Now on dvd…
Jan 12th, 2010 by Leo
It’s cold out… But even if you don’t go out for extended rides, there are still some good ways to improve your riding skills during the winter riding season. This is why I’ve been looking forward to getting my hands on the new “Twist of the Wrist II” DVD.
So what do I think?
The production values are as campy as ever with close up shots of Keith Code, two women in lab coats standing by the track tape measure in hand… The “story” follows two novice riders on sportbikes as they encounter a more experienced rider (no chicken strips). When they ask him how he does it, he loans them his copy of the book Twist of the Wrist II…and so begins the adventure.
The video follows the structure of the book, (although less literally than the older version of the video). What might have been better is if it followed the Superbike school class structure instead… Their classes work because they show you the theory in a practical way that improves your riding; whereas the book introduces ideas first. They cover the same material but in a different way…So considering the strengths and weaknesses of video as a medium, the class route would have made the video 100% better… But it might hurt enrollment at their classes…
As it is, the video can be painful to watch at times, but the material makes it worth sitting through. Plus, they’ve done a good job in taking some of the more hard-to-imagine concepts and making it visual (e.g., counter steering, suspension travel, the benefit of not-charging a corner, quick turn).
If were going to ride with a newer rider, I’d insist he or she get a copy of the book and watch this video… Anyway, check it out for yourself and tell me what you think!
[Here's good write up of what Level I at the Superbike school is like.]
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It actually does cover the school’s Level 1 skills (and some Level 2 & 3 ones as well), they just aren’t shown in the same order as done on a school day. Oddly enough, the campy parts are rest points so viewers aren’t subject to wads of data blasting at them every second of the film, at least that’s the way it was designed. Also, if press don’t have anything to winge about, they feel left out!!!
Actually, enrollment wasn’t considered, after all, the book has been on the market for 16 years and it has the same data in it. What was considered was adding enough visual representation so that when students come to school they can make even more progress as the material is that much more familiar to them.
The hard part of making it was to show techniques in enough detail so the viewer does come away with more than their own subjective “feeling” for a technique and a bit more of an objective peek at what they could or should do. But, you see, I’m prejudiced.
Keith Code
Thanks for your reply Keith!!
You know what would be extremely helpful DVD (from a student’s point of view)? A DVD following the CSS format of all the class sessions and drills for levels 1, 2 and 3 – utilizing the same visualizations in this current DVD. Following each class lesson there can be “rider stories” as different kind of riders work through each drill telling the difficulties they had and the “aha” moments… That part could be played by actors – or have some documentary guys come and interview actual students who want to be on camera.
Each DVD could then be packaged with discussion questions for each drill so that clubs could run the classroom instruction part of the DVDs during track days.
It would probably change things up at CSS though – as more and more students came in already having had some experience with the drills… People would come more specifically for the coaching or with more specific questions and skills they want a better grasp of. I think the CSS format works very well at helping riders improve and applying the information in the books – so why not a virtual CSS? We’ll still go to CSS for the coaching – only we’ll be better informed when we get there.
Thanks Keith for all the great books and teaching – and DVDs – yes, even the campy parts. Cheers! – Leo