Keith now has BMW S1000 RR MC's for training class, Looks like there's about 30 of them. He was running Kaw's since the 80's, so I guess it was time for a change.
There's an article in September's "Sport Rider" mag.
When I first heard he was switching to 1000CC bikes for training I thought WTF is he thinking.Then I read his article in CW and it makes a little more sense now. Basically he said that the new Beemer is by far the easiest bike to go fast on that hes has ever ridden. Most mortals will never use the full potential of that bike ever, street or track. The thing I have against learning on that bike is that if its so easy to go fast on, how does that help me on my bike? I know most of his techniques are universal but that bike has a lot of whizzbang tech that my track bike will never have. I would still love to take his class but it sure is pricey. I could race an entire season on an SV650 for what the 2 day camp costs.
[image: View Post]mechdziner714, on 16 August 2010 - 12:44 PM, said:
When I first heard he was switching to 1000CC bikes for training I thought WTF is he thinking.Then I read his article in CW and it makes a little more sense now. Basically he said that the new Beemer is by far the easiest bike to go fast on that hes has ever ridden. Most mortals will never use the full potential of that bike ever, street or track. The thing I have against learning on that bike is that if its so easy to go fast on, how does that help me on my bike? I know most of his techniques are universal but that bike has a lot of whizzbang tech that my track bike will never have. I would still love to take his class but it sure is pricey. I could race an entire season on an SV650 for what the 2 day camp costs.
I don't know what he's doing now, but back when I took his class we had the option to use his, or our own bikes(as long as the tyres were new, and the bike would pass a safety check).
From what I understand the change is because of Traction Control, reports show something like a 80% reduction in track school crashs/highsides!
Worth the cost right there! :fing02:
BR
Well, I must be loosing it. I thought I posted up on VFRD about the BWM at the CSS school at Barber Motorsports Park back in June. I did level 3 & 4 on the BMW and then rode another Level 4 on my CBR600RR. The bike is phenomenal & if I had not just bought the VFR1200, I would go get a BMW S1000RR today! Only problem is it would make my CBR trackbike superfluous.......
Man I loved the bike, what a ride! Traction control was not noticeable and except for the light on the dash, you would not know it was working, unless you wanted to deliberately wheelie. We road a couple of sessions in the rain, & the rain mode was great, along with the race ABS. It made all the difference in the world out there. The bike was so strong it scared the crap out of me first time I grabbed a throttle-full with the bike in "sport mode" on the back straight out of the chicane and wound up going about 35-40 mph faster into the next turn than I was used to......and the race abs really works....cause I used it! Whew it was strong.
Ergos were not bad at all and it was fairly comfortable. Of course, the bikes were all set in one setup, so we could not adjust anything, but seemed like it could be set up for me better than they had it, so...life was good that long weekend.
Yea, the two day camp is not cheap, but ya get what ya pay for! I had a one on two on track instructor ratio, and the attention to detail, catering to every need, food, equipment, etc., was all there! Not to mention the opportunity to ride the slide bike, the braking bike, the lean bike and the special training setups. It was well worth it to me, plus you get 7 sessions with the Camp, instead of 5. In level 4, you have a "consultant" who will work individually with the ride on specific issues the rider wants to work on & they pair you up with a coach to meet that need.
IMHO, everything I picked up on track has application for any bike, ....and even potentially on the street. I applied everything I picked up from the BMW to my CBR on the last day and the level of confidence I got from the BMW during the time on it, really allowed me to exceed some of my previous limits comfortably enough to push harder on my bike, without the fancy stuff the next day.
Anyway, any time on the track with a good bike IS GOOD!
If one can afford it, I highly recommend it! Its only money.................................
Couple of shots from Barber:
The evening before the class setting up at Barber.
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Left & right views.
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Passing another student.
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Working with the prettiest track coach on the planet, Kristie....she is damn fast & very good at this stuff!
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[image: View Post]Monk, on 16 August 2010 - 12:06 PM, said:
Keith now has BMW S1000 RR MC's for training class, Looks like there's about 30 of them. He was running Kaw's since the 80's, so I guess it was time for a change.
There's an article in September's "Sport Rider" mag.
A friend of mine did the course with the Kawasakis and then later with the BMW. He said that at the beginning the students had to put the map on "rain" and ride around the track in third gear, without touching the brakes. He said the bike was a blast and he should know -- he's got a desmosidici and a 1098R. I think he now wants to sell both Ducs and get a BMW.
[image: View Post]RED RUNNER, on 16 August 2010 - 07:15 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Monk, on 16 August 2010 - 12:06 PM, said:
Keith now has BMW S1000 RR MC's for training class, Looks like there's about 30 of them. He was running Kaw's since the 80's, so I guess it was time for a change.
There's an article in September's "Sport Rider" mag.
A friend of mine did the course with the Kawasakis and then later with the BMW. He said that at the beginning the students had to put the map on "rain" and ride around the track in third gear, without touching the brakes. He said the bike was a blast and he should know -- he's got a desmosidici and a 1098R. I think he now wants to sell both Ducs and get a BMW.
I did the course last year on the Kawi 600s & they were amazingly good bikes, albeit not wholly stock. I got great training on them and they were fairly close to my CBR600RR.
CSS starts out with a series of specific exercises at all levels. This includes working the track in 3rd gear, no brakes, 3rd & 4th no brakes, 3rd & 4th light brakes, 3 gears light brakes, 3 gears medium brakes & then all gears, full brakes, etc. It is designed to get you through the specific exercises that build on each section as you move up the training regimen.
Once you get to level 3 & 4 on the BMW you can use all modes, except the "slick" mode. Let me tell you, "port mode" isplenty enough for 95% of riders! It is one heck of a bike and wickedly strong and fast!
There is a new article out on the CSS school in the Sport Rider magazine I just got in the mail today, but I have not read it yet.
[image: View Post]tharkun, on 16 August 2010 - 06:56 PM, said:
Well, I must be loosing it. I thought I posted up on VFRD about the BWM at the CSS school at Barber Motorsports Park back in June.
I'm sure the bike is great but I really like that suit, finally a set of leathers that match my fluorescent orange Spidi gloves! I have to get that suit. :cheerleader:
The Komodos are getting really good recommendations from racers, definitely one I will look at next time I need one. I witnessed at a Wera race last year a guy on a litre bike crash going in to turn 1 at Nashville at 150+ w/ a Komodo suit on. He slid 100 yards minimum and the suit was destroyed but he walked away and raced his friends bike later that day. His bike was delivered to the pits on a pallet in about 57 pieces. That pretty much sold me on the Komodo suit.
I so wanna do the camp, at Barber too. Color me jealous.