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jasonbw

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Everything posted by jasonbw

  1. Cobie, nicely written! What a brilliantly run event, thank you Gina and Victor and the team. Andy, glad you had such an amazing time! Victor, your CBR1000RR is warming up ready for you at Eastern Creek, Australia my friend, ready when you are! JasonBW
  2. Good stuff, you've been "armed" then, here's something to try if you want: Try rotating on the bike and using your calf to lock on for a few corners (lower speed and at a safe place like a track), takes an AWEFUL lot of effort.... no wonder the big guys are paid the big bucks to be athletes... they get those legs working for them (they have to, otherwise they couldnt be nice and loose on the bars) but at the cost of extreme physical training regimes. So yep, it sure is possible, but it's just a question of how fit you are and where you focus your fitness.
  3. It's a great and often asked question there Brad! We teach you the method of locking on that is easiest, that is using the outside quad muscles anchored to the tank. You might see Rossi or Lorenzo use this great method, but there there are many others who use a different method that works for them, i.e. Pick a pro rider that might prefer to get his or her butt off the seat more, which leaves their upper body high and a little crossed up, as they've rotated around the tank they can't use the outside quads, so they're using their calf muscles, abductors, heel, butt, elbow etc ANYTHING they can to get the best lock on possible. I.e. Our way isn't the only way, but once you try it at one of our Level 3 schools I'm pretty sure you'll think it's the best way.
  4. Here we go... attached. I spoke too soon re: temperature... right here right now at 6:30pm in the evening its 115deg !
  5. How cool is that to have the legendary sign out your office window!!!!!! Over 100deg F here for the last week, too hot! This weekend us Aussies are heading overseas to New Zealand for a few days, we love that place! then straight back for then next couple of days at Eastern Creek... What a great life we have!!!
  6. Carey, you're gonna love Level 3 then, Cobie and his team will have you working with the bike, it makes an insane difference to nearly everything we do on a motorcycle.
  7. Well done on even noticing that MrSlow! Most only wonder why their leg hurts so much after spirited cornering sessions. You noticed it's not very comfortable having so much weight on the inside peg hey? The ability to get your footpeg weight setup such that it's comfortable depends on a few things, but by and large the most important reason is the ability for you to "lock on" to your motorcycle effectively. As you've not been to the school yet I can't relate you to drills that are relevant (necessary) to get it perfect, but we'll take a stepped approach to see if you can get a little closer to achieving your aim of being comfortable. So with that in mind, bear with me, we'll be talking about holding onto the bike, we'll talk about the bars, the legs, the tank even your butt, but it's all relevant to our end goal OK! In the past on this forum we've spoke of the importance of being relaxed on the bars, do you find when your weight is heavy on the inside peg you might also be holding a little tight on the bars? If we can't hold onto the bike using the bars, what can we hold on with? No doubt you've watch John Wayne at work on his horse in a good western He's plodding along on his horse, holding a thin leather strap in his hands... he isn't holding onto the horse using that leather strap, so what's he holding on with? His legs! Can we do the same on a bike? Hell yes! But we might be making life difficult for ourselves if we try to hold on incorrectly with our legs - this is where being at a school REALLY helps, we can position you such that you can then feel the difference in being locked on, versus not.... and the difference in seating positions might be less than an inch! Consider this, if we want to hold onto the bike using our legs in the turns, we really want the strongest muscle in our legs to be used - otherwise it'll be hard work... which muscle then... the quad's (look them up) they're the puppies to use, idea: Try something with your bike on stands in the garage, get yourself jammed up against the tank and hang your butt far far off the seat, do you feel stable? imagine hitting bumps? Notice you can't let go of the bars without considerable abs, diaphragm and back muscle effort! Not good... also check out how far you can comfortably get your inside knee out, not much! Note how the further off the seat you get, the more you twist away from the turn (in towards the bike).... so where's that leave the heavier half of you? Over the tank - which negates all the weight you've attempted to put low and to the inside of the turn. Added up you can be putting bar inputs in and tensing so many muscles that should be relaxed, using more lean than necessary and potentially going slower due to lean and not feeling stable on the bike! Not good. Now instead of hanging a full butt cheek off just move somewhere between one to three inches to the side when setting up for the corner... basically very little, see if this lets your outside knee (from the knee to halfway towards the groin) come in contact with the tank more as this is where you will be holding on best (the stronger Quad muscles). If all your contact is close to the groin (abductors) then you wont be able to maintain that pressure for long, best to use the quads which are far more powerful. Picture that your outside knee can be rivetted into the tank...to get to that position most people need to move a little back in the seat, not so close to the tank, this is where it's important to refine this with a coach in person, as everyone is an individual ("no I'm not!"), now in that position further back from the tank, is it easier to get the upper body lower? can you easily get your knee way further out than before? Does this position give you more room for your arms and potentially for some... the beer gut? Do you feel more stable should you hit bumps? How about how much lighter you can relax on the bars? easier there? Can you last longer at trackdays doing this? with a more stable bike and less lean or more speed with your knee down earlier (big goal for some)? Most importantly or you, how is your footpeg weight? A bit better? Anyway, this is a really difficult thing to get right via text... best to get this right with a CSS coach on the day, but give yourself a treat and try it out in the garage, you might well be surprised. Most things that help make us go faster are simple changes, which just doesn't seem right considering if they're simple changes then we must be stupid for not knowing to do that before???? i.e. we want things to be harder than they really are.. crazy huh.
  8. Gday Neil, not a stupid question, it just happens to have a very simple answer: Traction Control attempts to mimic perfect throttle control. As a reminder, the golden rule of Throttle Control is this: "Once the throttle is cracked open, it is rolled on evenly, smoothly and constantly throughout the remainder of the turn" It's quite funny, as riders we want things to be complicated! After all, if it's simple, yet we don't understand it, then we would have to feel foolish to some extent. Most of motorcycles greatest technical revelations are really simple facts. Glad you asked buddy!
  9. Deadsmiley that might just be the helmet "broke in" gradually and you didn't notice it until something made you put attention to your vision: this thread, a scenario on track, whatever the case, well done that you've identified it! Grab a brand new one in the shop and try it on, bet it feels a little different to your worn in one. FlyingV, can you describe the vestibular system and the impact to plugging the ears. Is there potential that track riders wearing ear plugs could be causing a decrease in the ability to sense lean accurately? Sure I wouldn't ride without 'plugs but it's an interesting point you've brought up (a while ago - sorry, didnt notice it before)
  10. Steves already answered you Stevo but I'll add my bike serves multiple purposes, as a race bike, track bike and a commuter. Just takes an hour to pop the other tyres on, good fairings off and the race fairings on.
  11. Dead right Oz, actually it aint pink, it's orange... the video is off colour Here's the Aus eBay link to the one: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Multi-Tyre-Changer-and-Bead-Breaker-Rim-Edge-Clamps-/370275736748?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5636275cac but if I had my time again I'd go the extra for a NoMar: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NoMar-Classic-Model-Motorcycle-Tyre-Changer-/150454218818?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2307c53042 But that's just me, considering I'm changing my tyres near every few weeks it would be worth the extra or just get a few more mates to put in.
  12. being hands on, I love having the ability to change my tyres. If you get serious on track you'll quickly realize the savings. My setup is similar to a Harbour Freight unit (google), but I purchased polyethylene bar stock, angle ground them down and fitted them to the mount/demount bar. Never a scratch and it takes moments to change a tyre. I think I have a video of it Yep, found it, this is me showing a buddy how to use it, I'm the fatty in the pink shirt. P.s. Apologies for the music P.p.s. Without this, changing from road tyres to slicks for trackdays would be too cost prohibitive. All up cost for this unit was about $200 then $20 of polyethylene (same poly as the no-mar bar) P.p.p.s. Change your tyre valves regularly, they're cheap to buy a bunch of quality ones and considering the consequence of a failed one its well worth it.
  13. Hi IgnativsElvis, this is a GREAT question, one that when answered, surprises even very experienced street riders and racers! Best to answer this question by clearing the purpose of counter steering: The purpose of counter steering is to bring to bike to your chosen lean angle. We can discuss how Counter Steering works if necessary afterwards as you indicate in your post above an understanding of Counter Steering. Once the motorcycle is at speed you initiate a turn by counter steering, once the bike is leaned into the turn, you release the pressure on the bars entirely, the motorcycle will remain at that chosen lean until you tell it to do otherwise. The pressure sequence on the bars is simple: Press, then Release. Suspension, tire pressure and wear may have an influence but for the majority, just press, then release. There's a VERY important reason why releasing the pressure on the bars is beneficial, anyone able to chime in with reasons as to why we would want to get as relaxed on the bars as soon as possible?
  14. As a CSS ride coach from the schools in Oz I'd like to share something about the Dunlop Sportmax Q2's we use on our coach bikes. Guys, we use these Sportmax Q2's in ALL conditions, pouring thick rain to amazing heat from this brown sunburnt land, on smooth low traction surfaces to rough high traction circuits, without tyre warmers - with constant stop/start work yet run hard even on the out-lap, working with all skills levels between new road riders to national placing champions on full slicks or wets .... basically the worst of all possibilities for anyone riding combined street and track days. What do I think of these Q2's? I wouldn't want ANY other tyre! They warm up incredibly fast, offer the amazing traction and when we pushed to slide them the traction changes in a nice, linear rate. In the pouring wet the traction is nothing short of amazing, in the dry it feels like you're on slicks! These Dunlop Sportmax Q2's absolutely ROCK! It's what I run on my streetbike too (and I pay full retail price!). So yep, I guess you can call me a Q2 fan!!!
  15. I got one of those old puppies in my own garage... love that model. Sticker time when I fly over!!!! That was a close call.
  16. Even if smashing the bike down in the dry isn't something you want to do, think about increasing the power you put into the bar by something real to you... maybe 1% or 5% more power... with every % more power into the bars comes a quantifiable improvement in how quickly you get onto your chosen line. Give it a try within your own comfort zone... even in the car :D
  17. That was GREAT to watch Hector!!! Kids make excitement infectious... big sister helping out... then your boy climbs straight on... great video!!!
  18. Gday Jeffery, welcome to a great forum. Make sure you post up and ask if there's any strange terminology you find us using, gotta make sure we're on the same page right! Where about are you from? Bit of background on your riding?
  19. Cool thoughts and insight into Karting there Vaibhav! Welcome to the forum buddy.
  20. Couple of things adding up here Jason, steering is heavy and front end shuddering on deceleration.... check the steering head bearings. Lift the front end up using straps around the frame to an overhead beam, or jack under the engine (properly supported)... turn the bars gently left and right and feel if it's heavier to turn (or notchy) compared to your roadie. Grasp under the front wheel and lift/push (without pushing the bike over:))... see if you can feel or hear a clunk... If you're wondering at all, pull the top triple, drop the lower and check the bearings and races. Could just be too loose, but could be worn... $50 will get you a new kit anyways. Let us know how you go.
  21. Good stuff Klaus! Great wife for suggesting that too!!! Welcome to the forum!
  22. VERY interesting idea, trying on helmets without the cheekpads!!!! I went into the local shop today but found they didnt stock Suomy, will be trying it soon but like all helmets, what fits brilliantly for one headshape *may* not be so goodfor another... but the vertical vision is something I'm dead keen to "see" for myself. Thanks guys.
  23. Nice info!!! Thanks Razor. Anyone else experimented with leaning their head to let them look 'up' the track/road easier?
  24. After a few days of trialing the change where I no longer keep the head level with the horizon, I can say the major drawback is the loss of widescreen vision/Peripheral vision. When tilting my head in I lose the inside and outside points on the track which I've always used to locate myself. This raised other interesting questions for me on my own vision, but that can be brought up later if not discovered by others here. So right now I'm limiting the amount I tilt my head.. this helps so I don't just see sky and rushing ground out of the widescreen. Rossi, Hayden, Stoner... they're all using a similar amount of head tilt at the last round at Phillip Island...
  25. Hey there Ton, glad you posted this dilemma up. Are you sure there's no CSS in Spain? I thought the UK guys go there? http://www.superbikeschool.co.uk but bullet will chime in here no doubt. One thing we do at the school is to make sure we dedicate one full session per drill... as you describe above, trying so many different things all in one action can be daunting! Would you feel it more possible to achieve good throttle control if we focused one full session just arriving at the turn at a speed you feel comfortable with such that all that's left to do is steer and get back on the gas? If you just pictured that scenario you might wonder when to get off the brakes? How about you don't use brakes for that session... say you roll off WAY early, such that you approach the turn at a speed you feel comfortable to just turn and feed in the gas.. exactly like in the book - evenly, smoothly and consistently for the remainder of the turn, would that remove a few of those SR's? You can add in exact turn points, quick steer, relax and other Twist 2 technology one session at a time... Does that sound like a more manageable plan? P.s. If you still feel like your bike is unstable then have an expert check your tyres, pressures and suspension. You need to know that is not a problem for you to focus 100% on the task at hand...
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