has any tips for track prep please pass on the informaition, I could use it.
Thanks for listening to my babble!!
'Lucky'
Hi Lucky,
Glad to see you up here, and welcome. Not all track days are created equal, best to check them out and find a good one to start, or if you can get to one of the schools, that's a nice way into it. If you have any questions, let us know, don't want to just spit out some stuff you already are familiar with.
Best,
Cobie
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Cobie,
I do have gp shift and look forward to the two days coming up May 31, Jun 1.
OK, next question: do you downshift w/out the clutch? If not consider trying it. It can be done with or without braking, just a tiny blip to unload the transmission for a moment. I guess I'm assuming you clutchless upshift, but if you don't, that's very easy to do, just roll off for a moment (unloads the transmission) and shift. The only 'DON'T's' on clutchless shifting is preloading the shiftlever for a long time, or banging it in if you get a missed shift.
If this doesn't make sense, now sure how to do it, let me know at the next school, we'll go over it.
C
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Good job on handling that slide!
I had a look at your photos, wondered if we'd gotten you to Level 2 and 3 yet? If not, consider that, we have some stuff we can do there that will help you on the bike. If you have done level 2, let me know.
Best,
Cobie
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Well, the lovely Whitney just called and moved me up to the May 31st date so I best start working on my hitch hiking skills.
See you guys (and gals) then.
Almost like Christmas came early this year.
Excellent!
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Thanks for all the advice guys
} I am looking forward to it and from waht i have read my cornering is going to be much better (couldnt be much worse like !)I will post when i have done the day and let you know how it all goes.
Am going to the BSB the day after so will be yelling at them which line to take !!
Well, then you can give us a review aftering doing both (hope it doesn't get too confusing
)Cobie
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Someone mentioned the Alabama Roller Coaster at Barber. This one is very tuff for me. going down the straight at a good clip, down into turn 7, straighten the bike up for the curbing, brake for the curbing, down shift, off the seat over the curbing, down into the seat and drop it into the right hander. Very busy little corner for me.
I would like to work on this one in May.
You're right, there is a lot going on there. For sure we can work on this. A side question: do you use gp shift? I find it easier in general, and there specifically.
C
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Hello everyone,
My name is Paul and I've raced at WSMC for two years: one year in novice and one in expert class. I'm going to attend the class at Streets of Willow on April 27th and I'm really looking forward to it. I know I'll learn a lot.
Paul
Hi Paul,
OK, I see you are already posting (excellent), and welcome to the forum. Please do come and say hello to me at the Streets when you come out, and lets see about getting you on the NO B/S bike, I think you'd find that useful.
Best,
Cobie
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From my experience, there are some turns that you really have to trail into to maintain your speed, Turns 3 and 9 at Fontana are good examples. In general, I try not to, but once in a while I don't see a way around it.
For sure there are some turns that it is needed. Often abused, it can cause late throttle control, and having the front brake on and turning accounts for a lot of racing crashes.
C
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super60,
Since you have Stomp on the bike use it like you mean it. The inside of your leg by the knees will rub down to raw leather from using them.
Keith
Keith,
I have tried to pull the bike over into turns using roughly equal pressure on the inside peg and the outside leg on the tank. Is that right?
Hi Prand,
Missed this thread, just now getting to it.
The stomp grip is to help you anchor on the bike, so that you are solidly anchored either hanging off (or not).
Countersteering is what will turn the bike, change it's direction, not pressure on the pegs. Pressure on the pegs has almost no effect.
There are other threads that cover that, let me know if you need a reference on them.
Best,
Cobie
Chief Riding Coach
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We were in t-shirts on Easter!
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Hi! My name is Wendy & I'm from Seattle! I've attended the Level One school at Infineon, & I'm planning on completing Levels 2-4 at Streets of Willows & at Laguna Seca at the end of April. There's a lot of great folks on this forum -- I'm looking forward to meeting everyone!
Cheers,
Wendy
www.FourwindsRoadracing.com
Hi Wendy and Welcome!
We'll see you at the schools.
Best,
Cobie
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I ride an 06 GSXR1000 and these suffer badly from stiction.
I have oil soaked foam under my dust seals which reduced it 5mm, I still have 9-11mm.
I have backed off the bolts from the triple clamp, given the wheel a tap and loosened the axle nut which also helped a bit.
Any suggestions to help reduce it?
My suspension guy has a chromed stanction to test but im putting that off and since he hasnt asked me when, I assume he is a bit busy anyway
I'm going to ask Will to look in on this thread.
C
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I am doing the Silverstone circuit in a little under 2 weeks and I am very nervous (huge understatment by the way !).
I have been reading on the forum for a couple of weeks now and it seems that bikers are going to improve their skills for Track Days ... i just want to know how to go round a corner faster and safely; I have never done any track days and have been deristriceted just over 6 months and i didnt get out a lot before that ! i have done a bit more riding over the past 6-8 months but not a lot at all. My fella bought me this for a christmas present as he knows how nervous (and rubbish) i am at cornering at the moment.
I got all the kit i need think I just need reassurance that im not going to look like a complete berk and it is for people like me as well as more experienced riders ?
Good advice from the others already. Most level 1 students its their first time on track. Some will have done track days, some might have even raced, but each is coached individually. Best thing for you to do is just work with your assigned on-track coach, and pretty much ignore the others. By that I mean ride your own bike, don't move over for faster riders, just go where you think you should. That's way safer too. 98% of the other riders are happy to have you there, so don't worry about them. Once in a great while you get a jerk that complains, but none of the top guys will, they know what it's like and what you will be going through.
Andy is the head of the UK school and a great bloke, and Johnny is his Chief Riding Coach. Go and say hi to them in the morning, let 'em know you are a little nervous (everyone else will be too, but it's OK to say it), and they'll look after you very well.
Best,
Cobie
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Sanfret gets the gold sticky star! Pacific Raceway in Kent, WA. I will be out there again this weekend hopefully in a little bit warmer conditions. Unfortunately it's looking like the first dry stint will have to wait a few more weekends as it looks like we will be playing in the rain.... again! here is another snow day pic. Might be a bit small but it was definatley snowing. If you click on the pic you might be able to see the snow.
I'll stick with my theme of being a bit of a slacker, and riding in the rain/cold only when I absolutely have to (like a school).
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Sanfret;
That's a really impressive young rider you're managing there. I seem to remember his dad was a fairly talented rider himself. I rode with him at CodeRACE back in 2004 and if memory serves, he did the double that weekend winning both races...I wonder what happened to that guy... ; )
Kevin Kane
um... I think he retired to spend time kick starting his son's RSF150R
Good to speak to you again Mr. Kane.true slackers have electric starter equipped bikes. I guess that's me!
C
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Here's a survey question: would you guys (coaches, students, forum surfers, everyone), like to know on this forum, who is a coach?
Let me know what you think. One suggested it, like to know what others think.
C
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Thank you all for the input on this.
My son is about to ride his track bike in a few weeks for the first time, as soon as he gets the feel for it, we are going to try both shift pattens.
Rick
Cool. Let us know what you think. It can take a little bit to get it to be 2nd nature.
I'll be interested to hear how it goes with both you and your son.
C
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xtrmin,
Where are you racing, what track?
C
} I am looking forward to it and from waht i have read my cornering is going to be much better (couldnt be much worse like !)
)
Survey Question
in Cornering and Techniques
Posted
Kinda new at this but for me since I have never been to the track and only ride the canyons and such, the visual skills for me is number one... one because obviously you cant always predict a corner on the streets and two well.. traffic.. I do have a tendancy to target fixate and have to force myself at times not to do that... bad habit I know but I am getting better at it.
Good answer, visual skills are key (we devote virtually a whole level to it).