Which riding school to choose?

[SlowNsteady]

Keigwins two-day novice and intermediate schools, no question they're worth the cost/time: http://www.keigwin.com/events_schedule.php

Or if you're cheap just attend any Keigwins track day and ask the instructors to tow you around and give you feedback.

PTT fast way round at THill was awesome when it was available.

I did this school couple weeks ago and it was rediculously fun - sliding around, riding like a lunatic, hitting small jumps... This was money well spent: http://supermotoschools.com/schedule/

 

[tzrider]

I have no idea. Why? The guy is flying over for a couple of days. Keith's thing is a long term commitment to his methods in order to obtain any real benefit. It doesn't make sense to me for someone who doesn't have a lot of time to start CSS.

If you can't judge entry speed maybe you should take his level one class. Although, it is kinda difficult to believe that Camier, Chandler, et al, lacked that ability. So, I think they were there for something else.

The CSS program is a curriculum of skills that build upon one another. We see over and over again that we cannot take for granted that a long time rider will have a correct understanding of the topics in level one. It has turned out time and again that these riders get the most benefit by going through the progression of skills in the curriculum.

The fact is, Camier came over here and did levels 1 through 3 with other run of the mill students and got the same coaching they did in those levels. So have countless other very high level riders. What they have in common is they don't seem to think they are above trying to improve their entry speed. If experienced riders had the entry speed equation worked out perfectly, we wouldn't see the numbers of passes we do at turn entries, or the number of riders who lose the front after they turn in.

It's not a secret that CSS requires all students to progress through the curriculum, so a student should know that going in. We don't stratify the groups by speed. Once in a while, someone complains about that, but again, we don't tend to hear those complaints from the best and fastest riders who attend. They understand that there are ample opportunities to improve their riding, even if they encounter traffic here and there. They pass a group of slower riders within our safe passing rules and then get a bunch of clear track.

If a potential student's expectation is to be segregated from other students because they say they have a lot of experience, they might not be happy with the CSS format. CSS is formatted to present the curriculum in a logical order and build the rider's skill set in a systematic way. It works very well at that, if that's what the student is there for. If the student is looking for a format where they will only be on track with riders who ride a similar pace to themselves and place a higher priority on that, they would be better off in another program.

 

[Jakemate]

I've taken a lot of courses. Being as you are on limited time, I would choose Rich Oliver's. You will get the most tools into your tool box quickly, and the fun factor is off the charts.

If you had the time to go through all the levels of Code, it is great. But, it would take a lot of time that you do not appear to have.

 

[khill]

There are a lot if good schools out there and each offers there own unique attributes. I'll throw my.02 in the YCRS...

YCRS offers the techniques that will build and keep improving your riding foundation for all your riding years. We offer techniques that allow adjustably, understanding and get better as you add speed (risk) to them. It's one thing to show you these things, it's another to be able to communicate them so you understand them. These techniques work with any riders experience or skill set...any. We have riders come to the school that can barely let a clutch out to AMA Pro riders and they all leave getting what they need to understand and improve. We see things being taught in a parking lot, or for the same grip level, or for the same 90degree turn...we teach things that allow you to adjust for all types of conditions.

We must be doing something right at YCRS...we have a 45% return ratio at $2295 for 2 day school....all of our Laguna schools are sold out and our first 2 Miller schools are sold out...At Laguna, the list of AMA Pro riders paying to come would fill the first 2 rows of the AMA DSB and SS grid....just saying....

edit-forgot to mention, you ride our bikes, (R6, FZ1, FZ8) we feed you lunch, shuttle you back and forth to the host hotel, etc...

check us out or call me if you have questions...

Ken

 

[dammyneckhurts]

I have attended a lot of schools over the years. In my experience the best by far was YCRS. I learned more there in the first half a day than I did in most of the other schools combined. YCRS is very good at helping you understand the big picture when it comes to going fast and doing it safely on a bike.

A common weak point I see in other schools is that they conduct drills to develop specific skills, but they don’t teach exactly why, when and where you should use these skills. If they teach you throttle control but if you are given no understanding of WHEN to apply the throttle, and WHY this changes from corner to corner, good throttle control really doesn’t do you any good.

I am a capable track rider (For reference I now can do 1:32’s at Laguna) and being “comfortable with hard braking” would have been a fair description of my level of skill. But then I attended YCRS and came out with a completely different understanding of how to use the brakes, it totally transformed my riding. What I learned at YCRS is when, where and why to vary the degree of brake application. This only happened because YCRS is very good at teaching both skill development and how to modulate that specific skill to fit into the big picture.

If you want more of a track-day environment vrs a full on school, then Keigwins has awesome coaches and provides excellent learning opportunities.

 

[Holeshot]

There are a lot if good schools out there and each offers there own unique attributes. I'll throw my.02 in the YCRS...

YCRS offers the techniques that will build and keep improving your riding foundation for all your riding years. We offer techniques that allow adjustably, understanding and get better as you add speed (risk) to them. It's one thing to show you these things, it's another to be able to communicate them so you understand them. These techniques work with any riders experience or skill set...any. We have riders come to the school that can barely let a clutch out to AMA Pro riders and they all leave getting what they need to understand and improve. We see things being taught in a parking lot, or for the same grip level, or for the same 90degree turn...we teach things that allow you to adjust for all types of conditions.

We must be doing something right at YCRS...we have a 45% return ratio at $2295 for 2 day school....all of our Laguna schools are sold out and our first 2 Miller schools are sold out...At Laguna, the list of AMA Pro riders paying to come would fill the first 2 rows of the AMA DSB and SS grid....just saying....

edit-forgot to mention, you ride our bikes, (R6, FZ1, FZ8) we feed you lunch, shuttle you back and forth to the host hotel, etc...

check us out or call me if you have questions...

Ken

Before it was the Yamaha Champions school, it was the Freddie Spencer school, taught by the same excellent staff. I've been 3 times to the school. Most of our racers (in the AMA and AFM) have been at least once...many, multiple times. Our Daytona 200 champion from last year (and AFMer) is a YCRS graduate/ multiple visitor. Make no mistake: this is a serious school for serious riding techniques and it's intense. It's probably the most well used resource in the local and national race series that I'm aware of.

 

[budman]

Love both CSS and Mystery school.

Have not done the Yamaha school, but heard raves about it.

Either of the two are great... If sliding a small dirt bike sounds fun..and it is do Rich.
If mentoring your mind for.the track CSS is great.

I call any of.the three a win. Have fun.

 

[khill]

Recent review

http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/01/21/yamaha-champions-riding-school/

 

[ClrCreekRdr]

I did 4 days at css. Keith and his crew are awesome.

I plan on doing rich ollivers wonder School next. Keith even recommended it to me.

 

[latindane]

Wow, the big guys came out to play! The more I listen, the more I want to take them all Maybe in the long run...I need to figure out a plan.

 

[PGATour]

Wow, the big guys came out to play! The more I listen, the more I want to take them all Maybe in the long run...I need to figure out a plan.

Latindane (Kike), Good to see you back on BARF. I remember riding with you at Redshift when you first started (I started about the same time) and reading all your threads about the track. You were one of the MOST inquisitive riders - you wanted to know the minute details about EVERYTHING.

Knowing that, I would strongly recommend YCRS if you can afford it. They will give you more information and answers to all your questions than you will ever know what to do with from guys that have all been #1 on the podium.

Pro-tip: get a ride on KHill or Shane Turpin's bike for a 2-up.. and you'll see what if feels like "to be GP".

 

[latindane]

Thanks John. Got my US visa, flights, hotel, and school booked. So I'll be seeing you Ken at YCRS 5th and 6th of August

Anybody else going?

 

[khill]

Thanks John. Got my US visa, flights, hotel, and school booked. So I'll be seeing you Ken at YCRS 5th and 6th of August

Anybody else going?

See you then! We are trying to get a few special guests fro this school, it's going to kick ass!

Ken

 

[Wardwell]

Thanks John. Got my US visa, flights, hotel, and school booked. So I'll be seeing you Ken at YCRS 5th and 6th of August

Anybody else going?

You absolutely made the right choice. YCRS, in my opinion, is the very best school. I have been six times. My group goes twice a year. Nick, Ken, Shane and Scotty will get you dialed in. They are also great guys. We have hired Ken and Shane to do private track days with us as well. Totally worth it.

 

[clutchslip]

You absolutely made the right choice. YCRS, in my opinion, is the very best school. I have been six times. My group goes twice a year. Nick, Ken, Shane and Scotty will get you dialed in. They are also great guys. We have hired Ken and Shane to do private track days with us as well. Totally worth it.

Wow!
Well, some of us are like normal income type people that actually have to budget for track-tires and stuff. Must be nice to be one of the pretty people.

 

[TwistedBuddha]

Big thumbs up for both Rich Oliver and YCRS.

Edit: Heh - I quick replied to the first post without realizing it was an old thread.

Totally the right call. I just did a YCRS 3-day and it was the school I wish I'd found much earlier in my riding. Great stuff, great instructors, all around great time. Can't wait to go back.

Rich Oliver is similarly awesome. Slightly different skill set, but I think street riders (or drivers) benefit from playing around on loose surfaces.

Money well spent. Have fun!

 

[moto-rama]

Keith Code's California Superbike School

The best in the west!

 

[latindane]

See you then! We are trying to get a few special guests fro this school, it's going to kick ass!

Ken

Kick ass it did. Have you had the opportunity to chat with a young up-and-coming MotoGP star on a shuttle going to and from the track? I did.

I also got to see him fly by and quickly disappear down the track, listen to him answer our questions during lunch, and share some interesting insights with the school throughout.

"Look MotoGP to go MotoGP" is painfully clear from that one... though in my defense, I do have more margin ;P

I could also talk about other guests; the current dominant champion and the up-and-comer from the American series, for example, but that would be just mean.

The guests were the icing on the cake. I am very glad that I managed to put a visit together. Thank you Ken; thank you YCRS.

John: you were spot on.

 

[latindane]

I know that by barf standards this thread is ancient, but I just recently got back from my first trackday(s) after attending YCRS. Holy mother of Jesus, it just blew my mind how much safer my riding on the track has become. No more hoping that I'll make the corner and then see how it turns out. I did come in too hot a couple of times, but I just stayed on the brakes a bit longer, went a bit wide, decreased my turn radius (I do remember, Nick) and just kept on going. Mind-fucking-boggling. I don't know if I'm going faster or not (didn't have transponders during my previous trackday at Padborg Park), but safer for sure. These guys rule. Thank you YCRS!

 

[afm199]

I know that by barf standards this thread is ancient, but I just recently got back from my first trackday(s) after attending YCRS. Holy mother of Jesus, it just blew my mind how much safer my riding on the track has become. No more hoping that I'll make the corner and then see how it turns out. I did come in too hot a couple of times, but I just stayed on the brakes a bit longer, went a bit wide, decreased my turn radius (I do remember, Nick) and just kept on going. Mind-fucking-boggling. I don't know if I'm going faster or not (didn't have transponders during my previous trackday at Padborg Park), but safer for sure. These guys rule. Thank you YCRS!

Yep. Ken Hill turned my riding around. The drama has decreased by 95%.