California Superbike School at Barber

[Tweek]

This past weekend I went to Barber and did level 3 & 4 with Keith. I did level 1 & 2 last year at Mid-Ohio. The progress I made in between the schools was pretty big, but the progress made over the weekend is amazing.

Going in to the school I'd say I was a mid-pack B group rider. At this point I'm either a very fast B group or mid-pack A group rider. We'll find out this weekend.

Anyway, I wrote a review of my experience at Barber on my blog: CSS Level 3 & 4.

They videod my third session so we could take a look at my riding. There are things I need to work on, but overall the coaches felt I was doing it right.

[stefano]

Yo Tweek,

I read the write-up, that's just awesome man. I envy you (in a good way of course ) for being able to afford and participate in these events. These kind of schools really must take your riding to a whole new level, and I can only imagine how sweet it must be to rail the corners really KNOWING what you're doing.

I did another 20 minute stint at the track last Sunday (which brings my grand total to 60 minutes of track time), I definitely improved over my first time, was nailing my braking points a lot better (the first time I had the tendency to overshoot most of the corners) and I just felt a lot more comfortable on the bike. However, I still wasn't comfortable getting my butt all the way off the seat, and as such I still didn't drag my knees. If anything I've chilled out about the whole knee-dragging thing - it will come when I'm ready, no need to force it

But the thing is, as someone who started riding bikes at a late stage, and totally DIY, I have no idea whether I'm doing things right or wrong. Even if I'm doing them right, I can't be sure about that, and so it's hard to reach a level of confidence that allows you to take your riding to the next level. That's what these schools are all about, and you're one lucky guy to be treating yourself to this stuff

BTW I'm trying to download the videos from your blog, but it's not working

[clausiam]

Tweek -
What an excellent writeup! Way cool. I was thinking about doing the CSS 1-day level 1 course at Barber that weekend, but got cheap and decided I could pay for 3-4 trackdays with the money saved. But your writeup has renewed my interest in taking the CSS classes. I can recognize myself in a lot of the stuff you write about reference points - I do the turns on what feels right, without any particular reference points. Guess I'm still slow enough where that works ok.

[ervins]

It would be good to take a class like that...My time though is soooo limited because of my role at work that getting home at 6 is now considered early for me

[Tweek]

ervins - I know the feeling. My new client is going to be needing more of my time going forward...but: you gotta take time to have time. Besides you can do some of the really cool tracks - streets of willow springs, infinion, etc.

BTW - was told to skip Laguna, other than the cork screw it really isnt that great.

clausiam - Code's program really is well put together and I think it is one of the reasons I've gotten respectably fast w/o going down. which leads to:

stefano - keep you butt on the seat. Getting your butt off the seat and reaching for the ground isn't really the greatest way to scrape your knee. Move 3/4 of one cheek off, that is it. the idea is to lock yourself on to the bike with your outside knee. That is actually what pressure on the pegs is all about. You can press on the pegs all day long and they won't turn the bike. But if you extend your foot and push your knee up in to the tank you can lock yourself on to the tank really well. You'll feel nice a secure and be able to take the weight off the clipons. Then shift your shoulders to the inside causing your outside forearm to go across the tank. Move far enough that your outside should is past the gas cap. The whole kiss the mirrors thing. Now stick the knee out, look where you want to apex and when you hit the turn in point flick the bike in quickly. Just follow your line back out and smoothly roll on the throttle the whole way.

But keep in mind - I did about 8 track days after level 1 & 2 before I accidently scraped my knee. Each track day is about 100 minutes of track time. I've got 11 days now and 2 more school days.

The bummer of this new discovery is that my 848 needs rear sets. Even with my long legs, the shape of the Ducati tank makes me need to raise the pegs at least 1 inch! Ducati's tanks are narrower than Kawaski's and they are narrower. The narrower is nice because you don't ride around with your bawls just rolling around. Narrower also makes moving from side to side easier, but it makes locking on more difficult. The ZX10's tank is even better b/c it feels wider than the ZX6.

The coolest thing about hanging off though is the hook turn. Being able to cause the bike to dive for the inside of the turn without having to increase the lean angle is the coolest trick ever. Made even cooler when your knee is skimming the ground.

BTW - tomorrow is a surprise track day!

Bunch of my friends in the TSBA are going out so I figured what the F. Might as well get my squid on again. Wife rolled her eyes big time.

Anyway, seriously - if you get the chance I can't recommend CSS highly enough. Baring that at least do a club school. The stuff you can learn from on track coaching can make a huge difference. Possibly the difference between coming home with a story about a dumb@ss driver and taking a trip to the hospital. Just to throw out an extreme example.

[stevend135]

Sound like alot of fun!

[stefano]

stefano - keep you butt on the seat. Getting your butt off the seat and reaching for the ground isn't really the greatest way to scrape your knee. Move 3/4 of one cheek off, that is it. the idea is to lock yourself on to the bike with your outside knee. That is actually what pressure on the pegs is all about. You can press on the pegs all day long and they won't turn the bike. But if you extend your foot and push your knee up in to the tank you can lock yourself on to the tank really well. You'll feel nice a secure and be able to take the weight off the clipons. Then shift your shoulders to the inside causing your outside forearm to go across the tank. Move far enough that your outside should is past the gas cap. The whole kiss the mirrors thing. Now stick the knee out, look where you want to apex and when you hit the turn in point flick the bike in quickly. Just follow your line back out and smoothly roll on the throttle the whole way.

But keep in mind - I did about 8 track days after level 1 & 2 before I accidently scraped my knee. Each track day is about 100 minutes of track time. I've got 11 days now and 2 more school days.

Hey Tweek, thanks for your valuable advice.

For sure, just getting your butt off the seat isn't the be-all end-all solution to dragging knees. Upper body position is just as important and I have been working on kissing the mirrors and using my head and shoulders, even though, fortunately, that comes pretty naturally to me. However the last track day I went to where I was able to see pictures of myself, I realised that getting my butt off the seat is definitely the next step for me. I felt like I was literally hanging off the bike, instead I wasn't shifting my butt more than a couple of inches!!!

I am now focusing on moving my butt more and locking the tank with the outside leg, as you say. It really does feel very good and solid - but since I'm a short guy (5'7 with really short legs) I really won't get anywhere if I don't really hang my butt way out there! I was hoping to have a picture or 2 to show you from my last outing, but unfortunately they haven't loaded them on their website yet. Maybe you could have given me a few tips looking at my pictures. Anyway...

What I'm "happy" about is that I have finally put the whole knee-dragging thing in the back of my mind. Up until my last track outing, it was THE prime objective. Now it isn't anymore. I realised it is much more important to get as comfortable with the bike as possible... the knee dragging will come by itself. Knowing that someone such as yourself took 8 track days and a superbike school to scrape knees for the first time makes me realise I'm in no hurry And in any case, my friend who came to watch me both times says I got a lot closer this time (a couple of inches on the corners he could see, compared to 7/8 inches the first time), and my chicken strips on the rear tyre were also a lot less narrow than last time out, so I know I'm making progress. And that is the most important thing. If I keep making progress, sooner or later those knees will go down

So... how was your track day with the 848?!?!?!

[pwdavid1]

I'm jealous of you, I've actually started looking into going to the course myself possibly in Virginia. Question I have is, I live in Knoxville, East TN area, as you can imagine I take advantage of living so close to the Dragon (Deal's Gap)... would taking this course improve my skill on the Dragon? Or is it a completely different skill set? Just curious...

[phobos512]

If anything it'll help you realize that riding like a maniac (note: I'm not saying that you ride like a maniac - I don't know you ) on a public road (like the Dragon) and getting your pic up at Killboy isn't worth it, because the track is a much safer and controlled environment.

[pwdavid1]

I agree 100% with you that nobody should ride like a maniac on the Dragon, trust me nobody can understand that more than the people that live in East TN seeing on the news almost everyday during the riding season that 3 or 4 people in one day are being airlifted out of there after wrecking... (that's just the worst accidents) that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the road safely though. Who knows maybe taking a course like this would help me realize that I am doing something horribly wrong and be able to fix it before it bit me in the rear...

[tricker]

I can't say that I drove like a maniac on the dragon. I drove more aggressively than I have before but I understood my bike better at that point. It improved my skills more than i ever thought. But of course others were passing me still. Would do it again in a heart beat.

[Tweek]

CSS will definately improve your riding abilities. Keith's program is very professional, they don't screw around. You should get at least 6 sessions on track to work on drills.

Everything you learn there will transfer to street riding.

In regard to the dragon: based on what I've read, I have very little interest in going there. Cops every 100 yards writing ticket. RUBs on HDs that can't corner. Squids that think they are Rossi or something passing cars going in to blind corners. No thanks. I'll trailer to Colorado, New Mexico or Arkansas and avoid all that garbage. Besides, I'm about to buy a track membership so I'll get on the track whenever I feel like it.

Anyway, I really like California Superbike School. They've put a huge amount of effort in to developing and refining their program. They do their best to avoid the usual mythology of motorcycle riding and stick to stuff they can prove works. For best value I recommend that you start off doing the levels. Don't do the 2-day camp for the first two levels. Save that until you've done all 4 levels (if you go that far).

All of that said - any school will help you improve. This year I'm going to get private coaching with the guy who won the Moto-ST championship last year. Pretty sweet deal that he is local for me.

[xeon]

I'm jealous of you, I've actually started looking into going to the course myself possibly in Virginia. Question I have is, I live in Knoxville, East TN area, as you can imagine I take advantage of living so close to the Dragon (Deal's Gap)... would taking this course improve my skill on the Dragon? Or is it a completely different skill set? Just curious...

There are many roads in that area in addition to the "Dragon". Anyone one in that area is lucky to have so many nice routes available. Yes the school will make you a better rider on any road. In fact I recommend it to people all the time, it is money and time well spent.

[millman]

Tweek, the link to your review doesn't work anymore. Could you make it available? I have read about the school on their website, but I would like to read a first hand experience.

[Tweek]

Sorry about that - I rebuilt my web-site and all the URLs have changed.

CSS Level 3 & 4