Lee Parks class

No Worries · 02-21-2009, 02:33 PM

Lee Parks, of Total Control, gave a free class last evening at a local BMW dealer. Over 30 people showed up. Three of us came on bikes. It was 50 degrees when I rode there. I parked my 30-year-old GS1000 next to my friend Dean's three-year-old GSX-R1000. When I came out it was 30 degrees, windy, and light snow. Lee and others were pointing at my bike when they came out. I hope they weren't laughing.

Lee showed slides and talked about cornering. Very appropriate for Colorado. He said to take small incremental steps when changing or learning motorcycle skills. And that's what's practiced at his Total Control course. He also said to minimize your muscle input into the bike. Your arms and hands must be relaxed.

I relax my arms and hands when I ride twisties, but I tighten my stomach and lower back muscles. Especially when I'm leaning off the bike. He covered his ten steps on proper cornering from his book. Then he had people come up and showed the steps on a demo bike.

I took the Total Control course in 2007. I've been riding since 1971 and I thought I was pretty good. But I was brought down to earth when two instructors were critiquing my every move on the bike. Lee Parks said he is going to have a part II on the Total Control course. Lee is a great speaker and had a question-and-answer period afterward. If you have a chance to listen to him or take the Total Control course, just do it. The book is real good too.

Here’s me and Lee Parks. He's on the left.
[img]

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MikeSP1 · 02-21-2009, 05:24 PM

badass, that's cool

rogue · 02-21-2009, 05:28 PM

That's freakin' awesome!

marko138 · 02-21-2009, 10:28 PM

Rock and roll.

Phenix_Rider · 02-21-2009, 10:47 PM

He is a goofy lookin' guy. Cool though

One of these days I'll take the class. I'm sure the instructors will have a shit fit over all my bad habits.

Mikey · 02-22-2009, 08:03 AM

That's awesome. His book is on my list right now, actually.

Not to rain on your parade or anything, but guess what I did all day today? I spent the day (in 70 degree weather, of course), doing a FREE trackday with a bunch of the instructors from Keith Code's California Superbike School, including Keith's son Dylan. I guess military benefits really are pretty good.

PhiSig1071 · 02-22-2009, 09:21 PM

Cool post.

As an aside, you look exactly how I had you pegged mentally.

OreoGaborio · 02-23-2009, 01:07 PM

Very cool!

I think it's awesome when veterans like yourself show us newbies that even old dogs can learn new tricks

It really drives home the point that Riding is a never-ending learning process. Woot! I love it!

So what were some of the new things ya learned? What did they critique you on?

No Worries · 02-23-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phenix_Rider

He is a goofy lookin' guy. Cool though

One of these days I'll take the class. I'm sure the instructors will have a shit fit over all my bad habits.

My bad habit was just pushing on the bars without leaning. Now I lean off the bike for every curve.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhiSig1071

Cool post.

As an aside, you look exactly how I had you pegged mentally.

But not as goofy looking as Lee.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OreoGaborio

Very cool!

I think it's awesome when veterans like yourself show us newbies that even old dogs can learn new tricks

It really drives home the point that Riding is a never-ending learning process. Woot! I love it!

So what were some of the new things ya learned? What did they critique you on?

I learned to lean my upper body off the bike. For me, moving my knee out didn't do crap, so I hug the tank with my knees all the time. Also learned to look ahead through each curve. Sometimes that's hard to do on mountain roads where many of the corners are blind.

We had to ride a Figure-Eight with an instructor in the center of each eight. We had to lock eyes on each instructor which kept us looking into the turn instead of looking at where the front tire was going. But I like critiquing other riders rather than being critiqued.

Tsunami · 03-02-2009, 03:18 AM

reading his book right now

I actually didn't get too far into it because i wanted to practice each skill i come across first and then move on to the next chapter/skill.

My favorite part of the book? The funny faces he makes in the first page of each chapter

02-21-2009, 02:33 PM	#1
No Worries Keyboard Racer Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mile High City Moto: Old Superbikes Posts: 1,016	Lee Parks class Lee Parks, of Total Control, gave a free class last evening at a local BMW dealer. Over 30 people showed up. Three of us came on bikes. It was 50 degrees when I rode there. I parked my 30-year-old GS1000 next to my friend Dean's three-year-old GSX-R1000. When I came out it was 30 degrees, windy, and light snow. Lee and others were pointing at my bike when they came out. I hope they weren't laughing. Lee showed slides and talked about cornering. Very appropriate for Colorado. He said to take small incremental steps when changing or learning motorcycle skills. And that's what's practiced at his Total Control course. He also said to minimize your muscle input into the bike. Your arms and hands must be relaxed. I relax my arms and hands when I ride twisties, but I tighten my stomach and lower back muscles. Especially when I'm leaning off the bike. He covered his ten steps on proper cornering from his book. Then he had people come up and showed the steps on a demo bike. I took the Total Control course in 2007. I've been riding since 1971 and I thought I was pretty good. But I was brought down to earth when two instructors were critiquing my every move on the bike. Lee Parks said he is going to have a part II on the Total Control course. Lee is a great speaker and had a question-and-answer period afterward. If you have a chance to listen to him or take the Total Control course, just do it. The book is real good too. Here’s me and Lee Parks. He's on the left. [img][/img]

02-21-2009, 05:24 PM	#2
MikeSP1 Perpetual trouble Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: at the base of the Alps Moto: VTX 1300C, RC51, CBR600RR, CBR929RR Posts: 715	badass, that's cool __________________ "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!"

02-22-2009, 08:03 AM	#6
Mikey Raving Lunatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas Moto: Concours 14 ABS, ZX6E Posts: 902	That's awesome. His book is on my list right now, actually. Not to rain on your parade or anything, but guess what I did all day today? I spent the day (in 70 degree weather, of course), doing a FREE trackday with a bunch of the instructors from Keith Code's California Superbike School, including Keith's son Dylan. I guess military benefits really are pretty good. __________________ Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

02-22-2009, 09:21 PM	#7
PhiSig1071 Let go of my ears. Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL Moto: '03 GSX-R600, '04 625SMC Posts: 1,394	Cool post. As an aside, you look exactly how I had you pegged mentally. __________________ Entia non sunt multiplicanda necessitatem

02-23-2009, 01:07 PM	#8
OreoGaborio Tony's Crack Pusher Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Topsfield MA Moto: 2003 Aprilia Tuono (street/track days), 2006 SV650 (race) Posts: 428	Very cool! I think it's awesome when veterans like yourself show us newbies that even old dogs can learn new tricks It really drives home the point that Riding is a never-ending learning process. Woot! I love it! So what were some of the new things ya learned? What did they critique you on? __________________ -Pete LRRS/CCS#187 ECK-Racing, Ironstone Ventures, Tony's Track Days, SV Racer Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists \| Phoenix Graphics \| Woodcraft \| Moon Performance \| RJ's Motorsport \| Motorcycles of Manchester \| MTAG-Pirelli The Garage: '03 Tuono (Hooligan bike :naughty) \| '06 SV650 (race)

03-02-2009, 03:18 AM	#10
Tsunami Pug Queen Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Moto: DR200, SV650 Posts: 2,486	reading his book right now I actually didn't get too far into it because i wanted to practice each skill i come across first and then move on to the next chapter/skill. My favorite part of the book? The funny faces he makes in the first page of each chapter