View Full Version : Beginner-ish riding schools?
The past three sundays I've been taken to school by fellow SVers on Mulholland/Latigo. Every day it's getting better, but I'm also interested in taking a beginner trackday or riding school. Something that'll be worth the cash and increase my riding skills a bunch.
Is there anything nearby that comes to mind?
Kurt'sSV
Mon 2/6/06, 2:50PM
Reg Pridmore's CLASS is a good beginner school. It teaches a lot of good technics for street riding, and since you practice on a track (Streets of Willow), you learn some good track riding technics, too.
I took the school back in 2002 I think.
I took Reg's CLASS in '04 and I learned a lot. If I had to do it again, I think I would take Lee Parks class before Pridmore's.
It is 3/4/06 in Anaheim.
http://www.leeparksdesign.com/miscpage_002.asp
I have not taken it but it sounds as if it focuses on stepping you through the skills at low speed in an incremental way. This may be better than starting out on the track...get the basics before adding speed rather than trying to get them at speed.
While you are not pressured to maintain any particular speed at Pridmore's, you are still moving. Our instructions were "if you are going less than 100mph on the front straight, keep to the right."
Both of these guys wrote books worth reading to prepare for whichever class you choose.
morbidelli17
Mon 2/6/06, 3:23PM
I had a very good experience with the Keith Code Level 1 course. Held at Streets of Willow.
smokescreen
Mon 2/6/06, 3:39PM
I'm thinkin about having boh Julia and I in the Pridmore school on streets of Willow, but I wouldn't be opposed to the Code school... HOwever I do it, I wanna get a truck to take us out and back.
I think that's the advise I've got from everybody.
Cheap and friendly: PM Jethro about when he is having another "SkillZ Days" event.
MSF Experienced Rider Course: I called the MSF school in Santa Clarita (College of the Canyons). The 6 hour ERC course is held in BAKERSFIELD, in a couple of months.
Hooligan Training - Wheelie School at Pomona Fairplex : http://www.ononewheel.com/
Ride safe whatever you choose!
Setter32
Mon 2/6/06, 5:21PM
Originally posted by Kurt'sSV
Reg Pridmore's CLASS is a good beginner school. It teaches a lot of good technics for street riding, and since you practice on a track (Streets of Willow), you learn some good track riding technics, too.
I took the school back in 2002 I think.
....Reg sucks...
:D
Buellba Fett
Mon 2/6/06, 5:29PM
My riding didn't improve by riding months or years on the street and in the canyons - 'tho that helped. Rather, it improved significantly each time I took a class at a track. It was INFINITELY safer, and I was able to learn the limits of my bike without surprises. The Code school is pretty well structured. The Pridmore school is much less so, but no less effective. There are immediate benefits to whichever of these, or other school you choose. I'd suggest taking a school first, then following it up with the cheaper track day(s).
smokescreen
Mon 2/6/06, 6:27PM
Buellba- No Suprises? None.. ever?
I think we'll go with the Pridmore experience because of the amount of track time. And we'd like to hit it on the little track, although I'm sure both are hella useful!
zoom zoom track days.most of us instructors are sv racers and you get get one on one all day if you ask for.
Has anyone plunked down the money for a two day school either Code or Pridmore? I was considering but not sure if there is any real diff in just doing a group of one dayers.
Thudds - just keep going your twisty stretches with no hands, you don't need no school! :D
Originally posted by Thudds
Has anyone plunked down the money for a two day school either Code or Pridmore? I was considering but not sure if there is any real diff in just doing a group of one dayers.
I did one day with the STAR school w/ Jason Pridmore and wished I did two. The first day you're taking in all the lessons/techniques and there just isn't enough time to work on them in one day.
Instead I'm trying to take what I learned from that one day and practice it everytime I do a trackday.
Yea, but I have had too many OHE(off highway experiences) and am getting tired of the repair bills(and PAIN). I have though about schools since I started riding in 1990 but never had the money. Then I didn't have a bike. Now I have both and time, so off to school I go! I'm just not sure where to spend my had earned dough.
Buellba Fett
Mon 2/6/06, 9:06PM
Smokey, actually, what was surprising, was scraping pegs, as (up until that time) I'd been too fearful of being leaned over that far on the street. It was that whole uncertainty of "where is the edge of the tire," and "what happens when you get there" thing. Wear some fresh rubber and ensure you've got meat on your brake pads! Personally, I enjoyed the structure of Code's school because the exercises were strictly defined and built upon each other in subsequent sessions. The narrow focus suited me since, on my own, I don't think I could've prioritized where to start. Pridmore's was more free form but, he could succinctly convey the mechanics involved in a particular technique. Code was a smidge into "his way," while Pridmore was like "your Cool Grandpa" who can pass you on the outside when you think you're taking a turn as fast as humanly possible. And oh yeah, he'll be videotaping you and providing commentary at the same time as he goes by waving. Both schools had excellent, low-key, knowledgeable instructors. I'm considering a Code school this year... and a couple of follow up track days. Wish I had a faster bike tho.
Yea that's what others have told me. I think I would do better in a structured class. I may bite the bullet and sign up for the 2-day Code school. Thanks for the info Buellba Fett. By the way I agree with you on LATIGO, You gotta luv it. Decker is not bad but way to short. Next time the Crest!
Stinky
Mon 2/6/06, 11:16PM
Originally posted by Thudds
Yea that's what others have told me. I think I would do better in a structured class. I may bite the bullet and sign up for the 2-day Code school. Thanks for the info Buellba Fett. By the way I agree with you on LATIGO, You gotta luv it. Decker is not bad but way to short. Next time the Crest!
Having been to both STAR and Code schools(well at least a halfday of Code's school-long story) I would choose STAR over Keith Code.
I just liked the way the class was taught and the instructors were much better IMO. Plus Keith Code doesn't rail around the track on a GSX-R 1000 while you're on the back holding on for dear life.:D
NukleoN
Mon 2/6/06, 11:25PM
I did the two-day STAR school at Thunderhill (NorCal) and loved it. As Stinky said, take the two day school for sure or you'll wish ya did. All the stuff you learn on day one in STAR really comes into play on the second day...and putting that knowledge to immediate use really makes it stick.
I would also recommend the Keigwin@The Track classes too...Lance K. is an instructor with STAR (or was when I was there) and I've heard great things about their school. Lance also gave me some great pointers at the STAR school.
Apparently the Reg Pridmore class is more street oriented than STAR...and the Code school...don't know much about it but I may try it some time. Heck, I may try the wheelie school just to humor my inner squid...we'll see.
So, I definitely give another thumbs-up to the STAR school..but take the two-day course!!
ValValline
Tue 2/7/06, 9:04PM
What would be a good school to learn the limits of traction and how to fully lean a bike?
Basically a place to learn what the "edge" feels like without the pain of dumping your own ride.
NukleoN
Tue 2/7/06, 11:29PM
Any good track school should, *ahem*, steer you in the right direction. They'll show you the difference between lean angle and fast angle (which isn't necessarily more lean angle)....coz you know, one of the reasons racers hang off a bike is to keep the bike more vertical, thus giving more traction and allowing earlier throttle roll-on.
I recommend the STAR school.
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