CSS Advice..(California Superbike School) - Ducati.ms

strouble · Feb 2nd, 2012, 12:19 pm

Hello everyone!

So, I've been a lurker in this forum since the SF 848 was rumored... And while I know you despise it, and possibly the swarm of new people to come with it too (me included).

I think the lower displacement engine, with smoother power delivery and more forgiving breaks and suspension (same as M1100evo) will suit my condition of beginner (1 year riding exp in a 650), accompanied with proper education (CSS in mind..)

Thus the title of the thread... I know that given my lack of experience with more power is a big "no no", but I want to end that gap as soon as possible with the proper training. For which I'm considering CSS, the big question is.. as a beginner:

Would you take the 2 day course or the 1 day?
Which track you'd you attend?

I'm thinking the 1 day would suit me better in order to let the knowledge sink in, in regular riding, and thus when returning level 2 could be done at higher speeds..

I've seen Willow's videos and show a twisty track with lots of bumps but generally fast trasitions, which I like, but general top speed seems limited (due to turns)... comments?

Thanks in advance!!

**** · Feb 2nd, 2012, 2:02 pm

No, definitely the two class would be best. Even I was skeptical between my first track day school, and my second track day school. The differences were night and day.

Furthermore, just because the bike you're getting isn't going to be the F1098, rather the 848SF, don't think even for a second that the 848 is going to be forgiving, sloth-like, and powerless. Because that just isn't going to be true. Not even close. The 848 engine is still very torquey, and powerful. For a beginner like yourself? I wouldn't recommend getting the 848SF just yet.

That is....unless you plan on doing more than just two track day schools, and lots and lots of track days.

Taking a school two days back to back isn't going to be a bad idea. Please trust me on that!

Lastly, I'd recc. getting frame sliders etc on your bike. I'll bet you'll go down sooner than you think. ...it just happens!

zach34 · Feb 2nd, 2012, 2:13 pm

Yeah, to echo **** there, the 848 is going to be just as dangerous as the 1098. If there's any statistical evidence that bigger displacement bikes are more deadly, I believe it's due to the fact that the more cautious riders tend to choose smaller displacement bikes. If they were to choose bigger displacement bikes, they would ride them just as cautiously and bring the big-cc death-toll down.

zvez · Feb 2nd, 2012, 2:37 pm

I've done a couple track days. I'm signed up for the Code Superbike 2-day camp. at Barber in June, I like it as it has a two rider per instructor ratio.

Chris

GP1152 · Feb 2nd, 2012, 6:43 pm

From the sounds of it, it seems like you have a healthy respect for what a bike can do. That says a lot. I would go for it. As long as you always know the bike will bite 'ya if you're not careful then you should be fine.
The first bike I owned was an MV Agusta Brutale 910s. That bike had a lot of power and was twitchy as hell. I wasn't scared of it but I was cautious as SH#%T until I was comfortable with it. I knew that if I wasn't careful it wouldn't end well. so again, I'd get it and just ease into it.

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**** · Feb 2nd, 2012, 7:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by GP1152

From the sounds of it, it seems like you have a healthy respect for what a bike can do. That says a lot. I would go for it. As long as you always know the bike will bite 'ya if you're not careful then you should be fine.
The first bike I owned was an MV Agusta Brutale 910s. That bike had a lot of power and was twitchy as hell. I wasn't scared of it but I was cautious as SH#%T until I was comfortable with it. I knew that if I wasn't careful it wouldn't end well. so again, I'd get it and just ease into it.

You ever take that first bike of yours to the track? How about your F1098S? Ever take that one to the track?

codedog · Feb 2nd, 2012, 8:03 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by strouble

Hello everyone!

So, I've been a lurker in this forum since the SF 848 was rumored... And while I know you despise it, and possibly the swarm of new people to come with it too (me included).

I think the lower displacement engine, with smoother power delivery and more forgiving breaks and suspension (same as M1100evo) will suit my condition of beginner (1 year riding exp in a 650), accompanied with proper education (CSS in mind..)

Thus the title of the thread... I know that given my lack of experience with more power is a big "no no", but I want to end that gap as soon as possible with the proper training. For which I'm considering CSS, the big question is.. as a beginner:

Would you take the 2 day course or the 1 day?
Which track you'd you attend?

I'm thinking the 1 day would suit me better in order to let the knowledge sink in, in regular riding, and thus when returning level 2 could be done at higher speeds..

I've seen Willow's videos and show a twisty track with lots of bumps but generally fast trasitions, which I like, but general top speed seems limited (due to turns)... comments?

Thanks in advance!!

strouble

Yes, you should do the single day schools if it is your intention to ride your own bike. In the 2-Day and 3-Day Camps we only ride the school's S1000RRs.

It would be up to you and how quickly you feel you want to move forward in your knowledge and skills. Do two days back to back and you will move through two of the school's four levels and come away with a massive chunk of solid foundation skills that you can apply anywhere.

If you want to do one day, ride some and then come back later, that's fine. It's been done both ways by thousands of riders. Some guys do four days in a row, so that's another option if you care to take a big plunge :-)

Best,

Keith

GP1152 · Feb 2nd, 2012, 8:09 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ****

You ever take that first bike of yours to the track? How about your F1098S? Ever take that one to the track?

Hoping to do one this spring. But to compare the 2 bikes: the SF fits me a lot better (6' tall). The MV was really cramped (sure it'll fit a tiny Italian dude great). It's a LOT more stable at speed (longer wheelbase) and is a lot lighter. Overall I'd definitely say the SF is more forgiving. The throttle on the MV was all or nothing. On the Streetfighter (and really most V-twins I've ridden) you definitely have to give the throttle a lot more of a twist to get it to GO. And obviously that's not to say it doesn't go, because when you do give it a go......it goes like gangbusters!!! :-)

on a side note......
So far I love the streetfighter, but as much as I like everything I mention above and the styling and fit of the SF (and because of this I wouldn't necessarily go back to the MV), I CAN say with 100% certainty that the build quality of the MV is ten times better than the Ducati. We had the monster at the same time as the MV so I expected that going into it.

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**** · Feb 2nd, 2012, 8:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by codedog

Keith

Howdy do Keith! We've chit-chatted on the Aprilia forums before....and it still makes me very pleased that you take the time to respond every once in a while to different forums. Hope you're well!

Quote:

Originally Posted by GP1152

Hoping to do one this spring. But to compare the 2 bikes: the SF fits me a lot better (6' tall). The MV was really cramped (sure it'll fit a tiny Italian dude great). It's a LOT more stable at speed (longer wheelbase) and is a lot lighter. Overall I'd definitely say the SF is more forgiving. The throttle on the MV was all or nothing. On the Streetfighter (and really most V-twins I've ridden) you definitely have to give the throttle a lot more of a twist to get it to GO. And obviously that's not to say it doesn't go, because when you do give it a go......it goes like gangbusters!!! :-)

on a side note......
So far I love the streetfighter, but as much as I like everything I mention above and the styling and fit of the SF (and because of this I wouldn't necessarily go back to the MV), I CAN say with 100% certainty that the build quality of the MV is ten times better than the Ducati. We had the monster at the same time as the MV so I expected that going into it.

Sent from my Motorcycle iPhone app

Nice! As far as the two bikes go however, they're really apples and oranges tho. So we can't give a fair comparison. At any rate, you should try taking a trackday school of some kind. Or at the very least, do several track days in your area. You'd be very, very suprised at how different the world changes, when you ride on a track, where the road is at least twice as wide, one way traffic, and generally all in the same skill set class you're in. Trust me, you would LOVE every minute of it.

Take a class or a track day and then report back here. I LOVE hearing peoples first time experiences.

Sputniks · Feb 2nd, 2012, 8:44 pm

I am glad Keith himself visited us down here

Last summer I took one day class at Keith's school. I have to say that in one day there I learned more about racing than I have learned in an entire year.
Keith school doesn't teach how to ride. It teaches how to fucking race!
The school gives an education hard or impossible to get anywhere else.
Nothing extra-ordinary. Very simple and easy to understand pieces of information and practice. But yet... no where else but there you can get it.