comptonchinee

Anyone gonna get the last bit of sun before winter??? I will be there!!!

Hi guys, Seems there is a chance of decent weather this weekend, so I am booked into a trackday at Silverstone National on Sunday and I really want to benefit from the day, and feel good about the end of the riding season, ya know?!?! So in Spring cleaning, my wife threw away all my booklets from the school (Level 1, 2, and 3) and I need a refresher on the actual drills per level. I have most of em but not all ( I been trying to write them out but I am a bit OCD so the order is important for me, especially level 2 cuz that some were not precisely actual drills to work on such as the 3 laps on different parts of the track (left, right, middle)... I want to think about them and what I can work on for the trackday... Can someone send them to me in a PM, in case it should not be listed out so easily for all to see??? Thanks in advance!!!

As for gripping tank under braking, I find it useful and synchronised when I grip a bit crossed up because my arse is a bit off centre, and when I push the handlebar to steer the bike is the exact moment I let go of the tank with my inside knee and stick it out... I find that that timing actually feels really good.... I hope noone tells me this is wrong cuz it feels right!!!

Quick update on the day... WOW!!! I am still processing the info. It has already made me a smoother and more relaxed rider on the roads. I have alot of work to do with my vision which gets fixated or I lose the wide view and that leads to fixation. I am practicing, even walking down the road where I normally walk looking at the ground in front of me... I got better throughout the day, and now have all the tools I have learned from the school to implement into my riding. Can't wait for Level 4 in a year or so of practice!!! Thanks alot to everyone at CSS!!! PS From the photos I got, I certainly see a big difference in leg position between my bike and sportier bikes so I have ordered adjustable rear sets so I can hopefully get a better position for me!!

Nic, Sssshhhhhhhh!!!! ( My fingers are crossed though!!)

Hi mate, OK, what you need to do..? Well, step 1, make sure it's roadworthy, tyres are ok, chain, levers and footpegs those kind of things are all ok, not about to fall off, etc, etc. You'd be suprised, but these are the things that will be checked by the guys on the day. So, as for mirrors, either take them off, bend them in, or they'll be taped up for you on the day. Lights don't need to be taped up, niether does your number plate, though if you don't want it in your shots (and they also go up on the web), then you'd need to do that aspect yourself, (again, tape or remove). You can bring your own tools if you can on the bike(mirrors are usually just an Allen key), or if you ask Gloom nicely, you can leverage ours, though make sure you bring em back... ;-) Hope that covers it mate. Bullet Thanks Bullet, Just got a full service done in preparation... So she is definitely road worthy. I will bring the tool for the mirrors and just tape up the number plate... Easier for me to get going after the day...

Hello, I am attending Brands Hatch schools on May 10th and 11th, and will be riding my own bike. What preparations will be required for the day?? For example, do mirrors need to be removed or just taped up?? Lights taped up?? License plate removed or taped up ok?? If I have to remove my mirrors for example, would I need to bring my own tools?? Advice appreciated...

My pride was left in the wreckage of my last car!! So I do not take chances at all!! I must say that I already see that track riding allows you to focus on the things the school teaches, whereas on the road there are soooo many other variables that I just don't take many chances... @ Cobie - How is this for good observation - I spoke in a different thread about low siding on the street because of cold tyres and cold road. Above I pointed out that another contribution was being heavy on the inside bar. After going for a ride to my mechanic and inflating my tyres (something I delay for weeks too long sometimes), I realised that ANOTHER contribution to the low side was the underinflated front tyre which made me have to be heavy on the bars, as the steering was so sluggish. It was hard to ride the bike coming to think of it... So tyre pressure can cause you to put more weight on the bars in some instances... My scratched engine cover agrees with this.

I have just put Tech Spec Tank Grips on my bike and I can get alot of weight off the bars now... It makes me realise that when I had my lowside 2 months ago on the street, that apart from cold tyres and road, I had too much weight on the bars, so the bike could not do what it wanted to, and I made it do something wrong.

I will have a go at this one... I have only done Level 1 and will be attending Level 2 and 3 in May, so if anything I have written here is wrong, please accept my apology, this is just my understanding of it... But I have read the books at least 30 times and watched the DVDs 4 times as well.... I think that the Quick Turn is using countersteering positively in order to achieve your desired lean angle quickly. So the opposite of a lazy turn where you lean slowly to your desired lean angle, the Quick turn will be like snapping the bike over by using a firm pressure on the handlbar to countersteer to your lean angle. This will be to initiate the turn at your turn point, normally at the beginning of a corner. In order to reduce lean angle and time spent leaned over for a given corner you need to have a late turn point. If you use the same turn point and increase your speed, your line will be wider because of the increased speed (you will go wide at exit all other things remaining constant) So, in order to use the SAME turn point for the SAME corner, but at a higher speed, and keep the SAME line, you must turn the bike quicker which will mean a harder push on the handlebar in order to lean the bike over quicker. To do this efficiently, and keep rider input on the bars to a minimum apart from what is needed to turn the bike, you can use the outside footpeg to push off of, using the peg as your pivot point in order to use your entire body to countersteer the bike. Using your entire body will allow you to be able to put alot of bar pressure, which may be needed if you are going fast, as it takes alot of bar pressure to turn the bike at speed. This is what they call Pivot Steering in TOTW 2. Hook Turn, on the other hand is a technique used to tighten your line without increasing lean angle, by leaning your upper body low and to the inside of the bike, in order to increase weight on front tyre effectively tightening the turn... This would be used if you are already rolling on and think that you are heading a bit wide... Hook Turn will be used to tighten the line a bit... That is MY understanding of it. I hope it is right...

I have a question... Note that I am due for Level 3 in 2 weeks but I still want to ask now... When riders speak of Body Position we speak of hanging off style, Kiss the Wrist or Mirror, opening hips and getting body low and to the inside... Am I right in thinking that this low and to the inside position is MAINLY from apex to end of corner or at least when you are getting good drive out of the corner?? In other words, I never see anyone get into this position WHILE turning in... I kinda notice that while turning in, the pros turn pretty slowly over (I assume that this is because they are trailbraking up til apex and therefore cannot quickturn), with their body off to the side but pretty high up (not low on the tank) I notice that they get low very gradually and about the time they are getting into the throttle roll on and then drive out of the corner that they really get low, ala Hook Turn??? I don't know what I am asking apart from, are my observations correct?? I ask this because the first post with the 5 positions, it states that straight up gives more traction... and it just made me thing of what part of the corner these guys were in these different positions... I guess I can't wait to ask these questions in school and be able to experiment with it on track...

Well, I am not an athlete, but I only weigh 165lbs... So, hopefully I will get through it ok... I know it will be demanding, but I "think it through" every day, every ride, even on my couch, and in my bed!!! but I need to know what to think through and what to practice... I fear that bad habits are creeping in, and I need the track time and the drills to allow me to focus on what I need to work on... Plus, when I did Level 1 Silverstone, I could have EASILY done another day. And would love to be able to go away just for the evening, and think through the track and the sensations I experienced, in order to give it another shot the next day... Hey, if 2 days back to back was totally not advisable I am sure that there would be no 2-day camps, right?!?! But yeah, Muppet, I will pick up the kettlebells again from tomorrow... lotsa squats are in order!!! I was reading your note, and before I saw my name, I was like, damn, this guy sounds like he is talking to ME!! Waitamminit, he IS talking about me!!! Another thing, I just LOVE to ride. So 2 days with CSS is something I have been looking forward to for many months now (since level 1) Thanks for sharing your thoughts!!! EDIT - REasons I think 2 days back to back is good for me: 1. I am HUNGRY for more riding information... I will eat up everything taught and ask for more!!! 2. If I get Level 2 and 3 done, then it is that much closer to Level 4, and I already KNOW a few things I need to work on and that is only after Level 1!! 3. Brands Hatch. Nuf said.

Well, if anyone can help you it is these guys!! They will look at your throttle control, the way you steer the bike, they will ensure that you are not putting unnecessary input into the handlbars, and they will give you the 2-step, turn points and the quick turn to allow you better lines with which you can safely lean her over... After my Level 1 I felt great and my riding improved ALOT!! Everything you learn at school though, it is now your responsibility to practice the drills and apply them to your everyday riding, in order to make the lessons a part of your riding and not just something you worked on for a day... I have Bridgestones on my bike, BT-021... I like the sound of the what the new BT-023's offer though... Other than that, I think I need a softer hypersport tyre and not the sport-touring that I have now... I originally put sport touring on because we were riding to Germany to ride the Nurburgring, and I did not want to have squared off tyres for my first track experience... I liked the school's Dunlops on their R6 as I rented for Level 1...

We all have to start at Level 1 mate!!! That's the only way I am now doing 2 & 3!!! And I have not ridden on a track since last year, and having ridden throughout winter this year, so chicken strips are expected!!! hahaha If my tyres did not have chicken strips I would probably replace them as I would surely think that something was wrong with them!!!

Hi mate, I'm thinking of doing level 2 on the 11th. Did my L1 at Rockingham last year (great track but sooo slippery in the wet), can't wait to do some more. Had an off at Mallory a couple of weeks ago, crushed my fingers between the clutch lever and handle bar, so hopefully will be back to full fitness by May... I'll see you there! Hi PaulG, Hope you are getting fit fast because we only have 2 weeks til Brands Hatch!!! I hope to see you there!!! I'll come asking for ya... I am getting very excited for it!!! Just put on some Tech Spec Tank Gripsters. Only rode 7 miles to work in heavy London traffic, but I like them so far... Seeya, Jason.

It wasn't entirely clear but if the RPMs are going up then you're accelerating. From my understanding the most stable point to add lean angle at is to maintain the exact speed your going. So if your going 60mph and holding 60mph its perfectly safe to add more lean angle. Just remeber if you keep leaning a motorcycle lower it will eventually let go. I have added lean angle and throttle on the street before but its usually just following traffic and not even remotely close to any kind of traction limits. Its when you have relatively high lean angles (the kind of lean angles you should only be finding on the track) that its an issue if you add throttle and more lean angle. Maybe a coach can go into more detail if thats not enough. Thanks Dave, that pretty much is what I thought... Good to have it clarified a bit...

Can't you get prescription visors??

The Pace. Trying to avoid riding on any paint onthe road, such as lines, writing, etc. That all I've got... Not much I am afraid... The track is where it's at!!

Hey Nic, I will also be at Brands Hatch on May 10th. Level 2 though... I will be on a silver, black and red Honda CBR600. Seeya there!!!

Hope I am not hijacking this thread, but I have a kind of related question... I know that increasing lean angle and increasing throttle at the same time is a bad idea. At the track I can see that this can be controlled to some extent by my approach and timing of my inputs to enter the corners... (turn bike, then roll on throttle...) But on the street, where things change quickly, my question is, If I am getting into the throttle, nowhere near wide open, if I change my lean angle and keep the throttle steady, although my RPM's may be rising from the previous mentioned getting into the throttle, is that the same kind of bad idea as above?? In other words, Increasing lean angle and increasing THROTTLE is a bad idea. Is that the same as Increasing lean angle and increasing RPM with a constant throttle??? (Obviously there is just a small window where RPM's are rising to the level of your throttle opening, but I am not rolling on any more, I have stopped the throttle opening, but the RPM's are still rising...) I think that it would depend on HOW MUCH the throttle was opened, therefore, how fast the RPM's are rising, or that I would get away with it when I am far from the limits of traction... But going fast are these things the same or can I look at them as different?? i.e. Throttle increase vs steady throttle, rising RPM's... while changing lean angle... Hope that is clear?? Sorry if it is not...

Hello Everyone, I do not have a school question, but I am doing Levels 2 and 3 at Brands Hatch in May and I am getting really excited for it, and just had to let you all know that I am looking forward to it ALOT!!! I am actually being made redundant the Friday before, so I will be able to spend ALL my attention on improving my riding. And I convinced a friend that he should go to the school as well, so he has signed up for Level 1. He has been riding for many many years, but I know that he will benefit from the school, as I have. I told him it is better to spend some cash to learn to ride properly, rather than buy ANOTHER R1, seeing that he has not even seen his current R1 in about 5 months due to it being winter ( what a wuss...) Anyhow, I look forward to the school, and the track experience (YAY Paddock Hill!!) Someone else from these boards said that they will be at Brands Hatch as well on the 10th but I can't remember who. Oh I DO have a school question... BULLET - can you coach me for one of those days to make up for last year when our time together was cut short??? (I say ONE of those days, because I hope that I have different coaches on the 2 days, to get as much different perspectives of my riding as possible. I thin kthat that is a good plan, is it?!?! Or is it better to have one coach for both days??)

I am glad that I kinda knew this... i was actually hoping noone answered... I would have chipped in with the rider has to delay getting back on the gas... I think mostly because he uses alot of attention from braking hard from charging the corner, and has to wait to let the bike settle after the new turn point or speed of quick turn...

I have only done Level 1, but so far it is Two-step for me!!! Everything else was really informative and prompted lots of Mmmm-Hmmmms, But the Two-Step for me was AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Of COURSE!!!!

I hear ya, Bullet... Thing is, there was certainly no heroics on my part at the time... But I could have taken it easier... I was only going 20 mph though, 30 MAX... But yeah, I was taking it easy, but now I will take it very easy.