We had the team of the Sacramento Better Business Bureau over for a video take. They asked me give a Pro-Tip, and this is what I came up with :-)
(Yep, I know that the preview pic looks cheesy. Not my choice :-) )
Superbike-Coach is rated A+ at the BBB btw :)
Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp
Yep, you might think we do this because TechSpec is our sponsor- but the reason they are is that we believe in their product as riders which each of my SBC staffs are. We’re all using them on our school- AND personal bikes!
I met founder and inventor of the Gripster Tank Grips, Dean Davis, in 2011 when Superbike-Coach was just 2 years old. We took our bikes for a fun ride in the Foothills. Dean is one of those kids who love what they do and are passionate for motorcycles. He developed something which is useful for all types and categories of riders. See why we’re matching?! He believes in what we do- and I believe in what he does.
Straight up… I was skeptical when I was about to try those Gripsters the first time, because I actually like the smoothness around the gas tank and not to be restricted by some sticky stuff. That flu away in no time, because the weight of advantages dropping the scale on the positive side. I had to adjust.
When I did, I needed less lag strength to keep my but in the rear (I use to squeeze knee in the tank even going straight). Also the ‘hold on to it’ under hard braking goes much easier, cuz’ I didn’t slide forward as much. That keeps center gravity low- ergo- I can brake harder and more precisely (and later on the track :-). These were my first impressions with them, but there is more down the road:
Do they wear out?… yes, and that’s good, because other products make your riding gear look old damn quick. I personally prefer to replace my Gripster Tank Grip, instead of f’n up my custom Moto-Gear racing suit folks!
This is one of a few good upgrades you can do to your bike which doesn’t delete your bank account and which really makes sense in many ways. Go get some :-)
Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp
Superbike-Coach is going to run this advanced class exclusively for the BMW NorCal Club, but will give open spots to non-members.
This class is limited to 30 riders so it is first come first serve.
If you want to become a member you might check their information: https://bmwnorcal.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Jan%202019%20newsletter%20for%20Web.pdf
If you are a member already the sign up here for the class: https://www.superbike-coach.com/events/bmw-norcal-advanced-rider-class
Ryan G. became one of the faster students from almost nothing all the way up. His leaning angle says it all
Well… gotta be quick, cuz’ 18 of 30 spots are gone already! https://www.superbike-coach.com/events/bmw-norcal-advanced-rider-class
Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp
Nothing is perfect in life- nothing. But I want to share with you why I am personally a little disappointed in regard one of our programs, the ‘Setup Workshop & Track Time’, which is a hell of a opportunity to get a bike dialed in- suggestions on upgrades based on needs- and especially a chance to get up to huge technical issues pointed out. Besides this, it allows the participant to go on the track to feel the difference of a dialed in suspension- or just to have some fun. Here are some stories…
I remember welcoming one of meanwhile thousands of students to our previous ‘Setup Workshop & Track Time’ class. He proudly showed to me his ‘new baby’, a used CBR 600 RR. He was just wondering that the bike makes weird noise under hard acceleration and that it doesn’t move as much as it could. We’ve diagnosed that all teeth on the rear sprocket were shredded down by 70%, and that the chain is jumping over under acceleration! Workshop = A+
A other rider has a chain slag which not just damaged the swing arm, but also could cause a crash if the chain would come off and gets stuck. Another one I’ve seen rides a chain which never seen grease, and all links were pointing zick zack. Workshop = A+
A tiny girl on a sportbike rides around with a cracked handlebar. Only a question of time when this thing runs away from her under braking. That her throttle just stays where you let it go didn’t seem to worry her much. The grip slid down and over the bar end, and that caused the stuck. Workshop = A+
But also out there on the street or track I am going, and to meet riders… I’ve seen so many issues. Stuck throttle cables- loose or broken brake levers- rotted tires- worn- squared- or my absolute “favorite”… a aftermarket brake lever which touches the throttle cable housing, so that there is only about 30% of braking power! A Workshop here would be A+
Trust me, with this I truly don’t want to make anyone look bad- but truth and honesty is it what this needs. If I would not- how can I make you see how important a ‘Setup Workshop & Track Time’ can be for one?! So no, I’m not making fun on their backs- we actually believe that we’ve saved some lives with this class.
My disappointment here is that I know that this is good for the riders- my main goal. We are always trying to make things like that fun, educational, and efficient for an affordable ticket price. Unfortunately not too many take advantage of it, so that we can’t make this work on our end. So this will be probably the last time were we offer this program:
Suspension Workshop & Track Time, at Little 99 Raceway on 04/07/2019, 33 spots are left, $99.00
(Includes workshop, track fee, water/snacks, photography, professionals)
Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp
We just finished another Cornering Day 2 class, and I am always surprised what kind of quantum jumps my students are taking.
Amazingly, they feel calmer, relaxed and actually “slower”. What they feel is the potential what they’ve been missing out for so long. Since Day 1, they went through lots of major subjects on and off the track: Body positioning, viewing technique, all types of lines, real counter steering, uber-steer, emergency braking, clutch less up shift, downshift pattern and gear choice… all of it in a logic order and designed for maximum learning effect. That’s it?!… No, there is even more to come- even things like Trail Braking.
I so love seeing their smiles when they finished their session and finally got it. That means the world to me!
Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp
Imagine, there was a class where you could ride all day on a race track for only 49 bucks. No hassle, no distractions, no drama. And now picture all of this would be perfectly organized in level groups on a track which wouldn’t be too far away from you. How cool would that be?! Let’s take it further… imagine that you could add a workshop to it and to get your bike dialed in at the same time by a professional- or even better- you would also get the knowledge, tools, and a helping hand to learn how to do that stuff on your own. That would be killer right!?
Quite frightening huh?! But that’s not all by far… missing bolt in the master braking cylinder, cracked handle bars, loose steering stems, leaking seals; and top on the list… a fully destroyed rear sprocket where the f’d up chain just skipped all those rounded teethes. Oh yea, and the rider actually assumed it was a broken gearbox!
On the suspension side in previous workshops, we helped riders to find their bikes more agile and holding the line better. Some report to literally have a new bike feel. Bottoming out, lack of grip and overly worn out tires they complain about; even after they have had ‘specialists’ working on their bikes. Why?!… because with them, you can’t go out on a track and learn to report- learn to ‘what to focus on’ while going through specific sectors- then to come back and to directly work on issues. With the Superbike-Coach ‘Workshop & Track Time‘ class… you can do all of that and have a fat grin on the face at the same time!
Now… you wanna blame me for pointing things out in all honesty, or the shop which makes a front brake work on 30% only?! Your choice.
Our next Workshop is coming up on 7/15/2018, and you can sign up here for it.
If you follow my monthly topics, then you might have noticed the red line to the struggle of riders on mental focus – so let’s stay on this topic and clear something up at the same time. This goes mainly out to the track riders and racers.
It seems that there is a wrong picture of what a teacher has to look like and be capable of. Sometimes I hear things like “Coach is to old”, or “He raced in the 80’s, that was different back then.” The conclusion seems to be that because I’m older, I can’t teach them anything. This is wrong and misguided, so let me throw a light into the dark tunnel for you.
Of course I am not as fast as I once was, but I actually still have the fire of a thousand suns in me when I’m on track, and I can rip lap times at Laguna Seca Raceway that would make active racers quite nervous, even when the years on me have replaced my 6-pack with a beer belly. Even when I am a little hip-lame… I still know what it takes to achieve Pole Positions, International Pro Racing victories, and even lap records. And here’s the deal… besides technology and tires – we’re still fighting the same old element… gravity.
Still not convinced? Remember Karate Kid’s Mr Miyagi? How about Yoda? Or Panda’s Master Shifu? They are all old, and they mentor their students to become hero’s anyway. Yea… I know. That’s all Hollywood?! So what about reality- like Coach Bill Belichick and his New England Patriots for example? He’s old and he keeps creating winning teams. Just recently I saw a documentary about Peyton Manning’s Super Bowl ending carrier. Here’s a multi-million dollar NFL player who got hip-lame himself and loaded with mental blocks. This man had a coach on his side- a 72 year old Sensei!
Still not seeing the comparison? How about a basketball coach who is 2 ft smaller than his player- or a hockey coach who can no longer skate fast and handle a puck like a 20-year old. They may not be able to play the game, but they know what it takes to be a success in the game. They know what to say- when to say- and how to say!
So here is the logic, which I believe got lost with all those track day instructors who believe that a 10 minutes ‘workout’ and a succinct tip in regard ‘body positioning’ is all what it takes to be a good teacher. At a certain level of an athlete, a coach on the sideline is working just fine. I as a coach, see weak spots to delete, strengths to develop, tailor a race strategy, finding details to improve in the skill set and most important to mind set a competitive nature, because I know what to say- when to say- and how to say!
For this, I don’t have to be with the racer on the track to ’skate faster’ to proof credentials. Though, I bet I even can help a Top-Gun racer to drop lap times also with his riding skill set, because I’ve been there too. At that point to mention MotoGP. Even some of those guys have coaches too. Are they riding with them?! No, because how should that be even possible?!
You’re asking why I put this on the mental side?… well, you might shut yourself down with that type of thinking, and might miss out on something that finally could get you on the path you always wanted to walk… the path to success on the race track. If you still don’t see that the problems are between your ears, then you keep fighting wind mills. But if you are ready- come see me and I might help you to become a mighty Jedi.
