LEANING TO EXCELLENCE
Experience for the experienced
By Evan Kay
Photos By Lee Parks
Long ago I learned a philosophy about training courses. If you leave the course having learned-or remembered-at least one new thing, then it was worth the time and expense. And when it comes to motorcycle riding education you simply cannot know too much or be too skilled. Fortunately Total Control Advanced Rider Clinic is just the right tool to teach experienced riders some new tricks and maybe remind them of some old ones.
Total Control ARC is taught both in the classroom and on a range (a.k.a. a large, open parking lot). And it is a long day, too, starting at 8 a.m. and running until 6 p.m. As we were called in to class at the start of the day I was surprised to see that half of the 18 students were on some sort of cruiser or touring motorcycle, from a Star V-Star Silverado to an H-D Electra Glide Classic and a Honda Gold Wing. Student ages ranged from late 20s to late 50s, with the average around 40 years old with five to seven years of riding experience.
The course I attended was taught by Lee Parks, its creator, and two other instructors. Parks has managed to break down all aspects of the riding process so that students receive the information in discrete, easy-to-digest bits. His ability to take complex ideas-such as leaning to the inside of a turn to change a motorcycle's center of gravity-and explain them in ordinary terms is remarkable. Later in the day there was a session specifically on motorcycle suspension, where Parks showed the students examples of bikes with good suspension and others that would benefit from upgrades, the visual demonstrations complementing the information. Students were welcome to ask questions at the end of each classroom session and while on the range, all of which were thoroughly answered by Parks and the staff.
After each classroom session students donned their gear and headed out to the range to practice the lessons taught in class. Before jumping into the exercises-which involved high lean angles-Total Control made it a point for the students to warm up their motorcycles' tires by circling the perimeter of the range for a few minutes. One of the instructors first demonstrated each exercise for the class, and then students made several passes around courses laid out with tennis-ball halves to practice the exercise. After every pass an instructor provided constructive feedback and positive reinforcement. Here again was something that Total Control excelled at: I never saw a facial expression or body posture from a student showing confusion or resentment over an instructor's comments. It would also be difficult to find more enthusiastic instructors than Lee and his staff.
Total Control goes beyond the usual accelerate-and-stop or look-and-turn-here exercises, focusing on each small physical element involved in a turn and putting them together one by one. The result is not just increased cornering skills but greater confidence in the individual student's own riding ability. A few students had been in accidents over the previous year, and every one stated that after taking the class they no longer feared entering corners or running out of room while going too fast.
As for me, I was reminded to look far down the road while going through turns and to relax while scraping the footpegs. And because more than one lesson was learned there, I'd say that Total Control is a worthwhile course for all experienced riders.