Cobie Fair
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Posts posted by Cobie Fair
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Sounds good, I was planning on using my little 250 Ninja, but im leaning more too my Buell 1125R now.
Best thing is if you are looking at a date, call or e-mail the office, find out the availability--when the day is sold out, have to go on a wait list (we don't overbook).
Best,
CF
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I'm surprised no one mentioned the Relax drill, I've heard a lot of riders get a lot out of that one.
Funny for you to say that as that was my second answer, I got so much out of the relax drill it was unbeleivable.
My instructor at the time Jet, was going nuts trying to get me to relax on the bike and I think at first I was tensing up because I was trying to hard to relax, weird but I eventualy got it and now I have a small procedure I have to put myself through to make sure I dont tense up, including the famous chicken wings!
You said we were only aloud to pick one thing and it messed with my head trying to decide between this or the 2-step, eventualy going with the 2-step!
Sorry for breaking the rules of your thread stuman!
Bobby
The forum police won't jail and torture you this time.
CF
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now there is a picture!!!
CF
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I am almost ready to scrdule a class date, I just cant afford the 2 day camp for now so im looking at the 1 day at the streets in march. Would this be a good starting point or should I wait and just do a 2 day camp in the fall.
I will do the 2 day camp either way, but I just want to get started for now.
The 2-day camps are great, but the next best thing will be to take a class at Streets of Willow. Great track to start with, you will get lots of help, we can control the day (meaning go as late as we need to to get the day done).
For sure get started, rather than wait until the fall!
That is my biased 2 cents
CF
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Hi Lane,
Just now getting back up here, so first off welcome!
The books and DVD's are excellent prep for the schools, for sure Twist 2.
As for doing a track day, since this will be your first one, in Cobie's Perfect World, I'd have you at the school, then do some track days. For sure can do it the other way around, but the 2-day camp will prepare you really well, and almost for sure side-step some of the drama that can happen at track days.
Any questions in particular, or areas that you would like to know more about, what to expect, that sort of thing?
Best,
Cobie
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Hey all, I'm Wayne. I have been riding for a 7 years. I have a few track days under my belt and am a Ducati-nut. I'm on my 3rd one now. Started on a 2001 750 Monster, went up to a 2005 749 Dark, and now am riding a 2006 749S. The S was nice enough to show me that when you miss your line on a double apex and hit the tar strip, Lowsiding is a good way to find out your leg can keep the bike off the ground. I've read the Twist of the Wrist books and so far I've been having a great time reading the articles on here. I'm always trying to learn more so I can avoid those damn tar strips on Albuquerque's crappy track!
Hi RF,
I'm from NM, so welcome an extra amount
. When I was living there, we had to go racing in CO, or there was a little track in Las Cruces.Maybe time for a road trip this year...get to a new track, maybe get a little coaching too?
CF
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Greg gives a good example, and one reason one rider can have different suspension set up/tire use than another.
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As Stuman said, if it's messing with the rider's positioning on the bike, then we address it. A counter leaning (leaning opposite the angle of the bike) is a common issue we deal with, and often brings excess lean angle (which can be extreme).
One can certainly get used to riding with the head not tilted all the way back to leveling the horizon, but it can take some adjustment initially.
Makes sense?
CF
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Hi all,
I'm a new forum member but previous student of levels 1,2 & 3 in 2004. Took level 1 at Pocono and 2 & 3 at Infineon. I am very happy to report that I'll be at Barber June 6th for another class. I can't wait!
I decided to join here to see what I can pick up between now and then in prep for the class. I have Twist II book and the vid, but also have Total Control by Lee Parks, and Smooth Riding by RP.
After I reread them, I'll probably have questions about any differences in technique.
Anyway, I look forward to being a member and taking another GREAT class at a top notch track.
Hi Up,
Welcome to the board, and welcome back to the school. Barber is a fun track, you should enjoy that if you haven't ridden there. Which level are you going to do? You could do Level 4 and get a custom program, might be the way to go.
Let us know any questions.
Best,
Cobie
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Wide view technique rocked my world.
CF
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I've had a blast for the last couple of weeks - spinning the rear wheels on the gas, making it slide even on the straights. And all in my dog-of-a-van Toyota HiAce, which is normally impossible to get to spin up the rear because of it's puny 78 ponies - of which several surely have moved on to pension.
But come start of January, we have gotten another 4 inches of snow every week or so - like just this morning. And even with proper winter-tires, an underpowered, light, rear-wheel driven van can spin it up
:D Awww ... I miss springtime so I can take out the bikes. Only comfort is that I giving the racer its proper amount of TLC at the moment (which makes me wanna go riding even more).
Kai
I know what you mean, hadn't been riding since December schools really, so it was nice to get on the track in FLA last week.
CF
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Hello All, been a busy week!
First we were off to the bike show in NYC--wow! Crowded and lots of enthusiasm, the new bike was the hit of the show. Keith, Whitney and I were there, basically talking with people for 3 days straight, it was great. Love NY, food is great and the people are alive.
Next we had a whole day off, whippee! Then down to West Palm Beach for the dealer release of the S1000rr.
Stayed in a nice hotel, and the following day 160+ dealer reps went to the track and we introduced them to the bike. The coaches rode for 28 track sessions, I was very glad to finish the day
. Perfect day postcard really.But the bike, man, what a bike!!!! All my trepidations about putting riders that are used to 600's or smaller bikes just evaporated. The handling (w/out ANY adjust ments) was excellent, the brakes superb, the engine so linear and rideable, just fantastic.
Some specifics: we started everyone in the lowest of the 4 modes to begin, "rain" mode. Power comes on very nicely, gently, no surpises, and limited by lean angle too. Bike seemed pretty darn tame, but still had some steam if you let it get going.
Then, up to "sport" mode. Also a bit more shifing, and the shift assist works beautifully. Other speed/quick shifters that some of the coaches had used would really require hard acceleratioin to shift well--not this one, shifted beautifully at virtuallly any RPM or throttle position.
"Race" mode next, this was more fun for sure, and by then you were getting used to what the bike would do. But still not scary, very linear and really just very rideable--but lots and lots of steam, whahootieeeee!. Before this I was pretty much a 600 guy, but those days are gone due to this bike.
OK--I'm going to give you a biased opinion, they are our sponsor, but the bottom line is--the above is still all true
.I'll get back up more this week, and continue with some more stuff I learned about the bike too.
Best,
Cobie
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There are a couple of good stories Eirik.
Anyone else? I need to get one of my Aussie mates who used to be a m/c courier, he had some good stories.
One day I asked him how many mirrors he had taken off (side mirrors, off cars). He said about 20. Maybe he was lying, but he was convincing at the time.
CF
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here's a unexpected highside...
Had a group ride today, two guys went down.
1st guy - 1st turn = cold tire
2nd guy - 1st turn = target fixation(behind 1st rider).
Both are ok and were geared up.
Sux for the bikes but you learn from it, I know I did.
I only saw one rider go down? Anyway, it's almost impossible to believe how easy it is to perform a highsider. Sometimes, you even see top rank world class racers falling off at ridiculously low speeds - and usually they do not even understand what happened. So far, such incidents have eluded me, knock wood.
Kind of amazing how many guys that should know better fall on cold tires. I wonder if in 10 years down the road, we'll have a tire temp guage on the bikes--hey, maybe I could invent one!
CF
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First time I heard this, I found it hard to understand and hard to believe. I didn't ever REALLY understand it until I watched the Twist of the Wrist II DVD, there is a computer generated animation that shows what happens, in slow motion, and explains WHY, and WOW did the lightbulb come on for me when I saw that!
Good point Hotty, that DVD does show it well.
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That is great!
I will be there on Saturday with a few friends who will also be attending the school at Thunderbolt with me in May!
Looking forward to meeting you guys.
ps, if you need any suggestions on restaurants or things to do, please let me know.
JT
Cool, come say hello!
OK, the latest is that Keith will be making it to the show, so come by and say hello.
Best,
CF
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Tweek--let's check out the physics on this (rudimetary). You roll on the throttle, after you turn in, then you roll of the gas (not even using the brakes), what does the bike do, if you are doing absolutely nothing to the bars--what happens to the line, where does the bike go when the gas is rolled (or chopped off)?
Rolling off the throttle should tighten the line.
Not initially--it will run wider at first.
CF
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We are heading East in the winter for the bike show at the Javits Center, Jan 22-24.
Keith Code is hoping to make it, juggling another project in LA at the moment.
For sure will be one many of you talk with, the lovely Whitney.
I will also be there, we'll be at the BMW booth, be great to see any of you East Coast guys. If you are there, come on over, drool on the S1000RR, bring us a good mocha
.Best,
Cobie
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OK, lets hear your best riding story--when did you do the right thing, and it all went well.
Keep this to actual things that have happened please, if I see a really good one, free t-shirt.
I'll start it off, with a nice easy one:
Riding down the freeway, I see a large extension ladder going across a few lanes. No time time to check the mirrors (saw it kind a late), didn't think I could turn around it (remember, it was a large ladder). Not much time as a dirt bike rider, so this was a big deal to me at 70 on a ZX-9. I pinned it and got light in the saddle, rode nicely over it, no dramas other than an elevated heart rate.
Best,
Cobie
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Elton,
Great note! Thanks for posting it. Of course, we all know Toohey's a star. Doesn't hurt to have it reiterated though does it
All the best for your schools this year. That track you got there at Thunderbolt is a real good place to ride.
Adam
Adam, please, you already know 2E wears an XL helmet, now we are going to have to pull the padding out to stuff his head in it.
Well, he was Coach of the Year more than once, I guess he can do something right
CF
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Oh, and I don't notice that having the brakes on changes my steering effort or the bike trying to stand up.
However, I do remember at level 1 in Mid-ohio having an incident. Somebody decided to make a close pass on the entrance to 11. I had to grab a little brake while turned in. That bike stanped up in a heart beat. My current ZX6 doesnt seem to do that. Possibly b/c I have more experience now or the suspension is setup differently. Any explanation for the difference?
Tweek--let's check out the physics on this (rudimetary). You roll on the throttle, after you turn in, then you roll of the gas (not even using the brakes), what does the bike do, if you are doing absolutely nothing to the bars--what happens to the line, where does the bike go when the gas is rolled (or chopped off)?
CF
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The cluchless downshift moved my mind and efford closer to the braking purpose: slow down to "target" entry speed with the brakes. Not the engine! At the "scrub off with the brakes", in lower revs, without having the engine spinning at the noisy redline or near it, it is much easier to perform an accurate cluchless dounshift. Hope that helps.
+1
CF
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I live in vancouver Canada, so I plan on racing in the wmrc (vancouver canada) and the wmrra. I don't like the racing school we have here, but if it seems like the smartest choice there is... then I guess I'll go there. I don't mind driving down to the states as long as I know the school is really good.
Most racing organizations have accepted our school, though this has gone off and on over the years and in several places. I'll let Keith know that we aren't currently on the CCS list (we have been accpeted before) but I bet you could get them to accept it. Many "race schools" are so you learn the flags, how to exit and enter, maybe a few practice starts and generally know their procedures.
We give certificates at all our schools, you will have proof of having dong the school, and we keep a record if for some reason you don't have it.
Best,
Cobie
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After many years of driving motorcycles and finally being lucky enough to organize and observe my thoughts and actions before, at and after riding, thanks to Keith"s "Soft Science" concept, reading his books (starting from 1996 and still reading), beeing at his school (All Levels, Greece) and seeing his VHS and DVDs for many times, i need to share a new perspective issue about riding a motorcycle.
What is the hardware we use?
Suggestions:
- Engine (accelerate, retain constand speed, deccelerate, power distribution)
- Brakes (srubb-off speed, stopping, weight distributing/balancing)
- Gearbox, Clutch and Drive Line (spin, up/down shift, acceleration/decceleration, final drive)
- Frame (ergonomics, geometry, flex, weight)
- Controls (throttle, streering, frond brake and clutch lever, back brake lever, gear lever)
- Suspensions/linkage, front/back (up/down)
- Wheels (spin, brake/tire support)
- Tires (spin, maintain/loosing traction, contact to Mother Earth)
- Driver (as a hardware device, affecting all above)
Learning and undersdanding how all above hardware parts perform and collaborate to each other every time in any external conditions (road/track), helps us to add the fine tunning to the software (our brain) that turn thoughts into motion. M' i correct Master Keith?
OK, there it is: If a motorcycle is a moving-rolling on rubber tires-machine (including the rider) and driving is a product of motion produced from several software thoughts that operate hardware commands what is the part(s) that recieves all of them, outputs and maintains the final motion?
Answer: The tires, correct?
So if we are commanding -or better- "driving" the tires how we gonna use this perpective?
I will return for more on this.
Hi Christos,
I'm not 100% clear on what the question is here... can you clarify?
Best,
Cobie
- Engine (accelerate, retain constand speed, deccelerate, power distribution)
:D
Staff Nicknames
in School Questions/General Discussion
Posted
Somehow missed these latest additions, but CSS Admin needs to be informed of the rules (or my vague interpretation of them)--we need some kind of history on these names, can't be top secret.
Bullet (and the UK gang) do I have that correct?