Kevin Kane

Hubbard; The Desmosedici that Stuman is riding in that shot is an L-4, not a twin. Ducati realized that if they were to build a MotoGP Twin it would need to spin at over 17K so they married two L-Twins together...if I got that story correctly. Kevin

I'd tell them to start at the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Kevin

I still haven't got this figured out, still looking for the answer. Per Stuman I checked my browser on both PCs - I am using Internet Explorer 7 on both of them, so don't think that's the problem, and it appears to me that all settings are the same on both computers. I don't notice any differences on any other sites. It is SO much nicer to be able to just scroll down and read the posts one after the other and not have to click back and forth to open each one. Since Jaybird sees it as multithreaded on his PC, now I'm wondering how many others see it that way and don't know it can be viewed differently. Kevin, any ideas? Who else can I ask? I have sent the request to the Forum's Web Master (really, there is one) as I was unaware of a "lo-fi" and "hi-fi" version. What I do when I check in is to click on "View New Posts" and they all line up accordingly. Now if there are multiple posts to a specific thread since I last logged on, then I see the most recent post first requiring that I scroll backward to find all of the new posts on that thread. Kevin

To the specific question of when do you release the brakes; at my last track event this year (Sears Point), my speed increased as the day progressed and I found that I braked until I was right at my turn point. I would push on the inside bar at the same moment I released the brake lever. Kevin

Jay; The "cracking the throttle" is the first step of "rolling on the throttle" isn't is? They are no more separate than a first step is part of a journey...at least that's how I have always interpreted Rule #1. Kevin

Gigi; You have described the problem but do you know WHY you don't hang off at speed? Was it how you were taught (I have heard that one of the Canadian Track/Race Schools teaches a rider to keep their torso/head back over the tank) or could it be a "Survival Reaction"? In your mind you know that your technique is working against you but you do something different. If you can find the answer to the question of "why you do it?" you will find your solution...I think. Others here know far more about racing than I do so hopefully Cobie, Stu, Andy Ibbot or some of our lurkers who race will chime in here. Kevin

Ace; What's that diet all about? Kevin

Steve; I think Cobie was asking about what normal people do... Kevin

Stu; How does it feel to be riding somebody else's 60 (or is it 70?) thousand dollar motorcycle at speed? Great pics BTW. Kevin

Yeah your so right. As a rider your always so affraid of any little twitch from the rear tire..... and a slip from the front is unspeakable terror. All I know is that I would never have been able to get the corage to be on track if it were not for level 1 and the twist books. I cant wait to get back in the comming months for the next levels. I am especialy looking forward to puting in some time on the slide bike! now if only we could press fast forward on the next few months.... Im already jonesing to get back on track! ...now to your avatar; do you really want to emulate Lorenzo's aerobatics? Kevin

Gorlock; I like those shots especially in the conditions you described. On a cold day the tires struggle to get up to temp and when you add in the rain it just gets worse from there. You did get very valuable experience as you described sliding the front and the rear...that alone will make you a better rider. Congratulations on taking advantage of the late season track day and avoiding wrecking your bike. You are hooked my friend - welcome to the addiction. Kevin

Nick; Welcome to the Forum. There is a great deal of information here assembled by riders from all over the world. I also share your opinnion of the Twist books; T2 is a book I read sections from all of the time. BTW, your english is very good. Kevin

Sleepr; I crashed a couple times one weekend at Loudon and messed up my beautiful Bayliss' Philips Island helmet in both crashes. Friday's practice crash was a right hand low side where my head slapped down so hard that it bounced and hit again...then in the first race the next day a left hand lowside had my helmet bounce on the opposite side and continued to protect me as I slid across the pavement face first. Needless to say the helmet was trashed but it sits proudly on a shelf in my basement scars and all because without it's amazing ability to absorb punishment I wouldn't be posting tonight. Kevin

Jaybird; For track days or cornerworking, I almost always choose the two piece. When I have raced, the one piece (Dainese) is preferable. I had the two piece suit separate in a low side during a practice session once ergo that decision; the one piece offers better protection overall IMHO. That said, the two piece is more flexible especially between sessions or days when it is very hot as it is easy to take off the jacket when off the track. Kevin

Riding my sportbike on the street, I wear what I wear on the track: Joe Rocket Highside 2-piece suit; Dainese back protector (out of my one piece Dainese suit) Sidi boots, Cortech Adrenalin gloves and Suomy helmet. Foolishly, when I street ride my restored Triumph Bonneville, I wear jeans, street boots, the Joe Rocket jacket and Suomy helmet. I just can't "suit up" for a 45 HP Vertical British Twin that I rode with an open faced helmet, cut off jeans and docksiders as a kid. Kevin

Yes...and you are now armed with critical new information that will allow you to get back on the throttle - you know where the limit of traction is for that corner/angle/speed/ etc. From my experience, having the "book knowledge" of not chopping the throttle has allowed me to regain traction quickly and on to the next corner. It was so ingrained in my Level I course and from reading the Twist that it was almost second nature to hold the thottle steady until grip returned. Now I don't even think about it. Kevin

Zia; It's been a few years since I attended CodeRACE but I think it is fair to say that they are quite different. The 2 Day Camp is a more intensive version of their single day schools. In the 2 Day, there are only 2 groups v. 3 so there are more track sessions and a lower student/track coach ratio. The 2 Day camp has all of the off track bikes for use (although some may be limited depending on the Levels a student takes) and there is more video available. CodeRACE is like a WERA/CCS Race weekend but it still includes some instruction. You have timed practice sessions with your lap times used to determine your grid position in each of the end of day races. The drills are all race focused and it is all about racing. Depending upon your track skills, I believe there is more benefit to completing all four levels of the regular school first before attending the Race School. Since all four levels build upon each other and give a rider a more complete approach to cornering, your racing will likely be more productive once you have been exposed to all that the school offers. YRMV. Hope this helps. Kevin

Brandon; Welcome to the Forum. This is a pretty good place to share riding ideas, ask questions, offer responses or to just post observations. Kevin

I was never asked if I was ready, just if I wanted to. If truth be told, the first time I tried it I couldn't break it free but the second time was a charm. Kevin

Jay; The lean/slide bike will show you EXACTLY where that limit is and what it feels like when the rear wheel breaks loose. Kevin

Racer it is actually a separate bike from the lean/slide bike. As Cobie said somewhere else on the Forum, it is used in their 2-day camps. The braking bike is a Ninja 650 with outriggers but I believe their range of motion is more limited. It is used in simulating panic or extremely hard braking where the goal is to lock up the front. When I used it I was startled by how much the front dove/rebounded/dove/rebounded...I got off the pegs to try and keep the bike verticle and Keith pointed out that my SR's almost wrecked my day and their bike...the outriggers did all the work but my feet off the pegs diminished the bike's stability.. I now practice progressive brake drills EVERY time I street ride after my tires are warm and my 6 is clear. Kevin

You should spend some money on your own schooling...it will pay bigger dividends than pipe upgrades, mag rims, stainless steel braided brake lines, rear sets or even race compound tires. The School will be at NJMP in May (or is it June?) and you really should consider investing in yourself and sign up for some formal training. Kevin

1.) Absolutely 2.) Depends on if it is expected or not. Kevin

You should try the lean/slide bike at the School (not sure if it is in Level 2 or 3) because it is designed for exactly that purpose; it does show you how to spin up the rear in a reasonably controlled mannor. Your question asking "how much throttle..." is difficult to answer in a vacuum. Tire pressure, tire and track temperature, tire type and amount of wear, surface conditions, lean angle, engine size and type are all factors used in answering your question ...way too many vaiables to give you a simple answer. Kevin

Yeah, that's true. Hence, the name: WR250. Was there something more you wished to add? Sorry, just pointing out that the R-1 is 1000cc and the WR250 is 250cc, therefore the engines have no similarity. Do you know what "1/4" means? It's called a "fraction". It can also be called a ratio or used to symbolize mathematical division. But, in this case, it means one out of four. So... "The WR250 motor is 1/4 of a YZF-R1 motor" means one cylinder out of four or "one quarter" of a YZF-R1 1000cc motor. 1/4 of 1000 = 250. Get it? I don't know if the new R1 has Titanium intake valves, and I'm guessing the cam timing is a little different, but, the measurements, the bore, the stroke, the ports, the piston, the direct ignition coil, etc etc etc are exactly the same as an R1. Hence, the WR250 motor is 1/4 of a YZF-R1 motor. The similarities are, in a word, major. r Ha ha ha ha....that was pretty clever of you. But good try though. (I got the email) Hilarious. I would call you out, but I'm going to leave it alone and just enjoy the laughter. Racer & Jaybird; What does this exchange do for the rest of us? Kevin