Cobie Fair
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Posts posted by Cobie Fair
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Gerrry,
Some riders push, some push and pull with the other hand also. I push and pull, and I checked with one of my coaches, he does also. A quick side question--have you done our school? I'm not trying to sell you a school, I simply want to know what of our skills you might have been exposed to.
In a real full-on emergency steering situation, I might not get any weight on the outside peg at all. Stable platform is key for me, so I don't move the body at all when steering agressively.
CF
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OK, let's say road bike, meaning anything you could ride on the road or track. If you want to further catergorize it, you could split purpose built race bikes from street based bikes.
CF
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The books are great, best dollars spent. That being said, I am looking forward to when Keith will get the Twist 2 DVD done!
CF
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Gerry,
If I think I have to turn quickly (like at an intersetion, someone looks like they might not see me), I get a little lower on the bike to have better leverage on the bars. Keeping a stable platform to steer from is key, so I try and cut down eliminate any body movement (same at the track). Pushing on the outside peg, that's a good idea! We work on these skills pretty thoroughly at the school.
Best,
Cobie
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hmmm, that's a good one. I'm going to say one section that is hard to get right on the money is hte back section at Barber. After the 'Bama Rollercoaster, left/right, straight, another left /right, with a crest on the end. I don't think I ever got it to my satisfaction.
Wish I had ridden Ontario though.
Cobie
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OK, here's the question: What's the best handling bike you have ever ridden (we'll stick to road bikes for this), and then why? I'm interested to see what you come up with.
Cobie
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OK, here's the question: What's the best handling bike you have ever ridden (we'll stick to road bikes for this), and then why? I'm interested to see what you come up with.
Cobie
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OK, here's the question: What's the best handling bike you have ever ridden (we'll stick to road bikes for this), and then why? I'm interested to see what you come up with.
Cobie
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Well, I'm going to have to look at this over the weekend, do a little studying I think.
Some of the points I will comment on: regarding riding and hanging off---it's a skill and has uses, but I would not rank it above the other skills taught say in level 1. I have seen riders go very, very fast w/out hanging off. Ultimately one is going to be able to go faster (as the bike would be leaned over less) by a well-executed hang off.
Sometimes hard to convince guys, but get the basics into play first, then add the fancy stuff. On that note, when done, many also hang off too far. Rossi doesn't.
Cobie
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Riding Coach Search:
We are looking for riding coaches. If you are interested in trying out to be a riding coach, here is the process:
1. Read the description below the dotted line of 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!
Best,
Cobie Fair
Chief Riding Coach
Cobie@superbikeschool.com
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The California Superbike School is conducting a search for riding coaches. If you can answer yes to all of the questions below then you may be just what we need.
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?
I?m looking for people interested in becoming riding coaches here at the number one riding school in the world. 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 a great coaches.
If you think you have the right stuff, fill out an application!
Best,
Cobie Fair
Chief Riding Coach
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Will,
What do you recommend on break in? (might as well get it out here). Follow the factory recommendations?
CF
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Hair Bear,
I was having a look, not sure if you got an answer to this. Best thing would be to contact our UK branch guys directly (if you haven't already done so). They'll have the data on what they have done. Some bikes need the back end up (like most of the Kawasaki's.
johnhy@superbikeschool.co.uk should get you the UK chief instructor Johnny.
I'm not at my computer now, but if you don't get an answer, shoot me an e-mail, and I'll get you the address for sure for the UK guys.
Best,
Cobie
cobie@superbikeschool.com
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Greg,
Our cheif mechanic would be a great source on this, and there are some different thoughts on this--like are you breaking the bike in to race, or get the most mileage out of the engine, but here is some data:
We try and follow the recommendations, at least for the first 500 miles, but don't always get the opportunity. If you get get 500 miles on the engine before taking it over 5k that's good. I know we don't start with synthetic, but not exactly sure where we switch over.
Those first oil changes are critical too, make sure you do them. If you don't get an answer soon, e-mail our chief mechanic at: mechanic@superbikeschool.com
Best,
CF
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I'd agree if you are not a full on gear head--spend the money on riding, and not on the bike.
But it would depend on what you are going to do with it--race and track, or commuter, or simply weekend cornering bike? A lot of the modern 600's aren't that great in my opinion for all around riding, and pretty much suck riding 2 up.
The SV-650 has been a fun option for a lot of guys, and now Kawi has a bike to go against it--that looks pretty interesting to me.
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Bill,
If you didn't already get some data on this...here's a short reply.
We use the infield circuit (inside the stadium). Quite good for the schools that we run there, the 2-day camp. You get a lot of laps, and there is not much of a chance to rest, with just the one straightaway. Good for cornering junkies. Flat track (no elelvation changes), and the track is in pretty good condition.
CF
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Yeah, didn't work on the schedule this year. It's a real juggling act to get the whole year together and have it make sense.
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The article says it will be done by the GP, so I wonder?
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Interesting thread. Let me toss out one question to you guys to see if you have this clearly sorted out: if traveling in a straight line, with constant throttle, what is the weight bias? Then, what happens to the speed when you lean into a turn (and the weight bias)?
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If you have any questions on the books, or the other Keith Code training material, call any time--if I'm in the office, I'll talk to you, no problem.
Best,
CF
ps--there are audio CD's, an interactive CD, and DVD of the first book (plus the 3 books of course).
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Will,
Keith for sure said it: an outstanding job, no doubt about it.
Best,
Cobie
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If the rear wheel is in the air, or has so little weight on it, what's really doing?
A few years ago there was a great picture in CYCLE NEWS: I don't recall the exact 2 riders, but I recall one world champ (maybe KR JR) passing another top rider. The rider being passed had his rear wheel in the air (about 1-2 inches), the rider passing it had it about 3 inches.
If it's not on the ground, it's not doing much, is it?
Cobie
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Bigheadj,
There are some real differences in turning dirtbikes (weigh a lot less, go a lot slower in most instances), and turning a sportbike. Aside from the speed, just the leverage on the handlebars is vastly different.
What part of the country are you in?
Best,
Cobie
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Garry,
Cool, glad you are going to do all 3 days! Last time we talked it was just the 2 I belive. See you there.
Best,
CF
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That has happend very, very rarely in the past 24 years, only a couple of times I can recall--basically, with the passing rule we have (no closer than 6 feet, rider in front has the right of way), guys are pretty polite. Most guys get in to trouble by themselves--run off track, enter the turn too fast, etc. One guy taking another out has been so rare as to not be a concern, but to answer your question, on those rare occasions, the rider at fault is supposed to pay if they damage another's bike, and they usually do. We of course would not charge you if it wasn't your doing.
Best,
Cobie
Survival Lesson
in Articles by Keith
Posted
OK, no sweat, it doesn't really matter where you do it, and Mid-Ohio is very challenging, one of my favorites.
One thing that we are going to do with you on your level 1 day is what we call the Steering Exercise. What we have found is that many riders (vast majority, including racers), are not steering the motorcycle as well and efficiently as they could, or are creating some additional input to the bike (which upsets it), or are creating additional lean angle that is not needed.
Interestingly enough, this is quite a skill, and also quite a skill to learn how to train on others (one of the hardest skills the riding coaches have to get good at).
Michigan eh? Bet you have some cold weather up there about now, not real conducive to riding!
CF