Kevin Kane

Tweek; It's been said that you can really learn more from failure than through success. Nice write up...sounded really familiar - the crashing thing once you think you know how to go fast...DAMHIK. Keith really knows an awful lot about this game...one of the reasons so many of us stay in touch with him and the School. Kevin

Chris; "Another thing I wondered was if Level 1 students even go fast enough to make hanging off practical? I guess I'll find out when I get there!" Yes, some do in a big way but it shouldn't be a concern - at all. To maximize your learning experience just remember you are in School and NOT at a track day. Ride the pace you are comfortable with so you can grasp the drills. You will find out that the first session, regardless of Level is all one gear AND NO BRAKES! Yes, you read that correctly - NO BRAKES! It will set the tone for the day so that you focus on your mastery of each drill for each session. As the day progresses your (and your classmates) pace will pick up and by the end of the day, you will really appreciate the School's approach. BTW, In the past two seasons I have had the good fortune of working as a Corner Worker for the School at Watkins Glen, Loudon and Pocono so my observations are as both a student and as an observer. The progess students make by the end of the day is simply amazing. Keith and his team really, I mean really know what they are doing. You'll have a blast at Barber. Kevin

Chris; Well you certainly have arrivied with a ton of new insights...and that data aquisition piece is amazing. Keith just keeps raising the bar for rider training doesn't he? To respond to one point however, I can offer an opinion. You wrote: "I guess I'm saying that I hope it (hanging off) will be encouraged, since hanging off a little is really the center of my comfort zone." As far as Level I goes, it's been a few years since I took Level I but my recollection is that it is focused on visual skills. Body position is covered in great detail in Level III and so your coach will probably not say much about your body position unless you ask them for it because the goal in Level I is to set the foundation and it begins with these drills. At no time in the 20 plus schools I attended did a Coach or Keith ever not answer a question or offer feedback on any aspect of my riding I asked for if it was outside the parameters of the Level I was taking that day. That said, your coach will be focused on observing how well you executee your Level I drills so he/she may not notice as much any issues pertaining to your body position - unless of course your body position is clearly unsafe. Based on your experience, that is pretty unlikely so you should be good to go in all repects. Kevin

Tweek... Great write up and even better introspection. It's amazing to me how much enthusiastic write ups sound so familiar... Level III does seem to offer all of us a portal to another Level of riding... I remember leaving my Level III (and IV) School at Watkins Glen totally stoked. Thanks for sharing the ride. kevin

...and Jamie Hacking made a pretty good showing on one at both Superbike races at Miller... Kevin

Faye; I did the same thing. I found it a little difficult integrating what I learned on an in-line four when I got back on my L-twin so I started bringing my Ducati to School. It made it so-o-o much easier because the bike's performance characteristics were already ingrained into my riding so I could concentrate on the drills. Doesn't matter if its a 4 v. twin or just a different 4, it is always easier when you know the bike your riding at School. Have a blast at Mid-O - it is my all time favorite track! Kevin

Racer; Whoa... This isn't about buzz words or secret handshakes; its about training. The information is in books but it is not the same as having someone (in this case Keith himself) showing you and your level III classmates how to move on a static ZX-6R (on wheel stands). Then when each student gets on the bike and he critques your movements as you try and mimick what he just did; THAT experience cannot be translated into words. After these static exercises, you go out with a coach who video tapes your ride and when you come in, you can literally see how effective you were in executing the drill. That also can't be translated into words. There is a reason the School exists - it is because Keith's words aside, theory is only the base of information that is needed to effectively corner; the other part is putting it into practice and that is why he coaches his students on how to put it all together. That' s why it takes four days to cover the cirriculum and why many like me go back after Level IV to refine and in some cases perfect what he teaches. Kevin

How did Level III help you appreciate why the bars and rear sets are where they are? For starters, Keith shows students how to use the body to maximize their ability to turn the bike using the least amount of energy. You learn the pivot turn, the hook turn, the knee to knee...among other things. You should try Level III Racer... Kevin

Faye; If you take Level III (which I would highly recommend that you do) you will learn how to maximize your connection to the bike and by extension help you appreciate the reason why the bars and rear sets are where they are. ...at least it did for me. Kevin

Faye My vote is to go back to the stock (or aftermarket) set. There is a huge difference (IMHO) between a street ride and a track ride and with your converting your bike to track only, a more upright riding position could become a hinderance to your progress as your speed increases. Kevin Kane

Schmi; Wow! Congratuations on your story. I won't say anything more because I don't want to spoil it for the members here but that is a great read. Your blog reinforces the reasons why Keith, Judy, Cobie, Will, Dylan, Trevor and that amazing group of Coaches have been so successful for so long...they are that GOOD! BTW, when you do Level III - your newfound appreciation of a sportbike will grow exponentially... ; ) Great Job! Kevin

I think Josh started out 30th and finished in 21st while Misti was gridded at 41st and finished 30th. Quite an impressive showing for two current instructors I'd say. Kevin Kane

I had never been on a track before when I did level 1. and it was intimidating at first. But everytime you go out they will have you working on different exercises so if you concentrate on the drills you can forget about the other riders. Once you get past that initial sensation of being overwhelmed you'll have fun and be anxious to do it again. Have fun. Check out this link. Your concerns are pretty universal for riders who have yet to venture onto a track but you could not be in better company that the California Superbike School for your initiation IMHO. Kevin Kane http://forums.superbikeschool.com/index.php?showtopic=738

Sanfret; That's a really impressive young rider you're managing there. I seem to remember his dad was a fairly talented rider himself. I rode with him at CodeRACE back in 2004 and if memory serves, he did the double that weekend winning both races...I wonder what happened to that guy... ; ) Kevin Kane

Cobie; I switched my track bike to GP and after one track day made the same change to my street bike and have never looked back. The pattern seems more suited to track riding/racing where a rider moves down on the tank and push down on the lever when accelerating; when braking a rider (at least this one) raises up the head/torso for better vision to the corner and correspondingly lifts the lever up to down shift. Kevin

Er... who you calling 'old'... young Kevin? Point taken. Experiencing the new curriculum is definitely on my "to do" list. Racer; ...look at my avitar, do I look young to you? Ask Cobie, he went to School with my grand children.

racer--you got it mate. Keith and Dylan (who are doing the semnars these days) really go over that stuff nicely, and also the next class room, which goes over Pivot Steering. C Cobie; Keith's presentation of the Hook/Pivot Turn in Level III was one of the most eye opening parts of the whole curriculum. I had it reinforced when I startred up at Loudon and it took me awhile to integrate it into my riding but it's a technique that I use as my speed has increased. I don't have anywhere near Racer's experience but I do think he should consider investing in taking Levels II & III at a minimum...you're never too old or too experienced to "go back to School". I saw that when I watched Roger Lee Hayden on the lean/slide bike with Keith instructing at CodeRACE a few years ago. Kevin

Cobie; I had the same recommendation for our buddy Chaos; Level III is such a key part of the whole cirriculum because it is so focused on how to maximize our connection to the bike. I remember leaving Watkins Glen after Level III thinking that my legs could not be any more tired than they were that day, more than if I had been downhill skiing for a week. Kevin

Chaos; There is not enough information in one static image to answer your question but let me answer it by asking you a question; what difference does it make? I don't mean to be provacative with my question because your question is not unique. Why I ask is because your other posts have suggested (to me at least) that you are interested in racing or at a minimum, how to get around the track as efficently (read quickly) as possible. I have attended over 20 CSS Schools as well as CodeRACE and have Corner Worked at Pocono, Watkins Glen and Loudon multiple times and my recollection is that the School teaches the importance of turning the bike as quickly as possible allowing you to get the bike upright and back on the gas - period. They do not teach how to touch a knee or how to maximum lean angle because those are simply by-products of efficient cornering. Keith's books and his Coaches will tell you that as your lean angle increases, your options diminish in direct proportion to that angle because at steep lean angles you have loaded up that very small front contact patch considerably. Now add in any input changes like just a bit more angle or a bit more brake or too much gas and it becomes "see ya!" in a hurry. DAMHIK. Otheres here may have a different perspective and I encourage them to join the discussion. Kevin

Chaos; First and foremost - it has been four years since I attended CodeRACE so my comments have to be viewed through that lens. You state/ask: "I might have read it wrong, but it appears to me like the R.A.C.E. School isn't really a school and you should have race ability and be able to run race speeds before you ever attend the school." I'll offer this clarification: It is a School, it is just very different from their traditional cuirriculum. There is no pass/fail at CodeRACE and there are no certificates or licenses issued. The School is not a race sanctioning body so they don't issue licenses - those come from CCS; WERA; AMA; etc. As for speed, it is fast. It is very fast because you are RACING. You are racing against your classmates and the instructors because if you want to be schooled in racing, you need to race. The drills are race orientated, not as much cirriculum based as you may need to adjust your line to make a successful pass in a corner which is something that would not be taught in the regular school. If you remember, the Superbike School has a 6 foot passing rule and you are taught that you are responsible for the rider in front of you - and if you violate those rules you will be pulled into Course Control for a "talk". That doesn't happen in racing. At the end of the practice sessions, your coach will still refer to your CSS training to help you make adjustments because it is still the language of ALL CSS events but your three practice sessions are focused on the competitive aspect of riding a motorcycle at speed and not technique per se. The questions you ask about how you should judge your ability against your track day riding compatriots or against WERA race times may give you some sense how you compare but the only way you will know is to go race. I recommend that before you race or go to CodeRACE, you finish LEVEL III at a minimum. The body position aspect of cornering is very significant and Level III is entirely focused on Body position. Not just how to set yourself properly on the bike but also how to change position with minimum disruption to the bike's stability. Level III is key to integrating all of the techniques the School teaches and the place where I finally felt it all come together. The video aspect of Level III is also eye opening about what adjustments you need to make that is IMPOSSIBLE to see any other way. YRMV - Good Luck; Kevin

Are the springs in your Ohlin's sized for your weight? I was having pronounced oscillation in my bike's forks under heavy braking until I swapped the "racing springs" the previous owner had installed out for a pair that were more appropriate for my size - problem solved. YRMV. Kevin Kane

Faye; There is a video of the Streets (I think on the School's web site) that I watched for hours on end not to mention trying to memorize the track map before going to CodeRACE in April of 2004. I even showed up a day earlier to see if I could get a better "feel" for the layout. To be honest, none of it mattered once I was on the track...I mean NONE! There are elevation changes but you can't get a feel for how much from the video. To be fair, I did use the EA Games WSB2000 before going to Laguna Seca and that DID give me a sense of that layout but the one big difference was that sim game allowed you to see a cause and effect from using the controls of the bike. To my knowledge, there isn't a sim game that uses the Streets layout. Others here may know more. As for the weather, I don't know about March but in April of 2004 it was scorching hot in the mid 90's and we cut short the second days practice sessions to avoid heat related problems. Good Luck. Kevin Kane

Here's a link to a previous questioner asking for the same input. http://forums.superbikeschool.com/index.php?showtopic=650 Good Luck; Kevin

Ben, I had the same questions when I first read the two Twist books and then the Soft Science because it seemed they were so focused on everything but braking that I wondered if it was an intentional oversight. I still don't know why they are that way but I can offer my humble opinion; it is all about cornering. Corner entry speed is such a cornerstone of the School's foundation that every Level I School and then every Level thereafter starts with the No Brakes drill. What I surmise from that is how you set your bike's corner entry speed isn't as important as how you determined what your corner entry speed should be. Keith writes about how a rider reacts when they conclude (always too late) that they could have carried in more speed into a particular corner and spends a considerable amount of time trying to help us realize how we can overcome the Survival Reactions that hold us back. Attending Level IV (for the umpteenth time) at a track that I was very familiar with, I remember entering one corner that I had struggled with lap after lap as a novice racer but this day was different - this time I was a CSS Student determined to follow the drill as correctly as I could. Approaching at a pace that was uncomfortable for this drill, I thought "there's no freakin' way I can make this turn" but I resisted the SR's screaming in my head to grab that lever - I took a huge leap of faith in Keith's message and with a giant gulp I pushed the inside bar very hard and dropped it in. Well it took more lean angle and I used up all of the available track but now I knew - for the first time I knew just how much speed I could carry into that corner. Once the cirriculum began progressively allowing the use of the brakes, my braking marker would move but my turn point and my entry speed were programmed into my hard drive. I was one with the no brakes drill. As for the art/science of braking, I believe it is far less precise than cornering and there are conflicting theories to ponder. Some believe trail braking is the only way to minimize lap times while others believe getting your braking done before turn in is the way. The are legions of people on this list who know far more then me but I can tell you that of the three most recent crashes I have suffered, all three were while cornering; two were on the brakes while cornering while the third was being too greedy with the throttle while cornering (too steep a lean angle). The throttle crash to me is the inverse of the other two but all three occurred when the majority of available traction was consumed by cornering forces and then I overwhelmed what was left by adding in the force of changing the tire's speed. Anyway, to your second post's message, I agree with Racer; it wasn't a personal snub of your question, its just a hard one to answer. ...but thanks for pushing the discussion. Kevin