Cobie Fair
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Posts posted by Cobie Fair
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Drew,
Keith and Stuman covered it. I personally like that years 636 a lot, it had great mid-range: so, if not racing, it's a great choice.
Best,
Cobie
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Michael,
I would pretty much agree with 2bigalow, maybe add that the Kawasaki 650 is another option (I HAVE to add that:)) Actually, I'd heard they can be made work very well, I think Stuman set a record on one...
I will say I've had to chase good riders on an SV 650 (while riding a 600) and at most every track it was all I could do to stay with them.
Best,
Cobie
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Hi Ben,
In the ranking of skills in cornering, it's not the highest, hence it doesn't get the most attention. We certainly will address it when asked, and on that point did you have a particular question? If you haven't looked at them, the Twist books have excellent data on braking.
Best,
Cobie
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I dunno about EVERY time, but yes it was quite consistent relative to the corner. I mostly remember it happening in turns 1 and turn 14 (top of the hill right hander) at VIR North Course. I don't recall it happening when braking for other turns but it was kinda a long time ago at this point.
If something doesn't happen every time, makes me think of the time Keith was working with a top factory rider, and he was going to re-build his front end (his mechanics were) because the front was coming off the ground in a turn--120 mph turn. Keith figured out it wasn't happening every lap, so it was not the bike, it was the rider.
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Hi! I'm Macky from Manila, Philippines....
I'm very far from any CSS event but I've read twist of the wrist 1 and 2. I'm a newbie, riding for 3 months now and racking up 4000kms on my GSXR600 K6. I was influenced by my friend, Jotle Viray, who is one of your students from the Philippines. I'm very happy to join this community and hopefully get some tips to improve my riding and make it more enjoyable.
Hi Macky,
Glad to have you up on the board and welcome. Never having been to the Philippines, what are your ridig options there---any racetracks?
best,
Cobie
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Hi Kristi!
Here's the officical, "Welcome"
Glad you are up here, post away!
Best,
C
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Michael,
I think Keith summed that up nicely. It's a key element I look for in a good coach. Natuaral ability in a certain area can be an asset, but guys that I didn't think would be really top coaches have become so, and due to that desire Keith referenced. Intending to make a goal, and doing what it takes to make it there.
Best,
Cobie
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Hi Far J,
That's a pretty good start that you have planned, with getting some coaching first. After that (and even at the same time) you might see about getting some other track days in to practice, and find out about racing in your area, check out the local racing scene. Local club racing is where you would go next. If you don't already have it, get a subscription to ROADRACING WORLD magazine (on line also). Of course the Twist of the Wrist books (and Soft Science) are the best reference material, get those if you don't have them!
Best,
Cobie Fair
ps---but of course, I'm biased
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I guess if you lead ever lap, it's less work passing the other guys, that's the ticket when not feeling well
good job stuman.
CF
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Hi Titus,
Yes there will be a 2008 schedule soon, working on it now, about a month I'd guess. Won't have CODERACE at Miller, so that will likely limit your options, if the track is the issue.
Best place would be to check the respective websites: www.superbikeschool.com and www.coderace.com. This will give a more complete answer than I could scratch out here. There is quite a difference, one doesn't take the place of the other. If you have more/other questions, give us a ring in the office, I'll be in all week if you'd like to talk with me.
Best,
Cobie Fair
Chief Riding Coach
800-530-3350
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Here's another way to look at this: with long, decreasing radius turns, is there a quick flick with early gas coming back on?
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Glad you joined good to have you up here!
Did you have any questions, or areas of riding that you would like to ask about?
For sure the Twist books are great, Twist 2 is the lastest and much of the training that we do at the school comes from this book.
We'll be at the track doing schools for the next 2 days, but I will get e-mail on the blackberry, and back in the office on Friday.
How great that you and the 3 boys all do it!!
Best,
Cobie
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I checked with Keith, for sure he did not train Kevin.
Cf
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I don't think Keith did any training with Kevin, but only way to know for sure is ask Keith. I'll shoot him this link.
CF
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Have you experienced this every time? In other words, does it always wiggle around with the same amoutn of braking?
CF
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Here is the coolant issue, and our current policy on it:
For years we asked guys to replace it with water, Water Wetter, or something similar. Then we looked at how often it had been an issue with coolant being spilled (of any kind). Frankly, it was a non-issue. We couldn't easily recall any instances at the school where coolant was a problem, so we stopped requiring it a few years ago, and it hasn't been a problem once since then.
That being said, every racing organization would require it, some track day providers do, certainly nothing wrong with it, and in a racing situation one would want to do it. Pretty sure water also works better in some instances--it tranfers heat better, but boils lower and freezes higher than coolant. Not an issue for most races, but could be for some. I'll keep out of ice racing I think
Best,
CF
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There are a few skills that will really make a big difference in how much a bike is leaned over. First, it's a good idea to get your feet up when cornering though, you have figured that one out.
When the throttle comes on, did you know that the bike lifts, both front and back?
Can you guys think of other things that will affect lean angle too?
CF
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Guys---those tire pressures are for legal reasons. They are WAY too high for regular or track riding. They have to put those up there in case a person has the bike loaded to the hilt, heavy riders with baggage, and they want to make sure the tire won't be underinflated.
Here is the ball park range: 28 rear--33 front. We run 29 rear and 31 front on our race tires. Michelin has one race tire that they run at 22 rear!!!!
Even the Qualifiers we run at 28 rear, 30 front on our school bikes. On a very hot day maybe a little higher, like 1 or 2 pounds.
There is another area that many are not aware off: tire guages. I have seen a tire guage dropped once and go 5 pounds off!
Best thing is to get a decent guage and check it against one of the factory guages at the track, then store that guage and use your day to day guage (checking against the "good one" now and again.
I'm not saying these are perfect for every tire/every manufacturer, but this is what we run and we normally see tire pressures way too high. Too high just schinks the contact patch.
Best,
CF
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Here is the basic thing with trail braking, and the area it can be problematic: as the smaller of the 2 tires, and the smaller contact patch, maximum traction cannot be achieved, until the bike is stabilized, correct weight for the contact patch. The normal solution to a front tire pushing (sliding) is to get the gas back on, as there is too much weight on the front.
Does that make sense?
CF
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Right! More guys loose the front by making mistakes (not on the gas, tight on the bars). How about how many guys do you see crashing on the brakes on the way in? Rarely one can loose the front from too little weight. Can happen, but don't it's that common.
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We just got back from our very long East Coast tour. Longest one I could remember since 1983! The tour went very well, we like the Eastern tracks a lot, Barber, VIR, Mid-Ohio to name a few, all challenging tracks, really put one's skills to the test as a rider.
This particular tour kept us off the internet a bit, didn't get a chance to visit the forum at all
, but back now and the upcoming schools are only a few days each, so won't be any long stints away from this forum (not until next year). Thanks to the coaches that were on here while we were out!If any of you have a question or a comment, and you haven't yet posted it for whatever reason, now's a good time to get it up. There have been a few e-mails that I've gotten that would have been excellent for the forum, questions other riders likely have had, and would like to see the responses.
Best,
Cobie
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Same racer, additional championship I believe---Scott Russell went on to become a world champion, pretty sure 2x, but didn't find the second year. 1993 for one of the championships.
Maybe this wasn't what you had in mind, these are the ones I'm aware of.
Best,
Cobie
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Hi Vadim,
Glad to hear you're dong well. I've bonked my head too, know what it's like.
One thing that I have noticed is that as the speed goes up, the level of precision has to go up with it. At a fairly small and narrow track like Pocono, this becomes pretty critical. The great riders are able to put the bike on the same line (within inches?) lap to lap. Are you back riding yet?
Best,
Cobie
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Racer---a question to you:
What causes the front end to push on a motorcycle? (most of the time). Too much, or too little weight on it? What fixes the majority of those problems?
Cobie
, but back now and the upcoming schools are only a few days each, so won't be any long stints away from this forum (not until next year). Thanks to the coaches that were on here while we were out!
Stompgrip Traction Pads
in School Questions/General Discussion
Posted
Hotfoot,
Nothing that I have used has been better than the Stomp in terms of grip. But it has to be put on carefully (clean the tank well, let it sit for a day before using it, etc.). The Tech Spec also reportedly goes off and on, and looks a bit better.
Best,
CF