Review of Lee Parks Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic

[Admin]

Designed as the next step after the MSF Experienced Rider Course for advanced street skills training.

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[Outlaws Justice]

Designed as the next step after the MSF Experienced Rider Course for advanced street skills training.

More...

Was there someone here in this class? I was teaching this class and the pictures of the Vmax are me.

 

[DecepticonDon]

I read Lee Parks' Total Control and I credit his information with saving my life. His techniques improved my riding form so much that a riding buddy commented how he noticed I had improved. I did give credit to Parks and Hough. I also recommend both their writings to all.
I would like to take a course like that but time and money(mostly this) are lacking.

 

[Outlaws Justice]

I read Lee Parks' Total Control and I credit his information with saving my life. His techniques improved my riding form so much that a riding buddy commented how he noticed I had improved. I did give credit to Parks and Hough. I also recommend both their writings to all.
I would like to take a course like that but time and money(mostly this) are lacking.

If you think the book helped you the class is 100 times more! They also have the classes down near you. Do yourself a favor and work it out to take one, Who knows maybe someone can give you a deal on the cost someplace.

 

[Hellgate]

Very cool Outlaw. You are 110% correct, classes like these will accelerate one's learning by 100X vs. a book, and the books are very good.

I'd really recommend a track day to our members too. You don't need to "race" at all, but a track day, like Lee's school allows you to try things on the safe environment of the track vs. the street.

On a side note, I'm really trying to learn the new body position. Back in the day, early 80's, you simply dropped your butt and knee. During my last track day I was really trying the new style but when I got into a dice the new style went out the window and I was old school as my reflexes kicked in. My goal this year is to be able to change between both styles as I choose and see what works best for me.

Does Lee's school ever come to TX? If so I love to take a lesson from you.

 

[Outlaws Justice]

On a side note, I'm really trying to learn the new body position. Back in the day, early 80's, you simply dropped your butt and knee. During my last track day I was really trying the new style but when I got into a dice the new style went out the window and I was old school as my reflexes kicked in. My goal this year is to be able to change between both styles as I choose and see what works best for me.

Does Lee's school ever come to TX? If so I love to take a lesson from you.

Yes, There are classes in Texas, But I have not made it there to teach personally. If the Avitar is you, I see what you mean, Your knee and butt are off the bike, but your chest is over the tank, This causes two problems, You are forcing the bike to lean more as your weight is still over the bike with your chest over the tank and it also causes your torso to be twisted away from the turn instead of into it. When you can rotate your body around, it lets you move your weight in, see better thru the turn and can improve your traction, speed etc.

Come to a class and have some fun!! See the schedule at www.totalcontroltraining.net

 

[Hellgate]

Yup, that's me. That photo is from my first track day after a 19 year break from racing. A high side at 125 ended my career.

It was funny, the photographer was b$tching he said that I ruined his composition because I was over the tank and the other riders were not. However I was going faster than most....oh well....

On my second track day, a buddy of mine, who is an instructor at the school, was helping me with my position. I just need to trust myself, I feel like I'm going to hit my head on the pylons.

 

[Outlaws Justice]

We can help by getting you into the proper posture while sitting still and then working on it at low speeds until it gets more comfortable. It really Works!

On my first track day I was on a stock 500 ninja, passing all the other bikes (All of which were bigger than the 500 I was riding) the guys on the 600's and 1000's sure felt bad being passed by a little 500, I had a BLAST!

 

[CrioGeniC]

I am planning on taking this class in the spring. The teach it in Fredrick, MD. I have read the book about 5 times now, but really want to do the practical with the guidance. Really hoping this will help me on the Dragon this year.

 

[Outlaws Justice]

I am planning on taking this class in the spring. The teach it in Fredrick, MD. I have read the book about 5 times now, but really want to do the practical with the guidance. Really hoping this will help me on the Dragon this year.

I have been to teach at Maryland several times, That is Tracy Martin's site and he is one of the best. You will have a great time and learn a lot that will make a huge difference in how you ride the roads both at home and during the rally

 

[Karate.Snoopy]

I have been riding for 2 seasons now and consider myself a rookie.
I have read Lee Parks,David Hough and Nick Ienatsch couple of times each.

This year I was thinking about taking the MSF Experienced rider course.
But I found out that Lee Parks ARC 1 would also be taking place 100 miles from me at NHMS.

For folks who have taken both or either. Would you recommend taking MSF (priced around 120$)before ARC 1 or simply taking ARC 1(320$) would be the way to go?

I know we have a lot of MSF and Track Instructors here as well.
Please share your thoughts.

 

[Erci]

I have been riding for 2 seasons now and consider myself a rookie.
I have read Lee Parks,David Hough and Nick Ienatsch couple of times each.

This year I was thinking about taking the MSF Experienced rider course.
But I found out that Lee Parks ARC 1 would also be taking place 100 miles from me at NHMS.

For folks who have taken both or either. Would you recommend taking MSF (priced around 120$)before ARC 1 or simply taking ARC 1(320$) would be the way to go?

I know we have a lot of MSF and Track Instructors here as well.
Please share your thoughts.

I've not taken the Total Control course, but based on reviews and seeing some of the exercises in pictures and videos I think I have an idea how it compares to MSF's ARC.

Total Control appears to be a great way to learn advanced riding techniques. It introduces riders to advanced skills and teaches them limits of the bike, as well as their own limits.
The entire program concentrates on making you a better rider, from rider input perspective.. that is: body position, brake to throttle transition, etc.

The "S" in MSF stands for "safety". And that is the #1 goal of the course: to make you a safer rider. It's all about self assessment and constantly reminding you that riding is a risky activity and the goal is to teach you how to reduce the risk as much as possible. Sure your motorcycle control skills may improve, but getting your knee down is not what this course is about (nor will it be taught).

Keep in mind that original review compares Total Control to ERC (now called BRC2), which is not the same as ARC.

ARC was originally developed for the military. Kids used to get out of service with a bit of change, run to the store, pick up fast shiny sport bikes and promptly kill themselves

When the military introduced MSRC (that's the acronym for military course.. identical to ARC, but with some military references and sport bike language), the fatality rate dropped 60% in 1st year.

I don't think any of us can recommend one course over the other without knowing the individual who's asking.

If some or all of the following characteristics apply to the interested party, I would probably be inclined to recommend ARC (or BRC2) and not TC:

- Never taken MSF
- Aggressive on the street
- Has crashed at least once
- Has several moving violations
- Has a fair number of close calls
- Gets angry at other road users (cars, trucks, etc) for not seeing him and getting in his way
- What's ATGATT?

And my list for TC candidates:

- Has taken at least one MSF course and continues to practice the fundamentals
- Mostly obeys traffic laws (no one is perfect)
- Stays well within person limits
- Plans to take up track riding
- Wants to feel more confident and have better motorcycle control
- Reads books and watches videos to improve both safety and technique
- ATGATT

Those are just some things that come to mind. There is no definitive answer here. If all items on my "TC" list apply to you, it does not mean you should stay away from ARC. I do feel that if all or most of the items apply to you in my ARC list and you choose to take TC, it *may* potentially be a bad thing.

 

[metallicat]

Funny this came up again; I am trying to plan a TC course for myself and maybe another dude (not in this forum) in the next month or two (before it turns nasty hot).

There's one in up(ish) state NY in a week, and then 2 times in May. Schedule allowing I'll take advantage and post a review. CKS KickSTART Lee Parks Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic (TC ARC)

Eric, excellent info as always!! You might want to write a book (I'm kinda serious). :cheer:

 

[motojoe122]

I've not taken the Total Control course, but based on reviews and seeing some of the exercises in pictures and videos I think I have an idea how it compares to MSF's ARC.

Total Control appears to be a great way to learn advanced riding techniques. It introduces riders to advanced skills and teaches them limits of the bike, as well as their own limits.
The entire program concentrates on making you a better rider, from rider input perspective.. that is: body position, brake to throttle transition, etc.

The "S" in MSF stands for "safety". And that is the #1 goal of the course: to make you a safer rider. It's all about self assessment and constantly reminding you that riding is a risky activity and the goal is to teach you how to reduce the risk as much as possible. Sure your motorcycle control skills may improve, but getting your knee down is not what this course is about (nor will it be taught).

Keep in mind that original review compares Total Control to ERC (now called BRC2), which is not the same as ARC.

ARC was originally developed for the military. Kids used to get out of service with a bit of change, run to the store, pick up fast shiny sport bikes and promptly kill themselves

When the military introduced MSRC (that's the acronym for military course.. identical to ARC, but with some military references and sport bike language), the fatality rate dropped 60% in 1st year.

I don't think any of us can recommend one course over the other without knowing the individual who's asking.

If some or all of the following characteristics apply to the interested party, I would probably be inclined to recommend ARC (or BRC2) and not TC:

- Never taken MSF
- Aggressive on the street
- Has crashed at least once
- Has several moving violations
- Has a fair number of close calls
- Gets angry at other road users (cars, trucks, etc) for not seeing him and getting in his way
- What's ATGATT?

And my list for TC candidates:

- Has taken at least one MSF course and continues to practice the fundamentals
- Mostly obeys traffic laws (no one is perfect)
- Stays well within person limits
- Plans to take up track riding
- Wants to feel more confident and have better motorcycle control
- Reads books and watches videos to improve both safety and technique
- ATGATT

Those are just some things that come to mind. There is no definitive answer here. If all items on my "TC" list apply to you, it does not mean you should stay away from ARC. I do feel that if all or most of the items apply to you in my ARC list and you choose to take TC, it *may* potentially be a bad thing.

I just wanted to add to what Erci said regarding the military. It also included military members that just out of boot camp and/or returning from deployments too. The majority of these members come back pumped up and feel invinceable(usually junior members). And he is right, the death and accident percentage dropped quite a bit.

 

[cmantis]

Funny this came up again; I am trying to plan a TC course for myself and maybe another dude (not in this forum) in the next month or two (before it turns nasty hot).

There's one in up(ish) state NY in a week, and then 2 times in May. Schedule allowing I'll take advantage and post a review. CKS KickSTART Lee Parks Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic (TC ARC)

Eric, excellent info as always!! You might want to write a book (I'm kinda serious). :cheer:

Where is it? I am looking at the site but can't see where it is held.

Nvm google found it for me: http://www.totalcontroltraining.net/HTML/Schedule.html

 

[Erci]

Where is it? I am looking at the site but can't see where it is held.

Nvm google found it for me: Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic

Christine has her own site too: Christine's KickSTART Motorcycle Training Series