comptonchinee

Thanks Hotfoot!! I knew it was a fast corner, but forgot the specific of fast-entry, but clearly is relevant, as we are talking about entering a corner and using the throttle to set the speed, settling the bike by a calculated roll-off, and making the steering input, and get back to Throttle Control Rule 1. Awesome stuff!!

Throttle Control Rule no 2 Calculate your roll OFF speed, as accurately as you would your Roll ON speed. Not verbatim, but that is the jist of it...

Yeah, that one never really seemed like a vision drill to me, maybe that's why I forgot it... It definitely shows that areas of the track off your normal line is not as scary as it at first appears...

Vision is SOOO important. I knew it before but it has come up again, because I sold my CBR600F and bought a Fireblade. My vision was too slow for the new bike, and I have had to put in more work for my vision to catch up to the new faster speed of the Fireblade. So, I'll give it a shot... Level One Drill 2-Step... Explained by Mugget Level Two Drills - Reference Points - Knowing where you are on the track, and where you want to be going - If you only have ONE ref Point you will Target Fixate on it, and you go where you look. Wide View - to slow things down visually... 3 Step - to move from Ref Point to Ref Point Ooops... Can't put my finger on the last Level 2 Vision drill... But I got you started, anyone want to finish this off??

I was gonna say that too, that the front tyre does not look loaded at all!!! It would have formed quite a contact patch to get that effect under braking, but looks very round and barely touching the tarmac...

Lock onto the bike with the outside leg instead of the inside leg, and bend that inside elbow...

Timmer, glad you know about the CBR600F. Scenario - I am using DynoJet's readily available maps... First map I tried was for just an end can and K&N. Bike really woke up!! No more flat spot!! But when I looked at the Map values there were some REALLY lean areas (well, not necessarilt lean but leanER than stock), like -15 to -18 in 20-40% throttle... Now, the bike works better, but I went the safe route and use now a map with not so much drastic leaning of the mixture... My general question is - With the pre made maps from Dyno Jet, is there any chance of engine damage from being too lean?? The engine runs smoothly, no roughness at idle, no popping or backfiring... I think I am good to go, but would like your opinion... Thanks, Jason.

Power Commander 3 USB for me on my CBR600F. I had to change my exhaust to a stainless steel full system, as the stock one rusted a hole through it... That change got me a great big flat spot from 5500 to 7000 RPM. Since putting the Power Commander it is alot smoother delivery of power and the engine really works alot better / more consistently through the entire rev range. I have not custom mapped mine though, as yet... Running a pre-made map for Akra full exhaust and K&N filter, and works nicely!!! Oh I chose the PC3 cuz it is what I know about, and I got it used for less than half price!!

I have not re-read that section specifically to answer this, but I am going to have a go anyway based on my understanding of the subject... WHEN exactly should you start your roll-on? When you have completed your turn-in and are satisfied with where the bike is pointed - as soon as possible. How MUCH should you roll on? Enough to transfer the weight to the rear tyre to achieve optimum cornering load on the tyres (40/60) How does good throttle control affect the suspension and traction? Suspension is now in the most usable range (middle third) and traction is optimised by giving each tyre the amount of load determined by the size of contact patch (40/60) Is it possible to roll-on too early? If so, when would be too early and how would that affect your line? It IS possible to roll on too early. Too early would be before you have completed the turn in, and before you have the bike pointed in the right direction. This would make your line widen. What happens if you roll on too LATE? Rolling on too late - hmmm... You would be loading the front for too long in the corner, suspension loaded, tyre loaded, scrub off alot of speed, therefore may get gas greedy to try to make up for it... Also, the bike's tendency is to go wide, and you would have to steer the bike in more and more to keep your line, therefore increasing lean angle unnecessarily... And suspension will be compressed, so possibility of dragging hard parts and lifting a tyre perhaps?? What happens if you roll on too MUCH? Roll on too much will make the bike go wide by extending the front forks too much too quickly. Worst case you can break traction of the rear tyre and SR#1 can kick in (chopping throttle) and turn into a high side... But Throttle Control Rule # 1 would have prevented all of this. Once it is cracked on (as soon as possible after the turn in is completed), it should be rolled on smoothly, evenly and constantly for the remainder of the corner. Even in the case of rear wheel slide, checking the throttle can regain traction gradually, where chopping it obviously creates a violent regaining of traction... So... How'd I do??

2003 Honda CBR 600F (my one and only... for now) Do I win a cookie?!?!

Great story!! And great Pics too!!!!

Very nice Article... Thought inducing, to say the least!! My question is, there are 15 main drills taught at the school. How can I practice the other 19 if I don't know what to work on??? (Referring to your 34 points / drills)

Cadwell Park Mountain.bmp Here is what a mere mortal looks like going over the mountain... quite hard to keep the front down adn I was going pretty slow!!! Cadwell Park Mountain.bmp Rather embarassing in comparison!!! Hahahaha

I know... I have been building up slow and steady... Making sure my confidence builds faster than my speed does... Thanks for the words of wisdom... I AM getting there!!!

I understand, but you need to be able to keep up with the students as well right??? I remember my Level 1 like it was only yesterday... Bullet was my coach for one session until he had an off due to an offline student colliding with him... What I DO remember was him giving me a thumbs up for throttle control, and then just FLYING off to catch the other student under his care... I was like, WOW, when I grow up I wanna be JUUST like him!!! hahaha If I did not meet him without a helmet on, I would have thought his speed was why they called him Bullet!!! LOL I think that I tick alot of boxes, like ability to teach, communicate, observe, and correct... I have taught my friends a few corrections, like being crossed up on rights but they are GREAT on lefts... He said, so THAT's why my toe slider is gone only on my right side!!! Yup, too much lean angle cuz he was crossed up... But I have not taught them EVERYTHING... I want them to go to the school too!!! Jason.

Wannabe coach here signing in too!!! BUT, I know I am too slow although my technique is very much improving. And I can't foresee myself making all the days... But one day... One day!!!! (Even if I am just corner working or pit lane regulating, I would love to give back for all the great things i got from the school...) Watch this space... Jason.

Just be careful not to be adding lots of throttle WHILE adding lean angle... Throttle roll on should be after lean angle is set, and what you describe sounds like you can get away with it on the road, but at pace might be a bit hairy!!! Especially if your tyres are not nice and warm...

Keith being very thorough says the lower peg, because some sport bikes have rear passenger pegs which would be considered upper. So that would eliminate any confusion on which peg to pivot from. Sorry for butting in an old post, I have not been on the site for months!!! My impression about the lower, outside peg, spoken about above was that it was the outside peg, yes, and that that peg is lower than the seat, as Mr Code specifically speaks about getting the weight off the seat, and onto that lower (lower than the seat)... Is that a correct interpretation of the quote as well??? That is what I always thought he meant... Just my $0.02

Merry Christmas to everyone!!!

Well, my track day is over, missed last two sessions helping my friend fix his bike after a low side breaking off his master cylinder when the bike flipped after sliding into the grass!!! (Says he is now ready for Superbike School as he realises his technique needs work) I have mixed emotions about it. I found the track was good, easy to learn, but a bit bumpy, which is not good for my lean angle confidence... I worked on Vision, I tried and tried, and I guess it helped a bit (After the first session, I no longer ran onto the rumble strip on the Start/Finish straight, touch the dirt, head shake myself back onto the track - whew!!!) Some of those corners go on FOREVER!!! Almost every lap, I would be looking through the corner as much as possible, and then realise that I could look even a bit further... But almost always a little too late. I think it is because I am really not used to long corners like that, but I put in the effort. I am getting the bike over nice and quickly, but I am just not going that quickly!!! hahaha... I feel slow and it is a bit frustrating... At one time I picked a corner and gradually increased my entry speed through it, lap by lap, got a bit more lean angle as a result (basically to the point where I have JUST gotten rid of the chicken strips on the right side (I don't care about chicken strips but I have been using that as a gauge as to how much tyre there is left to lean on) More like shredded rubber is all the way to the edge of the tyre... I am feeling like there is nothing more to get, push my knee as far as I can for a bit... Nothing... And there goes some guy around the outside of me, looking like his bike is horizontal!!!! I need a video chase cam or something, cuz I feel like I am WAY hanging off, and my friend is telling me that I am not hanging off so much... I need to revisit throttle control maybe, because ever since level 2 and 3 at Brands Hatch, my throttle control is great, EXCEPT for long tight corners like Druids, or like Luffield in Silverstone... I KNOW that I need to roll it on. I know it will make the bike run a predictable line. I am just so unfamiliar with the sensations of leaning even 1 degree lower than I am accustomed to that I hesitate on the roll on until I see the end of the corner... By then it is kinda too late, and I am going really slow with a long straight ahead of me... OR I nearly go wide at the exit, as above... When I lean to that steep angle (steep for me!!) the rear tyre feels almost notchy against the tarmac (for want of a better term). Maybe that is a normal feeling of the edge of the tyre, but I can't really push through that barrier... I think I also have in my mind that I am on Sport Touring tyres (BT 021) and that I am not as confident as I could be than if I was on proper sport tyres... Also, I don't really want to crash my road bike, so that is on my mind too I guess... It is frustrating me though. I need the lean bike, and the slide bike to really explore this in a safe way, But as far as I know you do not offer that in school in the UK. I fear I will eventually crash trying to explore lean angle limits... the only way I have figured out to increase my lean angle is to go into the corners faster... Cuz if I do not explore the limits, then I will just always be an OK rider, and not a good one. I can't really figure out any other way of exploring this until I eventually crash... I feel like I am the driver of a car with my hands glued to the steering wheel, I cannot utilise the full potential of the vehicle, and can only steer it less than 100% of it's possible turning ability. Boy O Boy It's gonna be a LOOOONG winter........

If I have to work on one drill at a time, I will probably start with 3 step, then 2 sessions of body position then add quicker turns once I get comfortable with my lock on and feel stable mid corner... Always underlying throttle control and rider input...

Sorry mate, no, we're going to Angelsey this weekend instead. Weather looks good. You done the track before? Bullet Not done Anglesey, nor Silverstone, apart from Stowe for my Level 1, 2 years ago (old config.) Looks like fun for a practice session... Wide, not TOO fast... I was really hoping for the GP circuit though!!! Anglesey too far for me, bro!!! My mechanic and riding friend who took us to Nurburgring in Germany thinks that Anglesey is the best track in UK... Looks like a blast on TV!!! Are you all healed up now then Bullet?? 110%???

Hi Jason, I was out on my Ducati today, its a road bike in standard trim and what I noticed was that I was so much more comfortable than I am on my track bike and I think I was doing the calf raise correctly. I was putting that pressure on my outside foot as I pushed the inside bar for a positive steering input (like the sword fencer in twist 2), and I was relaxing for the rest of the turn and really enjoyed the ride! I think somewhere down the line I have got my wires crossed and have been using the calf raise to wedge my knee into the tank for a lock on and kept the tension in the leg for the duration of the turn, I will put some focus on correcting this next week on track! Bobby Well, I will definitely be keeping this in mind this weekend at my track day!!! I kinda got muddled in that too I guess, and tried to keep the calf raise throughout the corner... Thought that that was how I would weight the outside peg, but yeah, if I have a good lock in, then should be able to relax more... Thanks!!

You have PM. Kai (thankful for not having a wifey sometimes) Ok Got it thanks to Kai... I had every single item, just mixed up the order in Level 2, and a bit in 3 as well!!! *shame* Sorry to my coaches!! I was listening, I swear!!! My plan of attack: Quicker Turns, with ALOT of Vision work, and underlying body position work (personal challenge to get comfortable hanging off the bike more, and maintaining stability) Thanks for all the helpful replies!!! *looks at Bullet with squinting eyes, cuz I know he can never give a complete answer, it's in his contract or something...* Jason.

Ok I think I have it in the order. It is down to one uncertaintly... Level 3 starts with Pivot Steering? Or is that part of the Quick Turn drill from level 1? If it is Quick Turn then what starts Level 3??