Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

While most poor suckers went to work on Friday, Cath and I went to EC to do the level 2 California Superbike School. The day was run in a similar fashion to the level 1 school, with off track tuition and on-track drills with 3 students to an on-track coach. At $400 each it's not cheap, but I'm very happy with the results and consider it to be good value. I'll certainly do the level 3 course, and sooner rather than later I suspect.

The content of the course was:
Reference Points
After about 30 mins in the classroom refreshing/reviewing level 1 we headed out on track to look for some reference points. Third gear only and no brakes kept the pace quite moderate. I was very surprised to discover that there were small 50mm x 50mm white squares of tape on the track where the guys would go out later and mark the turn points for the level 1 course. Suffice to say there was no way I'd have noticed then during the level 1 course, but this time I saw all of them - I guess I'm going in roughly the right direction.

Changing Lines
This was a bit of a surreal experience - ride around the track (slowly) on the very left side, the very right side and then the middle. Interestingly, there was no discussion about 'what you should learn from this exercise' before we went out. What I learned was that the track is 12 metres wide for it's entire length (wider on the straight), even the areas like turn 7 where you would swear the track is no more than 6 metres wide. I also discovered that there's astro turf at turn 8 and 12, and that there's another road running along outside turn 1 that I didn't know existed. Judging by the tyre marks, I also discovered that cars crash in unusual places! After the three laps the rest of the session was spent practising the 2 step turn from level 1. The other thing this session pointed out is that there is plenty of usable tarmac off your 'usual' line that can still be used if you need to get around a slower rider, avoid an accident or have run wide and need to turn from an unusual position.

Three-step Turn
This is where the day started to really come together for me. Whenever I actively practised the 2 step turn I found myself uncomfortable and cocking up corners. If I rode normally I was fine, and doing this exercise I realised that when I tried the 2 step turn I then continued to focus on the mid-corner point rather than continuing to look through the corner. The 3 steps are:

• Look for the mid-corner reference point as you approach the turning point; then
  Turn the bike; then, once the bike is turned and on the correct line (and you're on the gas)
  Look for the corner exit reference point (or the vanishing point)

Wide Screen View
This is really about peripheral vision and recognising that we tend to focus too much on small points (reference points) and less on the big picture. The analogy here was that if you draw a dot-to-dot diagram without an understanding of what the big picture looks like you get a collection of sharp straight lines, whereas if you can see the big picture you'll get a smoother flowing line between the points. This really worked for me too, and has been helpful (combined with the changing lines drill) in getting around slower traffic - I'm less focused on the bike in front of me and better able to see a way around. Another thing that really struck a chord with me was when Steve said that every time you make 'rider input' error (such as braking too hard) it's because of some sort of visual problem (such as looking too closely). I had a think about the mistakes I'd made that day and could account for every one of them through vision problems.

Picking the Bike Up
This exercise leads into the level 3 course, being focused on body positioning rather than vision, and is essentially about standing the bike up earlier on the exit of a corner by keeping yourself off it while it stands up. Essentially you just straighten up your outside arm on the corner exit so the bike stands up while you stay off the side. Casey Stoner is a good example of this type of cornering.

All in all I got a lot out of the day - it obviously didn't result in such dramatic lap-time improvements as the level 1 course did - but I feel a lot smoother and safer getting around at the same pace I was a few weeks earlier, and probably went faster on occasions at the subsequent trackday. I know for a fact that I was getting much better drive out of turn 12, and was hitting 6th gear about 100 metres earlier. Unfortunately this meant I found the limits of the front suspension going through turn 1, and very nearly shat myself as it chattered away and I started to run wide. I kept winding on the gas and pulled back to the apex and made it through alive, but thought it was touch and go for a few seconds there . If you've done the level 1 course and are thinking about doing level 2 I'd certainly encourage you to do so.

Feel free to ask any questions and I'll endeavour to answer them,

Absolute Bastards !!!!

I've done L1 and have been contemplating (for too long now) doing L2 - now it's just a matter of dollars tbh.
Thanx heaps for posting that Dave! ! Glad you got so much out of it (hope Cath enjoyed it just as much)!

Makes all the more focused on doing L1 early next year. Glad you had a good day and learned from it. Great write up, thanks.

photomike666 wrote:Makes all the more focused on doing L1 early next year. Glad you had a good day and learned from it. Great write up, thanks.

I highly recommend level one as well. I did level one on the same day Dave a Cath did there level 2 and I immediately droped about 5 seconds a lap but I also now ride alot smoother in doing it and the pace always feels comfortable.

I actually didn't get much out of Level 2. I don't know if I'm just not ready for it, or what. Maybe it will marinate in my head and sink in over the coming weeks, or as I ride some more...
I don't think it's a reflection on the SBS that I didn't get much out of it (since Dave got quite a bit) and I didn't feel like I had unanswered questions or things weren't explained well - things just didn't 'click' with me. It's a bit disappointing, but shit happens, I guess

Oh well. It's still all good being on a bike at Eastern Creek!

Awesome write up Dave...

I can't wait

I was thinking about doing a day ( but was told by Cath ) Level 1 might not be benefical & I cant jump to Level 2.
$400 for a day that might not help I don't know?

Greenblood wrote:I was thinking about doing a day ( but was told by Cath ) Level 1 might not be benefical & I cant jump to Level 2. $400 for a day that might not help I don't know?

Each to their own I guess, because I got A LOT out of level 1 . . . . it changed my riding big time (for the better) !!

It changed my riding for the better too, Robyn. Exponentially, in fact. I got HEAPS out of Level 1.
I was just reticent to recommend someone at Joe's level to do it, since it covers such basic stuff and he's already a fast and good rider. To clarify - the exchange went something like "So, do you think I should do it Cath?", "I dunno Joe - you're already pretty quick - you might know all that stuff already". It wasn't like I was actively discouraging him from doing it or anything - I just wasn't telling him he had to do it and it would be awesome for him.

I'd hate you to feel like you'd wasted your money, Joe. It's not that I think it wouldn't be beneficial as such - I think all levels of rider would find something beneficial out of slowing down and practicing skills for a day - it's just that if you already know the stuff they teach in Level 1, $400 is a lot of money to spend. On the other hand, if you're looking for improvement and can't think of how to go about doing it - definitely go for it. Maybe try reading Twist of the Wrist 2 first? If there's anything in there that makes you think or change your riding, it would probably be a safe bet that you'd get something out of it.

I guess I find it difficult to recommend spending large amounts of money for training for people who are way faster and better than me - it sounds a little arrogant in my head, so I am more ambiguous in my responses. If the person asking me is close to my level of riding ability I very strongly recommend Level 1 SBS - it was awesome and improved my skills by a huge amount.

At the end of the day, everyone has to decide for themselves, based on their ability, desires, the course content and their budget, if they think it is worth it for them though.

Edited to add a clarification - Cath

Nice write up

Great to read you've experienced going quicker and smoother round the track, nice notes!

I did the level 2 on Thursday as well. Can not tell you how tired I was afterwards and that was not due to riding fast, in fact I have never gone that slow it was simply the amount of effort you put into practicing the drills.

$400 is a lot of money, but the theory alone is worth it. I found that a lot of what was in level 2 with regards to the vision techniques I was doing anyway (just not consistently which was the problem) The major benefit is that it makes you understand why you do what you do and how you can improve it. Level 1 was a real eye opener, you may be a naturally top rider but if you don't why or how it works then how can you improve?

Personally I rate these very highly and if you haven't done one then try it.

Nick

I wasn't thinking "I am a great rider so I don’t need it" just that $400 is a lot of cash ( two ride days )
and the difference between to ride days & one school puts me off, as I wasn't too impressed with Circuit Breakers Race School I did in May.
Also my times have been dropping consistently at every Ride Day, so I was thinking will I get more out of 2 Ride Days or the School
Cath I will read Twist of the Wrist 2 & see what I think.
Thanks for everyone’s feedback/comments

great write up dave
sounds like you and cath are ripping it up out there