5 MISTAKES that cost EASY speed on track

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There’s a common misconception that to go faster on track, it’s about working harder and pushing our limits each time we head out there.
But what if I told you that there are several ways to gain substantial time on track relatively easily, all without having to push your personal limits or go any closer to the limits of grip than you already are.
Sound too good to be true?
I get it. What I’ve just said goes against so much of how people think about motorcycle track riding. You know, the “bite down on the screen and send it” approach, but like with many things, in track riding you can go so much quicker simply by riding smarter, not harder.
In this video I’m going to share 5 mistakes many track riders make, that when solved will mean big improvements in your confidence, how fast you’re riding, and ultimately, what the lap timer shows.
These will be some of the easiest things to implement while bringing the biggest gains, particularly for early-stage riders.
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[@richardsewell8657]

My poor exit performance got me 3 kids.

[@LifeatLean]

🤣

[@Showmetheevidence-]

😂😂

[@forced-induction]

Cracked me up 😂

[@Mr.A.J.1]

😂😂😂😂 me too

[@SportbikeUnitedRiderz]

🤣😂

[@braxtonmarius]

As a track rider of 10+ years, I have to say this is probably the single best riding advice video on KZbin. Short, to the point. Pure perfection. You’re a scholar and a saint.

[@piggymito]

Couldn't agree more about body position. I had a big crash 21 years ago when I was 18. Ever since then it's been agony to "hang off" in a corner due to a damaged hip. I started to get quick again when I realised that quite frankly my tires are far more capable than me and simply started to adopt a more natural feeling, relaxed riding position. I honestly think sight line is huge too. Time seems to slow down and you have the ability to make decisions.

[@Showmetheevidence-]

Where you look (i.e. follow the ljne with you eyes and loon far ahead) makes a huge diff! I gained almost a full 1s a lap when I lifted my eyes much higher/further through a long right hand sweeper

[@alant383]

My first mistake was your number one, not keeping enough speed into the corners. I noticed how annoying it was to find I had coasting speed and corrected it in time. The body position stuff seemed to largely correct itself when you push on the inside bar and I tend to slide into the inside anyway. It's quite exhilarating. Looking far ahead at the corner exit while counter steering just helps body placement naturally. The next stage is left handle rear brake while holding on the power in the corner, maybe a little drifting ..... ?

[@TopSpeedTommy]

In my earlier days of track riding i was focusing my corner vision on the apex. Once i learned to continually shift my vision between the closer points such as the apex and far around and ahead to where i want the bike to end up, a whole new level of confidence and dramatically reduced lap times opened up for me. Dont stare at track a few feet in front. Instead have these closer marks in peripheral while keeping eyes pointed further down track. It is ok to keep shifting sight close, far, close, far while keeping both close and far points in sight. I saw a great study of drivers eyes in F1. It is the same for motorcycles

[@LifeatLean]

Exactly right. The way I like to think of it is 80% of your focus on where you want to go, 20% on everything else when needed.

[@markshag5149]

When I raced the single biggest place to gobble up other riders was brakes. Good choice to have this as number one on your list. It belongs there ... maybe 1-2-3 in order. Great insight for the aspiring racer. You can brake way harder than you think, way harder.

[@verdeboyo]

All I can say is; Dan you're the man! These little snippets are like gold, reminding me of what I've learned through the few years of this lovely sport. Thanks Sir! 👍🏻

[@throttlehungry4821]

The best content creator who has the knowledge and gives it for free ..

[@richbrett7268]

best explanation of brakes with graph I've heard.. thank you

[@LoppacC]

So glad you're back making these kind of videos, they're invaluable. Thank you for doing this.

[@pokebass1]

I'm a dirt bike rider. This video is actually quite helpful for guys like me. The basics of what you said are applicable to all forms of bike riding.

[@SportbikeUnitedRiderz]

6:40 learned about this in Keith Code's California Superbike School training. Thanks for your excellent explanations on this video.

[@alant383]

Yes, me too. That was hugely helpful to me as well

[@RamboRob]

Great video. I just took a race school and the biggest take away was to get your lines right and not focus SO much on perfecting body position. Next track day i focused more on getting the lines right and nailing exits and my pace picked up significantly. Was on the gas way earlier while others were still trying to make the turn.

[@theboogeyman1520]

Thank you sir. One mistake i noticed is when to apply throttle for the exit. Very helpful video!

[@XSR_RUGGER]

I'm not a novice but maybe between beginner and intermediate rider skill wise (I may be being a bit generous in the classification of myself) but I've been playing with body position for about 8 months now and one of the tips from here that made a huge difference was when getting off the seat for a turn, think about getting away from the midline of the bike instead of low. Then in the past month I discovered on my own that if I press my boot into or "stand on" the inside peg it is like a way to micro adjust in the turn and then I hear it mentioned here at 4:00. I'm learning y'all!😂

[@russellstokke6888]

100% agree on body position and vision. I literally just gave this advice to someone who’s coming with me to the track on Sunday for his first time in a decade.

[@jasonisdn]

You are repeating exactly what I was taught at California Super Bike School, they do some interesting drills to help you with eye transition from point to point. These are good lessons to learn and practice daily.

[@bp7178]

I just did the level 1 course with them and thought exactly the same thing.

[@jasonisdn]

​@@bp7178 how did you like the course and class time? Did you get to meet Keith? He was at VIR when I did it, we talked for about 10mins about the business and how much he loved it lol. I did the levels 1 and 2 on a 2 day session. It was fun and gave me more insight and I out more trust in the bike and myself now.

[@southerncross4956]

You are correct on all points. We humans go where we are looking, where our noise is pointing it’s in out DNA. So look down the track, point you noise down the track, look at where you what to be before you get there without fighting or disturbing the bike.

[@MrBCRC]

learning to steer is hard because all of the "push on the left and push on the right" is happening at an otherwise extremely busy time for the rider. A nice alternative approach is to get the rider to alter their line mid corner but that can be awkward if the track is crowded because you'll be moving into spots mid corner that other riders are expecting to be clear. If you have the opportunity to do it though it works because the rider learns to steer without thinking about it and there's an added benefit for street riding because it's the same action as mid corner obstacle avoidance.

[@one-of-us9939]

Thanks for letting me know I really am doing things correctly

[@44hawk28]

Except for learning how to counter steer, I learned all of these things by racing cars. Always use your brakes while they're still cool. Hit them hard and then let off of them as you are slowing down and you don't need them as much ruin me the first time I got on a jet ski and it literally took me about 20 minutes to figure out how to drive a jet ski by completely ignoring everything I learned on a motorcycle about how to steer

[@nvstewart]

I also learnt all of this by racing cars. But my experience that I gained comes from racing simulators, not from reality. Sims can teach you so much.

[@michaelseverance9213]

Can't tell you how much I appreciate all of your suggestions. This video was extremely helpful .

[@b-radsadventures6846]

Good episode. We use, "Add speed to good technique, not technique to too much speed."

[@spktylr]

Perfect timing! I've been looking for this video all month lol. Concise and straight to the point.

[@AceAzzameenMNans]

Forgetting the clutch… Quick shifters are great. Not if you get a false neutral mid corner. Make sure you pull in the clutch before you put the bike back in gear or you will high side. Learned that the hard way.

[@SiGoodchild1]

Excellent video, thank you

[@andyteague90]

Glad you’re back Dan. I don’t do track days now but you’re the best at explaining this stuff👍.

[@slifer1]

I personaly ,,train" my body position a lot at the street. I'm not racing at the street but getting some training while you're relaxt is quiet nice. I just startet at the track and i don't want to think about my body, that's why i'm doing this.

[@mstershredatrumpclan8037]

Nice video, I still watch these even though I'm going for my race license soon. These clips have definitely helped me get where I am much faster than any mod. I've done to the bike.

[@rlabuc]

Great video. It is more engaging when you appear in the videos (unlike many of the others in the Academy library). Well done. Tips are also good and true.

[@alancotterell9207]

When I started road racing, and old rider told me 'you need a lot of racing miles under your belt, and the bike must do something for you. That latter aspect is extremely important. Most road bikes are neutral handling - a good race bike oversteers when gassed, and stays neutral under braking. It does not require counter-steering to tip into corners. You should not need to be brave while racing motorcycle. The tendency is to accept the motorcycle as it is, and blame yourself if you cannot use it effectively. When the bike is good, it is much easier to ride fast.

[@raymadani270]

This video can do magic. Packed with useful advice. Thank you bro.

[@jh91160]

Clear and concise information. I appreciate your insight. Thank you!

[@colez1989]

I watched this 4 times. Got a track day this weekend and I'm definitely going to be watching this during the day

[@LifeatLean]

Have a great time!

[@bxl1121]

Man your videos have helped me so much on the race track.

[@cnealmartin]

Track day this Sunday !! Biggest thing for me is getting into a cadence rhythm. Mentality talking through each turn... "Hard break, pivot body right, (breath) correct gear... off break smoothly (breath) in corner-off break , gas smooth smooth(breath) head low..." Just repeating it calmly smoothly, breathing focusing on where I need to improve the most. Keeping head down using opposing leg to hang off bike for example. Eventfully things just get easy and im passing everyone LOL.

[@leegaskin7674]

This video is so good for a relative novice on track

[@leroyjones769]

Nice to see you back on screen. Very very good video.

[@kazabubu10]

amazing vid man!! I totally agree with all your points. I have a question though. Generally the rule I follow is the following: 1) Locate braking point 2) brake and start positioning body while looking for the entry point 3) at the entry point counter-steer the bike while finishing the body positioning 4) once my line is set I look for the exit point 5) once I can see the exit I start going on the throttle while picking the bike up. The question is: in prolonged corners where I have set the line but I can't see the exit point (e.g. due to visual obstacles like trees, bushes, rocks etc.) I tend to neutralize the throttle (between points 4 and 5 above) and only once I can see the exit I start picking up the throttle. Is this correct or am I upsetting the bike somehow? I know that this applies mostly to road riding where you can't always see the exit of the corner, but I would appreciate your opinion. I always had doubt on whether this is correct or not...

[@davidciesielski8251]

Thank you so much. I really liked all five of them.

[@seanbirtwistle649]

its not about speed. its about flow. find that flow once and you'll forever be chasing it

[@Michael-qo8bs]

Excellent video content!!

[@jeffestrada6857]

Great video. Thank you for the effort for making some very interesting informative stuff. Cheers mate 👍

[@tren-y2m]

The first four points are the basics of what a sim-racer or professional driver must learn as well. It seems being a good racer is the same whether you're on 2 wheels or 4 wheels!

[@dielaughing73]

Yep, all applicable to my experience tracking my car.

[@kapilpunja]

What a great video! Thank you Dan..

[@ferretneck]

Those white levers are class

[@tboztheish]

Amazing teaching… I think even better than Csbk school!! Well done( I’ve done all their courses multiple times)

[@edgarg6559]

Love your videos man.

[@timphelps40]

Great stuff!

[@nigelstefani]

This was super helpful! Thanks

[@doomseke]

That was truly interesting, thank you! I was wondering if you have any advice on passing other riders. I've been riding a couple of trackdays now and I find a lot of these riders have the pk's to get very fast on the straight, but always slow me down in corners. I know you can outbreak them, but they often don't have any clear riding lines, which makes me a bit hesistant. Any tips on passing riders and/or growing the confidence to do so? As you can see, i'm in the intermediate group, it probably is a little bit different with the experts ;-)

[@hlpang1075]

Could you go into more detail on how to steer the bike quicker? I feel I am pushing the bar to countersteer as hard as I can, but it does not flop down as low as I want it to. I push and let go, or should I continue pushing till I get the desired lean angle?

[@TheWakeupsheeple]

Nice job, sir.

[@brendendyson8470]

Great tips

[@park-vs4ce]

It's very helpful ❤

[@dielaughing73]

7:33 this body position matches what i was taught: move half-to-one buttcheek off the seat and you're set for some pretty fast cornering. Anything more is excessive at first

[@SilkLotus]

Can you do a video on finding the limit on corner entry?

[@anselherz837]

Really appreciate the vid. I can hang off and look thru left turns, but not right. My breakthrough came when I leaned forward and pushed inward on the inside handlebar, leaned on it more (pushing it toward my legs). Now I’m trying to do the same on the right… any thoughts on this? It feels much better but it doesn’t sound like what you’re recommending, which is pushing out on that bar ?

[@pisceanogre]

Driving with your fingers on the brake lever should be relegated to driving on the street where unexpected issues can occur at any moment and the difference between reaching out to grab the brake lever and then pulling it and just pulling it should be obvious put on where you’re breaking are and you absolutely in my opinion should have both hands on the handlebars to be totally in control

[@jnh8381]

Nice video! Question about #2 for steering. Let's say that I am not steering like how you described I should be. How am I steering then? I get what you're saying "I" should be doing, but what am "I" currently doing? Or what is the typical person doing instead of steering like how you say we should be? (this is sincere question, not calling your tip into question ha). Understanding what "I" might be doing wrong would be helpful

[@MrDeepseadweller]

What Dan described is called “counter steering” - to go left, push on the left bar; to go right, push on the right bar. It is the ONLY way a bike will turn, so you are already doing it whether you know it or not. Once you become conscious of it, it opens up a whole new world of control.

[@jnh8381]

@@MrDeepseadweller I understand that.... My question is what is it that you would be fixing? The tip is implying that there's another way to steer. I'm asking what is tip #2 fixing

[@MrDeepseadweller]

@@jnh8381 I think he is simply saying that you may not be conscious of how you are steering, even though there is only one way to do it. By becoming aware of the mechanics of how steering works, you can control it better and use it to your advantage.

[@LifeatLean]

It's exactly as Mr Deep describes. I'm not saying to change what you're doing, only to become more aware of it for greater control. The tip is "fixing" a lack of full steering control.

[@jnh8381]

@@LifeatLean Gotcha

[@dancotton3199]

Im back on track (v novice level) after 12 months out of action. Little bit nervous n scared 😳

[@fb3824]

excellent

[@tubuskan4348]

Let’s say you already Corning pretty hard can you add more counter steering?

[@vijayam1]

Brilliant..

[@RANhxcCORE]

omg I made a comment yesterday on your short about not knowing how to steer and here is the video on it!! You should not be applying steering pressure all the way through the corner right? You set the lean angle going into the corner - if its a long hairpin you wait on neutral throttle till you wait for your direction to come to you - then you power out and stand bike up.

[@JS-ol2tk]

Most street bikes are set up from the factory to require very slight pressure on the inside bar to maintain a constant radius turn, but your tires, tire pressure and suspension adjustments can alter how much or how little bar input is required. Generally speaking, it's not very much force, to the point of being imperceptible. I once tried a new brand/model of tire on one of my street bikes which really wanted to "fall into" the turn, and required pulling gently on the inside bar to maintain a constant radius instead of pushing on the inside bar. That was a very weird sensation, and I got rid of those tires as soon as possible.

[@LifeatLean]

Yes the bike shouldn't require any input to properly track the turn, or if it does, it'll be so small you shouldn't need to really think about it. On a long hairpin you stay OFF the throttle until you know your line is properly set (which usually means when you know you're going to hit your apex) and only when it's set do you crack the throttle to steady your speed.

[@RANhxcCORE]

@@LifeatLean Thank you so much for the reply! You are so right when you say no one teaches steering!! My last track day I found I was limited to a set speed for all corners because of the constant pressure. I am pushing the bike into the ground all the way through the corner causing me to cut throttle and just killing all my drive. I was able to practice in a parking lot yesterday - turning speed makes sense now! I find this really hard to practice in the streets or a parking lot without speed but going to try and get some weight off my hands my next track day.

[@trunorth4987]

You didn't have to get rid of the bike for that. You could play with the suspension and get the bike how you like.​@@JS-ol2tk

[@motocomconteudo497]

nice job

[@josephbilotta5994]

Hey Dan! I've been using your Track Academy course and wanted to ask.....why is it that you recommend keeping the outside foot on the ball of the foot as opposed to locking the heel in?

[@LifeatLean]

Hey Joseph! That's just my preference as I feel it keeps my outside foot more stable on the peg and allows me to lock-in better with my leg. However many riders prefer to have the peg in the middle of their foot mid corner, which is fine too.

[@Atilla8huno]

you're talking about me! :D

[@smithshotracing]

Good vid..

[@rapid13]

1) Relax 2-5) See #1

[@jnh8381]

7:21 what do you search to find this picture?? I have tried re-finding this picture many times but can't figure out what to search haha. So funny, so ridiculous

[@LifeatLean]

Pretty sure it was just "terrible motorcycle body position" 🤣. Took a bit of scrolling but found it eventually!

[@billybaretta9417]

👍

[@XtremeCoke]

Actually, the more relax I am, the faster I go. Never fight with your bike.

[@buzzonbikes]

All gospel truth

[@outtabubblegum7034]

7:55 - dafuq!?!?! 😳

[@CarmenFerdinand-l3w]

White Patricia Brown Shirley Clark Carol

[@jasonetter9171]

Is this guys actually fast?

[@tyresmoker4]

Yet another steering tuition that gives you half the ability you COULD have... I don't know who started the idea of pushing on the inside bar but it's stupid. Yes it's much better than not knowing how to steer at all but use both bars, push with one and pull the other... Literally twist the bar as a kid would do if you asked them to steer a bike whilst just sat on it. Why would you halve your steering strength?

[@santiagosalcedo7909]

Chapó.

[@GTE_Channel]

Top tip: ride a 250cc two-stroke and learn how to keep momentum when you can't fall back on endless torque from your big engine.

[@SunnyKim_]

The GP dudes can hang their whole body off the bike because they are all 4'4" and 90 lbs 😂

[@remember8440]