California Superbike School - Was it worth it?

**phillc** · 21 Jul 06, 09:44 AM

It was a hot sweaty day in leathers, but I found it to be worthwhile and I'm pretty sure my riding has (and will continue to) improve.

The classroom sessions were easy to follow and taught some essential, basic cornering skills. The track time was essential in applying these skills. It was generally all very sensible riding on track, with only one session red flagged, after two crashes.

So was it worth spending £300 on? I think so. It picked up some real flaws in my riding, which I can now hopefully improve on during future trackdays, and on the road.

I've written a more complete review here - http://kapitalmoto.co.uk/node/112

Also met Kjetil from Norway on his black 749. Don't know your username on here mate, but great to meet you and hope we can go for a ride sometime.

**derrickr** · 21 Jul 06, 09:33 PM

Hi Philc,

I attended the California Superbike School yesterday up at Silverstone - and I guess you did too.

It was my first time on a track and I loved every minute of it. Yeah the day was hot and sticky, but we got a good long day (from 7am to 5:30pm) to talk, learn and put into practice by riding on the track.

Although the Stowe circuit was a bit on the small side it did allow me to simply focus on the specifics on the previous classroom session.

On reflection, I would have liked the groups split into various skill levels, since some of the riders went blatting down the straights only to crawl through the corners - slightly annoying when you're just getting a decent line and some fat bloke on a gsxr 1000 blatts just in front as you're about to turn in.

But as the school states; 'everyone has to start from level one'. So, I guess those that go back for level two will hopefully be slightly more skilled?

Anyway, I had a good day and although I knew of the majority of what they were teaching it was good to have it confirmed, and have a trained instructor to individually point out where I could improve.

I think I'm now addicted to the track and have already today been looking at doing some track days/evenings, and maybe even level two of the school later this year.

Thankfully my 900ss was fine after a slight scare earlier in the week when my clutch got totally f'd up. After going for a quick blast last Saturday, I noticed the clutch starting to slip

I poped in to Ducati Dave Robinson in Wandsworth to see if he could help, but he didn't have any plates. I then went over to Metropolis in Vauxhall and they thankfully had a set. I fitted them myself, but things then started to go terribly wrong - to cut a long story short the inner basket had worn, making the outer friction plate come off the basket and grate on the outer backet = not nice, shards of new friction plate flying off = one unhappy Ducati rider. Thankfully Dave managed to save the day by diagnosing and fitting a new inner basket for me - at zero notice! Nice one Dave

So in the end I managed to go to school, have a great time and see that Diablo nice and chewed up on the left hand side.

My recommendation: Go for it!

**derrickr** · 21 Jul 06, 10:09 PM

Just had a look at your bike somewhere else on the forum and recognise it from the day - nice to have a dedicated track bike.

I also met the Kjetil from Norway but didn't get his name at the time. I remember he lives near Twickenham and told him of Box Hill near Dorking and the hundreds of bikers they have meet up there on a Sunday. There's some other half decent roads around there but can never remember a specific route as I just like to ride down whatever road looks good at the time (usually those with the least cars to get in the way).

Thinking I might go for it this weekend - try and put some more of the learning into practice

**phillc** · 24 Jul 06, 01:27 PM

Derrick, you'll have to forgive me for not coming over and saying hello. I actually meant to a couple of times during the day - once you weren't around your bike when I looked and then other times I got called into the class room, the steering drill etc.

My road bike is a 900ss very similar to yours, so I was going to have a chat with a like minded rider!

You mention Dave Robinson in Wandsworth - where in London are you located?

A dedicated track bike will cost less than you think! Mine is a little 1995 600ss and it's only putting out around 50bhp. Enough for me to have lots of fun in the Inters group on a trackday and not feel like the slowest rider out there. It cost me £1150 to buy. Although I've spent a fair bit more getting it into race ready condition, if you were only going to use it on track, all you really need to do is take off the road gear and put on a race exhaust pipe. For less than £1500 you should be easily sorted. Compare this to how much it might cost to fully repair your lovely trashed road bike if you drop it on track! It just made sense to me :-)

**oegreik** · 20 Aug 06, 06:46 PM

Hi
It was a really usefull session for me. Having just got my bike this year, i definately needed some tuition on riding.
Fighting the bike and its natural behaviour is not a smart way to drive your bike, so learning the basics of steering and throttle control, under safe track sessions was very usefull for me...

It was also great to meet some fellow ducatisti members up there. Hope you are both doing fine.

The vacation is now over, so it is time to test out the new skills. I am going to trackday at donnington on the 25 August. should be great. I am in the novice group so hope i will not be the fat bloke on a 749 holding everyone up.......

Anyone joining???

cheers

**harriebird** · 21 Aug 06, 12:22 PM

thanks for this guys, i'm looking at doing one of these at the moment to try and move myself on a bit. silverstone (my first one ever) was great, rockingham (my first one on the 748) was awesome but i didn't feel like i was improving as much as i could have done so might just bite the bullet, pay the money and get some proper instruction.

and i know what you mean about people braking in front of you having blasted past you on the straights, i thought it was just girls that had to put up with that....i know you boys see the hair and think, i've got to get past her she's a girl!!!!

**David.Hicks** · 21 Aug 06, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harriebird

i know you boys see the hair and think, i've got to get past her she's a girl!!!!

or stay behind and enjoy the view :wink:

**ukzjwri** · 17 Sep 06, 08:59 PM

I recently attended California Superbike level 1 at Silverstone. It is v pricey compared to your average track day. Having said that I benefited hugely from it in both skills gained and increased confidence. I've done a few track days previously, which I've enjoyed immensely, but in hindsight my technique was ragged to say the least. CSB has smoothed my riding out no end in just one session. I'm going to do Level 2 in October and won't go and do another basic track day until I've done all 4 levels.

**sws626** · 16 Aug 07, 08:47 PM

Does anyone know whether their insurance covers the bike for damage during a CSS session? I'm under the impression that almost no one will cover for a track day, but thought this might perhaps be classified differently.

Stuart

**RodH** · 17 Aug 07, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sws626

Does anyone know whether their insurance covers the bike for damage during a CSS session? I'm under the impression that almost no one will cover for a track day, but thought this might perhaps be classified differently.

Stuart

I haven't done a CSS for a few years, but when I did your bike wasn't covered, and I would think that is still the case.

**Mifune** · 26 Aug 07, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodH

I haven't done a CSS for a few years, but when I did your bike wasn't covered, and I would think that is still the case.

eBike says it will extend coverage for CSS and offers a discount for completion of level 2; don't know how much the extended coverage costs or what discount you get.

I asked Ducati Insurance and was told they would not cover any training unless it is on public roads.

Mifune

**Jolley** · 07 May 08, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mifune

eBike says it will extend coverage for CSS and offers a discount for completion of level 2; don't know how much the extended coverage costs or what discount you get.

eBike cover for the day is £66, and I think the discount after level 2 is 10%.

**dogfm** · 03 Jul 08, 09:34 AM

Last year the local advanced motorcyclists group arranged a discount so I booked all three levels. L1 was at Rockingham, L2 at Brands Hatch and L3 at Silverstone. I had never been on the track before.

I really enjoyed L1 & L2 and learned alot during both days. Well worth the £££. However I didn't enjoy L3, I'm not sure whether this is because I had found my level at L2 and the L3 stuff was beyond me, could well be.

Or it might be that the Silverstone (Stowe) circuit is alot smaller, there seemed to be alot of bikes o nthe track so I didn't have space/time to think through what I was doing much before I had to do it.

Anyone who asks I would say L1 & L2 great, if you want to do L3 then maybe Brand or Rockingham.

**hughmark** · 03 Jul 08, 03:35 PM

Quick question. I am doing level 1 next week at Rockingham and am getting the sense that there are quite a few incidents. What's going on as I thought the idea was to imporove cornering skills as opposed to aptitude at stepping off? Bit worried my 1098 is over the top for the day but got to start somewhere!

**sweetpea** · 03 Jul 08, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hughmark

Quick question. I am doing level 1 next week at Rockingham and am getting the sense that there are quite a few incidents. What's going on as I thought the idea was to imporove cornering skills as opposed to aptitude at stepping off? Bit worried my 1098 is over the top for the day but got to start somewhere!

At Silverstone in April (and it was very wet) we only had one off at the end of the day. You do not need to go fast, just go at the pace you need to in order to apply what you are learning. I found it to be the best thing I have ever done in order to learn better riding skills

You also have a six feet rule so no close passing which gives you lots of space.

Have a great time and post to let us know how it goes!