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‘Best training I’ve ever done’ California Superbike School on our Fireblade. By Simon Weir What’s the idea?
California Superbike School training is based on the principles of Keith Code, a former racer and coach to successive 500 GP world champions. British-based school director Andy Ibbott also coaches current
racers, including former 125 world champ Thomas Luthi. I’ve done a lot of training over the years – in fact, I have a RoSPA Diploma in Advanced Motorcycle Instruction, so nowadays I’m the trainer more often than I’m the trainee. So I don’t need more Roadcraft, but I need help unlocking the upper reaches of the Fireblade’s ability, especially on track. The day I attended was at a typically sodden Silverstone, on the infield Stowe circuit rather than the mile GP track. The
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On-track training to improve your riding, especially your cornerning.
How much does it cost? £345 a day.
What happens?
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school also runs instruction days in Spain, Turkey, South Africa and other, drier places. As with so much about bikes, it’s all about cornering. I did the Level One course (there are four that you work through). The day’s divided into classroom and track sessions, where brilliantly constructed drills reinforce the subtle but significant changes you make to your riding.
Does it work? Absolutely. The small adjustments to throttle control, body position, steering input and vision build on each other – resulting in a huge change in the overall ride. But because you only change one small thing at a time, you get it right. And it stays with you long after the day’s over, equally applicable to road and track riding. It’s the most effective control/skills training I’ve ever done.
How do I find out more? ww.superbikeschool.co.uk
TRAINING
‘I will do a wheelie. I will. I will...’ Wheelie school on our Street Triple. By Emma Franklin What’s the idea? Wheelies are the pinnacle of motorcycling exuberance. But learning what it takes to lift the front wheel will also teach you a few things about throttle control.
How much does it cost? £175 for a day, using the school’s bikes.
What happens? The concept is simple. Paul Millhouse, extrials bike champion and stunt monkey, runs his wheelie school from Long Marsden Airfield near Stratford-uponAvon. Turn up, familiarise yourself with one of his fleet of specially modified antiflip Fazer 600s then listen to Paul’s first lot of wheelie-ing wisdom. The technique is simple, in theory at least. It’s all about transferring weight from the rear of the bike to the front, then bouncing it back to the rear. The rest of the day is spent practising the launch, then overcoming the natural survival instinct of
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shutting the throttle once the wheel’s in the air, then going on to find the balance point and – with luck – doing a 60-foot wheelie. There’s a lot of repetition, with Paul always on hand to give pointers. And as bikes are shared one between two, there’s a decent amount of time to rest between sessions and take in what you’ve learned.
Does it work? For 99 per cent of the riders on my course it did. I watched through frustrated eyes when after a whole day of practising, every single rider managed to lift the front wheel and keep it there for a distance. Some even regularly managed the full 60 feet. Apart from me. Despite Paul’s best efforts, not only was I unable to travel any distance on the back wheel, but I also frequently struggled to get the wheel in the air at all. Paul’s instruction was clear and understandable, yet I just couldn’t override my survival instincts. I knew exactly what I had to do, knew the anti-flip tails on the
Fazers would keep me safe, yet I still couldn’t bypass the fuse that lived between my brain and right hand. Every time I tried to dish out the big handful of throttle needed to lift then front wheel, my internal fuse tripped and the attempt fizzled out. Seems my three years of road riding have conditioned my throttle inputs to be totally smooth and I just couldn’t override this instinct. To be honest, I felt a bit of a wally. Paul was quite sympathetic – it happens sometimes. Riders who’ve done trials or motocross seem to grasp the throttle control needed to wheelie a whole lot easier. So, while I’m happy that my throttle inputs are seriously smooth and that my reflexes are cat-like (as soon as the front wheel started to lift my hand closed the throttle quicker than you could say coward), I’m furious that wheelie-ing got the better of me. But I will crack it…one day.
How do I find out more? www.iwanttowheelie.co.uk
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