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Superbike-Coach Wheelie & Knee Down Classes

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I wished I could put in words how it feels like to master a wheelie or to drag the knee. While a wheelie feels like flying- a dragging knee get’s you in contact with ‘the enemy’. Short and simple pure AWESOMENESS :-)

Now what kind of riders are attending these Superbike-Coach classes?!… the ‘you and me’ rider to be straight up. Riders who want to get into it in the most save possible way and legal. Riders who are most reliable actually, from lawyers to nurses, office workers and whatnot. We welcome riders from all over the planet to these classes because they know we deliver in this order:

  1. Safety
  2. Fun
  3. Success

So two weeks ago, we initialed another knee down class and a wheelie course next day. We combine these so that riders can extend their experience and learning with us and to give their long travels more value. Our rentals are ready for the task.

Twenty riders made it out for the knee class. Most of them are trying for years to finally get it done. Videos, other schools and lots and lots of track days. 169 bux and 7 hours is what it takes for me to make 15 of them dragging now. Our highest rating was 18 of a 21 ones. That’s a rating you need to think about for a second, and then you might know why all classes Superbike-Coach has to offer are booking up since the last 7 years!!! Remarkable at this point is, that those riders who are successful were mostly students in our cornering school program. Our knee students run through 3 stations- the big oval to use their bikes and rentals. The break area to rest (needed!), and our mini bike on a small oval. Every time our mini bike gets a hell of a beat, and guess what… no questions asked. I mean… try to find this somewhere else where you are allowed to damage! When you feel all this and add the darn good reviews we’re getting- then do you even wonder why the next Knee Down class on 10/26/2019 is booked up more than 3 months upfront?!

However, it would be naive to think that everyone must/should be successful. That wouldn’t be fair to expect from us and the students. this goes mainly towards the wheelie class because the success ratio there is about 60%. Most of the riders who couldn’t get it done are coming back, which says a lot about this program too doesn’t it?! So our wheelie students are running through a 4 stations circle- the long straight to use their bikes or rentals. The break area to rest (very much needed), our mini bike for coordination, and our own wheelie machine which makes you fee balance point and throttle control.

This machine allows us to instruct right next to you, which is why I’ve build it in the first place. Another aspect for me was, that those wheelie machines to buy are not realistic enough. They are not up to my measures and don’t deliver the feel nor options to learn the actual control of air-time. The plan and build time took about 6 month. Testing and developing another month, and now this piece of SBC equipment is permanently part since the last 3 classes. Established stuff, and you can use it! No question… also the next Wheelie Course on 10/27/2019 is going to book up.

You ask yourself if you should do it- and I go- WHY NOT?! :-)

SBC photographer’s (Dean Lonskey) pic gallery of the entire class.

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

Featuring Dynojet Research Powercommander

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Painfully, I remember the outcome of my first top 10 race as a semi-professional in St. Wendel Germany in 1992. That was one of a bad ass half track half street tracks you don’t get to see these days anymore. I came of from 3rd row in qualifying and made my way up and kept 9th position till the last lap. I didn’t make any mistakes until exiting the last turn onto the straight. One single miss-shift, and three guys passed me. I was heartbroken. A year later the first quick shifters came out and when I tested it, I remembered that devastating mistake and I wished I would have one back then.

But a quick shifter doesn’t only help to reduce miss-shifts. In racing it reduces energy loss on two levels- forward momentum and physical input. That and a certain mental relief opens reserves. Today, most high-end street legal bikes are coming with a quick shifter, and if you don’t have one… go get one. Dynojet Research, one of the pioneers in regard fuel management systems for the aftermarket offers those for a variety of motorcycles and universals. Their famous Power commander adds their quick shifter in no time plug and play.

Now let me first explain what a Power commander can do for ya. Besides a gain of power with the right map (fuel/air management), you can determine every percentage of throttle position so that weak spots can be reduced- like an harsh throttle response for example. Ergo, drive-ability and general performance. If you’ve changed your exhaust and air filter, you might have to have a ECU flash done. That is not just pretty expensive, it is also imperfect if its data are not developed on a roller. On top of this- a flash is a one time thing, so any change would require another expensive flash. The Power commander is adjustable anytime.

Dynojet also offers an AutoTune, which optimizes fuel/air ratios on the fly, and a Ignition Module which can make the difference on the track. All of it can be connected to a network and fine adjusted on a computer, just like in a MotoGP garage. Additionally, the Quick Shifter Sensor. We just recently installed a PC-V and a Quick Shifter to one of our school bikes. The instructions are clear- nothing has to be spliced- and a matching map is a download away. The quick shifter need to be activated, and that’s it. The bike shifts through the gears as smooth as it can get.

These Dynojet systems are a big upgrade you can do to your bike.

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

 

The Moment Your Skill Score Bubble Pops

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I know that my statement is not based on a solid study. It’s simply because it’s impossible to run statistics on this because it would require total honesty of the crashed rider, or at least an authority who knows better. Both are an illusion, so let me give it a wild shot here.

Based on my own experience as a pro racer, street rider and coach, who has seen thousands of riders- and analyzing crash scenarios which even include my own back then… I brutally predict that 70% of all incidents on track or street could have been prevented if the rider would have known the shit!!!

Yep, the texting soccer mom in that SUV was the trigger, BUT… was really the point of no return on the brake reached?! Was there an escaping gap you didn’t even see while you’ve been target fixating that right-of-way-taking Prius?!  Or let’s say you actually did see the escaping gap- but your “I thought I’d do counter steer technique” is not enough to get you there?! How about that Mercedes Benz lane jumper which causes you to overreact. Yes, it was close, but maybe because of your f’d up reaction time and lack of focus?! And so on and so on and so on…

I’m not even getting started about the triggers which cause lots of cornering crashes, ’cause I could write a book just about that one. In fact, the triggers are there, plenty of triggers- but riders are just not mastering them. Though, it would be presumptuous to claim that one will be ever able to master them all. That would be naive to think because there is a point of no return out there for even the best riders on this planet. That’s for sure, so that’s our 30% right there. You think that’s quite bold to say?… then wait for this one…

Let’s say you’ve earned skill points throughout your riding career. A newbie starts with 1 and a highly experienced- or even racer could score out at a 100. That actually is not possible since there is ALWAYS an extra margin to learn, but let’s just round that circle up for now. Your score depends on where and what you’ve learned: self taught, videos, books, schools, or even from Uncle Joe. All of this certainly defines the score for all those things we gotta do- from the shifting to the trail braking and so on. The skill score.

Now let’s say you’ve learned all of these riding skills–or at least you believe you did… what are all of these worth if panic in an extreme situation takes over?! That’s typically when a skill score pops like a soap bubble. The real quality of your skill score depends on a thing which I call “mind coolness”.

Mind coolness sets you free. Imagine instead of freaking out, that an out-of-the-blue Prius just bounces mentally off from you, like a rock throw against a wall! Just picture how powerful that would be. With mind coolness you’d be able to really recall all the physical skills at the right time- and in the right order. Mind coolness buys you TIME. Time is space. That little bit of space which might make the difference on your way back home!

So this ‘mind coolness’ thing is actually the biggest thing you can possibly learn. Where?! Well, good luck finding a place. I might know of one though!

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

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This is great news. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) launched the new Get Up to Speed on Motorcycles campaign to help motorists understand standard motorcycle driving behaviors and to learn how to drive safely around motorcycles.

Motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities while motorcycles make up just 3 percent of all registered vehicles in the United States. Motorcyclists are about 27 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash, and 5 times more likely to be injured.

The NHTSA has some general suggestions on how to stay save on public roads:

  • Slow down, assess your surroundings, and don’t rush when crossing intersections, entering the roadway from a parking lot or driveway, or turning left. Always give yourself enough time to thoroughly check for motorcyclists.
  • When turning left, ensure there is enough time and space for the motorcyclist to clear the roadway before you initiate the left turn.
  • Don’t follow motorcyclists too closely and allow sufficient braking cushion between your vehicle and the motorcycle in front of you to give your vehicle enough room to come to a complete stop without a collision. Remember, a motorcyclist’s brake lights might not always be engaged when a motorcycle decelerates.
  • Always double-check your blind spots when changing lanes or starting to entering or exiting the roadways. Adjust your rear- and side-view mirrors and use them properly.
  • If someone you know drives a motorcycle, tell him or her to always wear a helmet—even if the law doesn’t require it. According to NHTSA, an estimated 740 lives could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets.

I think that this is just a fraction of what you could do better as a rider. Isn’t it?!

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

Featuring Continental Motorcycle Tires

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I can’t put in words how happy I am to be back on Continental street and race tires, because these guys know their stuff. I mean… those Conti race tires are even hand-made actually, and every tire undergoes a solid inspection as it should be.

Back in Europe, long time after I’ve retired from pro-racing, when I started coaching- I was sponsored by Continental Germany. Now you might say ‘yea, he’s gotta say they are good’, but you’re making a mistake if this is holding you back from trying a set ones. Besides a extremely high grip level, these tires are consistent, predictable and giving plenty of feedback of an upcoming limit. That’s what I’ve liked the most. Costly? No, and the endurance of those tires is surprisingly high for a grip level like that.

Today I have plenty of choices, not just in regard compounds. Superbike, Supermoto, Dirt bike, Adventure bike… all covered with plenty of tire types within. Their portfolio covers everything which has a need for tires.

The state of the Art production line in Germany goes other- better ways then others. Their concept to manufacture 2-compound tires (MultiGrip) is way smoother and comes with less failure risks. The TractionSkin, a revolutionary new micro-rough tread surface, virtually puts an end to tire break-in.

German Ex-MotoGP rider Alex Hoffmann went to test Continental tires at Brno Circuit, CZ and he went pretty hard on them. Below his video, and I’ll come with one pretty soon as well.

Continental tires are solid, reliable and affordable. Give it a shot. You won’t regret it. Order your set: https://www.continental-tires.com/motorcycle

#contimotousa #ContiTrack

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp