I am thinking of signing up for California Superbike School. Not cheap but seems well structured. Some of the chaps I went on tour with said you don't get enough track time with CSS. They recommended going with Gary Walton, Steve Brogan or Jamie Whittam. Thing is, the chaps who said this are all very experienced whereas I'm a complete beginner. Which track training would you recommend? Cheers, Dub.
I have no experience but would just say any training is better than no training, maybe worth looking at cost v's time on track v's time with instructor to work out best option for first time and take it from there. I doubt you'll be disappointed with any of them, good luck
As above, any training is better than no training. I would say it’s a good foundation although a lot of what they teach is a bit alien to us racers these days. I’ve not heard much bad about it mind I’d recommend Laverty or Dean Ellison as well
If you're relatively new to the road why not expand your skill set where you ride by doing some advanced training with traffic around? Yep, I did track days many, many years ago and it certainly gave me more confidence to go fast on the road, but it took many more years to acquire any real road sense! Have a look at Rapid Training (I have no connection with them) with their experience they will almost guarantee to make you a better, safer rider, or do a local Bikesafe course first?
I’ve been debating the best way to expand on this Many of the concepts of the California Superbike School are brilliant for new or inexperienced riders. If you have some experience of biking and also are already a fairly decent track rider then I would say its not actually worth it. You would be better off getting track instruction from either the above mentioned or no limits etc Level one is very very basic but you still have to do it to progress to level two. And it’s not cheap for what it is. If you are like me, and you learn from doing things, i see CSS as very theory biased, which was no good for me. I remember they used to teach riders to brake in a straight line and not trail on to the apex as well. Which is just not relevant these days with tyre and suspension tech. If I rode my 600 stocker like that the bastard wouldn’t turn . Not to mention you’d be a rolling road block on corner entry
Did my first track day years ago at Donington. Like everyone, I started off in novice group and worked my up through track time. Once I’d worked my up to a half decent pace, it was time to tidy things up a bit. That’s when I opted for one to one coaching (on track). Last week I had a brilliant day with Jeremy Mcwilliams in Brno. Totally agree with Advikaz regards trial braking in relation to new rubber/suspension. I do it without thinking nowadays. But wouldn’t go near it a few years back....
I did the Ron Haslem race school last year... I really liked it.. not enough time on track but a really good introduction to track days and well put on I thought... Basically 1 instructor for every 2 riders and although I could have gone alot faster ( the instructor sets the pace) it was a really comfortable way to get out on track... Can't say I learned loads but that said, I doubt I could absorb much more in 1 day..
Ah that’s all great feedback but has left me more confused I will start with booking a police bike safe course and take it from there.
Again, that won’t teach you anything about riding fast. But you will gain other experience. I was pretty shocked with how slow the police and firebike riders were. Naturally on the road they’re safe and make progress Ofcourse. But on track you’re looking at a slow inters pace at best. Usually more like top 15% novice though. Which I’ve always found fascinating as they often seem to have egos the size of planets haha They have a habit of really pushing IaM and rosper etc on you, but even that isn’t what it used to be. Some of the worst road riders and especially track riding I’ve ever witnessed has been from rosper gold and iam riders. It’s a bit of a shame but it’s become one of those awfully politically correct clubs which can’t make any decisions and have to do it all by the book.. when we all know that the real world isn’t like that
I don’t get anywhere near the limit right now. I don’t want to actually be ON the limit but I want to get closer. I don’t trust my bike at all since my off at that track day a few years ago. I’m told my lean angles are beyond conservative I’d like to be comfortable in an intermediate group with a longer term goal of making it in to an advanced group. Of course I’d like to get my knee down with ease - and yes I know this doesn’t really mean anything but I would. It feels light years away. In addition to this i would like to be a safer/faster/better road rider which I realise is a different skill set altogether but first I’d like to approach the limits of my bike a little more. Make sense?
Makes perfect sense. As you improve, what used to be dangerous and slow becomes faster and safer anyway generally. It’s all a step in the right direction
Your limit will be different for others even with the same equipment IMHO you can learn the CSS stuff independent on the road, and build from that if you want to do it on the cheap. Or spend your cash and do the levels. Others alternate is one of the many coaches out there, like Chris Butcher @Dibble @t3scn can probably provide some more direct feedback I did a day with Mike Dickson in Spain, and learnt loads in that day. He also was moaning about my CSS style....and trying to undo it. Loads of options out there
BTW if you want to self learn, I have copies the TOTW stuff and Sports Riding Techniques which are both useful reading. OPM you email and I’ll see if I can send a copy if its of use
I did Level 1 CSS last week, and I rated the coaching in getting me faster through the corners, although i felt my instructor was setting the pace too slowly. It is expensive, but it's a school day not a track day, so if you're going in expecting a track day thrash, it's not that at all. I was all over the kerbs by the end of the day, and lapping other students on the same session, even though it was only a Supersport I was on. It made something click for me mentally and it's made a huge difference to my riding, even on my trusty little Monster, I'm a lot smoother and faster through the corners. One of the other students described me as "a bit handy on that thing" and said I had passed him knee down on the outside through a corner....well that was an exaggeration, I didn't even have sliders on! I suspect if you're using it to aim towards racing it may feel a bit lame, although Bradley Ray did it years ago, but for me, it's made my commute through the twisties of Kent much faster and more fun. Look for discount deals, and try use your own bike if possible, sadly my Panigale won't pass the noise restrictions for their tracks, so a hire bike it was. I hope this helps.
Makes total sense. I too was carrying too much lean angle. A lesson in body position and track position soon fixed that. Get some track days booked in novice group. Build up your pace nice and easy. Watch and listen to others. Maybe get some tuition. But most of all- enjoy it
Actually there's usually a few CSS instructors at the Ducati track days, there's one on 31st July at Silverstone (if it's not sold out), you may be able to have a go on the track and ask the coaches to give you some tips, if you like how they explain stuff, it may be a way to see at lower cost if CSS is for you. I think it's about £200, am sure somebody will be along shortly with specifics. I did that a few years ago and even the tips I got in a quick chat helped enormously.
