EXHILARATION ON TWO WHEELS
Lifestyle Asia talks to superbike enthusiasts on how to train for one of the most dangerous hobbies known to man
When I married a racecar driver, the question “Do you ever get scared?” would time and again be asked in conversations. The answer is yes. When he was racing at the Formula 3, the top speed would reach about 300kph in a car that had no roof nor windshield, along with 20 other racecars with one goal in mind, to finish ahead of everybody else. My heart would pound nonstop until he had crossed the checkered flag.
Now imagine someone running in similar speeds with only a leather suit and a helmet to protect them, clutching between their legs a highly combustible engine and a tank full of gas; and what can spell disaster can happen in a split second with just a fraction of an inch of miscalculation.
THERE ARE BIKES, AND THEN THERE ARE SUPERBIKES
Superbikes are highly tuned production motorcycles that are either specified or modified for racing. They usually run on a 1000cc engine and above, and achieve the speed of over 300kph. Popular brands of this category include BMW, Ducati, Honda, and Kawasaki.
However, like what Uncle Ben told Spiderman, with great power comes great responsibility. You cannot just ride these machines on a whi, without reading the manual. We all heard the horror stories; these sophisticated machines require more than just attitude and blind courage. It demands respect, discipline, and if done right, can give you one of the euphoric experiences of freedom and excitement.
So how does one train to be a superbike rider? In the Philippines, the worldrenowned California Superbike School (CSS) brings in professional instructors from the US, Europe, and Australia to give an in-depth bike training experience based on the curriculum of its founder, motorcycle legend and author Keith Code. We asked four known motorcycle enthusiasts about their key learnings and experiences going through the program.
SID MADERAZO
Maderazo tries to ride as often as he could. He is hooked on the freedom and the immersive experience of riding motorcycles. He quotes a saying, “four wheels move the body; two wheels move the soul.”
After going through CSS, his mastery of throttle control and cornering has dramatically changed his riding style, making him more confident riding higher powered bikes. He has several, namely: a BMW 310G, a Kawasaki Z900RS, a Triumph Bonneville T120, a Vespa Sprint 150, and his favorite, the BMW R nineT Classic.
He also shared that his best ride to date was attending the BMW Motorrad European Tour, wherein they rode to 6 countries in 7 days. He hopes to ride across Mongolia, the Himalayas, and Africa to complete his riding bucket list.
SAMIR “SAM YG” GOGNA
His comedic personality sometimes makes SamYG’s discipline in his sports and hobbies unbelievable. Whether its car racing or the IRONMAN triathlon race, he always plays to perform. So when he started riding, it was no surprise that he considers focus to be one of his key learnings.
He explained that riding a motorcycle is all about being connected. “You must be in the moment; all your senses must come together—sight, sound, taste, feel, and even smell.” He further explained that accidents usually happen when riders lose their focus.
SamYG currently owns a Ducati Scrambler, a BMW R nineT and a Vespa. He plans to ride across Europe, country to country, city to city, on just two wheels.
KIM ATIENZA
Atienza is known to be an animal and art enthusiast, so it is not surprising that his love for motorcycles transcends the excitement it brings. The classic collector feels that superbikes are kinetic works of art. “What better pleasure can one get than to sit and ride on a piece of sculpture with history and an interesting story behind its creation?” The TV presenter describes riding as pure pleasure and prefers to be on two wheels most of the time. For him, learning the science of riding this impeccable machine has given him confidence traversing the traffic-laden Metro Manila.
Most riders would say that riding is almost intuitive, but Atienza noted that what he learned is that there is a discipline to all the aspects of riding and understanding them exponentially brings down the risk. He also realized that the throttle is his friend and that if he is riding the right way, brakes are used minimally, which keeps the rider’s balance.
Atienza has a Paul Smart, the Mike Hailwood 900e, and the Ducati XDiavel S. His daily rides are the Triumph T120 and the Honda CB1100. He is in the process of restoring a vintage 1962 BMW R50, which he believes will take him a year to finish. This crown piece, along with his WW2 vintage Royal Enfield, Lambrettas, and Vespas are heirloom pieces he will pass along to his kids when they learn how to ride.
EMIL BANNO
A technology investment expert, Emil Banno loves supercars and superbikes. An accident while riding made him realize that there is no proper way to learn how to run this monstrous machine in the country. He then remembered how helpful watching Keith Code’s videos and books were when he first started. Taking it a step further, he and his partners, including Filipino Champion Racer Raniel Rasuelo decided to bring CSS to the Philippines. From there, they expanded to Thailand and Malaysia and is now in talks with other countries in the region, to spread awareness and to teach enthusiasts how to ride correctly and safely.
For someone whose bucket list includes riding on the 19 Moto-GP tracks (he has done 4 in the last two years), his most important takeaway is that you never stop learning. “During the level 4 session in the last CSS, the coaches made me do the vision drills, one of the most basic lessons. Revisiting it made me realize some improvements that enabled me to accomplish my personal best time.”
Banno owns several of the best bikes in the world including the PHP 5M Track bike BMW HP4 Race, and the Norton Dominator SS (only 250 made in the world). He is hoping to get a custom, commissioned bike by designer Hugo Eccles to include in his collection.