Why I Went Back to the Yamaha Champions Riding School (on a BMW R1300GS)

[@BigRockMoto]

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[@jonwoodworker]

Ian, you took the course twice because you're smart and understand how important it is for you to be a better rider. You explained why perfectly, and it is your business. I watched a video from some dork who took an off-road course, and all he did was say how he would never use the skills they are teaching. Ironically, I take dirt bike courses to be a better/safer street rider.

[@armandomorales5857]

Awesome recommendation! I took the online class, it is a game changer. Often fellow riders comment on my ability, and I recommend this. Very affordable. I live outside the US, a race track is not available where I live, and this class was the best alternative.

[@jcmartinez7527]

I finished Champ U core. It definitely is the best course online. I always tell newer riders that if they finish that course, they will be a better rider than 99% of street riders.

[@JeffChessher-dj4tu]

Ian, in the 1990’s I attended Reg Prigmores riding school 3 times. It was a great learning experience. It did teach me humility, I was riding a BMW K100RS and really moving through a curve when Reg passed me on the inside with a passenger on the back of his R1000RS.

[@JRodSMX]

I really like this channel. Great reviews and you’re one of the few people who praises training. It blows my mind how most of the motorcycle community on or off-road is against being taught how to ride the right way. Thank you for sharing this info. I look forward to your trail braking video.

[@tombstone2826]

40 ?? Happy Birthday !! stay safe on the road !

[@paulrod6760]

Happy 40th, another great video. What I really like is your approach to things - your like an investigative journalist trying to cover or uncover things others don’t.

[@IronPonyShow]

How rad!! This is gna make everyone that watches such a better rider! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@Cookie_Cuttings]

Can't wait for lessons from Big Rock!

[@JohnnyPowRides]

I recently took the Champ-U course online before going on my Dolomites trip - although I've been riding almost 30 years, and have done track days and Advanced MSF in the past, I got a few great lessons from it.

[@JohnnyPowRides]

p.s. I rode the 1300 GS in the Dolomites and it was fantastic on twisty pavement!

[@AdvExOz]

We are same age😊. Big fan of your work!

[@robertmills794]

I wish I'd done the Cali Superbike School more than once back in the 90's,.. It was all the $$ I had at the time to devote to riding.

[@leanit5756]

Online course is terrific.

[@davidherringgo]

Thanks for this informative video on Yamahas Champ School. I am going to BMWs Nate Kerns Beginner School at Barber in Oct. I decided not to use my 21 F 750 GS. As it is set up for touring. Major pain to pass tech to be allowed on track. Congrats on using your GS . Keith Codes Super Bike School comes to Barber twice a year with a complete fleet of bikes and gear if you need it. I plan on flying in and attending his School next year.

[@majorlee1]

I really like the mods you did on your 1300 it looks really cool. That thumbnail is a great pic 👍

[@bobz1736]

Old man at 40 hahaha...? I'm 62 and still riding like I stole it... with the benefit of 45 years riding experience. One secret to staying safe is knowing when to ride quick and when to ride slow. Here in Thailand the road vehicle death rate is huge, so constant concentration is a must due to the many roaming dogs, slower small bikes doing unpredictable moves and car drivers basically ignoring bikes and pulling out of overtaking when oncoming. Great channel and vid 👍

[@ACandRsafety]

Happy upcoming birthday!

[@tomhengel7244]

Awesome video I've always wanted to do something like this

[@ianross225]

Great video, Ian. An old adage I was taught many years ago learning SCUBA: there are old divers and bold divers, but there are no old bold divers. That’s stuck with me for 45 years and applies to biking equally. You’re not old but if you want to be, your approach is absolutely right. I’m 65 but never forgot those sage words. Like the 1300, but probably a 1250 GSA before realism gets a grip. Take care, Ian

[@mgrant6607]

you need to try American Supercamp next. really fast track riding results in some tire slippage (a lot for talented people), and you need to develop those instincts in a lower consequence environment. Much more affordable too. You'll love it.

[@kidlatazul]

"Riding motorcycles on the street is a high-risk sport." You are of course correct about this for those of us living in the US, Canada, and other wealthy countries. But in poorer countries, riding a motorcycle is not a sport, is the often the primary means of transportation, especially for people living in rural areas. If you want to see masses of people riding motorcycles at a high level, go to Thailand. A Thai friend told me she started to learn to ride when she was 10. Her brother showed her the controls, and she practiced on the street in front of their house. By the time she graduated from high school she was a master - I know, I sat on the back while she wove through traffic on congested city streets. In Thailand you'll often see whole families - dad driving, mom, and 2 kids - on one motorcycle or scooter. I once rented a bike (a Honda CB500X, considered a big bike in Thailand) in Chiang Mai and rode around northern Thailand for 4 days. The Thais routinely rode circles around me on the twisty mountain roads there. Motorcycle taxi drivers and delivery riders in Bangkok are phenomenal. I don't know what the accident statistics are, but everyone seems to be looking out for each other, despite the apparent chaos. I wish we had more of this in the US, especially in cities, our streets would be less congested and we'd spend less on getting around. Of course, we might need to start learning when we were 10. ...

[@husqami]

Thailand has one of the highest road fatality rates per capita in the world. Maybe the thai people would benefit from the online course !

[@franks.hansen6788]

​@@husqami I am a Norwegian living in Thailand. I remember a couple of years ago I compered the numbers of deaths in the traffic in Norway and Thailand. In Norway, the numbers of fatalities in the traffic in 1 year was the same as 30 hours in Thailand.

[@micmacinact]

I bought their online 'Ride Like a Champion' course from here in Australia about 18 months ago. I found it very, very good to go through. The course reinforced a lot of things I do without realizing, but also taught me a lot as well. Which I've since put into practice in my sport-touring road riding. Totally agree with you about 'trail breaking' - had heard about it but didn't really know what it was. I've always been a lazy 'engine breaking' person, but trail breaking really helps - just need to keep practicing it and stop being lazy. Anyway, I think it's time to revisit my online course and use it as a refresher. Cheers and good and safe riding to all. Mick ps - thanks Ian for yet another great video!!

[@grayl5514]

I heard of "trail braking" some years ago and wondered what it was, as nobody explained it. Turns out I have been using that technique for most of my riding life, and in particular, when I did a fair bit of road riding. I worked it out naturally and wonder why more riders haven't done that.

[@TakeTheHighground]

Brother I bought the Klim Baja Set because of your review (and it is brilliant), now I have to buy online training? Damn it…guess I’ll have to!

[@Dalevd]

Old man… you make me laugh you young punk..LOL

[@lefterisbampaidis5446]

Was this time the Grad School? If yes, is it no different?

[@gringowithagun]

Great video as always and would love to be able to take a course like this! Do you happen to know a course for the offroad side of riding that you could recommend?

[@mikemerrill175]

Super post. That is a great program taught by some knowledgeable dedicated professionals. You leave safer, smoother, and faster.

[@jackvliet]

Would love to see a ride of the super tenere 😁

[@st44455]

Took this course online. Fantastic. Revolutionized my riding.

[@jonathanrosenesq202]

Excellent points, old bike with trained rider will be faster and SAFER than newest bike with Tech and limited training. .. "its not about the bike", class best performance dollar spent I

[@advredbikes]

Thanks dude for this awesome video. It really does bring up to us the way we ride how we should ride. Looking at the road conditions the equipment we have. Awesome video. Thank you very much. Looking forward to your next one.

[@2WheelsGood.01]

I wish I could afford it lol. I'm definitely a sensory and visual learner, the online stuff just doesn't cut it for me.

[@scotthartman4658]

I think it would’ve been interesting to have put the V-Strom 800 through this event.

[@CptSlow89]

You are more comfortable with adv bike probably cuz of the handlebars vs clipons./

[@fredericooliveira-cc2mb]

Where is the cf moto mt450 review?

[@sattvicvelo3506]

did the online course and it was absolutely amazing - best money spent for sure. Everyone should take it.

[@KiwiMoto72]

I am a big fan of this school and the Cali school. Both bring similar (but different points of view). Keep up the great content, Sir, and feel free to check mine out, too. I'd love to meet ya..

[@nick4506]

I don't like the champ riding school. the track and the street are very different. and professional motorcyclists who specialize on public roads exist and its motorcycle cops. they get in half the accidents then cops in cars. the body position is exactly the opposite to deal with uncertainty in road conditions, lines are different to give you more options around blind corners that don't exist on the track, etc etc. they do tons of talks and they have training open to the public around aswell. most people dont know how to threshold brake or even practiced pannic stops.

[@peterdejong1610]

Hello Ian. I really like your reviews. But please stop with the text at the beginning. It is really annoying. You don't need it. 👍🏼

[@gerryryan2302]

surprised you never had the sport screen on ?

[@mkviz]

Street riding and dirt riding are 2 different disciplines. Anything you learn from the street you throw away when riding dirt and vice versa. You need to really turn off the road switch in your brain and turn on off-road brain

[@1993kramer]

I can’t believe you’re selling your gs1300. The only logic is you have your name on a gs1300 adventure…

[@trd4d]

The notion that you have to get off the brakes before going into a corner is not killing riders. Excessive speed when you go into the corner is killing riders. You don’t need to be on the brakes if your speed is reasonable.

[@BigRockMoto]

That's mostly true, but what happens when there is something unexpected and you need to tighten your radius, not to mention that trail braking makes the bike easier to turn and increases traction/weight on the front tire. The bike is designed to turn in under braking.

[@brianglendenning1632]

@@BigRockMotoI would suggest motorcyclists who also mountain bike play with trail braking - with less heft less noise and simplicity it is way easier to feel how it works. Also less consequence at lower speed

[@IanSmart-g6y]

I admit I'm a little disappointed you didn't take the DE. It would've been an excellent way to safely explore it's limits and increase your knowledge of the bike.

[@BigRockMoto]

@@IanSmart-g6y I didn't have the v-strom when I filmed this back in May

[@aymarx1]

This is excellent on a track…….. But should NOT be applied to the street…… setting the correct speed and getting all your braking done before you start to corner is the SAFEST maybe not the FASTEST way around a corner and this is what we should be teaching to riders that are riding on the street. Tip READ Motorcycle road craft and dont preach the principles of track riding for the street…. Please understand this. We want you to be safe on the street not FAST xx

[@aymarx1]

This is excellent on a track…….. But should NOT be applied to the street…… setting the correct speed and getting all your braking done before you start to corner is the SAFEST maybe not the FASTEST way around a corner and this is what we should be teaching to riders that are riding on the street. Tip READ Motorcycle road craft and dont preach the principles of track riding for the street…. Please understand this. We want you to be safe on the street not FAST xx

[@kevinlewis4554]

This comment is a bit ironic when you think about it. On a track you KNOW what to expect for each corner and conceivably could do all your braking ahead of time - not fun but possible . Whereas when traveling on a road you’ve never seen before you Don’t Know the road ahead and can’t see through every corner so “setting the correct speed” can never be assured. Furthermore, the trail braking technique keeps you on the brakes and will promote a smoother transition to leaning the bike into the turn.

[@aymarx1]

@@kevinlewis4554 There’s nothing ironic about Motorcycle road craft sir. Its kept the British Police force Safe Systematic and some of the best and Safest street road riders in most of Europe,

[@aymarx1]

@@kevinlewis4554 The principles of Roadcraft provide you with the necessary skills to assess any corner you are approaching utilising the limit point and other key information markers. Getting all your braking completed in a straight line before the curve and maintaining a constant speed utilising smooth throttle application throughout the curve provides you with maximum grip and stability. Any input to the machine has an effect on stability this includes braking, roadcraft also talks about how to brake using the 3 stage braking principle therefore eliminating the lack of smoothness if brakes are required. Remember these principles are all in relation to safety and not fun or speed. I could not agree with you more that accelerating into a corner trail braking into the apex and accelerating hard out is great fun. But it is not the safest way to negotiate a curve. Add water, diesel or any other form of detritus of which the list is long and these principles become more important. Roadcraft provides a system of riding that is safe methodical and leaves nothing to chance, it doesnt mention fun xx I will also add that Trail braking is definitely required when racing on a track. It is without question the Fastest way to negotiate a curve as is apexing the curve and straightening (also not recommended on the street). Some track principles for example the smooth application of the controls can be transferred to the street but many cannot. On the track you have the perfect road surface, nothing is coming the other way and if it all goes wrong there are huge run off areas to maintain safety if a rider crashes. If oil is dropped on the track. The race is stopped, if there is an obstruction on the track the race is stopped etc etc etc etc…. It is also true that the principles of roadcraft are not transferable to the tack as it is not the fastest way to get around the circuit. But the track and the street are very different. As i stated i would happily offer you some instruction in this if your in the UK and i assure you. you will understand it. As a Police Motorcyclist my only intention here is to keep riders safe, i have in my 30 year career picked up too many body parts from riders and if i can keep 1 rider safe then i am happy. Riding safe can also be fun sir. And The System of motorcycle control if done well is not slow. I would encourage you to watch any police based motorcycle videos and you will see how well they ride.

[@apsalar_coruscan]

Actually, that's the opposite of safe. You're unloading your front tire and suspension every single corner by getting off the brakes before tip in.

[@apsalar_coruscan]

@@aymarx1 These are great parroting talking points, but please realize that almost none of what you said is true. RoadCraft is outdated at best and deadly at worst. It's also entirely impractical on any blind curve or decreasing radius.

[@aymarx1]

This is excellent on a track…….. But should NOT be applied to the street…… setting the correct speed and getting all your braking done before you start to corner is the SAFEST maybe not the FASTEST way around a corner and this is what we should be teaching to riders that are riding on the street. Tip READ Motorcycle road craft and dont preach the principles of track riding for the street…. Please understand this. We want you to be safe on the street not FAST xx