Besides Yelp reviews, Google reviews, or Facebook– our students also sending their emails to us. All the reviews below are a little older, and since the actual ‘Student Testimonials‘ page is slowing down our server so much- we had to do the split. More Testimonials 2014 – 2017:
Thank you Coach Can. Can’t say enough great things. I ultimately want to be a control rider that can adapt and be safer with speed on any bike, especially full fairing bikes. I am a different rider after your class and I really appreciate the humor, vulgarity and passion. Trusting my tires and feeling my body position put the bike in play to get it pointed and straight is a feeling that was well received. I’ve touched knee going in circles, but this taught me lines, reference points, throttle control and vision exiting.
Just wanted to share how awesome it was to attend Day 3 at SuberBike Coach. Coach Can as always was on point, teaching us life saving and at the same time lap-time reducing skills. Coach was answering all our newbie questions and making fun of our childish behavior, I pushed it a little too much and end up paying with push-ups ( lol, see the photos ). The absolute highlight of the day was the braking technique that coach taught us! In my case it allowed me to flick my R1 from one full lean angle to the other side full lean angle, faster than I ever did it on my 600, while making me safer!!!! This flick made my lines better, and allowed to roll on gas earlier and stay on gas longer, combining that with trail-braking (proper trail-braking that Can taught us same day ), allowed to put some real heat into the tires which make the bike feel amazing and allowed push harder and keep up better with super fast Supermotos on that track!!! I can even begin to explain how awesome all that felt !!!! If you have never done, there is no reason not to. I think the next day 1 is in may.
Today, I practiced the counter-steering, very impressive technique! I am ashamed to admit that before yesterday I thought that I knew how to apply it but was far off from the truth. I also think that I know how to do trail breaking, let’s see how that goes next time :-). I am very very happy about the class, and your training style. Thanks again!! Alex Alongi, Cornering Day 2
Super bike wheelie course 2016: Event was well organized, started on time and I got all the track time I wanted. They provided free high quality actions photography! The coaching was direct and valuable. 100% worth the course fee. Very fun class. All the students are in the same boat. Excited, nervous, terrified. I’ve been riding for 20 years and never pulled wheelies. Pay your fee, prep you bike and show up. Don’t forget to pack your balls. I realized real quick wheelies are 20% knowledge and 80% nuttage. I rode away from this course feeling like I pushed myself that day. That felt awesome. Yes I learned to loft my front wheel into the air. That was awesome. Did I rip it down the straights the first day? No. At my age my survival instinct kicks in way before my 500 lb 1250cc motor even begins to spin up. But I know what to work on. The only thing that wasn’t mentioned in coaches motorcycle preparation page is that if you have an aftermarket (Corbin) “gunfighter” seat you should put the stock seat on for the class if it allows you to sit further back on the seat. This is helpful. Coach is direct and pretty funny. He ripped a couple of gnarly wheelies. Proof is in the pudding.
Motorcycles & Misfits, a radio podcast in Santa Cruz, gave us a great review of our Cornering School program. Douglas Little and Kat Taylor could also clear things up which makes me really happy and appreciate their attendance even more. Listen to it from 7:50
I just finished coach cans cornering school Day one. First thing I want to say is that everybody told me it would be a waste of time. I think the reason that they say this is because I ride a 2016 Aprilia rsv rf which is a 1000 cc Moto GP bike. And they figured the track was too small for that size of a bike. I personally just wanted to get some track time in on the new bike. and after taking the course I fully enjoyed it tight corners is where I needed to practice out and working with coach can help me with my lines . And for anybody thinking the track is too small I was hitting speeds of 86 miles an hour on the straightaway ( passing zone ) and hitting 56 miles an hour between turned 13 and 1 which is a long sweeper. I know this because my bike Tracks corner by corner speed. I personally enjoyed the way the coach can schedule the track time with class instruction breaking it up. I was physically fatigued at the end of each track session. After having short classroom time allowed me to recover so I could go back out and give 100% without being fatigued . I also liked the way that track time was broken into three different groups A,B,C which allowed for different types of bikes and different levels of riders. I just wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to come out and play with everybody and I highly recommend class to all size motorcycles and types.
I went to Cornering Class Day 1 on my little 40hp Guzzi not knowing what to expect. I had a blast! I made new friends and plan to go back for more. A pair of videos I shot doing laps at the beginning and another at the end were eye opening. I’ve been riding for 21 years, and I think anyone who rides is probably always looking to learn more; I know I am. If you want your skills to improve and are open to both learning and un-learning, Can is your man. His class has a very personal feel to it. It’s not stuffy and the guy is way approachable. You never know when he’ll jump in and give you one on one direction during laps, so it’s very dynamic! Bring your A game. You will work hard. You can see his passion for the sport and for teaching as well. I run my own business and I know what it takes to do that. Can is clearly invested in success, both his and yours. You can’t lose. We all know on a motorcycle, one mistake can be gravely serious. Taking his class is an excellent investment. The thing is, you don’t know what you don’t know. It turns out, even after all these years I rode away with skills that I know have made me faster, more knowledgeable, more precise, and safer. Too many people just hit the road and ride and never really challenge themselves to go to a class like this. It seems like lots of people think experience is the only teacher they need. Those people are dead wrong. The way I see it, you can’t afford not to!
I did the switch from GSXR’s to Harleys and wasn’t sure if I wanted to do a cornering day school since I felt it was not necessary in my FatBoy. Boy, was I wrong. The class consists of some instructions, riding time, more instructions, and more riding time with coach. While Coach can is great when he presents the different theories… the gold is in the riding time I get with Coach. Being able to follow coaches lines in a controlled track environment, at a controlled speed let me get around the track faster, while sometimes even leaning less! I rented the Coach’s sport bike, but other students had bikes ranging from Honda Interceptors to track bikes with stickers for headlights and belly pans. You also learn at your own comfortable pace! All the other students are very courteous, so you don’t have to worry about being to slow (or fast) for the other students. It’s YOUR class. I highly recommend this class for riders of all levels. Coach Can is fast. Real Fast.
Tip for new students: Coach Can is very ‘direct’ when talking with students, but he loves all his students :)
Coach is super. He genuinely cares about each student understanding and learning the course. He fully explains what techniques to use and that riding is a one-size fits all. He takes time to answer each student’s question and then it’s practice time. Each explanation of a technique is followed by a short practice session. I always come away with more confidence in myself as well as my bike. You won’t be disappointed!!
Coach Can’s class is a down to earth way to better your motorcycle riding skills whether for the track or for the road. Plenty of track time in between thought provoking lessons. I wasn’t sure how much I got out of the first class until I came back to the second class. It really made me appreciate the first time around and allowed me to build on the skills. Coach took the time to call me out as being to aggressive. The next run was around the track with one hand. I took the time to focus on that point and just go back to relaxing and having fun… While my top speeds may not have been as much, my overall track speed seemed to be better and was a much more enjoyable run… Looking forward to CSD3… and probably a second run at 1 and/or 2 before then just to keep the fun coming.
Haven’t been riding too much because my focus has been on my academics. On top of the motorcycle riding, I use what I learned in your course in everything! Walking around campus, mapping out my daily goals, it was a fabulous course and you are a great teacher.
I’ve completed Coach Can’s 3 cornering school days. So I figured it was time for another review. Coach Can’s classes are great. He builds gradually on concepts and really starts from the most effective and important skill of all: seeing the ideal line. Everything basically stands on that. All your other skills will either add to that, or mask your faults and prevent real improvement. The biggest thing that the classes did was give me a lot of confidence and understanding of how the bike works when you are really pushing it. The skills and tricks that Coach Can teaches you each build upon the last skill that you learned, and you get to practice them on a small track where technical riding rewards you greater than speed. It’s a lot of fun, and you can see the whole track from almost anywhere; this allows Coach to keep a good eye on what people are doing. If people aren’t doing things right, he’ll stop everyone and have a debrief right there on the track and point out what is happening. Other times he’ll just pull over a single rider. He can be very blunt, but he is right to the point and doesn’t waste a of time. Don’t let that fool you, though. He’s a good natured guy who also loves to have fun and gets a lot of pleasure out of seeing people improve, and he has put a lot of work into his classes. The final class dealt with braking, which is a lot harder than you’d think. If you are like me and you’ve taken the MSF safety course when getting your license, you probably aren’t very clear on what the brakes will do to your bike in most scenarios. I’ve had the ABS on in a straight line, but what happens when you are leaned over? How does the bike react when using the front vs the rear brake? Can you brake in a corner? Can you use the brakes to actually go faster? Coach Can points out that racing is like “emergency braking for an hour”. When going through all the braking scenarios, I was more confident on the brakes, and found myself a lot faster around the track, even if in spots it seemed like I was slower at certain parts of the turn. I also had to reacquaint myself with my lines, as some of the skills had me loose the ideal line as I was approaching turns at different speeds than I was previously. Not all of the skills I learned in the classes were new, but most of them pushed me into a new level of confidence. Every class I learned something, and every class, I feel, made me better than I was at the stuff I already knew. Thanks Coach!
Super bike coach is a awesome program. Every motorcyclist should attend his classes. I have been riding for 30 years and have road raced in 2000-2001, raced motocross, and some supermoto. I have learned a lot for his programs. The biggest thing is the growth i have seen in other riders. I can see a huge improvement in the riding skills in 1 day it is truly amazing the results Can get from these riders.
I took Cornering School days I, II & III. The School is run very well and everything went on time with a nice flow. This was my first ever riding class or track experience even though I have been canyon carving for years. The instruction was insightful and progressed in a thoughtful way with each session building on the next. The best learning comes from Coach’s watching you ride and or following you around the track. Take the courses you’ll love it!!
Just completed Cornering School Day 3. I was blown away by how much I learned on Day one. Day 2 added to my skills with body position and counter steering. Day three, while technically the last in the series, does not necessarily complete what I started on Day 1 but has left me with a set of skills that I will continue to build on. It occurred to me as we ended the day with a half hour of free riding, that coach did not make me faster ( which he did) but made me safer! He does not directly teach you how to increase your speed, more than he teaches you how to control your fears about tire grip, front brake use, lean angles, way marking and ideal lines. As I put together lap after lap linking each turn into the next in fluid relaxed motions I noticed that the sensation of speed had vanished. If I had been aware I might have scared the living out of myself and crashed. Coach has made me a safer, better and a more aware rider and on the roads today, I will take ALL of that I can get!!! If you do not take his class you are a fool.
Thank you, Coach Can! I did your Knee-Down class yesterday, and I’m still smiling ear-to-ear thinking about it! I dragged knee for the first time in 20+ years of riding and dozens of trackdays (with other so-called “coaches”), while on my supermoto no less! Thanks for the specific feedback you gave me, it really helped me find a better line and enter the corner with so much more speed than I ever had done before–I was smokin’! I just need to remember to sit back on the bike in the balance point between front and rear, keep my hands loose on the bars, get my butt way off the seat, and trust my tires (after warming them up–thanks for reminding me of that too). It’s totally a different mindset from street riding too, I finally figured that out yesterday. What a fun event! I feel like my riding improved dramatically this year, I’m faster and smoother after each session with you! Thanks so much, I’ll definitely be signing up for more classes with you, and my wife will too! Big hugs and many thanks! Can’t wait to see you again!
Ok, this is going to sound over the top, cliche and possibly even extreme, but nevertheless it is all true. THE CLASS I TOOK CHANGED MY LIFE!!!! I took the wheelie course on 10/23/2016 on my 2016 KTM 500 EXC Six Days which I bought in February 2016. I have about 65 hours and about 1700 miles on this bike and about 200 miles on a previous Husky that I owned for about 1.5 years. That is the extent of my dirtbike riding experience except for when I was a young kid, but never had anything more than a honda 200 when I was 12. I have been riding BMW dualsport bikes on the road for about 10 years, but the vast majority of that was commuting. The point is I am not that experienced with doing anything more than standard street riding and offroad riding with a few hare scramble races I took part in. I could wheelie before this class based on the definition that I could pop my front wheel up, then panic and instantly drop it back down. I was terrified at the thought of going to this class and crashing my bike by either losing my balance or looping my bike backwards, BUT THERE WAS NEVER A SINGLE TIME I CAME CLOSE TO ANY OF THAT HAPPENING!! By the end of the day I was completely comfortable not only getting the front wheel all the way up to the balance point, but holding it there with fine throttle control and balance. I went from being terrified of wheelies and doing them erratically and inconsistently to riding them as long and as far as i wanted! This was HUGE for me. At 41 years old I had never been able to get the nerve up to do this kind of wheelie, even as a young kid on a bicycle I could never get to the balance point and ride a controlled wheelie for any distance. Now after the unbelievably spot on coaching I got from the people at this class, MY ENTIRE RIDING WORLD has changed. I now have a whole new level of confidence and control of both my small dirt bike and my larger BMW! I just cannot praise all the people at Superbike Coach enough for the time, attention, patience and guidance they provided all of us at the classes they conduct.
There is no better way to improve your overall riding control, confidence and skills than taking a class with professionals that truly know not only what they are talking about, but convey it in a way that works for you to be able to absorb it and use the information. Take any class from them and you will NOT regret a single second of it!!
I think this program is absolute MUST for every rider! Can (coach) is awesome, I felt like he is a big brother and he is trying to teach me life saving techniques and how to get maximum out of your bike, how to identify and overcome your fears and anxieties and go event faster safe. The passion you see in him while he is teaching, tells you that he is not just saying it, he cares and wants you to remember it, this creates family like environment. I can’t wait to go back !!!
I started riding dirt motorcycles in high School then changed over to street bikes. I put my passion for riding on hold when I started a family. Now my kids are grown and out on their own. In 2012, I returned to my passion for riding and purchased a Honda Goldwing. My 2012 Wing now has 156,000 miles as I ride every day and enjoy the freedom of the open road. Because I do not have a four wheel vehicle, I use my motorcycle to visit my customers who are local and some long distance. I also take coast to coast trips to visit my kids and grand kids annually as well as take vacations on my Wing. I have taken several motorcycle classes on how to ride motorcycles at low speed and Goldwing Road Rider Association classes. I decided to take the Superbike-Coach class to help me learn the proper way to do cornering on a heavy, long motorcycle. Coach Akkaya is a very good coach and helped me improve the way I take corners. The class was fun because I had the only touring bike as most were sport bikes. Coach Akkaya was very friendly and answered every person’s question and tailored the answer for the style and experience of rider. I learned what I was doing wrong in setting up and doing my corning. The skills Coach Akkaya can be used on various types of motorcycles. At the end of the class, I gained so much knowledge I now have the skills to be a better motorcycle rider.
By all means, taking the cornering class by Superbike-Coach is worth it (for that matter, ANY of their classes). Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned rider, this class really does have something for everyone. The key is to keep an open mind. I’m their photographer but I’m also a past student, and even while I’m out there taking pictures (or during the classroom sessions) I’m learning. What makes them unique is that, unlike other schools, their classes are broken down into “3-day” classes so you can spend more time practicing on specific training exercise; Day 1 deals with helping you find the correct line, Day 2 adds in counter steering, and Day 3 adds in advance counter steering using the brake and trail braking…all this while you’re still working on your lines. EVERYTHING learned during these cornering schools is extremely useful on the street, not just the track. Also, because it’s on a small track, it makes it much easier for Coach Can Akkaya to watch what you are doing and give instructions on what you are doing wrong and right. Because the track is small, it also allows Coach to stop you on the track itself to give instructions…oh, and YES he is out there with you. Yes, Coach is ” a little different” as mentioned by a previous poster, but that’s a good thing. He is very honest and tells it like it is. He knows what he’s talking about and will call bull@#$% when he sees it, however, he’ll go out of his way to congratulate a student who is improving and doing things correctly. Their track days at Thunderhill West are also worth checking out. They are geared more for the street rider so there isn’t all that prep work you normally have with regular track days. Coach is also out there on the track with you, providing helpful instructions and also give a free seminar on finding the correct lines around the track. After reading this, if you’re still unsure, check out the reviews on Yelp and their website and see for yourself. I’ve personally seen so many riders come in here that really needed the help and have become better riders. I’ve also seen people come in thinking they “knew it all” and were glad they took their class. As I mentioned earlier, and this really goes with any class you take, you MUST keep an open mind. Coach will challenge your conventional thinking and as long as you do this, you will come out having learned something AND improved your riding skills.
This was the first official track day I ever did, all I can say is “Wow, what a thrill”. I had an absolute blast and Can made it super fun for everyone. Excellent crowd of guys and gals to ride with, the egos seemed to be to a minimum. What a thrill ride on a nice track going absolute full speed. Thank you so much Can I’ll be back for the next one.
Coach is more intuitive than a therapist. He diagnosed my fear of commitment after watching me ride for a few laps! Funny and true! ;) Great class!
Superbike Coach. Ok. WOW. I mean. WOW. I’m not experienced rider and after taking his Cornering Day 1 Class just a couple days ago, my game is changed! The Coach will seat with you before he actually let you out on the track and literally beat the whatnot out of your head! Yes, he is a very strict and yet, straight forward especially with those who feel entitled to ride a motorcycle and have riding experience! He will see how is your riding and if you are making mistakes while taking the turns or late apex, even up shifting and downshifting, he will tell you to f*** off and listen what he tells you. Then, he lets you out on the track again and follows you on his Devilish dirt bike and if you are keep making the same mistakes, he will go in front of you and show how you can done it right! Then, and then, your game is changing! You feel, you don’t need that many swerves and twistiest, you need to make a straight lines by making the dots and connecting them! That will help you stay in the lane and having more fun with your bike! As I said earlier, I’m not experienced rider and before this class, I have been taking private sessions with West-side Motorcycle Academy and also, I went through their safety training, but Superbike Coach Class is absolutely nothing to compare with! In Superbike Coach Class you will have a track and a freedom to practice and the Coach, who will not let you to f*** around and make excuses! He will not let you practice in the parking lot going through the cones!
I’ve completed Coach Can’s 3 cornering school days. So I figured it was time for another review. Coach Can’s classes are great. He builds gradually on concepts and really starts from the most effective and important skill of all: seeing the ideal line. Everything basically stands on that. All your other skills will either add to that, or mask your faults and prevent real improvement. The biggest thing that the classes did was give me a lot of confidence and understanding of how the bike works when you are really pushing it. The skills and tricks that Coach Can teaches you each build upon the last skill that you learned, and you get to practice them on a small track where technical riding rewards you greater than speed. It’s a lot of fun, and you can see the whole track from almost anywhere; this allows Coach to keep a good eye on what people are doing. If people aren’t doing things right, he’ll stop everyone and have a debrief right there on the track and point out what is happening. Other times he’ll just pull over a single rider. He can be very blunt, but he is right to the point and doesn’t waste a of time. Don’t let that fool you, though. He’s a good natured guy who also loves to have fun and gets a lot of pleasure out of seeing people improve, and he has put a lot of work into his classes. The final class dealt with braking, which is a lot harder than you’d think. If you are like me and you’ve taken the MSF safety course when getting your license, you probably aren’t very clear on what the brakes will do to your bike in most scenarios. I’ve had the ABS on in a straight line, but what happens when you are leaned over? How does the bike react when using the front vs the rear brake? Can you brake in a corner? Can you use the brakes to actually go faster? Coach Can points out that racing is like “emergency braking for an hour”. When going through all the braking scenarios, I was more confident on the brakes, and found myself a lot faster around the track, even if in spots it seemed like I was slower at certain parts of the turn. I also had to reacquaint myself with my lines, as some of the skills had me loose the ideal line as I was approaching turns at different speeds than I was previously. Not all of the skills I learned in the classes were new, but most of them pushed me into a new level of confidence. Every class I learned something, and every class, I feel, made me better than I was at the stuff I already knew. Thanks Coach!
Temperatures were said to have been up to 109 the day before I went, so I was a bit concerned about the enjoyment factor in such heat. The heat wasn’t so bad, though. There was a great breeze and the clubhouse was air conditioned. Most everyone brought plenty of water, and a great attitude. Having completed the 3 cornering school classes put on by Coach Can, I can say that this track day had me take my skills up a notch and it was noticeable. I will also just throw this out there, I could tell pretty quickly who had taken coach’s classes and who could probably use some pointers. That isn’t a slight on anyone’s skills, because I was in the same boat a few months back. Confidence levels, throttle control, line consistency, braking efficiency, all of that was improved in my riding style by taking his classes. The track day was well organized, and each group had a safety rider. There were several crashes, but none of them that I noticed or heard about were due to any rider to rider collisions, or anyone being willfully unsafe. Most were due to a little ambition that exceeded skill levels, maybe a misapplied brake along with inconsistent throttle control, or misjudging speed and overshooting a corner. All those things can get better with practice, and most of those can be corrected by taking Can’s cornering classes. Coach road around with different groups and gave pointers and tried to help people out on improving how they road the track, but there is only so much that he can do on a track that size in one day. The track run groups were well organized and the flaggers were all very much on the ball when there was an incident. Issues were taken care of promptly and Coach spent a good amount of time answering questions and going over ideal lines at lunch time. Everyone there was very friendly and considerate of others. Coach’s crew really encourages that. I didn’t see many egos at all, and Coach went out of his way to make sure people understood this was not a race, ride within your limits, and improve on your weaknesses. Dean, as always, spent all day taking photos of the event and riding around on his bike to get video footage. The guy is an animal. The photos are given out for free, and you probably won’t find a better deal anywhere. It was a great event, but if you want to get the most out of it, I would definitely recommend the Cornering School that Coach puts on. It will only improve what you get out of the track days.
Coming off a weekend at Laguna Seca watching real professionals race that track (WSBK), I can’t help but be inspired to write something about the coach. As I watch the racers go around the track I’m thinking about Apex’s,trail breaking, counter steering, and body position. If you don’t know what these terms mean then you need to book a class immediately. Coach Can has taught me more in 2 days of riding with him than I ever learned in 35 years of riding with anyone else. He is a true professional and he can take your riding to a whole new level regardless of your skill level. Coach Can, thank you so much my friend. I can’t wait until my next class.
I attended one of Coach’s Cornering Schools a couple weeks ago. Fist off, I’d like to say that it’s a relaxed but serious environment, and Coach does a good job of grouping the riders (into appropriate groups: A,B,C). I think everyone felt comfortable with the people that they shared the track with at any given time. Time is split between Can’s lectures and riding. So, we get warmed up in our group’s first session, and then work on specific skills over the rest of the day, alternating lecture and laps. A couple of times, the entire group would practice a specific skill, like counter steering around (or over) cones. Finally, at the end, the track was opened up for a half hour before shutting down. Everyone gets a good amount of time riding, but not to be overwhelmed. There’s a very nice balance. Keep in mind that this is not a track day — and the venue is a Kart track. Although a small bike might be ideal, there were several larger bikes. I rode my street-commuter ZX-10 and had a blast. Anyone, at any level, can learn from Can. He’s a clear communicator and rode a bike professionally at the highest level of the sport. He’s clearly committed to teaching a safe style of motorcycling, as well as teaching techniques that work. And if you are a newer or intermediate rider, these classes are a must-take. Passing the DMV tests and/or whatever u-turn practice classes do not prepare one for the street. Practicing turning and braking under Can’s watch could just save your ass in traffic. And if you are looking to add track-day riding to your life, this is a great first step.
I just did Coach Can’s CSD-2 class yesterday, and what a huge improvement in my riding! I was already fairly fast around the track on my DRZ400SM, but was having to slow down too much in turns 6-7-8. Then Coach showed us the proper way to rapidly transition from full-lean left for turn 6 into full-lean right for turn 7-8, and my speed went up dramatically through that section. My lines also improved quite a bit as well and I was much more confident finding exactly the right spot on the line. Thanks, Coach! What a fun day!
Coach Can is a straight-shooting professional who is passionate about teaching riding skills. I attended the Cornering School Day 1 (CSD-1) class that takes place on a go-kart track. It’s a controlled, purpose-built racing environment, but don’t expect it to be warm, swept, perfectly smooth tarmac. Conditions are closer to city street riding. Working on a small track means you’re doing tons of corners in close succession with a high rate of repetition (at speeds that will barely kill you… if you really tried), so after the first few sessions you’re familiar enough with it to compare notes with Coach and other students. The intended student of the program is somebody with a bit of mileage under their belt–maybe a motorcycle racing fan–and had done some research on how to corner better. Coach Can addresses concepts you learned from YouTube and motojournalism like late apexes and hanging off as if you have some superficial knowledge of it, then works with you to show how they fit (or not) into his strategy for going fast. Still, I think the class is reasonably accommodating to beginners who don’t scare easily. I found the level of one-on-one instruction to be commensurate with the cost and class size. Throughout the day, I followed Coach Can (who is darting around the track on his supermotard) for three or four laps and he had advice for me following two sessions. I wholly agree with the program’s focus on confidence and lines at the beginning combined with a bunch of practice. I found it fun and educational, and the free track photos are a treat.
After many run ins with tight turns and being too scared to lean and eventually crashing once on Skyline Blvd, I decided I needed some professional guidance. I was tired of having my scooter friends always point out my chicken strips as well. So I joined Coach Can for Cornering School Day 1 and he changed my world! I don’t make excuses that I can’t turn left well. It’s all the same now! I know that I can lean so hard that my foot-petals grind on the pavement and I won’t fall off the bike or lose balance. Learning how to perform lines is critical to good street driving. Not following lines on the street is what put me too wide and caused my crash. Coach Can taught me that it is critical knowledge anywhere and I would certainly agree. He has a jocular style. He is attentive on and off the track. He expects questions and spends a good deal of time answering. My favorite part was following him on the track and learning good lines. It was very hard to keep up with the SuperMoto champ. And for kicks he does wheelies all over the track as he goes around finding other riders to follow behind him. I signed up for Day 2 and Day 3 and will be attending wheelie school in two weeks. Are you ready to be a hero?
I really really loved the cornering school day one and I am looking forward to day 2 and 3. I just bought a new bike and was not very confident on it, but already after one class it changed!! Coach is awesome!! I think a lot of it has to do with his personality. He won’t lie to you and tell you how great you’re doing. He tells you things the way they really are, and that pushes you to get better. 5 stars!! My kinda coaching!
I’ve done ten or so trackdays/track schools over the last 20 years (Thill, Bwillow, Laguna), but had one of my funnest yesterday with Coach Can Akkaya at his Cornering School. Great cornering school, lots of fun, lots learned. Coach is an interesting character, very nice person with a Euro sense of humor, who keeps it real, no BS. He’s got strong opinions and is a very good guide to improved riding skills. Don’t mind the occasional f-bomb and you’ll probably learn something. He’s hella fast as you’d expect, and did a good job of getting students to up their game. By the end of the day everyone in each group was going faster and looking more confident. The topics in Cornering School are laid out thoughtfully and presented in a logical order.
The track is a blast, especially for smaller bikes, since the straights aren’t long enough for big bikes to have an advantage. Think twisties more than straightaways–turns come one after another quite quickly, and you get to repeat them many times per session. My DRZ400SM was in its element, and max speed I hit was 54, with ~30mph average, but it felt so much faster! My lines at the beginning of the day were a bit of a mess but by the end of the day the track just flowed into a graceful series of turns, thanks to Coach’s input. Definitely recommended.
I took the CSD-1 class and let’s say I don’t know why I waited so long – 2 years of contemplating. It was insightful and practical. I was one of the 2 Harley riders in the class. Did I feel out of place? Honestly, before the class started, yeah, but as class started and progressed it didn’t matter. Concepts, techniques, and the runs through the track. Regardless of what you ride, it all applied – well maybe not the hanging part (can’t see myself ever doing that on my sporty) – and made sense, especially when I got to follow Coach Can around the track. OMG it’s like a freaking light bulb went off in my head! Before I came to the class, I barely leaned into my turns. At the end of the class, lets just say I did some scraping around Turn 12 quite a few times. My advise – stop thinking about it and do it. You won’t regret it.
I am 50 this year and have been riding street bikes seriously since 2006. Mostly dirt as a kid and had a Nighthawk 650 in college. I have read books, seen the twist of the wrist and have over 70,000 miles under my belt. I like to go fast and love to ride the Sierras where I live. To be honest, I kind of felt like I got this thing down and I am under control. Happened across the Superbike Coach, the price was right, why not? Can was right! Can is ALWAYS right, I did not know. Sure I had conquered my fears, I had confidence, I self critique…all great things, but I was not really ridding the bike. I was not really understanding how the corners work or how the bike really wants to behave. I in a sense have been over working, over ridding, over thinking some dangerous and destructive bad habits. Reading is one thing. When Can draws it out, talks you through and then actually shows you: it is a major light bulb that goes off. I have always wondered about the art of cornering. I have heard it mentioned in group rides and all the talk about apexes and throttle roll on etc. Now I get it. I don’t just get it, I understand it and have done it! Thanks Can for teaching an old dog a new trick. Like he said at the beginning of the class” Learning is to be alive, not learning is to be dead.”
I attended Coach Can’s track day on 3/20 in Thunderhill West. It was the smoothest going track day I’ve ever been to. These guys didn’t miss a beat. Everybody had a great time even though the first half of the day was wet. Nobody got hurt, control riders knew what they were doing instead of being busy racing each other. Will definitely come back for future events.
Wanted to personally thank you (but you were on the track when I left) for the riding help I have received from your classes in the past six months (CSD1, CSD2, and Track Day) as they have greatly helped in quelling my ‘street ride’ cornering fears – even in the rain! I am now much more relaxed during street rides and not so tense wondering if I am going to go off the road during cornering at sensible (for me) speeds. While I still have a lot to learn I nevertheless have come a long way thanks in great part to your classes. Initially I was quite disappointed that it rained during the track day – but, like many of the other riders, we learned to better trust ourselves and our bikes when cornering during wet conditions – something that never would have happened during ‘street riding’ in the rain as I would invariably have been overly cautious and afraid to push the envelope a bit. During the afternoon when the sun came out and the track dried up, the riders moved at a much brisker pace and the grins were from ear-to-ear. Your wife adds an element of cheer to your events and I thank her for that – and your daughter too! I am a more than satisfied SuperBike Coach client.
Heya coach! What a great time this weekend! It was my first track day on a motorcycle and I had a really great time. I was really impressed with the kinds of people that came, too. Everyone was super friendly, inviting, helpful, and it made meeting people learning very natural and easy. The fact that you guys pulled this off for such a good price, with very little in the way of barring someone from trying it out, and the pictures will be available for free….simply amazing. Thanks again for a great weekend. It was a pleasure to spend it with everyone.
My wife and I signed up for Cornering School – Day 1. I wanted her to have a environment where she could get use to her new bike after years of no riding. The track is the perfect place for a beginner, it is short, not fast but technical with a lot of turns. She made it through all the drills and class sessions and was talking about “finding the line through a turn” for a week after the class. She finished the class riding much more confident and smoother. Thanks Coach for speaking to her one-on-one and encouraging her throughout the day.
Came back for round 2 of this program and it felt good getting back on that little track. I can tell the difference between the first class and now after some time to practice the difference in my riding ability and confidence in a huge way. It was great to see Coach Can again and he greeted me knowing who I am. The group of riders were mostly sport bikes and guys in full leathers then we still had a few different and bigger bikes too. My favorite exercise was the advance counter steering whipping the bikes back and forth with little effort after Coach Can demonstrated for us how to do it. We were standing on the track watching the Coach fly by us taking three turns in about half a second. A guy standing next to me shook his head and said “damn he makes this track look like its just straight”! Bottom line for me is that I can really tell I am getting better and better even after 20 years of riding by taking this program with Coach Can. It’s the real deal and a great investment to make in yourself. A+ Thanks Coach!
Well let me start saying that I have the type of personality that doesn’t much crap from nobody. To be honest the first class was a bit off for me. I had already purchased CSD1, 2 and 3. I wasn’t sure if I would comeback to CSD2 but I decided to give it one more chance and I’m VERY GLAD I DID. Now I understand where the coach wants to go and what he wants to pull out of you. I feel it is like a cadet army training, the first part is the toughest, but if you make the cut and comeback, things change, be ready to learn A LOT!!!. Now I have also signed up for the knee down class and track day, I’ll also repeat CSD2 and 3. There’s so much info per class that repeating is well worth it. I’ve been to other schools (that I’m not going to name for respect/free publicity), and even taking a two day track school with them, I didn’t even learn HALF of what I have learned with Coach Can in one day. I highly recommend this school, how many times in life are you going to have the chance to learn from a PRO FACE TO FACE??. Good luck to all new students and thanks Coach Can!!
It’s very easy to claim experience and knowledge, its another to show it. Coach Can is clearly an experienced pro that knows what he is talking about. His blunt no non-sense training is exactly what I needed. This was my first of several classes that I plan of attending. I would highly recommend his coarse for anyone that wants to ride better whether it for competition or just for fun.
I haven’t taken any other classes aside from the standard MSF course you’re required to take in California if you’re under the age 21 and want to get your motorcycle license. With that being said, I can’t recall how I first heard about this guy Coach Can Akkaya’s course (I think I saw an ad on Craigslist). So my brother, father and I decided to take day 1 of coach’s cornering school. That was last year. We are about to do day 2 this coming Sunday. Let me tell you this guy knows what the hell he’s doing. He’s got lots of experience under his belt and if you just watch him he’ll tear that little go kart track in Stockton apart! Amazing, watching him on the Supermoto is a beautiful thing. The first day of the class is focused more on fundamentals, like choosing lines, body positioning, etc. very very good stuff. Class is broken up into different groups based on experience/skill level so not too crowded on the track as there’s about 8-9 at a time on this smaller track. Max speed is about 60 on the track but theres basically every kind of turn in there, making it a perfect track to practice cornering on. Coach is also a humorous guy & really honest, lots of people I’ve seen are saying he’s too honest or some BS like that but he’s brutally honest like myself which is appreciated. My father, brother & I are also signed up for coach Can’s first track day at Thunderhill on 03/20/16. Can’t wait.
Motorcycle-USA review about our Cornering School Day 1 or watch their video:
Awesome class and awesome coach! So I just finished Cornering School Day 1. What a great class and concept. Safe environment, step up in difficulties, coach on the track with you makes it feel like a 1 on 1, coach is a pro racer who has a tone of racing experience, no none sense concepts that you can’t apply, family and friendly environment, and great team spirit. All that for an amazing, no hassle, price. My goal was to be able to go to the track on a regular basis but I was not sure if I can do that safely yet. I looked around for something close to where I live and came across Superbike Coach School. I was attracted to the concept of starting on a small go-cart track then build up to a full size track. Also, Superbike Coach School offered the most diverse collection of classes that I have seen compared to any of the schools available online for an incredible price. The classes varies from cornering, street riding, knee down, track day, and even a wheelie class and more. It was a one-stop-shop but I didn’t know where to start. I emailed the school asking questions about where to start and what bike I should use because I was not comfortable using my own bike. Coach Can replied very promptly with a plan, tailored for my goal, that made a lot of sense and made me feel at ease. I immediately booked the class and glad I did. Class day started on time, well organized, good balance between riding and instructions. Snacks, refreshment, free photography (they took 1500+ pics that day that will be posted for free downloads), plenty of parking, and FUN! I wanted to book the following Day 2 class but it was full. I talked to coach Can, he added me to the waiting list and sure enough, promptly received and email from him that a spot had opened. Immediately booked it and booked Day 3 as well. After I’m done, I’m also planning to sign up for the Knee Down and Wheelie classes..how fun I can’t wait! Now, here is an example of how cool coach Can and his team are. After the class was over, I changed back to my regular clothes and started to head home which is an hour and 20 minutes away from the track. After driving for an hour, I had a feeling that I left something behind. I pulled over to check and sure enough found out that I left my helmet and gloves behind in the changing area (this was the track restrooms). I immediately called coach Can and left a msg. Again, as expected, he promptly responded to tell me that they found it, picked it up, and it was on its way to Tracy where I went and picked it up. Bottom line, coach Can and his team will go out of their way to give you a great riding and learning experience. Review found on Yelp
You’re a funny one Coach. You can be abrasive and make people feel uncomfortable at times, but that’s because you’re trying to break down many of the misconceptions in people’s heads that comes from misinformation from their buddies and crap they see online. You’re frank and you’re honest. I think some people come in with the ill-conceived notion they are going to come out riding like a pro after one session, but that’s an illusion. You’ve got to walk before you run. At first people might not grasp where you’re headed, but if they listen, it all begins to make sense on-track. You’re very observant, and the tips you provided when you pull riders aside are spot-on. The chance to follow you on the course, taking note of where a rider’s eyes should be, learning the lines you take, and teaching riders to relax more and let the bike do the work instead of wrestling with it made for the funnest laps of the day. Your approach won’t appeal to everybody because some people can’t handle brutal honesty, others might think that there’s a magic formula to being a good rider, but it doesn’t work that way. You provide building blocks, and I appreciate you not overwhelming us with more info than we can absorb in one session. If you did, people would be thinking too much about everything that’s thrown at them instead of learning the little things one at a time.
Cornering Class I was a blast. My classmates included some new riders, very experienced road riders, and some track enthusiasts (complete with dedicated track bikes, tire warmers, etc.). Coach Can knows how to teach the concepts in the classroom and on the track. The Little 99 is a tight little track, so speeds are reasonable and the focus is on skills, not competition. The atmosphere was always friendly. Any rider looking to build skills and confidence should take this class. The price is very reasonable. I already signed up for the next level.
I took the Jan 24th CSD1 class. It was insanely FUN! Having the opportunity to tear up that little track and really push the bike and my reactions and skills to the limit in a safe environment was invaluable. I know Coach Can taught the ideal line, shifting & body positioning — I absorbed all of that. However, I also took away a few other things which I believe are probably more important for me as a new rider — “Have a plan” – every time you go out on the track or on the street have a plan for what you need to work on, don’t just ride with your mind turned off. I appreciated Coach’s practical take on body positioning – make it simple, clean, fast and practice it to make it work for you. I’m looking forward to hitting his upcoming track day at Thunderhill and CSD2 after that.
What a great learning experience his classes are. Coach Can has taken his knowledge of professional, competitive motorcycle racing in Europe and designed several specific, day-long courses to improve the skills of any rider, new or experienced, through targeted riding drills and techniques. Coach Can has a fun (because riding motorcycles is FUN!), tell-it-like-it-is personality that I find quite refreshing. He is never mean-spirited, but he is not afraid to tell you what he thinks and if you ask him a question you will get a straightforward answer. The more engaged you are with Can the more feedback and assistance he will offer. He enjoys motorcycling and making better riders as he will tell you he found the American motorcycle licensing process quite pathetic (which it is). When he arrived in California and found they were giving almost anyone that takes the test a one-size-fits-all license to ride a superbike if you can pass the DMV test with a scooter (no joke!) he saw the opportunity to create classes to make all of us who ride safer and more competent with our machines.
This wheelie course was 1 of the best things I’ve ever done! If you looking for an adrenaline rush this is it! My brother and I attended last week and through professional a friendly instruction I was riding the length of the track on my back wheel something I’ve always wanted to be able to do! Good job to all the coaches and instructors would highly recommend this to my buddies and any1 who is into their bikes!!
I attended the knee down class on 10-24-2015 and I’m still thinking about how awesome it was! Coach Can Akkaya and his crew really know what it takes to give you the confidence you need to get your knee down and shred some pucks! I was nervous at first being I had never rode on a track before but, by the end of the day I was taking the corners with tons of entry speed and dragging my knee like a pro.. (OK I’m embellishing a little) regardless, this was due to Superbike coaches ability to critique my riding on a 1 on 1 basis. I can’t say enough great things I took from this class! Not to mention Dean Lonskey took some really great photo’s of the whole class and posted them free to view and download! If your on the fence about this class quit wasting your time and enroll. I highly doubt you will be dissapointed.
I took the cornering class day 1 to improve on my line choice and smoothness of my entry and exiting. Can has a great no BS instructions that most people can understand and put to great use. I would recommend this class to everyone, from beginners to seasoned riders that need to break bad habits and gain useful good habits. Had a great day, plenty of track time. Can is a great instructor, and im looking forward to the day 2 class. Thanks to Can and his crew for a great day of learning.
I just took the corner 1 class and must say I took a lot away from this class. I have been riding for 20+ years but never did any sort of track riding. The great thing about this track is once you learn a lesson in the classroom and get on the track you get to apply it over and over again right away. Coach Can has lots of energy and rides out there with you communicating with hand signals which is great because you can follow his line and get it right. I will continue to take the next class because I believe I got a lot out of it. You can push yourself as hard as you like so I don’t think hardcore street bike riders would yawn at this. Shoot for a little over a hundred bucks Coach Can spends an entire day out there working his butt off to make you better. I feel like he really cares that you are happy. In a nut shell TRY IT!.
Very interesting, very beneficial, very exciting, very educational and a whole of spirited motorcycle track time fun! Bikes of all sorts and sizes were there and rider skill levels varied from near novice to very advanced – but the program is cleverly structured to be beneficial and appealing to all types of riders on all types of bikes.
I took Cornering School Days 1 – 3 and it was great. Definitely worth the time and the money and the drive or ride up to Stockton. The track is great – a lot of turns and almost no straights (it’s a Cornering School, remember?). One thing Coach Can will teach you is to find better lines through these turns – not only one by one, but also how you can find a better line to connect consecutive turns into one section. It is a fascinating experience. Talking about lines and sections sounds like this class is mostly for track riders (and a lot of track riders show up to the class and get a lot out of it), but the entire Cornering School really applies to all riders. You will learn about the right lines on the street, proper counter steering, hard braking, correct inputs, how to address fears and demons that make a rider tense on the bike and so much more. All of those things help on the track as much as they help on the street, and they can be life saving. You will see all kinds of riders with full on track bikes, sport bikes, touring bikes, dual sports, adventure bikes – all joining happily on the track and in the classroom. Spend a lot of time on the track, a lot of time in the classroom, and some time watching the other riders, and all of those three things can teach you a lot. You may have heard about Coach Can’s teaching style. He is straight to the point and may be blunt, but don’t expect a drill instructor style – he is actually very friendly and almost always has a smile on his face. He truly cares about riding and making people better riders, and no matter how experienced or not you may think you are, you will get something out of this class.
I did both the Cornering School Day 1 and 2 with Coach Can. These classes are hands down the most eye opening and enriching classes I have taken to date. I had a tough time during CSD 2 – I had a low side the day before and wasn’t able to take my preferred bike, so had to take my more aggressive bike. I was not in the best state of mind and was having a tough time all day. Let’s just say the way I rode during CSD 1 compared to this second time was vast. Coach really took the time to help me through my challenges that day, and pulled me aside several times to help me get refocused. I really appreciated that a lot. Although I couldn’t pull myself out of my own head, it was clear that he truly had my progress and success in mind. And it was the same for everyone in class. I noticed that some make mention of his teaching style. If you have too big or fragile an ego to open your mind up to learning, I’m sorry to say, but you may have bigger problems than learning how to corner properly lol. I take a lot of classes – I have gone to Z2 for novice school (C group track day), Rich Oliver Mystery Camp, Total Control Advanced Rider Course, Alameda County Sheriff Dual-Purpose Class, Road Rider 2.0 and MSF. And although they are all good and all different, I learned the most from these two classes and guess what? THESE CLASSES COST THE LEAST OF THEM ALL. There is seriously a lot to learn and I will be taking both classes again, along with CSD 3. Seriously do yourself a favor and take this class. Please leave your ego at the door, it’s not worth what you’ll be missing in potentially life saving skills because you weren’t receptive to direction. And to be honest, I really have no idea what people are groaning about – he isn’t harsh by any means or stretch of the imagination. In fact he’s a really funny and easy going guy.
Just took the Day 1 Cornering Class. Had a really good experience with Coach Can and team. Instruction is direct and to the point. Great environment to learn new skills and push yourself further than you would on the street. I signed up for several more sessions with Can. I should have done this years ago.
Can and Team, Thank you very much for an amazing CSD-1 at Little 99 yesterday. Amazing experience and huge, supportive learning environment for ym 1st track day!! I just signed up for CSD-2 and already can’t wait. I Loved the 1-on-1 “Ideal Line” portion, and especially the clutchless upshifting session. Both VERY cool and worth every penny (and more, but don’t quote me! LOL). Question: Do you think the upcoming 1-on-1 class at Sonoma would be too advanced for me? I mean, I’d love to also sign up for this and continue learning. If you think that would be acceptable and not Too Much. For your memory, I was the guy riding the Black Triumph Street Triple, who Can called ‘Mr.Sunshine’ in class. HA! Really glad I found your programs.
The coach had us discussing our fears about riding and taught us how to use our skills as tools to work through any situation so that we are in control with choices. by the end of the day I was dragging my foot pegs and my confidence in my ability to ride my bike is greatly improved. I feel so much more control in just one day. You could see see across-the-board how all the writers were improving and coach can seem to spend additional time with any riders who needed it and it was just a fantastic day. everyone left a much improved rider.
It was the most fun I have had in 15 years. I love being on a closed course for safety and no cops. Then you are treated to a fantastic professional and funny Coach Mr Can and can he ride!!!!
Question: What can I learn after 30+ years of riding? Answer: A Lot! Cornering School Day 1. Sounds remedial, right? Wrong! Learned so much more than I expected. Small track? Yes. advantage: ride, critique, ride, critique, ride, critique, repeat. Coach and staff? Organized, Passionate, Available, Experienced, Insightful. I now ride my Ducati better then ever, thanks to Coach Can.
Went to Cornering Class Day 1 on my little 40hp Guzzi not knowing what to expect. Had a blast! Made new friends and plan to go back for more. A pair of videos I shot doing laps at the beginning and another at the end were eye opening. I’ve been riding for 21 years, and I think anyone who rides is probably always looking to learn more; I know I am. If you want your skills to improve and are open to both learning and un-learning, Can is your man. His class has a very personal feel to it. It’s not stuffy and the guy is way approachable. You never know when he’ll jump in and give you one on one direction during laps, so it’s very dynamic! Bring your A game. You will work hard. You can see his passion for the sport and for teaching as well. I run my own business and I know what it takes to do that. Can is clearly invested in success, both his and yours. You can’t lose. We all know on a motorcycle, one mistake can be gravely serious. Taking his class is an excellent investment. The thing is, you don’t know what you don’t know. It turns out, even after all these years I rode away with skills that I know have made me faster, more knowledgeable, more precise, and safer. Too many people just hit the road and ride and never really challenge themselves to go to a class like this. It seems like lots of people think experience is the only teacher they need. Those people are dead wrong. The way I see it, you can’t afford not to! Don’t be a douche, take Can’s courses. Trust me, you’ll see what I mean.
Just got back from Cornering School Day 1 (It’s a 3 day series and you have to pass each one to get to the next one, plus each one is about $100). What a great program! This is a no frills, no BS operation. Coach gives it to you straight and then you go out on the track and practice. He sees everything and tells you what you’re doing wrong. He’s got great cred so listen up and just do what he says. Have faith. You *will* learn something. Guaranteed.
I took the first of a set of three classes last Sunday. This is the best $99.00 spent in my opinion…the Coach will watch you ride the track and give no BS instruction on how to improve your skills. In the afternoon Coach rides the track with you showing the correct lines, approach and exit from corners. I questioned taking the course because I’m riding a Victory, but soon learned the instruction you receive from Coach applies to any type of bike your riding…including the two Goldwings in the class. The class size was around thirty bikes, broken up into three groups and everyone received personal instruction through-out the day. Awesome class I recommend the Cornering Class for all riders and any type of motorcycle. Thanks for your patience Coach!!!
Recently attended CS-1 in June, I had a blast, what a great experience. Coach is a remarkable teacher, very impressive with his lifetime knowledge and feel of all of his life experiences riding and racing shared with his students in a 1 day, fun day event. I am looking very forward to also attend CS-2 and CS-3. Please for those who are itching to attend a course such as this it is well worth the value, you will be impressed with coach’s and his coaching staff the ability to teach you valuable information to better your skills as a rider. Keep up the great work SuperBike Coach and staff. I will sign up again.
Superbike-coach corp Mr. Can Akkaya met me at Laguna Seca on 4/12/1015 and mentored me through the day on how to ride better and really enjoy the legendary track with so many world famous corners especially the corkscrew. As a foreigner I was able to communicate with him very openly in the build up to the event and he really helped to ensure every box was checked in terms of preparation. He made sure he even made available for me a riding suit, gloves and boots. Very few outfits will throw that in for free, hence as a tourist planning to participate in such an event becomes so much easier.My experience was amazing and I think he’s a great professional who can assess and ‘Suss out your level’ in a short time and tweak the design of his content so that you get the most out of it in the limited time available. His use of ‘instruction by wire’ technology was very useful. Not for a single moment did I feel unsafe the whole day which was a big difference from other track days that I have done in for example silverstone. This experience was even better than Ron Haslam riding school at Silverstone as there it’s a big group and things aren’t really personalized and there’s barely any face time with the instructors let alone legendary Ron . Worth every cent. I would highly recommend a session with Can Akkaya if you want a memorable day at Laguna seca. Just showing up on your own and doing a track day would be pointless and not allowing for improvement in my opinion.
