Flat track?

[ChEB]

My buddy has convinced himself that flat track lessons(if he can even find them and drag me along) are the way to go before CSS. I think he's high. However I could be wrong. Is there a particular skill that one can learn and apply to a sport bike from this racing style. Forgive my ignorance but I just don't see anything that transfers between the two types. Apart from drifting (one thing I have no interest in doing on my s1krr) what am I missing.

[S1000RR ROB]

any kind of sports riding will help any other warp of motorcycling its why all the top moto gp boys motocross....

i suppose flat tracking in much the same way as mx can help with lack of adhesion and getting used to a bike moving under you cant hurt me ol mate and its bound to be lodsa fun

[Steve Evil]

I can see a few benefits as mentioned above, but before CSS? No.

[LiterBoy]

You guys ever hear of Kenny Roberts or Bubba Shobert?! Both were incredible, world class flat track riders before their GP careers. King Kenny is the guy that brought the modern riding style to road tracks.

I agree with Rob! Nothing gives young feel for what the bike is doing underneath you like the dirt. Go for it!

[ChEB]

I'll try it if I can't reserve a slot at CSS. Still have my doubts as to how it will improve my skill on my s1krr. I grew up on dirt bikes, YZ80, CR 125, and my SX 250.

[Reciprocal]

Originally Posted by LiterBoy

You guys ever hear of Kenny Roberts or Bubba Shobert?! Both were incredible, world class flat track riders before their GP careers. King Kenny is the guy that brought the modern riding style to road tracks.

I agree with Rob! Nothing gives young feel for what the bike is doing underneath you like the dirt. Go for it!

Or Lawson and Rainey?

What you learn on the dirt carries over a lot more to the street/track than the other way around because on the street, your butt is planted on the seat. In the dirt, you get off the seat onto the pegs, and what you learn about weight transfer, body position, fore/aft all affects the ride dynamics.

I've ridden with street riders who blow their cool at the sight of a little sand or gravel strewn in their path, have ugly self preservation instincts to take bad lines around it and simply refuse to turn down a dirt road. Dirt riding builds confidence when sliding around, also learn something about how to use brakes. You think you know it all but you don't until you've built some experience in the dirt.

[Fungus Amongus]

Originally Posted by LiterBoy

You guys ever hear of Kenny Roberts or Bubba Shobert?! Both were incredible, world class flat track riders before their GP careers. King Kenny is the guy that brought the modern riding style to road tracks.

I agree with Rob! Nothing gives young feel for what the bike is doing underneath you like the dirt. Go for it!

Originally Posted by Reciprocal

Or Lawson and Rainey?

...or the Hayden brothers, the Bostrom Brothers, Danny Eslick, and Casey Stoner to name a few more.

The Roberts Ranch has hosted quite an impressive list of riders including Alex Barros, Randy Mamola, Jorge Lorenzo, Wayne Rainey, Scott Russell, Luca Cadalora and countless others.

[dazoo]

Learning how a dirt bike moves around underneath you helps you recognise and handle it when it happens on a road bike. When you are not afraid of the back end coming out, you can get away with a lot more on a road bike. Weight transfer, balance - skills that are invaluable on a road/track bike.

There are not many top class racers who don't do some form of MX.

[ChEB]

I did learn how to ride a dirt bike. Did a lot off road riding, even did a couple races before I sold my 250 and went to college. Another reason pushing for CSS instead of flat track lessons.

[LiterBoy]

In your case, maybe the flat track stuff won't be as useful. You've already gained a lot of dirt experience, like most of the best riders I've met!

You could still do it for fun, but if finances are an issue, how can you go wrong with CSS? Have fun, whatever you decide!