lwarner

Hey Stuman or Cobie, do you think that the "pick up" drill (end of level 2) or the "hook turn" (I haven't gotten to this level, but I understand it weights the front end?) would help with any of this?

Just get both books, LOL. For me TOTW2 was easier but I have really heard it both ways. I don't know where you live but if you're near AZ I'd take Jasonzilla up on his offer to ride with you a bit, either way I'd check out the drills he gave his wife... actually Jason if you could PM me I'd like to check them out for my wife! As soon as she's had a bit of experience I want to go to CSS with her. I just did levels 1 and 2 and I already want to do them again, LOL. I'll send you a PM.

REALLY great article Keith. I have only had one day at "Big" Willow but from where I sit you captured it perfectly. That whole day I just felt really intimidated, LOL. Now, after reading this and doing levels 1 and 2 I want to have another go at it and see how my visual skills and drills will serve me there.

Okay, "the Bands of Traction" article is HERE and it has a lot of cool info. As far as real world application goes, I hear riders who are more experienced than myself talk about feeling the tire "slipping". I am very eager to reach that skill level, to be able to feel that point of maximum lean angle and thus maximum corner speed... (assuming you have good Body Position). One of the things that I think will help me and that I can't wait to do is use the "Slide Bike" on level 4. I think that between that and just getting a lot of seat time I will get there in the not too distant future!

There is a great article on here called "the bands of traction" that may be exactly what you're looking for. Let me go hunt for a link...

That's awesome Nige. Quick turn and rider input were revelations for me as well. I had two more on level 2 and now my imagination is running wild with all the "secrets" I will learn on the other levels, hahahaha.

I'm really curious to have an instructor chime in on the steering angle idea... I'm about 50/50 on it, really I was just thinking out loud. I'm 100% on taking the next level though so maybe I'll find out then!

The only thing I'd say that the other posters didn't get into is how I'd go about this. 1) get your bike and take a BASIC safety course they are not going to teach you much about riding but it will probably be more knowledge than you started with, and that's a good thing. 2) get Keith's book "A Twist of the Wrist 2" and start to read it as you enjoy riding your new bike! 3) after you feel like you know where all the controls are on your bike without having to think about it much, you should find some nice twisty roads and ride them AT OR UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT. I can tell you that when I started riding I did not feel comfortable riding as fast as the law permitted in my local canyons. Only go as fast as you feel safe, keeping in mind that there may be obstacles you are not aware of around a bend in the road. 4) eventually (probably quite quickly!) you will feel comfortable going the speed limit, even in the twisties, and you will be tempted to go above it. Don't do it. That's what the track is for (yay!), so at this point you can either book yourself a track day or sign up for the Superbike School. Although I went the track day route, I think the CSS route is better. I have found that most track organisations are not running a very tight ship, certainly not compared to the incredible professionalism of the CSS. You will benefit from being able to experience the track through the control and intelligence of the CSS staff. Well, that's my two cents worth of advice anyway! Welcome to the forum and make sure that you have FUN! Sometimes you have to push aside other peoples comments, feelings, and bad advice and remember look at all the good parts of life (or motorcycle riding!) to do that.

Your age is irrelevant... people do THINGS in the first 3rd, middle 3rd and last 3rd of their lives. Why assign special value to one vs. the others? You are obviously interested in motorcycles and nobody on this site is going argue with that. Welcome to one of the most fun activities life has to offer! There's inherent risk of course, but you can cut down on it greatly with proper instruction so... see you on the track!

If I understand this correctly it would seem that with no compression damping you are basically just running an unrestrained spring (?) and your front wheel may have just literally bounced off the ground, leaving you with no contact area. Am I way off?

Well I haven't done that level so one of the coaches could probably give you a better answer but in my experience with the geometry of motorcycles and bicycle the answer is YES, a few inches would make a big difference. I wonder if in addition to what Sof mentioned about the wheelbase, the steepening of the steering angle might contribute to a quicker turn? A difference of even an inch in wheelbase will make a difference in feel though.

That sounds awesome, thanks Sof. The "hook turn" just makes me want to do all the other levels that much more. Hahaha, I know exactly what you mean about hanging onto the bars, that is why the "rider input" drill on level 1 helped me SO much. "Rider input" and "quick turn" were the two things that helped me the most in terms of correctly using the mechanical controls of the motorcycle, and then when I got to level 2, I was truly floored at how important the visual skills are and how much the "3 step" and "wide vision" drills helped. The other aspect of my riding that I started addressing with Kristi was my body position. I can't wait until I have my body position down, I'm not death gripping the bars and I'm quick turning and rolling on the throttle in spite of my SR's... then I can really focus on visual skills, LOL, that's a lot but at least I can identify it and continue to improve.

Hey Sof, great post! Only one question, I'm not sure what the "hook turn" is... I know had started to explain on Sunday but I didn't catch it all. Maybe you or another user or instructor could fill me in? I can't wait to do level 3, maybe I can go to Laguna for 4 when you go if the finances permit!

Well, I'm FAR from an expert so I will be very curious about what more experienced folks have to say, but I wonder how old the front tire was before it was first used? Rubber does have a "shelf life", and it can also vary depending on what conditions it was stored in. I know there is a lot of data on this forum regarding heat cycles and Dunlop tires in particular but I also wonder how many heat cycles the front had gone through before (and after) you bought it? Of course I don't know if that would've done it but perhaps that combined with an uncompliant suspension contributed to the problem.

Just got back from doing levels 1 and 2 at Streets of Willow. Had a GREAT time, my on-track coaches Stony "Stonewall" Landers (day 1) and Kristi "Hot Laps" Martel (day 2) were fantastic! With such a limited amount of time (only 2 days, hahaha) and splitting it between the track, classroom and my coaches I only wish I could absorb more information faster! My favorite drills were the quick turn and rider input drills on day 1 and the 3 step and wide vision drills on day 2... the wide vision drill in particular was so simple and amazing to me. Anyways, I can't wait to get out to a track day and do some drills (or maybe just driving around in my '94 Accord, LOL), and hopefully do levels 3 and 4 in the very near future. If any other riders on the forum were there let's hear about it (Sof, I KNOW you were there... I'm just surprised I beat you to this post!). Also, you have pics or video let's see that too!

Hey Hubbzilla, a moderator may be able to amend your stats...?

Welcome to the forum. I'm a member of several sites and this one is head and shoulders above the rest!

Only if you can carry a set of clubs for 36 holes......I need a good caddie too. 36 holes?!?!??! Are you in some kind of Super Endurance Golf Championship? I'm usually exhausted after 18.

Hey Sof, great to have you on the forum. I am also in So Cal and I'm going to SOW this weekend too. I'll be coming from Pasadena and driving up on Saturday morning. Where are you coming from?

Welcome to the forum! I'm not sure what it's like to be as poor as you obviously are but at least you are in the right place for information. I am going to Streets this weekend, when is your Vegas class?

This is coming up quick, I'm super excited! Just got back from Buttonwillow today, where we ran the track in reverse. Great track, and my first track day in the rain. I felt alright in the wet, thanks in part to one of the threads Keith started here a short while ago. I definitely got a bit squirrelly at times, mainly on sections of the track that had been patched and were slicker than the rest, but overall I had a blast. Maybe a little bumpy, but great track. I guess maybe the other students for this coming weekend aren't forum members (yet) but if I'm wrong and you are reading this and coming to Streets on the 19 and 20th speak up! -Lyle

LOL, I highly recommend it. If you find any, let me know and they can watch me too/just give me copious amounts of cash-o-la. I'm pretty sure my folks are all tapped out now. That's just awesome. Congratulations. Maybe I should get some people with money to watch me ride at the track. At the very least they'll pitch some money to help.

Yep, finally! I guess my folks were feeling spendy for my 29th b-day (possibly combined with alarm after seeing me at the track, LOL) and decided to get me something I've been wanting to do for a long while now!

Well, I think the title of this thread pretty much says it all but... if you're coming to Streets on the 19/20th, post up!

Awesome... in the original sense of the word, not like a hot dog. I have mixed feelings, on the one hand I kinda want a pic like that but on the other hand.... not so much.