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RDJeff

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Posts posted by RDJeff

  1. Rent Gear Or Bring My Own?

    in School Questions/General Discussion

    Posted

    That helps a lot, thanks. No problem on the size, 5'8" @ 165, so the leathers should fit. What brands of gear does the school supply?

     

    AGV Sport. There are the shelf suits are pretty decent. They fit pretty well, good ventilation and pretty tough.

     

    CF

     

    How about the boots and gloves?

     

    Guess I should have been more complete with that answer! AGV Sport supplies boots and gloves also. Sometimes the boots need 2 pairs of socks, that's what I use.

     

    Thanks Cobie, I'll have to give it some thought!

  3. Rent Gear Or Bring My Own?

    in School Questions/General Discussion

    Posted

    Jeff,

     

    If you are a regular sized guy, the AGV Sport suits work pretty well. If you are very unusally sized, really big chest, big legs, etc. then nothing is going to fit well.

     

    Helmets can be particualr to shape of the head a little, but we don't get many complaints about the KBC's.

     

    I'd say for sure let us supply the leathers, and if you are particular about the other gear, bring that. With our boots, I sometimes wear 2 pairs of socks, get a better fit that way.

     

    Hope this helps, let me know if you have other questions.

     

    Cobie

     

    That helps a lot, thanks. No problem on the size, 5'8" @ 165, so the leathers should fit. What brands of gear does the school supply?

  4. Apex Selection And Lines For Smaller Bikes

    in Cornering and Techniques

    Posted

    Interesting, I had thought that 150 lb number was real, they seemed so light to move around.

     

    As for the weight of the rider, we found that moving around too much, hanging off too much made them harder to ride. The bikes we had were the '94 and 96 RS-125's. Moto-Liberty supplied them, and I think at the time they were the sole importers. That later changed, and other guys were able to bring them in, and that's when we stopped doing those schools.

     

    Ask Will about chasing the guys that were trying out for the national team. They were on the '96's (for sure faster) and he was on a '94--and caught them.

     

    Don't have plans to do any more at this point, but who knows what the future might bring!

     

    Cobie

     

    They're still very light! I can pick the bike up with my left hand on the left grip and my right hand on the right footpeg, and turn it around.

     

    I've gotten to where I can move around on the bike pretty well without upsetting it too much, but it took a while. Hanging off can also slow the bike down just from wind resistance, so it pays to stay tucked in as much as you can.

  5. Apex Selection And Lines For Smaller Bikes

    in Cornering and Techniques

    Posted

    I would have said that as a general rule of thumb, the less drive you have, the closer you should be to the 'classic' line (nice wide arc).

     

    If you have a big powerful engine (as a MotoGP bike would have), I expect that you'd be wanting to use as much of that power as you can (otherwise what's the point in having it), so you'd be looking to pick the bike up early so you can get as much drive as you can, as early as you can.

     

    The basic theory would be that a powerful engine can make up any shortfall in mid corner speed by going faster at the corner exit (which also leads to greater speeds on the straight bits)...

     

    I expect that the rider's weight distribution will also have a greater effect on corner speed for smaller bikes. To corner faster, the rider positions their weight more to the inside of the corner. The lighter the bike, I expect the greater effect this will have, allowing you to pick the bike up further than you would a heavier bike (or, allowing you to go faster for a given lean of the bike).

     

    Also, 125 GP bikes are a bit slimmer than MotoGP bikes, so you probably gain a little extra clearance there too.

     

    What is it that ultimately limits corner speed? Lean angle!

     

     

     

    Don't mind me, I'm just thinking out loud...

     

    On the 125, it is all about the entrance speed, at least as far as I can tell. Now when I go to the school, I'm hoping to learn more about the lean angle.

     

     

    Good question. I'm going to pay attention at the upcoming gp's see what can be observed that way.

     

    We used to do 125 gp schools, and they are capable of amazing corner speeds. The ones we used weighed 150 lbs., and are less now I'm sure (10 years ago when we did those schools). There is also the fact they don't have the acceleration that a 250 would have (they are fast), much less a MOTO GP bike, so yes, there is going to be some difference in the lines due to that.

     

    Here's the question: what do you think the difference would be?

     

    Cobie

     

    There's a little bit of Honda propoganda going on there! My '95 RS weighed right around 190 lbs. with half a tank of gas. Tha manual claims 156 lbs. with half a tank. They are a hoot to ride either way!

  7. New Student!

    in School Questions/General Discussion

    Posted

    Thanks Cobie! I've been trying to get to the school for years now, can't believe I'm finally going! I'll be sure to look you up first thing. I've been running mid-pack on a 125, against all the other classes, now I want to step it up a bit. Check out www.akroadracing.com to see the way we race in Alaska.

     

    Jeff,

     

    Checked out the site, that track looks kinda interesting--what is it? I'd head somewhere in Alaska you used an old airfield.

     

    We'll see about getting you further up the pack! You will do both level 1 on the first day and level 2 on the 2nd, that will be a good start for you. If you haven't yet, the Twist books are excellent, especially T-2 for what we are training now.

     

    See you in a few weeks!

     

    Cobie

     

    The track is interesting for sure! It is a WWII Lend/Lease base, and is actually in better shape than you'd think for being 65 years old. Sometimes your line is determined by how bad the bumps are in each corner!

     

    I have the original Twist on VHS, nearly worn out, and have a fresh print copy of Twist II that I've been through a couple of times.

  8. New Student!

    in School Questions/General Discussion

    Posted

    Hi all,

     

    I'm Jeff, and I'm heading to Vegas for the 2-day school on March 26 & 27, can't wait. I've been riding for 30 years or so, and racing for the past 6 or 7, and now I need to learn how to corner!

     

    Hi Jeff,

     

    Welcome! Vegas should be excellent. It's a fun little track, good traction and we run it both ways at the 2-day camp. Introduce yourself that morning, I want to make sure I have you paired up with a coach that will be good for you (easiest for me to chekc on that the morning of the school, after your register).

     

    Best,

    Cobie

     

    Thanks Cobie! I've been trying to get to the school for years now, can't believe I'm finally going! I'll be sure to look you up first thing. I've been running mid-pack on a 125, against all the other classes, now I want to step it up a bit. Check out www.akroadracing.com to see the way we race in Alaska.

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