Kevin Kane

Stu; Can you clarify what you mean by gearing? IIRC, most sanctioning bodies will not allow you to change the internals, just the drive and rear sprockets. Is this what you mean by gear(ing) your bike? Kevin

R6 Rider; First of all; Welcome to the Forum. If I may respond to your background, I'll offer a thought. IIRC, the Katana was more of an upright street bike with a different riding style that what is required to ride an R6, especially in the twisties so you are starting from a whole new platform. When I transitioned from a street bike (Triumph) to a sport bike (Ducati) I really struggled. I felt like I had never known how to ride a motorcycle yet I had ridden thousands and thousands of miles at that time. I concluded that I couldn't get there from here so in a follow up meeting with my Ducati riding insurance agent (who worked part time at the dealership) he suggested that I try the School. It was very good advice because unlike the MSF course, it is expressely focused on cornering a motorcycle which I believe is the heart of your inquiry. Anyone can ride an R6 in a straight line but cornering an R6 is a very different proposition. You do need to know how to do it properly and as you read the two Twist books, you will get a real appreciation of what it will take. You may grasp the principles without the School's training but my experience was that having a a top professional explain the process in the classroom followed by a track session focused on executing a series of progressive drills allowed me to process the information much more quickly. Add in the feedback from a highly skilled track coach (all are current or former racers) who alternate between leading and following you and you get real time feedback on your progress...all for about the price of a mounted set of track tires. The School is all about cornering - not racing so even if you never venture back onto a track, your time in the twisties will become a much more enjoyable ride. Regardless, if there are particular questions you have about cornering questions, post them here. There are a lot of people who can help you here (I'm not one of them) so let the Forum know the particulars and see what happens. Kevin

Cobie; There was an exchange awhile ago on Frank Thomas (I think) gear that demonstrated to me at least that separating opinions from objective analysis will be a challenge; that said an open dialogue on what works and more importantly what doesn't is always helpful. I know that my helmet choice has allowed me to type this note and a lesser one may not have... So let's give it a go. Kevin

I did...it reminded me why he's Keith Code... Kevin

Is Josh planning on returning to the AMA supersport series (or whatever they are calling it) this year? Up until his big crash, he was having an awesome series with the Sledneck's team. Kevin

Re: New Forum format. What works: The layout is easy to navigate. The inclusion of the Australian and UK School tabs is a huge plus! It offers more insight to the world wide reach of the School and also options for any of us planning an overseas trip. The colors are "updated" and more subdued; they are real easy on the eyes. What needs additional attention: There is a gray highlight over the first line of a new post that is virtually invisible. I need to drag the curser over it so the underlying text is highlighted and jumps out of the background. I believe someone else already stated this but it is the only part of the new format that I think needs some additional study. Otherwise it is a real positive improvement. I haven't tried the inserts or other features but did want to offer a first impression. Kevin

I had a Dainese suit repaired at one...and a pair of Sidi boots rebuilt to fit my leg with the Dainese shin armor in place. Kevin

Chunger; Keep at it and welcome to the Forum. Maybe you can add in some longer weekend rides up north to expand your confidence and familiarity with different road types and once you feel ready - sign up! Kevin

JB; I'll try to answer your last question in practical terms (not in theory) because theory gets scant attention when your sliding on your butt across the track. If you're at maximum lean angle and you add any appreciable acceleration (or braking force) - you will break the rear (or both) tire(s) loose. Key word here is maximum meaning the limit of lean for a given speed, suspension settings, surface conditions, temperature and tire wear, etc.) I have lowsided at what turned out to be maximum lean by adding throttle once and braking twice. None of these were in theory and all caused me much grief. Kevin That's why I asked the question about disagreeing with TC rule #1. As I understand it, once in the turn the throttle is rolled on smoothly evenly and throughout the remainder of turn. This 40 foot question is a hyper example of a sweeper, is it not? I am getting pretty far afield of my area of expertise here but I wll try. TC rule #1 says that once the turn is initiated the throttle is rolled on smoothly and consistenly doesn't it? That doesn't mean wacked WFO, it just means smoothly and consistenly even if it is done in small measures. A sweeper requires that you continually roll on (or you will lose speed) but it is done in relative terms to the conditions that you're in. When you asked about turning in a circle I inferred that to mean a circle with out an entry, an apex or an exit and you would be riding at max lean angle; adding speed in that circumstance will put you on the ground IMHO. Kevin

JB; I'll try to answer your last question in practical terms (not in theory) because theory gets scant attention when your sliding on your butt across the track. If you're at maximum lean angle and you add any appreciable acceleration (or braking force) - you will break the rear (or both) tire(s) loose. Key word here is maximum meaning the limit of lean for a given speed, suspension settings, surface conditions, temperature and tire wear, etc.) I have lowsided at what turned out to be maximum lean by adding throttle once and braking twice. None of these were in theory and all caused me much grief. Kevin

...or put him on the ground.

I was at Laguna when the second day was rained out...and I did fly out from NY State for that two day event. Kevin

Amen to that Brother! Kevin

JB; That's a question for Stuman or Cobie to answer. I get into trouble when I try to sound like I know what I am talking about. Kevin

Here's a video that was posted in "Going to Infineon" section that will show examples of both throttle control and mistakes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU2__O67How First you can "listen to the throttle control" of an AMA racer going through both chicanes and esses at Sears Point. Also in the second lap you can see the consequences of running wide (T-7) where the racer loses touch with the pack and can't make it up.

Apollo; I haven't been on Thunderhill Hill but I agree with you on Sears v. Laguna. I liked riding Laguna alot...but I loved riding Sears Point. Kevin

Any updated info on this? JB; Cobie's off the Forum and won't be back until the end of this week so I don't think you'll get an answer until then. Kevin Thanks Kevin. It's not a deal breaker anyhow so it can wait until then. I rode one of their '07's two months ago and that bike was awesome. I know the '09's will be an improvement but the '07 was lighter, faster and turned quicker that the anything I have been on so it was all good. Kevin

Any updated info on this? JB; Cobie's off the Forum and won't be back until the end of this week so I don't think you'll get an answer until then. Kevin

Amen to that John...but you're close(er) to the track. Depends on how much morning stress you want to avoid. Kevin

According to that link I can expect as much as 90 minutes in traffic. Not a good idea to be late to class, wouldn't you say? Where would one recommend for lodging, keeping the proposed itenerary in mind? JB; I stayed at a motel in Mojave - about 15/20 minutes north of the track. I think there is also one is Rosemond which is the Town closest to Willow. Traffic was not an issue when I went there in '04. Kevin

I will be there both days re-taking Level's II & III. I retook Level I there in November and that track rocks! The elevation changes are a blast. Kevin

What's amazing is that there has been much speculation about this topic for a couple of years now (not on this Forum) and it isn't just Rossi who does this; has anyone seen or read of a moto-journalist actually asking any of these top riders why they do it? Kevin

John; If your exit speed from one corner was too high for entering the following corner it suggests that the corners are linked. If the time you made up in 1 was at the expense of 2 then you probably have a zero sum game here from a lap time perspective. Wouldn't your lap times improve if your exit speed from the first allowed you to get through the following corner in the least amount of time? For example, the left and right portions of the corkscrew at Laguna Seca are clearly linked by their proximity to each other but there are many other corner combinations that are less obvious but just as connected. T's 4-7 at VIR North, Moss's Corners at Mosport, T's 1, 1A and 2 at Loudon to name a few. The key is that if you blow the entry to any of these combinations it will affect your time (and likely your lines and speed) through the entire sequence of linked corners; maybe if you re-examined how to attack these sections of that track together rather than in sequence you will find a quicker way through this section of the track? Kevin

Rufio; I should have responded sooner here because I had forgotten how lean-phobic I was when I attended my first school (also my first time on any track) a few years ago. The School courses gave me a ton of information that demonstrated that I could lean it more than I was comfortable doing on my own. When you begin reading the Twist books you will learn that SR's - Survival Reactions are the biggest impediments to all of our efforts but Keith Code has developed a series of drills coupled with academic principles AND actual drill specific training bikes to help any rider become far more proficient that they could ever become on their own. I can honestly say that I could not get there from here... Others here have said your fear will diminish with more experience and they are correct but you will get get over your fears more quickly once you attend the School. Kevin

My average is around 10 a year (April - Oct). I live in Central NY State so there is definitely no winter riding for me. Kevin