It’s going to be the learning curve of a lifetime”, “Prepare to have your mind blown!” and “You’re gonna come back as a whole new rider.” These are just a few of the remarks I was given by friends and colleagues who have previously attended the world-famous California Superbike School. And after having attended the 3-day school, I can confirm that the way CSS changes the way you ride is just staggering!
But before we proceed to the riding, I must heap some praise on my ride: the latest-gen KTM RC 390. Sure, the RC is the only remaining KTM 390 to use the older 373cc mill, but it’s a great track tool for both beginners and experts alike, even a decade after it first came out! And you don’t have to take my word for it; there were at least a dozen other riders who had come to CSS on their personal RC 390s, most of which were first-gen bikes.
LEARNING CURVE
The first day begins with a common briefing for all learners (Level 1-4), explaining the basics of track etiquette. Afterwards, we are split into different batches within white, yellow and green groups, depending on our skill and the bike. Each batch has three students and is assigned to a coach, and in my case, it was the energetic and super-helpful TT Siddharth (who, by the way, is one of only a handful of Indian CSS coaches!) for the entirety of the three days. Every day has five sessions, each divided into a classroom lesson about the drill you will be learning, followed by training out on track, where you put all that into practice.
One small but important thing the folks at CSS did to each bike before we began was taping up the area of the display where you can see your speed so that no one tried to hit their personal best on track and instead focused on learning the correct technique.
KICKOFF!
I attended the Level 1-3 coaching, where the drills become progressively more nuanced with each passing day. The first day began with getting the basics dialled in – think smooth throttle control, finding your reference points on track and giving the bike the correct inputs. All of this might sound very basic, and you may be flying high, thinking that you’re going to ace this, but the first sighting lap itself usually brings people back down to sea level. Day 1 is a relatively slow day, and that is exactly what helps you get your technique right. As the old adage goes, “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.”
Level 2 is all about vision and the correct line, which, as you’ll soon read, is more important but often overlooked. Level 3 is about correct body positioning and advanced drills, although CSS insists that if you’re not comfortable with these, you don’t have to do them. And contrary to popular belief, where most people hang off a lot around corners, CSS recommends that before you perfect your technique, only half a butt cheek must be off the seat. The coaches say this is so that people don’t try ridiculous stunts on the track to upset the bike and find themselves in the gravel trap in the process.
For the first two days, before we started any session, Dylan Code (who is the son of CSS’ founder Keith Code and an excellent, patient teacher) went into copious details about every little aspect of the drills, as well as the human reaction to them in the classroom before we went out on the track. This depth of knowledge and the easy, digestible format in which Dylan fed it to us made a world of difference.
EYES ON THE PRIZE
While Level 1 was incredibly helpful, for me, the real breakthrough occurred on Day 2. Level 2 is all about vision, and the day starts with the steering drill, where you zigzag from one edge of the track to another, and instructors observe and give you pointers. But, unlike other riding schools, CSS does not place cones during this drill because they believe the riders must pick and choose their own line without any handholding.
Before I tell you more about Level 2, I need to give you a bit of background about myself. You see, a little over a year ago, I had a serious crash, and since then, my confidence has taken a serious hit. That’s exactly why I wanted to come to CSS to hone my technique and rediscover my confidence, as you’ll soon find out.
In fact, I remember going up to Dylan after the third session on the second day and asking him how I could properly make any corner because my lines were all over the place. After listening to my past and hearing about what I was doing on the track, he distilled the problem down to one critically important thing: vision. He said it all boiled down to me looking too close in front of me because my accident-scarred brain was too scared to look far into the distance. In the next session, I went out with the sole focus of looking where I wanted to go. Turn 10 at MIC has been my Achilles heel (more so than most others), and by implementing what Dylan told me and following my coach, Sid, I was able to confidently carve a smooth line through there.
TOP OF THE PILE
Another fabulous aspect of CSS is the coaches themselves. After every single session, you have a personal debrief with the coach assigned to you, where they minutely break down your strengths and weaknesses, besides giving you tips to correct your mistakes. While students only do five sessions a day, the coaches do fifteen! Moreover, while they’re on track, they even pause at some run-off areas to monitor their students and make notes on tape stuck to the tank of the bike they’re riding! Even if you’re not into motorcycling, you need to applaud the superhuman skill that these coaches possess.
The cost for Level 1-3 training is Rs 80,000, which includes breakfast, lunch, unlimited snacks and beverages for all three days. Of course, that’s a lot of money, even before you factor in your stay, transport, bike, riding gear, etc. But my word: it’s worth every penny! Since I’ve come back from CSS, my riding has seen a noticeable improvement, and the proof of the pudding is in the Aprilia Tuono 457 review. If you are serious about your riding, I guarantee you that attending CSS will be one of the best things you can do as a motorcyclist. Now, Rishaad, can I go back next year? Pretty please!
