No brakes and 4th gear at Sonoma

[darkie]

This is a video of a rider going around Sonoma with no brakes and 4th gear. There's no particular point trying to be made, some will find it interesting. There is data overlay as well.

http://youtu.be/MwDqSeXKFkc

 

[TrackCage]

youtu.be/MwDqSeXKFkc

 

[bunnygoat]

Nicely done! Man, those BMW's look easy to ride!

 

[Abo7maid]

There's a big point there.. smoother is faster ?!

 

[Bassem]

There's a big point there

Enlighten us

 

[dkcwenge]

what kind of camera mounting is that?

 

[Project 2501]

I got a bit nervous and wanted to pull the brake lever for him a couple of times.

 

[darkie]

what kind of camera mounting is that?

It's a custom tower that is mounted to the tail section where the passenger seat is.

 

[johnkol]

what kind of camera mounting is that?

This is the special CSS video bike; you can see the shadow of the video mounting rig at 0:23, 0:32, 0:52.

 

[gbstone]

Guys, the pilot is "Will" the chief mechanic at CSS. Not only is he an brilliant mechanic he is one of the fastest riders (and racer) within the coaching staff.

Throttle control is the level-1 drill everyone starts with....most people can't do it. It really helps you focus on smooth roll-on and helps prepare students for other drills within the program.

 

[raymond_h2002]

The guy was able to run a mid B-group pace without touching his brakes.. that's impressive.

 

[Abo7maid]

Note to self -- must do CSS next year.

 

[EastBayDave]

It's one of the things CSS teaches; after a few sessions (forget which), you have to do the 4th gear no brakes drill session.

Did that at Sears Point (old track) on one of their 636's a decade back or so, & I was floored when they asked us to do this. I figured no way. Then after doing it a couple laps, & started getting used to it, I was surprised how it made me smooth out & ride better...

Was fun, try it.

 

[RickM]

Is trying this exercise on a regular trackday dangerous? I have tried it at the supermoto track with low traffic and it really helped with carrying speed and being smoother.

Wondering if I will be too unpredictable attempting this on a normal trackday at Thunderhill?

 

[rugbydawg13]

I do 3rd gear, no brakes as a drill for every new track I go to and sometimes not new when I need to take a step back to go faster later. And yes, I'm a repeat customer of CSS

 

[gbstone]

Save the drill for CSS or the street If you do that drill on a track day someone will run into you.....

 

[rugbydawg13]

OK, so I guess the multiple times I've done this, I got hit and don't remember.

 

[Spec-ECU]

I've never gone around a racetrack without touching the brakes at all, however I have gone around using mostly throttle control and very little braking. Just like rugbydawg13, I've done it when learning new tracks, including Thunderhill West earlier this year, and even more recently (like three days ago) - Thunderhill West in reverse.

I consider it a variation of The Pace for street riding, but for track riding. However I don't go around doing this all the time during regular trackdays, which I don't think is the point the video was trying to make either.

 

[johnkol]

It's one of the things CSS teaches; after a few sessions (forget which), you have to do the 4th gear no brakes drill session.

It is actually the very first drill they ask students to do at their Level 1 school. In subsequent drills they allow the use of more gears, and eventually they also allow the use of brakes.

 

[clutchslip]

Save the drill for CSS or the street If you do that drill on a track day someone will run into you.....

Particularly the zero throttle from 3a down to four and going into nine. Yikes.

Well, it is a good exercise more suited for street riding, in my opinion. I guess folks lack basic skills when they come to these classes. So, for THEM it is great.