Jasonzilla

That's the same thing that happened to Edwards. I think they are picking up the bikes and giving the tires time to stick. They all push that outside leg out. I'll almost bet he was open to the possibility of that happen when he went through the detergent.

Great reply Fajita Dave. When you've learned the two step properly, you can use this to adjust the speed in which you lean. As Dave said, there are two different types of lines. In a qualifying line they can open the bike up, and not have to protect any lines. When racing, when the top guys brake, they go into a corner at a higher speed than they're going to apex at. Then they trail off the brakes once they've reached the desired speed and through they go. If you get down to your actual cornering speed you'll be pushed to the side by someone who's going in at a higher speed than THEY are going to actually apex at. When you're talking MotoGP type riders and the like, you're talking about riders who've spent a better part of their racing careers having the luxury of world class coaching, and using technology that we'll never see because it quickly becomes obsolete. Most club level racers don't even really need to trail brake.

I've been trying this on one corner in particular. It's a bumpy section that I'm real comfortable on. I haven't gotten to slide the tire out yet, but I'm wearing pucks trying to do it. I want to kick the back out, but my problem, even at school, is throttle control. I've read that you can predict slide, and have your knee down ahead of time and keep the bike up while sliding.

It's weird, but I was in a discussion (argument) with riders on a local site who were saying that a good rider is just as safe riding on the road as on a track. They also openly argue that the dangers are just as bountiful on our local track that just isn't true. I don't understand how that can be considered safe by anyone. I know people are going to do it. The arguments that knowing the road, and riding at 80% is just as safe just don't fly with me. I know people are going to do it, and was trying not to judge, but damn.

Trackpedia is a site that gives you info and links to tracks around the world. It's a well done site. Trackdays are very cool. I have a friend who's only paid for a trackday once, and it was his first. He cornerworks half the day, and rides half. Once they become familiar with you in certain organizations, they have some of those people work the crash truck, do inspections, and various other things. While you're working towards getting on the track, there are still plenty of things you can learn. You'll be better prepared once you do get to start doing them.

I've ridden the '09 R1, and would pay even more to be able to put that beast on the track at the school. I'll probably get one a few years from now, and think it will still be one of the best bikes out.

Howdy. Rough start to motorcycling, but if it's got two wheels and a motor, you've got yourself a bike. I'm from San Antonio, and lived in Dallas for 6 years. Didn't do track then, but now when I look back at trackpedia, I see that I was surrounded by tracks. I consider it an opportunity missed.

It goes as fast as we do through most corners.

Is this something we can just try, or is it the bikes CSS will be using? Why go up to 1000, when 600's sell more, and most riders have them?

Sajiv, brilliant. Your BP is very good. How far are you getting your butt off the seat? I learned on mine that I don't have to shove my butt all the way off the seat, and it gives me that much more lean room. Fantastic job, though.

I just want to fix the spelling and grammatical errors. It's killing me.

I set out to knock off 3+ seconds from my previous times, and was excited about the new information I had to put into practice. The results were amazing. Before CSS I was consistent. 1:08 and I could do it over and over. I didn't have anything new to learn or put into practice, I was the slowest person on two of the three tracks (this was the one I wasn't the slowest in my group), and I had all my RP's, turn points, apexes, etc down. After my first two laps (warm-up as I don't use tire warmers, and it was 50 degrees) I knew my day, and track day experiences, were going to change completely. I was finding new sections to a track, my lines were changed completely, and I had to adjust all but two out of ten turn points. The two step is something I had to work on ALL DAY and learned that small adjustments in my apexes would change everything. I also learned things I didn't get from the school. I learned how effective blipping worked for me. I was doing a quick blip, shift, then when I release the clutch there is still a large amount of engine braking. I got the point where I would brake, brake, brake, then shift real quick, THEN before I released the clutch, give the throttle a good goose, and BINGO. Maintaining speed going into the corner; I learned it in my first session, so it was something to work on all day as well. It helped a lot. It also helped when I needed to downshift behind slower people at odd places so I could jump past them on the straights. Oh yeah. I was passing people in the intermediate group. There were some who were too hard to pass, and I'm not aggressive, so I was stuck behind them. I was blaming it on the other people’s bikes. They have larger engines, and different gearing. I'm completely stock. I always said they can pull away from me on the straights because of that, and now that I can get into and through the corners with about half of them, I can say that I was right all along. I turned one corner into two on a decreasing radius, and had some real good push coming out of the turn, especially using the pickup drill, and they were still gone. Some were just flat out faster, but the only one I could keep pace with coming out of my best corner was some sucker who'd just bought a Buell. Part of the reason I was passing was because it was cold, and they were somewhat scared to really get on it. The two step has given me so much confidence when dropping the bike in. I still took it easy, but even my warm-up laps were improved. Not in speed, but I felt more comfortable. Although it made me find new places on the track, the two step put me in better lines, and gave me more consistent lines. I was hitting point after point. The track is chewed, and there is no part on the Vegas track as bad as four out of the most messed up turns on this track, so there was still some hesitance at certain points. I was still more comfortable coming out of the bumpy carousel, which I also attribute to attending the school. Even when passing. Just angling the new turn point, and knowing definitively where my apex was and what my speed needed to be, made passing easier and more permanent. The problem I had was that I automatically went to the cones on most corners. The yellow X's are tremendous while at the school, but they got me comfortable, and that's a habit I have to break. The verdict? My times went from 1:08 every lap to 1:10's. I was as inconsistent as the first day I did a track day, and had to change my points repeatedly most of the day. It was great. Before the school, I didn't know there was anything new to learn, and I wasn't going to get any faster. The tricky sections tore me up, and I didn't even realize that I had to take some corners a certain way. There are so many things that I know I have to improve on, instead of just doing the same wrong thing over and over. I'm doing a different track on Dec 13th, and can't wait. I love the West track, but am horrible at it. I've never ridden up to anyone and passed them in the intermediate group on West, and have been lapped by my fellow intermediate riders at times. I'm almost 20 seconds off the race pace and sometimes just sit up to let riders pass on the straight. I know with what I've learned that is all going to change. I haven't ridden West enough to form the bad habits I have on East, so I feel more confident. I'll let everyone know how West went on the 14th.

Great finish to a bad race. Congratulations.

I've been doing it for 2 years now, and still have to take medicine to sleep. Do the more experienced riders here have the same problem, or is it just another day for you? I can only imagine how little I'd sleep with the excitement of being able to coach new riders at a school.

Hey Whylee. I was thinking about a 250 also, but I think the limit to those would really impede your riding, especially when you're used to so much power. I'd be alright with them in a school environment, but on a trackday, it would take a lot of shifting, and would inhibit some of the things you'd work on instead of riding a bike you may have to use 2-3 different gears otherwise. Welcome to the forum, by the way. *** Can I have access to, or could someone please edit, the initial post? It's killing me.

I had the same problem last trackday. Benadryl, my friend. Before the CSS there was no way I was going to sleep. Benadryl. 25 mg, and you may wake up sluggish, but it only lasts 30 minutes or so, and you're OK before you hit the track. I got that 5 hour energy stuff before my trackday, and if you use it in moderation, it really does work. It was great. Tonight is a benadryl night.

I was of the understanding they are going to replace the Qualifiers with the Q2's. That would mean that sooner or later they're going to start using Q2's. If not I'll guess they're going to go with whatever is cheaper. The Qualifier is a great tire. I've been kicking myself since the school for not switching sooner. When I went to my dealer about a week after they Q2's were released he said they sold out the same day he started selling them.

Nice pic. You're going to love the track. Real fun, and allows you to focus on what you're being taught.

I haven't watched it since before going to the school, and will watch it next week. It made me want to do the next levels at Streets. Looks like a good track. Someone I was in school with told me it has a few blind brake spots because of the elevation changes. I want to be able to focus on the riding, so I'll do it in Vegas again.

Turns 3-5 are going to kick your butt. The track is fantastic though. And don't worry about the theory. It's all going to come together. You're going to love the two step.

When you have to go slower it is a great time to work on BP. You're at a more comfortable pace, and can adjust more and do to safely. Good luck. I'm doing the same thing this Sunday. It's only mid-40's, but still enough to force us to take it easy for a while. Arroyo is supposedly technical, but I haven't ridden it yet. I had it on Photobucket, so I used it as an example. There are a couple SMALL elevation changes that are in just the right places. That's how a friend of mine got the nickname "Highside." He said he never knew it was there until the owner let him walk the track before the day started. It can be run both ways also.

I saw this a while back. I've added it to my favorites to show people. Very well done.

And the suspense continues. I have the '05 636, and rode the '07 at the school. I love the gear indicator. It's one of the things I'm going to require on my next bike if I ever replace this one. I'm good on the track, but on the street I don't pay enough attention.

Most tracks have that big turn that you can drag your knee just about all the way around. Something like a huge 180 degree turn. If your comfortable in it, you can work on making minor body adjustments. The huge turn to the left is the carousel at Arroyo in New Mexico.

If you have electric warmers, that would be your best option. I learned how to shift and brake pretty good with my hands after my fingers went numb, but still had to come in when my hands went numb. Also, if you can, do something to prevent the fogging of your visor. That was a big thing I had to deal with. If you back off just a little on the bike, you'll be just fine. It's when people start getting comfortable and getting back on the gas when the accidents occur.