By Allison Parker | Photos by Etechphoto.com
Within the sport of motorcycling, there’s a lot you could spend your hard-earned money on. You could add another bike to the stable, get a new helmet, install some saddlebags or a new headlight, or any number of things that could make motorcycling either safer or more fun for you. However, very few of those options will yield the same result as education. I’ve always valued education and think we could all use more of it in general, and riding education is no different. Over the course of three years of attending California Superbike School (CSS), I’ve experienced that value first-hand.
The measurement of that value was most obvious to me in how I felt this spring during the CSS Level III course at Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Alabama. Maybe the excitement of just being on this historic racetrack with its quirky trackside art installations and world-famous museum played a part in my heightened experience. But disregarding all that, I noticed significant improvements in my confidence after each session and each corner. Every rider knows the difference between the feeling of a well-executed corner and a poorly executed one: The former gives a thrill and satisfaction that is hard to beat, while the latter can cause frustration or even panic. With each CSS course I’ve taken, the first of those feelings becomes more common and more satisfying, whether during the course or on the road afterward. Even better, that second feeling becomes less common, resulting in more enjoyable rides every time I throw a leg over a motorcycle.
I’ve taken one CSS course each year, for the last three years running. The program is structured so that every rider starts at Level I before progressing to Level II, then III, and so on. There’s good reason for even advanced riders to start at Level I: Each lesson builds on the previous one, and the higher levels wouldn’t make as much sense without having taken the lower ones.
It was a foggy, humid morning when I rolled onto the hilly grounds near Barber Motorsports Park on Memorial Day. For the past two courses I’ve taken, I borrowed a bike from CSS. The school has a fleet of BMW S 1000 RRs for students who choose to rent a bike, although some other models might be available upon request. I’ve rented the BMW G 310 R and S 1000 R for the other levels. For Level III, however, I rode the Honda CBR500R test bike I had at the time. As I pulled into the paddock area, CSS staff directed me to pull up in line beside a trailer, where they made quick work of a pre-ride inspection, lowered my tire pressure, taped up my lights and mirrors, and reminded me to come back to the trailer at the end of the day to get my tires back up to road-going pressure.
The morning starts with some downtime before the introductory meeting, but I still recommend getting to the track on time. It takes a few minutes to make sure your paperwork is completed and correct, and you’ll have a chance to check out gear if you need it, ask the coaches or staff any questions you might have, and mingle with other students. CSS has tables full of snacks and beverages, including fruits, yogurts, hard-boiled eggs, pastries, coffee, water, and more. These tables are replenished throughout the day, and a full lunch is provided, so riders need not worry about going hungry or thirsty.
When it was time to start, everyone was directed into a meeting room where the coaches introduced themselves and provided a rundown of how the day would go. With a chance of rain and thunderstorms in the forecast, they explained they would move through the lessons faster than normal in case we needed to let a storm pass. Since it was Memorial Day, we took a moment of silence to remember fallen service members. It also served as a moment to be grateful for this opportunity and the sacrifices that made it possible. No matter what each of us had gone through until this moment, we were all fortunate to be there and to share the day in the beautiful green hills of northern Alabama. And we’d do it from the seat of a motorcycle, no less.
All levels are taught during the same day. After our introductory meeting, each level broke off into its own group for the first classroom lesson. The day progressed with a cycle of a classroom session, a track session, and a debrief with your coach, followed by the next classroom session. While one level was on the track, another was getting a classroom lesson, and another was debriefing with coaches. This structure kept the day running smoothly and allowed each level to have plenty of individual time with the coaches and space on the track.
Level II had focused on how to use our eyes to our advantage to get as much information about the road ahead as possible, so as to make better judgments and plan each move accordingly. Level III, I discovered, was focused on body position. Just as was the case for Levels I and II, the classroom sessions included an explanation of the physics behind each exercise. Understanding how a certain body position alters the balance of the motorcycle gives riders a much better connection to the bike and the ability to execute the exercise rather than simply doing what we’re told and hoping it works out. Our classroom also had a stationary bike on a stand, which each student sat on to demonstrate their understanding of body position, with the coach providing feedback to make sure we got it right.
Each level also has its own off-track drill, a special exercise to help riders between sessions. I found Level III’s off-track drill to be the most constructive of the ones I’d done. Instead of hopping on the “lean bike” or doing drills in the parking lot, this drill consisted of watching video footage of your riding. During one of the track sessions, your coach followed you around the track with a camera on their bike. After the session, you watched the footage with a coach, who pointed out how your body position affected each corner, where you should have done something differently, and where you did it correctly.
This exercise was more informative than it sounds. What you think you’re doing on the bike isn’t always what’s actually happening, and seeing yourself riding from another perspective shines a light on what’s really going on, allowing you to change your riding for the better. For my part, I had been focusing so much on the current exercise that I had forgotten a step we learned in Level II. With that realization in mind, future sessions were much smoother.
Unfortunately, those future sessions would have to wait. After the first couple of on-track exercises, the forecasted storm fell upon us, requiring a premature end to the track session. We passed the time with some extra classroom instruction, and when the storm was still holding on after that, we decided to take an early lunch so we could get through the rest of the lessons without interruption after the storm had passed. California Superbike School operates rain or shine, so even if the forecast is calling for bad weather, students should plan to show up anyway. This had happened when I took Level II as well, and just like last year, the storm eventually passed, and we were able to resume the course and cover everything scheduled for the day.
I won’t give a step-by-step explanation of the five exercises in Level III, since I couldn’t possibly do it as well as the CSS coaches and don’t want to give incomplete information. Even if I were to write out everything we learned, you simply can’t get the same level of understanding from your armchair. Putting the classroom lesson into practice immediately and debriefing with a coach who follows you on track after each session is an invaluable learning strategy that can’t be matched on paper or screen. I will just say that Level III encompasses much more than how to position your body on the bike. It also touches on things like when to change your body position, how to connect with the motorcycle, how to avoid common mistakes, how to correct when you run wide in a corner, and more. As a word of advice to anyone taking a CSS course, I recommend asking questions. Every coach is extremely knowledgeable, not just about how to ride well but also the science behind each technique, and they’re more than happy to get into the details and cover a topic further if you’re curious to learn more.
Another benefit of these courses is the other students themselves. Every student who comes to CSS is there to learn and improve their riding, and even though we come from all corners of the country, we all share a common love for motorcycling. During the CSS courses I’ve taken, I’ve found that learning with other students has improved my own riding. None have ever offered specific riding advice, and I would default to the coaches’ advice anyway if they did, but they still improved my understanding of the topics by asking questions I hadn’t thought of, explaining how they interpret an exercise, or sharing an experience they’ve had while riding. Additionally, I’ve never experienced a competitive atmosphere at a CSS course: Everyone is there to learn and grow and have fun while doing it.
With Level III in the books, I can say that the value of California Superbike School compounds with each level taken. While the first course is well worth it and gives riders plenty to practice and work on, the following courses continue to build on that foundation and offer even more. At the end of each session, students are given a handbook overviewing techniques from the course, making it easy to go home and practice by yourself after your time at the school has ended. Luckily for me, CSS doesn’t end at Level III, although it does change. Level IV is a fully personalized course without a set curriculum. Students are paired up with a coach who watches you ride, discusses what you’d like to get out of the course, and develops a personal plan to help you get there. During my day at Barber Motorsports Park, I chatted with a Level IV student who said he had taken the course upwards of 20 times and still found it worthwhile to keep returning and learning more.
Since joining Rider, I’ve had the opportunity to ride all kinds of motorcycles in some gorgeous destinations, I’ve tested lots of gear and accessories, and I’ve met some of the most influential people within the industry. And for all that, nothing has made me a better or safer rider or has made me enjoy motorcycling more than continued training. Even if everything else went away tomorrow, what I’ve learned over these three years of taking CSS courses is something I’ll always have. So if you’re looking for ways to ride smarter, safer, and more enjoyably, start here.