Ron Haslam School Review - Premier Package

Today, i had an opening to the world of trackdays and IL4's.

The organisation of this event was brilliant. I thought the idea of just picking up a CBR600RR and throwing it round the track and be told where your going wrong is brilliant.

My 1st session showed how lazy my road riding has gotten in 3 years since passing. My steering had gotten lazy as had my bike positioning. My instructor told me i need to move more. They then had a CBR6 ready on a stand to practise moving on the bike. However this school isn't skill related between classes so you had to keep pulling over to let faster people past which is annoying.

2nd session was great, more over and more use to the IL4 bike which i really don't like. The fact you can stick it into 3/4/5 and just go it's not fun. Donnington faster section i was flying through but the 2nd half of the course i was having difficulty getting the braking balance right and not losing too much speed.

3rd session was even better and ironically one of the instructors came off and was taken away in an ambulance. Really though found 15 minutes wasn't long enough to get use to the bike and get a decent 3/4 laps in and 3, 15 minute sessions were teasing more than helping.

The de-brief was good with the instructors telling you exactly the problems which i was happy with.

+ Points

1 . good introduction to trackdays
2. good introduction to IL4's if you want to try one
3. Well orgainsed

- Points

1. Not good for a Twin rider
2. Not good having to pull over to allow for overtaking as it interrupts the riding
3. Not long enough sessions or overall time length.

But i will say this is an awesome birthday present. I'm enjoying the IL4 introduction but i don't think the bike style is for me compared to the V-twin.

I'll look into possibly a trackday local to me on the SV or perhaps IAM stuff now. Don't think riding the CBR1000 is gonna add anything to my riding. And i'm gonna give that buell day a bash too next year.

[jamesterror]

Good to read your review, thanks as I was looking to do this and couldn't find many opinions or reviews on it.

I don't like the idea of riding with intermediate and advanced riders and having to allow them by.

I think the 2nd half of the track is the most difficult, espically the S bend from where the Dunlop bridge is as the amount of braking required as to not over do it or risk high siding.

You'd soon get used to riding a IL4 again, don't worry.

Nice mini-review.. still think some advanced training would be better for every day situations!

The track time is the reason I chose to do the Mick Boddice course at Darley Moor over the Ron Haslam school. Although Darley Moor is shorter it is easy to get to know the track and you then get to enjoy the bike/track more and learn quicker because you're not having to spend too much time learning the track. Also, the MB course ran from 09h00 to just before 17h00 so lots of time on the bike. I like the CBR6 but only as a track tool. Can't see myself getting much use out of it on the road TBH.

Originally Posted by Jdubya

The track time is the reason I chose to do the Mick Boddice course at Darley Moor over the Ron Haslam school. Although Darley Moor is shorter it is easy to get to know the track and you then get to enjoy the bike/track more and learn quicker because you're not having to spend too much time learning the track. Also, the MB course ran from 09h00 to just before 17h00 so lots of time on the bike. I like the CBR6 but only as a track tool. Can't see myself getting much use out of it on the road TBH.

That was my obseveration. IMO worth it as a door into trackdays but not into advanced riding. Okay it worked as a test ride for a CBR600rr which is great bike but completely shows how capable the SV is on the road. Revving the tits off 3rd gear on the CBR will get you into trouble easily compared to the SV which is more forgiving.