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Can Akkaya

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

 

Can Akkaya

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

Can Akkaya

Featuring Moto-Gear Custom Leathers

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Let me introduce to you Moto-Gear, a motorcycle leather specialized factory.

What’s so special with them besides that they sponsor Superbike-Coach now?… they are able to make quality leather suits exactly the way you want it, for way less then stock suits of their competitors. So besides custom measurements- the entire suit can be designed the way you want it.

Here is my design draw I gave them with my measures:

And this is how I got it from Moto-Gear withing a couple of weeks. I actually got two, but there was something wrong with our measurements- but here is the thing… Moto-Gear just took it back and corrected it without complaining or asking. That is service!

The pictures below show the suit goes through production, and you can tell their eye for detail to get it as close as possible to the draft. What I really like are the sponsor patches and my 36, which is all printed. Suits are starting at $650, and yes the extras cost you a fee- but also that pricing is oversee-able and won’t kill you financially.

For the 2nd suit I even could drop off special requests which are not on the portfolio, like no collar around the neck (that’s how I use to have all of my race suits in pro racing)- or the racing hump size on the back. The biggest upgrade you can do is to go with Kangaroo leather instead of Cow. I use to always have Kangaroo leather in racing because it’s lighter and can take more. Though I had to let that go for a while when I went with other brands. Now, finally after all those years I can surround this body with this luxury again. Kangaroo leather is thinner, lighter and has more flexibility. Just to get in and out is way easier because of that.

Moto-Gear can make your suit for racing purpose, sport or regular street riding position as 1 or 2 piece. Single jackets are also on their portfolio. I gonna truly enjoy the lightness and perforated leathers in the hot Californian sun.

What else is so special with them?!… Well, they will have a discount for all Superbike-Coach students. Now how cool is that?!

Go check them out: https://moto-gear.us/

https://www.facebook.com/CustomMotoGear/

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

#motogear #continental #Arai #techspec

Can Akkaya

Featuring TechSpec Gripster Tank Grips

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Yep, you might think we do this because TechSpec is our sponsor- but the reason they are is that we believe in their product as riders which each of my SBC staffs are. We’re all using them on our school- AND personal bikes!

I met founder and inventor of the Gripster Tank Grips, Dean Davis, in 2011 when Superbike-Coach was just 2 years old. We took our bikes for a fun ride in the Foothills. Dean is one of those kids who love what they do and are passionate for motorcycles. He developed something which is useful for all types and categories of riders. See why we’re matching?! He believes in what we do- and I believe in what he does.

Straight up… I was skeptical when I was about to try those Gripsters the first time, because I actually like the smoothness around the gas tank and not to be restricted by some sticky stuff. That flu away in no time, because the weight of advantages dropping the scale on the positive side. I had to adjust.

When I did, I needed less lag strength to keep my but in the rear (I use to squeeze knee in the tank even going straight). Also the ‘hold on to it’ under hard braking goes much easier, cuz’ I didn’t slide forward as much. That keeps center gravity low- ergo- I can brake harder and more precisely (and later on the track :-). These were my first impressions with them, but there is more down the road:

  • Tank Gripsters protect your expensive paint
  • They come easy off if needed without residues
  • Gives the bike custom look
  • Not wearing out your gear like other products do

Do they wear out?… yes, and that’s good, because other products make your riding gear look old damn quick. I personally prefer to replace my Gripster Tank Grip, instead of f’n up my custom Moto-Gear racing suit folks!

This is one of a few good upgrades you can do to your bike which doesn’t delete your bank account and which really makes sense in many ways. Go get some :-)

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

Superbike-Coach suspension workshop
Can Akkaya

Setup Workshop & Track Time about to removed

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Nothing is perfect in life- nothing. But I want to share with you why I am personally a little disappointed in regard one of our programs, the ‘Setup Workshop & Track Time’, which is a hell of a opportunity to get a bike dialed in- suggestions on upgrades based on needs- and especially a chance to get up to huge technical issues pointed out. Besides this, it allows the participant to go on the track to feel the difference of a dialed in suspension- or just to have some fun. Here are some stories…

I remember welcoming one of meanwhile thousands of students to our previous ‘Setup Workshop & Track Time’ class. He proudly showed to me his ‘new baby’, a used CBR 600 RR. He was just wondering that the bike makes weird noise under hard acceleration and that it doesn’t move as much as it could. We’ve diagnosed that all teeth on the rear sprocket were shredded down by 70%, and that the chain is jumping over under acceleration! Workshop = A+

A other rider has a chain slag which not just damaged the swing arm, but also could cause a crash if the chain would come off and gets stuck. Another one I’ve seen rides a chain which never seen grease, and all links were pointing zick zack. Workshop = A+

A tiny girl on a sportbike rides around with a cracked handlebar. Only a question of time when this thing runs away from her under braking. That her throttle just stays where you let it go didn’t seem to worry her much. The grip slid down and over the bar end, and that caused the stuck. Workshop = A+

But also out there on the street or track I am going, and to meet riders… I’ve seen so many issues. Stuck throttle cables- loose or broken brake levers- rotted tires- worn- squared- or my absolute “favorite”… a aftermarket brake lever which touches the throttle cable housing, so that there is only about 30% of braking power! A Workshop here would be A+

Trust me, with this I truly don’t want to make anyone look bad- but truth and honesty is it what this needs. If I would not- how can I make you see how important a ‘Setup Workshop & Track Time’ can be for one?! So no, I’m not making fun on their backs- we actually believe that we’ve saved some lives with this class.

My disappointment here is that I know that this is good for the riders- my main goal. We are always trying to make things like that fun, educational, and efficient for an affordable ticket price. Unfortunately not too many take advantage of it, so that we can’t make this work on our end.  So this will be probably the last time were we offer this program:

Suspension Workshop & Track Time, at Little 99 Raceway on 04/07/2019, 33 spots are left, $99.00

(Includes workshop, track fee, water/snacks, photography, professionals)

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

Can Akkaya

New ‘Cornering School’ Video Trailer

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I am happily announcing that we’ve made the final edits to our new trailer about our popular Cornering School program.

Special thanks to the team member Marion Akkaya, Dean Lonskey and Gary Lonskey. You guys have been motivated and dedicated to what we do in all those years. I can’t be more happy with a team like this and I am proud for what we do together. Enjoy the trailer:

 

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

superbikecoach track days
Can Akkaya

Video: Coach Akkaya on Ducati 1199R at Thunderhill Raceway

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Coach Akkaya ‘plays’ on his Ducati 1199R at Thunderhill West Raceway.