hubbard_28

Anyone know how old he is now, and if he'll be able to start racing in something like the Redbull series or go to Europe while they still have 125's?

One thing to add on this: a point that riders need to know, is what they are doing RIGHT. This could be as important (or more?) as what they are doing wrong. The more I know, the more questions I have. What I'm doing right vs. what I'm doing wrong is becoming a blur. After a while I'm not so sure of either. I've been doing track for a year now, and am learning from here and a couple other places, but not very fast, and most of it is from this guy and that guy says something else, and this guy has some input also. There is a new woman who is on her 3rd trackday and had some of the racers coaching her from day one, and even though I kept up with her, she clocked a 1:07, and I think I hit 1:07 ONCE. I'm dying to go to the school because I'm not really getting any better since I learned what BP to be in.

Hotfoot, I don't know. But EVERYONE who uses race fuel swears by it. If you were to try it, the potential damage to the engine or parts would be so miniscule, and take such repeated use to actually damage your engine. There's only one way to find out..... grab a can of that overpriced stuff and pour it in. I'm going to do it if I can get my hands on it Sunday. If I do, I'll let you know what I found.

I'm doing another trackday this weekend, and am planning on really focusing on this. I'm going to work on just coming off the brakes when I'm dipping the bike in. Last Sunday I really tried dumping the bike over, and learned how the rumble strips feel at full lean. It was scary, but awesome that I could get it over so quickly. That means I can carry more speed into the corners.

Honestly, I was surprised when you told me that. I really didnt' expect it to have much in the basement. C I thought that was one of the primary differences between twins and 4's. I know on my wifes 650 I have power just about bottom to top. On mine, I need to be at 9,000 rpm's. I want a Triumph 675.

Derek put it best. I will be able to work on changing my style to what I've been taught, but I'll be changing instead of learning. And after two days, it will be a lot more info because of what I know (most of which is wrong, arguable, or incomplete), and what I need to change (which will be a lot). I will recommend to anyone asking when to take the course to probably take it as soon as they are comfortable doing basic trackdays.

Here's a question if you have a minute. I was told this summer that I should wait to go to this school until I have more experience. I've been thinking about it, and I've developed some bad habits that I'm sure will be harder to correct with time. Do you think a newer rider should go to this school. I would think so because it gives him the tools to improve that he can work on instead of change to.

Hubbard, Easiest thing is just call the office. It can change daily/sometimes hourly, so we don't put the sign up's on line, but handle them all in the office. A deposit will secure the spot, with more than 2 weeks notice you can get it all back (minus 3% refund charge). 800-530-3350. Right now it's about 25% full. CF Thanks. I'm really not worried about the refund. I'm going. Thanks for the number. When I get paid in January I'm putting down my money.

Downtown is nice. You can get there easily from North Vegas. Fitzgeralds, Four Queens, and Gold Nugget are standard decent rooms, and when you're not at school everything is right there in walking distance. STAY AWAY from The Plaza, Las Vegas Club, and El Cortez. I haven't stayed at the other places, so I couldn't say.

If I can get a spot in January for April, I'm going to do the two day in Vegas. I'll have the money then for the deposit, and my wife will have something to do while I'm at the school is why we're doing Vegas. We lived there for a year and a couple months, so she's familiar with it. I'm not going to get too excited yet, because I've been told these schools fill up quick, but I am keeping my fingers crossed. YAY (maybe). A question for Cobie, though. If I try to sign up for it and that school is full, will it tell me that there aren't any spots available?

OK, I'm curious to what you mean by "maintenance throttle?" http://pnwriders.com/general-discussion/41...e-throttle.html J/bird and I have gone around on this one a bit, but my understanding is the term originated with cars, and I want to see if any really good car guys use that. What's your take on it Hubbard? Having the throttle on when the bike is turn, it can create some problems, and one of them is the bike runs too wide after turn in, and more lean angle is needed (than should be used) to bring it back in line. I was sort of in on this discussion. Just before I dip the bike (I think) I am at the speed I want to be at. I apply enough throttle to keep me at that speed going to the apex. I hope this is a more accurate description. We had a hard time explaining it last time. I have tried it on the street, and this Sunday will on the track, and am not comfortable with the other way. I'm going down for half the day into a slower group to work on this (as well as a couple other things). OK, so if you roll the throttle on before you turn it or while you are turning it, what happens to the line the bike takes--does it want to hold the line, or will the bike run wider after turn in? CF I think I have a way to better explain our 'going round' on this. Instead of rolling on the throttle, we just "crack open" the throttle. (smile) My admittance to my wrongness is on the "newbie with a question" post that we had this long discussion about previously.

Alright. I have to say this, probably one of the few times anyone will hear it on this forum. I WAS WRONG!!! It happens a lot, so don't get to excited, but let me explain. I was of the argument that I am at a "maintenance" throttle going into the corner. I even went out by my house and practiced on a small road, and found more comfort doing it (I don't ride the same when I'm not on the track, completely different form). I went into corners not on the gas, and got nervous doing so. I was at the track yesterday (and will have next Sunday to work on it as well) and found that I'm NOT on the throttle going into corners. I did my thing and paid attention and found that the only time I'm on the throttle in a corner is when I'm in the carousel, a 180 degree turn. I never realized it, and when I further investigated it, I noticed that I AM on the throttle just shy of apexing. Brings up a question. Should I wait until the apex to start accelerating? After the apex? It changed quite a few things for me, and I'm excited to have something else to work on. I spent my first YEAR working on BP, and now everyone who started with and after me are much faster because things like this weren't even on my mind. I am, however, very good at BP.

Stuman, you just answered a question I was going to post today. I was at the track yesterday and usually don't push it. But yesterday with some friends I started really getting on it trying to keep pace, and I went back like two steps in my BP (chest away from the tank, lower body pushed up on the tank, and bad foot position), which affected my coming out of corners, and ultimately the SPEED. I slowed back down because I was getting too careless, and went straight back to good (decent) form, and improved on my speed. I did think that it might have been SR, but besides sliding the front a couple times, nothing that I could think that I was doing would trigger this. Not to steal Gigi's post, but how can I best work on this? You said you have to practice at a pace that presses you a bit. Is that something we should do every lap, or could I do every other lap so I can evaluate what I'm doing?

I can't ride bikes, but I used to. My back won't allow it. Yesterday when I wasn't on the track, I had to take my arms out of my suit sleeves because of the pressure it was putting on my back. I did keep my back protector on because it acted like a back brace while I was in the pits. I'm a firm believer, though, that if you're participating in a sport, especially one as serious as motorcycle racing, you should have at least a couple things in your workout geared toward it. Even if you're just a track junkie like myself, it can only help. Once it's in your regimen it's easy to keep up, and doesn't take conscious thought to do. I LOVED working out for football because it was mostly about power, and I was good at it. Toning muscle will act as another layer of protection in an accident, and also hold joints together in the case of a tumble, and even a little exercise strengthens bones.

Specific track riding techniques can't properly be practiced. Lining up passes, accelerate out of an apex, apexing with paint, gravel, and dirt obstacles. I can't work specifically on BP, getting used to asphalt/ hard part clearance, and get comfortable leaning over with all the potential things that can happen if I have to straighten the bike out and go off the road. Late braking is out as well.

I mostly try to keep weight off with some really strenuous cardio. I'd do it anyway. What I do specifically for track is moderate rep (15-20 reps) for endurance, lower back when I can, and no added weight squats, again for endurance. I'll plead the 5th on diet. Not my strong point. I know what I SHOULD do, and have a decent diet, but I'm not following it right now.

OK, I'm curious to what you mean by "maintenance throttle?" http://pnwriders.com/general-discussion/41...e-throttle.html J/bird and I have gone around on this one a bit, but my understanding is the term originated with cars, and I want to see if any really good car guys use that. What's your take on it Hubbard? Having the throttle on when the bike is turn, it can create some problems, and one of them is the bike runs too wide after turn in, and more lean angle is needed (than should be used) to bring it back in line. I was sort of in on this discussion. Just before I dip the bike (I think) I am at the speed I want to be at. I apply enough throttle to keep me at that speed going to the apex. I hope this is a more accurate description. We had a hard time explaining it last time. I have tried it on the street, and this Sunday will on the track, and am not comfortable with the other way. I'm going down for half the day into a slower group to work on this (as well as a couple other things).

If I could ride just one bike on any track, be it the new BMW, KTM, Ducati, I would choose the R1. Just from sitting on that bike at the bike show I would have to pick it even if it were just for a couple laps.

All of those pictures are cool. You all are really good. The pics are really good. I'm really wanting to learn how to ride like you guys AND take shots like that.

Looked like you were being a little ginger with the Duc.

On a corner like that I will, as a standard, get off the brakes just before I start to turn in. Not to start another discussion on when we start on the throttle, but I am starting to get my maintenance throttle while I'm dipping it in. If I'm passing going into the corner, I might use light brake slightly into my lean.

My '05 636 is king. I've only ridden '05 and older, but nothing comes close. Most of the bikes I've ridden were either before or when I was just starting track, so I might feel different if I rode them again. The GSXR's feel like ZZR's compared to my bike, and the R-6 and R-1's I've ridden were smooth, but didn't handle like my bike. More than likely due to familiarity. I do miss my Triumph. It wasn't a track bike, just a '99 Legend, but it was boss. Smooth as all get out.

LOL not me, cupple guys got their elbow and head down though ;-P HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! The pics look great. Good job.

Alright. That's just cool. I have an Outback, and am going to an abandoned building by my apartments to see if mine can do that.

Great form Derek.