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Total Control author, Lee Parks, at the DC International Motorcycle Show

January 14, 9:59 PM

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Mark Poesch

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For me, the Advanced Rider Clinic was the event of the show. Lee Parks was on hand to talk about the 10 steps for turning that yield "total control" (also the name of his book). The idea is that "total control" enables touring bikes to turn like sport-touring bikes, sport-touring bikes to turn like sport bikes, and sport bikes to turn like race bikes. ...I’m not sure what this style of turning would do to a GSX-R1000, and I’m wary about trying it out. But, more on that later.

Lee described his talk as a “step-by-step ‘technology’ for riding – 10 steps – any turn – all types of bikes.”

Lee Parks' Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic™

He explained that the bikes are precisely engineered to handle “just so” and that the problem is caused when we then “go and add a big floppy meat bag on top of the bike.” To minimize the impact being a floppy meat bag, Lee emphasized that it’s our job to minimize the energy we put into the bike, with the goal of gaining “total control: putting your bike where you want it, when you want it.”

He asked the audience how many had ridden with a passenger. Then, asked how many had ridden with a bad passenger. After talking about what it means to ride with a bad passenger (e.g., moving when they shouldn’t, looking around, banging their helmet into your back, leaning the wrong direction in the turns), he then pointed out that as the rider, we need to avoid being a “bad passenger” to the bike. In other words, when talking about bad passengers, that means: “you too!”

On the web, the 2004 Daytona 200 is most remembered for Aaron Yates crash and ensuing altercation with Anthony Fania. But, Lee described a different point (day?) in the race, where Aaron Yates was closing on the 1st and 2nd place riders at 10 MPH. Anyone who knows racing, knows that if a rider is closing on the leaders at 10 MPH, something is wrong. In fact, Aaron had misjudged his breaking, and was coming into the corner way too hot -- he ended up low-siding as he entered the turn. But, the race wasn't over. The bike hit the edge of the track and returned to two wheels. To onlookers' amazement, the bike continued through the turn, and passed into 2nd place! And, then, passed again to lead the race briefly!

The point of the story is to show that the less you interfere with the bike, the more you let it do what it was designed to do!

How to do this, coming in Part 2.

For more info: Get the book, or sign up for training with Lee.

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