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California Super Bike school.

  1. #1
    Lifer Rosco61's Avatar
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    California Super Bike school.

    I have never been to the track. They have a 2 day school at NJMP. I can use their gear/bike and sure learn alot at the same time.
    Anyone been? any feed back?

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  2. #2
    Eatibus almost anythingus Marc R's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    I have spoken to about five people that have been. No complaints about the quality of instruction, some were concerned about value for the money.

    Sounds like the bike and track are unfamiliar to you, which is not ideal to get the most from the instruction.

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  3. #3
    Lifer Garandman's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    Caveat: I'm old, have knee problems and have no intentions of racing. I started going to track days to learn how to ride better and discovered they were tremendous fun and track riders are a wonderful group of people. Most of my track days have been ridden on a Suzuki DL650, a 65hp adventure touring bike that most would consider unsuitable for track days.

    I went to the CSS three day camp at NJMP in 2012. The bikes [BMW S1000RR's with traction control and ABS] are well maintained and have terrific performance. The instructors are good. They had plenty of gear to fit almost anyone. They have a well-organized curriculum. Everyone tries to be helpful and if they can help, they do. They make much of Keith Code - who wasn't there at the course went to.

    I took notes all through the course and then discovered they had a handout of each of the learning sessions: which they had not bothered to pass out. I considered that a pretty fucking stupid way to run a course.

    Their camera bike has a relatively old-fashioned setup so they can't review the session with you for a few hours, by which time you've moved on. A GoPro on your own bike or someone following is much more useful.

    Their lap timing session didn't work for me at all: I changed bikes and they never picked up on the change and in fact, didn't have any lap times for my last day. Instead of just admitting that, after about half a dozen requests they sent me what seemed to be fabricated lap times: I'm pretty sure I didn't slow down 10-15 seconds per lap on the last day....



    My very first track day was at NHMS. I rented a bike and leathers and although I did OK, I felt a bit overwhelmed: most others do just fine so take that with a grain of salt.

    Then I went to the Lee Parks Total Control course. Some people deride the course because it's in a parking lot but that is exactly why it is so helpful. You can isolate specific skills, the instructor is about 20' away, and you get almost immediate feedback. They also break down each specific skill into small bits and make sure you have them down. It was the single most useful riding course I've ever taken. So my experience was that the TC ARC is a very useful transition for the average street rider to be track ready.

    After going to the TC ARC course I went back to a track day and was totally comfortable. The instruction was comparable to CSS but if anything the student/instructor level might have been lower.

    Penguin Roadracing has rental bikes and leathers. If you have a bike, you can rent leathers from a number of places. In my opinion you are better served by using one of the outstanding local organizations instead of CSS unless you are thinking about buying an S1000RR or want to try some of the tracks they use in other parts of the country.

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    Last edited by Garandman; 01-18-14 at 08:27 PM.

  4. #4
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    Quote Originally Posted by Marc R View Post
    Sounds like the bike and track are unfamiliar to you, which is not ideal to get the most from the instruction.
    That would be my concern as well.

    I've never attended so I may be overanlalizing this a bit, but... knowing what elements make for a valuable learning experience, I think if your number one goal is to develop your own personal knowlege and skillsets you may want to consider other options. You WILL learn something, but I'm not sure about the value for money in the education department. The GOOD news is it's a 2 day event. Keep it on two, take your time getting up to speed and by the second day you'll likely have enough familiarization with the bike & the track to get plenty of learning out of it.

    Now if you're looking for a COMPLETELY new riding experience first and learn a little bit in the process second, I'm sure it would be a frikkin blast. It's an awesome track and I'm certain they run a top notch professional event.

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    Last edited by OreoGaborio; 01-18-14 at 08:50 PM.
    -Pete LRRS/CCS #81 - ECK Racing, TonysTrackDays
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  5. #5
    Lifer oVTo's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    I've done a couple of 1-day CSB Schools, one at Pocono on my bike and the other at Laguna Seca on their 636. Keith Code was at both days, and did some of the classroom sessions in each. If you enjoy a highly structured teaching environment, CSB provides that. CSB also has on track drills, with all the riders on track focusing on the same drills each session.

    I've also attended a Reg Pridmore CLASS at Bryar many years ago, a 2-day Kevin Schwantz school at Road Atlanta, and an American Supercamp in Delaware. The CLASS day was eye-opening because it was my first time on a track. The Schwantz school was my favorite because I had an excellent on-track coach with a 2:1 student/instructor ratio (it's usually 4:1, but I lucked out). I learned a lot more from the more personal instruction than I did from the days at CSB, and the Schwantz school was less formal and more fun. The Supercamp was the most pure FUN, but it's dirt track riding, not a road course. They were all very good, but of that group, CSB is best suited for a first track day experience.

    Like others have mentioned, I'd consider the cost/value of the school since it will be your first day(s) on track and with a bike you haven't ridden before. The cost of the 2-day CSB would pay for a several days at a variety of local tracks with local track day providers that can provide excellent instruction. That's more seat time at more tracks, with more instruction, and you get to hang out with a bunch of NESRians and other local track day enthusiasts. The camaraderie and support you get both from track day staff members and other riders is a great part of the experience.

    Whatever you choose to do, it's going to be a lot of fun. Enjoy!

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    DanG
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  6. #6
    Lifer NPDCPA's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    You'll be fine riding your Multi 1200 at NHMS. Ride your own pace in the beginner group and you'll be fine.

    Grow a pair.

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  7. #7
    Lifer Rosco61's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    Quote Originally Posted by NPDCPA View Post
    You'll be fine riding your Multi 1200 at NHMS. Ride your own pace in the beginner group and you'll be fine.

    Grow a pair.
    Thanks for your support................
    I'm just investigating my options. The super bike school does not involve my expensive equipment is all. That was the allure. So maybe a few track days then somewhere down the line the school for grins. I want to get better at riding. I think some professional instruction is on the agenda.

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  8. #8
    Lifer Garandman's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    http://www.totalcontroltraining.net/

    Sound about right?

    Unfortunately for experienced riders, there is a large gap between the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Experienced RiderCourse (ERC) and the many racetrack schools around the country. Many riders are interested in improving their skills but are unwilling to take on the additional risks associated with a high-speed environment.

    If you fit into the "I'm interested, but" group, you're not alone. In fact, if you add up all the attendees of all the race schools together, they only represent a tiny percentage of street riders. This is not to say they are not good schools. To the contrary, they have much to offer. But they are not for everyone.

    Fortunately, Lee Parks' Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic (Total Control ARC) has a solution for those experienced riders "caught in the middle," as well as those track-day junkies and racers who want to be able to further enhance their skills in a controlled environment with expert instruction.

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    Last edited by Garandman; 01-19-14 at 10:42 AM.

  9. #9
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    ARC

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    -Pete LRRS/CCS #81 - ECK Racing, TonysTrackDays
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  10. #10
    Back marker... jwm2k3's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    Quote Originally Posted by Rosco61 View Post
    Thanks for your support................
    I'm just investigating my options. The super bike school does not involve my expensive equipment is all. That was the allure. So maybe a few track days then somewhere down the line the school for grins. I want to get better at riding. I think some professional instruction is on the agenda.
    I was nervous of taking my bike to a track day too. I didn't want to fuck it up. Guess what, you won't crash....it's your bike, you know it pretty well hopefully. As long as you don't try to be a hero out there its a bazillion times safer than the street. Goto NHMS with a local trackday provider and hang with the instructors. You'll be amazed at how well they are run. You'll learn a ton and have a blast!

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  11. #11
    Lifer jasnmar's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    You can rent a bike and Penguin Track Experience as well.

    Worried about taking you gear to the track? As others have said, don't crash. Do you worry about crashing every time you go out on the street? If not, the same can be true at the track. It isn't necessary that you push to the point where you crash. Once you get to where you think you are going to start pushing, then get a bike that you don't mind crashing.

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  12. #12
    Lifer Rosco61's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    I'm going to attend the ARC class and go the second day to the track portion. I don't see a local event for NH or NJ yet. But their adding dates as they go. We will see. Thanks for the feed back all.

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  13. #13
    Bikeless in Blackstone The Snowman's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    Quote Originally Posted by Rosco61 View Post
    I'm going to attend the ARC class and go the second day to the track portion. I don't see a local event for NH or NJ yet. But their adding dates as they go. We will see. Thanks for the feed back all.
    This is your best bet. Learn to ride better with ARC, then apply what you've learned to the track.

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  14. #14
    Backwoods lobster boy number9's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    Has anyone else here (other than oVTo) done an American Supercamp school?

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  15. #15
    Lifer backinthesaddle's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    Quote Originally Posted by number9 View Post
    Has anyone else here (other than oVTo) done an American Supercamp school?
    I have a friend who does then every couple years. He went again this year and brought another friend. They says it's a blast.

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  16. #16

    Re: California Super Bike school.

    I have been to CA superbike school and I like it a lot. It was very useful and enjoyable.

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  17. #17
    Backwoods lobster boy number9's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    Quote Originally Posted by backinthesaddle View Post
    I have a friend who does then every couple years. He went again this year and brought another friend. They says it's a blast.
    Thanks mate.

    Quote Originally Posted by juha_teuvonnen View Post
    I have been to CA superbike school and I like it a lot. It was very useful and enjoyable.
    Did you do the one-day or two-day?

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  18. #18

    Re: California Super Bike school.

    Quote Originally Posted by number9 View Post
    Thanks mate.

    Did you do the one-day or two-day?
    One day, beginner level. It was a blast and made me a better rider. I have been riding since I was a teenager, but being self-taught I formed a number of bad habits, simply because I didn't know better. CA superbike school was an eye opener, I realized that I've been doing it wrong for over two decades. Sometimes, twenty years of experience is really one year of experience repeated twenty times

    In any event, I highly recommend CA superbike school, it's way worth it. I meant to go back and take a bunch more classes, but a number of things got in the way. Pesky little things like moving from CA to MA, getting married, having a child. As they say, life got in the way. Now that I know that CA superbike school is available in NJ, I will definitely go back.

    My buddy from CA took a bunch more classes from them and has a full-on racing license now. He swears by them, and there are plenty of choices of riding schools in CA.

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  19. #19
    Banned Rambunctous's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    I did California Superbike School. I found that the classroom was like they were reading from the book by Keith Code called A twist of the wrist. I had already read it. I wouldn't in any way discourage you from going. It is very good. Just I think Penquin Roadracing School is the best. I also did Fishtail, Tony's Trackdays, and one other I forgot their name.

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  20. #20
    Lifer backinthesaddle's Avatar
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    Re: California Super Bike school.

    Quote Originally Posted by number9 View Post
    Has anyone else here (other than oVTo) done an American Supercamp school?
    Hit up blast54 on here. His son went this year.

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