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California Superbike School?
I want to do my Level 1 in May or June this year, but cause im on the 33bhp licence i obviosuly have to ride my own bike.
I was wondering what the deal is with insurance and stuff like that, what happens if i crash, hopefully I wont but you never know? [-o< Has anyone else been to the school, I have only heard good reviews about the place and apparently the cornering skills you learn are invaluable? Apart from that im really looking forward to it. |
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If you ride your bike (I would) then your insurance won't cover you unfortunately. But people coming off seems pretty rare, so just be careful! Book it early as the summer dates disappear quickly, and don't try to ride a long distance there on the day. I got a hotel room next door for £19. Drop me a PM or message on here if you have more questions about it :) |
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Why do you have to ride your own bike? You don't need a license if you're not on the road.
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Just crossed my mind about crashing that was all, surely loads of people go there and do it without insurance so it must be alright. I’m going to try and book it at the end of the month, it’s pretty pricey though, do you have to pay all at once? Which track did you do, as I’m I think I’m going to try go up to Silverstone which is about 2.5hrs from me as apparently you can do more stuff in the paddock area compared to Brands. I do think it would be good to do the Track evening at Brands though, so might try and get up there for my level 2 and do that at the same time. I will probably stay over in a Travelodge for £30. Cheers |
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Dunno but I presume it's to do with their hire agreement.
I did level 1 last year, am doing level 2 at Rockingham this year on 6th July. No cover if you fall off but unlike a track day you're not riding close to 100% - if you did you wouldn't learn anything. In fact most of the day you're not allowed to use the brakes. Level 1 seems to cover Noddy stuff but the group then went on to prove that most of them were doing most of it wrong, or at the very least had a poor understanding of what they do. Expensive but highly recommended. Dunno about the Southern circut but Stowe is about 5 bends, rubbish for a track day but TBH fine for level 1 as you're concentrating on bike control not learning a track and going fast. The first bend is like ice if it's wet though. Never mind aTravelodge, stay here www.theoldpostcottage.co.uk Rockingham is a great track but if you're a newbie I'd stick with Stowe as it's your technique that should be filling your thoughts. |
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I did Rockingham, and it's a great track! |
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Rockingham is 3.5 hrs from me. I have always wanted to go to silverstone as well so i think i will probably go there. |
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I agree with G2D, you need time to consolidate what you learn. For me I went to a track day at the Rock a few weeks later. You can practise on the roads but there are too many things to distract you. The "quick steering" drill (countersteering) is usually the people get the most out of, from a bit of an improvement to a Saul on the road to Damascus moment. Either way you need time for it to sink in, it could mean a significant change in your riding style.
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I did level 1 last year. Agree with G2D on his views.
Insurance - normal insurance usually excludes track days. I investigated special cover - broker called Pit and Paddock - but it's catastrophe cover only (basically, not as good) and they exclude what they call 'the pretty bits' - ie all the stuff that's likely to get mashed. And it's very expensive - around £400 - so I didn't other. If you drop it - well, you drop it. |
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I have done both level I & II. If I’m honest I didn't think it was as great as everyone makes out especially considering the cost and I definitely won't be doing level III.
If I could go back in time I would save my money, buy both twist of the wrist books (which cover what is taught in the classes) study them and spend the money on trackdays. I think if you compared a rider who had done this to a rider that had just done level I & II and no trackdays the trackday rider would definitely be a better/faster rider. Just my 2p! |
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What sort of money are you talking about to do one of these days? I've heard only positive things about them.
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Around £350 -£400 each level, depending on which track you do it at.
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Cool, thanks.
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I'm planning on starting CSS this year with level 1. I've been racing for close on 10 years now but its still worth stepping back into the theory now and again to re-evaluate where you are.
I had a good chat with one of the instructors today to understand what it was all about and he believed I would still benefit. Level 1 apparently does not imply a particular level of riding skill or experience, the group is still split so that total novices ride together and more experienced riders ride together. I no longer ride a road bike only race. I'm regularly fighting for top three positions in a race and have had a few wins. With racing though you tend to improve in chunks and then only make small improvements until the next big jump. From CSS I'm looking to see if steping back to basics allows me to make the next leap of faith in terms of lap times. A little pricey but I think you probably get what you pay for in this case. |
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Books are good for reference also IMO but being taught and shown surely is better ? Trackdays are great especially when your forced off the track by some **** that shouldn't of been in the novices.. |
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Depends what you want out of your road riding IMO.
I'd love to be able to afford these and compare the relative merits of this stuff and classic advanced training from the POV of hooning it on the road. |
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As for 33bhp - doubt it would make that much difference - just give them a call to find out |
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Just found out that there is a CSS coach racing at my race club in the steel framed 600 class on a CBR600. I checked out his results and I've been lapping within 0.5 sec of his laps on my SV\\:D/.
With a little coaching I hope to be ahead again. |
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J2UK was it you that posted the link to the TV series on CSS?
As LyleJ says (only from seeing the TV) CSS is almost nothing to do with road riding , even hooning road riding. imo |
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http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/ca...140309ejQF5mKP link for anyone - search for superbike school & you should find all 6 episodes |
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After seeing the 1st 4 episodes, I have to agree with luke. The programmes obviously miss a lot out, but there's still quite a lot that can be applied to road riding. It's just about picking out the useful bits. I watched, mainly as I've been asked by another rider to help get them some more confidence in the corners - not sure I'm qualified to do that, but from watching CSS, I'm more aware of what tips to give. |
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If it wasn't for watching that drill on the TV (ok, laptop), I'm confident I'd of either dropped the bike or parked it in the back of a moving ambulance. :( That's the first time in my road legal biking career (40k+ miles) that I've locked the front, and the first time I've stayed upright after locking the front on tarmac. :thumbsup: |
Re: California Superbike School?
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