Cobie Fair
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Posts posted by Cobie Fair
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YD,
How quickly can you let the clutch out when you do it w/out blipping? Most do it slowly (costs some attention that might be useful elsewhere), or it can potentially over-rev the engine (it does stress clutch, chain and engine). Some other factors can be, did the bike go down the right amount of gears? Sometimes not at all, more rarely more than 1--but one doesn't know if the clutch isn't let out between each shift.
This for sure is the single most complicated part of riding a motorcycle, and many don't really know how to do it, or why it's a good idea.
When we do the drill to train riders on this, about the biggest thing is to break it down into small, bite size skills, and do one at a time: simply learn to blip. Then blip and use the clutch, then add the gear change, then add the tiniest bit of braking, sliding the fingers over the brake lever and keeping it steady. Can be trained! Consider it!
OK, pep talk over
.Best,
Cobie
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Rally driving, I'll bet that was a hoot! We watched an episode of Top Gear, and they had a Bentely in a rally course, with a pro driver driving the hell out of it, outstanding!
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Not in the video game world, but lots have enjoyed these! There are some movies to see, maybe we can get a list of them started up here?
It for sure is one reason I live in SoCal! Don't care for the politics, but love the riding weather.
Cobie
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Excellent and good to know! Hope we do see you at the school soon (and welcome).
Best,
Cobie
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Thanks to Lnewqban for those links.
It's mostly a timing issue. If you mis-time it, the bike won't shift. If you stomp it in, or constantly ride the lever, that can be bad, but see if those other threads give you enough info.
Cobie
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OK, to clarify: we can't take beginners, they already have to be able to do the basic riding skills, and be able to do them well enough that they can get around the track/road without having their attention consumed by the basic riding actions of steering, braking, stopping and starting.
We normally ask for 2,000 miles and 6 months of riding.
What do you think of that?
Cobie
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Not familiar with them...I see they opened in 2008, so relatively new.
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Well haven't you come a long way!
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OK, here is the next question: What is the minimum experience a person should have before they come to the school. Chime in with why you think so on your answer.
CF
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Good stuff guys.
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Talked with a prospective student a few days ago, found out her riding skill level and we realized she didn't have enough to come, so putting the school on hold for now.
This brought to mind what's currently available for new riders, and what would you get/suggest for a new rider?
Chime in, new bike or old bike, sport/standard, what would you suggest.
As a sub question, I'd like to know what the girls are interested in riding, and why?
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Here is one I still hear people getting told: 100-200 miles to break in a new tire!
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Just got back from Vegas...wow, hard to imagine 2 nicer days!
Weather was just perfect, not a cloud in the sky, cool-ish in the mornings but got warm enough to be pleasant, no wind, 2 excellent days at the track.
And we have 4 more coming at Streets, with weather looking to be about the same!
Spring and Fall in SoCal/southern Nevada, hard to beat!
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Good list, and I know what you mean about street riding. But...I do like taking that F-800 out for a spin, and when I start commuting on a bike again, that's about my first choice.
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Looking at the whole subject of body positioning, it's covered in pieces throughout the levels. The very first look a this is in Level 1 with the Steering Drill. A number of aspects are covered there.
The next big look at it, and a great training aid, is the Lean Bike. Normally done at Level 2.
Lastly, we go into quite a bit of detail on this in Level 3, most of the day is devoted to sorting/refining different pieces of this part of the rider's skills.
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I'll nudge him again, I know he is packing up to get us to Vegas, leaving tomorrow.
CF
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I'm not, but that doesn't mean anything. Pretty sure there are no significant changes (maybe zero) for the '14. Pretty sure this is the first time this has been done, this discount.
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Here is one thing to stick in the back of your rider kit tool box: if you know you are just too fast, then pick the bike up, and come into the brakes--letting them go when you get to the dirt. Often in this case the bike can be slowed enough to not have to run off, and one can turn again (coming out of the brakes to do so) before running off.
Glad you are not hurt (goes w/out saying, but I will anyway!), and good on figuring out that entry speed at the turn point is critical, and keeping a good usable turn point to boot!
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Great stuff. This ended up going in some directions I didn't consider initially, and possibly we should think of splitting this to just have it on street.
My initial question was simply overall skill. When I made the question initially, here's what I had in mind:
1. Steering, and quickly.
2. Throttle control to stabilize the bike.
3. Visual skills.
This can be looked at several ways: with too poor visual skills, one can get in deep trouble in any arena (street or track). But...if the ability to steer effectively is not there below that, options are reduced even with good visual skills.
I've personally known riders miss potential head ons from quick steering skill.
Stabilize the bike: so many instances of allowing the bike to do its job by making it stable, where good throttle control has saved the day, see it just about every day at the track.
Visuals: in the end, a rider is no better than his visual skills. But I put it 3rd, as the other 2 fundamentals need be there first.
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Glad it's going to be you having to chase him on the camera bike and not me.
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I think Scott Russell started later in life too.
OK, interesting stuff so far.
Still like to see more guys chime in, even if it's just to confirm or not.
CF
PS--good you came out of the closet Benny!
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What you believe the most important, not what you are best at necessarily.
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We had a similar thread a while back on this, but I'd like to update and see what you think, lurkers are encouraged to participate.
(Yes Benny, you too).Please rank the top 3 riding skills/techniques, in order of importance. You can define as you wish, using the Superbike School skills, or just your own description.
CF
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Any Other Schools You Have Been To?
in School Questions/General Discussion
Posted
I think the list of national and world titles trained is up to 54 now (it's on the website).