Kevin Kane

Without deference to Hottie's challenge and only speaking for myself, When I approach a particular corner my concentration is focused exclusively on my library of experience OF THAT CORNER. What happened in the corner immediately preceding a particular corner is filed in that corner's mental folder and not revisited until exiting the corner that preceded it so I try and keep each corner's strategy separated on evey lap...if that makes any sense.Rainman

I'll bite - with an anecdote. I remember being at Watkins Glen years ago when I was taking Level II and there was a women with her brand new GSX-R, couldn't have been more than a month old. Anyway She went off T1 and crashed her gorgeous new bike on the first lap after the two sighting laps. When asked what happened afterward she said it was because of the "no Brakes" drill; she didn't know how to make a turn without braking. So my vote is that you need to have enough riding common sense to know how to manage this type of a challenge. Rainman

YD; Boy did this sound familiar; DAMHIK. Rain

Franco; The four levels are sequential because they build on the skill sets provided at the previous level. Your last drill was a preview of what you could/will learn if you return for Level 2 and then L2 ends with a preview of L3. What we all see once we attend our first School is how much is involved in cornering a motorcycle at speed. Rainman

Eirik; I agree with your summary. I remember reading that one of the reasons Casey Stoner was so successful, even on the Ducati was he inherently trusted the electronic enhancements the bikes offered; Rossi, a more instinctual rider didn't adapt/accept them the same way. My personal recollection is that Lorenzo got pitched off the high side somewhat frequently when he first came up but now not that often; certainly he has gotten better but electronics have played some role in his successes. The racing has been incredible this year. Rain

OMG! T; Thanks for posting this link. Like Hotfoot I was screaming at my screen -what a freaking last lap! Rainman

I thought Indy was a fun finish; the Silverstone finish was even better. MotoGP has been a real treat to watch this year!

Oil; I've done it both ways. Initially I repeated L4 a number of times but felt I was missing some key components from L's 1, 2 & 3 (mostly visual drills) but it wasn't until I began the program all over that it really clicked. That said you may have better retention/ recall abilities than me so my concluding recommendation is to repeat Level IV and be totally candid with your Liaison and track coach so they can help you determine if you've got the core curriculum fully integrated or not. If you are missing a few pieces then keep honing your skills at Level 4, if you've lost more then go back to 1. At least that's how I've approached it. Rainman

anthem; I didn't know that Rossi chose to leave so thanks for the correction. Rainman

Thomas; Thanks for putting this up. Here in the Northeast USA, Time Warner Cable and Fox 1 Sports had not concluded their "deal" until late morning on Sunday so I couldn't even program my DVR to record it. Luckily I checked back in right before the beginning of the MotoGP and found the pre-race show airing. Unfortunately, we did not get the Nick Harris/Gavin Emmett audio feed. As for Nicky and Dovi, remember Ducati didn't renew Nicky's contract and decided to keep Dovi and bring in Cal Crutchlow to take Nicky's place. That's motivation as far as I can see. In a tangential way to Rossi's needing to beat Spies when Spies took his ride at Yamaha before and now his push every race to beat Crutchlow now that he is back with Yamaha...I'm just sayin'... Rain

PD; I must respectfully disagree; going from a stock touring tire to a DOT Spec Race Tire is an upgrade and a full on race slick is an upgrade to the DOT IMHO. Rainman

BTW, did you see the last lap of the Indy MotoGP Yesterday? - that was a lot of action in the last sixty seconds or so!

Raziel; Are they the right size? I have tried to ride with gloves that fit too tight and decided I needed to replace them; you use your hands as much as any part of your body on a bike and discomfort can be a real distraction. Rainman

Hottie; I started with all new Sharkskinz and a nice paint job. Then I put on a set of DOT Race Tires and progressed to Magnesium Rims (CF rims were too much $$$$). I then added rear sets and swapped out the fork and rear shock springs for ones better suited for a rider my size as the DPO had a full buck on me in weight. Then I added a slipper clutch with Tech-Spec tank grips as the last mod. One other item I do on a regular basis is swap out the gearing depending on what venue I'm riding. At Loudon I used a 14/37 set up but at NJMP I use a 15/36. The bike feels like a total extension of me when I ride it now and it rarely surprises me (except when it breaks down). Rain

Nic; One of the the most important things I realized when I finished all four levels of the Superbike School [the first time] was how much I had to un-learn first. As a self taught street rider, there was much I used to do that was totally wrong and those self taught mistakes actually held me back as a rider. As I progressed thru the Levels and integrated their training into my riding, I came to fully accept that I could not have gotten there from here. I did read the Twist vols 1 & 2 but reading gave me theoretical knowledge, on the track it became something totally different. Reading is not the same doing and having a highly trained (that's an understatement BTW) Superbike School Instructor talk you thru the drills; then have your equally highly trained CSS Coach lead you on the track and then follow you on the track observing how you executed these drills and then have them debrief you with very specific feedback is an awakening the likes of which you have never had; I promise you at a minimum it will improve how you currently ride - the only question is how much? That part is up to you! Nic, it will all make so much more sense to you next week. Kevin

Marissa; I want to first say Welcome to the Forum; second, what an entrance! Your story is so vividly written that you put me at least on that backboard remembering an ambulance ride from T5 at a CCS race at Loudon a few years ago. To your quest for regaining your moto mojo, you are in a good place here as there is an experienced membership and much of what happens here is dissecting questions about riding; your story has a lot of detail to assist analyzing what happened when you crashed. If you have read the Twist of the Wrist books (vol's 1 & 2), you will find explanations to "survival reactions", "tunnel vision" and many subsets of both. These books will outline how the California Superbike School has structured it's core curriculum which should give you some insight whether the School will fit your goals. Your article clearly identifies both but again, there are multiple survival reactions and your crash probably involved a number of them affecting you at once Since I am not a coach (IANAC) I will let others offer you some specific insight but as a Forum Moderator I want to say again welcome and thanks for sharing your story. Kevin Kane Aka Rainman

If you have reached the lean angle necessary for the turn, I totally agree with this statement. I personally don't like what happens to me when I add some additional lean once I am back in the throttle, ergo a little caveat to my support. Rain

...late to the party here but my experience is you can still get rear wheel hop with a slipper clutch. Once I learned this soon after installing one I rode like I didn't have a slipper clutch and blipped like I did beforehand. The slipper is now used as my "margin of safety" and it has been an effective approach for me; YRMV. Rain

I think it is a question of more or less as opposed to good v. bad in regard to stability in the motorcycle. There is more stability under acceleration and as Hotfoot stated when the motorcycle is off the gas the weight comes forward, the wheelbase shortens, the forks compress (diminishing the rake and trail) which all make turning the bike easier - by a lot; but the bike is also more unsettled at that same point. Once turned and the bike is accelerating, those same components return to a more neutral setting extending the shocks and the wheelbase, adding rake and trail back to the front and gyroscopic force to the wheels to keep the bike in a straighter line.

Isn't the stability question related to the 60/40 rule regarding weight distribution? When you’re on the throttle the weight moves to the rear wheel and the gyroscopic forces are increasing proportionately; doesn't that provide greater stability to the bike?

Striker; Dylan sent me the following note to share with you: The point was when you are off the throttle the bike becomes unstable and therefore easier to turn. Once the bike is leaned into the corner and on your desired line then you want to apply the throttle. Dylan Code From my phone--excuse typos

Nice recovery here.

Eirik; Where do you find this stuff? It's always fun but I never cease to be amazed at your curiosity and resourcefulness. Rain

C12 et al; Good point guys but the finer points of riding might be best addressed by a fully trained coach, or since its a physical point, might be best addressed at a school. Misti is a fully trained coach but there is a risk of taking some of her perspective out of context here since she is not active in this thread. Rainman