Cobie Fair
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Posts posted by Cobie Fair
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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
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Just a comment on this - I think the Power Ones are dual-compound tires and two things to watch for - first, the edges may wear out before the middle, the outer compound is soft and I think they do have less grip after a lot of heat cycles, so I DO think changing your tires is a good thing to try. Second, on the Power Ones I kept getting the feeling of mild front tire slips in some places, and I finally came to the conclusion that I was feeling the transition from one compound to the other as I started standing up the bike. I would turn it in, and it felt fine, then I started to roll on the gas and it was OK, but after the apex when I started standing the bike up a little I'd get this weird feeling of little slips in the front. My best guess is that when I started getting the tire on the harder compound, it was either sliding a little or just felt really different. One day at the track I changed to the Dunlop Q2s and the problem instantly disappeared.
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?
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Elton,
What a GREAT note, I'm going to send this out to the crew.
Very Best,
Cobie
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'07,
A GREAT success!!!
CF
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
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Hi all,
Finally decided to resgister for a course at Willow this March so I decided to join the forum and get to learning. Ordered the Twist of the Wrist series to help with that.
That being said, I've been riding for 25 years on the street now and it's been 17 years since my last time on the track! Things may have changed a bit...
I've probably got a ton of bad habits to break. Really looking forward to the school and I'll probably be asking all kinds of questions and picking some of your brains. My buddies have already 'decided' my first track day after the school will be April 2 at Pacific Raceways. Guess I better prep the 851 for the track.
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
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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
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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?
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I've spent the last few days seeing what the downshift 3 is about, and it's pretty hard. I can, and habitually do, downshift 2, give it a good blip, and am back to work. I tried downshifting 3, and when I blipped, I couldn't give it enough of a blip to get the RPM's up. It was crazy. I had to let it coast for a second, then it would allow me to crank the throttle and get some RPM's. I wonder how that works.
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
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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
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'07,
A GREAT success!!!
CF
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Very cool indeed. But their words about "built-in webserver" and "runs on Linux OS" makes me wonder if it's just an elaborate prank. From thevideo they're linking to, it obviously isn't.
The power pack isn't huge: the biggest is 11kWh and a MotoGP has around 240bhp, and uses on average, say, half the power for around 45minutes of racing. That's ½*240bhp*736W/bhp*3/4h = ~66kWh, ie 6x the energy of the TTX02.
What am I missing here? That the TTX2 doesn't put out a lot of bhp?
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
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No, we unfortunately do not have any videos at hand - and with the snow laying thick it won't happen in an instant either
But we just got a high quailty camera for on-board fitting, although I imagine you'd rather see shots taken from the side of the track?On board would be better, with each riding as they normally would.
CF
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I really should have more sense than posting this, taken some years back. I just sit there like a sack of potatoes, basically...
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
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Thanks cobie, I'm aware of the website. I'm aiming to book L2 early in the year then L3 and L4 across the 2day camp my post was a little unclear.
For anyone else reading this thread I've just had word the provisional dates for the 2day Uk camp will are the 4th and 5th August and its on Silverstone south circuit. Cost and full details to be released in a week or so, I'll post up when I have had word
Haven't ridden that course, let us know what it's like if you do.
CF
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Zero experience, love to try one out.
CF
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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
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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
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Speaking of trail braking, I have a question for the experts (sorry for being so long-winded). When riding on the road, my brother and I keep the same pace, but our styles are very different to the point that we upset each other if riding too close.
If I lead into a corner with my brother behind, he will start accelerating while I'm still braking. Of course, if he doesn't want to run into me, he must back off. Upsetting. And if I follow my brother, he starts to brake much too early for me, so it breaks my natural rythm. Upsetting, too.
Now, this is where my question finally arrives: My brother always wears out his front tyres first (edges) and he often has trouble with front end slides. Me, OTOH, virtually never have any front end issues and my front tyre will usually last 1.5 to 2 times longer than my rear. And my front tyres usually wears very evenly from edge to edge. That despite braking later and turning in quicker than my brother. Is there a simple explanation for this?
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
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JT,
AGV Sport suits are what we use, have fit pretty well. I'm about the same height and weight, but legs aren't that big. I remember a bicycle racer that came, big thighs too, he had a tough time.
You might have to go custom. We just got a few of our coach suits (custom) and they fit pretty well.
One last thing that will help a lot (and I normally like cotton) is wear an inner liner, either for cold or hot weather, wear one. They are SO much easier to get in and out of, I don't wear leathers w/out them. Tons cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter, and in and out is a breeze--even with a snug fitting custom suit.
Best,
Cobie
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PJ,
Welcome aboard, let us know if/when you get booked up for a school, for sure come say hello when you do.
Best,
Cobie
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Borneo (Sabah) was great. Its quite wealthy from timber, palm oil and oil and the roads are very good. Real mixture of roads from paved lanes through paddy fields and villages to good twisties and highways through the mountains. Dirt if you want. We were on Aprilia 650 dual sport things but still the fastest things on the roads. Away from the towns there was little traffic and we could ride hard all day. Good Malay food in the villages. Did a package with accomodation in a luxury B&B in the hills and rode most days.
That does sound neat, a bit of a a hike for us though.
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If there is a 2day UK camp confirmed I will be definately booking it. Putting trackdays on hold this year and hoping to get L2 done in spring and L3 and L4 later in the year
Hi Progression,
Here is the UK schedule page, there are two 2 day camps in April, in Spain. You know you will get through 1 level each day, so if you do a 2 day camp, 2 and 3 will get done.
Best,
CF
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I should have posted the question as "what is the advantage of blipping the throttle between each gear change", because you certainly could do either way. After reading the replies and thinking about the question as a system I have to agree with RocketPunch. By blipping the throttle between each shift you are making small step changes to the system which should result in better matching of the engine/trasmission RPMs. With a slipper cluth you have more room for error but I would assume that things will be smoother if you do not rely on the clutch breaking loose.
And, I have seen slipper clutches not work (meaning the rear did lock up, bounce around).
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Tweek,
If turning the bike quickly is the issue, how about just putting more pressure on the bars? Here is one place where trail braking has to be done delicately: the more brake you have on, the less force/steering pressure you can use. One of the single biggest source of novice crashes is turning with the front brake on. If you want to turn quickly, have to use less and less front brake.
Another issue with trailing the brake in too late is, keep you from getting back on the gas, as early as possible.
Here is another way to think of this: balancing the bike's load to the tires. Simply shutting the throttle can go to 70% of the combined weight on the front, on a sportbike, this might be even higher (75%+?).
What do you think?
CF
- 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 
But we just got a high quailty camera for on-board fitting, although I imagine you'd rather see shots taken from the side of the track?
Tire Driving
in Cornering and Techniques
Posted
Hi Christos,
I'm not 100% clear on what the question is here... can you clarify?
Best,
Cobie