Author, Test Rider, Racer, Riding Coach

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IMPORTANT: For all who have booked any of our programs (Virus related reschedules)

We are facing a state wide lockdown and all track venues are closed due to the virus. We appologieze for any inconvinience this may have for each one of you. I contact you to let you know that you don’t have to be worried for your spot- nor the money you’ve spent. Here is how we do this:

Background- like any other track renter, we won’t get replacement dates to easily create a ‘new’ date for a canceled class.

Solution- since we have plenty of existing dates scheduled- we’ll be pushing each class/spot down the calendar until they are completed, even if that would go into the next year.

Depending on current situations- we will inform an affected class roster and offer reschedulable dates. So we need you to respond ASAP to our emails in case it comes down to your class.

OF COURSE- There will be NO extra/new/additional charges. All it takes from you is patience with us and to provide your wish-date so we can move you to it manually (first come- first served as they fill up).

If you can’t commit- you will always have that credit with us to spend when time is right. Also here- you need to tell us.

Personally- we’ve already done this with two March classes and it worked just fine. We’re all in this together. I hope you see the damage it already did to us, but refunds would even kill us. So please help us to keep doing what we’re doing… hell of unique programs which really work.

Stay healthy and make sure that ya’ll have enough toilet paper :-) :-)

Your Coach

Superbike-Coach Corp

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Raven Synthetics Amsoil New Sponsor of Superbike-Coach

You know, we’re always looking for our students first, even when we discuss with our sponsors. We want to share with them why Superbike-Coach picks them and their products, as well to get to try them themselves with a little advantage. The more happy I can announce that also Amsoil and it’s local dealer Raven Synthetics have become such sponsor.

Amsoil is one of the highest quality oils money can buy. They are in Motorsports around the globe and to find on any level and categories of the sport- on asphalt, dirt, water and air. Just that is a guarantee for product development, and in the end the quality. This is also the reason why we at Superbike-Coach always wanted to have Amsoil on our corner, and now it happened :-)

The good thing is, that their portfolio covers pretty much everything we need- all oil viscosity and types, coolant boosters for the hot classes we’re having sometimes, brake fluids and chain lubes. All the good stuff our bikes needs to stay healthy. Because our fleet has to keep rolling throughout the year, we’re also super happy that the low oil change frequency with Amsoil helps us with this. We can do more of what we do best… to teach.

Now, with the official Amsoli dealer Raven Synthetics comes your advantage to play. Raven Synthetics founder and owner Dean Lonskey was not just a Moto Cross racer himself- he is also the photographer of the Superbike-Coach Corp. This experience and passion for the sport is your guarantee for what’s best for your bike, cars and whatnot. Raven Synthetics delivers free to everyone at a certain order level, but the discount is exclusively for Superbike-Coach students.

So, if you need to make an oil change and you are a SBC student already… think of Raven Synthetics Amsoil. But if you are not a student yet… what the hell are you waiting for?! :-)

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

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Featuring Forma Boots USA

I can tell ya- no other company supports the racing community more than Forma Boots, and that goes trough all professional levels in this sport- up to MotoGP.

To be in MotoGP is a huge responsibility in regard quality and performance of the product. Why?… because lack of these attributes will show it to a worldwide audience and the racers won’t use it, no matter how much a sponsor pays for it. That makes this sport to such a development booster btw. So if you think you can boost cheaply made riding boots by paying MotoGP racers to promote them… you might end up looking real bad if you put quality and performance second. Doing this right means, 101% commitment to the product and trust for what its capable of. In other words… if a company like this has been established in MotoGP for so many years… their products are ripping it and are rock solid on all edges. Like a perfectly grinded diamond.

The more I am super proud to have Forma Boots USA as a sponsor, cuz’ hey… that also kinda says something, right?! Forma is with us now for many years and took care of our needs no questions asked. Their segment covers all motorcycle categories, and even on the civil side:

  • ADV Dual Sport
  • MX Off Road
  • Road Race Sports
  • Urban City
  • Road Mens
  • Road Womens

The Forma brand was born in 1999 and since then has always shown important growth trends. Thanks to its own R&D and the continuous technical development, the brand has been able to offer the market a complete product range. Only the highest quality standards have guaranteed Forma to become a global brand amongst the most recognized in the world.

Forma USA send me some phenomenal looking and fitting ADV Tourer boots and a set of Ice Pro Flow race boots, which are matching my MotoGear suit pretty nicely. I’ll have a video of how to adjust shift and rear brake levers soon, and you’ll have a look on those boots as well.

And yea, Forma Boots USA has a 20% off discount for all Superbike-Coach students. That is extraordinary and you should take advantage of it. Thank me later :-)

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

#formabootsusa #motogearusa

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New Program, the Rider Passenger Class

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I am happily announcing an additional program to the Superbike-Coach portfolio, the ‘Rider Passenger Class‘. I guess the name of the program displays well where this new program goes.

It’s always been existing as an idea, but never got fully into the subject. Until one of our cornering school students specifically asked me to help him and his wife. After making a poll and seeing the results, I started to design a rough program/agenda for a class like this. The more I was working on the details, the more I saw the huge benefits for the riders and their passengers.

Structure:

  • Held on Little 99 Raceway in Stockton
  • Only ones per year
  • Full day
  • All rider/passenger levels
  • 3 level groups of 10 bikes each
  • Classroom/track sessions
  • As usual free sport photography by Dean Lonskey, snacks, drinks
  • For all 2 seated bikes: Sportbikes, Adventure bikes, Touring bikes, Chopper/Cruiser bikes
  • $169 includes track fee and passenger fee

Just this is already a guarantee for maximum fun in a ‘safe as possible’ environment, isn’t it?! I was even more convinced about it when I was writing each subject:

  • Mental Connection (line choice, prediction, focus)
  • Body Synchronization (body language, balanced motion)
  • Emergency Braking for 2 (by unloading the rider)
  • Uber-Steering, Counter Steer (and how to get use to massive transiti0ns)

These are just the major subjects, but the day will be filled with much more information than this. Weight distribution, shifting without headbanging, slow maneuvers, movement prediction, and much more. This class will change everything- for the rider, and for the passenger.

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

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racing intelligence

Getting Lost in Electronic Riding Aids

I remember testing one of the first Traction Control systems coming out, and it was horrible. Back then, a TC prevented any rear wheel spin immediately. Not in a smooth way, but almost like a light-switch type shut off. That might have helped a less experienced rider, but for those who operating the throttle on turn exits at a level where the rear wheel purposely spins faster than the front- might works against them. It takes smoothness to powerslide and a committed and steady throttle control. An interruption just like a TC causes at that time got me in trouble. That clearly has changed a lot over the years and electronic rider aids have improved immensely. That benefits especially street bikes/riders, and the development ‘department’ is motorsports.

More stuff is coming from there, like: Backing-In control, Wheelie control, Launch control, and even Powerslide control. Other rider aids like ABS have not been developed there because they are not using any ABS. Why not?… because they extent braking travel- ergo- you’d have to brake earlier- ergo- slower lap times. That should ring the bell already, shouldn’t it?!

In motorsports… doesn’t all the electronics take away the advantage the top racers have in terms of riding skill actually?! Where did the ‘surprise effect’ go when the red light turns off and all bikes/cars coming off the start literally equally? How to judge a performance when a TC replaces pure determination and drawing fat black lines on the exits of turns? When mastering a throttle turns to a ‘just hold it wide open’ wheelie control. Does it really give the race more quality this way? Personal preference I guess…

Significance had the computers entering the motorcycle sport. Tons of sensors reading data into the software which truly helps to get closer to the ‘perfect’ setup. Just imagine what kind of advantage this took away from those racers who had the ‘butt-meter’ and the smartness to communicate it to the team engineers. Sure, the top guys are still able to do this, but what does this make the others?

Examples out of Formula One are easier to pick because the influence of electronics is way more obvious as in MotoGP? In the area when Formula One cars had a few driver aids, there was Canadian racer Jacques Villeneuve the only one who took the Eau Rouge chicane at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, flat out. Needless to mention that this didn’t work out all the time but you can say the man was flying and on height of his career. Electronics makes the famous Eau Rouge chicane to a video game everyone can play, well almost. There is barley smoke coming off those fat tires when they start. Launch control took it away from those who could control a almost 900 hp beast, and not to mention traction control which replaces a sharp feel to max out tire grip.

Lot’s of it has been banned meanwhile… luckily, but the technology went over to street cars. Power-steering and stabilization, auto-downforce wings, electronic stabilization- just to name a few- and also to see in motorcycles such as active suspensions, traction control, power brakes, backing-In control, cornering ABS, quick shifters, auto blib and whatnot. Don’t understand me wrong here, because I don’t undergo today’s MotoGP or Formula One racers at all. They are on the highest level of Motorsports for a darn good reason, and to max out these new elements have to be mastered as well.

Sure, the aspect of rider aids in regard rider level quality has no relevance for street legal bikes. Mainly these e-gizmos are helping riders in regard safety, but… is all of it really such a great thing?!!!

ABS for example. Good thing to cover the panic grab, but other than that it actually extends braking travel (which is why it’s not in racing btw). It takes braking power away. So I coached a upcoming CHP Motorcycle Officer ones and when I told him this, he actually choked. He mentioned that the CHP ran statistics to find out why their Officers got more hurt since they swapped from Harley’s to BMW’s, which supposed to be safer rides. They found that Officers ride beyond the pace they use to and that all those electronic aids kicked off a confidence boost and a false feel of safety. Hmmmm…!

My theory also goes into Traction Controls, which are making young riders more likely buying a 230 hp motorcycle. In the end, Joe might rides over his capabilities. Oh and there is a Slid Control now too, which controls a powerslide when exiting turns in lean. You gotta be freaking fast already to even get there and to make that work… but Joe might thing that this is no big deal anymore:

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

 

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Poll For Rider/Passenger Class

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We have some requests in regard a Rider/Passenger class, and I actually like the idea. I am hoping you help us out with a poll and to see if there is interest for such class:

  • Held on Little 99 Raceway in Stockton
  • Only ones per year
  • Full day
  • All rider/passenger levels
  • 3 level groups of 10 bikes each
  • For all 2 seated bikes: Sportbikes, Adventure bikes, Touring bikes, Chopper/Cruiser bikes
  • Classroom/track sessions
  • Content: sitting pos., awareness, synchronized dynamic, weight management, emergency braking, etc
  • As usual free sport photography by Dean Lonskey, snacks, drinks

I believe that a class like this can help both, rider and passenger, to make their hobby even more enjoyable and to gain safety massively. There is actually so much you can do on the passenger side. I just can imagine how much of a fun especial couples are going to have on our track.

Please help us and give us an idea by polling 4 quick questions: https://forms.gle/7pfsAiMF2PbgiQfR8

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

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Featuring Arai Helmets USA

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As a kid you have idols you look up to. Bands, actors, or athletes. Needless to say that they have an influence on us, so I wanted to learn to play the guitar just like Angus Young of the rock band AC/DC. The big goal was, to have my own Marshall Amplifier and to rip it. The problem… those are hell of expensive and totally out of reach for me. That dream never left and today I have the damn Amp.

Can Akkaya on Honda RSR250, Hockenheimring 1987

Can Akkaya on Honda RSR250, Hockenheimring 1987

So my first helmet was a German product, a UVEX for 60 bux. Goofing around the town on mopeds in that way to big helmet- which actually broke my nose on a crash one day. Somewhen then, I’ve stumbled over motorcycle racing while zapping through the four TV stations we had back then, and there was that American racer who looked so different then all the others. His name was Freddie Spencer and he was wearing a Arai helmet. Needless to say that I wanted to have one myself, but the price was totally out of my league. Years later, when I was racing myself… I finally had one, a Spencer Replica RX-V.

Man was I proud for it, but killed my finances. Though, I had comparison to what’s wrong and what’s right, and in this case it’s not just the quality which comes to account. I’ve learned the hard way what difference a good lid can make, cuz’ you’ve got only one head- one life. I lost that Arai in a actually horrifying crash on public roads, when I hit against a static object outside a turn. I would have died in a other helmet. I know!

Making my way through amateur racing, semi-pro and finally professionally- also the sponsorship contracts are developing. Until finding the ‘right’ relationship, I had to wear top notch helmets from multiple manufactures but I ended up with Arai Germany as a coach until I left Europe in 2008. Again… I had comparison to what’s wrong and what’s right, and I was super happy that Arai Helmets USA took over and to continue this relationship till today!

Can Akkaya

 

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

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