I wished I could put better into words what my team and I’ve seen at the Superbike-Coach Track Day at Thunderhill Raceway last Saturday (9/8/2018). We’ve seen riders who were riding with tons of respect for each other- holding back with a smile. For me, that goes before ‘lap times’, because attributes like respect, honor, loyalty and truth are getting quickly lost in competitive environments (and these days btw)! I ensure you… that’s not us and we leave this to others!
Can we do better?! For sure, because NOTHING in life is perfect, so we’ll keep working even harder to deliver what’s right.
I think that the pictures my photographers Michelle Tilley and Dean Lonskey have featured are telling the story. Over 4000 pictures are done soon… as usual absolutely FREE OF CHARGE. Till then… enjoy about 80 featured pictures upfront
Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp
https://www.superbike-coach.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/superbikecoach_coach-can-akkaya_ducati-1199R-e1594368094360.jpg533800Can Akkayahttps://www.superbike-coach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/newlogo.pngCan Akkaya2018-09-11 01:05:292024-01-13 11:22:50Superbike-Coach Track Day at Thunderhill Raceway
We just finished another Cornering Day 2 class, and I am always surprised what kind of quantum jumps my students are taking.
Amazingly, they feel calmer, relaxed and actually “slower”. What they feel is the potential what they’ve been missing out for so long. Since Day 1, they went through lots of major subjects on and off the track: Body positioning, viewing technique, all types of lines, real counter steering, uber-steer, emergency braking, clutch less up shift, downshift pattern and gear choice… all of it in a logic order and designed for maximum learning effect. That’s it?!… No, there is even more to come- even things like Trail Braking.
I so love seeing their smiles when they finished their session and finally got it. That means the world to me!
Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp
https://www.superbike-coach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Day-2-pic.jpg10101600Can Akkayahttps://www.superbike-coach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/newlogo.pngCan Akkaya2018-08-29 00:01:562024-01-13 11:23:35Cornering Day 2 Class Efficiency
Imagine, there was a class where you could ride all day on a race track for only 49 bucks. No hassle, no distractions, no drama. And now picture all of this would be perfectly organized in level groups on a track which wouldn’t be too far away from you. How cool would that be?! Let’s take it further… imagine that you could add a workshop to it and to get your bike dialed in at the same time by a professional- or even better- you would also get the knowledge, tools, and a helping hand to learn how to do that stuff on your own. That would be killer right!?
I’ve seen riders struggling with their bikes- or in bad cases- they even get hurt just because of lack of reach-ability. How’s this possible?!… well, you can go install a light switch too high for someone to reach, and see how long it might take to turn the damn light on. And yeah, the subjects seem complex and the fear of wrenching the bike is big. This is why we’re there to check on your baby in regard suspension, lever adjustments, tires, throttle free play, and lots of other stuff. Together with you, we’ll make significant changes for the better. Let me tell you some stories and literally terrible things we’ve discovered in the previous… …classes. There was a female rider in our workshop, and her throttle didn’t return at all. Her answer–“I’m used to it”– is not helping, but we’ve fixed it for her. Another rider installed an aftermarket front brake lever and didn’t even notice that the damn thing hit the starter button housing, which restricted the full potential of the brake down to 30%! Another rider just got a racing rear shock installed for about $2 grands incl labor, The damn shock didn’t work at all and was as stiff as a stick. The rider thought it was all in the setting, but it wasn’t. I bet if he would have lost traction and to crash, he wouldn’t even know that the shock/shop was responsible for a possible injury.
Quite frightening huh?! But that’s not all by far… missing bolt in the master braking cylinder, cracked handle bars, loose steering stems, leaking seals; and top on the list… a fully destroyed rear sprocket where the f’d up chain just skipped all those rounded teethes. Oh yea, and the rider actually assumed it was a broken gearbox!
On the suspension side in previous workshops, we helped riders to find their bikes more agile and holding the line better. Some report to literally have a new bike feel. Bottoming out, lack of grip and overly worn out tires they complain about; even after they have had ‘specialists’ working on their bikes. Why?!… because with them, you can’t go out on a track and learn to report- learn to ‘what to focus on’ while going through specific sectors- then to come back and to directly work on issues. With the Superbike-Coach ‘Workshop & Track Time‘ class… you can do all of that and have a fat grin on the face at the same time!
Now… you wanna blame me for pointing things out in all honesty, or the shop which makes a front brake work on 30% only?! Your choice.
https://www.superbike-coach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/workshop-portf.jpg250400Can Akkayahttps://www.superbike-coach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/newlogo.pngCan Akkaya2018-07-03 09:44:482024-01-13 11:24:43I really don’t get it
We at Superbike-Coach have quite a bit of tires to change during a year and we use to let local dealerships do this job, but a recent price raise to flip and balance tires on rims by about 80% is unacceptable. Well, at least for us. So BikeMastergave us their ‘Tire Change Stand‘ which allows to mount the rim, to break the bed off the rim, and to un- and install tires within 15 to 30 minutes.
I know, this kind of work is not for everyone, and neither I like it… but after all you might find out it ain’t that bad. So here they are… brand new Bridgestone rubbers for our rental bike and my beloved Supermotard. Those Battlax are solid tires with lots of grip and last for the money, so off we go…
The total is about $100 in tools, which means it pays off at the first tire change you do. Besides… a regular Sportbike street rider probably has to change tires twice per riding season. You make the math.
I just swapped tire on a rim within 15 minutes, and that was the first one I’ve ever done. Having the right tools helps, and it went much better on the second tire. OK, a helping hand was necessary along the mounting part, but with the saving got us a nice steak and a beer :-)
We decided to replace the balancing with ‘Dyna Beads‘, which are filled in the tire when mounting. No more weights glewing to the rims and vibrating free.
So if you like working on your bike and if you are tired of price raises of astronomical dimensions, then this is the way to go. Step up your game riders! :-)
I’m still super tired and sore after such a weekend of coaching. My voice is coming back slowly :)
After the 86% success rate of the knee down class last Saturday, we’ve done the wheelie course on last Sunday and it WAS A BLAST.
People from all over the country and foreign countries came see Superbike-Coach for that one. I am so proud for them and my team to pull this off. Lots of energy, euphoric and spirit to feel though out the event. Our mini-wheelie bike is a big fun factor- even it’s been a huge challenge. Once more it broke down, but my tech Brian Hunnicutt and even photographer Dean Lonskey helped to put it back to action ASAP. Great effort.
New team member Jeremy French had a tough first 30 minutes. No wonder, cuz’ I dropped that boy in the cold water. From there, he operated our new wheelie machine like no other and put a happy face on all of those 30 students. Marion Akkaya and Ben Mccrae who are in charge of a damn complicated time/group schedule and preparing for me 1on1 wheelie bike students put love and heart into it. Amazing job guys!
A 65% success rate doesn’t sound too much, but despite the fact that this wheelie course is a hell of a ride… everyone gets something out of it for sure. I think Dean Lonskey’s featured pictures are displaying this pretty good.
I didn’t had too much time to relax, because I taught a brand new rider yesterday (Basic Rider 1on1) and I’ll have a Road Skill 1on1 to do tomorrow.
I can’t be more happy with the SBC team and I already look forward to our track day at Thunderhill Raceway on 6/10/.
Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp
https://www.superbike-coach.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/superbikecoach_wheelieschool_2018_april29_33.1-e1525410461212.jpg7201080Can Akkayahttps://www.superbike-coach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/newlogo.pngCan Akkaya2018-05-03 22:09:332024-01-13 11:27:06Superbike-Coach Wheelie Course Last Sunday
There are riders who are trying for years and lots of money to get that knee down. Riders who are seeing other schools and tons of track days- following slogans…
But here is Superbike-Coach and the proof where our Knee Down class goes. Last Saturday, on 4/28/2018… 18 out of a 21 students made it. I am proud for each one, because non of the 21 gave up… never quit! Eighteen of a twenty-one!
Two of those who didn’t make it, loved it to death and will book again. The one who’s left didn’t like it that much. At that point… who’s responsible for that one? :-)
You still don’t believe?! Cool, keep doing what you’re doing, cuz’ your ego is not a good match for us anyway. I repeat…
Eighteen of a twenty-one!
Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp
https://www.superbike-coach.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/superbikecoach_kneedownclass_2018april28_52-e1525288786701.jpg7201080Can Akkayahttps://www.superbike-coach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/newlogo.pngCan Akkaya2018-05-02 12:21:352024-01-13 11:27:24Knee Down Class Success Rate of 86%
If you follow my monthly topics, then you might have noticed the red line to the struggle of riders on mental focus – so let’s stay on this topic and clear something up at the same time. This goes mainly out to the track riders and racers.
It seems that there is a wrong picture of what a teacher has to look like and be capable of. Sometimes I hear things like “Coach is to old”, or “He raced in the 80’s, that was different back then.” The conclusion seems to be that because I’m older, I can’t teach them anything. This is wrong and misguided, so let me throw a light into the dark tunnel for you.
Of course I am not as fast as I once was, but I actually still have the fire of a thousand suns in me when I’m on track, and I can rip lap times at Laguna Seca Raceway that would make active racers quite nervous, even when the years on me have replaced my 6-pack with a beer belly. Even when I am a little hip-lame… I still knowwhat it takes to achieve Pole Positions, International Pro Racing victories, and even lap records. And here’s the deal… besides technology and tires – we’re still fighting the same old element… gravity.
Still not convinced? Remember Karate Kid’s Mr Miyagi? How about Yoda? Or Panda’s Master Shifu? They are all old, and they mentor their students to become hero’s anyway. Yea… I know. That’s all Hollywood?! So what about reality- like Coach Bill Belichick and his New England Patriots for example? He’s old and he keeps creating winning teams. Just recently I saw a documentary about Peyton Manning’s Super Bowl ending carrier. Here’s a multi-million dollar NFL player who got hip-lame himself and loaded with mental blocks. This man had a coach on his side- a 72 year old Sensei!
Does that mean that his sensei was expected to throw the damn ball further than record holder Manning? Was it necessary for his sensei to be quicker out of the pocket? Should his sensei have been mentally and physically strong enough to get past a 280-pound linebacker and throw a touchdown anyway? NO, but his sensei helped him on a way different level, and all what that 100 Million dollar MVP and multiple record holder was replying to his sensei was- ‘Yes Sir’ and ‘Yes Coach’!
Still not seeing the comparison? How about a basketball coach who is 2 ft smaller than his player- or a hockey coach who can no longer skate fast and handle a puck like a 20-year old. They may not be able to play the game, but they know what it takes to be a success in the game. They knowwhat to say- when to say- and how to say!
So here is the logic, which I believe got lost with all those track day instructors who believe that a 10 minutes ‘workout’ and a succinct tip in regard ‘body positioning’ is all what it takes to be a good teacher. At a certain level of an athlete, a coach on the sideline is working just fine. I as a coach, see weak spots to delete, strengths to develop, tailor a race strategy, finding details to improve in the skill set and most important to mind set a competitive nature, becauseI knowwhat to say- when to say- and how to say!
For this, I don’t have to be with the racer on the track to ’skate faster’ to proof credentials. Though, I bet I even can help a Top-Gun racer to drop lap times also with his riding skill set, because I’ve been there too. At that point to mention MotoGP. Even some of those guys have coaches too. Are they riding with them?! No, because how should that be even possible?!
You’re asking why I put this on the mental side?… well, you might shut yourself down with that type of thinking, and might miss out on something that finally could get you on the path you always wanted to walk… the path to success on the race track. If you still don’t see that the problems are between your ears, then you keep fighting wind mills. But if you are ready- come see me and I might help you to become a mighty Jedi.
Headcoach Can Akkaya, Sacramento 04/25/2018
https://www.superbike-coach.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/brain.jpg400640Can Akkayahttps://www.superbike-coach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/newlogo.pngCan Akkaya2018-04-24 00:16:212024-01-13 11:28:15A ‘Sensei’ has to be old
Superbke-Coach
