Fast Freddie Spencer and a galaxy of stars, wow. A guy who turns up on an ADV with off-road tyres, respect! Some very detailed advice floating around. Thank you Ian. I hope you enjoyed the event.
Ian, this was one of your best videos yet! Watched the entire thing and now I want to try this school. I love how they recorded you from behind and analyzed each session. Good on you for taking the mighty GS. Most people were on lighter, "more capable" street bikes but you still passed those guys. Just shows how important rider skill is. Great work and congrats! Can't wait for the supermoto/motocross version 😃
Hey Ian, Anti-fog tips and tricks, advise on visors for rain / fog /winter/ conditions for better vision would be a helpful video for me and maybe others in the future. Love the channel thx!
@@TyB_23 im not Ian..... but i do ride all year round in anything from a hot summer day to snow...... PinLock visor to keep the inside from foging up.... polish the outside with just about any polish that contains natural Beeswax to get the rain/snow to blow off..... a lot of people (including me) finds that a yellow/orange tint on the pinlock/visor gives you better contrast on snow (just look at downhill skiing goggles) in just rain i'll stick with a normal clear visor
When I ride my body is relaxed but my brain is really focussed , doing a course where you are getting fed lots of information and then applying it while riding must have been exhausting , bet u slept well Ian , thanks for a great video
As a multi time CCS national champion…. The best advice ever given to me was by Troy Bayliss at the 2000 Ducati Donne’ was “smooth is fast, fast is smooth “…. Unfortunately motorcycle road racing in the US is rapidly approaching a farcical status compared to 20 years ago…what a shame…. Riding schools may improve mechanical “rider skill” but not unless incorporated with an improvement in “mental riding skills”.. As a motor school instructor with a central Florida Sheriffs Office for the last 10 years of my LEO career the best survival advice I can offer is : always cover the front brake with 2 fingers, always anticipate that YES that driver will make that sudden left hand turn in front of you and of course always look through the turn….the bike will make it…. Kudos Ian….
@@BigRockMoto It takes both mental and physical practice to always cover that front brake… The harsh and potentially deadly reality is based on simple math.. 65mph is 95 feet per second. Say it takes 1/2 second to to remove you fingers from the grip to the brake…. that’s 45+feet you’ve just traveled… Which is 45 feet longer by not covering that front brake…and quite possibly into the passenger door of the car that just turned in front of you… ride safe
Fully agree, Ian. I did one day training and did my test the next day and lucked out. I got a full UK bike license and knew nothing. Almost crashed on the way home. I learnt everything by pushing boundaries and taking massive risks. This was before UA-cam University. I was lucky i survived to naturally learn many of these things through experience. But these things don't come naturally to everyone. Then i did a 2 day course with the police in the UK, which was enormous amounts of fun, and increased my confidence even more. For such a technical skill, training should be comprehensive. But in France, training takes far longer than what i did but, I'm not sure it's much better. And some UA-camrs are teaching rubbish too. How are nubes to know? Not an easy one to solve. The UK police Bikesafe course is fantastic but unknown to most. Thanks for another great video 🙏🏼
Awesome video! Best advertisement for Champ School they could have ever asked for, I am definitely going to check out the online course and attend in person when it’s back in FL. Great job Ian!
Listen it is amazing I’m going back the staff the staff the staff is awesome and understand customer service I still chat with them even though I’ve been away from the school for almost a year. The staff is amazing I can’t stress that enough. I have been to other riding schools and this is by far worth every single cent. In the beginning of this video with the coaches in there they are just as calm and helpful throughout the entire class and still to this day. Love the class love the staff love the school. Im going back. The only complaint is I don’t get to do the class everyday lol. I wish y’all the best and keep riding safer faster more fun.
I’ve gleaned so much from this video, thank you Ian, and also Champ School, for allowing this to be shared. I really hope I can save up for a champ school session of my own sometime soon!
In the purview of motorcycling, the finer aspects have always been amiss. Greg Widmar and you really nailed it down to the fundamentals, which in turn would definitely be an eye-opener and encourage more folks to learn the finer skills irrespective of the riding experience one has under his/her belt. Ian, simply brilliant. Please do more such videos.
Hey Ian! It was great to meet you at YCRS 2024! Keep spreading the word! This video helped us decide to take the course and we're eager to see what you create for the course that just finished!
Nice video. I attended Champ School recently and it was a great experience. All the instructor are so friendly and make everyone feel comfortable so they everyone is learning and asking questions.
What an awesome video! Thank you for laying it out there in long form, not doing the standard 8- 12 minute clip reel. Very engaging and enjoyable! I hope we see more track stuff from your channel, maybe even on a bike more purpose suited to the task.
It's great having Nick critiquing your riding. Always good to have constructive feedback from an experienced rider and I gotta say, it's a lot of fun pushing heavy lean angles on an adventure bike.
Awesome documentary of the YCRS experience!! I attended a little over a year ago and had an absolute blast and learned so much. This video was a great reminder of a bunch of key points. One of my favorite memories was during my 2-up lap with EZ getting my (passenger) knee down 😂. Knee down on your own was something I already did but as passenger was a whole othrr experience. Feeling just how much load he was able to apply thru the tires when done smooth was completely eye opening and so valuable
It's always good to practice riding on track! I participate in trackdays with instructors in Sweden and there are lots of different bikes from adventure to custom as well not only sport bikes. One thing to remember is that there is a difference between learning how to ride road racing and riding with safety margins on a road. There are specific road racing sessions for that. One main difference is the placement of the head and body when riding on road you should have good overview in the curve and be able to do a fast maneuver to the opposite side if needed, that you can not do if leaning the head and body like you do in road racing.
I think it's your best video. so many riders think they ride better than actual level. they don't know how pro teaching will get them so much fun, speed and safety. thanks
Thank you for taking the time to video the 2 days. I watched all of it, and it was engaging throughout and how you thought about their feedback. I've done their online course and am now pretty motivated to attend an actual course. Cheers
enjoyed the vid :-) id say about 90% of the stuff you included is part of the obligatory training you do to get ready to take your motorcycle licence here in Norway...... beeing trained on how to do an emergency stop while tipped over on a bend most certantly saved my bacon when i came face to face with a car overtaking on a blind corner not that long after i got my licence..... one of the most importand things the instructor said was this.... "when you get your licence its a licence to keep practicing on you own.... no rider is ever done practising"
I took a similar five day course down in Cancun headed by a 18 time national champion, it was life changing. It’s always a good idea to keep learning no matter how long you been riding.
I literally just got my licence and my first bike. I have so much to learn but watching this i picked up a few tips and tricks and guarantee if i watch it again in a couple of months after more practice in the saddle i will learn even more again. Thank you so much for sharing 🙏
Great piece of content. Thx! I’m doing the school this year. I’ve done many many days with the Cali superbike school too, but looking forward to learning some different approaches
So cool, Ian. I was at the Bisbee rally with you. It was great to see Fast Freddie still at it. I watched him, Eddie Lawson, Kenny Roberts, and Kevin Schwartz in the 80's/90's battle it out at Laguna Seca Raceway. I took the California Superbike School from Keith Code in the late 80's at Laguna Seca, the greatest motorcycle track ever! What a blast, especially coming over the top of the corkscrew. I agree with you that this kind of training is invaluable. Thanks for bringing me back to fond memories. Take care.
Great video, and thank you for recording an narrating as much as you did! Staying focused on your riding and learning while producing this video? Hat's off. That must have been a great challenge. Humbling to watch what all I do wrong or less than ideal in my own riding. Great advice on taking training to become better rider! I am signed up for a two-day ADV Training Camp in June and can't wait. Thanks again!
Great documentary of what to expect from these courses. Great professionals there. Seriously considering taking something similar in Spain. Well done Ian
Excellent video and right on with your closing comment on training and Champ School..your documentary captured the essence of the school.. my wife and I together with a friend attended the school on two occasions …excellent as you say the first and even better the second time as we were able to build on the skills we learned the first. It is certainly not an inexpensive school but you get what you pay for …being safer on the street , faster on the track and greater enjoyment of the sport…well done ..btw I view. Your channel regularly and you have great content that is well presented..keep up the good work
i can see how much you enjoyed the training , and i leaned a few key points form watching as well. No matter how good we think we are , there is always more to learn , especially when your like is at stake. Awesome vid , cheers Ian
Great video about this class. These guys are amazing. I took their Champ U online class and the 1 day Champ Street class at Pitts International Raceway last Aug on my Honda CB500X. The best money I ever spent. By mid afternoon I was doing things on the track that I wouldn't have dreamed of that morning. It totally transformed the way I ride on the street, and the way that I drive our car. I want to do it again. Well done video.
The only negative to having bike gods like Freddie Spencer at these sessions is that their skill is so rare that it’s hard to visualise what they are sometimes explaining. I recall once reading some comments by Mick Doohan re cornering and I had NO idea what he was talking about due to my relative incompetence on a bike.
I did the school in 2021 at Road Atlanta. It’s everything you said and more. Coaches were amazing and the level of instruction you get is second to none. The coaches make you feel so comfortable about the things you should learn that there were no egos in any of the class that I saw. One thing I didn’t do was the 2-up ride. I have control issues being on the back of a motorcycle that even with pros I don’t know how I would have been. Great video and I can only imagine how much work it took to edit an hour and a half video.
Truly amazing to watch and learn , thank you so much for filming this as I know that was hard for you which in turn quite possibly spoil your day, but we gain so much for your efforts. , I truly appreciate your efforts . Carl 🇬🇧
On a video scale 1 to 10. This is a 20 !! I watched it twice and will keep it for future Coming from 10 yrs of SCCA sport car racing the braking and acceleration drills carry over I may have to do this …. There’s some new content for you. How to go from street rider to racer !! Best of luck. Jeff
Thanks for demonstrating this can be done on a GS. I have thought of ChampSchool before but never considered that I could take it on my bike (R1250GSA) which left me questioning the value. Your documentary is an eye opener!
Havent finished yet but but that is Fantastic content mate!!! The way you filmed it is perfect! I can feel live I’ve been there! Even those scraps of course knowledge which you include is very interesting! Awesome job!
Shoutout to Yamaha Champs Racing School. You know an organization believes in itself when it supports BRM. tldr: 2 things were invaluable to me my first time on track in a car. 1) following an instructor around the track at pace. 2) having a good driver set a time in your car, so you know what's possible IME with cars, the number 1 invaluable thing, was following a good driver around the track. Just paying someone $100-300 to do that for a day, would be more valuable than weeks of parking lot discussion, or passenger seat instruction, for me. Especially with comms (on a moto), so you can let them know to increase pace, where you're having problems, when you want to switch to lead & have their realtime feedback, etc. It's how I figured out where to position myself on track. "More to the left. Wheel on the curb here. etc." doesn't communicate anywhere near as strongly or clearly as seeing the car in front of you doing it correctly. I feel like I can't respond to feedback, until I have a general understanding of the whole picture. I think I'd do a lot better if the day started with, "we're going to go out on track 2-3 at a time. we're going to play follow the leader. you'll naturally filter yourselves fastest > slowest. we'll increase the pace, until you voluntarily wash out. you'll make notes of your weaknesses, what you want to improve etc. we'll increase the pace until it's about the fastest you've ever ridden on the street". Then have the lectures, ride, lecture, ride.. I can't piece together 15 critiques or techniques blindly. It seems like it'd be a lot easier to have experience, and work on the weak areas, bit by bit. Or do the drills after understanding how they might feel on track at pace. Maybe I'm in the minority. I'm sure YCRS has given consideration to their instruction setup, and do things for a reason. And most schools teach it in the same way. Maybe a lot of people learn in the classroom. Maybe the group has a lot of variation in skill level/experience. Maybe riders get tired, or are more likely to injure themselves, if given hours of sandbox time. Their filmed laps looked extremely helpful. It seems like it'd be a huge help to have the student commentate & critique their own lap- "I was way out of position here, I need to use all the track and be at the outside-most point at turn in. I overcornered here, I need to run more wide. It feels like I'm gonna fall off the bike IRL, but watching this, it's clear that I have another >6" if I get my butt in the right position. It's clear I can pick up some speed here, I wonder why that happened.. .. oh that's right, I messed up the prior exit -or I rolled throttle on too early and stood the bike up- .. My number one thing to work on is track position. Number 2 is eye direction+timing. Then I'll try putting throttle on earlier.. " etc. What a great resource that was, having it up immediately & for everyone to observe. The 2nd most valuable thing was having someone drive my car, and put up a time. That 1) gave me a target. 2) let me know what was my limitation vs the machine's. 3) gave me a sense of whether I was doing good/bad, improving or spinning my wheels. Now I understand a bit more why there are spec series. Everyone pushes each other. Hope everyone had a good time & developed some skills + confidence. Nothing like the ride home after a day on track.
Took the Yamaha Champ Street one day class last month and it helped me to better understand how to control my motorcycle, particularly using the brakes. It only cost $495 and was well worth the money. Will likely take the full Champ School next year when they roll through my area.
Simply amazing. I've done U-Champ before even getting my first motorcycle, and it was clear to me that I would sign up this year to Street School, or even maybe Champ School as you did. Thank you for doing this!
Taking a GS to the track must have been pretty wild ! I hope you enjoyed. Thanks for the video, I've never been on a racetrack with a bike before but I'll probably do it one day and this was pretty helpful.
Ian , Bro thank you very much to getting our mind familiar with this . The instructor is absolutely right . Most of the accidents on heavy bikes are happening in the curves . I forgot his name your colleague from albania I guess , he was a UA-camr and adventure rider as well . He died in an accident on his GS1200 in a curve . He hit a car in the other lane in a curve . These guys are very professional . I’ll get the online course for sure . THis is absolutely necessary for street riding as you mention either on a street bike or dual or anything . Cheers buddy . Ride safe .
Hi Ian I'm a new subscriber and have done some auto driving courses on the track but not at this level of experts. Great video and I can wait to take my GSA with instruction to a track in the future. Thx Again!
Thanks Ian. Appreciate you riding what ya brung, I’m riding my GSA on a daily basis. Good to play to the strengths of the GSA, torque and brakes and minimize the factors, off-road tires and weight. Well done!
Ian excellent, race training is paramount no matter what the sport and I know for fact if not for my moto skills, I would have hit by a car to two on streets very cool u are becoming a full motorcyclist THANKS much for sharing your experience.
MotoJitsu pointed me in your direction - wow, many thanks from Wales UK I thoroughly enjoyed your footage - well done for your video capture and your graduation.
Nice how you present this way of getting more confidence in riding motorcycles. Thanks. As far as I know we don’t have this in the Netherlands. So I’m a bit jealous.
Thanks for a god video. I,ve just been at a driving education with swedich SMC on a race track and it was really amazing .Before this training i think i was a pretty god mc rider but after this training i know mutch better whats it all about. I wish that everyone who loves mc riding would get the oportunity to take part of these courses👍
Well done👍. Have done quite a few track days over the years and it is a great environment to understand the dynamics of the bike and how our inputs are impactful. These lessons are invaluable for safe riding on the street and better understanding the fundamentals.
Ian, Thank you! Your ADV at the track video was amazing! I watched every minute and was so humbled and encouraged to train. I started on a Honda XL100 decades ago and now ride a BMW R1250GS. Looks like it’s time to sign up for Champ School training.
Thank you so much Ian for posting this video. I thought I was a good rider but OMG did I learn alot taking the online Champ U course! I appreciate your dedication to providing good quality information that is factual, beneficial and entertaining. Keep up the good work.
Is Freddie there for every class? I’m a huge fan, used to watch him in person back in the day. Meeting him and actually learning from him would for sure make this school worth the price of admission (no disrespect to the other instructors, I’m sure they’re good but Fast Freddie is one of the best motorcycle racers of all time)
Heck yeah Ian! I just recently bought my first ADV bike (Norden 901 Expedition) and I definitely want to learn the proper way to ride it safely. Appreciate the effort and hard work. 🏍️💨 One quick question please? Do you think this class is better or equal to BMW’s ADV class? I live right up the interstate from BMW’s Greenville, SC facility and would like your opinion. Much appreciated!
@@BigRockMoto thank you sir for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my question. I believe I’ll do both in that order. I truly appreciate it and your great content! 🙏🏽🏍️💨
*"crawl walk run"* is my two cents. I started riding with a Honda CB125 I bought for $100 US Dollars and I think the biggest mistake people make is failing to start small. 2nd to that as far as track day is make your 2nd bike a dirt track machine in order to learn #proper_maintenance then apply back to original "starter bike" then lesson 3: never think selling your starter bike all refreshed and maintained is wrong in fact it's always the right thing to do. Most *"Normal People"* never move beyond their Dirt Track phase which effectively is all a GS Bike is but having said that my Rule 4: *ALWAYS* complain about complexity (remember how much fun you had on your starter Bike? See rule One.) Some machines these days but in particular the Honda Goldwing and BMW equivalent are veritable *SPACE SHUTTLES ON 2 WHEELS.* Huge fan of Goldwings and the Wingnut Crowd but there's a reason why all of Detroit excluding Tesla has outsourced all Displace and Interface Technology Apple CarPlay and Android Auto namely you can't think of *EVERYTHING.* If you want to truly level up your game read *"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"* because guess what...being a Dad, Mom, Parents, Couple, all of the above, both...guess what you're passing on something not the least being *READING* as a skill valuable unto itself. Wanna see an amazing intro to a UA-cam Video you'll never see? See one begin with someone reading something called *A BOOK* for no apparent reason. I'm sorry but if you're not looking at the camera and then suddenly suiting up to become Mister Roger's Neighborhood you're just not doing this right! Finally *OF COURSE* safety first meaning this by definition done fully embracing a risky lifestyle but (warning technical term en route) *MITIGATION* is how us Government Types handle risk not just as work but in everyday life! *USE THE HAND RAILS GOING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS FOR GOSH DARN SAKES.* Dying Young is for Poets and Young Love not clowns on bicycles! And rule 7...or is it 10 now? *DON'T BE WHEELIE GUY.* I knew that guy...he died. It was simply a matter of time.
Great video. When it comes to front tire loading, I have always wondered how a telelever front end would load without the fork dive of conventional forks.
I’m 68 and have been riding for many years. I took the street course last year on my GS at Laguna Secca. It totally transformed my riding ability (and safety). It’s good to start with the online course, then take the track course.
Incredible video, learnt a lot watching this. Thanks a lot for sharing your experience with us. Unfortunately I don't own a bike of my own anymore, would've loved to practice some of these skills. Watching all the way from South Africa.
Great job Ian, very inspiring! I'm hoping to get to one of the Camp Schools soon and your video really help me see how much I need and can learn. Question, is there anything you would do differently if you did the training school all over again? Personally I'd hate the distraction of the jets so I'd probably look for a different track.
I just remembered that I used to be really good at trail braking but not on a bike. Long ago I drove a passenger bus, Grayhound bus size. You want to stop so smoothly that no one gets jerked around on their seat. Now to learn how to transfer that to my bike. Lots different for bikes though. No hand brakes on a bus.
I went to California Superbike School in 1988 at Laguna Seca with Keith Code as the instructor. At 53 years old now, I got rid of the sport bike and ride a BMW GS now. I'll still hang off around corners from time to time :)
Great video, no matter what type of riding you do. it’s good for everyone, and really makes you think more and pay attention to the full mechanics and every little thing that is going on, so that you can improve your abilities and technique and become one with your bike. Great job.
Wow Ian, that was amazing. Thanks for documenting your experience. I've always been afraid to do one of these schools, but thinkmit would be awesome now.
Ian you should get a midsize sport bike & do some track days at willow springs. It’s right in there with a great day in the dirt for fun & you learn more and more each session.
About 35y ago, in Belgium, I got my car driving license (theoretical + practical tests needed) and then automatically (!!) was allowed to ride any motorcycle I wanted, no extra license needed... (I never before rode any small/big motorbike and learned to ride on a GS1000S). Laws now have changed (a bit) but still not adequately safe for anyone starting to ride motorcycles. Everyone should take private lessons.
@bigrockmoto Hey Ian, Anti-fog tips and tricks, advise on visors for rain / fog /winter/ sunny conditions for better vision would be a helpful video for me and maybe others in the future. Love the channel thx!
Another Great Video Would like you to share what tires on GS? you did say off road, but did not see big block How much fuel in the tank? Answered when low fuel light came on What settings was ESA set to? What ride mode? If Dynamic pro what settings? Was ABS & Traction Control relied on? Did you ever feel you would drag your crash bars? I you had bags on would they drag? How offten did you hit the Rev. Limiter? a comparison between Riding the R7 to the R1250 including lap time
Ian......I have watched this video several times now. You did a great job of capturing the critical learnings on video for us to learn from also.....A question if I may..... I ride a vstrom 1050xt and am wondering how you decide when/how fast before you start to shift your bum around. Obviously shifting your bum is unnecessary just cruising (and looks odd) but when/how fast do you start to do this?????...... my upper body moves a touch I on any corner but as yet not my backside....... Dave, Australia
Great Video Ian, very comprehensive. Curious also on your thoughts about the Sedici Gear, I recently purchased some myself & am very impressed with the value you get.
I already bought their online course, so this was great to see "in person" so to speak. Why were you in road mode instead of dynamic -- wouldn't the bike's artificial softening of inputs interfere with your learning experience? Any plans to attend BMW US Rider Academy classes?
You are a really good rider. It's weird to see those guys in the yellow just blow past, I guess its just practice, practice, practice. Great video, great to see your improvements, and I am glad that you now are even safer on the road. Some day I may get the balls to buy a bike.
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Fast Freddie Spencer and a galaxy of stars, wow. A guy who turns up on an ADV with off-road tyres, respect! Some very detailed advice floating around. Thank you Ian. I hope you enjoyed the event.
Ian, this was one of your best videos yet! Watched the entire thing and now I want to try this school. I love how they recorded you from behind and analyzed each session. Good on you for taking the mighty GS. Most people were on lighter, "more capable" street bikes but you still passed those guys. Just shows how important rider skill is. Great work and congrats! Can't wait for the supermoto/motocross version 😃
Glad you enjoyed it!
The GS has incredible “dig” exiting the corners. The light bikes get you on entry
Hey Ian, Anti-fog tips and tricks, advise on visors for rain / fog /winter/ conditions for better vision would be a helpful video for me and maybe others in the future. Love the channel thx!
@@TyB_23 im not Ian..... but i do ride all year round in anything from a hot summer day to snow...... PinLock visor to keep the inside from foging up.... polish the outside with just about any polish that contains natural Beeswax to get the rain/snow to blow off..... a lot of people (including me) finds that a yellow/orange tint on the pinlock/visor gives you better contrast on snow (just look at downhill skiing goggles) in just rain i'll stick with a normal clear visor
@@TyB_23 pinlock, or the fog city stick on version .
When I ride my body is relaxed but my brain is really focussed , doing a course where you are getting fed lots of information and then applying it while riding must have been exhausting , bet u slept well Ian , thanks for a great video
As a multi time CCS national champion…. The best advice ever given to me was by Troy Bayliss at the 2000 Ducati Donne’ was “smooth is fast, fast is smooth “…. Unfortunately motorcycle road racing in the US is rapidly approaching a farcical status compared to 20 years ago…what a shame….
Riding schools may improve mechanical “rider skill” but not unless incorporated with an improvement in “mental riding skills”.. As a motor school instructor with a central Florida Sheriffs Office for the last 10 years of my LEO career the best survival advice I can offer is : always cover the front brake with 2 fingers, always anticipate that YES that driver will make that sudden left hand turn in front of you and of course always look through the turn….the bike will make it…. Kudos Ian….
They really emphasized always cover the front brake, something which I struggle with
@@BigRockMoto
It takes both mental and physical practice to always cover that front brake… The harsh and potentially deadly reality is based on simple math.. 65mph is 95 feet per second. Say it takes 1/2 second to to remove you fingers from the grip to the brake…. that’s 45+feet you’ve just traveled… Which is 45 feet longer by not covering that front brake…and quite possibly into the passenger door of the car that just turned in front of you… ride safe
Troy Bayliss was an amazing racer. I believe it was Kevin Schwantz who once said in an interview that racing skill is 90% between the ears.
Fully agree, Ian. I did one day training and did my test the next day and lucked out.
I got a full UK bike license and knew nothing. Almost crashed on the way home.
I learnt everything by pushing boundaries and taking massive risks. This was before UA-cam University. I was lucky i survived to naturally learn many of these things through experience. But these things don't come naturally to everyone.
Then i did a 2 day course with the police in the UK, which was enormous amounts of fun, and increased my confidence even more.
For such a technical skill, training should be comprehensive. But in France, training takes far longer than what i did but, I'm not sure it's much better.
And some UA-camrs are teaching rubbish too. How are nubes to know?
Not an easy one to solve. The UK police Bikesafe course is fantastic but unknown to most.
Thanks for another great video 🙏🏼
Awesome video! Best advertisement for Champ School they could have ever asked for, I am definitely going to check out the online course and attend in person when it’s back in FL. Great job Ian!
Awesome, use code BRM for a discount
Listen it is amazing I’m going back the staff the staff the staff is awesome and understand customer service I still chat with them even though I’ve been away from the school for almost a year. The staff is amazing I can’t stress that enough. I have been to other riding schools and this is by far worth every single cent. In the beginning of this video with the coaches in there they are just as calm and helpful throughout the entire class and still to this day. Love the class love the staff love the school. Im going back. The only complaint is I don’t get to do the class everyday lol. I wish y’all the best and keep riding safer faster more fun.
I’ve gleaned so much from this video, thank you Ian, and also Champ School, for allowing this to be shared. I really hope I can save up for a champ school session of my own sometime soon!
Go for it!
If you can't get to an in-person class, the online Champ School session is a good intro on safe yet spirited street riding and canyon carving.
@@fallinginthed33p thanks, I will def look into that!
In the purview of motorcycling, the finer aspects have always been amiss. Greg Widmar and you really nailed it down to the fundamentals, which in turn would definitely be an eye-opener and encourage more folks to learn the finer skills irrespective of the riding experience one has under his/her belt. Ian, simply brilliant. Please do more such videos.
You are just flat out a good guy, Ian ....... thank you for a great video !!!!! 🙂
Hey Ian! It was great to meet you at YCRS 2024! Keep spreading the word! This video helped us decide to take the course and we're eager to see what you create for the course that just finished!
Awesome! Thank you!
Nice video. I attended Champ School recently and it was a great experience. All the instructor are so friendly and make everyone feel comfortable so they everyone is learning and asking questions.
agreed
What an awesome video! Thank you for laying it out there in long form, not doing the standard 8- 12 minute clip reel. Very engaging and enjoyable!
I hope we see more track stuff from your channel, maybe even on a bike more purpose suited to the task.
Very welcome!
It's great having Nick critiquing your riding. Always good to have constructive feedback from an experienced rider and I gotta say, it's a lot of fun pushing heavy lean angles on an adventure bike.
Awesome documentary of the YCRS experience!! I attended a little over a year ago and had an absolute blast and learned so much. This video was a great reminder of a bunch of key points. One of my favorite memories was during my 2-up lap with EZ getting my (passenger) knee down 😂. Knee down on your own was something I already did but as passenger was a whole othrr experience. Feeling just how much load he was able to apply thru the tires when done smooth was completely eye opening and so valuable
Well done Ian. Great subject material. I also wish I could see the sport growing, skills and safety training are key to enjoying it for a lifetime.
Loved the bit about tire loading- great information that every biker should understand.
Glad it was helpful!
It's always good to practice riding on track! I participate in trackdays with instructors in Sweden and there are lots of different bikes from adventure to custom as well not only sport bikes.
One thing to remember is that there is a difference between learning how to ride road racing and riding with safety margins on a road. There are specific road racing sessions for that. One main difference is the placement of the head and body when riding on road you should have good overview in the curve and be able to do a fast maneuver to the opposite side if needed, that you can not do if leaning the head and body like you do in road racing.
I think it's your best video.
so many riders think they ride better than actual level. they don't know how pro teaching will get them so much fun, speed and safety. thanks
Thank you for taking the time to video the 2 days. I watched all of it, and it was engaging throughout and how you thought about their feedback. I've done their online course and am now pretty motivated to attend an actual course. Cheers
enjoyed the vid :-) id say about 90% of the stuff you included is part of the obligatory training you do to get ready to take your motorcycle licence here in Norway...... beeing trained on how to do an emergency stop while tipped over on a bend most certantly saved my bacon when i came face to face with a car overtaking on a blind corner not that long after i got my licence.....
one of the most importand things the instructor said was this.... "when you get your licence its a licence to keep practicing on you own.... no rider is ever done practising"
I took a similar five day course down in Cancun headed by a 18 time national champion, it was life changing. It’s always a good idea to keep learning no matter how long you been riding.
I literally just got my licence and my first bike. I have so much to learn but watching this i picked up a few tips and tricks and guarantee if i watch it again in a couple of months after more practice in the saddle i will learn even more again.
Thank you so much for sharing 🙏
Thoroughly enjoyed Ian.This is the school of humble.Worth every minute.Thanks.
Thank you Ian and Champ School fir sharing your time, effort, and video. Yep your video skills are terrific.
Awesome that you filmed this! I learned a lot just from watching this video. Thank You!!
Glad it was helpful!
exc vid/ like the way you appreciated your small 'mistakes,' and made progress. Love that self deprecation. True asset in teaching.
Well done ian.
I'm doing ChampSchool online right now and recommend it. Very well done and feel safer on the bike from what im learning.
This is incredible! You learned so much and so have I! Thank you for posting this excellent video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Watched the whole thing. Thanks for bringing us along with you Ian. I actually learned a few things. Great video again Ian.
Glad you enjoyed it
Great piece of content. Thx! I’m doing the school this year. I’ve done many many days with the Cali superbike school too, but looking forward to learning some different approaches
Excellent video Ian! Thanks for sharing and as always keep up the great work!!
So cool, Ian. I was at the Bisbee rally with you.
It was great to see Fast Freddie still at it. I watched him, Eddie Lawson, Kenny Roberts, and Kevin Schwartz in the 80's/90's battle it out at Laguna Seca Raceway.
I took the California Superbike School from Keith Code in the late 80's at Laguna Seca, the greatest motorcycle track ever! What a blast, especially coming over the top of the corkscrew. I agree with you that this kind of training is invaluable. Thanks for bringing me back to fond memories. Take care.
Great video, and thank you for recording an narrating as much as you did! Staying focused on your riding and learning while producing this video? Hat's off. That must have been a great challenge. Humbling to watch what all I do wrong or less than ideal in my own riding. Great advice on taking training to become better rider! I am signed up for a two-day ADV Training Camp in June and can't wait. Thanks again!
Glad to help!
Great documentary of what to expect from these courses. Great professionals there. Seriously considering taking something similar in Spain. Well done Ian
Go for it!
Excellent video and right on with your closing comment on training and Champ School..your documentary captured the essence of the school.. my wife and I together with a friend attended the school on two occasions …excellent as you say the first and even better the second time as we were able to build on the skills we learned the first. It is certainly not an inexpensive school but you get what you pay for …being safer on the street , faster on the track and greater enjoyment of the sport…well done ..btw I view. Your channel regularly and you have great content that is well presented..keep up the good work
i can see how much you enjoyed the training , and i leaned a few key points form watching as well. No matter how good we think we are , there is always more to learn ,
especially when your like is at stake. Awesome vid , cheers Ian
Great video about this class. These guys are amazing. I took their Champ U online class and the 1 day Champ Street class at Pitts International Raceway last Aug on my Honda CB500X. The best money I ever spent. By mid afternoon I was doing things on the track that I wouldn't have dreamed of that morning. It totally transformed the way I ride on the street, and the way that I drive our car. I want to do it again. Well done video.
Thank you Ian for those valuable insides of this training. This is so much appreciated 🙏
My pleasure!
Great information and I learned so much just from this video. Thank you for documenting the event, Ian. God Bless.
The only negative to having bike gods like Freddie Spencer at these sessions is that their skill is so rare that it’s hard to visualise what they are sometimes explaining. I recall once reading some comments by Mick Doohan re cornering and I had NO idea what he was talking about due to my relative incompetence on a bike.
Wow! This look like a tough task recording this and focusing. Excellent job. Very informative. Thanks for doing this.
I did the school in 2021 at Road Atlanta. It’s everything you said and more. Coaches were amazing and the level of instruction you get is second to none. The coaches make you feel so comfortable about the things you should learn that there were no egos in any of the class that I saw.
One thing I didn’t do was the 2-up ride. I have control issues being on the back of a motorcycle that even with pros I don’t know how I would have been.
Great video and I can only imagine how much work it took to edit an hour and a half video.
Truly amazing to watch and learn , thank you so much for filming this as I know that was hard for you which in turn quite possibly spoil your day, but we gain so much for your efforts. , I truly appreciate your efforts . Carl 🇬🇧
On a video scale 1 to 10. This is a 20 !! I watched it twice and will keep it for future Coming from 10 yrs of SCCA sport car racing the braking and acceleration drills carry over
I may have to do this ….
There’s some new content for you. How to go from street rider to racer !!
Best of luck. Jeff
Thanks for demonstrating this can be done on a GS. I have thought of ChampSchool before but never considered that I could take it on my bike (R1250GSA) which left me questioning the value. Your documentary is an eye opener!
Havent finished yet but but that is Fantastic content mate!!! The way you filmed it is perfect! I can feel live I’ve been there! Even those scraps of course knowledge which you include is very interesting! Awesome job!
Shoutout to Yamaha Champs Racing School. You know an organization believes in itself when it supports BRM.
tldr: 2 things were invaluable to me my first time on track in a car. 1) following an instructor around the track at pace. 2) having a good driver set a time in your car, so you know what's possible
IME with cars, the number 1 invaluable thing, was following a good driver around the track. Just paying someone $100-300 to do that for a day, would be more valuable than weeks of parking lot discussion, or passenger seat instruction, for me. Especially with comms (on a moto), so you can let them know to increase pace, where you're having problems, when you want to switch to lead & have their realtime feedback, etc.
It's how I figured out where to position myself on track. "More to the left. Wheel on the curb here. etc." doesn't communicate anywhere near as strongly or clearly as seeing the car in front of you doing it correctly.
I feel like I can't respond to feedback, until I have a general understanding of the whole picture. I think I'd do a lot better if the day started with, "we're going to go out on track 2-3 at a time. we're going to play follow the leader. you'll naturally filter yourselves fastest > slowest. we'll increase the pace, until you voluntarily wash out. you'll make notes of your weaknesses, what you want to improve etc. we'll increase the pace until it's about the fastest you've ever ridden on the street". Then have the lectures, ride, lecture, ride..
I can't piece together 15 critiques or techniques blindly. It seems like it'd be a lot easier to have experience, and work on the weak areas, bit by bit. Or do the drills after understanding how they might feel on track at pace.
Maybe I'm in the minority. I'm sure YCRS has given consideration to their instruction setup, and do things for a reason. And most schools teach it in the same way. Maybe a lot of people learn in the classroom. Maybe the group has a lot of variation in skill level/experience. Maybe riders get tired, or are more likely to injure themselves, if given hours of sandbox time.
Their filmed laps looked extremely helpful. It seems like it'd be a huge help to have the student commentate & critique their own lap- "I was way out of position here, I need to use all the track and be at the outside-most point at turn in. I overcornered here, I need to run more wide. It feels like I'm gonna fall off the bike IRL, but watching this, it's clear that I have another >6" if I get my butt in the right position. It's clear I can pick up some speed here, I wonder why that happened.. .. oh that's right, I messed up the prior exit -or I rolled throttle on too early and stood the bike up- .. My number one thing to work on is track position. Number 2 is eye direction+timing. Then I'll try putting throttle on earlier.. " etc. What a great resource that was, having it up immediately & for everyone to observe.
The 2nd most valuable thing was having someone drive my car, and put up a time. That 1) gave me a target. 2) let me know what was my limitation vs the machine's. 3) gave me a sense of whether I was doing good/bad, improving or spinning my wheels.
Now I understand a bit more why there are spec series. Everyone pushes each other.
Hope everyone had a good time & developed some skills + confidence. Nothing like the ride home after a day on track.
Took the Yamaha Champ Street one day class last month and it helped me to better understand how to control my motorcycle, particularly using the brakes. It only cost $495 and was well worth the money. Will likely take the full Champ School next year when they roll through my area.
Simply amazing. I've done U-Champ before even getting my first motorcycle, and it was clear to me that I would sign up this year to Street School, or even maybe Champ School as you did. Thank you for doing this!
Taking a GS to the track must have been pretty wild ! I hope you enjoyed. Thanks for the video, I've never been on a racetrack with a bike before but I'll probably do it one day and this was pretty helpful.
Really enjoyed this. Learned a lot watching. Can’t imagine the firehose of information you got to take in.
Ian , Bro thank you very much to getting our mind familiar with this . The instructor is absolutely right . Most of the accidents on heavy bikes are happening in the curves . I forgot his name your colleague from albania I guess , he was a UA-camr and adventure rider as well . He died in an accident on his GS1200 in a curve . He hit a car in the other lane in a curve . These guys are very professional . I’ll get the online course for sure . THis is absolutely necessary for street riding as you mention either on a street bike or dual or anything .
Cheers buddy . Ride safe .
Yes. RIP Christian.
Hi Ian
I'm a new subscriber and have done some auto driving courses on the track but not at this level of experts. Great video and I can wait to take my GSA with instruction to a track in the future.
Thx Again!
Thanks Ian. Appreciate you riding what ya brung, I’m riding my GSA on a daily basis. Good to play to the strengths of the GSA, torque and brakes and minimize the factors, off-road tires and weight.
Well done!
Excellent video Ian...thank you for sharing this experience!
That was absolutly fantastic. On an adveture bike with off road tires too!!!
Ian excellent, race training is paramount no matter what the sport and I know for fact if not for my moto skills, I would have hit by a car to two on streets very cool u are becoming a full motorcyclist THANKS much for sharing your experience.
Your best video so far, it’s not about the bike is all about the rider. Good job.
MotoJitsu pointed me in your direction - wow, many thanks from Wales UK I thoroughly enjoyed your footage - well done for your video capture and your graduation.
Nice how you present this way of getting more confidence in riding motorcycles. Thanks.
As far as I know we don’t have this in the Netherlands. So I’m a bit jealous.
I’m attending it next month and I can’t friggin’ waiiiiittt!! Your video just hyped me up even more !!! ❤❤
incredible video! looks like a great course, lots of fun! I love taking the advanced MSF courses near me so I can't imagine how awesome this would be.
Great video and incredibly informative. Thank you for putting in the effort to bring this to your channel. Best!
My pleasure!
Solid. I would say that I Disagree that the “Sport” is declining though. I’d do their online version last year, and it was valuable as well.
Thanks for a god video. I,ve just been at a driving education with swedich SMC on a race track and it was really amazing .Before this training i think i was a pretty god mc rider but after this training i know mutch better whats it all about. I wish that everyone who loves mc riding would get the oportunity to take part of these courses👍
Thank you for this in-depth look at Champ School. I'm more intrigued than ever before to attend one now. What a line up of instructors... 😳 wow
Well done👍. Have done quite a few track days over the years and it is a great environment to understand the dynamics of the bike and how our inputs are impactful. These lessons are invaluable for safe riding on the street and better understanding the fundamentals.
Dude. What an amazing film. Awesome job.
I can’t wait to do my advanced training.
Ian, Thank you! Your ADV at the track video was amazing! I watched every minute and was so humbled and encouraged to train. I started on a Honda XL100 decades ago and now ride a BMW R1250GS. Looks like it’s time to sign up for Champ School training.
You won't regret it.
Thank you so much Ian for posting this video. I thought I was a good rider but OMG did I learn alot taking the online Champ U course! I appreciate your dedication to providing good quality information that is factual, beneficial and entertaining. Keep up the good work.
Is Freddie there for every class? I’m a huge fan, used to watch him in person back in the day. Meeting him and actually learning from him would for sure make this school worth the price of admission (no disrespect to the other instructors, I’m sure they’re good but Fast Freddie is one of the best motorcycle racers of all time)
Heck yeah Ian!
I just recently bought my first ADV bike (Norden 901 Expedition) and I definitely want to learn the proper way to ride it safely.
Appreciate the effort and hard work.
🏍️💨
One quick question please?
Do you think this class is better or equal to BMW’s ADV class?
I live right up the interstate from BMW’s Greenville, SC facility and would like your opinion.
Much appreciated!
This is focused on street riding, the ADV class is focused to off road. In terms of being safer, I'd take the Yamaha course first.
@@BigRockMoto thank you sir for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my question. I believe I’ll do both in that order. I truly appreciate it and your great content! 🙏🏽🏍️💨
Great job! I’m always amazed at the amount of people that will get on a motorcycle and refuse to take schools or accept training due to insecurity.
Well said!
*"crawl walk run"* is my two cents. I started riding with a Honda CB125 I bought for $100 US Dollars and I think the biggest mistake people make is failing to start small. 2nd to that as far as track day is make your 2nd bike a dirt track machine in order to learn #proper_maintenance then apply back to original "starter bike" then lesson 3: never think selling your starter bike all refreshed and maintained is wrong in fact it's always the right thing to do.
Most *"Normal People"* never move beyond their Dirt Track phase which effectively is all a GS Bike is but having said that my Rule 4: *ALWAYS* complain about complexity (remember how much fun you had on your starter Bike? See rule One.) Some machines these days but in particular the Honda Goldwing and BMW equivalent are veritable *SPACE SHUTTLES ON 2 WHEELS.* Huge fan of Goldwings and the Wingnut Crowd but there's a reason why all of Detroit excluding Tesla has outsourced all Displace and Interface Technology Apple CarPlay and Android Auto namely you can't think of *EVERYTHING.*
If you want to truly level up your game read *"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"* because guess what...being a Dad, Mom, Parents, Couple, all of the above, both...guess what you're passing on something not the least being *READING* as a skill valuable unto itself.
Wanna see an amazing intro to a UA-cam Video you'll never see? See one begin with someone reading something called *A BOOK* for no apparent reason. I'm sorry but if you're not looking at the camera and then suddenly suiting up to become Mister Roger's Neighborhood you're just not doing this right!
Finally *OF COURSE* safety first meaning this by definition done fully embracing a risky lifestyle but (warning technical term en route) *MITIGATION* is how us Government Types handle risk not just as work but in everyday life! *USE THE HAND RAILS GOING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS FOR GOSH DARN SAKES.* Dying Young is for Poets and Young Love not clowns on bicycles!
And rule 7...or is it 10 now?
*DON'T BE WHEELIE GUY.* I knew that guy...he died. It was simply a matter of time.
Great video. When it comes to front tire loading, I have always wondered how a telelever front end would load without the fork dive of conventional forks.
I’m 68 and have been riding for many years. I took the street course last year on my GS at Laguna Secca. It totally transformed my riding ability (and safety). It’s good to start with the online course, then take the track course.
Incredible video, learnt a lot watching this. Thanks a lot for sharing your experience with us. Unfortunately I don't own a bike of my own anymore, would've loved to practice some of these skills. Watching all the way from South Africa.
I really loved this detour from the review videos. It shows you growing as a motorcyclist in ways we can probably all identify with.
One of the best motorcycle content I’ve seen within last few months mate!
Great job Ian, very inspiring! I'm hoping to get to one of the Camp Schools soon and your video really help me see how much I need and can learn. Question, is there anything you would do differently if you did the training school all over again? Personally I'd hate the distraction of the jets so I'd probably look for a different track.
I just remembered that I used to be really good at trail braking but not on a bike. Long ago I drove a passenger bus, Grayhound bus size. You want to stop so smoothly that no one gets jerked around on their seat. Now to learn how to transfer that to my bike. Lots different for bikes though. No hand brakes on a bus.
This was amazing. Thanks for documenting and posting this!
I went to California Superbike School in 1988 at Laguna Seca with Keith Code as the instructor. At 53 years old now, I got rid of the sport bike and ride a BMW GS now. I'll still hang off around corners from time to time :)
Great video, no matter what type of riding you do. it’s good for everyone, and really makes you think more and pay attention to the full mechanics and every little thing that is going on, so that you can improve your abilities and technique and become one with your bike. Great job.
In summary:Outstanding.Thank you.
Amazing experience Ian, thank you for sharing, it was great that you did it on a large adventure bike, Great job. Thank you.
Thanks, very informative video. I was thinking about taking their course.
I had no idea this class was at this track. I'm in Vegas a few times a year, I'm definitely going to take this. Looks amazing
Wow Ian, that was amazing. Thanks for documenting your experience. I've always been afraid to do one of these schools, but thinkmit would be awesome now.
Go for it!
Ian you should get a midsize sport bike & do some track days at willow springs. It’s right in there with a great day in the dirt for fun & you learn more and more each session.
I got an MT09 SP :)
About 35y ago, in Belgium, I got my car driving license (theoretical + practical tests needed) and then automatically (!!) was allowed to ride any motorcycle I wanted, no extra license needed...
(I never before rode any small/big motorbike and learned to ride on a GS1000S).
Laws now have changed (a bit) but still not adequately safe for anyone starting to ride motorcycles. Everyone should take private lessons.
@bigrockmoto Hey Ian, Anti-fog tips and tricks, advise on visors for rain / fog /winter/ sunny conditions for better vision would be a helpful video for me and maybe others in the future. Love the channel thx!
Another Great Video
Would like you to share
what tires on GS? you did say off road, but did not see big block
How much fuel in the tank? Answered when low fuel light came on
What settings was ESA set to?
What ride mode? If Dynamic pro what settings?
Was ABS & Traction Control relied on?
Did you ever feel you would drag your crash bars?
I you had bags on would they drag?
How offten did you hit the Rev. Limiter?
a comparison between Riding the R7 to the R1250 including lap time
Ian......I have watched this video several times now. You did a great job of capturing the critical learnings on video for us to learn from also.....A question if I may..... I ride a vstrom 1050xt and am wondering how you decide when/how fast before you start to shift your bum around. Obviously shifting your bum is unnecessary just cruising (and looks odd) but when/how fast do you start to do this?????...... my upper body moves a touch I on any corner but as yet not my backside....... Dave, Australia
This video is pure gold from start to finish. Thank you Ian! This was incredible.
Wow, thanks!
Fantastic experiance. Absolutetly awsome riding school.
Great Video Ian, very comprehensive.
Curious also on your thoughts about the Sedici Gear, I recently purchased some myself & am very impressed with the value you get.
it's great, reviews coming soon
I already bought their online course, so this was great to see "in person" so to speak. Why were you in road mode instead of dynamic -- wouldn't the bike's artificial softening of inputs interfere with your learning experience? Any plans to attend BMW US Rider Academy classes?
You are a really good rider. It's weird to see those guys in the yellow just blow past, I guess its just practice, practice, practice. Great video, great to see your improvements, and I am glad that you now are even safer on the road. Some day I may get the balls to buy a bike.
Great Vid - Opens the mind to better control in Riding