Cobie Fair

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

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

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

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

+1 CF

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

Hi Christos, I'm not 100% clear on what the question is here... can you clarify? Best, Cobie

If one end is going to slide, I'd prefer the rear. The reasons Harnois gves above are all solid, and go with what Keith has written in Twist 2, and match the machine requirements. Typically the front slides from too much load, and the only way to change that effectively is with the throttle. Check out the chapters in Twist 2 on Throttle Control, he'll explain it better than we can (with drawings too), or the new DVD is great too. Rear tire is bigger than the front is another issue--if it doesn't get it's proper share of the load, the best tracion possible is not being attained. Make sense? One last point on tire pressure: when we went up to 33 on the Dunlop Qualifiers, they slid earlier/easier than when we got them in their more ideal range, 30 front, 28 rear. I think the Q2 might be a little lower than that in the rear. Best, CF

nice description Hottie, wonder if that's what was going on? Would it be too crass to make a tire brand joke at this time?

Elton, What a GREAT note, I'm going to send this out to the crew. Very Best, Cobie

THANKYOU Cobie and all of your associates at CSS - u dudes r awsome. You're extremely approachable and always helpful. If there's no one around to speak to, then there's here. Your input has been very valuable and it is greatly appreciated RD You are quite welcome RD, glad you are up here and posting away! Best, Cobie

Hi molamphy, I shot you a note, but here is a public welcome. Doing a couple of days at the Streets is a great way to get introcuced (or re-introduced in your case) to the track. With the Twist material, you have a ton to go over, and that will be a great prep for the school. If you have any questions, pop them up here (I'm surprised more don't to be honest). Best, Cobie

DC, There are a few things here, so just to make sure: tempurature of that day and road. We have had some real differences in temp lately. I'm assuming the road didnt get dirty, but can happen too. Next, with throttle you can adjust the weight/load front to rear, in extreme situations, one can loose the front from TOO much throttle, or could it even just make one go wide. Too little throttle can also cause one to run wide. How about next time you take a run up there, you go a little below max pace, and just watch how you use the throttle, are you rolling it on and off very progressively? CF

I'm jumping into this a little late, and to be honest didn't follow/quite understand some of the previous posts but are you guys saying that its easier to turn the bike with the brakes on? Really? So, speed being the same, you are saying it's easier to turn with the brakes on? Isn't it going to depend on which direction? Turning into a right hand turn, with brakes on, doesn't the bike want to stand up, so it would be harder to turn right? Let's brake this down, one piece at a time, so let me know what you think of that first bit there, isn't the bike trying to stand up underbraking (if you are trying to turn it in)? CF ps--did you like the pun?

Here is something you might try: when you brake, scrub off a bit of speed first, then make the downshifts later--this way you never have to blip it as high. CF

For sure can't beat a good deal on E-bay, someone that can't us them and needs to sell. We have been very happey with the off the shelf AGV Sport products, in particular the suits. They are durable, and we have seen them crashed in a lot. The prices are very competitive too. Here is there site: http://www.agvsport.com/. Some other things that might not be well known: the owner, Michael, is a rider himself, and really does care that he gets a good product out at a very good price. He has also sponsored the school longer than anyone, it's over 20 years, pretty cool. Since he is a sponsor, you'd of course expect me to say that, but I do like the off-the-shelf gear, and seen them do the job for many years. I've also got one of the brand new suits, and really like tthem leather feels great. There you go, biased opinion. best, CF

'07, A GREAT success!!! CF

I don't think these will compete with MotoGP for awhile (horsepower per pound, hardly anything else does anyhow!), probably better to think of this as a light 250 or 125 bike. Another thought, this is just me guessing, is that regenerative braking can influence these number quite a bit too. Racebikes accelerate hard, but they brake hard too, so maybe the net energy usage isn't so high. And for a few, get the heart rate and heat generated by a racer to work, then we'd really have some use out of technology CF

On board would be better, with each riding as they normally would. CF

Nothing wrong with that for street riding, but can tell we can get some more out of you and the bike. A good thorough steering exercise would help with that. We actually stopped even allowing the new coaches to train students on this, as we found it takes better observation skills than even the on-track riding does. CF

Haven't ridden that course, let us know what it's like if you do. CF

Zero experience, love to try one out. CF

I've never messed with the clutch on my coach bike, if the revs are matched correctly, don't need it, and I don't use the clutch aside from taking off in 1st. CF

HI Eirik, You have already been welcomed, I'll just add +1. There are some techniques that apply to both road and track (most of what we train), I think if you could make it up to Level 2, that would be ideal. I agree with the other lads on the track being a great laboratory, with no Volvos either! Track riding for me allows the limit to be pushed much higher and harder, than I'm willing to ride on the street. A couple of close calls (cars in my lane) and I decided to leave a little more of a margin. You'll have to keep us posted and let us know if you do, and what changes you notice. Best, Cobie

This is an interesting difference, and with that many bikes over that many years, I wonder about how you both ride? Something we could comment on if we could see you ride...any chance you have some video, of both of you, ideally on the same road/track? CF