Keith Code’s California Superbike School

Wow, has it really been that long since I posted? Yikes. In any case I wanted to write about my experience with Keith Code’s California Superbike School, which I attended last weekend as a level 1 student. I’ve been riding now for 4 1/2 years and prior to the class had done nine track days (I think). Keith has an impressive list of motorcycle racers that he and his staff have coached, so when some members of my riding club signed up I figured it was a good time to go.

A great thing about the school is that you can rent one of their motorcycles for the day if you don’t want to haul yours or don’t have one suitable for the track. You can also rent all of the necessary riding gear like leathers, gloves, boots, etc., so it’s a great way to get introduced to the track without having to purchase everything that’s necessary to do so. The motorcycle you can rent is the 2007 Kawasaki ZX-6R, and I understand they get a new fleet every 2 or 3 years. I’m always keen to try different bikes, so I opted to spend a little more cash and rent one of the ZX-6Rs.

The Streets of Willow Springs Race Course
The "Streets" of Willow Springs Race Course

That morning I woke up and drove toward Rosamond with a buddy in the pre-dawn darkness. We arrived at the Streets course at Willow Springs just as the sun had come up, around 7:00 AM. It was a chilly 38 degrees F, but at least we knew the high would eventually reach 85 or so. As we parked and walked (freezing our asses off) toward the meeting room to register, we were greeted by the school’s two huge truck trailers emblazoned with the school name, pictures and sponsor logos. One transports all of the bikes, the other has the riding gear and a kitchen (food is included with tuition). We got ourselves registered and eagerly checked out the bikes we would be riding later that day. 

The first thing that happens is an orientation with Keith himself, which bleeds into the first lesson of the day. Keith is an excellent speaker and is passionate about teaching the school. He’s obviously worked on his presentation skills and really cares about seeing his students make progress. This was made very clear to me when he told a slightly distracted student, “Young man, I need your attention.” He presents his ideas clearly and effectively while engaging everyone in the class. His son Dylan alternates with him on teaching the classroom sessions and is also a very effective communicator. I’ve listened to plenty of fast guys and racers try to teach racing and track riding concepts, but being good at something and being able to teach it are two different things.

Early Morning at Superbike School
Early Morning at Superbike School

The class is broken down into 5 classroom sessions, each followed by a track session. They give you one concept to work on per session, then you hit the track and work on that one thing. Each student is assigned to a track coach (about 3 students per coach when I went). The coaches find you as you’re circulating the track, follow and observe you, then have you follow them as they demonstrate the techniques. Immediately after the track sessions are over, you meet with your track coach for a few minutes before heading into the next classroom session. It’s a very effective format.

Of the 5 things that we worked on, 2 were big revelations for me. I won’t go into detail because I’ll just muddy the concepts, but I definitely feel I got my money’s worth. Those 2 exercises have boosted my confidence and given me something concrete to work on. The others in my riding club all came away with similar impressions and feel that the class is well worth its cost. We all plan on returning for level 2.

The ZX-6R Fleet Ready For Action
The ZX-6R Fleet Ready For Action

As we sat in the classroom for the wrap-up, Keith was still full of energy and concerned with whether or not we thought the class was worthwhile. He had us all fill out an evaluation form (which says a lot about how seriously he takes improvement), gave us completion certificates and sent us on our way. I stood up, shook the man’s hand, thanked him and headed off for crispy chicken something tacos at Chili’s. It was a terrific day and well worth my hard earned dough.

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