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So I was watching a Moto America race on TV the other day. Truly enjoyed it but less the commercial breaks though. During one of those commercial breaks, there was one of a more or less renowned motorcycle racing school, which appeared to me to operate more on the smarter edge. I’m not to shy to admit that I was wrong…

Fancy production, but still on the cheesy side they explained how Trail Braking works. Goal is to ‘appear samaritan’- but you figure quick that the actual goal is to showcase that they actually teach to Trail Brake in their school. That’s the truth. However, that’s not my problem. What bothers me at this point is, that they blasting critical information with a wide spread shot to riders who mostly NOT READY for such skill yet. Trail Braking separates the men from the boys. This is a skill to be mastered only when other physical skill subjects are sitting well enough and habits are successfully removed beforehand.

What the problem is

You also can’t just drop off only a fraction of the full scoop to a wide spread of people and leave the rest to ‘figure out’. Do Trail Braking wrong and it can turn to a death trap. Quite a risky move on their end if you ask me. To Trail Brake, lots of things will have to be adjusted under control. Only then you can move into it. Trail Braking goes way beyond physical capabilities.

This technique demands a solid range of ‘mental coolness’. This can freak most riders out, because throttle, brake, clutch and shifting procedures are different then what MOST riders have learned over years. Change all this and more while you go way faster into turns under Trail Braking could also trigger to panic. Your eyes and brain are not trained and ready for this yet (mental coolness) and that will be the biggest problem.

Things have to be unlearned to be able to learn. Mental coolness has to be established to be able to try and master.

Spreading these information without all of the above is almost like a half-way-instruction on how to climb Mount Everest without a guide. Now how many pairs of ears and eyes who’ve seen that commercial are even capable to climb Mount Everest in the first place… especially when there is no guide?!

Smart move!

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

 

Finally!

Superbike-Coach is back. The county finally listened and let us reopen the Little 99 Raceway so that we can continue saving more lives as we could possibly risk (that was our punch line :-)

The Fairgrounds started cleaning the facility so that I’m hoping that they’re done within this week. I’ll inspect after all, but I don’t expect any delays here so that we can run our first “aftermath” cornering class on 6/28/2020.

Of course we’ll have to- and will- do this withing certain guidelines. We’ll handle this responsibly and smart.

I can’t put in words how much I’ve missed the connection to all my students, which is a huge factor of our programs.

Though, even though that super good news, it’s take a long time to stop the bleeding. This is because of lots of classes were loaded with riders when the mess kicked in, and they all have been moved to the next class and so on. We’ve been successful on our mission… nobody lost anything. We took all the beat, so that I am hoping to have a little support from you with the ongoing ‘Help us to help you’ fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/covid19-relief-fund-for-motorcycle-school

You also can help by signing up for our classes and you get to see what we’re all about. Take care, stay safe!

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

To my Day 2 kids.

Who saw that coming… our Day 2 class on Saturday 5/9/ has been cancelled. I’m disappointed, but I still believe that this is for the good and support it as long the 7 classes we’ve lost went down in vain for a re-opening idiocy.

OK, you know the drill. Please respond to the email we’ve send ASAP with a wish date to move you to (If you need to do day 1 first, then pick your day 2 accordingly). Here are all available Day2 dates: https://www.superbike-coach.com/events/categories/cornering-school-day-2-2

Please respond to this email with a new date, no matter if you tweeted, texted, or whatnot before. Ones we have it we do the swap manually.

Love and miss all of you guys!

Best of luck,

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

Dear students of the 3/29/ day 1 class.

This is the second painful reschedule I’ve had to announce. Not just because I know there are more to come- also because I believe that we’re all OK actually.

Now that we’re facing a state lockdown and we gotta deal with it. Let’s get you guys rescheduled, but PLEASE understand that we can’t refund since the time window for this has been closed, so please don’t even ask for it as we keep rescheduling if necessary.

So, here are all day 1 dates we can swap you to. First come, first served (means we probably can’t move anyone to a wish-date ones it’s filled and so keep searching. Flexibility is key):

https://www.superbike-coach.com/events/categories/cornering-school-day-1 (please pick soon!) Please be aware that also your new date can change again since I don’t have a crystal ball. Please keep the faith and patience with us, and we’ll get it all done.

MOST IMPORTANT is, that you respond to the email I’ve send (with or without date wish) NOW so that I know you are on my page.

We’re literally moving everyone down the calendar. Non of you will have a loss. I hope this is all making sense.

Your 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

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

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