Cobie Fair

Lots of different ideas on the brakes. Many of you on this forum have read Keith's books, and/or done schools, but I'd still like to know--which brake do you use, and what for? Best, Cobie

What we have found over the years is that when you get the bike to work well, it really works well over a fairly broad range of riders and skills, and weights. Will has done a pretty good job of figuring that out (our cheif mechanic), and the last few models have had excellent suspension. That being said, if a rider is at one end of the other weight-wise (very heavy or very light) it might not be perfect. Honestly, I can't remember the last negative comment on the suspension, mostly just guys raving about them and how well they handle. Cobie

jptak, If there is any possibility, call the office and take his phone number off (for now at least). Truthfully, if the office hasn't called yet, and it's for x-mas, not likely to be a problem. He'll have fun at Blackhawk, it's a neat track, demanding too. Cobie jptak, If there is any possibility, call the office and take his phone number off (for now at least). Truthfully, if the office hasn't called yet, and it's for x-mas, not likely to be a problem. He'll have fun at Blackhawk, it's a neat track, demanding too. Cobie

I'm going to see if I can get Keith or Will in here (both are out of the office right now and travelling). From a practical standpoint, the steering action doesn't have to be stopped, once the steerig is done. In other words, push left, go left. Stop pushing, the bike will stay at that angle. That won't last forever, it takes a little throttle to keep it there, and can be done in an experiment. Keith did this in the Twist Video---he has a CBR1000 leaned over in the skid pad, holding the throttle with 2 fingers--not even the palm, just 2 fingers. CF

Logmaster, What level of school have you done with us so far? Cobie

OK, so you are coming around a mountain road you have never been on. Just after you turn in (and for the trail brakers) still trailing the brake. A 2 foot strip of water is across the road, and a bus in the opposite lane. What's going to get the best possible traction for any bike, in this situation? CF

Great to have you up here Steve! Cobie

While leaned over, if the front weren't pointed into the turn, what would happen? The bike would continue to lean. Continued presser=continued lean angle---guys can steer their bikes right into the ground (we've seen it, saw it at the last school at Sears!) CF

OK, are there times you would want to be done with the breaking and have the throttle coming on well before the apex? CF

Good points both of you. I often suggest that after a few days on ours, can be a good idea to then bring your own, even just to have Will have a look at it, maybe get some suspension advice on in. Cobie

if i'm wrong please correct, this is interesting... Sameer Trail braking for sure has it's uses (you mentioned one in blocking), but what if it causes you to delay in rolling on the throttle? Does it overload, or potentially overload the front end? What do you think? Cobie

Lookin' pretty good in both of these. CF

Dear All, I posted this last year, and we had good success with the coaching program. More coaches are still needed as it takes a while to train 1 coach (normally a season for a part time coach). Read on, follow the steps if you are interested! Regards, Cobie Fair Chief Riding Coach (Worldwide) Here is the process: 1. Read the description below the dotted line for what we are looking for. 2. A very good riding skill level is required from our coaches. Some have met the other requirements, but had to work on their riding skill, and eventually became coaches. While riding skill is important, as or more important is ability to learn, ability to communicate and get along well with a wide variety of people, can endure hard conditions (school days are long!), and can attend enough school days in a year. 3. Please review the description and application carefully. This will ensure you won?t be wasting both of our time with questions that are already answered. 4. If you fit the description, or think you could meet the requirements soon, fill out the application that is attached and send it to me. In truth, I'd rather have you try out and let us decide if you meet the requirements, than not have you try out at all! Cobie@superbikeschool.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you can answer yes to all of the questions below then you may be just what we need. If you can't, let me know and we'll go from there. 1. Have you already taken the Superbike School (since 1995, preferably Level 1 and 2)? 2. Have you roadraced? 3. Are you already pretty fast? (don't have to be a track record holder, but can't be slow). 4. Are you friendly and personable--enjoy talking with people? 5. Do you learn new things fairly quickly? 6. Can you devote minimum 10-15 school days per year (not including travel time)? 7. Are you willing to do difficult homework, and have every aspect of your training skills scrutinized? 8. Have you read the Twist of the Wrist books? 9. Would you enjoy helping people learn how to ride better? We are very selective and everything you say or do in the application process counts. I?m not interested in squids, dopers or short term relationships. I am looking for enthusiastic individuals that want to learn how to become great coaches. If you think you have the right stuff, download the application and e-mail it to me! Best, Cobie Fair cobie@superbikeschool.com ps--download the application in the next post, it has the updated schedule. Application__nov_22__07.rtf

We agree on counter steering for sure! Many don't know it even applies to bicycling (still working on my dad on that one). Let's take a look at trail braking: first off, how would you define it? Isn't it simply the action of gradiently letting go of the brakes, and basically where? Are there turns where you want to do it, turns you don't and why? CF

Not sure how much the Ninja 650 weighed that Stuman rode/raced. It was also a built motor (Carry Andrews), and for sure it was fast.

Thanks man, I'm working on the financials right now. Some guys would get a little 125 gp bike, it takes a bit to learn the maintenance (not that hard), but you used to be able to get one pretty cheap ($2-3 I thought). CF

KIlladude, I had 2 coaches ride our NO B/S bike in a large parking lot at Laguna. Here is what happened. 1. First coach, 230 lbs. He rode it at about 20, and was able to complete a circle in the large parking arear 200 or more feet across. He was standing on one peg, holding onto the upper bar (rigid mounted with working throttle) and he just made it turn in the circle.. 2. Another and my biggest coach, 6 feet 7 inches tall, 330 pounds, came back and his eyes were like saucers. At 25 mph he rode the NO B/S bike and he said, "Dude, I thought if anyone could steer it, I could!" If you aren't familiar with the NO B/S bike, here is a link with some data: http://www.superbikeschool.com/machinery/no-bs-machine.php Try it yourself (countersteering vs body steering) and let us know what you come up with! Best, CF

There is no doubt the SV's can work very, very well. Hard to beat getting weight off a bike, and they are light. For that matter, what does your SV weigh? On another note, I just got an e-mail last night that one of our coaches (Stuman) broke the lap record at Willow Springs on the new 650 Ninja. I think the little twins are great, kinda surprised there aren't more out there. As an all round commuter bike, hard to beat. CF

Did you get your reg problems sorted? I found some new info from the webmaster: have the person try safari or firefox on OSX instead, camino v1.0 had some bugs in it Let me know if it works, we want it to be easy to post up here! Best, Cobie

I fill out the registration form, enter the security code and press submit, but it takes me back to the registration screen. There is no message saying there is any information missing or invalid. I've tried to register several times, and have been very careful to make sure I'm typing in the code correctly, but it still doesn't work. My browser is Camino v1.0 (Mozilla) on Mac OSX. Thanks. Still having problems? Best, Cobie pm me if need be, I had thought htis was sorted. You can also e-mail me any time: cobie@superbikeschool.com

Killadue, I think you have a valid point, and no reason not to have it up on the forum. You for sure aren't the only one that has had questions like this. Especially if Keith responds, it will be both interesting and educational. Best, Cobie

I'd suggest the cheapest form of racing that will allow you to do as much as you can. If you buy a new 600 and race that, tires alone can be hard to afford for a race weekend. That, get some schools in, and wear out the TWIST OF THE WRIST books. Best, Cobie

Cattivo, If you haven't checked it the schedule is out, and on the web page---nothing in Feb this year, but we will start in March. Best, CF

--> QUOTE(Brian B @ Dec 9 2006, 07:01 PM) 3745[/snapback] So I was considering coming for March 15/16 at Laguna. But now I think I may get better value from the 2-day school. Someone guide me what to do? I'm a reasonably proficient club racer (amateur level). Actually I may even have more track miles on me each year than street miles. So I want to attend mostly to get track time in while there is still snow here in Canada. But also, I do want to get faster even though I no longer compete. Should I come March 15/16 for a chance to ride Laguna, or should I do the 2day to get more track time and one on one instruction? Help! Brian, Laguna is Laguna, and many want to ride there, but it's harder to give as good service there---for one thing, they force us to run shorter than any other track in the US---so we have less time to get the day in. If having track time is a prime concern, you will get more at the 2 day camp, and more personal attention too. Best, Cobie

Sean, What problems did you have registering? I'll let the webmaster know any way, but he'll want to know that. Regarding the Lean/Slide bike: The best track is probably the Streets of Willow Springs. Good skid pad, we can always use it (not in use by another school/rental) and it almost never rains there. On top of that, it's a fun track to ride. Best, Cobie