Author, Test Rider, Racer, Riding Coach

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Heat Management

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I can tell ya… the Ducati Panigale is a beast, and truly a challenge to your balls- also in regard heat!

The 1199R is a race bike- period. People are surprised how hard to ride it actually is. The faster you go- the better it is, but the slower you go- the more this bike can be a pain in a butt. It needs time and money to solve these issues if you want to use a Pani on the street in traffic.

I gave lots of advice and suggestions in this article series, but the ‘heat management’ was secondary to me first. Now since i am riding it more often for pleasure, to teach Track Drill 1on1 on race track, or Road Skill 1on1 on public roads- the more I realized I should have prioritize this problem.

The significance is the ride-ability and performance. Cool gas is power and engine elastics- and not to get the boiled keeps riding fun up. The rider sits literally 3 inches above the rear cylinder of a 195 horsepower bike, and the heat is conserved. You’re standing in California waiting for green light, while the water temp of the monster climbs up to 220f. It’s time for improvements.

So, my goal is it to drop temperature, and to gain engine performance. Not looking for the ‘perfect’ though, because that is not existing. First, I uninstalled those ugly cylinder plastic covers. I believe they conserve the heat around the rear cylinder just a little too much and to affect its performance. Also- the conserved hot air is literally lead right between your legs and the lowest part of the gas tank. After riding it without those covers it was actually a little better- so off they go.

I was actually planning to get me some heat shield mattes and to cover everything on a logical bases to block or to lead hot air. The ‘good’ material which is in use by NASA, Formula 1 and MotoGP is expensive though, and I would have to puzzle it… but then I found the “Panigale Heat Shield“. The adhesive kit includes all puzzle pieces, like to cover the seat pad and the sub frame legs. Some tools, a de-greaser and about 30 minutes later the job was done, but I wanted to do more though. The part of the gas tank which is buried in the sub frame, hovers about an inch above the cylinder. Sooner as you might think, the entire aluminum body is warmed up and affects comfort and gas temperature.

A additional piece of foam behind the gas tank reduces the hot air floats under the seat, and leads to the cutouts in the sub frame legs. These modifications should also help reducing the mechanical noises a little.

So, thanks to ‘Panigale Heat Shield‘ I could save some time of work and to find the right material. Even if you don’t have a Pani… go and find the weak spots on your ride, and enjoy ‘creating’ and to improvise things. Make it YOURS :-)

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

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Being able to use the brake at all times!

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I’m hearing it every day. First I see 99.9% of my students braking, and their performance is actually shockingly bad. Straight up… ‘BRAKING’ IS THE PRIOR SKILL TO STAY ALIVE. Then I ask them who taught them and what was the message, and their answers are even more shocking…

In fact, ANY curriculum of motorcycle drivers license giving institutions are telling new riders to “Stay away from the front brake when turning/leaning!” I believe that this is already a CRIME to say, because I would say that you gotta be be able to make a use of your brakes AT ALL FREAKING TIMES! But there is much more coming with this message- mental blockades which I as a Coach who is teaching the total opposite- have to remove manifested habits and overly produced fears!

Now how is that?!… well, if you tell a new rider stuff like that- you automatically manifest a certain hold back towards the front brake, which is actually our primary weapon against scary situations. The blockade is so deep in their heads, that most of the riders are not even using 50% of their front brake potential- which is another guarantee to get hurt or even to die. Besides this, it also leads them to an over-usage of rear brake which causes even more confusion and extends their learning curve… which is time they might don’t have.

You think a street rider don’t need this?… You’re dead wrong! Superbike-Coach teaches ‘Trail Braking’, a MotoGP riding technique since 10 years in Cornering School Day 3, and that is the key to lots of good things the top racers of this planet take advantage of. Priority for them… to lower lap times- and for the street rider to gain the chance to SURVIVE dramatically. Why and how?… find out in the class and learn it, because reading and learning won’t work here.

Is this a guarantee to get out of everything?… no it’s not, because there is always a ‘point of no return’, but it gains you chance to make it exponentially. Are there other schools teaching to trail brake?… probably- are they doing it right?… I don’t know. I do know that Superbike-Coach does it right- and that we have the environment and drills to do this even better. The curriculum and their message in this regard of license giving institutions has to change, because it is wrong and dangerous.

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

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Clarify Superbike-Coach Track Days

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I use to clear up things with my articles, so here is my take on some answers to questions we’re receiving in regard our track days:

  • Yes, we’re open all turns the west track has to offer.
  • Yes, we have track Marshall’s on all turns, an Ambulance with two EMT’s, and a Helicopter on call.
  • Yes, we have a starter, announcer, and group/gate control.
  • Yes, we run 3 level groups C, B, and B+, 7×20 minutes sessions each.
  • B+ is no A-group- more an extension of B group. A-riders are welcome of course, but riding under B+ where I expect that B-riders keep their ego in check (you can’t get them anyway and you don’t want to hurt someone just because you feel challenged).
  • Yes, you don’t need to have racing gear necessarily, and of course i can tell you our definition of street riding gear below in an article. let me know if you need gear, and I can get you a 40% off discount on Axo USA gear. We accept leather OR textile as long pants and jacket are zip-able. If not zip-able, we would ask you to have a back protector, but be aware that the Thunderhill staffs might take you out (this is not on us!). Nobody else but you is responsible for the road rash you’re getting.
  • Yes, we have experienced control riders on all groups checking for rule violations.
  • No, we’re not wasting spots to let ego-driven instructors racing each other.
  • No, you don’t need to have a class under your belt to attend our track days, but I highly recommend it.
  • No, this is not a ‘school’, but a ‘too fun to miss out’ event where you’ll be safer as if you would go for a ride on public roads instead. If you are looking for solid education, then you most likely won’t find it within track days anyway. Read my article in regard to this, and consider to also start out my Cornering School program.
  • No, we don’t have a tire service going on, because I truly believe that if you would have to change tires between sessions- that you are just hell of badly prepared. Don’t waste your time and get dirty on 8/27/ when you actually have time to do it with ease way before.
  • Yes, I strongly believe that your suspension is ok for what you do. Don’t spend time and hope up that this might fixes your riding problems, cuz’ it does not. You might consider my ‘Workshop & Track Time’ event on 9/17/ at that point.
  • No overnight camping in the paddock possible! There are hotels and also a designated camp area in front of the main gate though. If you sneak in… we’ll forward the invoice we’d get for it to YOU.
  • Yes, we have a towing vehicle to get your baby back to the paddock.
  • Yes, we run a C-group orientation at 9:05am and a ‘sightseeing track session’ at 9:40am.
  • Yes, I’ll give a ‘Ideal Line West seminar’, Club house at 1:30pm

Now get some education till then. See ya!

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Sacramento
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Superbike-Coach on the Radio

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

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Coach Seminar on road hazards at A&S Powersports

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Coach Can will be at A&S Powersports to give a Seminar on road hazards

1125 Orlando Ave, Roseville, CA 95661

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Happy Holidays Folks!

2016 was kinda wired and it took a lot away from all of us. Just to name Prince, David Bowie, and just now John Glenn. Terror and hate crime hasn’t been higher- Car drivers got even more nuts I believe- and a election which can’t be more controversy. So I’m not too crazy about 2016, even it also had some positives… like that the economy picked up- The Chicago Cubs won the World series- Gas got a little cheaper- and the Broncos won the Superbowl. “Is that it?!”… no, because at that point i am happy to share a wonderful hobby with you- which kinda sets us apart from all the negatives, doesn’t it? Leaving 2016 also makes me being thankful to have met hundreds and hundreds of riders- to have received their trust and respect- For a family I can’t be more proud of- and for becoming official rider coach of the US-Air Force. I want to thank my team- Marion, Dean, Gary, Kevin, and Vincent- for their loyalty and their ‘maximum effort’ attitude, to help making Superbike-Coach to what it is today. I look so much forward working with them again to organize track days, and classes which nobody else could do the way Superbike-Coach does. Hope you like the info and news below and that I will see you soon.
Merry Christmas & a Happy new Year!

Headcoach Can Akkaya

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K&N Article by Tim Kessel Published

K&N published a article about Superbike-Coach, written by Tim Kessel

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