Sometimes a seemingly perfect motorcycle loses its perfection. The reason doesn’t necessarily have to be a crash. Years of track abuse leaving marks on her. Things crack, split or melt. It was time to put some fresh cosmetic on ‘Cleopatra’s’ face again, and I am glad that GomotoTrip not just delivers the actual fairing kit, but also a almost spotless paint job.

Raven Synthetics and Superbike-Coach

On that route I also made some necessary repairs and upgrades. An O-Ring at the starter motor had to be replaced. So the oil change was literally one thing then. Only top notch stuff goes in there. Amsoil full synthetic from Raven Synthetics is the best motor oil you possibly can get.

Also from Amsoil is the radiator coolant. Flushing the entire cooling system was overdue anyway. The Dominator Coolant Boost keeps the temperature 8 Fahrenheit lower then any other option. Who ever rode a Ducati 1199 Panigale knows that ever temperature point down is a good thing.

The brakes needed to be maintained as well. Amsoil DOT4 Synthetic Racing brake fluid is way to go. New race brake pads with an extreme high pitch but linear stopping power has been always my choice. That ain’t cheap pads, and YOU should NEVER go cheap on those as well! Added to the brakes are a set of rotor air ducts and a set of caliper air ducts. That should help keep my brakes a little cooler under aggressive braking.

Then it was time to finally unbox the new fairing kit from GomotoTrip. This is each time quite exciting. I can tell you that the fit, even on a tightly designed bike like the Panigale, is top-notch. Not a single hole needs to be modified. Everything is in the right place. Besides a absolute fantastic paint job, the kit comes with pretty much everything you need and also includes bum-stop, windshield and heat mats.

An entire fairing kit like this cost about $675, and that includes a custom paint job and shipping. I mean look at it… it can’t get any better than that!

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

 

I was hell of skeptical, maybe even more as you are right now, because you might not just questioning the quality- but also because they are a sponsor of the Superbike-Coach Corp and that I would be obligated to say only good things about it. No no… our sponsors become a sponsor because of their products in the very first place, so for a reason. And so is GoMotoTrip Custom Motorcycle Fairings now.

It was back in Europe, when I crashed a Yamaha R1 at about 200 km/h and pretty much everything was to fix. You either know or can imagine what the costs are to replace everything broken with original parts, especially fairings. That’s when I started looking for aftermarket fairing kits and found some from China on ebay. I thought I’d give it a shot since the kid was very cheap and comes painted. The picture were looking good so I ordered. It took about 4 weeks to get it delivered and when it did- man was I disappointed. Nothing seem to fit as it should. Not a single hole was right and had to be oval drilled to get there. Uneven plastics and too hard to bend, so pretty easy to crack. Supports which are reaching to brackets broke in no time. The paint job was poorly done. Too thick here- too thin there, and running noses all over. From 15 yards away, a good looking bike after all. However, I was in the ‘never again’ mode.

Then in 2017, we got a new school bike, a salvaged 2014 Ducati Panigale 1199R (part1, part2). It had to be rebuild. I hated the standard red ‘Ferrari image’ but I was not willing to spend a fortune for a custom paint job, so I started looking around again. Loaded with tons of design ideas I started talking to multiple Chinese companies if they would be able to make it happen, as well talking about my bad experience. I found ‘Wilson’ from GoMotoTrip who send me tons of close-up pics, and man they were looking good. When he even offered to send it back if I wouldn’t like it- I was sold.

So I was about to get an entire fairing kit including all inner plastics and a wind shield and painted after my own design for about 500 bux including shipping. I was excited and nervous as hell when it arrived. Unpacking revealed a 99% perfect paint appearance and logos under a phenomenal clear coat. The ABC plastic was light and flexible as it use to be from factory. The installation was a walk in the park. Everything fitted as it should.

Since then, GoMotoTrip is Superbike-Coach’s source for fairings and paint jobs, no matter if it comes from China. Their service and quality speaks for itself, so what?! They are our sponsor now and delivered just recently a kit to rebuild one of our rentals. The damn thing is almost too sexy to rent it out and to get beat up again. Though, we know that GoMotoTrip has our back now when that happens. Really cool stuff which is affordable and small flaws take-able. You can’t go wrong.

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

Our success rate on the Knee Down class speaks for itself… 18 of a 20 students are dragging the knee now. If that doesn’t ring the bell then I don’t know.

Not that this is an easy task. They learn so much from Superbike-Coach in a relatively short amount of time. I am proud for all 20 though, because their eager showed and they never gave up. That’s what its all about for me.

Congrats to everyone!

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

Straight up riders… you actually hate riding with a passenger. Don’t lie- cuz’ I know you do. I’ve been there myself.

The head banging is just one thing. Being off balance all the time, especially in the city. Slow speed maneuvers or corners is more like the try to juggle with four balls. The wight is just killing all the fun, and you actually can’t really focus. Just thinking of hard braking and ‘escaping maneuvers’, and you know what kind of ballast adds up to your wrists.

Straight up passengers… you actually don’t trust your rider fully. Luckily I’ve never been there, but I can tell you that I feel ya.

You actually can’t really relax because you constantly thinking of crashing. You been rocked back and forth until your rider found the right entry speed. You feel like disconnected to what your rider does on those turns, especially on transitions. Yea it’s fun, but it’s more at the breaks and stops… not soooo much with the actual ride.

Let’s get you both fixed up and synchronized, cuz’ Superbike-Coach has its ‘Rider Passenger Class‘ coming up on 9/27/2020. No tip-towing parking lot class… this is going to be on our track, the Little 99 Raceway. This has nothing to do with speed, but learning hands-on, real-live and fun.

  • No bike prep required
  • Street riding gear fair enough
  • Riding on a track with passenger
  • All bike categories welcome
  • All rider levels welcome
  • Professional coaching
  • $169 class fee per bike
  • Includes: track fee, passenger, snacks, water, free photography

This is going to be highly beneficial for both, and I can’t wait to get this started on our track. This is the place where I can do demo rides and drills, and where I can see and ride with you. No distractions- no deer’s- no Prius’s. Only you, your passenger and the things I tell you to unite you guys, and to make this even more enjoyable and safer.

Another extremely unique class by Superbike-Coach, so don’t miss out that opportunity.

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

So I was watching a Moto America race on TV the other day. Truly enjoyed it but less the commercial breaks though. During one of those commercial breaks, there was one of a more or less renowned motorcycle racing school, which appeared to me to operate more on the smarter edge. I’m not to shy to admit that I was wrong…

Fancy production, but still on the cheesy side they explained how Trail Braking works. Goal is to ‘appear samaritan’- but you figure quick that the actual goal is to showcase that they actually teach to Trail Brake in their school. That’s the truth. However, that’s not my problem. What bothers me at this point is, that they blasting critical information with a wide spread shot to riders who mostly NOT READY for such skill yet. Trail Braking separates the men from the boys. This is a skill to be mastered only when other physical skill subjects are sitting well enough and habits are successfully removed beforehand.

What the problem is

You also can’t just drop off only a fraction of the full scoop to a wide spread of people and leave the rest to ‘figure out’. Do Trail Braking wrong and it can turn to a death trap. Quite a risky move on their end if you ask me. To Trail Brake, lots of things will have to be adjusted under control. Only then you can move into it. Trail Braking goes way beyond physical capabilities.

This technique demands a solid range of ‘mental coolness’. This can freak most riders out, because throttle, brake, clutch and shifting procedures are different then what MOST riders have learned over years. Change all this and more while you go way faster into turns under Trail Braking could also trigger to panic. Your eyes and brain are not trained and ready for this yet (mental coolness) and that will be the biggest problem.

Things have to be unlearned to be able to learn. Mental coolness has to be established to be able to try and master.

Spreading these information without all of the above is almost like a half-way-instruction on how to climb Mount Everest without a guide. Now how many pairs of ears and eyes who’ve seen that commercial are even capable to climb Mount Everest in the first place… especially when there is no guide?!

Smart move!

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

 

What a hot class yesterday, in many ways actually. 30 motivated riders under heat wave gave their best- so did we. Ones more the Superbike-Coach team was highly prepared to secure the safety of all participants and to give our students the full SBC scoop. Hot track- hot temps- and I was on fire!

Featured pictures of the class: https://www.dlonskeyphoto.com/Superbikecoach-Gallery/Cornering-School-Days-1-4/Cornering-School-Day1/CSD-1-7-12-20/Feature-Pics/

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

bad bolt There is ‘that one bolt’ which extends a simple job in regard time, dirt, and resources… ONE stupid bolt. You know those?!

So I did a brake job on my Multistrada Enduro Pro, because ‘Indy’ was missing braking power, which is already restricted with those knobby tires. The plan: New brake fluid and bleeding air- new pads and cleaning caliper pistons- and 2 new rotors.

Coach's street rideWhile everything else went well, the rotor bolts are glued in the wheel, and I knew that was coming. Some manufacturers also make it harder by using bolts you’d need Torx tools for. I have, but those are really fragile. One after another coming off, not without a fight though… a bleeding finger and a trip to the hardware store for a new set of Torx tools is what that took. Then there is that one bolt. Out by a quarter and a destroyed head.

“MacGyver mode” is on now, as well as a never surrender mind set. Not enough meat to grab it with clamp pliers. Not enough out to saw its dead head off. Figuring that those cheap bolt removal tools you can buy with those TV commercials are senseless. Drilling the head was next, but the next half size bigger hexa did the job after hammering it in as much as possible. Then turning it as straight and smooth as possible got it finally out.

Four f’n hours and a garage floor covered with dirt, tools, sweat and blood for that one bolt :-)

Coach Tip: Heating up glued in bolts helps too.

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp